Liverpool is known as the city that likes to party, and everyone is welcome to join in the fun. One of the main reasons the area is so popular with weekend visitors, clubbers and couples is because of its thriving nightlife.

From old pubs to the latest in trendy clubs, Liverpool has something to suit everyone. If you wander around the city at night, you will be amazed at the sheer variety of places you can visit.

Music has always been dear to Liverpudlians, as you’d expect from the city that have given music followers acts such as Billy Fury, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Echo and the Bunnymen, Space, Cast, The Coral, The Zutons and Atomic Kitten, to name a few. Wind your way down a Liverpool street and it won’t take long before you hear the sounds of live music drifting towards your ears.

Everyone knows the live music scene is, and always has been, good in Liverpool. Most scousers seem to be a performer of some kind. However, think about Liverpool and instinctively you think, The Beatles. The city is officially the capital city of pop, and the Fab Four are its most famous sons. The world’s greatest ever band is still capturing hearts, more than 40 years after they split up in 1970.

I had the opportunity of being in Liverpool in the last week of August last year for The Beatles Week and the Mathew Street Festival, where tribute bands from all over the world gather in Liverpool for a week dedicated to the music of four lads who shook the world.

Once there, I was stunned by the sheer size of the crowds that thronged the city – about 300,000 in all. I made new friends with people from all over the globe and of all ages, who still adore The Beatles.

What impressed me most was the number of teenagers who came for this week-long festival, not to mention the 20-year-old girl from Canada who had the faces of John, Paul, George and Ringo tattooed on her legs. When you remember that The Beatles were performing when these teenagers were not even born, it illustrates the scale of popularity the four icons from Liverpool still have across the world.

So, follow me to this year’s Beatles week in Liverpool, it will be my second consecutive year attending this event, and don’t forget to bring your singing voices with you, Na na na na na na na .... na na na na Hey Jude!

While you’re there you will find a lot of great live music venues, including pubs in and around Matthew Street, the place where it all began, and where you can still sup a pint in the Grapes, dance at a late-night bar or even see a band at the legendary Cavern.

If you’re ready to let your hair down, some cool clubs like The Barfly and Zanzibar will satisfy you, with touring acts and home-grown talent wooing the crowd.

For some old-style scouse banter, venues such as The Blue Angel, The Dispensary on Renshaw Street, Rigby’s on Dale Street and The Old Post Office Pub are a must.

There is also a large amount of Irish pubs in which to enjoy a Guinness or two. One of the best is Pogue Mahon’s in Seel Street, which offers wonderful drinks, hearty food and live music in a homely venue.

Clubbing is world-famous in Liverpool, as it was the hometown of global brand Cream. You can dance till dawn in clubs such as Garlands, or indie haunts like Le Bateau and The Casbah. Heebie Jeebies offers live music and DJs over three floors.

If you’re in the mood for nostalgia, there’s always 1970s vibes at Flares and 1980s music at Reflex on Mathew Street. Since in Liverpool there are four universities, several student-oriented venues attract a hip young crowd, which add to the atmosphere.

Concert Square is probably the liveliest part of town and the best place to start a night out. It has a dazzling array of bars, from nationally known franchises to Liverpool-run businesses. There are huge outdoor seating areas where you can meet new friends or soak up the atmosphere, and stylishly-designed bars to suit all tastes, such as View, Holy Joes, Modo and many more.

The city’s waterfront is also home to lots of exciting venues, including Baby Cream, Baby Blue, Pan Am and Circo. The Albert Dock might be a tourist destination by day but at night The Dock remains a firm favourite with local celebrities.

If you’re looking to spot some more internationally-renowned celebrities, The Echo Arena and Convention Centre holds 10,000 people and regularly attracts the world’s biggest artists. So choose your dates wisely and you could end up watching Rihanna or Katy Perry in concert.

For the ultimate experience, Alma de Cuba on Seel Street in the heart of the city eclipses all venues. In Liverpool’s most spectacular club, you can eat, drink and dance the night away on a dance floor that in times past was an altar.

Set inside the magnificent conversion of the former St Peter’s Catholic Church, Alma de Cuba is an eclectic mix of Cuban, Hispanic and Latin American influences that are enhanced by Liverpool’s great spirit.

On Thursday nights there is live, spontaneous Latin music, on a Friday and Saturday it’s a carnival atmosphere with petal showers at 11 p.m. and on Sundays there is lunch accompanied by a live gospel choir from 1.30 to 5 p.m. Alma de Cuba won the Best Venue award in the UK for three years running, in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

So the next time you visit Liverpool, you will be spoilt for choice. Whatever you choose, you are sure of a warm welcome, the chance to meet new, interesting people and a night out to remember.

Whether you’re after a quiet pint or want to party all night long and stagger back to your hotel early before sunrise, Liverpool surely has what you are looking for.

Upcoming music events

August 24 to 30 – Across the city centre and Mathew Street: International Beatles Week

International Beatles Week Festival is one of the biggest music events in the world. And it takes place in the city where it all began – Liverpool.

There is so much to do and see that you do not need to be a Beatle fan to enjoy the festival, though it probably helps.

This is truly an international event with bands from over 20 countries and fans from over 40.

As well as live gigs, there are exhibitions, memorabilia sales, guest speakers, video shows, sightseeing tours and a Beatles convention.

The festival takes place in some famous venues including the Cavern Club (replica of the original) and Cavern Pub in Mathew Street, the Adelphi Hotel and the Philharmonic Hall.

August 28-29 – Across the city centre: Mathew Street Festival

The Mathew Street Music Festival is the annual celebration of one of the city’s cultural cornerstones: music.

This fantastic free two-day event will celebrate being 19 years old this year, with over 90 hours of live outdoor music by cover, original and new bands.

Held over the late August bank holiday weekend, six outdoor stages showcase live music from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Over 95 bands perform from as far as US, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden and Scotland.

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