Best Gigs Of 2017

Out of all the shows I went to this year the two most memorable were touched by death and that's what will forever define them in my mind. There was the first night of Eddie Vedder's two shows at Hammersmith where Chris Cornell's death hung over everything like a huge black cloud. Cornell's suicide affected me more deeply than other celebrity deaths for many reasons so to experience that shared grief with other fans and also to witness Vedder's first public acknowledgement of it was very moving and cathartic and I will never forget it.

The Tom Petty show at Hyde Park, on the other hand, was more like a big celebration of the great man's extraordinary career. Nobody knew at the time, of course, that this would be one of his last ever shows and the last ever time he would perform with Stevie Nicks. It was incredible at the time but now it just feels so special and sad and I feel so grateful to have been part of it.

Another celebration of a life came with Seu Jorge's magical tribute to David Bowie (and Wes Anderson really), one of the more unique shows I've been to this year. I also finally got to see Lana Del Rey live and although I wish I had been closer, her noirish L.A. vibe seemed to fit in so well to a year where David Lynch's Twin Peaks returned and the world appeared to go to hell led by Donald Trump's election.

So all in all, it was a weird but sometimes wonderful year and pretty much every gig I went to was a lovely experience but here are my favourites.

10. Margo Price at Islington Assembly Hall

9. Alessi's Ark at Paper Dress Vintage

8. Seu Jorge at the Royal Albert Hall

7. Courtney Marie Andrews at Bush Hall

6. Lana Del Rey at Brixton Academy 

5. Shannon McNally at The Islington 

4. Big Thief at Islington Assembly Hall

3. First Aid Kit at Shoreditch Town Hall

2. Eddie Vedder at the Hammersmith Apollo

1.Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park