Best Gigs of 2025

I went to so many great gigs this year, it was actually really hard to choose a top ten this time! I had to leave out great shows from artists like Margo Price, Tift Merritt, Pearl Charles and Wet Leg, to name but a few, even the fantastic Thurston Moore show where he brought out his beautiful dogs and I got to pet them! But of course, once again, the year was all about seeing MJ Lenderman again, twice! And both shows were mind-blowingly good. 

Lola Kirke at Oslo Hackney

Lola Kirke

Chloe Kimes

Oslo Hackney, 27 November 2025

I finally got to see the fabulous Lola Kirke, backed by a fantastic twangy band, and it really was a fun night full of songs from her new album Trailblazer, lots of laughs, some line-dancing and even readings from her new book, Wild West Village. But the big surprise of the night was her support act, Chloe Kimes, who was equally fun and talented!

Lou Barlow at the ICA

Lou Barlow

ICA, 26 November 2025

It was an evening of stories, banter, laughs and plenty of songs from Lou Barlow's long career in the alternative rock world, from Dinosaur Jr to Sebadoh to Folk Implosion, all in the intimate and friendly setting of the ICA. And apparently this show was all in aid of Barlow's wife getting to see My Bloody Valentine in Dublin: how lucky for us?!

Courtney Marie Andrews at Sessions Arts Club

Courtney Marie Andrews

Sessions Arts Club, 9 November 2025 

After seeing Courtney Marie Andrews last week in the intimate atmosphere of St Pancras Old Church, I was even more lucky to see her again for a special event at the Sessions Arts Club for a magical, shimmering candlelit evening of poetry, song and a playback of Andrews' upcoming new album, Valentine.

Courtney Marie Andrews at St Pancras Old Church

Courtney Marie Andrews

St Pancras Old Church, 28 October 2025

It was an absolute joy to see Courtney Marie Andrews again after four long years and playing such an intimate and beautiful venue as St Pancras Old Church. It was also a special night because we got, not one, but two sets, the first focusing on only new material and the second giving us lots of old favourites, and what a treat it was!

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at the Palladium

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Palladium, 27 October 2025

It's something really special when you manage to make a grand old theatre like the Palladium, home of many a famous musical and of course the Royal Variety Performance, feel like you are sitting on the back porch of an some Southern house listening to two folk artists, at the peak of their powers, playing just for you, but that's what happened tonight at this concert with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

Brandi Carlile at Heaven

Brandi Carlile

Way back in November 2007 I saw Brandi Carlile play what I believe was her first ever London show on the tour for her second album, The Story. It was at the much-missed Borderline and for the encore she played a version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah that was definitely based on Jeff Buckley's version (she may have ever said as much). 

Belly at the Electric Ballroom

Belly

Electric Ballroom, 1 October 2025

I got to see the always magical Belly return to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their album King, and it was definitely a lovely celebration, full of smiles and good feeling and a great end to their short UK tour!

Thurston Moore at Oslo Hackney

The Thurston Moore Group

Big Joanie

Oslo Hackney, 13 September 2025

This gig may well have spoiled every future gig for me now, because not only did I get to witness the genius that is Thurston Moore up close and have his brilliant and thunderous music fill my lucky ears, but I also got to pet his gorgeous dogs, as he brought them out on stage to show us! Amazing music and cute dogs too? It really doesn't get better than that.

Greg Freeman at Rough Trade East

Greg Freeman

Rough Trade East, 3 September 2025

I was back at the magical Rough Trade East for a second dose of Greg Freeman tonight and I think this show was even more fun than the first one!

Greg Freeman at the Lexington

Greg Freeman

Sean Trelford

The Lexington, 2 September 2025

Back to The Lexington again for second time in just under two weeks, so I'm starting to feel like a regular! I hadn't planned on going to this show as I already had a ticket to Greg Freeman's Rough Trade in-store but a ticket came up for the sold out gig and it seemed meant to be.

Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band at the Lexington

Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band

Midding

Ollie Cook

The Lexington, 23 August 2025

There's been a buzz surrounding Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band since they released their acclaimed second album, New Threats From The Soul, last month, and I must confess I've been enjoying it too, so it seemed fate when I saw they were playing their first headline show in London at the rather lovely and intimate venue, The Lexington. 

Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy at the Garage

Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends

The Garage, 22 August 2025

Officially titled "Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy sing R.E.M.'s Fables Of The Reconstruction", this was not only a fantastic tribute to the boys from Athens, Georgia but a hugely fun night in its own right with Hollywood actor Michael Shannon brilliantly channeling Michael Stipe with a pretty incredible backing band to boot.

MJ Lenderman & The Wind at the Roundhouse

MJ Lenderman & The Wind (ft. Karly Hartzman)

Allegra Krieger

Roundhouse, 15 August 2025

You know when you have that transcendental moment at a gig, where you are so moved, thrilled and you just feel, there is nothing better than this: right here and now is where I'm supposed to be? It happened again for me tonight at the Roundhouse seeing MJ Lenderman. It's the reason why I haven't been this excited about an artist in a long time.

Wednesday at Rough Trade East

Wednesday (Karly Hartzman solo)

Rough Trade East, 11 August 2025

I'm so excited I got to see Karly Hartzman doing a solo show ahead of the release of the new Wednesday album, Bleeds, at the wonderful Rough Trade East. We were treated to old songs and previews of new tracks, despite the fact that she had lost her luggage and had to borrow clothes to perform in! But what a treat it was and I know for sure now that the new record will definitely be an absolute favourite this year. 

Wet Leg at the Electric Ballroom

Wet Leg

Electric Ballroom, 17 July 2025

I finally got to see the electrifying Wet Leg do a blistering 50 minute set at the Electric Ballroom and it was absolutely perfect!

Japanese Breakfast at Brixton Academy

Japanese Breakfast

Minhwi Lee

Brixton Academy, 3 July 2025

I've been intrigued to see Japanese Breakfast for a long time, partly due to a recommendation by a friend years ago and partly because I loved frontwoman Michelle Zauner's brilliant memoir Crying In H Mart. I must admit I was slightly reluctant though when they announced this date because it was at the far from intimate Brixton Academy for one thing and also because I had a feeling the demographic for Japanese Breakfast would be far younger and more obsessive than me (a la Mitski or Phoebe Bridgers, the latter of which I was lucky enough to catch before she became a teen girl dream). But knowing I had no gigs lined up for a while, I said, what the hell, and took the plunge, and bought a last minute ticket.

Horsegirl at Scala

Horsegirl

Sarah Meth

Scala, 29 June 2025

I finally got to see Chicago trio Horsegirl playing the last night of their UK tour with a sold out show at the Scala!

Tift Merritt at Oslo Hackney

Tift Merritt

Oslo Hackney, 25 June 2025

Back in London for the first time in seven years, it was wonderful to see Tift Merritt live once again playing a random London show ahead of Glastonbury and, I'm happy to report, she still sounds as great as ever.

Wilco at the Royal Albert Hall

Wilco

Deep Sea Diver

Royal Albert Hall, 22 June 2025 

About twenty years ago, Wilco were my absolute favourite band. I was actually a little obsessed with them and managed to see them live many times including several Jeff Tweedy solo shows. A few of those gigs were sublime almost life-changing experiences for me but in recent years I had moved on to other obsessions. Their last album, Cousin, though was so good that it kind of reawakened my love for Wilco and it shocked me to discover that it's actually been 15 years since I last saw them live (although I did see Jeff Tweedy solo in 2014). I was determined to fix this and when they announced, what is certainly their biggest ever London show at the grandiose and legendary Royal Albert Hall, I paid more than I've ever paid for a Wilco show and bought a ticket.

Kim Deal at the Roundhouse

Kim Deal

TTSSFU 

Roundhouse, 20 June 2025

What a gig filled with joy this was! I've obviously seen Kim Deal live before (in The Breeders, The Amps and the Pixies too) but she was beaming from the moment she walked onstage and it was so absolutely contagious. It didn't hurt that she had an amazing ten-piece band backing her, who had great chemistry, but there was tremendous love for Deal and you know she could feel it and she radiated happiness back at us. This wonderful gig will be hard to beat, it was so much fun!

