Another decade and another eclectic mix of artists! This was the decade in which I witnessed my favourite gig of all time and in which I also saw both the Stone Roses and the Clone Roses. I have also included my first and only gig of 2020 incase it proves to be my last gig ever… (surely not?!)
My stepson was drummer with support act Charlotte O’Connor so we got guest list……and backstage treatment. Newton Faulkner was a really top bloke. March 2010Orbital – great live act in a great venue – Aprl 2012Johnny Marr – carrying The Smiths flag and not in sad racist way like Mozza, Ritz Manchester March 2013Roger Waters – The Wall, Wembley Stadium in London – 14th September 2013 NO QUESTION – THE BEST GIG I HAVE EVER BEEN TO (Eh Zip?!)The superb Turin Brakes at the brilliant Kazimier in Liverpool. Also discovered support act Kevin Pearce who was excellent too… 5th November 2013Another Goldfrapp gig but this time in the all seated Lyric Theatre. We must all be getting old…The War on Drugs. Got into these after seeing them at Latitude Festival in 2012. Come to think of it whatever happened to my ticket to that festival…?! Another Hawkwind gig – this time in Warrington, March 2015 31 years since I first saw them at Nottingham’s Sherwood Rooms (another ticket stub which has yet to show up)The excellent audio/visual experience that is Public Service Broadcasting – Manchester Ritz April 2015 (the start of boring e-tickets!) Rewind Festival 2015One of my stepson’s was Nell Bryden’s guitarist for a while. Complimentary ticket for my first and only visit to The Met in Bury, Greater ManchesterYes that IS Simply Red. I actually quite like some of their stuff. OK?! (It also helped that we got a ‘suite’ and a free bar at the MEN courtesy of a mates business)Up and coming Stockport band Blossoms on their first major tour, Feb 2016. Also my first experience of the Albert Hall and excellent The Vryll Society. Sadly the 2nd support act Viola Beach didn’t play as they had all died in a car crash in Sweden 2 weeks earlier 🙁I’d been waiting years for this after missing their first reunion tour in 2012/13 and they didn’t disappoint. THIS video footage I shot has had over 300,000 likes and counting! The first Neighbourhood Festival in Manchester, October 2016. Highlights were Blossoms (at the Ritz), Clean Cut Kid (Deaf Institute) and my stepson Youngr (at Gorilla). Top day! Lineup and venues for the very first Neighborhood Festival in Manchester, 2016Hard to believe this was the first and only time I’ve seen The Cure. Manchester Arena – November 2016The superb Vryll Society at Manchester Deaf Institute – Jan 2017Access All Areas pass for Youngr at the Deaf Institute in Manchester – Feb 2017The awesome Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Albert Hall Manchester – March 2017Warrington’s finest – Man & The Echo at The Buyers Club, Liverpool – March 2017 (I’ve seen this band loads of times – no idea where the tickets are. Maybe they just washed off!) After seeing the Stone Roses play the Etihad the previous year it was only right we went to see the Clone Roses at this little club in Nottingham in 2017. Couldn’t tell the difference… First trip to the former London 2012 olympic stadium (now home to West Ham) and a superb show from Depeche Mode. The London Bridge attacks made for a surreal and slightly scary end to the evening..Great day out at the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall and VIP treatment courtesy of Youngr. When not taking advantage of ‘hospitality’ we also saw Jamiroquai and Jake Bugg. More VIP treatment courtesy of a family connection. ABC and Kid Creole at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester – November 2017Another brilliant Orbital show – this time at a sold out Apollo in Manchester, Dec 2017Excellent reggae artist Hollie Cook at Manchester’s Gorilla – Feb 2018 (She is the daughter of Sex Pistol Paul Cook ya know)An evening in the company of 2 Swedish sisters? Oh go on then…First Aid Kit at Manchester’s Albert Hall – Feb 2018More reggae courtesy of the excellent Wailers. Great night out in Liverpool…Roxy Music legend Bryan Ferry. In my early 50’s I think I was easily one of the youngest people in the the Apollo that night but he and his band were superb…Another intimate David Kitt gig, a good 12 years after I last saw him. Great to catch up with my old mate Nige and we even had a chat with the Kittser over a pint. Nice little venue too – will return.Didn’t know much about Gengahr before this gig but they were awesome (cheers for the heads up Paul) Great night out with Mrs C – a big fan of Jungle. They were brilliant again…£35 for a ticket at the Rescue Rooms? Worth every penny – even if we were stood at the back of the tiny venue for most of this packed gig. Great view of the stairs…Another recommendation from my mate Paul. BC Camplight at Manchester’s Gorilla – October 2018. Awesome set and we said hello to Mark ‘Lard’ Riley who was stood right behind us.One of my favourite ‘new bands’ of the 2010’s. I saw Liverpool’s Vryll Society half a dozen times before the singer left and they sadly split up just before they got the recognition they deserved (still really gutted about that…)The superb Interpol at the Apollo, November 2018. A great night despite dropping my pint and it splashing up some poor blokes leg in front of me…Liverpool’s The Coral playing at Warrington’s Parr Hall – just up the road from my house, March 2019. Great night..Another top night at Parr Hall. Doves first gig in nearly 10 years and they were amazing. Love their new album (2020)My first time at Sale Waterside since 2006 when I saw my stepson Youngr in his old band Otherside of Sound with his brother (they were just kids back then).Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms, 15th Feb 2020. This was my final gig before covid struck and stopped us all from enjoying live music. Let’s hope it doesn’t prove to be my last gig ever…
