Everybody seems to have gone to play in BlueSky. Is a post there called a bleet? So, I’m stealing one of their ideas.
Agnes Obel – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
David Byrne’s American Utopia – whatever the MEN is called
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets – Manchester Apollo
Gladys Knight – Manchester Apollo
Nile Rodgers and Chic – Manchester Castlefield Bowl
(I did attend their later gig at the Liverpool Echo Arena but left very early because the sound echoing around the arena was intolerable – otherwise, the quality of live performance is leagues better than in the seventies and eighties. The musicianship, the tech support, the visuals, the sound are astounding.)
David Byrne’s and his troupe’s performance may well be the best I’ve ever witnessed.
Ok I’ll play Tigger as you look so lonely over there in the corner (I’m also trying to get excited by BS but it’s a bit like Barbie World – so overwhelmingly polite and proper).
This list is a bit of a cheat because I ended up not attending the first one due to calendar cock up but for the life of me I can’t remember the one before that.
High Llamas – Lexington, London
10CC – Gordon Craig theatre Stevenage
Colin Blunstone – Eric Morcambe Hall Harpenden
Pat Metheny – Barbican
Bonnie light Horseman – Roundhouse
All in their own way were very good but for overall enjoyment and energy I’d pick BLH as my favourite
Matthew Halsall and his band at Fasching, Stockholm
Magnetic Fields at Nya Cirkus, Stockholm
Nils Frahm at Maxim, Stockholm
John Cooper Clarke at Södra Teatern, Stockholm
Bonny Light Horseman at Nalen, Stockholm
The first three on this list were flat-out brilliant 5-star gigs.
Actually, I can update this list since yesterday, as we went to see Max Richter and his string quintet yesterday evening at Konserthuset, Stockholm.
Two hours of exquisite music.
How could it have been anything else?
Goodness. Like Locust, I didn’t know this was happening!
Did you do both nights of Magnetic Fields @duco01? I saw them in Manchester & agree with your 5 star assessment!
No, I only did the first night.
I suppose … I slightly prefer the first half of the album.
Would I have liked to go to the second night, too? Yes, but Mrs duco only wanted to see one night, and I didn’t fancy going on my own to see the second. I’m never keen on going to gigs on my own. I feel all lonely and conspicuous, like Billy-no-Mates.
It was nice to see Stephin Merritt looking jolly and jovial, and enjoying himself. The previous three times I’d seen Magnetic Fields, Merritt looked bored and surly.
It was a pity that Claudia Gonson wasn’t playing with the band on this tour (apart from the final gig in Washington D.C.), as she’s my favourite Magnetic Fields performer. But it was still a tremendous concert.
And now I’d like to see “50 Song Memoir” done live!
As opposed to me, where I hate having to try and second guess the enjoyment of any companion, that tending to spoil mine. Partly why I prefer a stand up gig or a festival, as I can peel off and lose that worry. A pre or post gig conflab is fine, tho’.
I would have to agree, the first half of the album is my preference too. However, the 2nd night was worth it just for Oh Yeah, but I would loved to have seen Claudia do this.
Fingers crossed for that 50 song memoir show!!
Re Billy-No-Mates gigs. I used to not enjoy this too, but I am now more than happy to do so & think it’s what scrabble on your phone was designed for between the support & main act!
In most recent order and working backwards:
Niteworks, The Garage, Islington
The Felice Brothers, Hare & Hounds, Brum
Joshua Burnell, The Temperance, Leamington
Frankie Archer, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Brum
Fairground Attraction, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
1,2, 4, 5 all excellent, 3 a little dull and derivative.
O.K. I’ll play:
All in the past two weeks. I go to quite a few cheap London gigs but this was an exceptionally busy time.
Gill Cook (vocal) with Hammond B3 organ, guitar and drums accompaniment at The B3 Lounge, in the basement of The Bohemia, North Finchley. This was notable for a slightly latin jazz take on The Turtles “Happy Together”, which worked really well. The B3 Lounge specialises in Hammond B3-featuring jazz trios and quartets. There is a good B3 with Leslie speaker permanently on site to be played.
The Ky Osborne Quartet (piano/vocals, guitar, double bass, drums) at Karamel in Wood Green. Unusual arrangements of jazz standards. First set all-instrumental, second set mostly with vocals.
Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory plus guests, “Magnum Opus” album launch at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Starting with a feature for guitarist Artie Zaitz and his album “The Regulator” and then a varied program of instrumental and occasional vocal material with band personnel from a six-piece to a 14-piece with 3 trombones and four saxes. Four different pianists at different times and three different drummers. Three guest singers.
“Jazz On The Box” at The Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone with Robert Mitchell (piano) in a quartet with Jean Toussaint (tenor sax), Gary Bartley (bass) and Rod Youngs (drums), plus veteran bassist Dave Green. A celebration of the early ’60s BBC TV show “Jazz 625” also incorporating old b&w clips from the show and interviews with Dave Green (one of the two surviving musicians from the show, the other being Dame Cleo Laine) and someone from BBC TV’s music archive dept. whose name I’ve forgotten. The Cockpit is a really great little venue but a bit of a walk from the nearest tube station, Edgware Road.
Kikimiki at Karamel in Wood Green (again). A mostly-female 5-piece (flute/vocals, tenor sax, piano, bass guitar, drums). Led by flautist Keira Chakraborty who also wrote all of the material. Also featured a female guest vocalist on a few. The vocal harmonies between the two singers were superb. The Pianist Kezia Abouama was a stand-in for their usual (male) keyboardist. At Karamel the only male onstage was their bassist.
What a man! My list dates back 6.5 years. I haven’t been to five gigs in a week since the early eighties.
Supplement:
Last night at Guildhall School of Music’s Milton Court Concert Hall.
Cleveland Watkiss with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra “Sun Ra Reimagined”.
It was groovy. And free of charge.
17 musicians and singers onstage. All in costume.
Photo from CW’s Instagram feed. Photographer unknown.
I could most likely do another five-gig list by Xmas, such are the current markings on my calendar.
Cheap (or Free) and Often are my gigging watchwords.
Going backwards, Bruce was 2 weeks ago.
Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band – Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, ON
Graham Nash – NAC, Ottawa, ON
PJ Harvey – Place Bell, Laval,QC
Alejandro Escavedo – City Folk, Ottawa, ON
Cat Power – City Folk, Ottawa, ON
All since mid September, enjoyed all to different degrees, of course Bruce is unsurpassable live, but PJ Harvey was magnificent. I also saw Squeeze, The Beat and ELO in Sept
Been one of the best year’s of gigs I have had with very memorable gigs also from Wilco, The Stones and Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
@Dai have you reviewed Bruce here?
I didn’t. Went to UK day after and didn’t get round to it. Took my daughter to her first Bruce show (31st for me), she enjoyed it. We had seats second row from the stage, but behind. Great place to experience a big show from and I think I took the best photo I have ever managed at a concert.
Naturally it was all brilliant, only slight disappointment was no Atlantic City which I specifically wanted to hear, think he has played it at every show since (tour ended last night in Vancouver)
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bruce-springsteen/2024/canadian-tire-centre-ottawa-on-canada-13abbdb5.html
Got behind the stage tickets for Bruce in Manchester next May. Last person I saw from the rear of the stage was Miles Davis in Hong Kong – IIRC – in 1988
And you were sitting front stalls.
