Gigs or concerts attended

[londonbridge]

Most recent gig was KT Tunstall at Royal Albert Hall on Monday. Been a hardcore fan ever since I first saw her opening for Joss Stone at The Scala back in 2003…..this show was celebrating twenty years of Eye To The Telescope as well as her fiftieth birthday. First half she played the album in full, when they got to Black Horse And The Cherry Tree out came Jools Holland to recreate the moment when he first introduced her on Later…..second half was a series of covers, which began with her done up as Dave Lee Roth and playing Jump….from then on it just got better and better as she wheeled out Mel C, Natalie Imbuglia, Rick Astley and Roger Daltrey….honestly one of the best gigs I’ve seen in I don’t know how many years.

My other love is Springsteen, seen him around forty times all the way back to the eighties, best ones I’ve seen were Wembley Stadium in ‘88 and Dublin on the Rising tour in 2003.

Was also at the Sophie B Hawkins show mentioned earlier, despite my advancing years I’m still a regular gig goer, though not as often as my younger days when I would sometimes be out three or four times a week. Seen pretty much everyone I’ve wanted to over the years, from big names to small names and stadium/arena shows to small clubs-recently one weekend I saw Springsteen at Co-Op Manchester, the next weekend I was watching Kate McDonnell, an American folk singer, playing to around ten people at Theatreship in Canary Wharf…..

Shows I’ve got lined up in the coming months include Amy MacDonald, Ed Blunt, Cam, Ashley Monroe, Ward Thomas, Nerina Pallot, Diana Krall, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kate Rusby. My musical tastes these days are pretty diverse and I listen to more than a few acts I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near twenty five or thirty years ago….if I like it I’ll listen to it basically.

 

[Crossover]

I didn’t grow up going to gigs and such, but since meeting my other half, have been to a handful

The most recent was Scissor Sisters in Birmingham a few weeks ago, primarily for the benefit of my wife’s eldest daughter, but we all enjoyed it

Other than that we have done George Ezra in Leeds and AJR at Manchester Apollo in the last 3 years

I would say that of them, AJR were my favourite (but also my first and they were also in a smaller venue)

 

[Peeled Apples]

Another great gig from Iron Maiden last night, Halestorm were great as well.

 

[Ant1966]

Saw Mica Paris at Soul Mama in Stratford last night, excellent show at an intimate venue with good food (dodgy service though!) Saw all the Iron Maiden fans walking through Westfield beforehand.
Next 'gigs' will be comedy at Edinburgh fringe, followed by Green Man Festival in August. Anyone else going to GM, come and say 'Hi' (Have been several time with my daughter who's now grown up and goes to festivals on her own, so have persuaded Mrs Ant to come along (camping not really her thing) - will report back how it goes!!

 

[Railwaycat]

I didn’t grow up going to gigs and such, but since meeting my other half, have been to a handful

The most recent was Scissor Sisters in Birmingham a few weeks ago, primarily for the benefit of my wife’s eldest daughter, but we all enjoyed it

Other than that we have done George Ezra in Leeds and AJR at Manchester Apollo in the last 3 years

I would say that of them, AJR were my favourite (but also my first and they were also in a smaller venue)

Same here, my only gig before I met my future wife at the age of 51 was Darts at Notts Uni in (I think) 1981!

In the last 19 years we've seen Rod Stewart, Snow Patrol, Texas, Rick Astley, Simply Red, Runrig (6 times), Dolly Parton (not our cup of tea but it was a freebie in a private box) and Coldplay at Croke Park Dublin last year (fantastic show and crowd). Plus numerous lesser known artists, there's a village hall at Alstonfield near the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border that puts on some really good acts.

 

[dangie]

If televised gigs can be included, then Just watched Rod Stewart at Glastonbury. Never been a Rod Stewart fan, but have to say I thought it pretty good. Considering he’s 80, it was bloody darn good.

 

[Red Onion]

Another great gig from Iron Maiden last night, Halestorm were great as well.

