Celebrating 50 Years of Rough Trade: Viagra Boys + Sprints + Opus Kink

Rough Trade 50 lands in Liverpool this August Bank Holiday for a monumental, one-off night celebrating the past, present and future of independent music culture.

Headlining the legendary Liverpool Olympia are Swedish post-punk icons Viagra Boys, returning to the UK to claim their crown as Rough Trade’s No. 1 Album of the Year 2025 champions. Expect their trademark blend of satirical, high-energy chaos and unrelenting grooves.

This massive anniversary show features a specially curated line-up put together in collaboration with Viagra Boys themselves, showcasing some of the most vital acts in the modern alternative scene. Joining the bill are Dublin post-punk powerhouses SPRINTS, delivering their fierce, visceral hooks, alongside the ferocious, genre-bending jazz-punk brilliance of Opus Kink.

“Liverpool has one of the richest musical histories anywhere in the world, and it’s home to our biggest Rough Trade store globally. Bringing our 50th anniversary celebrations here – with a band we’ve built a close relationship with since their debut – feels incredibly special. This unique Liverpool show with Viagra Boys is exactly what Rough Trade is all about.”
Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director of Rough Trade

“Rough Trade is unquestionably one of the world’s great independent music institutions. For their 50th anniversary to land in Liverpool – as the only other shows outside their London birthplace – is a real coup for the city. It speaks volumes about Liverpool’s musical heritage and its continued importance as a global music city.”
Kevin McManus, Director of UNESCO City of Music, Liverpool

Do not miss this definitive celebration of five decades of independent music…