Monday 28 December 2015

Best of the Year

Of the many gigs I attended and enjoyed from last December to this, I would say these we're the highlights...

PiL at The 02, London. Somehow I found myself deep in the mosh pit instead of being seated upstairs. Quite an experience; quite a show.




Sparks - two nights at the Barbican, London. They played Kimono My House all the way through followed by some other hits, backed all the way by a massive orchestra.





Woody Woodmansey's Holy Holy, The Lexington, Pentonville Road. Woody, the drummer from the Spiders From Mars, led an ensemble through the classic songs of David Bowie. Steve Norman (of Spandau Ballet) was part of the band.





The Transatlantic Sessions at The Sage, Gateshead. An annual treat, enhanced even more by the addition of Patty Griffin.



Spandau Ballet at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle. A class act.



Deep into Brixton for Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart. Jah was celebrating the release of Redux, a highly recommended box set covering 1978-2015.





A fabulous double-header at the Americana Festival (the Sage again) saw Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell one night, followed by...





...Rosanne Cash (who had been in the audience for Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell) the following evening.




Culture Club managed to put their differences behind them to rock the Hammersmith Apollo in style.




I was at the London Palladium for the final English show for Jerry Lee Lewis. What a show!





Back to London again - this time the King's Place - for the return of Patty Griffin. Patty was showcasing the new songs from Servant of Love.







Florence + The Machine put on a very theatrical and memorable show at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle.



Closer to home, Space came to the Georgian Theatre, Stockton to blast away any lingering 2015 cobwebs. They clearly had as much fun as we did.





Tommy Scott had been at The Green Room (around the corner from the Georgian Theatre) for a solo acoustic show earlier in the year. Hopefully he will back next year.

I wonder what 2016 will bring...?