Now that there is just a hint of spring in the air, and those of us who work office hours are leaving work in daylight, the dormant gig-goer shuffles uneasily from his hibernation and raises his snout to sniff the air. Yes, he thinks, it may be time to think about ‘going out’ again.
I can see that my booked events fall into three chronological groups. March is all about spoken word with front row tickets for Ross Noble on his Brain Dump tour (which will be the third time we have seen him in about 12 months), and favourite author Christopher Priest making a rare public appearance for an interview at the local book festival. I’ve loved Priest’s work since discovering The Prestige on a second hand bookstall more than 30 years ago, but have never met him. We also have an application in for a recording with David Sedaris for the BBC. We’ve applied before but been unlucky, so fingers crossed on that one.
Things then take a folky hue as spring turns into summer with Kathryn Williams at Canada Water in April, The Unthanks at Deptford in May, Fairport’s 50th birthday bash at Union Chapel, also in May, and Folk by the Oak one day festival (Levellers, Kate Rusby, Show of Hands and many more) in July. We might plug the June gap by going to the Stonefree Festival at the O2 in June. Last year we found that afternoon events in the Indigo Arena were free, whether or not you had a ticket for the main evening gigs. If the same applies this year we see Blue Oyster Cult among others, if not we’ll just have a day out in London instead.
As it’s only February bookings are a bit slimmer from the middle of the year on so far, but Steve Harris’ British Lion (a side project of the Iron Maiden bass player and songwriter) are playing a festival warm up gig at Colchester Arts Centre in July. I was a Maiden fan in my youth, and I like the idea of a guy who usually plays to tens of thousands having arrived by his band’s own aeroplane gigging for a couple of hundred people in a deconsecrated church. The Afro Celt Sound System are at the same venue in November. Their gig there last year was the best I saw all year so I’m looking forward to it already.
Put in a group like this it all looks completely exhausting, but this will take me to near the end of the year. It also looks expensive, but the whole lot is less than it would have cost to go to Cropredy. I love that festival, but try as I might I couldn’t convince myself that this year’s bill was worth the admission price (I know there are others on the board who disagree and hope they have a great time there in August).
Anyway, what’s in your calendar?
moseleymoles says
Pretty good first half of the year, happily being 8 mins walk from the Hare & Hounds
Atlantic Players/Kevin Rowland dj set – Sat
Josefin Ohrn
Cloud Nothings (H and H both Mar)
Lloyd Cole – Town Hall
Kraftwerk – Symphony Hall
Gatz says
Eclectic
moseleymoles says
I think re the OP @gatz luna is taking a year off, and Moseley Folk and Mostly Jazz lineups not yet released it may be we don’t do a festival this year. All the above is about the cost of a Luna weekend ticket.
Gatz says
Doh! That should be The Glamour for the title of the Chris Priest book; The Prestige wasn’t published till the mid 90s.
Leicester Bangs says
Underworld next month — but that’s about it.
Moose the Mooche says
The great Martin Stephenson in September. That’ll be three gigs altogether in 2017 – a pretty busy year for me.
Junior Wells says
So far pharaoh sander, weather report sort of tribute Vieux Farka Toure Nick Cave and local blues band the Teskey Brothers. Got St Paul and the broken something or others soon and this is all he wrote.
dai says
3 Wilco shows this week, April brings The Zombies doing Odessey and Oracle in full, and PJ Harvey.
Chrisf says
I have a good next week here in Singapore (which can be very barren for gigs)….
Saturday : Guns N Roses – Changi Exhibition Centre
Monday : Eddie Izzard – University Cultural Centre (smallish venue – think small theatre)
Friday : Explosions In The Sky – Hard Rock Colliseum (pretty small outdoor space – probably a few hundred at most)
Nothing else lined up yet after that (surprisingly Coldplay sold out two nights immediately at the end of March)
Kid Dynamite says
Band of Horses and Israel Nash tonight, then Cloud Nothings in March. Deafheaven in April, and May has Maximo Park in Cardiff and Bearded Theory festival (where I shall probably meet @retropath2). Later on, there’s Mercury Rev with an orchestra, and Nick Cave.
