Gigs.

Jungle last night was utterly wonderful. £15 for the gig and the latest CD.
Nice medium size venue, at about half capacity. Times I couldn't believe it was happening cos they were pretty big before lockdown. So I just boogied for 2 hours. Looking exactly like this

Brill.

I went to see Martyn Joseph at Acapela Studio (tiny venue near Cardiff) on Monday. He's an excellent local singer/songwriter type*, and the venue is a tiny ex-chapel, I think. It was great - an actual performer, an actual crowd. Emotional, but that's maybe just his music.

We forgot where we parked the car, so spent a while wandering around the small village trying to find it, then almost ran out of fuel, and then had a midnight chocolate feast on the way home. That doesn't happen when you stream a gig onto your sofa! 😀

*regularly described as the Welsh Springsteen. I'm not sure how much he likes that, but he certainly likes The Boss!

Sounds great. I don't mind a bit of adventure to go to a gig. Jungle was in Kingston, about an hours drive, my dad's hometown, but I'd never been there before in my life. Also had trouble finding my car, but phone insurance app sorted me 🙂

Also had trouble finding my car, but phone insurance app sorted me 🙂

Weirdly, my phone map app used to tell me where I'd parked the car but has stopped doing it recently.

And obviously I couldn't listen to my wife when she was pointing up the correct street!

Oh my, Greenman is nearly here, can barely contain myself.
DJ Rap Saturday night (well, 2.00am Sunday morning) has got my jaw aching at the prospect.
I must make the effort this year to seek our the bands I like instead of wandering aimlessly about like a fool.

Just booked 2 more gigs - Little Simz (another one who was well pricey before Covid, now £16 including the latest CD!) and the awfully named, but rather weird and interesting, Jockstrap (£9.50!). Awesome.

First gig I’ve got is my band supporting The Ataris in October all being well.

I’m looking forward to playing again, I’m still wary of being in a packed room though.

We haven’t practiced much through and post lockdown, luckily we’ll be first on so no one will hear how crap we are 😂

Around 60% of our work is festivals, so it’s been great to get the money coming in. catch up with everyone who works them in all the different capacities who we would never see other than at a festival and find out how they are etc.

But I had forgotten the sheer joy of hearing a very good performer who you would never normally listen to, quite possibly of a style you would never listen to anywhere else by choice, but still being blown away by their skill.

Twice recently the first act of the day has had everyone in the front of house with their jaw on the floor, with small local acts who deserve far more than to be playing to 10 punters.

One of our guys described listening to live music again as like having a shower where you know you need it, but after you have it you realise just how much you needed it.

So stay safe, stay sensible, do what’s right for you and your health, but if you love music then I promise you you will love it all the more seeing it live again.

Debating with going to see a tribute band on friday. Saw then 2 years ago and they were great but not sure about being crammed into a venue at the mo....

Well, my first gigs in roughly two years are this Friday and Saturday! Even better, the Friday gig is in my home town!
That one is Cara Dillon, Irish singer/songwriter who lives in Frome, so a short drive for her as well.
Saturday is Lump, the duo formed by Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay of Tuung, playing the Trinity Centre in Bristol, a great venue. Really looking forward to both, I’ve seen Cara before, and Laura on her own or with a band, but Lump only did a small handful of gigs when they released their first album, and it didn’t look like there would be a second, but there was, and a proper tour to go with it.
Then there’s Elbow playing the Hammersmith Apollo on 20 September, Thea Gilmore playing the Folk House Bristol on 12 October, The Staves on 13 October at O2 Academy Bristol, Laura Marling on 13 October at the Tramshed, Cardiff, Big Thief, on 5 April 2022 at O2 Academy Bristol, Goldfrapp at Bath Forum on Friday 29 April, 2022, Kate Rusby, Clifton Cathedral Bristol on 1 May 2022 and Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets at Bath Forum on 11 May 2022.
That’s it for now, some of those have been postponed since 2019 or 2020, some are new gigs announced this year, and I’m sure there will be more to follow. What’s nice is that most are pretty local, with just one in London, and one in Cardiff, and I haven’t been to a gig there in some years, since 2013, in fact, that was Leonard Cohen at Motorpoint, on his last ever tour.
Magical evening, that. 😎

Quick revision to my gig list, the first two are the following week, 3/4 September!
There’s a couple more that have just been announced which will need tickets purchased, Blood Red Shoes at the Fleece in Bristol, and Half Man Half Biscuit at the Cheese and Grain, Frome.
Gonna have to be careful and not overlap dates!

