Here at Austin Guitars, we’re lucky to meet some brilliant people, but recently we had a truly special day when we were joined by two great visitors, Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley, and Will Sergeant, the legendary guitarist from Echo & the Bunnymen.
Will’s been a big part of the Liverpool music scene for decades. Being the lead guitarist of Echo & the Bunnymen, his iconic riffs helped shape the sound of post-punk and alternative rock, inspiring so many musicians along the way. Having someone with that kind of legacy drop by was a real honour.
Anneliese’s no stranger to music either. Before becoming an MP, she was right in the thick of Liverpool’s vibrant 90s scene. She and her friend Daniel Hunt of Liverpool band Ladytron launched the now-iconic club Liquidation, where loads of young Scousers used to pack out venues every week for some indie tunes. Even Oasis used to come along!
Both had heard about the shop and were keen to support small local businesses, which made their visit even more special to us. We had a great chat about guitars, local music scenes, and why places like The Barn, where music and community come together, matter so much.
Days like this make us proud of what we’re building here, not just a guitar shop, but a place where music lovers, neighbours and legends alike can come together. We’re grateful to Anneliese and Will for taking the time to visit and we look forward to welcoming more friendly faces through the doors soon.
If you want to see what The Barn is all about and support a local business, come down and say hello. We’re always up for a good chat and a bit of guitar talk!