Kid Dynamite says
Ooh, and in August I’m going to see New Model Army in a castle!
SteveT says
Elbow in march
Alejandro Escovedo April
Lloyd Cole March
John Prine April
Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks – BST July
Jason Is bell October
Like @moseleymoles am waiting for line up of Moseley Folk festival which will be either 1 night or 2 depending on who is performing.
NigelT says
Had to pull our horns in a bit this year, but we have Albert Lee next month, the Pink Flyd exhibition booked for July, Copredy in August (first timers!), probably the Looe Festival in September, the Blues Band are here in November….Bootleg Beatles in December. Think that’s it at the moment! Have to say that’s a bit thin for us, but announced local gigs have been a bit crap here in Devon this year.
Gatz says
I must have been to Cropredy 15 or even 20 times; it’s a terrific set up and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Richard Thompson playing with a band was nearly enough to tempt me this year, despite the rest of the line up (Petula sodding Clark FFS).
mikethep says
Oh, give her a break, Gatz. She may be this year’s ‘ironic’ rediscovery (she’s 84!) but she’ll probably knock something terrific with Joe Brown (if he’s there) and surprise us all.
Gatz says
84 years, starts as a child star, and she has one, just one, song that anyone can remember. Slacker! At least she isn’t the Divine Comedy, who have precisely no songs worthy of the name. Oh look! They’re the big name act for Thursday! FFS, I say again. Not good enough for the hefty admission price.
I wanted a line up worth spending three nights a tent for, really I did. This year’s bill isn’t it (though woe betide anyone who dares suggest on the Cropredy Facebook page that we should be anything other than cringingly grateful for any old crap that is flung in our face for the honours of attending the festival). I love Croppers and if the bill had been one notch above utter crap I would be there.
mikethep says
Five at least, but whatevs.
Native says
Saw Pet Shop Boys in Leeds at the weekend.
Coming up I’ve got Kraftwerk at Sheffield City Hall and PSB again, with Johnny Marr and the Royal Philharmonic.
Black Type says
I was at Leeds too! You must have seen me… What a fabulous show, eh?
Native says
Yes, really enjoyed it. The lighting is phenomenal to watch. For non-musicians, they’ve absolutely mastered that art of the live show.
Paul Wad says
Me too! What an entrance as well.
Got Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Holmfirth Picturedrome on Friday, Kraftwerk at Sheffield City Hall (can’t remember when) and Elton John in Leeds or Sheffield (can’t remember where or when!). Also got Danny Baker doing his professional cockney thing at Barnsley Civic Hall in a few weeks. Should be interesting.
Skirky says
There are still a few marquee signings to come, I’m sure, but already inked in are – starting very shortly this (on Thursday in fact) – up-and-coming alt.folk/country duo Lewis and Leigh supported by Californian blues-hollerin’ man-about-town Marty O’Reilly in Ipswich, maker of my favourite album of last year Paul Mosley guesting at the shabby-chic boutique Helstock fetival – also in Ipswich, the Ramps on the Moon touring production of Tommy at The New Wolsey Theatre (given the nature of the company they may well have a genuine deaf, dumb and blind kid in the lead role – we’ll see), Fairport Convention’s 50th Birthday gig in the heart of London’s swinging Islington (in common with other correspondents, Cropredy didn’t push quite enough of the right buttons for me this year), The Maverick Festival at Easton (Sam Baker, Police Dog Hogan, Brooks Williams confirmed so far – they’ve had Alejandro Escovedo, Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock and Mark Olson in previous years, so I’m expecting further developments), looking forward to this year’s Beautiful Days line up being revealed, and I’ve got a Friday at The Oval test to look forward to. And, of course, there’s always this… https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/339951
Black Type says
Thus far, I’ve seen Bowie’s Lazarus in January, Pet Shop Boys last Saturday with m’great mate Native (see above), have tickets for the special cinema showing of the Ziggy Stardust movie (that counts, right?) and the first – and most important, obvs – Holy Holy performance of, er, Ziggy Stardust at Hull City Hall in March (has anyone detected a theme here…?). And in April, I have tickets for a reputedly fantastic Prince tribute band. After that…nothing else booked so far.
