How tiny record store became the go-to place for singers and stars
Record store and live entertainment venue Jacaranda Baltic is celebrating a year since opening. The small yet vibrant venue, located in the thriving Baltic Triangle community, is immensely proud of the work its achieved in bringing independent artists to the city.
The Jacaranda is celebrated as one of the United Kingdom's most iconic grassroots music venues - a reputation cemented by its place in music history as part of the The Beatles origin story. With a legacy spanning more than 60 years, the venue remains a cornerstone of the city’s music scene.
In 2015, right at the beginning of the vinyl revival, the Jacaranda Records store opened on the first floor of the Seel Street venue, giving music fans another place to shop. Following the success of the store, Phase One, a stand alone record shop on Seel Street, launched with an 180 capacity music venue attached.
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Phase One enjoyed five years of music and live entertainment before the Jacaranda team decided to take the shop to the next level. The store closed on New Year's Eve in 2023 and relaunched days later in an expansive new home in the Baltic Triangle.
Graham Stanley, who took over as Jacaranda Records' director in 2014, told the ECHO: "The two shops were close together and having one in the Baltic, in a cool and up and coming part of Liverpool, was a good idea."
Jacaranda Baltic was a new opportunity to build on the brand's legacy while ramping up the possibilities. Graham added: "The new premise was acquired and we stepped it up again.
"That's why we've managed to land such an incredible line up of acts. We loved Phase One but it was great to give it the evolution it deserved. We could do so much more."
Jacaranda Records' head of booking, Veso Mihyalov, said: "We thought it might take time to gain traction, but within a month, we had Shed Seven celebrating their first number-one album on-stage and an array of album launch shows. It’s been incredible to keep bringing these amazing acts to Liverpool."
Since opening, the Baltic branch has hosted everyone from Pixie Lott and Dizzee Rascal to The Libertines and Tom Odell. The venue recently held a signing event with Grammy-nominated electronic artist FKA twigs, celebrating the launch of the new album Eusexua.
Graham added: "People like [FKA twigs] would probably never come to the city if it wasn't for the venue. It's great to be able to bring such big talents and give people a chance to meet them in a different setting, one that only these types of venues create.
"The first year of Baltic has been amazing. It is so nice to celebrate what we are doing. We've put so many people in there - a real range of acts from pop to rock to urban - and we want to continue doing that.
"We didn't expect any of this when we opened Jacaranda Records. We certainly didn't think it would lead to the success that it's had."
Jacaranda Baltic celebrates its first birthday with an enormous party this Friday, which coincides with its 100th live show. A packed line-up includes Tom Rogan, Roscoe Street, Danelia, Cargazer, Muddly Elephant, The Way Offf, and more to be confirmed.
Keeping with the grassroots ethos, Graham added: "We just want to have a great time so we've kept tickets cheap so everyone can come. Please support us in supporting the best new talent around."
You can purchase tickets for Jacaranda Baltic's birthday event here.