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You probably know by now that resurgent Liverpool has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2008.  You may not have known that it is also the Capital of Pop: according to The Guiness Book of Records, the city has spawned more number ones worldwide than any other city.  However, there’s more to Liverpool than Merseybeat and Atomic Kitten, as Gigwise has discovered after meticulous ‘research’ (hiccup)...

Pubs
If you haven’t already heard, Liverpool’s nightlife is such that one can actually go out on a Thursday night and come home Tuesday morning without even stopping. Yep there are so many bars open during the entire week so that ‘night out’ can turn into a five day blur. Seriously, it happens. So when you are not hitting the books 24/7 ahem, here are some pointers to get you through the stay in Liverpool. Of course there are some seriously shit bars out in town, but all the good ones make up for it. A typical stag/hen/work party will target the likes of Mathew Street/Victoria Street/Concert Square so head instead for Seel Street (La’go is the perennial student favourite with it’s cheap house vodka and decent tunes), Hardman Street (for the ever popular Bumper and Hannah’s Bar) and Renshaw Street (muso’s fave The Metropolitan can be found here). For somewhere quieter try The Everyman (very arty) or the stylish Tea Factory, and for cheap kicks head to The Pilgrim or Ye Cracke, both located just off Hardman Street.  If you really can’t resist the bright lights then Newz Bar on Water Street should fulfil all your celeb-spotting urges and the stunning converted church Alma de Cuba on Seel Street is the bar all the Hollyoaks clones (sorry, stars) are currently jumping the queue to get in. Lesbian/gay/bi bars line Stanley Street and its environs - the lively G-Bar and Superstar Boudoir are worth a look even if you’re straight.

Clubs
Most bars in Liverpool have late licences but it would be criminal to ignore the city’s thriving club scene. Weekly house nights take place at the legendary Garlands and Society, though the monthlies attract a better calibre of DJ with the likes of Erick Morillo frequenting Circus and everyone from Soulwax to Felix Da Housecat at the eclectic Chibuku Shake Shake. Anyone with a penchant for dark-as-fuck techno check out Voodoo at the Carling Academy. Independent nights at Lemon Lounge, Magnet, The Cavern and The Zanzibar attract a good crowd too. Hip Hop in Liverpool can be found at Magnet and Camel Club, while indie fans are advised to seek out Catfight at The Masque, Liquidation at Le Bateau (where you can also hear great retro sounds upstairs) and Evol at Korova. For hard rock and alternative, look no further the multi-storey Krazy House, which many of you will soon be calling ‘home’. Another club to look out for is Heebie Jeebies on Seel Street which hosts some impressive DJ’s.

Live Venues
The current lack of a huge arena in Liverpool is something of a moot point (Although the Kinds Dock Arena is set to open in 2008), but if your tastes are more The Coral than Coldplay then you should find yourself well catered for. Larger touring bands stop at Carling Academy or Liverpool Academy (at Liverpool University), while newer and smaller bands tend to hit the smaller rooms at those venues or The Barfly and Korova on Wood Street (near Baa Bar). In terms of local music, or if you’re looking to get a gig yourself, then The Zanzibar, The Metropolitan, Bumper, The Cavern, Roadkill, Django's Riff and Hannah’s Bar are supportive and well-equipped venues.

The Docks, unless you want to blow your entire student loan in one night. Concert Square – cheesy music, rammed bars and fights every night of the night the week. Need we say more?

By day, there’s plenty in Liverpool to keep you away from the lecture hall, allowing you to put the student loan to some proper use. Indie shopping arcade The Gostin Arcade offers the best in alternative shopping while Hairy Records and Probe are the best independent record shops, but be prepared to pay top price for those hard to get Albums/Singles etc.  If you’re after some fancy rags then Bulletproof and Vivienne Westwood are the big draw for ladies and Drome and Microzine should kit out the discerning male student. Unisex clothing stores like H&M and River Island are usually quite cheap, but very good quality. Second hand stores like the Oxfam boutique and Resurrection on Bold street have some cool stuff too, but can be quite expensive.

Er, some band called The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Teardrop Explodes, Echo and The Bunnymen, The La’s, Cast, Space, Shack, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Coral and Half Man Half Biscuit (well, near enough), The Zutons, The Dead 60s, Hot Club de Paris, The Wombats, Candie Payne, The Joneses and goFASTER>>… plus many more.  

And so, at the end of our tour, what have we learnt?  Well, that Liverpool is probably not really the ‘Capital of Pop’ any more (‘Capital of Alcopops’ may be a more apt moniker after a visit to some of the bars omitted from this guide) but is a city that pulses with young, independent blood and welcomes you to let your hair down with it.  It’s an exciting time to be a student here; so leave the City Guides on the coffee table and let Gigwise be your light!