ROUGH TRADE LIVERPOOL: SPINNING THE CITY’S SOUNDTRACK
Rough Trade, located on Hanover Street hit the city on the April 18th. Having first opened in 1976 in London, the record store has grown from strength to strength, celebrating new music and culture, and expanding over time whilst maintaining a tight-knit community all over the UK.
Working closely with both artists and independent businesses, Rough Trade Liverpool is keen to make and maintain connections within the industry, particularly keeping an eye out for bands playing a role in meaningful change, contributing towards the continuation of Liverpool as one of the most musically influential cities in the world. In particular, Rough Trade’s focus on supporting local artists alongside their collaborations with a range of music promoters such as Liverpool Sound City and Content Liverpool suggests promising leads for new music.
An important addition to Liverpool’s music infrastructure, Rough Trade has great things promised for its live space, which opened with a launch party in the first week of June. The celebration gathered partners, label friends, staff and newfound community together in the 290-capacity venue on the first floor. Incredible up-and-coming local bands gave the store’s stage its debut; Pixey, STONE and Crawlers, and the event was accessible to all with free tickets being made available for those keen to get involved.
Having discussed their DIY ethos, the faces behind Rough Trade believe in promoting new music and discovering under-the-radar artists to do exclusive events. This is being showcased through their events programme, now in full swing, with listings and tickets available through DICE FM.
With upcoming and local artists set to arrive at Rough Trade Liverpool every month this summer, you can expect a lot going on in the shop and the live music space. Notably, a series of live performances and signings are due to hit the store, including Alfie Templeman, Robert Vincent and KOKOKO!
Credit: Rough Trade
‘Rough Trade’s ‘Gig for Gaza’ features Loose Articles, MARYAM, Pet Snake and Steel in making a stand for over 2 million children affected by war, taking place July 7th. With all proceeds going to War Child UK, Rough Trade Liverpool will be raising money for the Palestinian families affected by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.’
In an unexpected turn of events, the store will be hosting PHACEMELTER, a bank holiday weekend of rave to christen the new venue with the biggest multi-genre party in the city. The event will feature sets from the likes of Alien Izz, Matica and Various Threat. Expect breaks, jungle, garage and techno as the space is transformed over the August bank holiday.
There are so many artists arriving and performing in the space over the coming months, to find out more head to their website: https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb
Arranging a curating space to uniquely serve the community, the store hosts a great selection of vinyl, CDs, books and merchandise. Additionally, Rough Trade includes a fully stocked café, bar and dedicated performance venue in collaboration with Dark Arts Coffee, Signature Brew, Wild Turkey UK, Cambridge Audio and Marshall Group to name a few.
Arguably their most critical collaboration is with CALM, Campaign Against Living Miserably. CALM challenges the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, provoking conversation, running life-saving services and bringing people together. The charity partnership is especially meaningful to the people of Rough Trade as artists, musicians and entertainers have an increased risk of suicide. Rough Trade’s collaboration allows for donations to the cause by raising funds through in-store activations.
Whilst Rough Trade is already making waves across the city, supporting Liverpool’s independent record stores is crucial for preserving culture and community spirit. Probe Records, established in 1971, offers a unique selection of vinyl and a space for music lovers to gather. Elsewhere, Dig Vinyl in Bold Street provides a curated collection of both new and second-hand records, contributing to the city’s vibrant music scene. Wherever you are in Liverpool, you’re never too far from a dynamic selection of independent record stores, ensuring the survival of the city’s rich music heritage.
Credit: Dig Vinyl
Rough Trade’s arrival in Liverpool is set to transform the city and continue its thriving music legacy. By offering invaluable opportunities to emerging artists and music promoters, fostering a sense of community through live music events, and engaging in groundbreaking collaborations, Rough Trade is already making a profound impact. So whether you’re a dedicated music enthusiast or just beginning to explore the vibrant world of gigs and vinyl, be sure to check out Liverpool’s record stores.
Written by Eve Waterhouse.