The people I went along with knew a lot less about MD than you or I did, @TIggerlion and were initially less than happy about my getting them tickets at the rear of the stage
Arf!
I’d love to have seen PJ Harvey during her red dress era.
How were The Beat? They may be the band I have seen the most. I followed them all round the Midlands when they first started.
To be honest a bit disappointing, they were supporting Squeeze at Massey Hall in Toronto and it was a very short set (7 songs, about 40 mins), also too many covers and Dave Wakeling got very annoyed with the stage lighting, continually complaining it was right in his face and even stopped the show briefly at one point. Also a guy in front of me was ejected during their set for troublesome behaviour. However, everything they did play was great.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beat-starring-dave-wakeling/2024/massey-hall-toronto-on-canada-3b57f8f4.html
Only a pathetic three so far this year:
PP Arnold at Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford ( a new venue for me)
Bob Dylan at Bournemouth International Centre
Patti Smith at St Paul’s Cathedral
and from the end of last year:
Robert Plant and Saving Grace at Bournemouth Pavilion
Cara Dillon at Turner Sims Hall Southampton
Highlight has to be Patti Smith, both for the concert and for the setting – stunning!
I’m not sure whether the last one counts given that I walked out so I’m listing 6 starting with the earliest:
Albert Lee – Half Moon, Putney
Richard Thompson – Royal Albert Hall
Linda Thompson presents… Proxy Music – Cadogan Hall
Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve – Manchester Opera House
Steve Hackett – Royal Albert Hall
Squeeze – Royal Albert Hall
The first was very good, the second excellent, the third only moderate, the fourth very good, the fifth excellent and I’ve already commented at length on the sixth.
All this month, and there’s Bellowhead still to come on Monday night.
Dan McKinnon at Northwich Folk Club
Audlem Bagpipe and Hurdy Gurdy Day – hurrah!
Le Vent du Nord at Sale Waterside
Oscina, playing for dance in Higher Kinnerton Village Hall – I was support (swells with pride)
Rheingans Sisters in the Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic
Frankly, it’s been a brilliant month.
Very much looking forward to that Bellowhead gig. Should blow away the memories of Squeeze.
Fewer gigs now I live in the country.
Sean Kuti – one of Fela’s kids. Good but all the Egypt 80 band members have died or retired so the mojo is gone.
Rose City Band Underwhelming live
Uncle Lucius – same gig as RCB pretty good
Rod Paine and Full time Lovers. Bluesy local band v good
GRace Cummings as reviewed on the blog
Tomorrow an Aussie big band led by trumpeter James Morrison doing Ellington stuff.
Forgot Cold Chisel. Waited 40 years to getting round to seeing them and forget the show after a week. Age. Cuh !
All in Bari, Italy, none in at least the last ten years.
Manu Chao – open air concert in a piazza.
Jacob Collier – a theatre.
Lou Reed – a sports hall type place.
The Australian Pink Floyd – a sports hall type place.
Julian Cope – a disco/nightclub
I once saw Grace Jones in a nightclub. She performed three songs and that was it. I hope Cope gave you more.
He did, but I’d have accepted fewer songs to see him use a hula-hoop, like Ms Jones.
I met him after the concert. Very briefly. Me: “Great concert. ” Julian: “Thanks.” I suspect he won’t remember it, should we ever meet again.
Sadly, it was decades before her hoopla days.
Most recent first:
Joachim Cooder – Metronome, Aldgate East
Ron Sexsmith – London Palladium
Danny & The Champions of The World – The Garage, Highbury Corner
Rickie Lee Jones – Union Chapel, Highbury Corner
Julian Taylor Band – Water Rats, Kings Cross
All excellent in their own way. Julian Taylor edges it for best gig of the year.
For London gig goers, look out for gigs at The Metronome. It’s a brand new venue (it still smells new). I think it’s 260 seats with a good rake so you don’t have to worry about someone tall sitting in front. It’s fairly intimate with excellent acoustics. The stage is a good height too.
RLJ also represented the biggest gap between seeing someone for the first and second times – in her case 32 years as I first saw her at The Dominion, Tottenham Court Road in 1992.
Here’s Pathways, the title track of Julian’s latest album –
Did Taylor have band with him? He had an al female band at Cambridge, last year, with the wonderful Michele Stodart on bass.
Yes, once again it was an all female band with Michele on bass and the magnificent Raevennan Husbandes on guitar. I have forgotten the drummer’s name.
Is this a closed thread or can it be updated?
I went to see Lydia Luce and Andrea Von Kampen last night, pushing Julian Taylor out of my last five.
A lovely evening with two very talented but sadly, virtually unknown artists. Unfortunately curtailed by the ridiculous 10:00 pm curfew operating around Highbury Corner.
Thanks for those two gems, @Carl.
I’m busy making a playlist of all the artists mentioned on this thread and they are welcome additions.
Andrea is from Nebraska.
Here’s Lydia in Nashville
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_HvflpdDvIf
Magnficent stuff!
By all means keep the thread rolling.
In most recent order….
Mono – Esplanade Waterfront Theatre, Singapore
Thom Yorke – Star Theatre, Singapore
Level 42 – University Cultural Centre, Singapore
Singapore Symphony Orchestra/Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Carmin Burana – Esplanade, Singapore
Diana Krall – Esplanade, Singapore
I posted about the Thom Yorke on here and was going to do the same for the Mono (which was excellent), but I usually get zero response when I bang on about Mono, so didn’t bother 🙂
Mono sound interesting. Tell me more.
@tiggerlion, Mono are a Japanese 4 piece instrumental group. I guess the easiest way to describe them is “post rock” (although apparently they don’t like that label). Basically it’s hugely dynamic music from gorgeous melodies to crashing guitars. I love em.
They have been on a 25th anniversary tour in which they play the whole of the last album, Oath, with a 12 piece orchestra and rocked up to Singapore to a small theatre (less that 1000 capacity I would guess) at the Esplanade (the premier arts venue hear in Singapore – i.e good sound).
Can’t see anything on Youtube from the Singapore leg, but here’s the encore (starting with their most “famous” track “Ashes In The Snow” – without orchestra) from Hackney and then a clip (from the Oath album) from Kuala Lumper, Malaysia which was a few nights before the Singapore concert.
They sound great. Their concerts look amazing.
Wonderful stuff, @Chrisf. Do please keep posting about Mono here!
We’re a bunch of pumpkin-heads but the message will eventually get through.
And then we’ll all be kicking ourselves that it took so long for the penny to drop about hw good they are,
Most recent first…
Christine Collister – a real treat
Broadway Unbound! (local musical theatre group)
The Beach Boyz (a great tribute band on their final tour after 10 years)
The Michael Sykes Band (local band at the gorgeous Bridge Inn, Topsham)
Oysterband with June Tabor (Bristol Beacon)
Upcoming…
The Phil Beer Trio tomorrow
St. Agnes Fountain
in reverse order
Demdike Stare & Dame Area, Strange Brew Bristol DS were excellent, downbeat spooky electronica a la BoC. Dame Area not so much, lightweight derivative EBM
Nick Cave And His Bad Seeds, Cardiff Arena always excellent, went very heavy on the new album
Gatecreeper, The Fleece Bristol melodic death metal, very good
Orbital & Leftfield, Cardiff Arena top one, nice one, sorted
should have been New Model Army but that was rescheduled into next year, so the fifth was
Public Service Broadcasting, Strange Brew Bristol an outstore around the launch of the new album, so maybe not quite a ‘proper’ gig, but we got almost all the new record and half a dozen or so of the hits plus the usual production with screens and projections, so I’m counting it.
