📣 What's On In Liverpool (16-22 May)

Grab your calendar—here are the most interesting events coming up in and around Liverpool.

May 15, 2025

NEWS IN A FLASH
Top Headlines

After a one-week break, the newsletter’s back. I was on holiday and didn’t quite manage to prep content between swims and slow afternoons.

🚝 Liverpool and Manchester want a new high-speed rail line. Underground stations, airport stop, £90bn in potential economic gains. The vision’s bold, but it's early days. No green light yet, just a big pitch for transforming the North West.

🍺 Liverpool’s Craft Beer Expo is back May 29–31 at Black Lodge Brewery in the Baltic Triangle. Expect 30+ breweries, hundreds of beers, cider, gin cocktails, and even alcoholic ice cream. Food trucks, live music, and DJs round out the weekend.

🍹 The best rooftop bars in Liverpool for 2025? This guide nails it. From cocktails above Seel Street to Mediterranean vibes at Blackstock, it’s your shortcut to sky-high drinks and solid views

🎫 Merseyrail’s long-promised Tap & Go ticketing is finally kicking off. The pilot’s live this summer, starting with 50 volunteers testing MetroCards that auto-calculate your best fare. Full rollout—with contactless cards and smart devices—is due later in 2025.

GRAB YOUR DIARY
What’s On (16-22 May 2025)

Below are the best happening from this Friday until next Thursday. If you do decide to go to any events after spotting them in this newsletter, please let us know! We’ve marked what we think are the highlights with a ⭐️ for easier scanning!

Note: sometimes errors slip through, so please check details before making plans.

Fri 16 May

Red Rum Club live after evening racing — After the last horse crosses the line at Aintree, Red Rum Club play their biggest hometown show to date in the open air.
| Aintree Racecourse | Tickets
Liverpool Book Market — Browse stacks from local booksellers—new, used, and elusive out-of-print titles—at Liverpool Book Market.
11:00-17:00 | Bluecoat | Free
What Makes Us: Celebration Event — Support emerging photographers from Ellesmere Port as they showcase work created through the What Makes Us project.
17:30-19:30 | Open Eye Gallery | Free (Booking Required)
Eurovision Warm Up With Nana Funk — Nana Funk leads a live sing-along with guests Tony Blaney and Chantel Cole, priming you for Eurovision with funk-infused covers.
19:00-23:00 | Everyman Theatre | Tickets
⭐️ The Marley Experience — The Marley Experience returns to Camp and Furnace with a full-band tribute to Bob Marley’s classics.
19:00-23:00 | Camp And Furnace | Tickets
St Edward’s College presents Discovery: A spectacular evening of music — Choirs and orchestras unite for film scores and Mozart’s Requiem in a concert titled Discovery.
19:00 | Liverpool Philharmonic Hall | Tickets
⭐️ Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox — Postmodern Jukebox reworks modern hits with vintage flair as their retro revue returns to the UK.
19:30 | Royal Liverpool Philharmonic | Tickets

