What a fantastic year for live music! I managed to get to 66 gigs and see more than 100 different bands, here are some photos and videos of them. Click on the photos to see full size.
Big shoutout to all those who’ve accompanied me at those ❤️ …
Mrs Garbanzo, both Garbanzo Juniors, Richard B, Kicker Of Elves, Girvan, Mark a.k.a. The Lancashire Toreador, Simon, Debs, Richard F, Pompey Mike, Richard P a.k.a. Inverurie Ram, Mat R, Martin S, Ian D, Mike M, Bruno, Carlos, Jon J, Alex P, Alex J, Martin B, Jean-Paul, Martin J, Richard H, Kate, Steve W, Nick, Jan, Neil, Iain M, the other Richard B, Phil, Dawn, Ian P, Paul H, Will M, Will N, Mia, West Brom Ken, Matt J and Bonsai Tiger.
24th January: Do Nothing / Alright (Okay) / So Reverie @ Future Yard, Birkenhead
29th January: The Bug Club / John Myrtle / Pleasure Island @ Future Yard Birkenhead
7th February: Sophie Jamieson / Rosie Miles @ Low Four, Manchester
11th February: Hamish Hawk / GANS @ New Century Hall, Manchester
14th February: Personal Trainer / Modern Woman @ Gorilla, Manchester
17th February: The Jazz Emu @ The Lowry, Salford (didn’t take any photos)
18th February: Squid / Martha Skye Murphy @ The Ritz, Manchester
🦑🦑🦑🦑🦑
1st March: Don Letts DJ set @ The Salty Dog Northwich (didn’t take any photos)
9th March: Melin Melyn @ The Jacaranda, Liverpool
14th March: Bab L’Bluz / Crimewave @ Yes Basement, Manchester
20th March: The Tubs / Body Suit @ Gullivers, Manchester
29th March: The Wedding Present / Evy Frearson @ The Sub Rooms, Stroud
3rd April: Divorce / Dug @ Gorilla, Manchester
6th April: An Evening With Mark & Lard @ The Storyhouse, Chester (didn’t take any photos)
15th April: Jane Weaver / Memorials @ Boiler Room, Guildford
17th April: Cover to Cover presents the album “Chet Baker Sings & Plays” @ The Mildmay Club, London
18th April: Manic Street Preachers / The Anchoress @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London
30th April: Melin Melyn / Bitw @ District, Liverpool
3rd May: Manic Street Preachers / Honeyglaze @ O2 Apollo, Manchester
7th May: The Pogues / Stick in the Wheel @ O2 Apollo, Manchester
8th May: The Waterboys @ Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
9th May: The Wedding Present @ Stylus, Leeds
10th May: Absolute Bowie @ The Live Rooms, Chester
15th May: Max Weinberg’s Jukebox Band @ Band on the Wall, Manchester
16th May: Ben Le Jeune / Thirteen Thirteen @ The Eagle Inn, Salford
20th May: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Co Op Live Arena, Manchester
22nd May: Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy @ The Blues Kitchen, Manchester
24th May: From The Jam / Ruts DC @ The Ritz, Manchester
4th June: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
5th June: Remain In Light / Cool Cool Cool / Lesley Woods @ The Ritz, Manchester
17th June: Kim Deal / TTSSFU @ New Century Hall, Manchester
3rd July: Squeeze / Badly Drawn Boy / China Crisis @ Ashley Showground, Altrincham
5th July: “Pop At The Lock” The Proctors / The Understudies / The Cords / The Just Joans / Feutre / Jasmine Allen Estate / The Sunbathers / Cola Jet Set / Miki Berenyi Trio @ The Kings Lock, Middlewich
11th July: Autocamper / Tigers & Flies @ The Star & Garter, Manchester
18th July: “Skep Wax Weekender” – Swansea Sound / The Orchids / Would-Be-Goods @ The Lexington, London
19th July: “Skep Wax Weekender” – Heavenly / Crumbs / Lightheaded @ Islington Town Hall, London
28th July: LAIR @ The Golden Lion, Todmorden
5th August: The New Eves @ Rough Trade, Liverpool
6th August: Pys Melyn / Hap A Damwain / Crinc / Yr Onglau @ Yr Lab, Wrexham
8th August: “At The Edge Of The Sea” – The Wedding Present @ The Concorde 2, Brighton
9th August: “At The Edge Of The Sea” – The Wedding Present / Grumpy Custard / Cinerama @ The Concorde 2, Brighton
30th August: “Manchester Psych Fest” Gong / Westside Cowboy* / PINS* / The Bug Club* / Sidney Minsky Sargeant / Christopher Owens / Goblyns* / Floodlights / Pale Blue Eyes / Blind Yeo* / The Bug Club* / Do Nothing* / Goat / La Securite* / Yin Yin / Formal Sppeedwear @ Various venues, Manchester
As usual with Psych Fest, a busy schedule of bands playing at the same time creates some frustrating clashes. I have marked with asterisks the bands where I caught the whole set.
