I’d been thinking that I hadn’t been to as many concerts as usual this year. So, on a train journey recently I counted them up and found there were 40, not counting festivals. Not exactly a fallow year! And I’ve just looked at 2023 – that was 44. So I’m not really slowing down yet, even if it sometimes feels like it.

In the Christmas spirit of making lists, I thought I’d set out my top twenty gigs. Then I decided to treat festivals separately – and tribute bands likewise. I’ve seen quite a few of the latter this year.

Listing concerts in order is a bit artificial – for most of the concerts listed I’ve come out buzzing with how good they were. And if not buzzing, then appreciative. But I’ve put them in order anyway. And there is certainly no doubt that the best was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Still phenomenal, still playing three hours with incredible energy and passion in their 70s.

So, let’s get listing.

Top Twenty concerts

1 – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Wembley Stadium

Still the Boss, still the best. An exhilarating journey through his back catalogue, with some intriguing stops on the way. Read my review here.

2 – The War on Drugs, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington

Magnificent as always. Big songs, big feelings, big guitar. And then there is Under the Pressure.

3 – The Joy Hotel, Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow

A triumphant return to the band’s hometown for a rousing celebration of their wonderful album Ceremony, my No1 of the year.

4 – King Hannah, Lafayette, King’s Cross

Benefiting from extensive touring and an excellent second album, Big Swimmer, King Hannah ooze confidence and joy in performing. Slow builds and searing guitar crescendos a speciality.

5 – Shez Raja/ Guthrie Govan, 606 Club, Earl’s Court (twice)

So good we had to see them twice! Rhythmic jazz, with Shez’s slap bass, supplemented by the astounding guitar work of Guthrie. Truly a thing of wonder. A privilege to study him close up at the first show.

6 – Lewsberg, the Lexington, Islington

Love this band. The sounds of the Velvet Underground, Talking Heads and even Television, straight out of Rotterdam. Crystalline guitar solos weave around simply insistent beats.

7 – Aynsley Lister Band, the Half Moon, Putney

Another exceptional guitarist. Blues rock his speciality, with shades of Rory Gallagher, Clapton, Hendrix. And to finish, a brilliant, anthemic version of Prince’s Purple Rain.

8 – Julia Jacklin, the Lyric Theatre, Piccadilly

A mostly solo show from Julia. The first half a set of cover versions, including her acclaimed version of the Strokes Someday. Then an hour or so of her own music, ranging across her three albums. Beautiful and affecting music.

9 – Emma Rawicz Band – King’s Place, King’s Cross

Part of the London Jazz Festival, the young London-Polish saxophonist assembled a group of seriously accomplished musicians (including Jason Rebello on piano) to play a selection of her modern jazz compositions. Outstanding from start to finish.

10 – PJ Harvey/Big Thief/Tirzah, Gunnersbury Park

Home turf for me, and the first time I’ve seen PJ Harvey play. She was quite astonishing – such a striking stage presence. Some new material, but also rockers from her early days and, the highlight, three from her memorable album Let England Shake.

11 – The Smile, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

If you can’t have Radiohead, the Smile are a pretty decent alternative. Drummer Tom Skinner gives them a looser, jazzier feel, but the incredible Bending Hectic had the epic quality of paranoid Android.

12 – Wednesday, Scala, King’s Cross

I love this band so much – my most played music of the last couple of years. Nothing too different from the last time I saw them, in Manchester, but a bigger, more engaged crowd, with the band really enjoying themselves.

13 – Marcus King Band, O2 Forum, Kentish Town

More guitar heroics, some solid southern boogie, but also a lot of soul and an authentic country twang at the beginning of the second set. And some interesting covers at the end, including Pink Floyd’s Time, and appropriately the Allman Brothers’ Rambling Man.

14 – Siobahn Miller/ Niamh Corkey – King’s Place, King’s Cross

Engaging and beautifully played Scottish folk from Siobahn and band, ranging from the jigs to the ballads, with a few modern variations. Very much enjoyed the support act, Niamh Corkey, too – will be watching out for more music from her.

15 – Water from Your Eyes, ICA, The Mall

New York alternative indie – hard riffing, interesting time changes, played in a semi-darkness, lit by red light. The influence of Sonic Youth is clear. Super cool, but wish they’d played Everything’s Crushed though – a song for the times.