Margo Price at Scala

Margo Price

Maya Lane

Scala, 18 June 2025

Back in 2016, I was lucky enough to see Margo Price touring her debut album, Midwest Farmer's Daughter, at this very venue, the Scala. Every time I've seen her since, including at the far bigger and grander Koko last year, I knew I was in the presence of a true star. I didn't think I would have the chance to see her in such a small venue again but almost ten years on, here I am back at the Scala to see Price where I first fell in love with her big time.

Waxahatchee at Hammersmith Apollo

Waxahatchee

Merce Lemon

Hammersmith Apollo, 11 June 2015

Katie Crutchfield and her incredible band returned to London for their biggest show to date at the historic Hammersmith Apollo and wow, did she manage to fill the grandiose venue with beautiful sounds and such good feeling!

Pearl Charles at The Moth Club

Pearl Charles

John Myrtle

The Moth Club, 5 June 2025

It may have been a drab and rainy English day outside but the glittering Pearl Charles brought plenty of California sunshine to the dingy little Moth Club last night and once again it was pure magic.

MJ Lenderman at the Electric Ballroom

MJ Lenderman & The Wind

Trace Mountains

Electric Ballroom, 4 June 2025

He wore an Magnolia Electric Co. tee, he covered Sparklehorse and Jackson Browne, and he played You Are Every Girl To Me, the first time I've heard it live. I thought I couldn't love him more but he did it. Another mind-blowing show, that I'm still on a high from!

Throwing Muses at the Electric Ballroom

Throwing Muses

Lande Hekt

Electric Ballroom, 27 May 2025

It's been 11 years since I last saw Throwing Muses live and I thought that maybe I had simply missed them touring during those years, but no, aside from a few festival dates in 2019, this is indeed their first tour since I saw them briefly reunite with Tanya Donelly.

Dinosaur Jr at Troxy

Dinosaur Jr

Naima Bock

Troxy, 23 May 2025

After seeing Dinosaur Jr. play all of one of their most beloved albums (or certainly one of their most successful anyway), Where You Been, just over a year ago, they are back and this time playing all of the follow-up, Without A Sound, for its 30th anniversary at the far more grandiose venue, Troxy.

Holly Macve at The Lexington

Holly Macve

Aimee Fatale

The Lexington, 8 March 2025

It's been eight years since I've seen Holly Macve live, and she has fully abandoned her country stylings to go the Lana Del Rey route of dark, atmospheric pop. She is still lovely but this was a very different show than the acoustic folky vibes of the St. John show I saw all those years ago.

The Delines at the Union Chapel

The Delines

Peter Bruntnell

Union Chapel, 3 April 2025 

It's said that Willy Vlautin created The Delines simply because he loved Amy Boone's voice so much and it makes so much sense: her world-weary raspy tones, a kind of mix between Bobbie Gentry and a jazz singer, really do bring Vlautin's stories to life in a way that is totally distinct from his previous band Richmond Fontaine.

The Delines at Rough Trade East

The Delines

Rough Trade East, 24 March 2025

I finally got to see Willy Vlautin's incredible band with Amy Boone, made even more special as it was in the intimate setting of the always wonderful Rough Trade East.

Sturgill Simpson at Hammersmith Apollo

Sturgill Simpson (as Johnny Blueskies)

Hammersmith Apollo, 1 March 2025

My third time seeing Sturgill Simpson live (this time touring as Johnny Blue Skies for some bizarre reason) and possibly the longest concert I've ever been to: three hours long! I think by the end I was more exhausted than Simpson himself, who I'm pretty certain would have carried on jamming with his band if the curfew hadn't stopped him.

Jack White at Troxy

Jack White

Gina Birch

Troxy, 28 February 2025

I saw Jack White again tonight at the very much improved Troxy and my ears were blown off in the best possible way! It's easy to see why he's become such an icon and is so beloved, because he really does give it all every show, treating us all to songs from every era of his career.

Neko Case at Rough Trade East

Neko Case in Conversation with Kathy Valentine

Rough Trade East, 18 January 2025

Saw Neko Case chat with the legendary Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's about Neko's new memoir The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You at Rough Trade East and it was great fun to hear these two friends and music icons chat, it also made me realise just how much I miss seeing Ms Case perform.