Sound City Liverpool 2026
Liverpool Sound City is one of the UK’s most prominent independent music festivals known for spotlighting new and emerging artists.
The festival was founded in 2008. Liverpool Sound City takes place every year in Liverpool and has grown into a major cultural event.
At its core, the festival is about discovery. Rather than focusing on big-name headliners, it prioritizes showcasing up-and-coming talent from across all genres (indie, rock, electronic, hip-hop, and more). More often giving audiences a first look at artists who later become globally successful.
Over the years, Sound City has built a reputation as a starting point for future stars with early performances from artists like Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, and Stormzy.
The Kairos
The Kairos’ performance at Liverpool Sound City captured everything the festival is known for: raw energy, rising talent, and a crowd eager to discover what’s next. Taking to one of the festival’s packed venues, the Liverpool four-piece delivered a set that felt both urgent and exciting. They are rooted within the city’s rich guitar band tradition but also with a modern edge. From the start, their sound was immediate. Driving indie rock rhythms, harsh guitar riffs, and anthemic choruses that quickly pulled the audience in. Built on years of experience performing across Liverpool, their live presence came through in full force.
What stood out the most for me was the connection with the crowd. There was no distance between the band and the audience. It felt communal, with singalong moments and bursts of movement spreading through the room as the set gained momentum.
One of the acts I chose to watch on Sunday was XL Poncho.
XL Poncho is a Liverpool-based band known for their high-energy, multi-genre sound and playful, offbeat identity. Emerging from the city’s vibrant grassroots scene, they’ve built a reputation for combining elements of indie rock, funk, punk, and dance music into something unpredictable.
Their performances are typically chaotic, interactive, and full of personality, with a focus on getting the crowd involved rather than just playing through a set. This has helped them gain traction at local gigs and festivals, where their energy translates especially well.
Overall, XL Poncho fit into a new wave of Liverpool bands that prioritizes experimentation, humor, and crowd connection, making them a memorable act both on record and on stage.
One of my favorite acts I saw this weekend was Permanent (Joy). They are a UK alternative band known for their moody, atmospheric sound and emotionally charged songwriting. They blend elements of punk, indie rock, and pop. Their music often sits in that space between introspection and intensity. Sonically, they lean into reverb-heavy guitars and steady rhythmic builds, creating tracks that feel immersive and slow-burning rather than immediate. Vocals are typically delivered with a restrained, almost detached tone, which adds to the band’s sense of quiet tension and somberness.
In a live setting, they contrast their studio recordings’ subtlety with intense, immersive performances, drawing audiences into their complicated soundscapes while still maintaining a sense of intimacy.
Ben Ellis is part of a new wave of UK indie pop artists, starting out online and growing through streaming and live shows.
From the moment Ben stepped on stage, there was a noticeable shift in the room.
Ben performed a mix of his most popular songs and some underground songs that haven’t received as much traction. He performed “holding on to nothing,” which has become a fan favorite, but he also performed a new song called “move, honey,” which is coming out on his deluxe EP, the train where the time slows on June 5th. The fans in the crowd knew every single word even though it’s not released.
Where other acts leaned into chaos and energy, Ben leaned inwards. Armed with a guitar and a soft but expressive vocal, he created an intimacy that felt almost out of place at a festival. What stood out most to me was the connection he had with the crowd. Between songs he spoke to the crowd, making the emotional pull in his performance even stronger.
Ben’s stripped-back approach marked him out as one to watch and a favorite amongst many. An artist whose success lies not in volume but in vulnerability.
An incredible weekend full of great music, proving Liverpool is one of the best places for discovering new artists. Sound City was packed all weekend, even when it was raining. For fans willing to wander and take a chance, Sound City isn’t just a festival; it’s a front-row seat to what’s next in the music scene.
I highly recommend Sound City and credit all of those on the team who make this happen every year.