I’m seeing them in Glasgow tomorrow so looking forward to it, although Halestorm aren’t supporting (sadly)

 

[Harpo]

Last year included Roisin Murphy, Public Service Broadcasting, Lacuna Coil, The Unthanks, Midge Ure and also Northern Soul Orchestrated, the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s superb touring Proms show.

I’ve seen PSB again this year and will be at their Barbican special this autumn followed later by The Unthanks and a Stones tribute. I’ll also be at another excellent Northern Soul show called Northern Live.

My to-do list includes the phenomenal Anna Calvi, Weyesblood, Algiers, Mostly Autumn, Slady and more.

 

[Peter0124]

My last gig was The Haunt in the King Tuts Wah Wah Hut

Im hoping to see Paramore, Against the Current, Linkin Park, Green Day and blink182 and maybe even Slipknot whenever they all start touring again.

 

[Railwaycat]

If televised gigs can be included, then Just watched Rod Stewart at Glastonbury. Never been a Rod Stewart fan, but have to say I thought it pretty good. Considering he’s 80, it was bloody darn good.

Only seen a bit of it so far, do they only come on iplayer the day after? He does put on a good show, saw him at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham a few years ago.

Watched Snow Patrol live, absolutely brilliant performance, the crowd loved it.

 

[londonbridge]

If televised gigs can be included, then Just watched Rod Stewart at Glastonbury. Never been a Rod Stewart fan, but have to say I thought it pretty good. Considering he’s 80, it was bloody darn good.

That’s another one, saw Rod Stewart once at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, I was originally only going Saturday to see Bon Jovi but got a ticket for Sunday as well when they added Stevie Nicks onto the bill. Enjoyed Rod a lot more than I thought I would. Looking it up I see it was back in 2011.

 

[SteveP29]

I’m seeing them in Glasgow tomorrow so looking forward to it, although Halestorm aren’t supporting (sadly)

I keep checking Ticketmaster and seeing tickets popping up on resale.
I'm tempted.

Because they were THAT good in Manchester a week ago.
You are so going to love the gig.

 

[Peeled Apples]

I’m seeing them in Glasgow tomorrow so looking forward to it, although Halestorm aren’t supporting (sadly)

It was my first time seeing Halestorm, I'll being seeing them again in November at Birmingham

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2025 ==

I keep checking Ticketmaster and seeing tickets popping up on resale.
I'm tempted.

Because they were THAT good in Manchester a week ago.
You are so going to love the gig.

They were superb on Saturday, I got a front standing ticket so I was nice and close to the stage

 

[Bevan Price]

I used to go to some of the free street events in Liverpool - so I could adjust the volume reaching my ears my changing my distance from the atist / speakers - I don't like being deafened by over-amplified music.

I remember Wildwood Kin at Albert Dock in 2017, and in the years before that, Joey Molland backed by The Tearaways, doing a Badfinger set, and also Gerry Marsden, The Merseybeats, and Mike Penders version of The Searchers.

 

[Red Onion]

I keep checking Ticketmaster and seeing tickets popping up on resale.
I'm tempted.

Because they were THAT good in Manchester a week ago.
You are so going to love the gig.

Well your last comment was spot on. Seen them before but, again, they did not disappoint! I had avoided reading anything to do with set lists etc which gave a couple of surprises, pleasantly I may add. I hope you managed to get a ticket for another showing!

 

[Peeled Apples]

Well your last comment was spot on. Seen them before but, again, they did not disappoint! I had avoided reading anything to do with set lists etc which gave a couple of surprises, pleasantly I may add. I hope you managed to get a ticket for another showing!

I totally avoided the set list before going to see them as well which made it much more enjoyable.

 

[SteveP29]

Well your last comment was spot on. Seen them before but, again, they did not disappoint! I had avoided reading anything to do with set lists etc which gave a couple of surprises, pleasantly I may add. I hope you managed to get a ticket for another showing!

I booked up in December last year, we're going to the penultimate gig of the tour in Berlin.
The backdrop video throughout the whole gig was just something else, wasn't it.
Incredible.

I totally avoided the set list before going to see them as well which made it much more enjoyable.

