Up Close And Personal

Compared to the last ten years, I've seen a lot of live music this year: 17 gigs, 32 artists, countless memories of a great night out (or day, in some cases).

 

I've also missed a record number, tickets purchased but a last minute crisis or other convergence has meant not making it to the gig (though I have had a positive experience reselling tickets via Tixel).

 

And there have been a fair few, particularly those involving Clan K in whole or part, where I've missed the support act. 

 

But the gigs I've been to have all been wonderful in different ways and impossible to rank, they're all favourites to me.

Click on the individual links to read my reflections. In most cases, there was a bespoke Dubhed selection to accompany and I've reactivated the links to all, including additional selections that were linked from the original post.

January

The Clientele / Ead Wood

February

Ladyhawke / Flavia

Emily Breeze / Mumble Tide

 

March

O.M.D.

 

May

Fatoumata Diawara

A Certain Ratio / Ellen Beth Abdi

Barry Adamson / Nadine Khouri

 

July

Nile Rodgers & Chic / Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Future Islands

 

August

Massive Attack / Killer Mike / Lankum / Sam Morton / DJ Milo

 

September

Lloyd Cole (Set One & Set Two)

Ride / Junodream

Marc Almond

 

October

Misty In Roots / The Ruts DC

African Head Charge / Ink Project ft. Coreysan

Humanist

 

November 

Ibibio Sound Machine

 

 

I'd underestimated the size of the task when I started this post but, if I haven't messed up along the way, you can tap into 25 Dubhed selection and over a day's worth of continuous listening. One for Boxing Day, perhaps...?

I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it to as many gigs in 2025, though I have a couple lined up already, including John Grant in February, rescheduled from this year due to illness. 

 

The wish list is already very, very long and I'll share my experiences here, one by one.

 

This blog never sleeps, so drop by here tomorrow if you're tired of tinsel and turkey. I'm making this up as I go along, and I'll be as surprised as you are to find out what the Christmas Day post is all about...!