This month Down on the Street visits Liverpool, courtesy of Gigslutz’s resident Scouser, Kev McCready.

I was born and bred in Liverpool; I doubt I’ll ever leave. Like Manchester, we are a Northern city built on a culture of resistance, rebellion and love, love, love. Unlike Manchester, most of us haven’t been in The Fall(uh). Home of England’s oldest black community, Europe’s biggest Chinese community AND the nation’s first woman MP. Add to that two football teams, two cathedrals (ironically separated by ‘Hope Street’) and the small matter of them Beatles. Allan Ginsberg described it as “the centre of the universe”. Doubtless he’d enjoy the strange diversity of music floating spectrally across The Mersey in 2014. So, where do you start lad/girl?

GIGS

The Echo Arena (www.echoarena.com) is situated on the waterfront. Debate continues as to whether it’s big enough, but as most of the major bands play here, it’s a moot point. The other large venue is The O2 (www.o2academyliverpool.co.uk), which offers a mixed diet of mid-range indie and cover bands. Although it’s closed till Autumn, The Philharmonic Hall (www.liverpoolphil.com) is well worth a visit. The home of the Philharmonic Orchestra is based on Hope Street, and as such has the best acoustics in Liverpool. It’s regularly home to visits by AOR/alternative/world artists.

Head elsewhere to sample our unique magic. Leaf (www.thisisleaf.co.uk) is a tearoom on Bold Street with a big room upstairs. Further along on Seel Street, there is East Village Arts Club (pictured below, www.mamacolive.com/eastvillageartsclub), a nice venue where you can see the band having their rider in the bar. However, beware of the over-zealous security staff. Further down on Wolstenholme Square – home of former superclub Cream – is the strangely beautiful and beautifully strange Kazmier (www.thekazimier.co.uk), which often holds gigs in its gardens.

The Shipping Forecast (www.theshippingforecastliverpool.com) has a maritime theme, with a varied programme of DJ’s/bands almost every night in the bar, or ‘The Hold’. Turn up early me hearties, the food is excellent. Arrr. Don’t be unnerved by the fact they play the shipping forecast in the toilets.

Off the beaten track is The Egg (www.eggcafe.co.uk) on Upper Newington. Not just a place for tasty and cheap veggie food, it has a long-standing open mike on the first Monday of every month. 5 mins to do two songs or three poems, bring your own wine. Little Atom (www.littleatomproductions.com) runs regular events with a local celebrity talking about their life and work and a local band/artist playing their five favourite songs. These sell out quickly: guests have included Stephen Graham, Lynda LaPlante, Jamie Carragher, Peter Serafinowicz, Paul DuNoyer and Michael Heseltine.

Take an 82 bus from LiverpoolONE bus station (a joint route, operated by both Arriva/Stagecoach) to The Baltic Triangle (www.baltictriangle.co.uk). This is an ever-growing hive of creative industry. The Camp and Furnace (www.campandfurnace.com) has regular gigs and Food Slam Fridays – end your week with food, top tuneage, a tattoo and a haircut.

Summer sees festival season. Sound City (www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk) in May is Scouse By Southwest, and like an ex-partner, gets bigger every year.  Africa Oye! (www.africaoye.com) lays down roots and general irie-ness at Sefton Park in late June. The Liverpool International Music Festival (www.limfestival.com) is held across the city on the August bank holiday weekend: Four days of classical, local, reggae and revival. Finally, The Liverpool Festival Of Psychedelia (www.liverpoolpsychfest.com) is in late September. Your head will never be the same.

Across the water, Astral Coast in July celebrates the weird and local at various venues in New Brighton (www.astralcoast.co.uk).

SHOPS

Probe on School Lane is now in its third home. The great and the good have been insulted there by its knowledgeable, yet surly staff since the late 1970s. It offers an eclectic mix of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, etc. Bold Street Coffee (funnily enough, on Bold Street) serves Liverpool’s best cup of Joe and is packed to the grinders with hipsters at weekends.

Head down Lime Street to Worlds Apart to get your geek on: comics, action figures, t-shirts. Situated in Radio Merseyside (Hanover Street), The BBC Shop is always a good bet for a last minute pressie, from a Masterchef Apron to a BBC6Music mug.

News From Nowhere is Liverpool’s best independent bookshop, formed 40 years ago. It’s run by a collective of women (slogan: ‘Shop With The Real Amazons’). Based on Bold Street, it sells books on socialism, feminism, LGBT, as well as any work of literature that may change your life. Use the kettle by the till to make yourself a cuppa as you browse, shop with a clean conscience.

NIGHTLIFE

Every night is a night out in Liverpool. Thursday is generally student night. The city throbs with manic techno/’Scouse House on Friday and Saturday night, which is also famous for hen/stag dos. Avoid places like Mathew Street and Concert Square, which are generally packed with pissed-up scallies and squealing girlies. Visitors to Liverpool tend to think it’s the height of amusement to shout ‘calm down, calm down’ at passers by. It’s not. Be conspicuous, head off the beaten track and party hard. You’re in the right place, kidder.

LINGO

On Saturday, wear your ‘blenders’ (stylish/expensive trainers that ‘blend’ in with any outfit). Don’t be a ‘meff’ (smelly person) or a ‘blurt’ (contemptible person). People will get ‘proper’ (really) angry. Lay your ‘slummy’ (small change) on the bar. You might get a ‘ten-to-two’ (a last minute attempt to start a sexual relationship), but don’t get off at ‘Edge Hill’ (coitus interruptus). You’ll be ‘sound’ (fine)’.

DID YOU KNOW…

Liverpool bands have had 65 #1 singles from 1953–2012. The names and bands are on a wall on Mathew Street.

Sir Paul McCartney (thumbs up) hands out the honours at his ‘fame school’ LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts). Graduates include Hannah Peel, Liam Lynch, Dan Croll and, er, Sandy Thom. Sorry.

Justin Bieber caused a traffic jam by tweeting a picture of his room in The Hard Day’s Night Hotel when he played Liverpool. Thousands of Beliebers blocked off Sir Thomas Street.  He’s also an absolute whopper (idiot).

Kev McCready

@KevMcCready