Birkenhead’s popular community music and arts venue, Future Yard, has revealed details of the inaugural Autumn/Winter Programme for the new and improved 600-capacity crowdfunded live venue.
Opening its doors before the end of 2026, the first batch of artists have been confirmed for the new space, which comes with an adjoining purpose-built studio complex that will deliver 50 additional Future Yard shows each year.
This includes at least 150 additional performance opportunities for local artists within the live room, and 2,000 extra hours of practical experience for Sound Check trainees.
And if that wasn’t enough, there will be space for 3,500 children a year to access Future Yard’s new School’s Music Curriculum in the 12 acoustically treated mixed-used studio and teaching spaces.
The low energy space aligns with Future Yard’s ambitious sustainability aims and is core to the organisation’s commitment to achieving operation net zero by 2030, including a bespoke sustainable heat recovery system.
The announced artists include alternative innovators Squid, local risers The Cheap Thrills, BRIT Award winning Holly Humberstone, and an intimate Q&A with author, Irvine Welsh.
These exciting developments come at a time when Birkenhead has been shortlisted as the only North West town for the very first UK Town of Culture.
The initiative will see the winning town receive £3m in 2028!
Christopher Torpey, Co-founder Future Yard CIC, commented: “It feels like a real step up for Future Yard to be hosting artists of this calibre at our home in Birkenhead – our expanded home, which is being built with the support of our incredible fans and backers.
“It’s really important for the town, too, to see Birkenhead appearing on tour listings of this magnitude and welcoming musicians from across the world to our home, especially at a moment when opportunities are scarce and times are tough.
“We genuinely can’t wait to invite people inside for a show, share in the excitement and experience this hopeful new direction for the town. The Future is Birkenhead!”
For more information on the series please visit: https://futureyard.org.
FUTURE YARD FULL AUTUMN & WINTER PROGRAMME
The full programme is as follows…
SEPTEMBER 2026
04.09 – DJ Yoda’s 90’s Mixtape
05.09 – Pleasure Island
09.09 – Ak’chamel
10.09 – steel. EP Launch
11.09 – Birkenhead Calling III
12.09 – Martha
17.09 – Connor Selby
18.09 – Smoove & Turrell
20.09 – Trial Tapes + Little Furry Things
25.09 – Rebel Dread Rockers (Don Letts + Andy Smith)
26.09 – The Bends
OCTOBER 2026
02.10 – Katy Hurt + Two Ways Home
03.10 – James Lavelle
09.10 – Lime Garden (sold-out)
10.10 – Ibibio Sound Machine
11.10 – Everything Yes
19.10 – Iguana Death Cult
20.10 – Yumi and The Weather
22.10 – Lagos Thugs
23.10 – Annie-Claude Deschênes with THE DSM IV
24.10 – Grandmaster Flash
25.10 – Squid
29.10 – Saigon Soul Revival
31.10 – Breakthrough Festival
NOVEMBER 2026
04.11 – Mae Stephens
07.11 – African Head Charge
10.11 – ĠENN
13.11 – Mike Viola
14.11 – GNOD
18.11 – corto.alto
20.11 – Cheekface
21.11 – Knats
21.11 – Birkenhead Day of The Dead
26.11 – Dylan LeBlanc
27.11 – Omega Nebula
27.11 – BODEGA
29.11 – Cowboyy
DECEMBER 2026
03.12 – And So I Watch You From Afar
11.12 – Irvine Welsh
12.12 – The Cheap Thrills
18.12 – Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band
JANUARY 2027
22.01 – Holly Humberstone
FEBRUARY 2027
06.02 – James Taylor Quartet
16.02 – Obie Trice
MARCH 2027
18.03 – Roaslie Cunningham
25.03 – Orchestra Baobab
27.03 – Dinosaur Pile-Up
…
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