I did the same, I wanted to go in totally naive and be surprised, it was the 8th time I'd seen them, I was expecting the standards like Hallowed, Beast, Iron Maiden and Wasted Years, but there were some specials in there that I'd never seen them do live before, which was very pleasing

 

[theblackwatch]

I much prefer smaller venues where you can actually see the performer rather than them being a pin prick in the distance. My most recent was Holly Johnson at Sheffield City Hall last month and prior to that Paul Weller at St Georges Hall in Bradford towards the end of last year. Somewhere in the dim and distant past (probably 10-15 years ago) on this forum I did a list of bands I'd seen (although I'd probably forgotten a few).

Has anyone else on here seen Blyth Power? The lead singer, Joseph Porter, is a 'crank' and when I saw them in Leeds around 3 years ago, he started telling the audience he'd been down to London photographing Southern 455s a week or two earlier...

 

[CharlieSpotted]

What was your most recent gig or concert experience, where was it and what did you think? Or what do you have coming up?

I've attended hundreds of gigs, big and small, since the first in 2001 (Manic Street Preachers at Manchester Apollo). I've seen the Manics 37 times, by my reckoning, including every night on their Forever Delayed Greatest Hits tour in 2002, not something I would attempt again at my age! The folly of youth!

My partner and I do gigs instead of having foreign holidays (or children!) - we realise how lucky we are! - we travel wherever needed to do them, and we've had the privilege of seeing some of the very best! We're also very fortunate in having 3 different sized concert venues, attracting all sorts of names, within walking distance of home.

The last couple were (in the same week!) Nine Inch Nails at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester (just a superb spectacle, and the sound in the arena was absolutely top notch) and Pulp at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, finally ticking them off our britpop list. (yeah, I know, debatable?) Pulp were absolutely excellent too and had a brilliant production, proper butterflies watching Jarvis throwing shapes on stage and for them to play This Is Hardcore was an absolute dream for me.

Next up is Wolfmother at Manchester Ritz!

Massively excited to see Metallica again next year in London for one of their "no repeat" weekends... a pretty big deal for me!

 

[dangie]

What was your most recent gig or concert experience, where was it and what did you think?

My most recent was my son-in-law's band who play in local clubs. Of course they were excellent.

My last 'big gig' was Foreigner & Journey at the Birmingham NEC. Foreigner played the 1st half and were absolutely brilliant. Journey played 2nd half and frankly they were awful. It seemed like Neal Schon had discovered a new high ear piercing note on his guitar and played it whenever possible. Many, including the wife & I, left before the end. Good news was we got home early.

My first ever 'gig' was Cliff Richard & The Shadows way back in 1963/4.

 

[THC]

OP here. Thank you one and all for your contributions so far - it has been a pleasure reading them!

THC

 

[Peeled Apples]

My upcoming gigs are
Saxon, civic wolves 14/11
Halestorm, Birmingham NEC 23/11
British Lion, Nuneaton Queens Hall 4/12
The Warning, Birmingham NIA 23/04/26 (opening for Yungblud who I know nothing about but will have to find out as I’m going to see him!)

 

[Oldgaloot]

While I was still at school I saw The Nice at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. Just the job for a slightly rebellious teenager. Keith Emerson stuck a knife into the keyboard of the Hammond organ. Saw them again a couple of years later at the Royal Festival Hall with an orchestra, the name of which I forget, but they rocked along with some of the string section standing up while playing. They played Also Sprach Zarathustra with Emerson at the mega RFH organ. It was spectacular. I remember him holding the final chord almost endlessly then turning and shouting "yeah!".

King Crimson at the London College of Printing were deafeningly loud playing most of the In the Court of the Crimson King album. You knew it had been a good gig when you went home slightly deaf but with a ringing in the ears.

Round about the same time I saw Curved Air a couple of times. Anyone remember the weird album pressing?

The Stones were a must see at Earls Court in 1976, the time of Black and Blue. Great gig. Nearly fifty years ago!

