Live music in Liverpool this week: 22-28 Feb

We dive into the listings to bring you the essential guide to gigs in Liverpool this week – plus the latest news on festivals, tour announcements and more. Think we've missed something? Hit up will@theskinny.co.uk with the details... 

Wed 22 Feb

A heavy start to our gig guide this week: Staffordshire metalcore types Empires (formerly As Empires Burn) hit the road with their atmospheric, London-hailing brethren Behind Blue Eyes. As they swing by Maguire's, they're joined Stoke-on-Trent alt rockers Alter Eden, plus a local pairing of blues riffmeisters Black Smoke and pop-punkers Our Divinity: eclectic indeed.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £5

Thu 23 Feb

Jazz a-plenty this week: London's Sons of Kemet make their mark over at the Capstone, with their diverse fusion of styles also incorporating Caribbean folk and African music to form a singular, instantly identifiable groove. Not for nothing have they been recognised by the MOBOs and Gilles Peterson: this is rich, immersive stuff and danceable as hell.
Capstone Theatre, 7pm, £11.50

Jack Tatum's dreampoppin' Wild Nothing returned last year with third album Life of Pause, and now they make another visit to these shores to support it. "Wild Nothing could well herald the dawn of the next new wave," we said optimistically, following a stunning show in Glasgow last year – here's a great opportunity to find out why.
Leaf, 8pm, £11

The solo project of one musician called Owen (no, not that one), New Atlas has a knack for highly infectious indie-synth-pop with smart lyrics and an ambition beyond his Liverpool origins. Tonight he launches excellent new single Morphine with support from Hannah's Little Sister, Kallo and Joel Harkin, and it promises to be a special night indeed.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.30pm, £4

Fri 24 Feb

Going back to that 'eclectic' word, that's just how we like it. Jazz-and-beyond trio Mammal Hands' influences range from Steve Reich to Bonobo; Pharoah Sanders to Cinematic Orchestra, with elements of North Indian and African styles thrown in for good measure. They also come with a formidable reputation as a live act, so what better excuse to check 'em out?
Capstone Theatre, 7pm, £11.50

When your guitarist is best known for his work in Mac DeMarco's live band, that's a pretty good sign of a good pedigree. Brotherly duo Tonstartssbandht (that's pronounced 'tawn starts bandit', we're reliably informed) deal in mind-melting psych that's built around expansive songwriting and solid musicianship rather than drones or simple repetition: expect a jaw-dropping show from a band on the up.
Shipping Forecast, 7.30pm, £8

Sat 25 Feb

Two of Manchester's finest DIY band come to town: Hot Shorts' super-addictive pop references 90s college rock and the output of Slumberland Records, while Grotbags' brand of pop-punk is ludicrously catchy and deliciously snotty (hang on, do those two words go together? Eek). Local post-punkers Oh Well, Goodbye and new kids Eyesore and the Jinx round out an excellent line-up. Tickets here.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 8pm, £3

Austrian musician David Helbock – he of the David Helbock Trio – has been releasing records and winning awards since 2003, not to mention touring the world on a seemingly non-stop basis. His approach to the piano, while recognisably jazz, also draws from more modernist styles, often with a certain funk-derived groove underpinning his fascinatingly textured sonic explorations. 
Capstone Theatre, 7pm, £11.50

Like Creedence Clearwater Revival? Like U2? What if the worst elements of both were smooshed together to create genuinely awful project that feels like staring forlornly into the abyss, only for the abyss to whisper, 'Think you've got problems? I've got to stare back at your ugly mug, mate, think about me for a change'? On an unrelated topic, Kings of Leon are playing the Echo Arena. Good for them, or something.
Echo Arena, 7.30pm, £60-65

Sun 26 Feb

Not saying that The X Factor's lost some of its brand appeal to the wider British public or anything, but can you seriously name any contestants from the last few years? If you answered 'yes', X Factor Live is probably for you. In the meantime, here's two minutes and forty-three seconds of a sad cat in a bucket.
Echo Arena, 6.30pm, £20-55

Completing this week's list of pretty excellent jazz, Neil Cowley Trio are curently touring last year's Spacebound Apes opus, an Arthur C Clarke-inspired piece that also saw release as sheet music, a graphic novel and an interactive website. In truth its musical origins lie more in pop and rock than jazz; still, its scope is impressive and it's all tremendous fun, so there you go.
Capstone Theatre, 7.30pm, £11.50

Tue 28 Feb

Lady Leshurr – that's 'lee-shur' rather than 'leisure', as another nod to you pronunciation fans – has packed a lot into the last twelve months, with a hectic schedule of live shows and festival appearances accompanied by a stellar mistape titled Unleshurr. Put simply, she's one of the best things about UK grime right now; good fucking luck finding a better way to spend your Tuesday than this.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £12.50