My Favourite Albums of 2024

My top albums of 2024:

 

MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks

Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

Mary Timony - Tame The Tiger

St. Vincent - All Born Screaming

Kim Gordon - The Collective

Laura Marling - Patterns In Repeat

Jack White - No Name

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland

Sturgill Simpson (as Johnny Blueskies) - Passage Du Desir

Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More

Sierra Ferrell - Trail Of Flowers

Best Gigs of 2024

This year really was all about MJ Lenderman for me. Not only did I see him with his other band Wednesday finally (their last album ruled 2023 for me), but I also saw him doing his first ever UK solo show all by himself at Rough Trade East (and got to meet the man himself) and saw him twice with his incredible backing band The Wind at the fantastic intimate shows at The Garage. 

TV On The Radio at Islington Assembly Hall

Islington Assembly Hall, 10 December 2024

My last gig of the year! And it was a good one too, as I got to see the recently reunited TV On The Radio on the first night of their three night (sold out) run at Islington Assembly Hall and what a return it was!

Mark Lanegan Tribute at the Roundhouse

Mark Lanegan: 60 - A Celebration

Roundhouse, 5 December 2024 

As soon as this tribute concert celebrating what would have been Mark Lanegan's 60th birthday was announced, I knew I had to go. I would never see Lanegan live again, but at the very least I could see some of his friends and peers sing some of his songs and say goodbye to one of my favourite ever artists that way. Fortunately for me I was lucky enough to grab a ticket, as it sold out right away.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy at Rough Trade East

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Rough Trade East, 1 December 2024

I finally got to see Bonnie "Prince" Billy live in the intimate atmosphere of Rough Trade East and after he even gave me a cookie! What a perfect night.

MJ Lenderman & The Wind at the Garage (Night 2)

MJ Lenderman & The Wind

Hollow Hand

The Garage, 19 November 2024

I was back at the Garage tonight to catch night two of MJ Lenderman's sold out London shows, and like last night it was a beautiful thing to be part of. I really haven't felt this excited about a (relatively) new artist for such a long time.

MJ Lenderman & The Wind at the Garage (Night 1)

MJ Lenderman & The Wind

Hollow Hand

The Garage, 18 November 2024

This was everything I hoped it would be! And I'm still on a high from finally seeing Lenderman playing with his incredible band, The Wind.

Redd Kross at Camden Dingwalls

Redd Kross

Dale Crover

Camden Dingwalls, 12 November 2024

After attending the entertaining chat between the McDonald brothers and Thurston Moore for the launch of their book, Now You're One Of Us, last month, I finally got a chance to see Redd Kross live again on the last show of their European tour, in what the band has been calling the "year of Redd Kross!"

Laura Marling at St. John at Hackney Church

Laura Marling

St. John at Hackney Church, 2 November 2024

My sixth time seeing Laura Marling and this time it was the last night of a four day residency at a grand old church in the heart of Hackney. I had a standing ticket but it was such a mellow affair that I think it actually would have been greatly improved by being all seated but nevertheless it was a charming night, half solo and half with a string quartet and choir.

Evan Dando at Islington Assembly Hall

Evan Dando

Juanita Stein

Ella Raphael

Islington Assembly Hall, 30 October 2024

I've always thought that Evan Dando was one of the forgotten and underrated songwriters of the 1990s, perhaps because of his heartthrob status and slightly airheaded, hippy persona, it feels like he hasn't been regarded with as much respect as his music warrants. Judging by the love for him and his music tonight, obviously a lot of people feel the same way, and it was rather lovely to see.

Keanu Reeves at the Royal Festival Hall

Keanu Reeves in Conversation   

Royal Festival Hall, 22 October 2024

I went to yet another book event this time as part of the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, with Keanu Reeves chatting about his new book he has collaborated on with author China Mieville, Book Of Elsewhere.

Redd Kross with Thurston Moore at Rough Trade

Redd Kross in Conversation with Thurston Moore

Rough Trade East, 14 October 2024

I took another trip down to Rough Trade East to see some of my teenage favourites, Jeff and Steven McDonald of Redd Kross have a chat with Thurston Moore about their new book, Now You're One Of Us, which is an oral history of the band, and it couldn't have been a more delightful evening, with Moore and the brothers having a truly funny and interesting chat about the early days of the LA punk scene and their shared history.

