10 Best Musical Attractions in Liverpool

The Cavern Club is an iconic music venue, pub and lounge that hosts up-and-coming and established artists on the stage that gave the Beatles their break. When you visit this club, you'll find yourself in the cradle of British pop music where you might see a new artist before they make it big. This venue is split into 3 different sections. You'll find the Cavern Club, the Cavern Live Lounge and the Cavern Pub. All of them offer live performances, though the Cavern Live Lounge is a bit more laid back, and the Cavern Pub is located across the street. You'll find it all just south of Moorfields Station.

The Beatles Story on the Royal Albert Dock is a popular museum that showcases the history of this popular band including recreations of popular points throughout their career. Additionally, you'll find several important artifacts like John Lennon's glasses and George Harrison's first guitar. Several locations were recreated within the museum, such as the Cavern Club, the Casbah Coffee Club and Abbey Road Studios. Among the exhibits, you'll also find information detailing the solo careers of each member as well as the British Invasion overall.

The British Music Experience is a comprehensive museum that houses costumes, instruments and memorabilia showcasing the history of British music. You'll find several items from icons like Freddie Mercury and Dusty Springfield along with the Spice Girls. The museum is located within the Cunard Building, one of Liverpool’s Three Graces. Within this museum, you can enjoy a hands-on experience in the Gibson Interactive Studio section. Several instruments are available including guitars, drum kits and keyboards. The museum has a dance instructor who can help you make your own dance video. To top it all off, you can see a state-of-the-art hologram performance.

The Liverpool Philharmonic is a royal orchestra society based in the Knowledge Quarter that offers an extensive program of events and live concerts with more than 400 each year. These events aren't solely performances by the orchestra, so expect a bit of variety in their offerings. Artists from all over the world flock to this venue to perform on the location's impressive stage with its iconic acoustics. You'll find several genres on display including jazz, folk, pop, rock and even comedy and movie at times.

The Everyman Bistro is a celebrated restaurant just southwest of the University of Liverpool that’s known for its delicious food, impressive drink selection and live musical performances. This bistro doesn't host typical live music that you can find in a variety of different restaurants, however, as it has its own theater. This theater hosts a variety of different kinds of performances, but its youth arts program is particularly impressive. No matter what kind of show you see, you can expect some of the best technical performances, productions, directing and acting.

Studio2 is a popular and historic establishment for those looking for a relaxing night with delicious beverages and food complemented by live music. It’s located just north of Chinatown and has been graced by legends like The Smiths, Black Sabbath and Björk before they started booking stadiums. The live music these days tends to focus on jazz, swing and blues, but you may find a bit more variety on certain nights. The cocktails are also quite iconic, as the drink selection is impressive with something to satisfy everyone no matter what your tastes are.

The Zanzibar Club is a nightclub and live music venue that focuses primarily on rock and alternate music rather than the standard electronic dance music of most clubs. Most of the performers here are unsigned bands, but quite a few popular bands played here before they made it big. Within the club, located just south of Liverpool Central Station, you'll find 2 main neighborhoods. You can head to the long and narrow dance floor, or you can relax in the raised seating area. This venue also has a coat check service for your convenience, and the price on the door is relatively low compared with other clubs in town.

The Arts Club is an East Village venue with a comprehensive array of offerings that showcase not only live music but also art and dining. Be sure to check the calendar to see what's on, as the sheer variety of offerings can create very different experiences. No matter what kind of experience you're looking for, one of the constants here is a night filled with unforgettable fun. You'll find the music and art mainly focused on local artists, letting you get a taste for the essence of Liverpool, a city that has birthed so many musical legends.

The Jacaranda is a popular music venue, record store and bar that continues the legacy of Allan Williams, the first manager of the Beatles. Live performances here are hosted nightly, and the club still manages to retain its Merseybeat atmosphere even after evolving with the times. When you visit this venue on the western edge of the Knowledge Quarter, you can relax as you enjoy the live music. Given its Merseybeat roots, most of the performances here are relatively laid back and relaxing while still being upbeat and fun. Additionally, the record store's selection is quite comprehensive, so you're sure to find something to your tastes.

The Invisible Wind Factory offers unique experiences, as they've transformed an old warehouse into a venue hosting a mix of unique musical and stage performances. The lighting is particularly impressive, as they implement the latest tech for stunning visuals you can't find elsewhere. Given the capabilities of the space, located just south of Nelson Dock, performing artists tend to take full advantage. You can enjoy musical performances that make use of props, special lighting, sleight of hand and other effects to create an unforgettable atmosphere and add a bit of magic to the night.