Played my first gig last night.
Showcase type event for the music school I do my drum lessons at, they have a few bands made up of students and have been doing these things for years.
Sold out 180 capacity venue for my first gig was quite something. Cover band playing 2nd last out of 5 bands and I'm pretty sure we had the longest set too. Absolutely incredible feeling, thought I was going to be terrified but it went so damn well I'm very very chuffed.

Round 2 in 2 weeks, same place, same songs, sold out again. I love music, it's right good.

Went to the Wildhearts in Cardiff laxt night. So so good to be back watching live bands, and the new album is a thing of amazement. How he writes these things I can only wonder.

Both of my first gigs went well, the Lump gig was very well attended, no support, and not quite what I’d expected, I’ve seen Laura Marling a bunch of times, but with Lump she’s part of a band, so completely different atmosphere.
Cara Dillon was a much quieter affair, but fun, lots of chat among the musicians, and as two of them are married to each other there’s lots of references to domestic things with their kids and their attitude to mum’s singing.
A couple of the traditional Irish songs about loss and losing family got a bit too close to home, though.
Roll on the next ones!

Good choices CZ.

Glaston - Bury last Monday.

Enjoyed it very much, the highlight an early afternoon slot for Mrs Cakehead.
They're usually one of the last acts on, but nice to see they'd managed to get Blethered For Nowt at lunchtime........

Off to Glasgow tomorrow to see Biffy Clyro. My name is Northwind, and it has been 546 days since my last gig.

I mean, yes the supports are shit and there's going to be a thunderstorm and it's got some completely pointless covid theatre around it, and it might be quite hard to get into the front bit. Doesn't matter. Heaven is whenever we can get together

Pardon?!? You’ll need to speak up.

"Watch the volume!"
"Sorry. Tinnitus"
"CLUB DISEASE"
"You kids are all going to be deaf"

Double post - its like the old days

I booked a couple of tickets to be able to say I never saw Abba, My gut feeling is this is the way forward for a lot of nostalgia acts and I'm just interested to see what the show is like

[img] [/img]

(my brother's pic, not mine.

Felt like taking a bit of myself out of storage

As @RT60 says....

But I had forgotten the sheer joy of hearing a very good performer who you would never normally listen to, quite possibly of a style you would never listen to anywhere else by choice, but still being blown away by their skill.

This is so true. Had a great time at Lindisfarne Festival last weekend, saw some bands that were awesome that we were expecting, also saw the likes of Dilutey Juice, Not Now Norman (terrible name but great music) and Connor Fyfe - wouldn't have made an effort to see any of them but they were all outstanding.

On the downside I did manage to catch the lurgy there despite being double jabbed so I'm in Covid jail for another 6 days - which annoyingly means that I'll miss Little Comets on Sunday night among other things. The 6 months where it's thought you can't catch it again after having it should cover some of the gigs we've got coming up so I'll feel fine for Gerry Cinnamon, Me Lost Me, Kasabian, Holy Moly and the Crackers, This is the Kit, Peat & Diesel, Emma Jean Thackery etc....

I've been poorly with it, so was it worth going to Lindy and catching it? Not sure yet, need to give it some time and perspective. I do love live music and we did have a great time - and thankfully I was the only one to come down with it out of our little group.

Wildhearts at Norwich Waterfront tonight - 581 days since my last gig.

Must admit to being a bit covid-nervous...

@verses,
Went to Cardiff, best I've ever seen em. Just kick back and relax, if youre jabbed then youve already done all you can. Its not in your control, just dont worry, be happy.

dont worry, be happy

Nice 😀

I guess I do want to go where the people go, I'm probably crying over nothing.

EndOfTheRoad last weekend. Probably best weather we've ever had there - lovely and warm into the evenings from Friday on.