Sat 17 May

Croxteth Hall Parkrun — Run, jog, or walk a measured five-kilometre loop around Croxteth Hall’s trails—dogs and all abilities welcome.
09:00-11:00 | Croxteth Hall | Free
Hilbre in Bloom – Carpets of bluebells — Take a guided walk to Hilbre Island to see bluebells, seals, and historic sites, all brought to life by your storyteller guide.
10:00-13:00 | Hilbre Island | Tickets
⭐️ Liverpool's Vintage Superstore — Fill a bag with mix-and-match vintage clothing and pay £20 per kilo—first come, first served.
11:00-17:00 | Lutyens Crypt | Tickets
⭐️ Rum & Reggae Festival 2025 — Sample Caribbean rums, grab street food, and catch David Rodigan plus live acts and carnival performers at IWF Liverpool.
14:00-21:30 | Invisible Wind Factory | Tickets
Wrestling in Widnes — GJK Promotions brings four family-friendly bouts to The Woodlands in Widnes, first bell at 2 p.m.
14:00-18:00 | The Woodlands Bar And Grill | Tickets
The Docks Liverpool, Tattoo & Arts Expo — Spend a weekend surrounded by tattoo artists, live demos, and creative vendors at The Docks Liverpool.
14:30 | Kings docks, Liverpool | Tickets
Martini Masterclass - Unleash your inner bartender! — Berry & Rye bartenders walk you through shaking and stirring the perfect Martini, then let you craft your own.
15:30-17:00 | Berry and Rye | Tickets
Festival of Everyday Creativity: Short Films Night by Northern Heart Films — Northern Heart Films screens shorts celebrating everyday creativity, followed by discussion with curator Natasha Hawthornthwaite.
18:00-20:00 | Bailiff Bar | Free (Booking Required)
Eurovision Final Screening & Party — Watch the Eurovision final on a big screen at Camp and Furnace, with themed drinks, DJs, and nonstop fandom.
18:30-00:00 | Camp and Furnace | Tickets
Strawberry Lace UK Tour 2025 — Strawberry Lace bring indie hooks to Shipping Forecast with Interail and Jam Merchants on their third headline tour.
19:00-23:00 | The Shipping Forecast | Tickets
Navy Bar 2.1 hosts... Eurovision Party - The Main Event — Drag shows, silly games, and unapologetic pop fill Navy Bar’s over-the-top Eurovision watch party.
19:00-03:00 | Navy Bar 2.1 | Tickets
⭐️ Liverpool Rising Against Racism — Musicians and spoken-word artists share the stage in a night that celebrates diversity and challenges racism.
19:00-23:30 | St George's Hall Concert Room | Tickets
Elgar’s Cello Concerto — Pablo Ferrández tackles Elgar’s Cello Concerto between Sierra’s lively Fandangos and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances.
19:30 | Liverpool Philharmonic Hall | Tickets
ParrJazz Presents: Jazz Saturdays at Ma Boyles — World-class jazz takes over Ma Boyle’s each Saturday night, courtesy of ParrJazz.
20:00-23:00 | Ma Boyles Alehouse And Eatery | Tickets
Mad Dog Mcrea — Mad Dog Mcrea blend folk, gypsy jazz, and bluegrass in an energetic live set of stories and stomps.
20:00 | Music Room, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic | Tickets
Peter Doherty: Album Launch Show — Peter Doherty plays an intimate set at Jacaranda Records to mark his new solo album Felt Better Alive.
20:45-22:30 | Jacaranda Baltic | Tickets
⭐️ Liverpool Forro Festival — Three days of Brazilian forró with live bands, dance classes, and parties bring northeast rhythms to Liverpool.
22:00 | Invisible Wind Factory | Tickets

Sun 18 May

Lark Lane Record Fair — Dig through vinyl, CDs, tapes, and memorabilia from twenty sellers at Liverpool’s Lark Lane Record Fair.
09:00-16:00 | Old Police Station Lark Lane | Tickets
Repair Cafe at DoES Liverpool — Bring broken gadgets or garments to volunteers who’ll help fix them for free—pay only for needed parts.
11:00-15:00 | DoES Liverpool | Free (Booking Required)
⭐️ The Reader Garden Party — Liverpool Philharmonic musicians pop up around Calderstones Park for family workshops, chamber sets, and picnic-friendly tunes.
11:00-17:00 | The Reader, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic | Free
Meet David Walliams at Waterstones Liverpool — Meet David Walliams, grab an autograph, and trade stories with fellow readers as staff keep the line moving smoothly and safely.
12:00 | Waterstones | Tickets
The Liverpool Town Hall Walk — Hear stories and symbolism surrounding Liverpool Town Hall on a street-level tour from The Liverpool Nobody Knows.
12:00-14:15 | Liverpool Town Hall | Tickets
Brush it Bold - India Ink Workshop — Learn expressive brush techniques with India ink, then experiment freely in a cozy Sunday workshop.
14:00-16:00 | Pocket cafe bar | Tickets
Liverpool Life Drawing - Leaf on Bold Street — Settle in at Leaf on Bold Street for a relaxed life-drawing session open to every skill level.
17:00-20:00 | Leaf | Tickets

