Regular viewers will have seen my reviews of all gigs this year and so I won’t be repeating them here (although these are linked) but I wanted to just share my top ten gigs of the year. They may not have been the most technically brilliant with the best sound or lighting or performance but represent the ones that I most enjoyed for whatever reason and I have yet to ably define and nail what makes a great gig. I do know it’s an immeasurable alchemy of friends, performance, sound, lights, venue and beer.
So here is in chronological order the top ten. There’s no coincidence that Islington Assembly Hall appears more than once as it is the best mid-sized venue in London with Bush Hall and The Lexington joint for best small venues in London.
29th January, the Lone Bellow, Islington Assembly Hall, London
8th February, Blitzen Trapper, the Lexington, London
14th March, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Koko, London
17th April, Jason Isbell, Brooklyn Bowl, London
1st September, Margo Price, Scala, London
7th September, the Jayhawks, Islington Assembly Hall, London
14th October, Prophets of Rage, Mandalay Bay, Vegas Baby
20th October, the Stray Birds, Bush Hall, London
4th November, Dawes, Islington Assembly Hall, London
5th December, Hiss Golden Messenger, Village Underground, London