John Grant on top form, Sleaford Mods playing a gentle headline set of ballads and covers (well, 90 minutes of rightous anger and bile), and I was finally converted to the charms of Richard Dawson.
Ones to watch - country of The Golden Dregs. Also the 'Stroud scene' - The umlauts were great as were the stupendously wacky Mermaid Chunky - and Yard Act (who seem a lot more interesting than their gimmicky Fixer Upper track suggested)
Early bird tickets for next year in the bag....

Then got offered a last minute ticket to see John Grant at the Alexandra Palace Theatre on Tuesday. An amazing venue, seated (but comfortable and spacious) and fantastic sound.

I went to wide awake festival last friday, and it was awesome to be back at a gig, and watching the security lose their minds at crowdsurfing and a mosh pit during Crows was funny as. Crows are amazing btw. Black Midi, Idles and Murder Capital were highlights.

Got Black Country New Road on Tuesday, and I'm looking forward to my first indoor gig since Feb last year at the electric ballroom.

😉

I'm going truly retro in December.
First booked EMF now about a week earlier/later I'm going to see Supergrass and Ash at Brixton!!
I'm two exclamation marks excited.

Also at EOTR, which was so awesome, we got tickets for next year already. Seriously did not want to leave, could have done the 4 days again, seen different bands, and still enjoyed it as much.

Highlight for me was Anna Meridith (probably due to the wtf surprise having never seen her before). Runners up not limited to Katy J Pearson, Girl Ray, Hen Ogled, Stereolab

Got John Grant local end of the month

London Grammar coming up in just over a week, not so much my cup of tea but my Mrs loves them and the last gig (just pre COVID) we went to I did make her stand on the edge of the pit at The Corteeners.

Added HMHB to my growing list of artists to see, they’re playing the Cheese and Grain in Frome in November, and I’m taking my Joy Division Oven Gloves with me!
Cara Dillon’s doing a Christmas gig there right before Christmas, it’s her hometown venue, so should be good.

Two folk festivals so far for me:
Underneath the Stars near Barnsley which was so so and Shrewsbury Folk Festival which was ace. All very relaxed and managed to drink Mild all day long for four days.
Sisters of Mercy tonight at the Roundhouse which will be very different!
Last band I saw before lockdown as well in Nottingham 2020.

Broke the ice last night with our first gig since December 2019. Nick cave and Warren Ellis at st George's hall in Bradford. I've got into cave late, last five years or so, and it's the first time I've seen him. Wow. I think it's partly returning to gigworld and partly the power of cave/Ellis and the other guys, but I was totally drawn into it, the outside world vanished for two hours and I probably sat with my mouth agape.

Nick cave and Warren Ellis at st George’s hall in Bradford.

jealous. long since come to terms with the fact hes a stadium act now and the price of tickets is just tooooo much for me, thats if i could even get my hands on a couple.

@gallowayboy I went last week in Stoke I’m a long term fan who didn’t particularly like the the last two Bad Seeds albums. I wasn’t set on going but I listened to the Cave and Ellis album on Hols and loved it. I thought it was absolutely amazing I was transfixed even though half the show was form the albums I didn’t particularly like. It was so good I’m going again tomorrow to the Bridgewater hall which is saying something at nearly £100 a ticket.

@sadexpunk I agree with the stadium thing I didn’t go to the last show at the Manchester arena because of that despite having a free ticket. These shows are certainly not stadium shows there in regional theatres and concert halls. The setting suits the material but the tickets prices are eye watering.

Got IDLES tonight. Not sure what to expect, it's an album "outstore" gig. Do they just play that album, or is it just a normal setlist? Guess I'll find out

Got IDLES tonight.

grrrr.....is this thread just going to be me continually being jealous? 😀

had tickets for the original, but postponed and we couldnt make the new date. set up twickets alerts for hull and leeds but didnt get lucky. i think we got tickets for february at sheffield but seems a long way off.

someones going to come along next and tell me theyre off to see the murder capital arent they, just to top it all off for me 🤣

It's not cheap is it, we don't do many of those, it's back to the local club for the next few gigs. Our tickets were sixty odd quid and were in the gods. I don't generally like big venues, but st George's hall was ok for a sit down gig. I also find the big gig experience is more stressful - transport, parking, queues etc. I refuse to queue to spend a fortune on drinks. It's a shame when an artist you love progresses away from you through venue size and becomes remoter. Hope the second gigs as good as the first @stainypants

had tickets for the original, but postponed and we couldnt make the new date

I could make it worse by telling you I have a spare ticket and you're welcome to join us! 😛

I looked at seeing Nick Cave, playing local to me too, but sod £80 for a few hours entertainment. Nothing is worth that.

