Top 20 Live Performances, 2014

As the Manchester music scene enters its Christmas break, it's time again for the customary round-up of my favourite live experiences of the year, with links to each review. Following this, I'll be giving some over-due attention to my favourite albums of the year, with difficult decisions still to be made. Last year's top 20 gigs can be found here.

1) St Vincent, Manchester Cathedral, 21st February

2) Sharon Van Etten, Manchester Cathedral, 24th November

3) GOAT, Slim's San Francisco, 12th April (not reviewed)

4) The National, BBC 6 Music Festival Salford, 1st March

5) Arcade Fire, Coachella Indio, 20th April

6) Neutral Milk Hotel, Albert Hall Manchester, 18th May

7) St Paul and The Broken Bones, Gorilla Manchester, 2nd September

8) FKA Twigs, Royal Northern College of Music Manchester, 4th October

9) EMA, Ruby Lounge Manchester, 4th June

10) Jonathan Wilson, Green Man Wales, 15th August

11) Trampled by Turtles, Gorilla Manchester, 17th November

12) Bombino, Coachella Indio, 20th April

13) Alt-J, Apollo Manchester, 19th September

14) Haim, Coachella Indio, 18th April

15) London Grammar, Manchester Academy, 30th January

16) Daughter, Green Man Wales, 15th August

17) The War on Drugs, Green Man Wales, 16th August

18) The Rural Alberta Advantage, Soup Kitchen Manchester, 25th November

19) The Staves, Deaf Institute Manchester, 20th October

20) First Aid Kit, Albert Hall Manchester, 20th September