Got Cassandra Jenkins tomorrow, then I think I am done for the year.
I haven’t seen any live music for almost a decade. At first a lack of transport and money conspired against my enjoying gigs and latterly a lack of transport and health. I sorely miss live music and envy those who get to indulge. It’s been so long now I’ve forgotten the last ten but I remember the very last one, it was Margo Price at the Leaf in Liverpool. Doods and Jolean very kindly took me along.
I was at that Margo Price gig as well – jolly good it was too.
Ah yes I remember it well.
I don’t get to many gigs so this probably stretches across 3 years or so
Human League
Brad Mehldau Quartet
Jethro Tull
Kenny Garrett
Juan Pablo Navarro
Brad Mehldau is someone I’d like to see. Marvelous pianist.
Mine, from Hallowe’en to last week:
*Paul Weller, Hull Connexin
*Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Leeds Arena
*Lulu, Hull Connexin
*Jamie Callum, York Barbican
*Suzi Quatro, York Barbican
All were very enjoyable in different ways, but Nick Cave was my concert of the year, and perhaps the decade so far.
Honourable mention to the Pretenders, who I saw in Hull in October, and was definitely the second best show of the year…unless The Unthanks can usurp that position in a fortnight.
Got to ask: how was Lulu?
We-e-e-e-e-elllllll…
she was blimmin’ marvellous! She’s had quite the career, and is/was respected by the great and good. The show reflected this, going through all the highlights and associations. Lovely tributes to Bowie (who was projected onto the screen simultaneously singing TMWSTW) and Sidney Poitier. Her voice on the whole still stands up, and she was fully engaged with the audience. She has a reputation of being a horrible diva, but whilst being aware that she was projecting her public persona, I didn’t get any kind of obnoxious vibe from her.
I prefer her version of TMWSTW to the live Nirvana cover.
There – I’ve said it!
I do get the impression that her voice is holding up better than others of similar vintage.
Working backwards
UB40/Soul II Soul – Leeds Direct Arena. Don’t laugh. My wife got the tickets cheap. I thought the singer had had a lot of work done, but he turned out to be a (newish) replacement. I liked their new songs best mostly
They Might Be Giants -rather disappointing, and off their game. First band I ever saw with my future wife (Redcar bowl circa 1988 – but we have seen then since in 2011 so the gig gap was probably only 23 years)
The Wedding Present – Leeds O2 – on excellent form. Rachel Wood as the new guitar player is ace.
(Martyn Stepheson – had to miss because of work. Apparently he was good.)
Ride – Leeds Met – also on excellent form. The new album is better than I first thought, and generally their new albums are excellent
The Undertones – Old Woollen – a recent favourite venue and of course the bestest band of all time.
Mentioned in dispatches: P J Harvey – The Piece Hall – one of 3 visits to this brill venue (Air and Underworld) and of course Taylor Swift because…
Next is King Creosote tomorrow. Last gig of the year.
Good reviews for Kenny! He was great in January for Celtic Connections.
He was excellent at Green Man too.
Does he still Do The Bump?
Not that I noticed, but he was very good and did start a conga line.
Support was Emily Barker who also played with KC and band.
They seem like they are all having a lot of fun, and this fun was shared with the audience (not always the case when a band are enjoying themselves)
Going from least to most recent:
Magnetic Fields at Manchester Albert Hall
Moby at Manchester Apollo
Public Service Broadcasting at Manchester Albert Hall
Iron & Wine at New Century Hall, Manchester
Ibibio Sound Machine at Manchester Academy 2
Got Bonny Light Horseman tonight and Vampire Weekend next weekend – it’s an ever-shifting list.
I was at the same Iron And Wine gig. Very nice indeed.
Jason Isbell & 400 unit – Bristol Beacon
Amy Rigby – Hen & Chicken Bristol
Police Dog Hogan – Stroud Sub Rooms
Altered Images – Stroud Sub Rooms
Hamish Hawk/ Villager – Berlin
Next gig Oysterband- Stroud Sub Rooms
Altered Images are still going!
Yeah but they don’t look the same.
I got it @pencilsqueezer
Phew thanks for that Freddy. Tough audience.
Yep, they released a new album last year IIRC, and I saw them supporting Human League in 2021.
Chris Stapleton and Marty Stuart 3 Arena, 20 Oct – Up there with Phosphorescent
as gig of the year. Amazed not more love for CS on here as he writes terrific songs
and is brilliant live. Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives were also pretty
damn good.
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve Vicar St, 30 Sept – Instead of playing the show I’d
bought tickets for, EC decided to share the stage with the Brodsky Quartet. Poor old
Steve N barely got a look in. Extremely pissed off as would have got tickets for an
earlier night when it was him and SN as advertised if I’d known
Phosphorescent – Whelans, 26 Aug – Terrific band in a wonderfully intimate
little club. What’s not to like? One of my gigs of the year
Bruce S – Wembley 25 July – Not the best time I’ve ever seen him (that would be
Manchester Appollo in May 1981, but BS and the ESB rarely disappoint and this was
no exception
Patti Smith – Vicar St 25 June – Not a massive fan, but had never seen her before
so grabbed this chance with both hands. Very enjoyable gig so very glad that I did
Most recent gig was supposed to have been Peter Hook and the Light at the Olympia last weekend. Frustratingly had spent two days in court while my horrible neighbours appealed their conviction and fine for planning violsations. Ended up not only missing the train and the gig, but also having to pay full whack of a city centre hotel – not cheap when IReland are playing rugby at the Aviva. Hope it’s worth it when the judge announces her verdict “some time before Xmas”
Next gig not until 20 Jan 2025 – Lylle Lovett at the NCH
Glad you got to see Chris Stapleton in the end. The only freebies that came up recently were for Nick Cave a few hours before he played but I boycotted him as he played Israel recently. Won’t change anything but it would have been on my mind.
Quite a run in the past 3 months, really:
Henge (in about 3 hours), Crawfurd Arms, Wolverton
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Birmingham NEC
The Cult – Leicester de Montfort hall
Steve Hackett – Bristol Beacon
The The – Nottingham Rock City
All very enjoyable (and I expect Henge will be, too): I’m easily pleased.
BTW, if any AWorders there, I’m in my “Hatfield and the North” shirt tonight.
Demilitarise!
I barely go to gigs anymore, so can only remember the last two, perhaps three I attended.
Which were, counting backwards:
Bonnie Light Horseman, Nalen, Stockholm
Big Thief, Filadelfiakyrkan, Stockholm
and probably
Courtney Marie Andrews, Bryggarsalen, Stockholm (but there could have been something else in between the second and third on my list)
It can go up to three years between gigs these days – mainly because in the last couple of years I haven’t been able to attend the free street festival gigs that are part of the Culture Festival in Stockholm every August.