Pearl Charles at Omeara

Pearl Charles

Michael Rault

Omeara, 10 October 2024 

Amazing to see Pearl Charles again for the second time this year, this time in the beautiful Omeara! Plus, at this show we also got a fantastic preview of her upcoming new album too and as ever her band was on fire. For a disco queen, she sure knows how to rock!

Kathleen Edwards at Islington Assembly Hall

Craig Finn

Kathleen Edwards

Islington Assembly Hall, 12 September 2024

I know Craig Finn was the headliner here but for me it was all about seeing Kathleen Edwards again, back in the UK for the first time in 12 years! It was fantastic to finally see her after so long, I only wish her set had been longer. 

Jess Williamson at St Martin-In-The-Fields

Jess Williamson

Eleni Drake

Dana Gavanski

St Martin-In-The-Fields, 29 August 2024

After waiting years to see Jess Williamson, I get to see her twice in a matter of months! This time in the beautiful and atmospheric St Martin-In-The-Fields church, and, not to get too corny, but dressed in a white chiffon dress, she definitely looked and sounded positively angelic.

Wednesday at Scala

Wednesday

Mspaint

Scala, 20 August 2024

After a year of being obsessed with their last album, Rat Saw God, I finally saw Wednesday (on a Tuesday)! And it was a glorious blast of feedback drenched country punk: everything I hoped it would be and more, in fact.

MJ Lenderman at Rough Trade East

MJ Lenderman

Rough Trade East, 7 August 2024

It's always a pleasure to see an artist like MJ Lenderman in an intimate setting, even if it's in the back of a record shop like Rough Trade East! He only played for about 40 minutes but as his solo debut in London it really was something special.

Waxahatchee at The Forum

Waxahatchee

Anna St. Louis 

The Forum, 25 July 2024

I'm happy to say that seeing Waxahatchee almost ten years after the first time was an absolutely delightful affair, everything about this show was lovely, from the cool, appreciative and kind audience to the joyful performance, Katie Crutchfield's incredible voice and her killer band.

Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park

Stevie Nicks

Brandi Carlile

Anna Calvi

Hyde Park, 12 July 2024

It seems the only way you can see Stevie Nicks live in London these days is to take a trip to Hyde Park in the summer, as this is now her third time playing here, only this time she has made her way up the bill to headliner finally. So, once again, was it worth standing all day in a crowded park for?

Kim Gordon at Koko

Kim Gordon

Crimewave

Koko, 25 June 2024 

Can you believe I got to see both Kim Gordon and Kim Deal doing incredible live shows within days of each other? How lucky am I? But this show from Ms Gordon really was something spectacular and I feel blessed by the punk rock gods to have witnessed it. 

Bat For Lashes at the Barbican

Bat For Lashes

Mui Zyu

Barbican, 24 June 2024

Natasha Khan thanks us tonight for supporting her for almost 20 years. Can it really be that long? But yes it seems her debut album Fur And Gold incredibly came out 18 years ago. I distinctly remember someone in my office at the time recommending it to me. Unfortunately I didn't go and see her live that year but made up for my mistake by seeing Bat For Lashes live for every album since 2009's Two Suns, even going to see her brief side project Sexwitch in 2015. Now she has a new album out called The Dream Of Delphi, her first in five years inspired by the birth of her daughter, so I loyally traveled up to the Barbican Centre to see her latest show, and Ms Khan is as magical and mystical as ever.

The Breeders at The Garage

The Breeders

The Garage, 23 June 2024

When The Breeders announced this surprise small show to kick off their UK tour I knew I had to go. It's been 16 years since I last saw them, on the Mountain Battles tour in 2008, and that was a very different line-up. Other than the tiny venue, the big appeal this time was this was the iconic line-up that made their biggest and most famous album, and certainly the one that ruled my teen years, Last Splash. I'm happy to say it was every bit as wonderful and joyous as I had hoped it would be.

Kathleen Hanna at Rough Trade East

Kathleen Hanna In Conversation

Rough Trade East, 20 June 2024 

This was a surprise appearance only announced the day before and I made a last minute decision to pop down to Rough Trade East to hear Kathleen Hanna talk about her fantastic new book Rebel Girl! What an enlightening, funny and interesting talk it was too.

