Five Unusual Venues in Liverpool

The city of Liverpool is famed for many things, and each usually has a venue linked to the history. It’s almost impossible to separate the Beatles and the Cavern club, and from a clubbing perspective the three Cs that have loomed large over the landscape for the past twenty years, Cream, Chibuku and Circus, all have differing and fascinating relationships with venues.

Cream has been enshrined in one location all along, Nation being arguably the most iconic and famous club in the country full stop let alone the city. It’s a venue which has in the past also housed both Circus and Chibuku, the two sister promotions having an at times nomadic experience based around the backbone of the East Village Arts Club, what was formerly known as The Masque.

Those two though both have a history of going for the unusual, which sits well within the current climate in the city. Nineteenth century concert halls, monuments to the Second World War or cavernous mining tunnels, these are just some of the places to enjoy music in Liverpool away from the usual hustle and bustle of a club or bar. And we’ve picked five of the best to enjoy this summer.

St Luke’s (Bombed-Out) Church            

Liverpool has a bit of a reputation for being a survivor, and no truer does this ring than with St Lukes Church. Having had its roof destroyed during the Second World War, the church has since become a focal point of the city’s resistance and makes for an excellent place to enjoy open air films, art galleries and music.

This summer that’s epitomised by two very different events, with Liverpool Calling showcasing a line-up that includes Brighton rockers British Sea Power and then Freeze (who have been instrumental in the city’s embracing of the unusual) bringing Kompakt record’s Brazilian enigma Gui Boratto the UK for his only gig in the country all year on July 13th.

The Palmhouse, Sefton Park

Set in the city’s opulent Sefton Park, the Palmhouse is as pretty as they come. A gorgeous greenhouse rammed full of exotic plants, it’s the perfect venue for weddings and more civilised affairs, even doubling up as an ice rink in the winter.

23^rd May sees Mellowtone present a showcase from the Viper Label there, with performances from TG Elais and Chris Elliot adding a lovely serenity to the surroundings.

The Williamson Tunnels

Originally an exploratory mine tunnel, this has since become one of the most exciting Liverpool venues to experience dance music, pioneered by the Rave in the Cave promotions Freeze started in 2009. It next reverberates to the sounds of Justin Robertson and Oliver Lieb for 303 Presents.

St Georges Hall (main picture)

When this magnificent building was built music was the intended primary focus, but it’s hard to come to terms that it will be used in the same way in the current manner; a breath-taking clubbing environ. Last year saw Freeze reclaim the space with that in mind, and this year they pull it off again with Luciano & Friends coming down on June 22^nd.

Camp and Furnace

Strictly speaking this is cheating a little bit, as the Camp and Furnace is kind of a regular club space. But how many clubs boast Caravans in one room, trees adorning the main dancefloor of another and a variance of use that includes craft fairs, food and music face-offs as well as your blood and thunder clubnights?

They currently begin the weekend with Foodslam Fridays, which is a free entrance event which has a litany of food options, classy cocktails and a DJ set from Chibuku mainstay Dash, whilst the summer clubbing events include Viva Music’s house hero Julian Perez headlining Motion & Rehab present on July 27^th.