Other reasons for not going:
Some venues now only sell mobile tickets to gigs, and I still refuse to own a mobile phone.
Some gigs have been too pricey for my financial situation at that time.
Some have been in venues I dislike.
A lot of them I miss because I don’t find out about them until the gig is reviewed in the newspapers…
My favourite festivals have both given up.
And I often feel that possible gigs to attend aren’t worth all of the hassle in the end, or I’ve already seen them once, so no pressing urge to go again.
I can’t say I miss going to gigs more often TBH. If I was told I could never see a live gig again, I’d probably shrug and forget about it five minutes later. I’ve loved many great live experiences, but it’s not at the core of my love for music.
I recognise that sensation of only finding out about a gig after it’s happened @Locust.
Being on the mailing list for the local venues that I like helps a lot to keep me informed.
As does following my favourite acts on social media and getting updates directly. from them when they are planning a tour.
I also take a lot of notice of the AW reviews. @Jaygee‘s review back in May, “Steel City Sinatra road-tests gorgeous new album at glorious Dublin gig”, made me determined to keep my eyes open in case Richard Hawley came to Stockholm. Last night I was up the from when he played a wonderful acoustic set at Nalen with Shez Sheridan. Thanks a lot @Jaygee!
But for me, the single most important reason that I get to so many fine gigs is that I am mates with @duco01. Not a note of music gets played in Stockholm that he does not know about. I’ve been to so many fine concerts thanks to his recommendations. He’ll even tell me about stuff that he’s not interested but believes I might be.
“Hi KFD! You’re into Albanian, post-punk, black-metal-reggae, girl bands! You are going to love this gig at the Slaughterhouse.”
I should cocoa!
Well, @Kaisfatdad, the two first gigs on my list were attended thanks to Duco telling me about them coming up, in some AW post, so you’re not wrong there!
I do sign up for mailing lists, but after a while they annoy me with too many emails for things I’m not interested in, so I always end up deleting them after about a month…
Just remembered that a fourth gig for my list may possibly have been The The at Münchenbryggeriet, Stockholm.
My sense of time and its flight is zero these days, so I hesitate to guess that the fifth candidate could be Wilco at Annexet (Globen), Stockholm…
I mean – I know I’ve been to both of these gigs at some point in the past, I just have no idea if other gigs should be placed before them on this list! Or even if they happened in the order I believe (I’m too lazy to check the Nights Out section where I reviewed them!)
What is it about people like me (and many of those above) and lists?
If there’s ever an opportunity to make a music related list I’m there, ready to compile. I think it’s the High Fidelity gene. Weird but satisfying.
So:
The Rheinghans Sisters – Leicester Guildhall last week.
The Nigel Price Trio – The Swan, Market Harborough. October.
The Remi Harris Hot Club Trio – West Bridgford library. September.
Hejira – Stamford Arts. June.
The Jake Leg Jug Band – local Methodist Church. May.
All brilliant.
That is a stupendously esoteric list @Peanuts Molloy.
The only act I’ve seen is the Rheingans Sisters and they were splendid. (That was thanks to @Hubert Rawlinson tipping me off.)
I doubt that the Jake Leg Jug Band
Or the Nigel Price Organ Trio
will be playing Stockholm soon. But I can always hope..
@Kaisfatdad that was thanks to @thecheshirecat introducing me to Rheingans Sisters. He surprised me by turning up at one of their concerts in Leeds, come to think of it it was my first time seeing them. I’d just got my hearing aids the night before as I recall
Both are hard-gigging bands @kaisfatdad who I’m sure would play in Stockholm if invited! I discussed the feasibility of The Jake Leg chaps playing in my village hall and they are affordable. They were promoting their wonderful gospel album in church venues when I saw them – it’s on Spotify but every home should have a CD copy!
All three chaps in The Nigel Price Trio are superb musicians but special mention should go to Joel Barford, the best drummer I have ever seen in a small gig venue.
Anyone who gets the opportunity to see Remi Harris move between Django Reinhardt and Peter Green in the blink of a song should seize the moment. He has, memorably, played in my village hall.
And, of course, Hejira need no introduction on this site – sublime.
Yes, yes, but The Rheingans Sisters. Wasn’t that just brilliant? Closing with a bourree d’Auvergne was just facesplittingly grinsome.
Seen Nigel Price, in a few different versions of the organ trio, a few times at The B3 Lounge. He’s always good. Different organists and drummers according to availability.
Ross Stanley, the organist in that clip is “the man” currently on Hammond in the UK. Very much in demand. He was at the Kavuma/Banger Factory gig last week in guitarist Artie Zaitz’s group who opened the show. Featured on Artie’s very recent “The Regulator” album.
Squeeze – Reading October 2024
Thea Gilmore – Oxford February 2024
UFO – Oxford 2019
Beyond that I cannot recall.
Lots of theatre and comendy though.
I have The Waterboys and ELO in the diary for 2025.
It’ll be your last chance to see ELO, thank goodness.
You are an Evil Women.
How could I forget – Nerina Pallot at the London Palladium in August.
I also saw Noah Kahan with my daughter in August as her first ever gig.
Not my thing but it was okay thanks to a great band that rocked up his stuff.
The first one is easy as it was last night:
The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Glasgow Hydro
Songs of Joni Mitchell (Lail Arad, Olivia Chaney, Rachel Sermanni, Jesca Hoop, Gigi Williams), Glasgow Fruitmarket
Rufus Wainwright Solo, Perth Concert Hall
Rufus Wainwright & BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Want Symphonic, GRCH
GoGo Penguin, BAAD Glasgow
Jesca Hoop singing Joni. I need to look out for that.
I have to say thal all 5 singers were splendid on the night each applying her own special something to the chosen songs. I can’t remember the name of the bass player who featured on several songs but he had a certian style which resulted in us calling him Jaco for the evening. Lail Arad, who curated the 3 concerts, has hinted that she might try to repeat the exercise if the conditions allowed.
Fruitmarket is a nice venue too, as I recall from my one visit to Celtic Connections.
It is. Lovely.
Jesca certainly knows her Joni @thecheshirecat.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001ryq1
Ooops! The rest of you probably knew all about this BBC radio series
I’ve never seen Five live. Haha, hilarious I know. We’ve seen Amanda Bergman three times this year, once at a festival. Always in the same county we live in. I guess I think she is pretty good.
Amanda Bergman is quite wonderful. Locust was very enthusiastic about her earlier in the year and this summer the penny dropped for me.
– 5 August 2023 – Anewal, open air concert in Bonn
– 5 April 2017 – Kirsty McGee, local pub, Bonn
– 11 September 2012 – Kirsty McGee, local pub, Bonn
– 30 December 2006 – Riders OnThe Storm, The Roundhouse, London
– 27 July 2004 – Dido, Tanzbrunnen, Cologne
I’m letting the side down, aren’t I?
I forgot! I have been to one concert this year. It was brilliant. Vivaldi: 4 Seasons plus other baroque favourites. The Philharmonie der Soloisten, founded in 2018 in Hamburg, is a small chamber group of about 6 ( violin, viola, Cello, double bass, harpsichord and bagpipes). I may have misled you about that last instrument. The idea is that all players are dedicated international soloists in their own right.
