No doubt, 2021 has been another traumatic and troubled year for the music industry, particularly on the live front. While festivals and gigs did slowly return as the year progressed, many restrictions remained in place for months upon end, with some form of “normality” only returning towards the latter part of the year. However, there remained, and still remain, inconsistencies in how the Government and the various devolved administrations handled, and continue to handle, the situation. Different regions “opened up” at different times, meaning that tour schedules continued to be disrupted and re-arranged to comply with local restrictions.
However, our intrepid team where keen to get back into action where they could and support the return of the music that we all love, often travelling the length and breadth of the Über Kingdom to get their fix of live action. So, here are what those who managed to get out and about count as their favourite live shows that managed to go ahead in these continuing trying times:
Jase Walker
- Enter Shikari/Trash Boat/Nova Twins – Manchester, Victoria Warehouse
- The Offspring/The Hives/Bob Vylan – Manchester, AO Arena
- Vukovi/Press To Meco/Delaire The Liar – Manchester, Night And Day
- The Pineapple Thief/Alex Henry Foster – Manchester, O2 Ritz
- Sleep Token/AA Williams – Manchester, Academy 2
Jim Rowland
- Steve Hackett – London, Palladium
- Boomtown Rats – London, Palladium
- Cats In Space/The Hip Priests – Pentrich, Rock and Blues Custom Show
- Fontaines DC – London, Alexandra Palace
- From The Jam/The Selecter – London, O2 Indigo
Jonny Bakes
- Devin Townsend – Bloodstock
- Skindred – Slam Dunk South
- Massive Wagons – Download Pilot
- Punk Rock Factory – Glasgow, The Cathouse
- Ale of Adam – Bloodstock
- WomenoWar – Sheffield, HRH Vikings
- Insomnium – The Shadows live stream
- Karnivool – Sound Awake live stream
- Green Lung – Bloodstock
- Vukovi – Download Pilot
Monk
- Lock Horns/Bakken/Skypilot – Belfast, Voodoo
- Conjuring Fate/A Little Bitter – Ahoghill, The Diamond
- So Long Until The Séance/The Art Rats/Delusional Silence/EB And The Deadlights – Belfast, Voodoo
- Skypilot/Haint/Psychedelanaut – Belfast, Limelight 2
- Danny Vaughn – Ahoghill, The Diamond
So, there you have it: our pick of the live action we managed to catch in the continued shitstorm that was 2021. Our grateful thanks, and congratulations, to all the bands, promoters and venues who have continued to keep the flag flying for live music and battle against the odds, adapting to the ever-changing circumstances with which have been faced over the past 12 months. Hopefully, 2022 will see things continue to improve and the Omicron variant will go do one, as we say in this corner of the Überverse. Here’s hoping…