While Eurovision 2023 celebrated some of the best musicians in Europe, we at The Beatles Story and The Jacaranda Club celebrated some of the best musicians in the great city of Liverpool. Our Fab4 Cafe at The Royal Albert Dock hosted an exciting and diverse line-up of musical talent curated by The Jacaranda.
We’ve brought together information and the top songs of each of the performers who entertained our visitors throughout the Eurovision period. Immerse yourself in Liverpool’s music scene with our Spotify playlist below.
Monday 1st May:
11am – Mike Blue – a singer-songwriter from the North-West of England. He began playing professionally at age 19 after releasing his debut album ‘The Demo Tapes’: a collection of demos he recorded in one sitting. He went on to tour this album extensively around the North West, building up his reputation in local music scenes. At the end of 2020, Blue wrote, produced and released his second major body of work ‘Dark Daze’ and embarked on his first solo U.K tour to promote the release of the album, playing in major cities across the U.K and finishing up in his home town to a sold out show.
2pm – Motel Sundown – a three-piece Americana band from Liverpool. Spotify recommends Motel Sundown to fans of The Beatles, Hushtones and Mumford & Sons.
Tuesday 2nd May:
11am – Kingfast – a Jamaican born and Belfast raised solo artist whose soulful vocals have been gathering traction around the UK. Some more notable performances of KingFast’s include Liverpool International Music Festival, Cannes (during the film festival), Edinburgh Fringe, Nantwich Jazz Festival, Liverpool Sound City and Aintree Racecourse for Ladies Day. Since winning Merseyrail Sound Station 2017 KingFast’s audience has grown greatly and his sound developed. It is very apparent upon listening to KingFast’s music that there is a fusion of several genres but seemingly most prominent is a cross between Pop and Soul
2pm – Tonia – Tonia’s musical output is never something that is easily defined. With jazz-influenced pop being the closest match, the worlds in which she merges are known for their free-thinking, indiscriminate nature. They welcome all to come and enjoy a world away from their own. It is these escapist tendencies that find a home in Tonia’s music, perfectly complementing her unabashed love for the world she grew up in. Surrounded by pianists, opera singers, pop-lovers and dad rock fans, you could say her journey was inevitable. As she picks up the torch from those who journeyed this musical world before her and she forges a path untrod, it is clear that the eclecticism that surrounded young Tonia has seeped into her own output, complementing her training in classical music and songwriting. The honesty in her lyricism marries beautifully with her ode to mellow soul, as she articulates the pressure facing young women, and navigates a world of heartache, growth and moving on, as Tonia breaks down her experience of coming of age.
Wed 3rd May:
11am – Ellena Storey – a powerful soul artist, influenced by Etta James, Erykah Badu and Joy Crookes. The West Kirby songstress has strong elements of jazz and soulful grit to her vocals, writing beautiful melodies with raw emotion behind them.
2pm – Fiona Lennon – a singer/songwriter from Liverpool. Influenced by a variety of artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Mazzy Star, Julia Jacklin and many more. Fiona has developed an eclectic style with elements of folk, pop, rock and soul in her music.
Thurs 4th May:
11am – Dr Orange – a Liverpool artist playing fuzzy high-frequency rock and roll. After the success of his first five singles, Dr Orange has landed firmly on the music scene and has excited and intrigued much of the online community. Working tightly with grammy award-winning producer Jon Withnall (Coldplay, The Coral, Rhianna), 2021 saw the release of several singles accompanied by his debut show supporting The Peach Fuzz at The Arts Club. Finishing the year by playing back to back sold-out shows at Future Yard and Sofar Sounds, 2022 will see the release of Dr Orange’s debut EP supported by shows and festival slots across the UK.
2pm – The Stamp – an ever so proudly Liverpool born, bred and based band. Their self-professed feel-good expressive upbeat rock is tinted with latin and jazz elements.
Fri 5th May:
11am – Isabelle Mettle – a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from London and currently residing in Liverpool. Her vibrant tone, alongside her metaphorical and emotive songwriting style, adds to the upbeat and stimulating nature of her music. Growing up, Mettle was fascinated by music, picking up several instruments from a young age. However, her passion for music grew at the age of 13, when she began writing and producing songs – her debut single, ‘Orange’, being one of her first ventures in the songwriting industry. Heavily influenced by soul, R&B, jazz, acid jazz and alternative genres; Isabelle Mettle is inspired by experimental and disruptive musical ideas. Her direct influences include Erykah Badu, Kate Bush, Betty Davis and Prince, all of whom go against the grain. Isabelle Mettle’s fresh sound, genre fluidity and innovative ideas unite a variety of listeners, and so much more is yet to come.
2pm – Georgia Johnson – an Indie pop/folk artist from Liverpool. She’s built up a solid live following and released her debut single, ‘Sunflowers (Still Grow In Darkness)’ on 3rd March.