Consequently, although the pieces they played are as familiar as any in the classical répertoire, the way they played them was just magical, like fire whipping between the instruments. I took my older daughter who is learning violin, for her first concert, and we sat right at the front, two chairs gap from the musicians and it was wondrous for us both. They are playing again in Cologne in December and January and I want to take the whole family. Great stuff!
And it means I can cross Dido off my list of last 5 concerts…
Naturally, I want to listen to the Philharmonie! @Salwarpe
Sadly they don’t seem to have recorded anything.
But they do play magnificently.
Glad you enjoyed it. I think they are best experienced live in concert.
You don’t get out much then?
The Skids – The Gov, Adelaide, May, 2024
We Were Promised Jetpacks – Jammin Java, July 2022
Hayes Carll – The Birchmere, Feb 2020
WWPJ – Baltimore, Feb 2020
Squeeze – The Kennedy Center, Aug 2019
It’s a minimum 2 hour flight to a concert where I live, and Covid restrictions made interstate travel tricky.
I have OMD coming up in February
What were the Skids like @sitheref2409 ?
Liked them back in the day and they are playing round here soon
This is my review:
I stand by it. I would check who’s actually playing in the band in case that’s important. There is turmoil in Big Country-land, so if you’re looking for Bruce Watson, be careful.
Well, look at that. I commented on it and all
Most recent first, a couple of weeks ago. Seen across around 18 months.
Bob Dylan , M and S Bank Arena Liverpool
Arooj Aftab, Aviva Studios Manchester
Hurray for the Riff Raff, Futureyard, Birkenhead
Allison Russell, Band on the Wall, Manchester
Bonnie Raitt, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
All of them great in their own way, but I wish I’d seen Bob in any of the venues listed rather than the barn I did see him at
That’s what the Echo Arena is now called. M and S Bank Arena. Trips off the tongue nicely. Ruins the sound just as it always did.
Crazy name, crazy venue. I have seen concerts there with decent sound (The Who comes to mind) but as with all these places it is utterly soulless. Not as bad as the MEN Arena (which i think is called the AO these days). People claim the new Coop Live is very good for sound – I will find out when I see Springsteen there next year.
Jamie Cullum – Starlite, Marbella
Lulu – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
The Analogues – Bridgewater Hall
Cat Stevens – Starlite, Marbella
Robert Plant – Stockport Plaza
John Otway
Stiff Little Fingers
John Otway
From The Jam
Stiff Little Fingers
Hmm .. not much variety there.
Next gig … From The Jam
How can you say not much variety when seeing Otway, anybody would think the set remains the same..
As if ..
Heemoon Lee @ the Purcell Room
Chae Soo-jung @ the Korean Cultural Centre
Bellowhead @ the Palladium
Sean Kuti & Egypt 80 @ Koko
Yazz Ahmed @ Grand Junction
All very good and all within a week! I’m a lucky boy.
In a week @murkey?? That is impressive. You should get some kind of special badge from Tigs!
Last 5 in reverse, all Manchester venues
(Nov 2024)
The Howl And The Hum, Gorilla
Ed Harcourt, The Bread Shed
(Oct 2024)
Iron & Wine, New Century Hall
Everyone Says Hi, Deaf Institute
(July 2024)
Manics + Suede, Castleford Bowl
Old to new
Traffic – Imperial College
Principal Edwards Magic Theatre – LSE
Faces – Ally Pally
John Martyn – BBC
Everybody – Isle of Wight
Unless you count Saturday Night Pouzolles Bar. Currently our esteemed landlady is in love with Punk Thrash. I can heartily recommend “Made in Belgium” – very nice young men with a somewhat demented lead singer. Very loud, so loud that Gilles, the village bobby whose main job is to control the crowd (sometimes up to thirty people) at the Friday morning market, pulled the plug at 10.30.
As far as I can recall…all Dublin
Gruff Rhys & Bill Ryder-Jones double bill at Vicar St. Great show from Gruff and his excellent band.
Ghost-Note at the Sugar Club (great venue. I had my wedding reception there!) Jazz-funk with the emphasis on funk. Really enjoyable.
Joan as Police Woman in Whelan’s. Gig of the year so far. Just her a drummer and a guitarist. Great arrangements and she’s such a presence live. Never disappoints.
In contrast to The Dandy Warhols – The Academy. End of tour going through the motions with borrowed equipment. None of their usual swagger.
I need to get out of bed to check the calendar…edit to follow
I’d forgotten to include Declan O’Rourke at Vicar Street. It was a 20th anniversary celebration of his Since Kyabram debut album and very enjoyable evening it was too. Nice to get to a gig with my wife. Steve Wickham in the band was an extra bonus. He’s a magical player.
China Crisis – Bury Met
Pete Wylie – Deaf Institute
The Chameleons – Academy (or possibly the Ritz)
China Crisis – Bury Met
China Crisis – Thekla
I know what I like.
Well, if the Chameleons played the Ritz, it wasn’t the first time that they played there.
I saw them at the Ritz in March 1985. Crikey … that’s a long time ago.
Great band. Great band.
@duco01
They are having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Have been touring Europe and America and have their annual Manchester Christmas gig shortly (at Albert Hall) which has become a recent tradition.
Would love to have seen the original band back then!
I notice that there are very few overlaps. Here are my 5 (most recent first)
BODEGA. (I think you’re supposed to capitalise it!). Cambridge Junction 2
Cat Clyde solo Lexington
Esther Rose solo Lexington
Emily Nenni – Camden Assembly
Caitlin Rose – Moth Club
In reverse order from most recent backwards, and all this year:
Calan at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford Upon Avon
Mike & Leon’s Bluegrass Band at the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute
shoulda bin: Mary Spender at St. Georges, Bristol (blown due to a ghastly cold)
Katie Spencer at Maker Heights in Cornwall
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets at the Bristol Beacon
The Breath at Bristol Cathedral for the Bristol Folk Festival
Thank goodness for Harp and a Monkey otherwise I’d hardly leave the house.
Laurie Anderson – Factory International (last night)
Harp and a Monkey – New Mills Folk Club
The Burbage Brass Band – Stoller Hall, Manchester
Harp and a Monkey – Band On The Wall, Manchester
The Handsome Family – Stoller Hall, Manchester
Harp and a Monkey – Phoenix Folk Club, Poynton
And rather surprisingly I have a couple of upcoming shows, tonight EXTC at the Foxlowe in Leek and then My Darling Clementine at the Kitchen in Birmingham, although the latter is more of a Jackie Leven (COL) reunion than going to see the band, apologies Michael & Lou.
I was almost tempted to see the Laurie Anderson again today. How did you find it? @Bogart.
@hubert-rawlinson
Firstly “How did I find it” not being sarky, but with difficulty, I knew FI was on the site of the old Granada studios, but not having been down there since it has been redeveloped, finding the theatre stuck at the back of the development was something of a challenge.
But the actual show which is no doubt what you really want to know about. In short, very very good, well worth a watch. Anderson talked/sung played violin and keyboard joined by a multi-instrumentalist & a percussionist, and backing tapes. Lights and Videos and a live ‘skype’ link up with an AI computer and even a wee bit of chorography added to the visual aspect.
