Sitting as a shining light on the trailblazing sound of the here and now, Sound City returns as the home of new music discovery and the beating pulse of music fans’ favourite new artists across Liverpool City Centre for a 2025 edition where buzzing names meet future greats all in one city. Reflecting the most exciting new artists that are destined to soundtrack the year ahead – Sound City sits as a temperature check on the bands and artists making their mark before anyone else whilst leading the way for gender balance within the new music and festival worlds, with next year’s return already shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend in Merseyside between 3–4 May.
Revealed today are a stacked second wave of names joining the 2025 lineup, a lineup already boasting true standouts, sensations and music fans’ favourite new bands. Joining the bill as a special Sunday night headliner for Sound City 2025 is Dylan John Thomas. A modern day wordsmith, Dylan has taken the live music world by storm – with a relentless work ethic and soaring homegrown anthems that capture modernity in Britain in a way few others can. Packing arenas fresh off the back of releasing his self-titled debut album, expect Sound City to be the perfect playground for a singalong heard along Seal Street when Dylan John Thomas takes to the stage.
In what is primed to be a ludicrously big homecoming moment, Liverpool’s own STONE head to Sound City for a can’t miss Afternoon Headline Set that brings their unbridled and raucous energy to the fore. Passionate and whipping crowds across the globe into a frenzy has become the everyday occurrence for a band whose debut album ‘Fear Life For A Lifetime’ landed last year like an adrenaline shot to modern guitar music. Making their name across these streets and with a rabid fanbase growing and growing, it marks a unique chance to catch STONE in full flight in the city where it all began. Don’t miss it.
Sound City 2025 is thriving with essential new names making a mark for themselves across the UK and beyond. Carving a name as a band packing a stunning guttural punch, KEO come to Sound City at the start of a future laced in US alt/grungey hooks that has seen them become the band on the top of fans’ tongues when it comes to live favourites whilst the captivating Imogen and the Knife puts a stamp on why she’s an artist born for huge stages with her own take on indie-infused showmanship that has already seen her turn heads around the UK. The Guest List arrive in Liverpool as part of a breakthrough few months that have seen them become the talk of fans’ new music world with tracks like ‘Loose Tongue’ and ‘161’ already seeing singalong crowds whilst Manchester’s very own Ist Ist take to the Sound City stage following sold out European tours and a rich discography of Joy Division-inspired rock that just gets bigger and bigger with each show.
Also joining the bill today are names spanning across genre and style. Whether it’s the feverish punk-party vibes of Disgusting Sisters, the shimmering pub-soaked turns of Brogeal, the in-demand indie sensations that are Keyside, the jaw-dropping voice of viral star Allie Sherlock or the punchy indie-rock of Charlie Pittman making his next step following his turn in The Voice Australia. Capturing the artists and bands firmly in the conversations between music lovers when it comes to the fresh sounds they’re drawing themselves too – this is music discovery led by the fans. With the likes of Liverpool’s own Permanent (Joy), Precious Pepala and more also joining the lineup – Sound City 2025 is packed with their most essential lineup to date.
These new additions join an overflowing lineup of names already announced that’s full of THE names defining breakthrough music right now. With The Royston Club making their monumental headline debut on the Saturday of Sound City, the likes of Nieve Ella, Rianne Downey, Overpass, Panic Shack, Siobhan Winifred, The Cheap Thrills, The Clause Maya Delilah, TTSSFU, Better Joy, The Stingrays, Delights, Alex Spencer, Basht, Mitch Saunders and Mandrake Handshake all ready for their moment across Liverpool City Centre – Sound City is the ticket to two days of incredible live music… with only one ticket.