Gatz says
If a Saturday afternoon talk with a 73 year old science fiction writer counts in my original post than a special showingbif Ziggy Stardust surely can.
Black Type says
Update: my gig diary has shaped up exponentially in the last day or two – just booked for Stacey Kent in Beverley in early June, a triple-whammy bill of The Flaming Lips/Public Service Broadcasting/Dutch Uncles in Hull later that month, and an Eighties synthpop double-header of Heaven 17 and Blancmange in November (coincidence or clever? The H17 date is 17/11/17…)
Jackthebiscuit says
I will be watching Madness at Prenton park (home of the mighty Tranmere Rovers) in Birkenhead in May.
Cant wait.
Blue Boy says
I’ve been to Prenton Park many times and it’s always been madness….
Wilson Wilson says
Started with Calexico at Celtic Connections last month, and I’m seeing Teleman this weekend. Then Stewart Lee in March, Agnes Obel in June and Nick Cave in September. I’m also hoping to get tickets to some of the 6music festival next month – Depeche Mode at the Barrowlands in particular.
todayoutof10 says
I’m guessing you stay near Glasgow @wilson Wilson. Good luck on getting tickets for Depeche Mode at the Barras. I’ll be finger crossing for that one too. They are magnificent live. ❤️
Wilson Wilson says
Out in the ‘burbs, but near enough for gigging purposes, @todayoutof10. Saw Depeche Mode at the SECC about 5 years ago, so hopefully will get to see them in a far better venue!
Mousey says
Bonnie Raitt coming up in Sydney in April. Don’t know who’s in her band these days – hoping for Ricky Fataar on drums for a start, but she’s always good. I mean I’ve always liked her singing and her early records. Seen her live once before, maybe 20 years ago? There’s something about a sassy redhead in cowboy boots whipping it out on a Strat that you just can’t dislike
Junior Wells says
heard an interview with her @Mousey , think it is pretty much her regular band
Blue Boy says
Not much, but thoroughly looking forward to Laura Marling touring her new album next month.
Gatz says
I love Laura Marling, but it doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. Her last London gig, at Meltdown, coincided with last year’s Stonefree for which we already had tickets, and her Roundhouse gig this time around is the day after my birthday when we will be flying home from Venice. We really should get around a table with our diaries to Mohammed outa few dates.
Razor Boy says
Due to relocation a couple of years ago and a downtown in spondulicks my gig going had tapered off to one or two a year. Now , hurrah, an upturn in spondulicks and I have so far……
The Handsome Family in Bristol at the end of the month
Dylan in Cardiff at the start of May
Jason Isbell in Brum in October
I look forward to adding to this as the year goes on.
Would love to go to the David Rodigan thing the old Word chaps are putting on in March,but it’s too much of a schlep from the Welsh boarders for a couple of hours in London on a school night.
Mike_H says
Apart from the semi-regular Saturday lunchtime “Daylight Music” gigs at The Union Chapel and the twice-monthly Sunday evening jazz gigs at The Chandos Arms in Colindale, I also managed to catch Jah Wobble’s Invaders Of The Heart at The Jazz Café in Camden Town and The Rezillos/Spizzenergi/The Tuts at “229”(top of Great Portland Street) in January.
Just more Daylight Music and Chandos Arms Jazz in February apart from catching the first set of “The Zimmermen” (Dylan tribute) at The Horns in Watford last Sunday afternoon.
