Compiled by Monk
To paraphrase a certain much over-played song by Led Zeppelin, “does anyone remember live shows?” Yes, we do… those occasions when we would travel the length and breadth of the Uber Kingdom, worshipping at the altar of rock ‘n’ roll and experiencing the best bands around in the environment in which they were best enjoyed – down the front in a hot and sweaty moshpit (or from the safety of the VIP area at the back of the room!)…
These past nine months may come to be remembered for representing “the year the music died” (to paraphrase another over-rated classic anthem) but it has to be recalled that there was a period, albeit all too brief, of ten weeks or so at the beginning of 2020 when we were all able to enjoy our love of live music and revel in the atmosphere this generated… With that in mind, our team look back at some of the shows that managed to take place before the pan(dem)ic wiped out the ÜK live scene…
DJ Astrocreep- Heavy Psych Sounds Fest – Camden, The Underworld
- APF Records Showcase III – Manchester, Bread Shed
- Mark Morton/Dave McPherson – Manchester, Academy 3
- 3Teeth/Pig – London, Heaven
- Monster Magnet/Those Damn Crows – Leeds, Stylus
- …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead/Alex Henry Foster – Manchester, Night & Day Café
- Sleep Token/Exploring Birdsong – Liverpool, Arts Club
- Petrol Girls/Glove/Mollusca Vita – Manchester, Deaf Institute
- HRH Metal IV – Birmingham, O2 Academy
- Revival Black/Scarlet Rebels/Attic Theory – Liverpool, Jimmy’s
- Elephant Stone/Children Of The State – Manchester, Castle Hotel
- New Pagans/Heavy Salad – Manchester, Off The Square
- Anti-Flag/The Creepshow/Maid Of Ace – Manchester, Academy
- Amigo The Devil/Christian Hede/Mike West – Liverpool, Phase One
- Popa Chubby/The Ron Sayer Jr Trio/The Blues Against Youth – London, The 100 Club
- Thumper/Careering/Giant Boys – Manchester, Night People
- Incite/Sworn Amongst/Death Remains/Deified – Manchester, Star And Garter
- Automatic/Little Strange – Manchester, YES
- Cage The Elephant/SWMRS/Post Animal – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
- Loathe/God Complex/Phoxjaw – Liverpool, O2 Academy
Jim Rowland
- Giuda/The Speedways – London, The Lexington
- Cock Sparrer – London, Alexandra Palace
- The Rezillos/The Members – London, 229 Club
- Subhumans – London, 100 Club
- Girlschool – Camden, The Underworld
- Sabaton – Wembley, Arena
- Ethereal Sin – Birmingham, HRH Metal
- Skiltron – Birmingham, HRH Metal
- Church of the Cosmic Skull – Manchester, The Bread Shed
- Nekrogoblikon – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Monk- The Wildhearts/Backyard Babies/CKY – Belfast, Limelight 1
- Anvil/Ragdoll Sunday – Belfast, Limelight 2
- Hands Off Gretel – Belfast, Voodoo
- Buck & Evans – Belfast, Voodoo
- Crossfire/Ifreann – Belfast, Voodoo
- Slipknot – Birmingham, Arena
- Abbath/Vltimas/1349 – Islington, Assembly Hall
- The Wildhearts/Backyard Babies/CKY – Birmingham, The Institute
- Monster Magnet/Those Damn Crows – Leeds, Stylus
- Table Scraps/The Cosmics/Sunshine Free Frisbee Laserbeam – Birmingham, The Hare and Hounds
As we’ve said above, and many times before, it’s been a traumatic year, but hopefully this feature has brought back some fond memories of what it is like to be a gig… and we can be hope that it will once again be an experience we can all enjoy again in the not-too-distant future…
Elsewhere in these pages today, our writers share their favourite EPs of 2020, and, in a break with ÜR tradition, recall what cover versions have tickled their aural cortexes over the past 12 months (and, believe us, there are some interesting choices…). Tomorrow, we share our thoughts on our favourite albums of the year, so, until then, we’ll sign off in true ÜR style: keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges – and keep the music alive \m/