CRATE
CRAFT BEER + VINYL CULTURE
CRATE is a celebration of craft beer and vinyl record culture here at Future Yard, and the independent, DIY spirit that unites them both. CRATE takes place regularly throughout the year as quarterly craft beer + music markets.
Independent record stores and independent brewers, record collectors and craft beer lovers; we are all essentially the same, celebrators of unique tastes, all shaped by a love and commitment to individual craft and the embodiment of DIY culture.
CRATE is here to celebrate and bring together these two worlds. To provide a haven for the mashers and the collectors, the acid-jazz seekers and the saison lovers, a moment to indulge, to ferment in the grooves.
CRATE Market #6: Saturday 25th February 2023
We celebrate the sixth CRATE craft beer + music market on Saturday 25th February, the first of this 2023 and with a spring vibe in the air. CRATE started just over 12 months ago, and over the first five amazing events we’ve tapped in to a world of music and beer lovers that gets to the heart of what we all love. The Market brings together the worlds of vinyl obsessives and craft beer aficionados for a daytime fair that pulls together some of the best local record labels, vendors, brewers, printmakers and DJs in the North West. Our own new Future Yard merch will feature on Dig Vinyl’s stall, packed with a selection of new and used vinyl masterpieces, stocked with some gems from across the eras, locals and non-locals alike. Always look out for new merch drops from us, which we time with these markets: from T-shirts and totes, to slip mats and prints – there’s loads to satisfy your weird wirral wishes! This stall will appear alongside selections from specialist vinyl record traders Slipmat, Black Beacon Sound, One Nathan Under A Groove, Lark Lane Records and local trader Eco Antiques And Collectables.
Some of our favourite local brewers will be pitching up with a stall, selling a mix of draught and packaged goodness. Top Rope, Glen Affric and Carnival are all regular features on our taps, and will be showing even more of what they’ve got to offer. We’re made up to be joined by these three breweries for this version of the CRATE Market, especially at a tricky time for the craft brewing industry due to rising costs. All the breweries will be selling fresh new brews and popular favourites, and any hop adventurers can request guided beer tastings for that little bit extra.
Add into the mix stalls from Liverpool label 9×9 and a range of Northern-focussed prints from Secret Industries, it amounts to plenty to look forward to digging through.
The Market will run from 11am and is free entry. There will be DJs on throughout the day as the Market spreads across the Future Yard Live Room as well as the bar and side room. Our vinyl vendors and print traders will be trading up until 6pm, when we close the live room to turn it round for the evening show. The breweries will be stationed in the front bar and side Yellow Room, and you’ll be able to sample their wares and get your carry outs from midday up until 8pm. You’ll also be able to enjoy the amazing Onomatoposter gig poster exhibition that is currently up on our Future Walls gallery space.
DON LETTS
We’re extremely excited to have the Rebel Dread legend Don Letts as a guest at this edition of CRATE. The DJ, director and musician is the perfect guest for this event, joining us ahead of the April release of his debut solo album, Outta Sync for a Q&A in the afternoon market part of the day, and playing a live DJ set at the evening afterparty (ticketed).
Don Letts’ reputation precedes him, and one that been firmly established through his influential journeys into both the film and music worlds, owning a substantial body of work in both realms beginning in the late 70s, right through through the 80s, 90s and well into the millennium. Known as the man who single-handedly turned a whole generation of punks into reggae, Don channels the spirit of his time as DJ at London’s legendary Roxy club back in 1977 with his sets, still DJing nationally and internationally playing strictly old and new school dub reggae.
Don Letts will be taking to the stage for his DJ set after the CRATE Market has ended. The live show will be ticketed (tickets £17), with doors opening at 8pm. Support comes from Slipmat Records’ Mat Oliphant who’ll be warming up the decks.
CRATE Market takes place every three months as we continue to celebrate the the unique qualities of music obsessives and beer lovers and the things that draw them both together. We’re always looking to expand on what we do, sand we’re massively excited to be able to take advantage of the great weather and take CRATE outdoors for this one. That will allow us to bring in even more great sellers and enthusiasts in the CRATE orbit, and programme some more events and content around the day. Keep your eyes peeled for more news of this coming soon.