More (but not very) recently I've seen Alan Price (several times), Jeff Beck (RIP) with Pete Townshend, Van Morrison and Randy Newman, both several times. Talented people and good concerts all.

Thanks to the person who had the idea for this thread. I've enjoyed thinking about the gigs and know there are quite a few I've forgotten!

 

[FlyingPotato]

I saw Iron Maiden on Saturday 28th June

Just saw Anthrax Slayer, & Amon Amarth (date is 6th July)

 

[CharlieSpotted]

The Warning, Birmingham NIA 23/04/26 (opening for Yungblud who I know nothing about but will have to find out as I’m going to see him!)

Yungblood's new album is interesting. A sort-of slightly modernised stadium rock for his younger audience. There's a lot of snobbery about him from my generation online, but he's an interesting character with some degree of talent, and seems to have his head screwed on the right way too. His covers of Bowie online are impressive, as was his performance of Changes at the Black Sabbath gig at the weekend.

 

[Peeled Apples]

Yungblood's new album is interesting. A sort-of slightly modernised stadium rock for his younger audience. There's a lot of snobbery about him from my generation online, but he's an interesting character with some degree of talent, and seems to have his head screwed on the right way too. His covers of Bowie online are impressive, as was his performance of Changes at the Black Sabbath gig at the weekend.

I‘d never heard of Yungblud until The Warning played at Brixton in April and after the show they posted some pictures with him, not long after this tour was announced, I’ve just watched his Sabbath performance that was seriously impressive he’s got a great voice.

 

[gdss]

I've attended hundreds of gigs, big and small, since the first in 2001 (Manic Street Preachers at Manchester Apollo). I've seen the Manics 37 times, by my reckoning, including every night on their Forever Delayed Greatest Hits tour in 2002, not something I would attempt again at my age! The folly of youth!

I thought my 20ish times seeing the Manics was a lot but that's dedication. I didn't see them on this latest tour as I wasn't keen on the new album. I went to the Wembley date of that greatest hits tour. Ian Brown supported and didn't go down very well with the crowd if I remember rightly.

I've been trying to see more new and local acts to broaden my tastes a bit but did get up to London to see Massive Attack recently which was good fun.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I thought my 20ish times seeing the Manics was a lot but that's dedication. I didn't see them on this latest tour as I wasn't keen on the new album. I went to the Wembley date of that greatest hits tour. Ian Brown supported and didn't go down very well with the crowd if I remember rightly.

That's an understatement!

At that time (not so much now as we've all got older together?) almost every support band for the Manics had a hard time. I remember the audience turning their backs on Elbow (who were brilliant) and booing and Guy Garvey, surely one of the nicest men on the scene, referring to the front row as "scum". I remember (British) Sea Power getting a frosty reception and vowing to never do it again, despite being Nicky Wire's pick. The list goes on.

The animosity between Ian Brown (who gave as good as he got) and the audience grew throughout the tour until the last night in Cardiff, where it came to a head when Ian got hit with a pint and stopped the set to launch water bottles and other debris into the crowd. He got a direct hit on one boa-clad barrier hugger and she passed out. The venue cut the power to the PA and turned the lights up, the band walked off, and Ian's tour manager had to forcefully remove him from the stage.

It was all very unnecessary as Ian was an eminently suitable support and his band was excellent. I remember being particularly impressed by guitarist Aziz Ibrahim (also of Simply Red).

 

[Harpo]

It was all very unnecessary as Ian was an eminently suitable support and his band was excellent.

I’m not a fan of Ian Brown but was shocked when he bought the Simon Cowell world of pop into rock and toured band-less, karaoke style, in 2022.

When I’m paying to enjoy ‘live’ music it’s increasingly annoying to notice how much of what I’m hearing has nobody actually playing it. That in turn makes me question how much else is being mimed. Sad.

 

[SteveP29]

I thought my 20ish times seeing the Manics was a lot but that's dedication.

I'm up to 47 times seeing The Wildhearts.
2 new members in the band have taken the shine off them for me, I said to my other half that I'll likely get to the round 50 and that might be it for me with them.