Mon 19 May

Riverside Rambles - Wak N Talk — Stroll Otterspool’s riverside paths with a supportive group that pairs gentle exercise with conversation.
17:30-18:30 | Otterspool Promenade | Tickets

Tue 20 May

Stable Gallery: Liverpool’s Crowning Culture — Art, costume, and storytelling celebrate Black culture in Liverpool, exploring identity and heritage through vivid displays.
10:00-16:00 | St George’s Hall | Free
Incurably Crafty - Monthly Crafty Learning Sessions — Explore neurographic art in a monthly session geared toward adults, including those with chronic conditions or disabilities.
10:30-12:00 | York Avenue | Tickets
Sing-along — Join a relaxed sing-along of crowd-pleasers—belt it out or just enjoy the music in an accessible space.
14:00 | Palm House, Sefton Park | Free
Comic Book Workshop with Neill Cameron at Waterstones — Cartoonist Neill Cameron breaks down his process, then guides you in drawing your own laugh-out-loud comic.
16:30 | Waterstones | Tickets
Between: Celebration Event — See final photography projects from digital imaging students at Hugh Baird University Centre and meet the artists.
17:00-19:00 | Open Eye Gallery | Free (Booking Required)
⭐️ Addressing Palestine — Poets Anthony Anaxagorou and lisa luxx share work and conversation on Palestine, opening space for critical thought, empathy, and solidarity.
19:00-21:00 | Leaf | Tickets
Paint Van Gogh's Starry Night, Liverpool — Sip wine, follow step-by-step guidance, and paint your version of Starry Night at The City Wine Bar.
19:00-21:30 | City Wine Bar, Liverpool | Tickets
North by Northwest — Catch Hitchcock’s mistaken-identity thriller North by Northwest on the big screen and relive its spy games and plane chases.
19:30 | Liverpool Playhouse theatre | Tickets
One to One: John and Yoko — This inventive documentary uses the Lennons’ living-room television as a lens on 1972 America and their evolving politics.
19:30 | Liverpool Philharmonic Hall | Tickets

Wed 21 May

⭐️ The Epic History of Lord of the Rings: Journey into Tolkien’s imagination — Explore Tolkien’s life, loves, and losses to see how they forged Middle-earth in this deep-dive talk on The Lord of the Rings.
18:30-21:30 | BOXPARK Liverpool | Tickets
Open Mic Comedy Night — Hot Water draws nine names from a hat, adds two pros testing material and a headliner—sign up by 6 p.m.
19:00-21:00 | Hot Water Comedy Club At Blackstock Market | Tickets
‘Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain’: In Conversation with Sam Wetherell — Historian Sam Wetherell discusses his book Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain at Writing on the Wall Festival.
19:00-20:00 | Concert Room at St George’s Hall | Tickets

Thu 22 May

Marketing Confex Liverpool 2025 — Swap ideas, hear fresh takes on industry trends, and grow your network at this one-day marketing meetup.
09:30-15:00 | Goodison Park | Free (Booking Required)
Inspirational Women From Liverpool's Past & History Walking Tour — Walk Liverpool’s streets while hearing stories of the city’s trailblazing women and the places that shaped their impact.
10:30-12:00 | Liverpool City Centre | Tickets
Home Design Talk: Outdoor Living — Home Design Stylists share practical tips for refreshing patios, balconies, and gardens, with time for your questions.
17:30-18:30 | John Lewis Liverpool | Tickets
Spring Wine Tasting — Sample a curated flight of spring wines with Inspiring Wines and compare notes with fellow tasters.
19:30-21:00 | SUP | Tickets

SIGNING OFF
Same Time, Same Place, Next Week