16 – Rick Simpson Band (reinterpreting Radiohead’s Kid A) Ronnie Scott’s, Soho

A really fascinating set of complex jazz interpretations of Radiohead’s pathbreaking album. Great musicianship and fun to pick out the snatches of Radiohead melody amid the improvisation.

17 – John Schofield, Ronnie Scott’s, Soho

John Schofield is a jazz master, who has played with many of the greats. He’s 72 now, and plays with verve and subtlety. Supported by an accomplished band, he played for two hours, playing original music, standards and country. We even got some Grateful Dead at the end!

18 – Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve, London Palladium, Soho

This concert divided my friends. A great range of old favourites, but reinterpreted to the point of unrecognisability at times. I found it really interesting most of the time. His voice has lost some range, but he arranges the songs accordingly.

19 – Deacon Blue, Hampton Court Palace

Height of summer, outdoors in the courtyard of Henry VIII’s palace. Deacon Blue playing all their best known tunes to an appreciative crowd. What’s not to like?

20 – Mary in the Junkyard, ICA, The Mall

Second time I saw the band, after Latitude. Some of the songs in mid-set meandered a bit, but I like their off-kilter indie guitar sound, mixed in with a bit of folk and psychedelia. And last song Tuesday is an excellent rocker. A band to follow – they could go anywhere.

 Top ten festival acts

1 – Jockstrap, Latitude and End of the Road (EOTR)

2 – Gurriers, EOTR

3 – English Teacher, Latitude

4 – Ash, Latitude

5 – Waxahatchee, Latitude

6 – Talk Show, Latitude

7 – Plantoid, EOTR

8 – Mary in the Junkyard, Latitude

9 – Been Stellar, Latitude

10 – Richard Hawley, EOTR

I’ve written reviews of Latitude and End of the Road if you’d like to read them, so won’t repeat myself here. But I special mention for the top two. Jockstrap are consistently brilliant and constantly inventive. I suspect they might withdraw for a bit now and work on some new songs, while Georgia Ellery continues playing violin in Black Country New Road. Irish punks Gurriers were the most exciting new band I discovered this year. They came onto the Folly stage at EOTR and blew me away with their energy and passion. Debut album Come and See didn’t really replicate that for me on the first couple of listens, but I’ll persist with it and look forward to seeing them at the Scala in March 2025.

Top Five (well, six) Tribute Acts

1 – Australian Pink Floyd, London Palladium, Soho

2 – The Wonder of Stevie, Pizza Express, Holborn

3 – Letz Zep, Dingwalls, Camden

4 – Simply Dan, Pizza Express Holborn/ Stanley Dee, Dingwalls Camden

5 – New York State of Mind – the Music of Billy Joel, Pizza Express, Chelsea

Got to thank Colin R for coming up with most of these, other than Aussie Pink Floyd. They have been a lot of fun and outstanding musically. APF are remarkable outfit, selling out places like the London Palladium very quickly. They have got Pink Floyd’s music absolutely nailed, and are not averse to a bit of interpretation – Another Brick in the Wall was extra funky this time. Lights and graphics are great too. It’s hard to imagine the original band would be much better if they ever got together again.

The Stevie Wonder show was utterly joyous. Soulful and super-funky, as you would hope. A wonderful celebration of the great singer and musician – playing all the most obvious songs, but also treasures like Visions of Innervisions.

Letz Zep were fantastic. No song in the Zep catalogue was too much for them – not even the likes of Stairway to Heaven and Dazed and Confused. The guitarist did the full mid 70s Jimmy Page; and while the singer didn’t look too much like Robert Plant – though he had the hair – he handled the falsetto superbly. Pure nostalgia!

There are a couple of excellent Steely Dan bands around. I’ve seen Stanley Dee a few times over the years, usually at the Half Moon, Putney. This time it was at Dingwalls, to a bigger crowd less familiar with them. They soon had them appreciating the music though – they play it with love and energy. This was my first experience of Simply Dan. In a controversial transfer swoop, they took Stanley Dee’s ace guitarist a couple of years ago. I’d say they are the more accomplished musically – jazzier and funkier – but Stanley Dee have the edge on energy and enjoyment. Both highly recommended.

Finally, New York State of Mind. I’m not a huge Billy Joel fan, but I like all the hits – and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. All in evidence at the show and played and sung superbly. Rick Simpson really had Billy Joel’s vocals down to a tee.

You’ve got to hand it to Pizza Express: their Holborn, Chelsea and Soho branches host some great music.