Get it Loud in Libraries

03/09/2026

Throwback Thursday - The one that got away

Lola Young's secret performances at Reading & Leeds Festival has got us thinking about the time she almost performed right here at Blackpool Central Library in 2020!

Our besties at Get it Loud in Libraries tried everything they could, but alas, we had to close our doors for a few months.

Lola you are still welcome any time! 🫶

02/09/2026

Get To Know: Lauren Auder 🤓

Coming up this September at Birkenhead Library is Lauren auder; a British-French singer-songwriter, record producer and composer who stitches together elements of classical, experimental, emo, and rap music into her own strange and hypnotic form of orchestral pop music. Her recently released follow up ‘Whole World As Vigil’ has been garnering strong support from BBC 6 Music, Pitchfork and other major music press.

“Far more than just a purveyor of irresistible neo-gothic pop, Lauren Auder
is an important new voice who won’t allow the trans community to be
‘swallowed up and tamed’ - Evening Standard

01/09/2026

2️⃣ years ago today we hosted Flyte at Lancaster Library.

A perfect Sunday afternoon of intimate song-story and harmony.

Here they are doing some post show signing ✍️

06/08/2026

MURKAGE DAVE // Blackpool Central Library // 26.07.2026

This was a gig for the books; artists, audience and our young gig crew all came together for a JOYOUS afternoon at Blackpool Central Library with Murkage Dave and L Devo Child . It was more than music, it was a celebration of what libraries can do; culture, community, creativity colliding to make magic under one book lined roof📚🫶🎸

We include Dave’s moving words on the day below because honestly we couldn’t put it better!

“I forgot how important the library was to me when I was growing up; it was a safe space where I could go, I could get away from school, I could get away from home. You could take out any books and you could max out your card and I could just read and go into my own world. I think that’s where actually a lot of this thing that I have with language started, Cathall Estate library. A friend of mine said performing popular music in a library is radical political act; I’d never thought about it, now its really clicking with me, because literacy is the way of the people being able to move forward; we’ve got these places that are free in every community and we can go here and we can do stuff, even in modern day, the libraries have saved me in the heatwave, I just want to say thank you to Get It Loud in Libraries for putting these events on, for keeping libraries relevant because we need them and there’s people that make the most of it, journeys begin, your path to wherever you’re going can start from literacy in your community.”

Thank you Blackpool for one seriously special Sunday 🌱✨

See you soon 😎

All photo credit to Little Wing Photography for capturing the magic 📸

06/08/2026

LittleWing Photography capturing the JOY of our gig with DJ Devolicious and Murkage Dave so beautifully 🫶

29/07/2026

This summer Coventry Library is hosting TWO FREE ‘Read to the Beat!’ for children 5-7 years and 8-11 years old as part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2026. Children will have the opportunity to explore ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and 'The Diary of a Wimpy Kid' through the lens of music with accomplished musician Tom Poggi and the GILIL team (award-winning gigs in libraries outfit). Expect noise, music, character building and a whole lot of fun!

It’s as easy as A. B, C…

1️⃣ The session will start with a live performance from musician Tom Poggi and the children will have the opportunity to ask questions all about their music career!

2️⃣ Next Tom will host a music workshop where children will explore the world of their book through lyric, rhyme, percussion and melody.

3️⃣ To finish things off they will work with our GILIL facilitator to share their new creative skills and earn a Discover Arts Award!

So what are you waiting for? Get your young music-makers booked on now, limited places available!

Just contact Coventry libraries on 0247 697 5237 or email [email protected] to book on!

24/06/2026

🚨LOW TICKET ALERT🚨

CARDINALS // Coventry Library // 14.11.26

Run don’t walk for tickets to these Irish rockers ready to rally the books off the shelves at Coventry Library this November! 🏃

A band forged through both family and friendship - brothers Euan and Finn Manning, their cousin Darragh and their former schoolmates Oskar Gudinovic and Aaron Hurley - the five-piece have already positioned themselves at the vanguard of the Irish independent rock scene.

“A bloody triumph.. One of the best rock debuts in years”- THE INDEPENDENT

“The next great Irish band is here” -THE OBSERVER

“One of my favourite breaking bands in the world right now” -MATT WILKINSON, APPLE MUSIC

“Powerful”- NME

With praise that strong what are you waiting for?

Get tickets now to see them in action 👇🎫

https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-cardinals/coventry-central-library/3618146?pre=artist&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwV0RhUU1qcmRsT241RnBsV3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6LpoSfZz3WVHYYTuqf8cguSNJPY5_gDPUdq-5qrBcxV41djoHipSC7hiwwZQ_aem_iveu5LxEdahGa7YVQxerEg

Cardinals covlibraries 📚

23/05/2026

👀 COMING UP 👀

This July we're hosting a double library bill of Murkage Dave at Coventry and Blackpool Library 🎉

One of the UK's most singular voices, Murkage Dave has spent the last decade crafting a body of work that refuses to fit neatly into any genre box. His music, loosely pop but informed by indie, outsider art, and an instinct for storytelling, is built on honesty, empathy, and fearless social commentary.

His latest album 'Brut Thoughts' connects the inner turbulence of modern life with the fractured world around him, reflecting on internet culture, overstimulation, immigrant experience, political extremism and the power of community. The album channels present-day anger and disillusionment while refusing to lose sight of hope.

"Writing with a journalistic incisiveness, Murkage Dave moves quickly, keeps receipts, refusing to keep his audience at arm’s length." - Line of Best Fit

👂For fans of Talking Heads, Sampha, The Smiths, The Streets.

🕴️Murkage Dave🕴️
📅25.07.26
📍Coventry Central Library
🚪8PM
🎫£16.50
🔗https://www.seetickets.com/event/murkage-dave/coventry-central-library/3610489

🕴️Murkage Dave🕴️
📅26.07.26
📍Blackpool Central Library
🚪2.30PM
🎫£16.50
🔗https://www.seetickets.com/event/murkage-dave/blackpool-central-library/3610495

🐔🗡️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnWVWEcG27k

Buy tickets for Murkage Dave at Coventry Central Library from the official retailer, See Tickets.

18/05/2026

We are delighted to announce our offer for this years ‘Read to the Beat!’ Summer Reading Challenge 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣!

We are partnering with 9️⃣ our network partners and 5️⃣ local musicians to deliver ‘Read to the Beat!’ workshops that will bring stories to life through the magic of music 📖🤝🎶

The FREE workshops will explore ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ with KS1 and ‘The Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ with KS2. 🐛🤓

So if you have children at home that are singing into the hairbrush, or re-purposing your pots and pans to make rhythms this is the PERFECT summer activity! 🎤🥁

🎟️ For booking information please contact your local library 🫶

.libraries

11/05/2026

ONE LIBRARY. SO MUCH JOY 🌕🫶📚