Liverpool Sound City Survival Guide: Friday

Day two of Sound City, and just another, ooh, 150 bands to see. So, what say we narrow it down for you? We’ve picked another ten - and we’ve tried to be as catholic in our tastes as possible. But, well, we’ve probably failed. A bit. Still, they’re all good. And there’s loads more good stuff we’ve not had room for. Maybe you could tell us about it. Anyway, here’s how we’re planning our second evening’s excursions…

Yukon Blonde, Zanzibar

Canada’s Yukon Blonde offer a heady mix of wall-of-sound vocals, shimmering guitars and propulsive Americana rock a la Band of Horses. We love it all. If they sound a little west coast, that’s cause they’re from Vancouver. The Pacific Northwest truly is the epicentre of soft rock, 70′s heaven. (main pic)

Niki and the Dove, Red Bull Studios at the Garage

Swedish electro-duos almost get an unfair advantage in our eyes. But that doesn’t mean our critical functions are blinded. No, it’s just that there’s so much good stuff coming from the Baltic these days. And this striking twosome is a Sub Pop-backed surefire winner in our eyes. Industrial strength, icy pop goodness.

Wall of Sound Party, Binary Cell

With Liverpool’sKids on Bridges’ Nirvana samples and megaphone manifestos, plus always dependable Killaflaw, the retrotastic Adamski, the on-form homeboys, Get Back Colquitt and others, the Wall Of Sound Party looks like a big dumb load of fun.

Michael Kiwanuka, Jake Bugg, Epstein Theatre

Mid 60’s Dylan is obviously on heavy rotation in Bugg’s House, and that’s no bad thing - he’s ably supporing BBC’s Sound of 2012 winner, Michael Kiwanuka. A talented chap, Kiwanuka blends his rich, soulful voice to a rootsy-folk blend of Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye inspired tunes.

Pikachunes, Heebie Jeebies Courtyard

Aukland’s Pikachunes bring retro synth-pop goodness to head up this NZ showcase - and they come complete with a rich, glow-fi pop palate - not a milllion miles away from Cut Copy. Supported by Princess Chelsea’s squeaky clean chamber pop. Recommended.

White Denim, Kazimier

Their psych-funk wig outs went down a storm here last year, so the Austin, TX band are back - and starting their 2012 campaign in our city, fresh from a support slot for Wilco’s US tour. So we imagine their wheels will be well and truly greased, and another incendiary show lies ahead.

Funeral Suits, Leaf Cafe, First floor

Ireland’s funeral suits offer radio friendly, scuzzy-edged pop (produced by Stephen Street) and have friends in high places (if you count Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe as high. It’s all relative, we guess). They know their way around an arms aloft indie anthem, for sure. Manchester’s Patterns offer able -euphoric, even - support.

Mary Epworth, Studio 2, Parr Street

A touch of class, this - Mary Epworth’s breathy ruminations, finger picking goodness and clear-sighted lyrical evocations fuse traditional stylings with gutsy, almost proggy touches. Sandy Denny on steriods, you could say. We love her.

Everisland Presents, Wolstenholme Creative Space

We love Liverpool’s Bird, so it’s good to catch their haunting gloom pop here, and they’re on a strongly curated Everisland bill, with the energy rush of Dead Wolf Club, Spring Offensive’s inventive guitar pop, and Jonquil - purveyors of romantic, joyous, shimmering indie pop. Good grief. That’ll be an evening.

Ben Caplan, Leaf Ground floor.

With his casual smokers (who play a mean fiddle) was a SXSW hit, and we think his smokey Nova Scotian blues will be a hit here, too. A mercurial figure on stage (Tom Waits meets Seasick Steve) you can expect many a haunting sea shany - and quite a few instruments too.

For venue details, maps and everything we can’t be arsed cutting and pasting, you wanna head over to the official Sound City site. Go on. You can buy your festival wristbands (£45) and delegate tickets (£150) there too. For our listings recommendations for Thursday, go here.

Liverpool Sound City, 17-19 May
Various venues, Liverpool