Liverpool’s five best small gig venues

As anyone who has lived among other humans within the last 60 years will know, Liverpool is a fantastic city for music. Sure, the Beatles might dominate conversations about Scouse bands, but over the years Merseyside has produced a multitude of talent, including Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Cast, The La’s and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. All right, and Atomic Kitten.

Today, the spirit of live music is still going strong in the city, so we’ve put together a list of five Liverpool gig venues that are doing it right.

The Shipping Forecast, Slater Street

Behind its brick and matte-grey exterior, the Shipping Forecast exemplifies Liverpool’s rich maritime history. Delve below the open-plan bar area and you’ll find a black-washed, almost dungeon-like gig space that seems to drive the music from the stage right at you. Food is served upstairs, allowing you to fill your belly before you attempt to crowd surf. The space is tight, so be prepared to kiss the ceiling if you do.

Maguire’s Pizza Bar, Renshaw Street

The hidden gem that is Maguire’s Pizza Bar really has struck upon a truly winning combo in its business model - pizza and live music. Not one to strike for sleek interiors, Maguire’s is a no-frills venue that cares more about showing visitors a good time than it does about aesthetics. Grab a beer and a slice of pizza, and watch your favourite local bands thrash it out.

The Kazimier, Wolstenholme Square

Boasting a two-level gig room reminiscent of an amphitheatre, ‘the Kaz’ (as it is affectionately known) regularly pulls in up-and-coming bands and artists. Just next door you’ll find Kazimier Garden, one of the city’s best-loved open-air drinks venues where real ales are served beneath lanterns and fairy lights.

If you want to experience everything the Kazimier has to offer, you have until the end of 2015 (New Year’s Day, specifically), after which the venue will disappear to give way to developer Elliot Group’s £40m Wolstenholme Square makeover.

East Village Arts Club, Seal Street

While it also serves as a restaurant, bar and creative space, the Arts Club is at its heart a gig venue. Housed within a relatively unassuming 19th century brick building, the venue boasts handsome interiors and intriguing culinary fare to complement its live music offering.

The Arts Club seems to have something on just about every day of the week, so it’s worth swinging by whether you’re just stepping out of Central Station on Bold Street or rolling from nearby Salt Dog Slims after a few hearty steins.

Leaf, Bold Street

While Maguire’s offers the greasy pizza we all crave after a few cheeky scoops, Leaf combines music with another staple of British culture - tea. Having moved into its current premises in 2010 to become an even more prominent feature of Liverpool’s increasingly bohemian nightlife, Leaf showcases a stream of local musical talent and has two floors complete with long wooden tables and charming rustic benches.

Do you have a favourite gig venue that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments below.

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