Speaking about Sound City 2025 and the latest wave of names announced today, Managing Director Becky Ayres said: “As the months get closer and closer, the anticipation for Sound City 2025 continues to grow – and we’re delighted to unveil our next wave of artists coming to Liverpool in May for what’s shaping up to be our greatest Sound City weekend to date. Welcoming Dylan John Thomas to headline our Sunday night is going to be a real moment for an artist who has connected with music fans in a way that you can’t help but feel, with a very exciting return from one of our own in STONE sure to make the afternoon even bigger! We’re incredibly proud to be showcasing such a broad mix of artists who are all creating sparks in their own way across the UK and beyond, whilst also demonstrating how gender representation at festivals across the lineup can be done. We’ve got much more to reveal, especially around our Sound City+ Conference, that’s going to make this year so special – time to get those pre-festival playlists ready there’s a lot to discover!”
Spanning across Liverpool City Centre, Sound City is an inner-city music festival which revels in the thrill of new music and a weekend in one of the best cities on the planet. Whether it’s the incredible surroundings of The Dome @ Grand Central Hall or the historic steps of the Arts Club (Theatre + Loft), Liverpool is a city where history and atmosphere reigns supreme. Catching shows in legendary venues such as The Jacaranda, EBGBs, The Kazimier Stockroom or tucked into the Spanish Caravan for ridiculous moments – Sound City brings music fans together for a feel-good weekend firmly on the pulse of unmissable artists soundtracking the here and now. That’s not even to mention the famed Conference programming which brings together important voices from across the Music Industry to discuss, debate and push for change around the issues affecting the industry.
Taking place on the Friday (2 May) before the Sound City music programming begins, the Sound City+ Conference in 2025. A Conference focused on showcasing direct routes for artists and aspiring industry professionals to get into the music industry with the knowledge of what’s happening right now, which in 2025 will see the event team up with influential industry partners such as the BPI who will be bringing their ‘In Tune With Tomorrow’ conference programming to the North as part of the conference for the very first time. The Sound City+ Conference is highly regarded for gathering industry leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives to explore the pressing questions shaping the future of music – with further partners including CMU (Headline Conference Partner), PRS Foundation (bringing their PPL Momentum Showcase to Friday night once more), PRS, PPL, Musicians Union and UK Music (bringing their UK Music OMG Map Awards to Liverpool to kickstart the weekend on Thursday 1st May). Representatives from industry bodies such as BMG, Mahogany Music, Key Production and Blackstar amongst others have been announced so far, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Welcoming artists from across the UK and beyond, Sound City has played a pivotal role in providing an early step for names that have gone on to become global superstars. Whether it’s The 1975, Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Florence & The Machine, Lizzo, Catfish & The Bottlemen, The xx, alt-J, The Wombats or Royal Blood amongst many others – Sound City has served as one of the first chances to catch the essential artists of tomorrow making their mark. Always looking to celebrate the vital fresh new artists paving their own destinies, Sound City is the spotlight that’s always shining on the sounds defining the year ahead. The UK’s longest consecutively-running showcase festival, Sound City’s reputation as the kickstart of the summer festival season ensures it’s a must for all music fans, offering a first look at your next favourite artist.
Continuing their long-standing relationship, Sound City is once again the UK’s lead festival for Keychange, a global movement focused on the restructuring of the music industry to achieve gender equality. 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. An equal representation of women and diverse genders will play across the Sound City weekend with a range of initiatives, panels and more lined up in collaboration with Keychange over the coming months. Aligned with showcase partners such as Leeds Conservatoire, SESAC, Asian Tones, Liverpool Hope University, Sentric and more to be revealed.
Sound City is proud to work with many leading and innovative partners, sponsors and funders. These include Arts Council England – supporting new artistic and industry talent and organisations from all corners of the sector, CAPLL; Talent Development Partner, PRSF Talent Development Network, SAE; a global higher education provider in creative media industries and Principal Creative Education Partner, PRS/PPL/PRSF, Amplead; the festival’s Apply To Play Partner and and Gigseekr – the official festival app and Official Discovery Partner. With other partners including Sentric, Bundobust, Leeds Conservatoire, Musician’s Union and Liverpool Hope University – it ensures Sound City is a coming together of industry supporting the new.
