Stefan Cush & The Feral Family @ Esquires, Bedford 24th February
This was the latest side project from a member of TMTCH and we weren't about to miss them, particularly so close to home. Esquires looks like a former Working Men's Club and is a bit ratty, to be fair. However, they have the right attitude and put on a decent band from time to time. This was - how can I put it? - an interesting night. Short-handed through the absence of guitarist Tom Spencer, who had apparently fallen off a roof, they did a good enough job for the embarrassingly small crowd.
David Sylvian @ The Symphony Hall, Birmingham 26th March - CANCELLED
Another gig, another injury. DS has apparently damaged his back and might not be touring again. Sounds like we might have missed our last opportunity to see the strangled-voiced one.
Christy Moore @ Festival Hall 4th April
Christy Moore is one of my all-time heroes and his nowadays infrequent trips to the UK often involve a gig around my birthday (including a memorable gig at the Barbican actually on my birthday, where me and Frances had what turned out to be mid-front-row seats and got to shake his hand afterwards). As ever nowadays, Christy performed sitting down and was accompanied by Declan Sinnott. A beautiful night.
Chris T-T @ Watershed, Newport Pagnell 6th May
We had never heard of the Watershed, despite living 20 minutes away, and it turned out to be a tiny room above a shop. So, this was quite an intimate gig and all the better for it. We like Chris T-T. Support was from a solo singer called She Makes War. She was good as well.
Jim Bob @ Esquires, Bedford 8th June
A return to Esquires for a combined gig/book reading, to find Chris T-T manning the merch stall. He sold me Jim Bob’s book. A good acoustic gig followed, but an attempt to play song bingo didn’t go very well because the winners all wanted Carter songs that were not on the playlist. In the end, JB did do an unrehearsed song – Touchy Feely, I think – which went really well.
Grand Slambovians @ Stables, Wavendon 13th June
We have Jim Driver and his Rhythm Festival to thank for introducing us to Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, who don’t get over to the UK very often, sadly. The cutdown version of the band, The Grand Slambovians, playing locally, was a no-brainer. They were great in the relatively intimate Marshall Auditorium and we got to meet main man Joziah in the interval. Yes, he came out to talk to fans mid way through the gig as well as the whole band at the end. A true gentleman.
Splendour in Nottingham 21st July
We had discovered Splendour a few years previously and it had become a grand family event, with a picnic. We had seen marvellous headliners such as the Pogues and Madness (in the same year) and the Pet Shop Boys. 2012 turned out to be a sign of things to come, however. Jake Bugg opened the main stage to not much effect. Bjorn Again showed him how things should be done, with a rousing set that had everyone up and dancing. Perfect for a sunny afternoon. Things then spiralled downhill with Katy B, Razorlight (of whom I expected better) and Dizzee Rascal, who had people heading for the exits in droves. Including us. As usual, we had fared better on the Jagermeister stage, with the Lightning Seeds and the Levellers. A personal favourite appeared on the comedy stage – the wonderful Raymond and Mr Timkins Revue. It’s always good to see their effect on newbies. This time, it was Rob, who may well have soiled himself laughing. Not a totally wasted day out, then.
NB Splendour is showing increasing signs of being a Festival organised by a council. Jake Bugg headlined in 2013. Good grief. Contrast the Pet Shop Boys’ stage show with a bloke with a guitar. He’s from Nottingham. We get it. HE IS NOT HEADLINER MATERIAL. We didn’t go.
Mick Thomas & Squeezebox Wally @ Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham 14th August
The KGC is a strange little venue, tucked away at the back of a garden centre in Birmingham. We had seen Mick here before, when he toured with Michael Barclay. The seating is such that you are very much up close and personal but that didn’t seem to faze Mick, who put on an excellent set. Annie and me got to speak to Mick and Wally afterwards.
Rhythm Festival 24th August POSTPONED (!)
And thereby hangs a tale. Suffice to say that, at this stage, all we knew was that Jim Driver had had to postpone the Festival because of poor ticket sales. Tickets would remain valid for the 2013 version. Right...
Galtres Festival 26th August
So, we looked for an alternative to Rhythm and decided to take in the last day of the Galtres (pronounced Gall-Trees, apparently) Festival in Yorkshire. The weather was appalling but we enjoyed Sean McGowan, Martin Stephenson (very much), Seth Lakeman, Billy Bragg, Adam Ant and, marvellously, TMTCH playing a post-headliner slot (with Mick Thomas and Squeezebox Wally sitting in). And, walking back to the car in the dark, I was mistaken for Billy Bragg.
Darren Hayes @ The Dome, Brighton 29th September
This one was for Annie, as recompense for all of the gigs to which she has been dragged (mostly) uncomplaining. We chose Brighton because it was a chance to spend some time there and also because she had already been to see him on the closer gig to where we live. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the man was genuinely entertaining. Quite theatrical in some places and genuinely odd in others but I really enjoyed the whole thing (other than perhaps the walk back to our hotel, running the gauntlet of any number of hen night groups unsteadily wandering the streets).
Michael Nesmith @ Union Chapel, Islington 30th October
I was always a fan of the Monkees. My first ever 7” single purchase was A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, with birthday money from my Auntie Joan. Thanks, Joan. So, the chance to see an actual Monkee playing in probably my favourite venue was unmissable, really. Sad to say, or seating choice turned out to be ill-advised, as we sat behind the stage, on the balcony. A good view but the sound was really not good. But I don’t care. I have seen a Monkee.
Wilko Johnson @ Corn Exchange, Bedford 1st November
We can’t resist a good local gig, and Wilko had been superb when we saw him on the Hangar stage at the Rhythm Festival. He was supported by Virgil & The Accelerators, one of whom was very good. Virgil (if that is his name) was some sort of rock guitar virtuoso and I am afraid he made his bandmates look fairly pedestrian. A good support act though. Wilko, who nowadays tours with Norman Watt-Roy and Dylan Howe was predictably awesome. His own stuff is good but it’s great to hear those Dr Feelgood songs played by someone who was actually in the band at the time.
TMTCH @ Arms Aloft in Acton Town, The Tabernacle Notting Hill 16th November
A Joe Strummer anniversary gig in a place I had never heard of and with TMTCH headlining? Marvellous. The Tabernacle turned out to be a beautiful building, obviously a former church, with Theatre, Dance Studio, Art Gallery, Bar & Kitchen, Meeting & Rehearsal Rooms, Conservatory & Garden (I just pinched all that from their website). It was a bit of a ramshackle night, to be honest, but with a great Clash covers band, Take the Fifth the highlight. TMTCH suffered from major sound problems when they finally came on, with guitar after guitar failing. They manfully carried on with the final functioning guitar falling to Paul Simmonds, as the others could at least sing. Not the best TMTCH gig I have ever seen but one of the prettiest venues.
The Damned @ Corn Exchange, Bedford 1st December
The Damned like to tour in November and always seem to end up playing near us. Irresistable, as ever. This time supported by the Dickies, who were fantastic. A great night all round and the Festive season was under way.
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