Around 2.40 hours in length, if she’d knocked an hour of, it would have been excellent. The first half flew by, however after the opening 20 minutes or so of the second act it dragged somewhat, almost as if she’d run out of ideas and was ‘riffing’ on what had gone before. But saying that, it was a really enjoyable evening’s entertainment. Oh and it’s not often you can say that part of the set was audience partition Chai Tai and a finale that featured a Harp Singing Choir was a thing of beauty.
If you like Anderson on record, it’s well worth going a long.
@bogart : I too will be at the Kitchen Garden Cafe for My Darling Clem. Are you distinctive?
@retropath2 distinctive, hmmm, grey hair (what’s left) grey beard, tubby, which probably won’t make me stand out from the majority of the audience. Northern accent, which might do, will be with 4 or 5 other folk, and most likely wearing a coat of many colours.
Luckily I’d been before to see RT with my son so I knew roughly where it was and we’d driven past it on the way to the Joe Boyd talk at the library earlier in the month.
I saw it on its opening night and just wondered what you thought. I just wondered if they’d tightened it up a bit I think with interval it was 3 hours approx and the choir hadn’t been miked up when they appeared at the back. Yes the second half flagged a bit but the link with the AI computer was fascinating.
Alas my balance issues and dodgy legs stopped me from joining in the Tai Chi.
Everything appeared to run smoothly, I guess as it was the penultimate performance they’d ironed out any glitches, and when choir came on just before interval they could be heard.
My total lack of coordination was my problem with the Thi Chi participation.
All in the last 10 days. I’m on a gig roll!
The Dodgers – Irwell Brewery, Ramsbottom
Sunny Sweeney – Bury Met
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Apollo, Manchester
Douglas & Moss – Irwell Brewery, Ramsbottom
Bonny Light Horseman – New Century, Manchester
I live about 5 miles from the Irwell Brewery and it is currently a big supporter of live music, booking an act every Weds & Thurs. Free entry, brew their own beer downstairs. My trio MALpractice are playing there this weds for the 4th time this year. The Dodgers are mates of mine who run a session every monday at the White Horse in Walshaw, Bury. I go 2 or 3 times a month and we play a mixture of golden pop and old country & gospel classics. They play the occasional gig and most of their pals, including me, turned out to support them. Douglas and Moss are a seriously good act who have been playing together for about 2 years. Richard Moss is a renowned local singer, guitarist and music teacher who plays with Blackburn based Irish band Drop the Floor. Clare Moss is a top notch fiddler and tunes writer. They were unlucky with the weather this time round and deserve a bigger audience. I think they are destined for bigger venues.
Sunny Sweeney was very good, accompanied by the very laidback ace guitar picker Harley Husbands. I’d happily go and see her next time round.
The 2 big acts, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, and Bonny Light Horseman were both terrific. Very good sound at both venues. BHL ticket price was 22.50 which is a steal these days.
If you don’t count the free gigs at the Irwell Brewery my previous 2 were Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage with 3 piece band at Bury Met (Box) and Chris While & Julie Matthews at Bury Met main hall, both in the last week of October.
The The – Civic Hall Wolves
Leftfield – Mostly Jazz Moseley
Wedding Present – Newhampton Arts Centre
Dry Cleaning – hare and Hounds
Slowdive – Institute.
Funny old venue, Newhampton. Did they stick to the supperclub table seating?
No all standing for that one.
Paddy McAloon MAC centre
Nearly Dan The Crossing
Pretenders – Symphony Hall
Gilbert O Sullivan Town Hall
Paul Carrack Symphony Hall
All Brum
You had me shocked there for a moment @Mak. Notorious recluse, Paddý McAloon, has recently played in Brum?
Why has no one mentioned this momentous news here?
I Googled and discovered the answer. It’s Martin McAloon, who is out gigging and celebrating 40 years of Prefab Sprout.
https://www.martinmcaloon.com/
Which sounds like a pretty decent evening out too. Great to hear the Sprout songbook live, I suspect.
Paddy was warm and self-deprecating while also managing the merchandise stall. The venue was at best half-full.
His upper vocal range has now gone and the array of vintage guitars were sometimes out of tune, which made for a somewhat sad experience.
However, it was wonderful to hear some of his songbook. I shook hands with him and thanked him for all those great songs. He was driving back home to Newcastle the same night.
Welcome back to the land of the living after many of ill health Paddy !
Paddy?
But was it Paddy? You’ve baffled me here @Mak.
According to the MAC
https://macbirmingham.co.uk/book/instance/1676149
it’s Martin McAloon, Paddy’s brother who has been out touring this autumn.
My apologies for going on about this.
Mak was at the Mac seeing Martin or Paddy Mac (Aloon) 😉
A friend who went told me a tribute act from Liverpool also showed up.
Sounds like a right old Mick, Mac, Paddy, Whack
Nick Cave – Glasgow Hydro
John Grant – Barrowlands
Squeeze – Glasgow Concert Hall
GRIT Orchestra – Edinburgh Playhouse
Billy Joel – Cardiff Millennium Stadium
Hmmm…
Torchlight Festival (Inc From The Jam, Smoove and Turrell, Toyah and Soul 2 Soul)
The South at Guildford’s Boiler Room
Ruts DC, Carshalton Arts Centre
Buzzcocks, Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
The Prisoners, Roundhouse
Bit of a retro theme really, which I need to snap out of.
How was The Prisoners show
(Hugely annoyingly – family stuff etc- I couldn’t get there
They were great! And really encouragingly, songs from the excellent new album (out earlier this year) seemed as well liked as the old favs. I hope they do it again.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra – Cambridge
Steve Harley – Louth
OMD – Brighton
Decemberists – New York
Conor Oberst – London
I’ve sworn off going to London except for special occasions which limits things but:
Steve Hackett doing The Lamb – Cambridge Corn Exchange in October. Excellent but absolutely rammed to discomfort level.
Balstock Street festival – Baldock, September. I played at this one too with the blues band. Saw a particularly good Green Day / Blink 182 called Green Blink or something. Banging though. Also played about 5 other little festivals so saw numerous small bands over the summer of various quality.
Our local jazz club most months.
Ages ago, The Tubular Bells Experience. Awful. TB done stadium rock style to an audience of total wankers viewing it through their phones. Horrible.
Also ages ago, Glenn Hughes at the Camden Underworld doing “Burn – 50th Anniversary”. Superb. His voice is untouched by the passing years and the band are excellent.
I hope those festivals paid you well.
Ha ha ha. Are you here all week?
Just remembered I went to see Tim O’Brien at the Lexington. Superb. I even had to stand all night and didn’t moan.
This kinda thing.
@Twang at the recent Dylan gig we had to place our phones in a locked pouch that they unlocked on the way out. It was a great experience to see a gig without the wankers.
More artists should do it
My one gig at this year’s London Jazz Festival was Marc Ribot Y Los Postivos Cubanas at Cadogan Hall.
Before that I saw:
Harlem Gospel Travellers – 229
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – Union Chapel (my gig of the year).
