Courting delivered a characteristically chaotic and thrilling performance at the Arts Club Theatre as part of Sound City 2026, cementing their place as one of Liverpool’s most fearless and unpredictable live acts.
The Performance
Taking the stage at a packed Arts Club Theatre, Courting brought an immense stage presence that instantly electrified the room. Frontman Sean Murphy-O’Neill steered the performance with his signature mix of deadpan composure and explosive energy, completely commanding the audience. The band breezed through its entertaining set with absolute ease, revealing a remarkably tight unit. Bassist Connor McCann kept a phenomenal rhythm pocket lock, driving the instrumentation forward as the band intentionally blurred the lines between sharp post-punk grit and electronic-rock experimentation.
Set Highlights
The setlist acted as a stellar showcase for their genre-bending catalogue, leaning heavily into the sharp wit and massive tempo shifts that define their sound. The crowd erupted into absolute pandemonium during a brilliant run of their most driving material. The room transformed into a sea of surging bodies and flying pints during anthems like the hook-heavy Loaded and the relentless bounce of Flex.
The band also confidently leaned into their newer, experimental repertoire from Lust for Life. The dark, hypnotic guitar walls and shifting drum grooves of After You translates phenomenally to a festival setting, while the staggering, nine-minute cult favourite Uncanny Valley Forever provided a massive cinematic highlight, building into a mesmerising wall of noise that left the crowd completely awe-struck.
