2017 was a great live music year for me. There was a healthy dose of nostalgia – I got to see Radiohead for the first time, experience the Flaming Lips at their euphoric best, and dance very hard indeed to the Avalanches – singing along to songs that had soundtracked various chapters in my life. There was also the stunning Frank Ocean, the fabulous funky goddess Nao, the world-weary and wise Jonwayne with such graceful deadly flow. Richard Dawson and Marisa Anderson were primal forces, powerful and life-affirming. Ian William Craig and David Moore were ethereal and transcendent. The Bristol s’s were strong with Scalping, Slonk and Stereocilia all delivering great sets throughout the year. There was even joy to be found in sharing a bottle or two of red on the Liverpool docks with an old friend as John Cale and co battled with the worst sound I have ever experienced at a gig.
I’d like to take the opportunity to offer a sincere thank you to those promoters, venues and musicians in Bristol and beyond that continue to do what they do for the love of the music. With independent venues across the country shutting down or facing closure, and promoters struggling to breakeven when putting on shows, I’m truly thankful that you continue to do what you do.
1. Radiohead
4th July – Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
2. Frank Ocean & Nao
10th June – Parklife Festival, Manchester
3. The Flaming Lips
23rd January – Brixton Academy, London
4. The Avalanches
20th June – Motion, Bristol
5. Jonwayne
14th March, The Lantern, Bristol
6. Richard Dawson
23rd June – Fiddlers, Bristol
7. Marisa Anderson
7th November – Southbank Club, Bristol
8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
13th September – Thekla, Bristol
9. Lambchop
17th August – The Fleece, Bristol
10. De La Soul
24th February – Colston Hall, Bristol
11. Daniel Bachman & Jake Xeres Fussell
30th April – Centrespace, Bristol
12. Ian William Craig & Matana Roberts
11th May – The Cube, Bristol
13. Holy Fuck & Scalpings
22nd August – The Lantern, Bristol
14. Micah P. Hinson & The Saxophones
1st October – The Lantern, Bristol
15. Bing & Ruth
17th November – The Lantern, Bristol
16. Irma Vep
St. James Wine Vaults, Bath
Click to see my albums of the year 2017.
