Live music in Liverpool this week: 12-17 Apr

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 12 Apr 

Ever lamented the fact that you were never old enough to have seen Big Black live? Newcastle upon Tyne's Massa Confusa offer a pretty good solution, with drum machine clanks and abrasive post-punk atonality making for a viscerally brilliant live show. Enamel Animal and Scaredycats support, noisily. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.45pm, £5

Fri 14 Apr

It's classic rock a-go-go at Maguire's tonight, as local quintet Equinox gather together some of their favourite sounds from the region. NWOBHM acolytes Midnight Prophecy, the hard-riffing Riptide and blues-tinged Fragile Things complete the bill at a night that's handily titled 'Rock at Maguire's'. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.15pm, £3

Sat 15 Apr

Ste, Richie & Eoghan, aka Dublin boyband Taken visit the Zanzibar for a Saturday matinee show. Is this the beginning of a One Direction-style empire? No idea, but still – they're here now. Hope the fans stick around for the venue's evening show, mind you... Zanzibar, 12pm, £10

... as Zappatika, a (surpriiiiise!) Frank Zappa tribute act promising some of the singular rock innovator's former collaborators and a selection of studio originals. Definitely one for the Taken fans, we're sure you'll agree. Zanzibar, 7.30pm, £10

Imagine being one of the biggest-selling artists in pop history, and ubiquitous for almost three years thanks to a global smash hit with Mark Ronson. Bruno Mars has done alright for himself, hasn't he? Alright, some of his stuff is a bit shit, but still. Fair play to the lad. Erm, dunno what our point is here, to be honest. Echo Arena, 7pm, from £37.50

A goth-tinged alt rock trio divided between Shrewsbury and Manchester, The Devil In Faust first formed at the tail-end of 2014 before going on to record with Meshuggah/ Sick Of It All producer Tue Madsen in Aarhus, Denmark. Slick and loud, essentially, with a fair few nods to the grunge era. So there you go. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £3

Sun 16 Apr

Pop-punk label Fox Records gathers three of its rising stars for a package tour: Birmingham's Coast To Coast have an earnest sense of indie rock melancholy to their anthemic fare, Better Than Never offer succour to A Day To Remember fans and local hookmeisters Pine provide their own pacy take. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £6