Best Gigs Of 2015

This definitely wasn't a prime year in gigs for me but it was nice to finally see a few reunited acts live for the first time, most notably The Replacements and Sleater-Kinney, and of course the incomparable Christine McVie back singing with the Mac. You would think that the Fleetwood Mac shows would be my absolute favourites (they were certainly the gigs that cost the most, probably as much as the rest combined) but seeing and hearing McVie singing Everywhere and You Make Loving Fun, although undoubtedly thrilling, was slightly overshadowed by finally seeing The Replacements and the pure ramshackle, joy of their show. Other than my usual fare of alternative and classic rock, I also got to experience some heartwarming pure country shows (Sturgill Simpson and Kacey Musgraves) and even a pop concert, albeit a rather unusual one (the fantastic Marina & The Diamonds). I can't imagine I'll go to many more pop gigs in the future but I do hope next year has some more country in store for me.

Sexwitch at XOYO

Sexwitch 
Baba Naga

XOYO, 29 September 2015

When Natasha Khan, the enchantress behind Bat For Lashes, revealed she would be playing a tiny gig in support of her surprise side project with indie band Toy and producer Dan Carey, of course I didn't even need to hear the music to know I wanted to go. It was a rare opportunity to see Khan perform in a small venue and besides the project - psychedelic covers of obscure traditional folk songs from around the world - sounded more than intriguing. It was enough anyway to entice me to brave the terrible Old Street nightclub that is XOYO and join other Khan obsessives to see the debut gig of Sexwitch (which I must say is such an awful name, such a shame it wasn't Red Witch as many fans speculated it might be).