Liverpool Sound City 2017

Arguably the most influential debut album of all time, The Velvet Underground & Nico still sounds fresh 50 years on from its original release. To mark the anniversary, John Cale has assembled an all-star cast to reinterpret songs from it during a special show. Head to the Clarence Dock on May 25th to hear Gruff Rhys, The Kills, Wild Beasts, Nadine Shah, Fat White Family and Clinic put their unique twist on ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’, ‘Femme Fatale’ et al.

Amber Bain’s been on our radar since early 2015, when she shared ‘Still’, the single she worked on with members of The 1975. More than two years, we’re no closer to hearing an album, but we’re two EPs deep and as hooked on her lush yet spacious dream-pop as ever. Thanks to tours with The 1975 and support from the likes of Zane Lowe and the BBC Sound Of comittee, Bain doesn’t seem destined to play intimate venues for too much longer, either. Grab the chance while you still can.

Fatigued with full-band records and lengthy tours, Joe Mount stripped everything back for Metronomy’s fifth album, working alone with the aim of creating, “Ten tracks, straight up, upbeat.” Thankfully, he’s since changed his mind about the touring part, because ‘Old Skool’, ’16 Beat’ and the rest of the songs from Summer 08 are going to sound excellent interspersed between classic, electro-pop bangers like ‘The Bay’, ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘You Could Easily Have Me’.