Rough Trade, And Why The Time Is Right To Invest In Liverpool

The city's creative communities are booming...

When the news of the largest Rough Trade in the UK opening in Liverpool broke, the city was flooded with talk. What started as sharing social media links soon evolved into everyday conversation, between colleges, friends, and in the many venues the city holds. There was obvious excitement. Discussions of the opening, and what hidden gems vinyl fans hope to find in the new addition to the streets. But amongst all of the noise was another feeling, subtle, yet growingly discernible, and summarised best by the bar-tender and in the local pub – ‘it’s a good fit innit?’

Last year, Liverpool saw a resurgence of major live events descend upon its streets, and make the city a national talking point. The grandiose Eurovision Music Contest was hosted by the city last year, and was welcomed with open arms, with multiple shows being held in a ‘Eurovision Village’ towards the run up to the finale, which saw the likes of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Lightning Seeds perform. But even before 2023, Liverpool was a hotbed for new music in the nation, hosting a festival evening as part of a Liverpool project to research COVID-safe gigs back in 2021. They cemented to the country; that even decades after the notorious Fab Four had resided, Liverpool has remained one of the nation’s premier spots for UK music. For as major as these events were, it was the city’s response that truly transformed these functions into a phenomenon. The city brought excitement, championing, and a sense of celebration to the Eurovision run-up, traits that have continually been found in the city’s grassroots music scene years prior. 

What may have come as news to the rest of England, was already known and celebrated by locals. For years now the city’s music scene has been on an upwards rise. Starting at a local level, in venues across the city you can hear an array of local talent every day of the week with open mic nights and ‘Introducing’ events being a staple of nightlife. This influx of gig culture has made way for the city to open bigger venues, such as Content, Liverpool’s newest large gig space that had Caroline Polcheck as their debut gig, or the new Jacaranda Records, a record shop that has just opened a new venue residing in the notorious Baltic Triangle. 

But the celebration of the city’s music scene doesn’t stop at the city centre’s edges. Across the water lies Future Yard, who have been championing the ‘creative renaissance’ of Birkenhead hosting multiple shows, festivals and exhibitions across the area. What’s more, plenty of music industry businesses have also made a home for themselves in the city’s creative scene. From Sentric Music, Ditto, and Skiddle it seems that even the behind-the-scenes of the music industry has found a home in Liverpudlian streets; a testament to the city’s abilities to cater to every area of the scene. Like the UNESCO status demonstrates, Liverpool is truly a music city.

What remains a true constant no matter where you look however, is one prioritisation; a steadfast importance on the city’s community. Liverpool prides itself on the people who reside within it, and in turn, uplift and support them in any way possible. Charity events are a staple, one of the most talked about being the infamous Tories Can’t Dance, a gig which puts on local acts in order to raise money for local charities. Africa Oye is a eagerly anticipated celebration of the summer months, being the largest free festival in the UK for African music and culture, with being a registered charity, which aims to “seeks to redress the balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music and artists that make this great continent one of the most vibrant and inspiring in the world.” Like these foundations of the city’s culture demonstrates, Liverpool not only seeks to stimulate the city’s population, but educate and uplift them, cementing the importance of the city’s music scene, both on a cultural level, and beyond.

Of course, there have been losses of creative spaces over the years. Jimmy’s Liverpool, and the beloved Melodic Distraction, a community radio station which airs an array of shows from local DJs, were both recently lost in 2023. With community spirit being so ingrained into the city, their closures were felt across the cultural sphere, with the city’s creative community commemorating each post with a wave of support. However, it is the very nature of that community to persist on; to ensure the future of music within the city to flourish as it has over a number of years. It starts with picking up the pieces of what once was- setting up more gigs to cover the ones lost by the closures and continuing through the openings of Rough Trade and an assortment of others. I have no doubt the long-standing vinyl shop will come to think of Liverpool as home. Many others have, myself included, and with the flourishing music scene showing no signs of stopping, others will too. It’s the right time to invest in Liverpool’s music scene – the secret is, it always has been.

Rough Trade Liverpool will open this summer.

Words: Lily Blakeney-Edwards
Main Photo: Gary Lambert

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