The opening weekend of Liverpool Music Month has just grown even bigger with the addition of a truly era-defining British artist.
Bringing two decades of hits and a fierce reputation for protecting artist rights, Kate Nash has been announced for Sound City 2026.
The UK’s premier inner-city festival for new music discovery serves as the opening event of Liverpool Music Month, taking place across the city centre from Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 May 2026.
Nash arrives on Merseyside not only to perform but to speak in a special in-person Q&A at the Sound City+ Conference.
As a headline-grabber and advocate for change, she adds her name to a growing list of female artists featured by the lead festival for Keychange, a global movement focused on restructuring the music industry to achieve gender equality.
A Career Defined by Music and Activism
Opening the weekend on Friday, 1 May 2026, the Sound City+ conference welcomes Nash to explore her journey through a digitised music era.
Known for iconic early-00s smashes like Foundations, Nash has recently made headlines for her Butts For Tour Buses protest and her 2025 anthem GERM.
Her efforts to make touring sustainable led her to tell British MPs last month that she has had to find unconventional ways to stay on the road.
Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, expressed her excitement about the booking:
“We are thrilled to have Kate join us at Sound City as one of the UK’s era-defining artists.
“She leads from the front on issues of gender equality and making careers in music sustainable.
“Whether signing a major label deal, enjoying chart success, or pursuing a successful acting career in ‘Glow’, she is an inspiration.”
Nash is the second major guest revealed for the conference, following Jamie Boyle of The K’s, who will discuss his band’s fan-powered rise at a special session on Thursday, 30 April.
Over 30 New Artists Join the Festival Bill
The latest announcement brings 35 further bands and solo artists to multiple city centre venues.
Among them is neo-soul rising star Marina Josephina, one of BBC Introducing’s Ones to Watch for 2025, and Chicago indie five-piece CUSP, whose latest album, What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back, has received rave critical reviews.
Glasgow’s Mercy Girl will bring their electronic darkwave sound to the May Bank Holiday weekend as the reigning Scottish Alternative Music Awards Best Newcomers. Liverpool’s own Courting will also return home following a year of touring their third album, Lust for Life, marking their first local show since performing at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Sefton Park.
A Milestone for Liverpool Music Month
Other notable names confirmed include social media phenomenon Michael Aldag, whose emotive 2025 single Hell has solidified his presence as a singular songwriter.
He is joined by Charlie Noordeweir, who gained national attention after opening for Sam Fender at his 30,000-capacity Manchester show.
These artists join previously announced headliners Westside Cowboy, Jalen Ngonda, and Keo, alongside Brooke Combe and The Molotovs.
With early bird tickets selling out a year in advance, remaining limited tickets are available via the official festival website.
As the BPI returns to the city for its acclaimed In Tune With Tomorrow event, Sound City 2026 is shaping up to be a vital meeting point for the British music industry.
