The people behind Sonic Yootha said the rumours spread like “wildfire”
17:46, 28 Jun 2025Updated 18:33, 28 Jun 2025
John Aggy and Shaun Duggan celebrating 10 years of Sonic Yootha at 24 Kitchen Street.(Image: Andrew Teebay)
The founders of one of Liverpool’s most unique club nights have addressed rumours it could be coming to an end. Since starting a decade ago, Sonic Yootha has cemented itself as a monthly fixture for many. The alternative disco prides itself on being a disco for the “homos, heteros, drag shows and don’t knows”.
It is the brainchild of three lads from “the rough ends” of North Liverpool, Shaun Duggan, Ian Usher and John Aggy. The three created it out of a need to find a place for people like themselves to belong. It began with a short stint in Camp and Furnace before settling in the venue it is renowned for today, 24 Kitchen Street.
Sonic Yootha will be hosting its 10th birthday celebrations this weekend on Saturday, June 28, with the theme of Getting Away With It. In usual fashion, attendees who pay the £10 entry fee will be treated to a diverse blend of Kylie, The Pet Shop Boys, Patti Smith and even, occasionally, the theme tunes to soap operas.
John Aggy and Shaun Duggan celebrating 10 years of Sonic Yootha, at 24 Kitchen Street.(Image: Andrew Teebay)
However, among all the celebrations, a rumour began spreading that Sonic Yootha would be coming to an end in line with the milestone anniversary. However, the ECHO can confirm this will not be the case.
When the ECHO caught up with the founders to talk about Yootha’s legacy, John, a 59-year-old civil servant living in Toxteth, told the ECHO: “One thing I love about Liverpool is that when it has a thing to be proud of, it will defend it fiercely and that’s the same with Sonic Yootha.
“We aren’t going anywhere. To see mums and daughters and dads with their gay sons come, you can’t replace that.
“We didn’t think it would last five years, most club nights don’t so we are lucky to be here.”
Sonic Yootha at Kitchen Street, described as ‘A dislocated disco for homos, fauxmos, gender-blenders & part-time Brendas'(Image: Sonic Yootha)
Scriptwriter Shaun, who now lives in Aigburth, added: “Ian had this radical idea that it would be good to end on the 10th birthday, to go out on a high rather than to let it fizzle out.
“We all thought it was a very Sonic Yootha idea to do and we agreed with it for a while. We got wasted at one Sonic Yootha and told everyone and it spread like wildfire.
“We were bombarded by messages with people begging us not to. We asked ourselves ‘why on earth would we end it now? We are busier than we have ever been and there’s a whole new generation coming through and finding themselves?’.
“So, now in true Sonic Yootha style, next year we are actually having more nights than ever in a year. We’e gone from ending to be more active than usual. We normally have January and August off, but in 2026 we aren’t.”
You can read all about how the eccentric club night established its legacy here.