Sat 6th May:
11am – Freddie Yowstra – Ultra-cool singer-songwriter Freddie Yowstra is dubbed as one to watch as he’s making waves with his laidback and euphoric records since hitting the scene as a solo artist after years of playing with bands.
2pm – Lois – Born in Leeds, Lois released her first single just last year and is already making a name for herself with her soulful sound. Her debut EP, Strange Men, is set to come out this year. After releasing its title track as a single, Lois is back with “Strong”.
Sun 7th May:
11am – Katie Nicolas – an award-winning singer songwriter from Liverpool. After a long musical hiatus she steps into a new musical era with her latest EP “Feather” showcasing her as a distinctive folk artist, skilful guitarist and fearless in bending any genre to suit her message. With her poetic lyricism and carefully crafted guitar arrangements accompanied with strings and keys, her sound is reminiscent of obscure but timeless artists including Kate Rusby, Katie Melua, Eva Cassidy and Joni Mitchell.
2pm – Eleanor Nelly – ever since she burst on the scene as a fresh-faced teenager armed with her guitar, Eleanor Nelly has gained a reputation for creating songs that exposed the raw and gritty truth about life’s complexities with an open heart and keen eye. With 10 years of gigging all around the UK under her belt, Eleanor Nelly has found herself supporting many of her favourite bands and artists – such as Ruston Kelly and Flyte – and at the end of 2021 released EP ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ accompanied by a sell-out show in her hometown of Liverpool with her band. An acoustic guitar perfectly paired with painfully honest lyrics has always been a massive part of Eleanor Nelly’s musical identity and finding massive influence in artists such as The Eagles to John Martyn.
Mon 8th May:
11am – Waiting Till Marriage – Bursting into the scene in mid-2021, North West trio Waiting Till Marriage have quickly made their mark releasing an expansive plethora of singles including their latest addition . Based in musical hot spot Liverpool, they take their influence from indie legends such as and as well as giants and WTM repeatedly varies their catalogue with anthemic alt-rock () and juxtaposing touching ballads (). Backed by the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, Johnson tells stories of heartbreak in an almost joyful manner alongside Tew’s unique playing style and Brady’s driving bass lines, making WTM the fresh group you’ll love.
2pm – The Savage Young Beatles – NOT your parents squeaky clean Beatles cover band but the amphetamine fueled, leathery, sweaty, beautiful noise BEFORE they were THE Beatles!
Tues 9th May:
11am – Sundown Dialogue – the newly-named band is headed up by Jordy Fleming. In the 5th grade Jordy learned 4 chords on the ukulele She played “Let it Be” by The Beatles in a school talent show and completely shocked everyone. The moment that everyone stood up cheering, she knew that music was what she wanted to do.
2pm – BLCK UTAH – the musical soul of Canadian-born producer and multi-instrumentalist Jamieson Muir. While pulling from the sonic aesthetic of icons such as Bruce Springsteen, The War On Drugs and Johhny Cash, he also finds inspiration in the choppy sampling made famous by the likes of J Dilla and the Akai MPC3000. His new single “Rolla” shares his exploration into the beauty and brokenness found in small town north america. Sounds like: The War On Drugs , Sam Fender, Bruce Springsteen,
Wed 10th May:
11am – May Payne – May gained a cult following online as a young teenager, posting the intimate details of her personal life sometimes 100+ times per day. Now, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter expresses her outspoken vulnerability through emotional RnB-infused indie-pop ballads, inspired by an eclectic mix of My Chemical Romance, Bob Dylan, and Lizzy McAlpine.
2pm – Evie Moran – After earning national praise for the tranquil acoustic atmosphere of her last single ‘Disconnected’, which gained support from BBC Radio 6 Music, Evie Moran is now pushing the boundaries of her songwriting capabilities. The lull of lockdown allowed Evie the time and space to grow into her lush, indie folk sound, releasing debut singles which provided a taste of her entrancing songwriting and captivating vocal style. After mastering the craft of raw storytelling through solo acoustic performance, Evie is ready to mature into a new musical space fuelled by the influence of artists like London Grammar and BANKS. Evie’s upcoming work delivers distinctively pure vocal emotion wrapped up in warm alt-pop production, culminating in an elevation of her folk roots into a new atmospheric pop soundscape. Evie has previously appeared at events including Sound City, Threshold Festival and FOCUS Wales and was one of twelve artists accepted onto Sound City’s artist development programme sponsored by size?, as well as being nominated for ‘Best Solo Artist’ at the KCC Music Awards alongside artists including Pixey and Zuzu. Evie’s new single ‘How Do You Like Me Now?’ is out now via Tri-Tone Music.
