Best of the Year: 2018

At the end of every year I always end up thinking it has been the best-ever for fabulous gigs.

As the calendar starts to get busy for 2019, it is time to take a backwards glance to pick out the highlights of an excellent 2018.

Some old favourites returned and I was delighted to be able to see numerous superb artists for the very first time, in a variety of venues from massive stadiums to the most intimate of 'small rooms upstairs.'

Here are some of my favourite moments, representing approximately half of the gigs of 2018.

The Skids at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton

Big Country at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton

Rosanne Cash at the Union Chapel, Islington

Bananarama, Edinburgh Castle

Altered Images, Edinburgh Castle

The Rolling Stones, Twickenham Stadium

Sam Lavery at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton

Natalie Imbruglia, 02 Academy, Liverpool

The Damned, 02 Forum, Kentish Town

...with support from Slim Jim Phantom!

Gary Numan - Middlesbrough Empire and then Newcastle City Hall

Sherdian Smith, The Sage, Gateshead

Kim Wilde, York Barbican

UK Subs at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton

Eilen Jewell, Gulliver's (Manchester) and The Lexington (London)

Imelda May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham (with Texas and Ward Thomas)

Shania Twain, Manchester Arena

Jilted John, Middlesbrough Town Hall

Hailey Tuck, Middlesbrough Town Hall

Dawn Landes, The Basement, York

Caro Emerald, Barbican, York

Rachel Harrington, The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham

Sweet at Arc, Stockton

The Cardigans, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

2019 has a hard act to follow, but plans are already falling into place!