I went to The Full Moon in Cardiff on Tuesday to see John Smith. The positives - John Smith and band were brilliant, the staff were all friendly, there were only about 30 people in the place so it was very intimate. The negatives - it is probably the worst venue I've ever been to. Tiny, with a stage positioned so that all the (very small) crowd need to be standing in one corner to see anything. The ceiling was so low that the double bass couldn't stand up straight, and John Smith was sitting on a small stool all night because he couldn't stand up. For two songs all I could see of the band was the headstock of a guitar!

A good night nevertheless, and he deserves a far bigger audience.

Went to see Wrest in Edinburgh on Friday past. Brilliant.

Being their 'Home' crowd helped a lot but the music was fantastic and it felt great to be back at a gig again.

Weird. And I picked up a dose of gig-flu afterwards (testing daily and all clear) but you can't have it all.

I could make it worse by telling you I have a spare ticket and you’re welcome to join us! 😛

a very kind offer, thank you, but work commitments mean i cant make tonight anyway.

you offered it up on the Idles facebook group? (AFGang) one of them might have it off you.....

cheers

Is it frowned upon for musicians to wear covid masks on stage?
Asking for a friend who has to play a small venue in Bristol next Thursday.

First gig for my new (ish, we formed just before Covid hit!) band.

Exeter Cavern on 14th October.

The Supermercados (us) + two other great local bands for only £4 🙂

https://www.wegottickets.com/exetercavern/event/524109#tickets

Is it frowned upon for musicians to wear covid masks on stage?

I would say the musicians can wear whatever they see fit. No'one's gonna be bothered if they have masks on.

IDLES last night was so much better than I expected. Proper gig. Proper loud and proper sweaty.
Great night out for £16. Going to be a hard one to top.

3 gigs done in 3 weeks.
2 of them playing the gig, which both went really bloody well for my first ever gigs.
Then last night the first gig as a punter since before the first lockdown.
While she sleeps at Leeds key club and it was absolutely insanely good.

Hoping to get to trivium in November, while she sleeps again in December and gojira next year.

I bloody love gigs.

My old gig partner (used to be my boss about 8 years ago) has just been in touch to suggest the resurrection of our gig-going activities

John Grant at the Royal Northern College Music in a couple of weeks. That sounds a lot more cultured and civilised than our usual. Idles was our last one, pre-covid. Opposite ends of the spectrum to bookend the pandemic 🙂

Elbow at Hammersmith (Eventim) Apollo last Monday evening, finally! Booked in 2019, postponed twice. Sadly my gig-going mate, who’s seen them with me eight or nine times before couldn’t make it, which was a shame. Bloody good, as always, and nice to see them back in a human-sized venue, last three times was at the O2 Areana. Jesca Hoop was supporting, with a band; previous gig I saw her at in Bristol she was solo, and the band made quite a difference, having extra voices for harmonies.
Elbow also had an extra member, Katie, who was doing signing for hearing impaired through the whole evening, which was an amazing thing, first time I’ve ever seen that at any gig I’ve been to.
Oh, and I’ve reserved a ticket for a festival next year! End Of The Road, Larmer Tree. I wanted to go this year, but when it was reinstated, Pixies weren’t playing, but they’ve been confirmed as a headliner next year, so I managed to grab one of the last tranch of tickets!
Jesca:

Lasers!

More lasers!

“C’mon, louder!”

“Please, let’s give Katie our signer a big round of applause!”

Went to my first post lockdown gig last night, Black Honey at Chalk in Brighton. Small venue, great live act, to say it went off would be an understatement. Nothing else currently in the pipeline though until the Foo's in July 2022.

Also got tickets for EOTR next year, the day after we got home from this year. If it's half as good as this year was, even without the Pixies, it will be money well spent.

Off to see John Grant tomorrow. Listening to his new album now, for some reason I missed it, and it's pretty good for me, prefer it to his last, so now excited.

Booked Kart J Pearson at moles, in December, it's going to be top banana 🍌

Nice to know some things are unchanged by the virus- went and saw the Manics and it was all very lovely and middle aged and selfindulgent, still brilliant at times though... Nothing now in teh diary for a month or so.

Just booked- 2 Frank Turner shows.

Saw Paul Heaton & Jackie Abbott last week at castlefield bowl. Was rather good. Going to see them again in November at the winding wheel in Chesterfield. Different vibe I think. Before that there’s snapped ankles at crookes wmc (as seen in everybody’s talking about Jamie), Laura Marling and porridge radio. First post lockdown indoor gig was at same venue as the last pre lockdown one… I’m so glad live music is back.

In contrast to Elbow, I saw the delightful and ever lovely Thea Gilmore at The Folk House in Bristol last night. Really great performance in a super little venue I’ve walked past many times without realising it was there! It’s been around for something like 120 years, and does a lot of adult education in crafts, etc.
It’s Thea’s first ever tour as a real solo artist, after her marriage breakdown and divorce, so she’s unsurprisingly a bit nervous, especially as she’s using a loop box for backing, but it all went very well. Had a chat afterwards, and I said I’m pretty certain the last time I saw her was at The Tunnels in Bristol, which, according to her, was 2012!
How time flies.

The ceiling was so low that the double bass couldn’t stand up straight, and John Smith was sitting on a small stool all night because he couldn’t stand up. For two songs all I could see of the band was the headstock of a guitar!

Ha! Sounds like the Louisiana in Bristol, and Moles in Bath. When I saw Lush at Moles, I had to keep leaning backwards to avoid being hit in the face by the head of Emma’s guitar. 😎

Got quite a few gigs booked. Alannis Morisette (wife loves her), James, Dinosaur Jr, Dexys and Tool. Waiting for Steve Mason to announce a tour too. Looking forward to getting out again.

Forgot about Gojira - booked for next year too.

Went to the Sound City Ipswich multi-venue festival at the weekend. Watching bands on the Friday and helping in the box office (before going off to see bands) on the Saturday.

Highlights for me were Yard Act and Billy Nomates. Katy J Pearson was on shortly before Yard Act, during their set we were stood near her in the crowd until she got back on stage with them to perform their remix of Miracles!

Was very enjoyable volunteering at the box office, mostly handing out wristbands and selling tickets, but also helping out some of the artists too. Got to hear Working Men's Club's soundcheck where they performed pretty much their full set. I've wanted to see them for ages, but I preferred the soundcheck to the main performance.

I can def recommend volunteering at this sort of thing, I've been a punter for decades, but getting a glimpse of how it all runs behind the scenes was really interesting.

Any interest in a pair of tickets to see Suede at the Manchester Apollo on Wednesday 10th?
I paid £108 all in for the pair, but I'll take £50 for them as I've got tickets for Edinburgh instead - a much simpler proposition.

Advert in the classifieds here - https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/2-x-suede-tickets-manchester-apollo-wed-10-november/

I saw the aforementioned Billy Nomates last week. Didn't get it. The music coming out of her laptop was ok, but her dancing was terrible and the American accent she sings in really grated on me (she's from Leicestershire).
Left early.

Fontaines DC this week - first gig in about 2 years.

Bought tickets for the Chili's and Tool recently. Best part of 400 quid spent - I'd forgotten how bloody expensive big gigs are these days.

Still might get a ticket for Einaudi in March though.

November is a bit bonkers for gigs, Evil Scarecrow on the 2nd, Monsterfest Inverness on the 12th & 13th, then LaFontaines on the 16th (with kids) and the 19th (without kids), The Offspring on the 27th. A week Later and into December is Alestorm on the 5th then Enter Shikari & Dinosaur Pile Up on the 13th. Can't wait.

I saw the aforementioned Billy Nomates last week. Didn’t get it.

Possibly a bad description, but she made me think of an angry version of Goldfrapp.

