Top 10 gig selection and review of the gig-going year.
A ‘calmer’ year again. 55 gigs – my methodology takes a day at a festival as one gig – is down from 66 last year and 70 in 2023. I can’t see me hitting the 100 again, my 2022 peak. I’m 62 and a gig a week average seems about right these days. It wasn’t quite like that smooth though, with two gig free months and the 12 gigs of ‘Rock-tober’.
133 acts or 114 different acts, with doubling up on several and me specifically seeking out The Stranglers, Red Rum Club and Andrew Cushin gigs twice – other doubles were incidental due to support slots.
These gigs have been in 33 different venues in 18 UK towns and cities. This year, the most have been in Southampton (9) with Bournemouth, London, Poole and Portsmouth featuring strongly, and in that order. I am trying to keep it more local if I can as costs continue to spiral on the overnighters, especially with London hotel prices. I can’t face trekking back after distant gigs these days and no longer working full time means I don’t have to.
So here are my top ten. Never an exact science. So many factors can influence gig enjoyment: familiarity, venue, company, performance, sense of occasion, audience, atmosphere, comfort and even ailments and injuries at my age.
There are links to my blogs for each of these ten. Here we go…
10. From the Jam
Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa
With Bruce Foxton announcing his retirement from From The Jam and ex-Jam and From The Jam drummer Rick Butler passing away, this became a keen key target for me. Bruce played about half the set as he did for the end of the tour, due to some health problems.
Curiously, shortly after the tour, Bruce announced a tour with a new band in 2026. Most had assumed his retirement to be totally and not just From The Jam. I will be there.
9. Psychedelic Furs
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
Quite a trip this one and part of four gigs in four days but it was the only date I could make. Lovely venue and a great set from one of my long term favourites – each song a gem.
8. Simple Minds
Guildhall Square, Southampton
A crowd pleasing set at one of the outdoor Summer Sessions on a lovely warm sunny day. New Gold Dream, their best LP, featured strongly.
Blog of the Southampton Summer Sessions.
7. The Reytons
Victorious Festival, Southsea
Best band for me at Victorious Festival this year. A steamy heat generated in the dusty surroundings and then out came the flares for this short sharp shock of a set. It closed their touring year and was triumphant in its delivery.
A genuinely independent band who have no corporate record label but still hit the top the album charts. The ‘kids from the estate’ have climbed to the top.
6. The Stranglers
Bristol Beacon
My all-time favourite band. This was my 33rd Stranglers gig. I concede to being biased in this selection. I had a brilliant view of a great set. A calm, controlled performance with everyone playing their part with perfection and great sound quality.
5. Gene
Hammersmith Apollo
Much anticipation for what was an emotional return: a return no one thought was possible and it was a really special evening.
4. Pulp
Utilita Arena, Birmingham
No support band but two sets, one newer material mainly and then a celebration of the old stuff. Jarvis had the huge crowd in the palm of his hand. His crowd orchestration was quite brilliant. A fine new album.
3. Manic Street Preachers
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
The special aspect here was to see the likes of The Manics in the intense atmosphere of this old theatre. I had something of an aerial view of the stage. Great new album. I wish I had been to both nights.
2. Stiff Little Fingers
Guildhall Square, Belfast
My second visit to see SLF in Belfast. Again I stood in awe at the sense of occasion. There I was in the middle of city I could never have imagined visiting when I first started seeing SLF, listening to songs like Suspect Device and Alternative Ulster. Dreams can come true.
Front man Jake Burns seemed blown away to be joined on stage by Gerry McAvoy, bassist for Belfast rock legend Rory Gallagher’s band.
1. Oasis
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Believe the hype. The second night of the most anticipated tour of my lifetime. It was near hysteria but no madness on the stage and a crowd all there to have a bloody good time. No gimmicks just straight rock’n’roll. Yes, we were miles away but we were there. We were all there.
Liam’s performance was magnificent. After all the nonsense he was so focused. This had to work and they blew all the doubters away and went on to rock the world.
My face value £100 tickets took 20 minutes to buy with the pre-sale code. Hotel prices dipped after the initial fuss and the Cardiff trip was a superb yet exhausting day out.
I get to my top ten and having worked through that, there is still some dissatisfaction with such a list. There was barely a gig or festival day that I left without having really enjoyed it and wanting to go again.
There are some newer bands and some support bands below that just couldn’t trouble my top ten, mainly due to my long term involvement with many older bands and the nostalgia factor and familiarity of tunes that goes with that.
I could find no room for Turnstile for instance. Not a new band but these Baltimore hardcore ‘punks’ were new to me. A great new album, Never Enough, clearly softer and more accessible than their earlier material and a gig at Ally Pally that was a real eye opener, and ear opener – there is hope for youth. Mosh pit of the year – indeed most of the crowd was a mosh pit.
The Forever Now one day festival in Milton Keynes was a highlight but no one band stood out above the top ten gigs I have reflected on – probably my best day of music with the likes of The Psychedelic Furs, Johnny Marr, Kraftwerk and Theatre of Hate.
My Best Newer Band Gigs
- The Reytons (Victorious)
- Red Rum Club (Bournemouth Old Fire Station)
- Yungblud – album release gig. (Engine Rooms Southampton)
- The Clause (Papillon Southampton)
- Inhaler (Portsmouth Guildhall)
Disappointments?
For main acts I would go with Queens of the Stone Age, The The and Adam Ant. With the first two, both festival headliners, I think I had just missed their boats and didn’t know their material like everyone else seemed to, but Adam Ant was sadly just not up to it. I read somewhere that he wasn’t well with a bad throat and it was the first night of the tour but that was way below anything like par. Still glad I went to see the legend he is.
A clutch of support acts that I knew very little about but was very impressed by, in no particular order, were:
The Molotovs
The Rolling People
The Kairos
The Florentenes
Freddie Halkon
In addition Over Pass gripped me at Victorious Festival.
Lastly, a pick of the venues I went to this year.
My Favourite Venues
Hammersmith Apollo
A key venue in my youth and the huge, beautifully restored art deco theatre is well placed to revisit these days, with riverside pubs nearby. Just visited for the Gene reunion gig this year.
Papillon Southampton
A relatively new venue in a smartly restored church. Smaller capacity of around 450 with a small standing balcony level to look down on the stage. My debut visit was for Spear of Destiny this year, closely followed by a packed sell out crowd for The Clause.
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Another old fave from two periods of my life. Steep tiered balconies offer alternative views to the standing floor. Brimming with atmosphere with its height and this year was chosen by The Manic Street Preachers for a couple of special gigs, because they used to knock around Shepherd’s Bush when they started staying in London.
That’s my lot for 2025. We rock on in 2026. Be lucky!
Gigs with Ivan 