The Jacaranda, a historic Liverpool music venue, closed its doors in 2013 after significant financial losses but has since reinvented itself as a thriving hub for both emerging talent and major acts. Today, the venue operates two sites on Slater Street and in the Baltic Triangle, hosting artists such as The Libertines, Blossoms, and chart-topper Olivia Dean.
From Financial Struggles to a 'Pinch Me' Moment
Managing director Graham Stanley, who joined the Jacaranda in 2010, recalled the venue's decline. 'After doing some maths, we quickly realized that the Jacaranda was losing quite a lot of money by just being open. It had been incredibly successful in the 90s, but as the years went on, things shifted,' he told the ECHO. The difficult decision to close came in 2013, but the venue reopened 12 months later with a clear mission.
Stanley highlighted a standout moment: hosting the Kaiser Chiefs on short notice. 'That was a real moment for me. They were a band that had been important to me, and all of a sudden they were playing on the stage in my venue. It was a pinch me moment and a little bit surreal,' he said. The gig was arranged in just a week.
Nurturing Rising Stars
Beyond established acts, the Jacaranda has helped launch careers. 'We've also had people like Olivia Dean and Maisie Peters, who are super current and really at the beginning of their journey. It may be some of the last times they'll ever play venues that small. It's a privilege to be involved in the early part of people's journeys,' Stanley said.
The venue's reopening in 2014 was guided by a 'deliberate mandate' to return to its roots as a grassroots music venue, inspired by The Beatles' early days in its basement in 1960. 'We realized it wasn't The Beatles as we know them today. Ringo wasn't even in the band then. They were just a bunch of guys who weren't very good at playing their instruments, really cutting their teeth. That seemed like an exciting concept,' Stanley explained.
Expansion and Future Plans
Under Stanley's leadership, the Jacaranda has expanded rapidly. A record store opened at the Slater Street site in 2015, a second venue was launched two years ago, and the brand has hosted one-off gigs in various cities across the country. Local acts like Lovecraft (now Flower Show), Stone, The Lathums, Red Rum Club, and Jalen Ngonda have all started their careers at the venue and now perform internationally.
Stanley remains focused on the future: 'Hopefully we can make sure that the Jacaranda continues to be a hub and a home for all the young and old musicians of Liverpool, a place where they can experiment, hone their craft, and go on to bigger and better things.'
