10 of the best current Liverpool bands

FEBRUARY 2008

Qualifying criteria for this list are very simple : the artist must be based in Merseyside or at least convincingly claim that they’re a Liverpool group; they must still be active as of February 2008; they must have produced a video; and I must love their music !

This list should be read in conjunction with my updated April 2009 list of top current Liverpool bands, which can be found here.

As usual, just click on the song titles to see the videos and hear the music.

10 Elle S’Appelle – Little Flame
This is the band’s debut single, released November 2007. – myspace facebook –

9 Northerndaze – Dirty Clouds of Dam
Unsigned band’s take on the lowlights of Amsterdam. – myspace –

8 Alexis Blue – You Won’t Get Much Sleep
Successful debut single from 2007 from this Wallasey band. – myspace facebook –

7 Alun Parry Band – You are my addiction
Last year the left wing songster released a a six track collection of new, original songs celebrating the people and city of Liverpool to mark the city’s 8th centenary. He’s currently organising a Working Class Music Festival to take place in Liverpool in September 2008, which will bring the very finest radical musicians to Liverpool for a weekend of radical songs and subversion. – website myspace facebook –

6 The Rascals – Suspicious Wit
Wirral band tipped to be the next big thing of 2008. This, their debut single, is due for release on February 18th. They’ve recently supported the Arctic Monkeys on tour and released an introductory EP ‘Out Of Dreams’. – website myspace facebook –

5 goFASTER – She Starts Monday
Great debut single release from May 2007. – website myspace facebook –

4 Candie Payne – I Wish
Title track of her debut album, released May 2007. – website myspace facebook –

3 The Dead 60s – We Get Low
This song’s obviously heavily indebted to The Clash, which is probably why it appeals to me ! Their second album, ‘Time to take sides’, is due for release very shortly. – website myspace facebook –

2 The Zutons – Valerie
Can’t believe this only gets to number two ! The Zutons are currently in LA recording their third studio album – and you can keep up with its progress on their myspace blog. – website myspace –

1 The Wombats – Let’s Dance to Joy Division
The Wombats began 2008 by being the opening act at the opening ceremony for the Capital of Culture year at Liverpool Arena. This single was released in October 2007, to coincide with the release of their debut album ‘The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’, which managed to get to #11 in the UK album charts. – website myspace facebook –

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2010

Exclusive to music to die for, here’s a podcast of the best new music from Liverpool and surrounding towns :

Liverpool music

Liverpool music

Tracklisting :
1. The 66 – City Of Culture (free download from Outlier records, album due out in 2011)
2. The Coral – Butterfly House (Butterfly House July 2010)
3. Fly With Vampires – On The Ropes (On the Ropes (single) July 2010)
4. The Idles – Feeling different (Unreleased track. Their debut EP Arrogance through Ignorance January 2010 is available on itunes)
5. Lizzie Nunnery – Company of Ghosts (Company of Ghosts April 2010)
6. Kaya – The sick champagne waltz (Balloon in a cactus field November 2008)
7. Alun Parry – Waiting For The Lovers (We Can Make The World Stop August 2009)
8. Dropscience – Seratonin Rollercoaster (There’s An Awful Lot of Weirdos In Our Neighbourhood EP April 2009)
9. Fare Evaders – You Know You’re Wrong (free download from soundcloud 2010)
10. The Sand Band – Someday The Sky (free download from the forthcoming debut album All Through The Night due out October 2010)
11. The Good Intentions – She’s In a George Jones Mood (Poor Boy July 2008)
12 Echo & The Bunnymen – Think I Need It Too (The Fountain October 2009)
13 Nowthen – The Price Is Right (Live At Sonic Vista Studios EP March 2010 : the link is to Amazon, but the band have also made the track available for free download on soundcloud)
14 Rachael Dunn – Hide (Alpha Ghost February 2010)
15. The Cubical – Like Me I’m A Peacock (Come Sing These Crippled Tunes September 2009)
16. The Loud – I’m Easy (free download debut EP April 2010)
17. Steve Roberts – A Boat On The Mersey (free download July 2010)
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