Saw Coach Party on Sat night, on the whole I enjouyed them, they sound more punky than their Youtube videos suggest (good thing) although their lyrics all seem overly teen-angsty for me (bad thing).

Saw Kasabian at Rock City last week - first gig since early last year. It's always a 'cozy' atmosphere there and ruddy hell it felt weird to be squashed in! Crowd was very enthusiastic too! 🙂

she made me think of an angry version of Goldfrapp

If only.
Pet Shop Boys fronted by Stevie Nicks was my impression.

Had an enjoyable first gig last week in the Exeter Cavern.
Got a decent turn out for a Thursday night in October too!
Been invited back to do the Saturday before Xmas, so we must have been ok 🤘

I went to see Wrest at the weekend in Aberdeen. It was the first gig in a couple of years and loved it. It did feel a bit risky COVID-wise being in such and enclosed venue (the Tunnels) with so many people so fingers crossed no-one in my vicinity unknowingly had it!

If you've not heard of Wrest but are/were :'( a fan of Frightened Rabbit then check them out, they are excellent.

Quite fancy seeing Wrest, they are on the to see list.
Won't totally make up for the loss of FR though. 🙁

Just booked tickets to see Dreadzone at The Craufurd Arms in Wolverton in December. It's my kind of venue, you come out feeling slightly grubby.

Pan American last night was good. Looking forward to Scorn in a couple of weeks.
My lot suddenly have a bunch of gigs lined up around Bristol over the next few months and a festival booking for next Feb, I didn't even know there were festivals in February.

Working Men’s Club (band name, in case the squares were wondering 😜) last night. Utterly brilliant. Strange venue, little industrial unit, sound wasn’t brilliant, but good enough to keep me dancin. And laughing at the woman in front wanted to beat up a fella who’s girlfriend trod on her foot…proper entertainment 😀

I've got tickets for Pavement in 2022 to look forward to. Just found out Spiritualized are playing in town in April, so I may try and get tickets for that. Haven't been to anything yet, next year will probably feel better for me, hopefully.

Not seriously upwards of £150 to see Pavement!??

Mogwai last night in Glasgow, felt good man. Not the best set for my tastes but they closed it out with a pretty awesome Fear Satan, and it was nice to see them all so happy. No that's a lie, only Stuart looked happy, everyone else was all serious as usual.

Gomez's Ben Ottewell coming up in Sheffield. Never knew he was from Chezzy

@Northwind - was there too. Not their best gig I’d agree (partly due to venue), but great to see them again regardless.

Off to the Great Western on Saturday - mainly for Papa M and Arab Strap, but also Cassandra Jenkins and others.

www.tgwfest.com

McGoldrick/McCusker/Doyle in a tiny village venue tonight. Traditional music at its best, stunning musicianship.

Pavement tickets are about 50quid where I’m looking. Sadly not playing anywhere in the South West 🙄

Didn’t think I’d be going to the Black Puma’s tonight after ripping my knee open on my local trails at the weekend - 8 stitches not great for mobility and I’m supposed to keep my weight off it. Emailed the venue last night without expecting anything, asking about seating and was surprised that they replied immediately with 2 accessibility seats reserved! So even if you have a stupid self inflicted injury, from your silly little immature hobby, it’s worth asking.l 😁

That's nice 🙂
I suppose £50 ain't too bad. Pavement were one of my fave bands, but I wouldn't pay £50 to see em. Let alone the prices I saw on ticketmaster. Must've been resales by touts. Bloody ridiculous.

Anyway, Snapped Ankles tonight. Should be fun (£14s worth anyway :D)

I'd like to go to more but last months The Mysterines was cancelled on the day of the gig. Tonights Du Blonde has been cancelled. Next weeks Alanis Morrissette has been either postponed or cancelled (not sure which yet).

I was at the Mogwai gig with Northwind. It's my first gig since lockdown so it was good for that if nothing else. I definitely preferred the Royal Concert Hall as a venue for a Mogwai gig to SWG3, which is where I last saw them. At least I didn't come out of this gig with hearing damage, plus on reflection I think I'd like to try being seated at a Mogwai gig sometime. It's hardly an energetic crowd anyway and I like the idea of being in a relaxed sitting posture and letting their wall of noise wash over me.