Sound City 2026 - Saturday Roundup: Future headliners, fresh talent and new music all in one place
Sound City 2026 did not disappoint.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Credit: Charlie Wright 📸
Sound City in Liverpool consistently delivers incredible lineups and, in particular, has become the place to see upcoming talent take to the spotlight. This year was no different, with a stacked roster of bands and artists across the bank holiday weekend. We headed up to Liverpool on Saturday to get involved in the action.
Headlining Saturday was the sensational KEO, who have gone from strength to strength since releasing their debut EP, Siren, last year. Since then, they’ve toured relentlessly and have developed an endless list of unreleased material. The band commanded the largest venue of Sound City through a jam-packed rock setlist.
A key highlight was during Thorn, which saw the sheer scale of their growing cultural impact on the rock scene, as the entire room screamed back every lyric. Elsewhere, their cover of The Doors’ The End was mesmerising, breathing youthful spirit into an iconic track which has clearly inspired the rising band.
They also played one of their gritty new tracks That’s Me which is energetic, catchy and badass. The single stylistically draws from Wunderhorse and will be huge once it drops.
The main stage, Grand Central, also saw stellar appearances from Gurriers and Basht, both of which drew huge crowds.
Headlining the TUNNEL stage with Rock Revival was the band everyone is talking about, Bleech 9:3. Known on the scene for their energetic and chaotic live shows, the quartet have quickly risen to notoriety. Their debut EP drops this month. They were at the top of our list, and the queues around the block were frankly…bonkers. It felt reminiscent of their pop-up show in Camden, which also saw an unfathomable number of people trying to catch a glimpse. TUNNEL is exactly what it says on the tin and was immediately full.
Those who were lucky to get in experienced the sheer force of Bleech 9:3. For over half an hour, they effortlessly took control, the crowd already taking the lead before they’d even started. Across tracks like Ceiling, Underated and Jacky, the tightly-packed waves of people surged towards and onto the stage. At one point, a gig-goer got on the stage, singing into the microphone as Duffy (guitarist) smiled and gave him his moment. It was sweaty, chaotic, but most importantly, unforgettable. They’ll be back to headline soon.
This intimate room also included fantastic shows from Saint Clair, who debuted lots of new music, Brooki and morningstar, all ones to watch in their own right.
On the Arts Club Theatre stage, there was an eclectic mix of music, including The Molotovs, Courting and Westside Cowboy. The latter has been tipped as one of the best sets of the day by punters, as the hype around the band seemingly keeps growing. The screams of 'Westside Cowboy’ will never get old.
Aside from music, the festival delivered a fantastic buzz to the city centre. There were pop-up acoustic sets, plenty of entertainment, and Liverpool felt alive. It’s proof that grassroots music and venues are important to our culture.
Highlights Gallery:
