Top 20 Live Experiences of 2018

2018 saw my gig going reduce, as economics meant I decided to concentrate resources to continue my other great passion. Yet, I was still lucky to be able to attend a large UK festival (Green Man) and one major European festival (Primavera); and I will be returning to the latter in 2019. It at this event in Barcelona that I had a quite remarkable experience which will remain with my for years to come, when Lorde approached me on the barrier mid song. My other highlights are pictured below.

1) Lorde Primavera Sound Barcelona 2nd June 2018

2) Courtney Marie Andrews Green Man Wales18th August 2018

3) The War on Drugs Green Man Wales19th August 2018

4) Goat Girl Sounds from the Other City Salford 6th May 2018

5) Kamasi Washington Albert Hall Manchester 4th May 2018

6) Spiritualized Primavera Sound Barcelona 30th May 2018

7) First Aid Kit Albert Hall Manchester 27th Feb 2018

8) Jonathan Wilson Gorilla Manchester 6th Sept 2018

9) Warpaint Primavera Sound Barcelona 31st May 2018

10) Hiss Golden Messenger Deaf Institute Manchester Aug 27th 2018

11) Wye Oak Green Man Wales17th August 2018

12) The National Primavera Sound Barcelona 1st June 2018

13) The Low Anthem Deaf Institute Manchester 23rd April 2018

14) Haim Primavera Sound Barcelona 1st June 2018

15) Hatchie Sounds from the Other City Salford 6th May 2018

16) Snail Mail Green Man Festival Wales 24th Aug 2018

17) The Oh Hellos Band on the Wall Manchester 30th Jan 2018

18) Sylvan Esso Primavera Sound Barcelona 31st May 2018

19) Jorja Smith Albert Hall Manchester 11th Oct 2018

20) Our Girl Dot to Dot Festival Manchester 25th May 2018
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Top Albums 2018

This year, I again present a personal list of the new albums that have meant most to me this year. I've appreciated many other albums, some of which are more widely critically acclaimed, but these  reflect my taste. In the world of 2018 more than ever, kindness is a precious yet seemingly under-valued quality. Courtney Marie Andrews is a charismatic live performer with a soulful voice, but also has an amazing, hymn like sense of melody. Many of my favourite albums share such beauty; Low's Double Negative though reflects and engages with our troubled times instead of being an escape from them. This remarkable creation may have been right at the top of my list had my criteria been the greatest album of 2018 rather than the one I most enjoy listening to. The Low Anthem's Salt Doll also deserves a special mention for its remarkably intimate, hushed atmosphere: it's gorgeous, yet bold.

1) Courtney Marie Andrews May Your Kindness Remain

2) Jonathan Wilson Rare Birds

3) The Low Anthem The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea

4) Israel Nash Lifted

5) Low Double Negative

6) Gretchen Peters Dancing with the Beast

7) Hiss Golden Messenger Virgo Fool

8) Emma Ruth Rundle On Dark Horses

9) Amanda Shires To The Sunset

10) Kamasi Washington Heaven & Earth

11) Florence + The Machine High as Hope

12) GoGo Penguin A Hundrum Star

13) First Aid Kit Ruins

14) Spiritualized And Nothing Hurt

15) Tuung Songs You Make At Night

16) Gregory Alan Isakov Evening Machines

17) Wye Oak The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs

18) Christine and the Queens Chris

19) Phosphorescent C’est La Vie

20) Ex-Re self-titled

Honourable Mentions
21) Pinegrove Skylight
22) Mountain Heart Soul Searching
23) Laura Gibson Goners
24) Beach House 7
25) Julien Baker boy genuis
26) Molly Burch First Flower
27) Cat Power Wanderer
28) Trampled by Turtles Life is good on the Open Road
29) Phil Cook People are my Drug
30) Exitmusic The Recognitions
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Green Man Festival 2018 Day 3

The Green Man

The Cosmic Array

The Walled Garden

Stella Donnelly

Haley Heynderickx

Curtis Harding

Kevin Morby

Anna Calvi

Grizzly Bear

 

The War on Drugs