Bikini Kill at the Roundhouse

Bikini Kill

Snoozers

Roundhouse, 12 June 2024

I often ask myself, why didn't I go to see Bikini Kill back in the 90s? I loved bands like Babes In Toyland, Hole and L7 and saw them all, but for some crazy reason I didn't grab onto the whole Riot Grrrl thing and wholeheartedly enjoy it in its prime despite being proudly both a feminist and a punk fan. I think it may be because, while I knew about it and loved the idea, I simply had never heard any of the bands central to the movement and back then without the internet and Spotify, it was so hard to hear underground music and if you were lucky enough to find it in a record store, as a teen I had limited funds and had to be careful with the records I bought. But I know now, by not taking a chance on Bikini Kill, I well and truly missed out.

Au revoir Françoise Hardy

She's been sick for some time, but it still feels so sad to lose Françoise Hardy, whose music has come to mean so much to me in the last ten years.  An absolute icon and one of the most important and legendary musicians to have ever come out of France. I highly recommend reading her elegant memoir, The Despair Of Monkeys And Other Trifles, if you haven't already, too.

St. Vincent at the Royal Albert Hall

St. Vincent

Heartworms

Royal Albert Hall, 1 June 2024

It's been 10 years since I last saw St. Vincent live. It's not because she hasn't been making great music, but I definitely didn't feel as connected to her more recent albums and more theatrical stage shows, where it was no longer Annie Clark the musician but rather St. Vincent a rock star persona. There is nothing wrong with that of course, Clark is an artist and it's amazing that she continues to evolve and try new things, but I can't deny I was very excited when I heard her more rock-sounding new album, All Born Screaming, which encouraged me to take the plunge and check out what her live show is like these days. And I'm happy to say I'm glad I did.

Willy Vlautin at Earth

An Evening With Willy Vlautin

EartH, 18 May 2024

At the start of this special evening with Willy Vlautin, celebrating the release of his new book The Horse, compere Gideon Coe spoke about how eagerly he awaited each new Willy Vlautin novel, how he wants to savour it but greedily finishes it too quickly and then can't wait for the next one, knowing it will probably be another four years before it's released. I've always felt the same way about Vlautin's books and it was strange to hear someone express exactly how I've always felt about his work. Given the place was packed tonight, it's pretty obvious myself and Coe are not the only ones that feel this way.

Kacey Musgraves at the Roundhouse

Kacey Musgraves

Madi Diaz

Roundhouse, 14 May 2024

It's been almost ten years since I last saw Kacey Musgraves live, at the Royal Albert Hall, back in 2015. It feels like a lifetime ago and Musgraves has actually soared in that time, as I predicted back then, releasing four more acclaimed albums, including her latest, Deeper Well, which came out earlier this year.

Pearl Charles at The Slaughtered Lamb

Pearl Charles

The Slaughtered Lamb, 16 April 2024

How lucky am I to see the fabulous Pearl Charles in such a tiny, warm venue as The Slaughtered Lamb? Not only was it incredible to finally hear her beautiful voice live but she had a kick-ass band to boot.

Margo Price at Koko

Margo Price

Kelsey Waldon 

Koko, 30 January 2024

Last year I saw Margo Price absolutely blow the roof off Lafayette, so when she announced another show at the always beautiful Koko with another of my favourites, Kelsey Waldon, supporting, I couldn't get tickets fast enough. Good thing too, as not surprisingly, the show was completely sold out.

Jason Isbell at the Union Chapel

Jason Isbell

Roseanne Reid 

Union Chapel, 28 January 2024

Years ago my good friend Dan told me that one of the guys from the Drive-By Truckers had released a solo album and said we should go and see his new band play their first London show at the Borderline. And that's how I came to see Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit for the first time back in 2008.

Jess Williamson at The Lexington

Jess Williamson

Lilo

Clara Mann

The Lexington, 16 January 2024

I've been aching to see Jess Williamson live for years now. I discovered her too late to see her last London gig back in 2018, at The Lexington too apparently, and then Covid hit and she couldn't tour her stunning previous album Sorceress. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to grab a ticket to this intimate one-woman show at The Lexington: my first gig of 2024 too!