Roxy Music @ LG Arena, Birmingham, 31st January
Stunning. Simply stunning. And an example of how a 'heritage act' can put on a show. The band oozed class. The finale (no keeping your best song for an encore) was Brian Ferry telling us that they were just going to play one more song, and then doing 'For Your Pleasure'. Duran Duran could learn a lot from this band (but didn't, sadly. See below).
Big Audio Dynamite @ Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3rd April
A member of the Clash. And we loved E=MC2 as well, so off we went to Shepherd’s Bush. It was great. And now I’ve seen all of the original Clash lineup except Topper.
Christy Moore @ Birmingham Town Hall, 18th April
Christy’s usual April gig. We couldn’t resist, so didn’t. The usual magnificent showing from Christy and Declan. Declan always gets to sing a song, which is probably a mistake. Good guitarist though.
Journey @ Wembley Arena, 4th June
We went to see this with Annie’s mate, Kev. He likes his American soft rock and this was three of the genre on one bill, Journey, Foreigner and Odyssey. If I was unkind, I would say they all sounded the same, but they didn’t really.
Nils Lofgren @ Royal & Derngate, Northampton, 15th June
OK, so we have a history of going to see legends if they pitch up on our doorstep. This was one of those. We had only really seen Nils as part of the E Street Band but this was oh so good. And he was really tiny. Who knew?
Kings of Leon @ Hyde Park, 23rd June
Bon Jovi @ Hyde Park, 25th June
Two Hyde Park gigs in three days were an excuse for a short break in London and a hotel in London Bridge Road. I’m not usually keen on gigs with 65,000 other people but KOL and BJ were worth it (BJ mainly for Annie, obvs).
Foo Fighters @ Milton Keynes Bowl, 2nd July
Another open air gig and I really don’t know why we do it. It’s the only way to see Foo Fighters nowadays though. Support from Biffy Clro, who were predictable, and Tame Impala, who I like a lot. FF’s special guest was Alice Cooper, which made the whole thing worthwhile. FF were quite good, too.
Splendour in Nottingham, Wollaton Park, 24th July
A picnic with the family and a bill comprising Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Cast and Justin Currie from Del Amitri. As ever, the Jagermeister stage had the choicest pickings, with the Bluetones and Feeder.
Rhythm Festival @ , 26th August
This was the year Rhythm moved to Old Warden Park, having upset the Twinwood Arena people. It wasn’t quite the same, because Twinwood was so perfectly quirky. OWP is a good site though and you could still park your car next to your tent. We missed Hazel O’Connor because we were putting up the tent, but had the pleasure of The Burns Unit, Dodgy and Buzzcocks later. The highlight of the Saturday was undoubtedly Nick Lowe and the, on Sunday, we had Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs, From The Jam, Macavities Cat and The Blockheads (complete with aerobatics in the next field). Little did we know that that would be the last we saw of the Rhythm Festival.
Billy Bragg @ Junction, Cambridge,19th November
A memorable gig indeed, as Bill was supported on this ‘Left Field in Motion’ gig by Sound of Rum and The King Blues. Sound of Rum was my first sight of the amazing Kate Tempest (even though I don’t like that sort of thig etc etc), the King Blues were energetic and Bill was Bill. A brilliant evening for Rob and me, Annie got a better offer and sadly couldn’t make it.
Frank Turner @ Hammersmith Apollo, 27th November
A present from Frances. Brilliant. Frank Turner is supposed to be the new Billy Bragg. He’s not. He’s Frank Turner and all the better for it. A good night.
Duran Duran @ Nottingham Arena, 6th December
Annie was well up for this and I stupidly thought 'I'll know all of their songs, what could possibly go wrong?'. I'll tell you what went wrong; this was the worst gig I have ever been to (and I have been to some poor gigs, including having the misfortune to see Simply Red. Twice). And I ate something that was simultaneously the most expensive and worst burger I have ever eaten (and I have had etc etc). DD were just dreadful. Simon Le Bon was a complete waste of space and his voice was atrocious. I am afraid that I couldn't hide my feelings and Annie was deeply unhappy with me. I am still reminded of this at regular intervals.
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