The sound of the city: July’s live music highlights

Hull Folk Festival

A reminder of how much is happening across Hull’s music scene, by Rose Barker

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July feels like one of those months where every weekend comes with a difficult choice.

Festivals, all-dayers and packed line-ups seem to be popping up everywhere, and there’s a good chance you'll find yourself wishing you could be in two places at once.

Here are a few shows I’d be making time for this month:

Things get underway across the first weekend of July with two very different options. The Hull Folk and Maritime Festival returns to Social across Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 July (free entry), bringing another packed weekend of music, storytelling and community spirit to the Marina. Alternatively, if you're looking for something a little less relaxed, Mr Traumatik heads to The Welly (£20) on Saturday, July 4 for a night of drum and bass likely to go well into the early hours.

Saturday, July 18 brings a proper Hull clash, forcing you to make a tough choice. Ulltrafest returns to The Adelphi (£19), with Glasgow punks SOAPBOX headlining a massive bill packed with bands, including shoegaze outfit Flesh Planet and post-punkers Bureau de Change. At the same time, Wrecking Ball Arts Centre hosts Ted Key & The VIPs (£15), offering a chance to catch the founding Housemartins member back on stage in the city that helped shape one of Hull's most iconic musical stories.

Sunday, July 19 sees local dark alt-rock outfit Faith In Fiction join Newcastle's Connection State at O’Rileys (£7). Then on Saturday, July 25, Asylum Uprising Metal Fest (£25) takes over, with Black Coast, Electron and Hull favourites Mastiff on the bill. If heavy music is your thing, there'll be plenty to get stuck into.

Tuesday, July 28 features another weekly edition of The Sesh at Polar Bear Music Club (free entry), with alternative-pop artist Flat Number Two topping the bill. The evening also includes a Launchpad Music panel with guest speakers from across the industry, a timely addition for aspiring local musicians with Humber Street Sesh just around the corner.  

From waterfront festivals and hometown favourites to punk all-dayers and metal festivals, July is a reminder of just how much is happening across Hull's music scene right now.

I’ll see you down the front! 

Listen now - scan the code using the Spotify app and listen to Rose’s picks for this month