Compiled by Monk

Well, it’s come to that time, hasn’t it? You know, the one when we cast a backward glance over our shoulders at the events that have taken place in the rock ‘n’ roll Überverse over the past 12 months and pick out our highlights. So, in the second of our annual #ThatWasTheYearThatWas retrospectives, our small team of ninja reviewers share with you, our devoted and much-loved readers, their favorite gigs and performances of the year that has been 2023…

David O’Neill

  1. Black Stone Cherry – Steelhouse
  2. Samantha Fish/Jesse Dayton – Bristol, SWX
  3. The Answer – Steelhouse
  4. Elegant Weapons – Steelhouse
  5. Those Damn Crows – Swansea Arena
  6. Dead Mans Whiskey – Steelhouse
  7. Cardinal Black – Newport,Neon
  8. Empyre – Crumlin, Patriots
  9. Black Spiders – Crumlin, Patriots
  10. Von Hertzen Brothers – Winters End Festival

DJ Astrocreep

  1. PIGS x7 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
  2. Paradise Lost – St George’s Hall, Bradford
  3. Ingénue – The Peer Hat, Manchester
  4. Puscifer – Academy, Manchester
  5. Devin Townsend – Academy, Manchester
  6. Haken – Academy 2, Manchester
  7. Guns N Roses – BST, Hyde Park, London
  8. Lamb of God – Academy, Manchester
  9. Death Cult – Albert Hall, Manchester
  10. Cannibal Corpse – Academy, Manchester
  11. Amigo The Devil – Rebellion, Manchester
  12. The Chats – Academy, Manchester
  13. Chat Pile – Rebellion, Manchester
  14. Hawkwind – Academy, Manchester
  15. Goat – Club Academy, Manchester
  16. A. A. Williams – Deaf Institute, Manchester
  17. The Blackheart Orchestra – Sacred Trinity Church, Manchester
  18. O.E. (Last Of Eden) – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
  19. Metric – Academy 2, Manchester
  20. The Damned – Albert Hall, Manchester

Jase Walker

  1. The Midnight – Manchester Academy
  2. Fall Out Boy – Band On The Wall, Manchester
  3. Clown Core – BIMHUIS, Amsterdam
  4. Periphery – Radar Festival
  5. Igorrr – Radar Festival
  6. Gojira – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
  7. Karnivool – Manchester Academy 2
  8. Artio – Peer Hat, Manchester
  9. Dayseeker – New Century Hall, Manchester
  10. The Dear Hunter – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
  11. Wind Rose – P60, Amstelveen
  12. Riverside – Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
  13. Stray From The Path – Melkweg, Amsterdam
  14. Lesoir – Hemkade 48, Zaandam
  15. Lorna Shore – Manchester Academy
  16. Sungazer – New Century Hall, Manchester
  17. Scaler – Arctangent Festival
  18. Devin Townsend – Arctangent Festival
  19. Ghost – Download Festival
  20. Enter Shikari – Slam Dunk festival

Jim Rowland

  1. Sparks – London, Royal Albert Hall
  2. Billy F. Gibbons – 02 Academy, Bournemouth
  3. Robert Plant & Saving Grace – Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth
  4. Death Cult 8323 – 02 Academy, Bournemouth
  5. Blue Öyster Cult – Stone Dead Festival, Newark
  6. The Who – Incora County Ground, Derby
  7. Midnight – The Exchange, Bristol
  8. Gong/Ozric Tentacles – 02 Academy, Bournemouth
  9. The Damned – Guildhall, Southampton
  10. Vive Le Rock Awards Show 2023 – Empire, Shepherds Bush

Monk

  1. Gojira – Belfast, Ulster Hall
  2. Metal 2 The Masses Final – Belfast, Voodoo
  3. The Almighty – Manchester, Academy
  4. Extreme – Manchester, Academy
  5. Sworn Amongst – Belfast, Voodoo
  6. Rituals/Archives – Belfast, Voodoo
  7. Daddy Long Legs – Belfast, Black Box
  8. The Answer – Steelhouse
  9. Sigh – Belfast, The Deer’s Head
  10. Sasquatch – Belfast, Voodoo
  11. Dead Addiction – Belfast, Voodoo
  12. Kris Barras Band – Belfast, Empire Music Hall
  13. Kira Mac – Steelhouse
  14. Elegant Weapons – Steelhouse
  15. The Damn Truth – Steelhouse
  16. Night Demon – Belfast, Voodoo
  17. Black Star Riders – Belfast, Limelight 1
  18. Nømadus – Belfast, Voodoo

So, there you have it… goodbye and fare thee well to 2023, here’s to an equally, if not more exciting 2024… see y’all on the other side \m/