2024 was another year of incredible live music, spanning intimate performances to crowd-pleasing festival sets to once-in-a-lifetime shows. I got to witness a 17-year-old guitar prodigy at the start of her career and a 78-year-old Benju master taking delight in the twilight of his. I am eternally grateful to the venues, bookers, promoters, sound engineers, staff, and, of course, the musicians for bringing me such unmitigated joy.
Living in Bristol, I feel blessed to regularly attend so many amazing inclusive venues, all committed to showcasing diverse acts with care and attention. The Cube Microplex, Jam Jar and Strange Brew deserve a special mention. Bristol is also home to some of the most exciting new bands too, with Bingo Fury featuring the mighty Harry ‘Iceman’ Furniss, Mould and Hamburger just some of the acts I get to watch on a regular basis.
Ustad Noor Bakhsh
Jam Jar, Bristol 3rd July
Lady Wray
Lost Horizon, Bristol – 24th May
Sultan Stevenson
Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham – 3rd May
Junior Brother
The Canteen, Bristol – 8th February
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
(Solo Piano Show)
The Cube Microplex, Bristol – 10th February
Uranium Club
Rough Trade, Bristol – 10th November
Ultrasound (Mark Kavuma & Theo Erskine)
Strange Brew, Bristol – 26th January
Lewsberg
The Crofters, Bristol – 15th June
Ela Orleans
The Cube Microplex, Bristol – 15th March
Muireann Bradley
Strange Brew, Bristol – 3rd December
Jessie Ware & Baxter Dury
Forwards Festival, Bristol – 24th August
Caroline
Strange Brew, Bristol – 24th March
Shabaka
St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol – 28th November
Claire Rousay
The Lantern, Bristol – 28th May
Mould
The Lanes, Bristol – 11th August
A Hawk & A Hacksaw
The Cube Microplex – 27th September
Hamburger
The Lanes, Bristol – 21st September
Bingo Fury
Jam Jar, Bristol – 20th April
Eddie Chacon
Strange Brew, Bristol – 30th October
All images and videos by Tom Spooner.
COMING SOON – my favourite albums of 2024.
