Age Recommendation 15+

An intimate acoustic show from Chris and Tony Griffiths, the songwriting brothers behind Liverpool cult heroes The Real People — “The Realies” to their devoted fans. Formed in 1987, the band helped shape the sound that would become Britpop, standing alongside The La’s and The Stone Roses in bringing melody, soul and classic guitar songwriting back to the fore after the synth-led 80s.

Their self-titled debut on Columbia Records delivered fan favourites including Open Up Your Mind, Window Pane and The Truth, followed by the top 40 single *Believer*. Their influence has only grown with time: NME described their “baggy, proto-Britpop sound” as having “a huge bearing on Oasis,” while Liam Gallagher said, “I never ever hid away from The Real People, they were way before their time.” He also recalled that their song Dream On “hit me like a juggernaut.”

John Robb from Louder Than War called The Real People “one of the greatest guitar bands you should have heard of,” praised their music as “guitar pop perfect,” and described them as “still the real thing.” Their songwriting travelled far beyond the band too, with Tony’s One by One becoming a worldwide hit for Cher.

The Real People’s reputation saw them share stages with Oasis and support the likes of David Bowie, Ocean Colour Scene, The Pixies, Simple Minds, Inspiral Carpets, The Pretenders, Duran Duran and Nelly Furtado.

Support comes from up-and-coming local band Antics, appearing as a special acoustic duo.

Stripped back and up close, this is a rare chance to hear the songs, stories and harmonies at the heart of one of Liverpool’s most influential guitar bands — intimate, melodic and unmistakably real.