Five Of The Best: Acts to look out for at Liverpool Music Week

Ahead of Liverpool Music Week's big opener on Friday, we've picked out outstanding acts set for the city's annual musical harbouring.

Ben Smith

Last updated: 5th Nov 2015

Image: Chvrches at Liverpool Music Week '14

An annual beacon of musical culture in the city, Liverpool Music Week continues to bring a diversified spread of shows to a selection of its independent venues.

Widening the scope for alternative acts to visit the city, the run of events show Liverpool in its best light, amassing a colossal programme of acts for both the opening and closing shows with a number of select shows woven in between. 

While those familiar with Liverpool know that the city's iconic venues, scene figureheads and promoters are consistent in their offerings, Europe's largest indoor festival hauls in punters far and wide.  

This year's programme sketches in acts that range from post-rock behemoths to burgeoning indie outfits destined for dizzier peaks. 

In wide-eyed anticipation of the annual extravaganza, we've picked out five artists who you may or may not of heard of that are simply too good to miss when they rock up on the Mersey. 

Stealing Sheep x Immix Ensemble at The Bluecoat on Sunday 25th October 

A link up that oozes city progressiveness and innovation, psych propelled trio Stealing Sheep and Immix Ensemble - a local pool of talented musicians - will dazzle minds at The Bluecoat. 

The beauty in this hook up is that we don't quite know were it will take us; but self assured Stealing Sheep's clean cut harmonies and majestic melodies, paired off with Immix Ensemble's forward thinking mantra boasts unrestricted potential for this truly unique show. 

HEALTH at The Kazimier Garden on Sunday 25th October 

LA Noise Rockers HEALTH take no prisoners when pulverising the room with an experimental output that rages red with each and every drum beat cannoning off an unnerving ambience.

Fittingly pencilled in for the lead up to Halloween, with bludgeoning tracks like 'STONEFIST' (listen above) inked onto their set list, The Kazimier may need to reinforce its walls for the visit of the skull shuddering four-piece. 

Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Camp and Furnace on Tuesday 27th October 

On the subject of rarities being shipped across from the Atlantic, there is arguably none more elusive than nineties post-rock juggernauts Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Formed in 1994, the Montreal outfit's orchestral arrangements and captivating soundscapes are often pieced together by more than ten musicians at one time. Enhanced by visual collaborations, the show at the cavernous Camp and Furnace space is both mind blowing and original in its appeal.  

Best Coast at The Kazimier Garden on Friday 30th October

It's not often we see Best Coast on UK shores away from the festival stage, meaning this is a must see for you surf-pop junkies hung up on Beth Cosentino's smoking vocal layered over a haze of lo-fi melody. 

Their latest album California Nights dipped into nineties alt-rock territory, gives them plenty more armoury to pistol whip the crowd into full admiration for their talon sharp guitar parts that snake through tracks like 'Feelin Ok'. (listen above)  

Deerhunter at Camp and Furnace on Saturday 31st October (Closing party)

Extending the trend of sonic experimentation that encapsulates the ten day stretch of events, noise soft-rock band Deerhunter head up an imperious line up of acts set for the curtain closer on Saturday 31st October. 

Vaulted by Bradford Cox's slightly unorthodox vocal and absorbing on stage presence, the band revel in blissed out outposts with a tendency for impromptu in-show jamming sessions. (Listen to Living my Life from latest album Fading Frontier above)  

Liverpool Music Week tickets are available via the LMW group

Read: Stealing Sheep interview: An ever-shifting Liverpool landscape