Thurs 11th May:
11am – Sleeping Soul – Born and bred in Liverpool, singer Nadeen Kemp has been performing at local gigs for over 16 years with her Folk Pop style music. Nadeen started off as the drummer in an all female Beatles band.
2pm – Zuzu – Liverpool’s acclaimed singer-songwriter – and noted sci-fi obsessive, gamer and comic book enthusiast – has emerged from her home studio in Liverpool after what can only be described as a productive twelve months. Zuzu has spent the year preparing for the release of her debut album Queensway Tunnel, writing music for Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time: Distant Lands, reworking her song “How It Feels” to into Simlish (the official language of The Sims video game) and in May she became the first artist in the northern hemisphere to play a non-socially-distanced live show, as she opened for Blossoms in front of 5,000 enthusiastic fans. Debut album Queensway Tunnel, released on November 12th via Zuzu’s own Planet Z Records, draws its power from themes of change, addiction, sci-fi, escapism, identity, community, and the protection of mental health. Sincere, intimate and raw, Zuzu catalogues what she describes as a “deep emotional unrest” by sorting and filing her feelings through her music; defragging a cluttered and chaotic headspace to figure out what it means to navigate life as a twenty-something.
Fri 12th May:
11am – Broken Down Golf Cart – spacey grunge and fuzzy weird love. Based in Liverpool, UK. Jen Baranick is a musician and visual artist and the project started out as such. It’s now a band eh. Live show consists of : Liam Crosbie on bass, Amanda Scheibert on drums and vocals, Tayler Little on lead guitar and Jen Baranick on guitar and vocals
2pm – Pet Snake – Liverpool-based act Pet Snake (aka songwriter Evelyn Halls) finally struck out on her own and happened to create something magical. “Jacket” is her latest offering, a song that pairs influences ranging from folk; to bedroom-pop; to alternative music. Utilizing a canned Casio beat with more organic elements like guitars and a thumping bass, the song makes use of of memorable melodies; squiggly synth textures; and even a few ooh-oohs for good measure. There’s even an accompanying music video that perfectly represents the song’s uplifting and vaguely-nostalgic vibes.
Sat 13th May:
11am – Keyside – Keyside are at the forefront of the emerging Liverpool scene. Hailing from the Mersey delta their sound takes influence from bands such as, The La’s, The Smiths and a nod towards The Police – all delivered through a decidedly unapologetic scouse filter. ‘A sound that creates a potent brew, which is able to take you out of a darkened sweaty basement and into the fresh fields of festival season’. – Liverpool Noise The band have gained quite the reputation in the city after supporting some of the most exciting names in the city and gigging in top venues including the O2 Academy and The Arts Club. Their sound has been described as ‘breezy and jangly yet hard to pin down whilst all being delivered with poise and confidence’. – Halfway 2 knowhere
2pm – The Stanleys – emerging from Wigan, a small industrial town just outside Manchester in the North of England, Stanleys are the next in a long line of illustrious musicians to emerge from the town. Bands and artists ranging from George Formby Senior and Junior to The Verve, Starsailor to The Lathums are proud to call Wigan home, eventually taking their poignant songwriting across the rest of the country and Stanleys are set to follow in their footsteps. Perhaps there’s something about hearing a regional accent singing in full flow that’s endearing, or their jangly riffs and subtle drum beats reminiscent of other great North West bands such as The Smiths or The La’s. Some would argue the recognisable relatable stories told by front man Tom Concannon is the focal point of the band, with Jake Dorsman (guitar), Harry Ivory (bass) and Rob Hilton (drums and backing vocals) completing the line up. But ultimately, it is a combination of all these things that have seen Stanleys make their mark on the North West scene so quickly. Performing at The Lathums’ sold-out show at O2 Victoria Warehouse, as well as sold out shows at O2 Ritz with Jamie Webster and The Lottery Winners; all on top of selling out their own Manchester headline show in a matter of minutes, Stanleys have a strong-hold on the North West scene. And it’s now only a matter of time before the rest of the country are hanging onto every word. – Gigs and Tours
Sun 14th May:
11am – SYLLO – SYLLO is the solo project of Liverpool based artist Joel James. Combining ambient synths, heavy drums and guitars and lyricism touching on heartfelt emotion and feelings.
2pm – Mt Jones – Gathering inspiration from 60s and 70s soul greats across the Atlantic to modern R&B and jazz, MT Jones evokes a sound that is both contemporary and timeless. His crooning vocals transport you straight back to a smoke-filled speakeasy, while somehow feeling fresh and innovative. Between stints in Liverpool & London, Jones has travelled the world as a session musician & penned songs for other artists, making a name for himself as a gifted and prolific songwriter. Since then, lockdown gave him the time and space to put his talent under his own name. His debut single out on 9th November, ‘I Won’t Ever Say Goodbye’ is a soulful, heart-on-sleeve ballad that marks the start of big things for MT Jones.