March gets off to a flyer with This Is Not This Heat at The Barbican on the evening of Saturday 4th (after catching Daylight Music at lunchtime). The highlights of the month will be Liane Carroll at The Chandos on Sunday 5th, Kokomo playing the Half Moon in Putney on the 14th, Manuel Göttsching & The Ash Ra Tempel Experience performing “E2-E4” and other delights at The Barbican on the 22nd and The Sun Ra Arkestra at the Union Chapel on the 31st.
And that’s as far ahead as I’ve planned, apart from a weekend in Sheffield with some friends in the middle of June.
Mike_H says
2 more late additions for March and one subtraction.
Lunchtime Sunday 12th Hank Wangford & The Lost Cowboys at The Half Moon in Putney.
Evening of the 29th Piano Day: featuring Bugge Wesseltoft+Trim with Matthew Bourne, Dead Light with Andrea Belfi & Neon Dance (Frankie J) at the Union Chapel.
Sadly I left it too late to get my ticket for Kokomo at The Half Moon and it’s now sold out.
Boo.
duco01 says
This evening: Costello
18 April: John Prine
That’s it. Not exactly a packed gig diary.
Twang says
My strange habit is booking gigs then having to cancel them due to work. The latest is Dave Mason’s raconteur/music show next week in St. Albans. I shall be in Manchester on business. Grrrr. Anyone want 2 tickets? Gutted. I’m not booking any more mid week gigs as I always have to miss them.
Twang says
Well Dave cancelled so at least I didn’t lose the dosh!
Makka Pakka says
I’ve got Talon, The Bootleg Beatles twice (including special Pepper performance), my normal quota of Folk with Phil Beer, Fairport and Southwell Folk Fest and then the marvellous Aynsley Lister at the end of the year. The Saturday afternoon at Southwell features a special 50 years since the summer of love concert. Last year the same slot celebrated 75 years of Dylan with Show of Hands stealing the show with a wonderful song I’d never heard before called Senor
Scarlet says
I saw Martha Wainwright at the end of January and have nothing this month, which is a slow start to the year for me.
In March I have Handsome Family and Cat Power, was also given a Jimmy Carr ticket.
Off to the States for 2.5 weeks and have a few days in LA but can’t find anything in town while there. Will probably go to a couple of bars with live music and see what I chance upon.
Nothing in April.
Then George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and The Unthanks in May.
Was also given a Take That ticket for June (my sister has a lot to answer for this year).
It feels pleasingly eclectic so far…
Scarlet says
Forgot about Ryan Adams and Nick Cave later this year. How could I?
anton says
Slow start this year but Karl Blau and Teleman/Girl Ray done so looking forward to;
Julia Jacklin
Meilyr Jones again
Hamilton Leithauser
Cloud Nothings
Lemon Twigs
Francois & the Atlas Mountains
Jesca Hoop
Moonlandingz
Haley Bonar again
British Sea Power again
Barry Adamson in his own right
Temples
Future Islands
Lowly
Aldous Harding
Doing my bit towards keeping music live …would like to have seen K-work but I think the above just about cost the same as a couple of tickets?
Gatz says
A late additional date to interrupt the spoken word batch in March. We’ve just booked cheap balcony seats for Tosca at the Hackney Empire next Saturday – from Puccini to Iron Maiden; we like to have a mixed musical diet.
davebigpicture says
Iron Maiden at The O2 in May. My son’s wanted to see them for years and I haven’t seen them since Paul Di’anno was the singer. Nothing then until Jason Isbell in October although we did see Chris Difford, Michelle Stoddart and the bloke out of Gomez at the beginning of February. They all sat in a line on stage and took it in turns to do a song. Unusual format but it worked really well.
Stephen-toy says
Sunnysense in January
Teenage Fanclub tomorrow night
Metronomy and BadBadNotGood in May
Hans Zimmer in June
Radiohead in July
Interpol in September and want go see Nick Cave if I can get leave