Liverpool Olympia celebrates 120 years with special anniversary show

The Olympia is set to celebrate a monumental 120 years of entertainment on Saturday, 26 April.

For more than a century, The Olympia has hosted world-class performances, unforgettable events, and legendary artists.

In its time, The Beatles, Paul Weller, New Order, Little Richard, and illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini wowed audiences.

In recent years, Teddy Swims, The Gossip, Jamie Webster, Elvis Costello and Manic Street Preachers have taken to the venue’s iconic stage.

To celebrate its illustrious history, iconic British rock-band Embrace will be headlining the venue’s birthday show.The multi-platinum-selling band behind hits like “Gravity” “Ashes” and “All You Good People”, are set to deliver an outstanding performance.

Following on from their Leeds, Kirkstall Abbey show in front of a crowd of 6,000, fans of the indie rockers can expect an amazing night of live music since the band last appeared at the venue in 2016.

Britpop icons The Bluetones will appear as special guests. They first came to prominence in 1995, when their debut release “Are You Blue Or Are You Blind” broke into the Top 40. The single proved to be the launching pad leading to “Expecting to Fly” becoming a number one UK album, and a career spanning 14 hit singles and six albums.

The Real People play the venue for the first time, these pioneers of the Britpop Movement and Liverpool legends were instrumental in Oasis’s catastrophic rise to superstardom.

Continuing to represent Liverpool’s music scene, Rats’ raucous energy, swagger and charisma promise to get the birthday show off to a flying start. Rats’ singles have over a million listeners on Spotify, with their debut album due for imminent release.

Chris Zorba, owner of the Liverpool Olympia, said:

“I am proud to take this iconic venue into its 120th year and celebrate its magnificent history. We will celebrate the year from 24th April with an eclectic mix of outstanding music, comedy and sporting events befitting to the Olympia’s rich history.”

Opening in April 1905, the prestigious Grade II-listed building was designed by renowned architect Frank Matcham and was taken over by the Zorba family in 1990. The independently owned venue has been revitalised by its current owners, who made sure to retain its original features.

Thanks to the Zorba family the venue has remained engrained in Liverpool’s cultural fabric and has been given a new lease of life with new seats in the lower balcony, a redressed stage and enhanced backstage facilities.

The anniversary show will honour the venue’s cultural heritage and the legendary acts that have walked through its doors. Tickets for the birthday show are available for:

Pre sale at 10am on Monday 3 February here.

General sale 10am Wednesday 5 February here.

Fans are encouraged to secure tickets early, as this historic event is anticipated to sell out quickly.

The spirit of the Olympia, like that of the city’s community, has always been to celebrate independence, embrace change and be at the forefront of culture and entertainment in the city providing artists with a unique backdrop to create a once in a lifetime experience for their fans.

Over decades, the venue has evolved to meet the ever-changing tastes of audiences, becoming a beloved landmark for locals and visitors alike. Join us as we honour the legacy of the Liverpool Olympia and celebrate 120 years of music history in the heart of the city.