Arturo O Farrill – Ronnie Scott’s
Mad Professor – Croydon Fairfield Hall
I thought I had hung up my gig going boots after Covid, however I’m pleased that I have been to 5 gigs this year and am still enjoying them.
Haven’t been to a gig in yonks, for reasons.
However, I think the last five looked like this:
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Pixies
Cowboy Junkies
Don’t worry. Dai wins the prize for seeing the same act the most times.
Arf!
Barney McAll trio at The Starfish Club, Clovelly, Sydney
Greasy Chicken Orchestra at Lazybones, Marrickville, Sydney*
Chloe Kim’s Music For Six Double Basses, Phoenix Central Park, Redfern, Sydney
Jared Underwood’s Batterie, White Bay Power Station, Balmain, Sydney
Jeannie Lewis with Blakhatz, Gasoline Pony, Marrickville, Sydney
*(possibly doesn’t count as I was in the band))
Nobody here will have heard of any of these, they’re all local bands and musician friends.
The last international gig I went to would have been Paul McCartney in November last year and before that Bonnie Raitt in April
Here goes:
Terry Reid – Hare and Hounds – hugely disappointing
Danny and the Champions of the World – Garage, London – great gig
Felice Brothers – Hare and Hounds – Superb
(Introduced new to me Anthony D’Amato as support who was really good)
Bob Dylan’ – Wolverhampton Civic – he and his band were excellent -,glad I made the effort considering his reputation for dodgy gigs
Imelda May – Southbank Centre – my gig of the year and that includes Bruce. Was blown away.
@SteveT
Somewhat dismayed to read that Terry Reid was deemed to be ‘hugely disappointing’.
He’s someone I’d definitiely buy tickets to see if he was performing even vaguely adjacent to this neck of the woods. Do tell what caused your disappointment?
@Vulpes-Vulpes I had hoped he would be with a band. However it was just him and pedal steel player C.J.Hillman which made the gig very one dimensional. His voice was still excellent but there were no dynamics to the set. I managed about one hour and 15 minutes and bid my farewells. Not awful, just left me unmoved which is not what I would expect from a Terry Reid gig.
Highlight was his version of Joni Mitchell’s River.
What a shame. I’ve admired his music ever since that terrific funky performance with Linda Lewis at Glastonbury. I’ll watch out for a further opportunity to see and hear him play, and keep fingers corssed for a fuller band performance. Thanks for the heads-up @SteveT.
He tends to play only solo or with a pedal steeler. It was B.J. Cole, when I went to see him, most of my interest levelled at his playing, rather than Reid who looked like that David Dickinson off the telly.
They Might be Giants, Shepherds Bush Empire
Big Star’s Radio City Live, Hackney Church
Pretenders, London Palladium
Stage Door Guy, The Moustache, Sydenham
Sheryl Crow, Hampton Court
Seeing Jason Isbell tonight at Hammersmith and really looking forward to it. A rare gig I’m seeing on my own so I am free to mill around and I can slip out quickly and beat most of the rush.
Going backwards
Deary at Yes (Basement), Manchester 24th Nov. I have loved both EPs by this band & thought they were great. Excited for an album now
Khruangbin at Apollo, Manchester 18th Nov. Comfortably the worst gig I have ever seen. It was so boring & people around us were ordering Ubers half way through….
Kneecap at New Century Hall, Manchester 15th Nov. Fast becoming my favourite venue. Decent gig with an incredibly early finish meaning we could be back home at a decent hour! Big fan of that
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at AO Arena, Manchester. Somehow made an enormous venue feel intimate.
Terrorvision at Main Debating Hall, Manchester. I love a band who know how to entertain & TV are top of the game on this front.
Next up we have the Gruff Rhys / Bill Ryder Jones show which I am very excited about. The latter has released my album of 2024 & it will be the first time I have seen him live
Pagan ritualists Heilung in Auckland
Jansch/Renbourn disciple Dariush Kanani at the Green Note
Rickie Lee Jones at Union Chapel
George Boomsma at the Green Note
Aussie folkie Rainee Blake playing Joni Mitchell songs in character at the Edinburgh fringe.
We had Dariush at the folk club a couple of months ago. He’s good, isn’t he? He was support for Clive Carroll and they duetted to close the evening which was top notch.
He’s coming back to the club in his own right next summer.
He’s very good and his choice of material, from Davy to Dylan, was impeccable.
Curiously, he’s the only artist I’ve ever seen at the Green Note who didn’t have any merch to sell. If he’d had an album for sale, I’m sure he would have done a roaring trade.
I only go to contemporary music shows once or twice a year nowadays. It’s a combination of not wanting to travel home in the early hours anymore and most people I might want to see not playing anywhere relatively close. Plus a combination of often lousy venues; the ballsache process of trying ( and often failing) to get tickets; and, in some cases, the poor value compared to other shows. But I still go to a lot. This is what I went to in November, ( excluding plays) starting with last night.
Fitzwilliam Quartet, Death and the Maiden Clare Hall, Cambridge
Cambridge University G&S Society, Trial by Jury, Robinson College, Cambridge
Tales of Hoffman, Covent Garden
King’s College Choir and Britten Sinfonia, Mozart Requiem, King’s College, Cambridge
Cambridge Univerity Opera Society, King Arthur, Trinity College
Very nice.
For those that like such things, but don’t live locally, a fair amount of Cambridge college stuff is on You Tube. For example, Clare College Choir routinely stream on their You Tube channel. Last month’s fantastic concert with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightment performing Purcell’s Sentences and Funeral Music for Queen Mary isn’t on there, but the whole of their Smith’s Square performance of Monterverdi’s 1610 Vespers is.
Thank you – I wasn’t aware of that.
A big thumbs-up for Purcell’s Sentences and Funeral Music for Queen Mary.
I love the Vox Luminis recording of that (Ricercar records, 2012).
An earlier performance by Clair College of the Purcell is on their You Tube site, for anyone interested.
Correction not on the Choir’s You Tube, but this snippet of the opening march and sentence is. For anyine who hasn’t heard it, just give the opening march a go, if only for the punch when the trumpets hit full volume at about 1:10. (As featured in A Clockwork Orange)
. https://youtu.be/AYELAu9hqdU?si=Ds5wKO-a8QikwqJN
Brilliant tip @ernie to the centreoftheearth!
The Choir Of Clare College Cambridge YT channel looks like a real winner!
https://www.youtube.com/@thechoirofclarecollegecamb5120
They have really embraced the opportunities that the internet offers.
Hats off to them and to you for spreading the word!
Follow the service with our digital Pew Booklet and Order of Service:
https://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-11/Eucharist%2024%20November.pdf
I suspect they have a congregation all over the world.
Big Star Quintet (Jody Stephens, Chris Stamey, Pat Sansone, Jon Auer and Mike Mills) — St John Church, Hackney
Steve Wynn — Jericho Tavern, Oxford
Robyn Hitchcock — Portland Arms, Cambridge
Ricki Lee Jones — Union Chapel, Islington
Elgar’s Cello Concerto — RAH, Kensington
All in Glasgow over the last month or so:
Interpol at the Royal Concert Hall
The Sea Kings album launch at the Hug & Pint
Russian Circles at Slay
Ferri and the Fevers album lauch at the Hug and Pint
Public Service Broadcasting at Barrowlands
How did the Sea Kings launch go? Hug &Pint is fairly wee, so hopefully rammed. I recently reviewed the album, not that it has been published yet. I found it distinctly different, especially lyrically.