5th September: The Burning Hell / Jon McKiel @ Yes Pink Room, Manchester
12th September: “Ara Deg” – Ichi / Gulp / The Tubs @ Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
13th September: “Ara Deg” Fiona & Gorwel Owen / Rhodri Davies / Gruff Rhys / Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn / Kate N.V. / Peter Duggal / Accu @ Various venues, Bethesda
21st September: Harry Hill @ The Lowry, Salford
23rd September: The Wedding Present / Voodoo Radio @ The Live Rooms, Chester
3rd October: The Wedding Present / Mozart Estate @ O2 Academy, Bristol
7th October: Edwyn Collins / The Hanging Stars @ Albert Hall, Manchester
10th October: The Wedding Present / Mozart Estate @ The Ritz, Manchester
13th October: Robert Forster @ Band on the Wall, Manchester
18th October: The Wedding Present / Mozart Estate @ O2 Academy, Liverpool
19th October: Gruff Rhys @ Nantwich Civic Hall, Nantwich
23rd October: The Wedding Present / Mozart Estate @ O2 Institute, Birmingham
25th October: “Jarred Up Festival” – Treeboy & Arc, Life, Keg, Floral Image, Do Nothing @ Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
27th October: Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes / Kris Gruen Arts Club Liverpool
30th October: The Lovely Eggs / Frank Skinner / Polite Bureaux @ Academy 2, Manchester
7th November: The Wedding Present (acoustic duo) / Darren Hayman @ Wrecking Ball, Hull
13th November: John Shuttleworth @ Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
16th November: “Louder Than Words Festival” Billy Bragg Q & A and book signing @ Innside Hotel, Manchester
John Robb in conversation with Billy about the new book “Billy Bragg: A People’s History.” The book, running to almost 600 pages, comes with over 50 contributions from Billy and contains the memories and anecdotes of over 700 friends, collaborators and fans (including me on page 214)
Video below shows that neither of us have aged at all!
20th November: The Golden Dregs / Sophie Jamieson / Lichen @ Philharmonic Music Rooms, Liverpool
25th November: CMAT / Fancy Hagood @ Academy, Manchester
28th November: Goldie Looking Chain / John Mouse @ Mechanics Theatre, Burnley
7th December: The Bootleg Beatles @ Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool (didn’t take any photos)
17th December: The Wedding Present / Emma Pollock @ The Picturedrome, Holmfirth
My 50th Wedding Present gig!!
18th December: The Wedding Present / Emma Pollock @ Opera House, Buxton
19th December: The Bug Club / Fruit Tones @ The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
20th December: Swansea Sound / The Gentle Springs / Stewart Lee @ The Waiting Room, London
Please help support all the wonderful musicians mentioned in the list above by buying their music and merch and going to gigs.
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