24 November 2021
Newsdesk
After a euphoric return in October 2021 that set itself apart as the definitive home of vibrant new music no matter the genre and no matter the style, the revered Sound City heads into 2022 for another landmark year - marking its 15th Anniversary across the weekend of 30th April-1st May 2022.
Emerging across the streets of Liverpool back in 2008 as a heralded celebration of new and exciting music, Sound City has become an essential date in the diary for music fans far and wide to come together and discover the sounds of the future. Nestled in a European capital of music culture, its storied alumni who have made those first steps at Sound City reads as a who’s who of the biggest and brightest names in modern music (from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, The xx, Alt-J and Courtney Barnett to The Wombats, Royal Blood, Catfish & The Bottlemen and many more). Continuing to champion and elevate the sounds that’ll come to define the years ahead, Sound City celebrates its 15th Anniversary by doing what it does best. Pointing to the here and now.
No band have had a bigger 2021 than The Lathums. Since the very beginning, the Wigan four-piece have connected with a community of fans in a way that few others can, crossing generations with their earnest songwriting and collective sense of relief and emotion. Debut album ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ captured that perfectly, storming to the top of the UK Albums Chart with a debut LP full of bonafide anthems that have only grown with their latest headline tour selling out in rapid fashion. In what will be the band’s first ever festival headline slot, expect this to be a landmark moment in British indie history, and one simply impossible to miss.
To mark their first-ever festival headline performance, the first 1000 people to secure their Sound City 2022 ticket will receive a unique commemorative postcard signed by The Lathums themselves.
Also stepping up to headline one of her first major festivals is one of the most critically acclaimed artists of 2021 in Self Esteem. With her own brand of scintillating pop taking the new music world by storm, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has had a landmark 12 months - complete with five-star live reviews and universal adoration following the release of second album ‘Prioritise Pleasure’. Pioneering a new age for modern-pop, Self Esteem will take to the headline stage at Sound City 2022 for what’s sure to be an unforgettable glimpse of a new phenomenon in action.
Speaking about topping the billing at Sound City 2022, Self Esteem said:
“Positively thrilled to finally be making it to Liverpool next year, a lovely bit of font too!”
To mark the festival’s 15th Anniversary, The Lathums and Self Esteem lead an eclectic and vital batch of artists announced to touch down across the streets and stages of Liverpool City Centre in 2022. On the brink of a game-changing 2022, Yard Act head to Sound City with the sort of formidable live presence that has separated them from the pack of exciting new bands making a stir. Debut album ‘The Overload’, landing in January, is set to cement their place at the very top - with their set at Sound City bound to be a true roadblock. Continuing his rise to superstardom, Alfie Templeman heads to Sound City as an artist firmly on the rise. The Chess Club-signee has made his name as a future pop sensation that cross genres and ideas at the tip of a dime, with anthems like ‘Forever Isn’t Long Enough’, ‘Everybody’s Gonna Love Somebody’ and recent single ‘3D Feelings’ pointing to an artist that by the time Sound City comes around - will be leading the way as a new artist that’ll be soundtracking 2022 and beyond. Equally set to go down as a highlight of the festival weekend is Sheffield’s own The Reytons. Debut album ‘Kids Off The Estate’ brought their thrilling indie sound to the masses, surging into the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart with their tales of modern life reaching new levels. Bound to be a sweaty one, The Reytons at Sound City is a moment not to be missed.
Talking about their appearance at Sound City 2022, The Reytons said:
“We can't wait to return to Liverpool for Sound City! Our last visit was well overdue but a strong reminder of why we love the place so much, Scouse Reytons are up there with the best of them... Let's avit Liverpool!!”
Whether it’s the dreamy indie-pop of Abbie Ozard, genre-splicing sounds of Everyone You Know, the ethereal swoons of Matilda Mann or the swiping indie hooks of The Royson Club - these first names announced set the standard for the sort of unforgettable weekend of music discovery that Sound City has become synonymous for. With Retro Video Club, stayMellow, Buggs, Bears In Trees, Cody Frost and Fiona Lennon completing a first selection of names with a range of rising local and national ones-to-watch, Sound City 2022 promises to be the festival’s most joyful and essential edition to date. Just an early taste of what to expect from the return of Sound City, the first stop for the biggest acts on the planet to make their early mark and for fans to discover the sounds and artists ready to soundtrack the year ahead.
Speaking about Sound City 2022 and the festival’s 15th Anniversary, festival founder David Pichilingi said:
“Sound City was always about making Liverpool a 21st century music city. Liverpool and the North continues to be the birthplace of some of the greatest contemporary musical icons of the last 70 years and here at Sound City, we’re always looking to continue to play our part in shining a beacon for that music talent and also encouraging a legion of new business talent to stay in the area and create their futures here. Sound City is still the best and most exciting event of its kind in the UK and I think that’s because we have never been afraid to change, evolve and grow as the music world has shifted. We were the first to crossover to events such as SXSW, territories in Asia including South Korea and China - we even did our own festival in Dubai! More than just one weekend, I like to think that we’ve helped play a part in the success of new music not only here in the UK but across the world. Often imitated but never equaled. We have never been afraid to sail close to the wind and always done everything with a swagger and a smile. It has been the wildest 15 years of my life so far and I’m looking forward to the next 15 too!”
Photo Credit: Ewan Ogden
Photo Credit: Sam McMahon
Continuing their long-standing relationship, Sound City is once again the UK’s lead festival partner for Keychange, a global movement focused on the restructuring of the music industry to achieve gender equality. Sound City are committed to championing gender equality across all of their global musical projects from Sound City Korea, Ipswich and their pioneering streaming platform Guesthouse. Leading a vast array of festivals and events across the UK and beyond, the focus remains on achieving a gender balance across all Sound City events and initiatives. Sound City is the UK’s lead festival for Keychange, a global movement to ensure that women and diverse genders are represented in music. An equal representation of women and diverse genders is announced in the festival’s first batch of names and a range of initiatives, panels and more lined up in collaboration with Keychange over the coming months.
As a part of Sound City celebrations, the Sound City+ Conference returns on Friday 29th April 2022, sitting as a hotbed of forward-thinking ideas and discussion on what lies ahead for the music and entertainment industries - co-curated by the Association Of Independent Music (AIM). Bringing together figures from across the globe for what’s primed to be one of the first opportunities to reconvene and examine the music landscape after a transformative 12 months, the Sound City+ Conference will feature a range of programming, panels and speakers not to be missed. Giving back and inspiring a new generation, the future of music once again thrives through the streets of Liverpool.
Sound City was recently announced as a recipient of an Arts Council England/DCMS Culture Recovery Fund Continuity Support grant, ensuring the return of the festival for its 15th anniversary, hot on the heels of its real-world comeback in October 2021, and helping sustain its vital training and talent development programmes into 2022 and beyond.
Announced Today
The Lathums / Self Esteem
Alfie Templeman / Yard Act
Everyone You Know / The Reytons / Matilda Mann / The Royston Club
Abbie Ozard / Bears In Trees / Buggs / Cody Frost / Fiona Lennon
Retro Video Club / stayMellow