@retropath2 Sea Kings gig was great, not rammed but pretty busy. And it was a matinee! I’d happily do more afternoon gigs…
Nubya Garcia – Oxford Arts Factory
Iron Maiden – Qudos Arena
The Mood Lifters (Rush tribute band) – The Factory
Air – Sydney Opera House
Beth Orton – City Recital Hall
There may have been a couple of prog metal gigs in there somewhere, Haken and Caligula’s Horse.
We’ve been avoiding booking many gigs, at least ones which aren’t very local to us, due to other commitments but from last night back –
Eliza Carthy and Restitution – Colchester Arts Centre
Martin Carthy and Jon Wilks – Colchester Arts Centre
Hanging Stars – The Hot house, Chelmsford
Andy and the Alcoholics (an old friend’s covers band, reuniting for the first time in 30 years for a charity gig) – Hatfield Peverel Village Hall
Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand – The Hot house, Chelmsford
Only one gig this year (I much prefer records)- Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve. They weren’t great. Not as good as the records. (But no one ever is).
Moonchild Sanelly @ Attenborough Centre, Brighton
Jason Isbell and 400 Unit @ Dome, Brighton
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ Glasgow OVO
Public Service Broadcasting @ Dome, Brighton
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve with Brodsky quartet @ The London Palladium
Best : Cave. I have preferred past gigs largely due to being in slightly more intimate surroundings, but he’s still imo the greatest live performer.
Most fun : Moonchild – bloody hell, she’s got some energy.
Most disappointing : Elvis. I’ve loved him dearly but sadly his voice appears to have gone.
Re: “Most disappointing : Elvis. I’ve loved him dearly but sadly his voice appears to have gone.”
Yes – sadly, you’re right.
I am, and will always be, a huge Costello fan. But when he opened his last Stockholm concert with “Jack of All Parades”, he sounded like a yak braying the Albanian national anthem.
Yak Of All Parades, then…
Yak of All Tirana Parades, in fact.
What strikes me as odd is that he is a deeply musical man, he has world class ears, so surely he must hear that it’s not working anymore.
EC seems to be following Ian Anderson’s gravelly path
”a yak braying the Albanian national anthem”
I’d pay to hear that*
(*Well, I wouldn’t – but KFD might…)
What a cheek, @Fitterstoke. I would never part with good money to hear the braying of a patriotic Albanian yak!
Dua Lipa singing the Tirana telephone catalogue is another thing altogether.
Or feisty Albina here……
The Skids/Spear of Destiny – Bedford Esquires
The National – Crystal Palace Park
From the Jam/ The Skids – Bedford Corn Exchange
Peter Hook & the Light – Hammersmith
The National – Aly Pally
Nick lowe – The Palladium
Aurora – Royal Albert Hall (freebie invite)
Errol lynton/Adam Blake – Cafe Boheme
Echo & The Proseccomen – The Karamel Club
KillerStar – 100 Club
The Unthanks (a friend gifted me a spare ticket) – The Empire, Belfast
The Hoakers (Petesy Burns & co) – The Deer’s Head, Belfast
Lemoncello – The Old Court House, Bangor
Tommy Halferty Trio – Scott’s Jazz Club, Belfast
Shock Treatment & guests inc Anthony Toner (a tribute show to a 70s north coast venue) – Portrush Playhouse
Looks like a very varied list.
Nice one @Colin_H! The Tommy Halferty Trio are a real treat.
You introduced us to the wonderful Limoncello when I did my Kneecap Belfast thread.
They are excellent.
Indeed they are, Fatz. But the Halferty trio on this occasion was a more rarefied one than the line-up in your clip – Halferty on guitar, Scott Flanigan (host of Scott’s Jazz Club and a period Halferty sideman) on piano, and French double bassist Michel Zenino (with whom Halferty often works in mainland Europe).
So, a drummerless trio – a fabulous and refreshing soundworld. When Scott plays with guitarists he almost always does so in organ / guitar / drums line-up. I preferred the alternative – but with so much space, everyone has to be on top of things completely. By general consensus, Michel was the best double bassist we’d seen at the club – he has something that felt a notch above the best in Ireland. That said, he has a ‘busy’ style – or had within that trio format; one wouldn’t want it all the time.
Here he is in action in another drummerless unit a while back for illustration.
I suppose it is – windswept northern English folk, Ulster punk (original songs, a sound homaging the late 70s), winsome Celtic singer-songwritery with harmonies and cello, jazz from the modernist tradition, more Ulster punk but this time up the north coast embracing the country-rock / pub-rock sounds of Shock Treatment’s fellow travellers among the bands on that scene back in the day – the best known of whom would be the X-Dreamysts (two in the room, one – John ‘Docerty’ Doherty – guesting onstage, the other sadly in a world unreachable now). Put it like this, the music went from Ulster punk classics to Neil Young’s ‘Like a Hurricane’ and Abba’s ‘Does Your Mother Know?’. Great fun. The word was that actor Jimmy Nesbitt was there and was up for singing an X-Dreamysts number but got cold feet (yes, yes, I know…).
Here’s a number from power trio the Hoakers’ debut 10″ vinyl album, written/sung by drummer Donal McCann. Let’s rock!
Excellent stuff,@Colin_H. Those Hoakers rock out very impressively ,
Thanks for telling us more about Tommy Halferty and Scott Flanigan.
Scott gets about, doesn’t he? I was delighted to stumble cross this clip ofhim playing with another Belfast superstar…
That really brightened my morning!
I’d forgotten about that – a jam/rehearsal towards possibly recording it as a duo in a studio. I wasn’t convinced – solely because Scott’s brilliant and I’m not. I can’t reach his level of improvisation – but I thought in a controlled environment (studio), I could get down (solo with overdubbed second guitar) what I was hearing in my head – or near it anyway.
It became two pieces in the end:
The Watch – Italian Prog Band playing Genesis
Long Road Home
Albert Lee
Van Morrison Alumni Band
Big Big Train
All at The Stables, Milton Keynes
How is Albert these days?
First time I’ve seen him, but went with a friend who has seen him many times, and said it was the best performance he’d ever seen him give. He’s 81 now, but still has the finger speed to deliver the goods in a two hour set . He was engaging, shared a few anecdotes and looked fit and well. Had a top class band with him too, so a good night out for sure.
Last five.
Last night a Christmas concert in Halifax Minster with brass, choirs, readings and three songs from Bryony Griffiths and Alice Jones, a birthday treat as it was 70 years ago I was born in the said Halifax.
Last week the Neil Innes tribute concert accompanied by my son at the 02 Indigo
Laurie Anderson in Manchester. November.
Ashley Hutchings and Becky Mills at a club above Hebden Bridge. October
Arthur Brown talking about The Crazy World of Arthur Brown album at The Cat Club Pontefract. October
Think there may be a couple of others in between but I’ve probably forgotten.
Many Happy Returns!
That makes you exactly 70 years older than my great nephew, who has just surfaced.