Liverpool Sound City 2014

For 2014, the festival is looking at the relationship between music, football and style and while the conference strand will see keynote speeches from FIFA’s Jerome Champagne and former Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry at a time when the red half of the city is on the verge of ending 24 years of hurt, it’s really the musical speakers that excite.

Gruff Rhys will take part in a Q&A following a screening of his American Interior film which accompanies the album of the same name, before he “headlines” the Friday evening of music. Former Sonic Youth man Thurston Moore will also speak, as will professional gentleman musician and legend John Cale.

But it’s the music you’re really interested in, isn’t it? Well, here’s some choice cuts… There’s a mighty lineup of electronic music, the highlights being a one-two punch of East India Youth and Fuck Buttons but also the pounding beats of Jon Hopkins and the repetitive dance of the excellent Factory Floor.

Pop music is represented in many forms, but this writer is keen to catch the stunning voice and music of Rae Morris, the glorious electro pop of Best Fit favourite Pawws, and the bite and attitude of young Chloe Howl. There’s also some brilliant Nordic music in the form of Say Lou Lou and Highasakite….throw in the chance to catch Woman’s Hour before they go huge then I can feel some schedule clashes coming on…

You’d also be a fool to miss the dark glam pop of Manchester’s PINS, the Australian drawl that underpins the classic indie guitar storytelling of Courtney Barnett, the leather-jacket-and-shades coolness of Denmark’s Shiny Darkly and if everyone who wants to catch the enigmatic newcomers Jungle do their unclassifiable soulful thing then the organisers will have to open the gates of Anfield.

With that many bands and venues you’d be hard pressed to not find something to love, so grab your schedule, work out a plan and I’ll see you down the front somewhere.

For the full-line and more info head here.