October started with a big name. RADIOHEAD was in the building, namely London’s O2. In such a big venue, the sound was incredible for this 24-song set — including rarely-played songs such as “Paranoid Android” and “Street Spirit” as well as personal favourites “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” and “Reckoner.” Thom Yorke was fantastic to watch — he has no inhibitions (his dancing proving the point) — and it was a complete joy to see Jonny Greenwood hugging his telecaster no more than a few feet away, says our London team. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (October) →

AUGUST

Although August was a relatively quiet month, on a balmy summer evening, we were treated to the fantastic lineup of YES SIR BOSS, DISRAELI AND THE SMALL GODS and MOLOTOV JUKEBOX at Spiegeltent at London’s Southbank Centre. We’d been tracking Molotov for some time and fell in love with their brilliantly fiery live shows as well as the sparkling charisma and talents of lead singer Natalia Tena (of “Game of Thrones” TV series, “Harry Potter” movie series). Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (August and September) →

July was a peak month for classic gigs headed by strong females, starting with the return of the one-and-only Shirley Manson and GARBAGE, with support provided by hit Australian band THE JEZABELS and its powerful vocalist Hayley Mary. You would be hard pushed to find two bands who perform better live. Although Wolverhampton civic hall was no ideal venue, Garbage blew the stage, topped with chants of “Shirley!” resounding round the hall. Dominating the stage from the moment she first comes eye to eye with her audience, Manson oozes pure charisma, her no-nonsense presence sealing her once again as a music legend. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (July) →

June was a great month in the North of England for brilliant performances by bands from the other side of the pond.

I had seen Toronto band AUSTRA the previous September at the Deaf Institute where they blew me away. Since then, they have firmly stayed my favourite band and many are on tenterhooks for the arrival of their imminent second album. Their follow-up Manchester show at Soup Kitchen was also spectacular. Hypnotic and majestic on stage, every member of the six-piece excel at what they do. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (June) →

May Day saw the dawn of a very special venue indeed. The SAVAGES/PINS gig at Manchester’s Fuhrer Bunker is one for the history books, primarily for revealing the bunker’s now-legendary cage setting. Playing to a limited capacity crowd, the electricity in the air was tangible from the moment you located the building in the middle of the deserted rubbish-laden landscape to the moment the bands stepped inside the restrictive wooden structure. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (May) →

MARCH

Already widely known in the US since their double-Grammy win last year, THE CIVIL WARS have since stormed the UK. Joy Williams and John Paul White were a picture of perfection, a delight to watch and listen to, and the Manchester Academy crowds couldn’t get enough of the tracks off their hit album “Barton Hollow.” It’s difficult to fault such iconic songs as the beautiful “Poison & Wine” and “I’ve Got This Friend.” Their harmonies are sublime, the partnership seemingly made in heaven Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (March and April) →

As you can see from our list of TOP 30 LIVE ACTS OF 2012, we saw some amazing musicians in the year 2012, in Manchester, London, Glasgow, Brighton, Leeds, Liverpool, York and Tokyo. Here are just some of our highlights and stories:

JANUARY

We started the year off brilliantly with three back-to-back ANI DIFRANCO shows, at Brighton’s Concorde and twice at London’s Union Chapel Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (January and February) →

Electrowerkz is sold out tonight and there is anticipation in the air as the dark, dingy room fills up during the half hour before VUVUVULTURES begin their set. Having more or less completely done away with laptops and backing tracks, Vuvuvultures seem liberated from these musical constraints and hit the stage with vigour. Continue reading TRUST electrify London →