SDE gigs of 2018

They can be expensive, annoying (I don’t really want to watch the action on stage through someone’s phone), tiring (oh me legs!) and full of people wanting to ‘chat’ instead of listen… but if you pick the right venue and the right artists, LIVE MUSIC still offers a memorable night out and can be great value. It can also be an opportunity to engage wth the performer(s) at the merch stand and maybe pick up a signed copy of the latest album…

Just for fun here are the artists I went to see live in 2018. These were all in London (apart from a memorable evening in Brooklyn, New York) and mostly things I’ve gone to off my own steam, with the very occasional invitation (Spandau Ballet at Subterania being an example of the latter). Did you attend any of these? What were your memorable gigs from 2018? Leave a comment and let me know!

Gigs I attended in 2018:

1. a-ha / O2 Arena
2. Simple Minds / The Roundhouse
3. Cloudbusting (Kate Bush tribute band) / Islington Assembly Halls
4. Findlay (supporting Yonaka) / The Garage
5. Art of Noise / British Library
6. The Handsome Family / The Round Chapel
7. Jack White / Brooklyn, USA
8. Steven Wilson / The Royal Albert Hall
9. Sophie Ellis Bextor / The Hospital Club
10. Joan As Police Woman / Royal Festival Hall
11. Jenn Bostic / Bush Hall
12. Alice Phoebe Lou / Scala
13. Swing Out Sister / The Hospital Club
14. The Regrettes / The Old Blue Last
15. Field Music / The Barbican
16. The The / Royal Albert Hall
17. Spandau Ballet / Subterania
18. Five Star / Islington Assembly Hall
19. Yes Featuring ARW / O2 Arena
20. David Byrne / Eventim Hammersmith Apollo
21. The Light Princess in Concert (Tori Amos) / Cadogan Hall
22. Joan As Police Woman / Omera
23. The Regrettes / The Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen
24. Mike Garson and Friends / Pizza Express Holborn
25. Anna Calvi / Rough Trade
26. Elvis Costello / Maida Vale Studios (BBC ‘Mastertapes’ recording)
27. Kevin Armstrong / Pizza Express Holborn
28. The Rezillos (Department S supporting) / 229 Club
29. Johnny Hates Jazz / Bush Hall
30. They Might Be Giants / The Barbican
31. U2 / O2 Arena
32. Spandau Ballet / Eventim Apollo
33. Trevor Horn / Queen Elizabeth Hall
34. Findlay / Omera
35. Andy Mackay / Queen Elizabeth Hall
36. Luke Haines / The 100 Club
37. The Cardigans / Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
38. Cloudbusting (Kate Bush tribute) featuring Del Palmer / The Half Moon
39. Matthew Sweet / Islington Assembly Halls