The UK’s cash-strapped bands are cutting back. And Liverpool is missing out

‘It's just shit. It's all shit’

Dear members — “It's just shit. It's all shit”. Those might not be the most rousing words to wake up to on a Wednesday morning, we accept, but they were the words of one local band member we spoke to recently about the reality of UK touring in 2023. 

As purse strings are tightening and venues struggle to keep their necks above water, some of the glamour of life on the road has been stripped back. And there’s another point of concern locally: as bands are forced to reduce tour dates and get more selective about where they play, Liverpool has started missing out. Various local events promoters and venue bosses now fear the city (a UNESCO city of music no less!) will miss out on some artists altogether. 

We tasked Ella Benson Easton, writing her second piece for The Post, to explore what exactly is going on. And if you were considering packing in your office job and hitting the road, do be warned…