Top 30 Live Acts of 2012

2012 was a good year for live music in the UK, and we’re not talking about the massive overgrown and overpriced festivals (sigh), but the day-to-day gigs in the cities. Despite the heavy saturation of the music industry, we managed to dig out some gems, experiencing a massive array of talent from the UK, Japan and beyond. Notably, the UK continues to produce some fantastic female musicians, and it’s just a matter of time and evolution before the industry matures sufficiently to recognize this surge and make the most of it, hopefully encouraging further diversity in both the music itself and the industry overall. Knowing the foot-dragging patriarchy of the media and music industries, we’re not exactly holding our breath…

Our month-by-month 2012 gig highlights are coming soon…

For now, here are our top 30 favourite live acts of 2012:

– ALANIS MORISSETTE > VIDEO “Hand in my Pocket” (live)

– ANI DIFRANCO > VIDEO “Smiling Underneath” (live) > PHOTOS

– AUSTRA > VIDEO “Lose It” > PHOTOS > INTVW#1 > INTW#2

– BO NINGEN > VIDEO “Koroshitai Kimochi” > PHOTOS

– CLOCK OPERA > VIDEO “Belongings” > PHOTOS

– COMANECHI > VIDEO “Death of You” > PHOTOS

– CRYSTAL CASTLES > VIDEO “Not in Love” > PHOTOS

– DELPHIC > VIDEO “This Momentary” > PHOTOS

– FEIST > VIDEO “I Feel It All” > PHOTOS

– GARBAGE > VIDEO “Push It” > PHOTOS