Liverpool Sound City 2015

Fusing the jittery energy and clean lines of post-punk with taut beats and scratchy funk riffs, Julie Campbell’s second album is one of our favourite records of 2015 so far. Live, Campbell and her band are every bit as compelling. Do the smart thing and head down to the front on Saturday, where you’ll witness LoneLady playing the bulk of Hinterland, alongside selected highlights from 2010’s superb debut, Nerve Up. Pro tip: wear comfy footwear, and be prepared to dance to ‘Groove It Out’ and the rest.

Last seen in the top 10 of our Best of 2013, New Zealand-born, Portland-based multi-instrumentalist Ruban Nielson is set to release his third studio album with Unknown Mortal Orchestra on 25th May. As you’ve probably already gathered from the two singles so far, Multi-Love finds Nielson and friends upgrading their lo-fi alt-rock for full-fat funk, albeit still filtered through the prism of 70s psychedelia. Be amongst the first to hear those new tracks live, at their show on Saturday.

Being born, bred and based in Liverpool, Stealing Sheep’s gig at Sound City counts as a homecoming show, and we all know how special homecoming shows are. Add that to the fact they’re currently touring their excellent second album, Becoming Real, and you’ll see why we reckon Saturday’s show is unmissable. For the benefit of the uninitiated, the trio combine elements of folk, psych, funk, Krautrock and synth-pop, with mellifluous three-part harmonies. If you’re into all or any of the above, you’ll find a lot to love in their set.