10 of the best current Liverpool bands

Qualifying criteria for this list are very simple : the artist must be based in Merseyside or at least convincingly claim that they’re a Liverpool group; they must still be active as of February 2008; they must have produced a video; and I must love their music !

Liverpool is buzzing with music in Capital of Culture year. I know there’s many more good bands out there. And I may well refresh this list, or add to it, before the year’s out; so please let me know which bands you currently enjoy.

As usual, just click on the song titles to see the videos and hear the music.

10 Elle S’Appelle - Little Flame
This is the band’s debut single, released November 2007. - myspace facebook –

9 Northerndaze - Dirty Clouds of Dam
Unsigned band’s take on the lowlights of Amsterdam. - myspace –

8 Alexis Blue - You Won’t Get Much Sleep
Successful debut single from 2007 from this Wallasey band. - myspace facebook –

7 Alun Parry Band - You are my addiction
Last year the left wing songster released a a six track collection of new, original songs celebrating the people and city of Liverpool to mark the city’s 8th centenary. He’s currently organising a Working Class Music Festival to take place in Liverpool in September 2008, which will bring the very finest radical musicians to Liverpool for a weekend of radical songs and subversion. - website myspace facebook –

6 The Rascals - Suspicious Wit
Wirral band tipped to be the next big thing of 2008. This, their debut single, is due for release on February 18th. They’ve recently supported the Arctic Monkeys on tour and released an introductory EP ‘Out Of Dreams’. - website myspace facebook –

5 goFASTER - She Starts Monday
Great debut single release from May 2007. - website myspace facebook –

4 Candie Payne - I Wish
Title track of her debut album, released May 2007. - website myspace facebook –

3 The Dead 60s - We Get Low
This song’s obviously heavily indebted to The Clash, which is probably why it appeals to me ! Their second album, ‘Time to take sides’, is due for release very shortly. - website myspace facebook –

2 The Zutons - Valerie
Can’t believe this only gets to number two ! The Zutons are currently in LA recording their third studio album - and you can keep up with its progress on their myspace blog. - website myspace –

1 The Wombats - Let’s Dance to Joy Division
The Wombats began 2008 by being the opening act at the opening ceremony for the Capital of Culture year at Liverpool Arena. This single was released in October 2007, to coincide with the release of their debut album ‘The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’, which managed to get to #11 in the UK album charts. - website myspace facebook –