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LIVE REVIEW: Liverpool Sound City 2026
- BOOT
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
Merseyside's multi-venue festival Sound City returned once again on Bank holiday weekend and proved why we love it so much. Running from venue to venue to catch everyone on your packed schedule, inevitably bumping into your best mates, your favourite band and that ex you haven't spoke to in 5 years...
With an absolutely stacked line up filled with the most exciting new acts from the UK and beyond, are schedule was even more packed than usual. So here's how our festival went down!
SATURDAY
Some earlier highlights in the day that really kicked us into the festival spirit were The North and Gurriers, two bands brimming with electrifying energy who had the headline venue packed out and rocking in the afternoon. The North belted out indie anthems akin to The Royston Club in their early stages, having the masses of teenagers screaming their hearts out. While Gurriers unleashed their new-found Dance Punk sound, pouring an angsty high-octane performance out into the Liverpool air.
The local Liverpool talent was out in full force as always at the festival with two of the city's most exciting new Indie exports The Kairos and Keyside delivering equally admirable sets. The former went for energy and power while Keyside take things easier, luring you in with their infectious breezy melodies.
The festival's renowned talent for sourcing the next wave of breakthrough acts was shown once again as both Basht and Bleach 9:3 had people queuing to get a glimpse of their sets, sure in the knowledge that they'll be playing to twice the crowd next year.
You'd be forgiven for questioning why the day's headliners are a band with just one EP to their name. Yet, if you've been following the Indie scene in recent months you'll know that Keo have all it takes to be at the top of the bill. Their set at Grand Central Hall proved that they're right at the forefront of this new generation of Grunge/Shoegaze stadium fillers as they powered through a set of poignant, era-defining tracks, met by chorus' of singalongs.
However, our highlight of the day had to be Westside Cowboy, their eclectic Folk-Rock tones were injected with an ansgty youthful energy in a set that had the Arts Club crowd watching in awe. Those who were unfamiliar with the band raised their eyebrows and turned to their mates with an approving nod, some desperately scrolled through the festival line up to find the name of their now favourite band and those who new them already screamed their lungs out with a hearty "Westsideeee Cowboyyy!".
They're melodically brilliant with the joint vocals weaving in and out of one another and their vibrant instrumentation brings every single moment of their songs to life with a texture that is simultaneously filled with a Folk nostalgia at its core and breathing with a fresh, modern Art-Rock edge that makes their sound so exciting.
SUNDAY
The Sunday took on a more soulful feel, swapping the high intensity Indie energy of the Saturday for a smoother, slicker vintage tones which came in the form of a Brooke Combe, MT Jones & Jalen Ngonda.
There was still plenty of fiery emerging talent with Welly and The Rolling People providing early high points in the day. Welly offered some sharp, Indie sleaze melodies, playful yet punchy, tongue-in-cheek while still being impactful. The Rolling People however, went full force, generating all the youthful angst, infectious spirit and gritty of their Mancunian Indie forefathers. Each song was a singalong, swelling with anthemic noise that was fitting for the main stage.
Permanent (Joy) were the highlight of the local talent on offer on the Sunday serving up an electrifying set full of razor-sharp vocals and an insatiable energy that injected a darker Post-Punk into their lively Indie sound.
Kate Nash marked a transition in the day as the afternoon headliner. She brought in the 00s Indie fans who were all crowing to belt out every word to ‘Foundations’ yet her set was much more than that.
Her on stage performance was electric, hyping up the crowd from song one and delivering a blend of the indie chorus’s of her 2007 album ‘Made of Bricks’ & the more thoughtful, Alt Pop expression of her recent releases. This was the perfect segway to shift from the the energy of the early acts to the soulful edge of the evening.
Brooke Combe instantly enraptured everyone in the room with her natural, laid back charisma, sparking memories of vintage Soul while also injecting every song with her unique Glaswegian charm. MT Jones got hips swaying and fingers clicking with his own take on a 60s aesthetic.
However, Jalen Ngonda truly stole the show with his piercing, heartfelt vocal tones that shook the walls of Grand Central Hall. Instrumentally vibrant, rhythmically alive and yet tonally so silky smooth, each song was as infectious as the last!
By the end of the night every single person in the room was grooving along - the perfect way to finish the festival with purely good vibes ringing through city!
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