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Bucket-list of live music
Venues
Concerts are first and foremost about the music, but without a good atmosphere it's gonna be a bit crap, and a large part of this is down to the venue. Here are some of the venues I'm dying to see some live music at.
Alexandra Palace, London
Ever since I got into music, Alexandra 'Ally Pally' Palace has stood out to me, even the name just sounds so epic and magnificent. Some of the best artists in the world have made their defining performance there, with some of my favourite bands' best and biggest gigs having been there. Any gig of that size is special, but with the building being as stunning as it is it's hard not to want to have the best night of your life in the hallowed halls.
Rock City, Nottingham
From large and graceful we delve into sticky floors and cramped, sweaty and noise rooms. Although Alexandra Palace may not have the beauty and prestige of Alexandra Palace, it has just as much notoriety, and much more noise. More of a mid-way and breakthrough point for bands' careers than their defining moment, Rock City is just one of those places that I've been dying to get to ever since I knew it existed.
Royal Albert Hall, London
This one sticks out a bit on the list, but despite being generally home to classical music concerts (not that I wouldn't love to go to one there), they're sporadically host to rock and metal concerts. Obviously the building is beautiful, old and acoustically magnificent, but the ability to have a live orchestra accompany some of the world's best and heaviest bands is just something I need to see with my own eyes.
Knebworth, Herefordshire
Knebworth has been host to some of the most legendary concerts in history, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Sonisphere Festival and most importantly those Oasis concerts. While it's not quite so active at the moment, with an Oasis reunion being somewhat inevitable purely for financial reasons, it's highly likely that the field will see another of its colossal concerts in the coming years, and I want to be there.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colarado
This one is purely for the fact that it's fucking stunning, I mean look at it.
Festivals
Arguably the most popular form of live music in recent years, with the amount of festivals increasing exponentially to cater for all genres and people, with incredibly niche ones having been founded. I have plans to go to some in the near future, but here are the ones I'm determined to get to in my lifetime:
Glastonbury, England
I'm not sure I know a single person who doesn't have this on their list, it's arguably the best-known festival in the world and essentially a pilgrimage for music-lovers. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly difficult to get tickets to, with demand growing every year, and the guest-list for celebrities seeming to grow larger every day. Nevertheless, I'll get to those bloody fields in Somerset one day.
Hellfest, France
This wasn't really on my radar until they released this absolute beast of a lineup for the 2022 festival with the likes of Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Deep Purple and Megadeth. While I realise this is not the average lineup for the festival, they're not exactly small lineups on an average year. I was tempted to put Download Festival on this list in its place, but unlike Download, Hellfest are giving newer bands the chance to shine.
Primavera Sound, Spain
The 2022 lineup has to be one of the biggest and most diverse lineups I have ever seen for a festival: Massive Attack, Tame Impala, The National, The Strokes, Nick Cave, Tyler The Creator, Disclosure, Megan Thee Stallion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more. There isn't really much more that needs to be said, if the festival manages to keep this up, they will be the go-to festival in the world. It's also worth noting their gender equality in the lineups is fairly good, not great, but fairly good.
2000 Trees, England
Probably the smallest festival on this list, 2000 trees is an independent festival based in a forest (duh), featuring some of the best alternative-rock bands in the scene. Some of the past headliners include Enter Shikari, Frank Turner and Twin Atlantic, which may not be the biggest but definitely put on a good show. The main reason this festival is on the list is simply that I've heard it's got one of the best atmospheres out there.
Green Man, Wales
Studying in Cardiff, this one has been on the cards for a little while, taking place right in the heart of the Brecon Beacons with the mountains overlooking all the action. This one's all about the alternative music, with a mix of electronic, Avante-Garde and alternative music such as Four Tet, Public Service Broadcasting, Black Midi and Mogwai. While the lineups are fantastic, this one is another that is just as much about the setting and atmosphere.
Burning Man, America
I'll be honest, I'm still not sure what the bloody hell Burning Man is, and to call it a music festival seems a bit reductionist, but that's what I'm going to call it. A pop-up city every year featuring wacky clothing, vehicles and lots of fire, Burning Man seems to be its own strange little thing that every person who goes there swears has changed their life. I just want to go to work out what it is to be honest.
Fuji Rock, Japan
It's at the foot of Mount Fuji, I think that's enough info.
Best Kept Secret, Netherlands
Another of the up-and-coming indie/alternative music festivals, Best Kept Secret looks absolutely gorgeous, with half of the field in front of the main stage being submerged in water... for some reason? No matter what, this is one to watch.
Rock am Ring, Germany
Arguably the biggest rock festival to happen every year, the Germans sure know how to build a rock lineup, and with some of the most avid metal and rock fans residing in Germany, this one seems like a good bet for any fan of the heavier side of music.
Boomtown, England
Festivals have massively evolved since their initial occurrences in the like of Woodstock, with a new breed of immersive festivals having emerged in the past few years, the leader being Tomorrowland. But whilst that is exclusively EDM, Boomtown has a very varied taste in music, with the likes of Gorrilaz, Enter Shikari, The Streets and Limp Bizkit having played in the past. However, the music isn't really what makes Boomtown, so much so that the organisers don't announce the lineup until its sold out, the festival has a mix of live performances, actors and stunning sets all in line with a specific theme and story to fully immerse you.
Songs
Most of the time when you go to see a band, you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and hear what they've got in their entire discography, but sometimes there's just one song you want to hear, these are those songs.
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
I just want this song to destroy me at the same time as 10,000 other people, I think that's fair. Blood Bank doesn't seem to be played too often so I'd have to get very lucky to hear it.
The Killers - Mr Brightside
I mean come on, I grew up in the 2000s, of course I want to hear this live, but I'm not sure I'm willing to pay the money the Killers demand.
The Cure - Friday I'm In Love
This is partly because Robert Smith is one of the best musicians of all time, and partly because y'know, it's Friday I'm In Love. With a new Cure album on the horizon, surely a tour is too, maybe this is my chance.
Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
Look I get that RATM have sold out a bit, but that doesn't take away from the anarchist anthem that is Killing In The Name, who doesn't want to hear 15,000 people scream "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me".
WALK THE MOON - Anna Sun
Pure unadulterated euphoria, give me a pint, some sunburn and a packed festival right now.
Big Thief - Not
I need the opposite crowd from the last song for this, pure silence to hear this majestic masterpiece unfold before my eyes.
Blue October - Hate Me
I just want to see the raw emotion as the lead singer delivers this one. I know literally nothing else by Blue October (I don't think anyone else does either) so I'd be standing throughout the gig just waiting for this.
Crystal Castles - Alice Practice
I'm not saying that I want to recreate that scene from Skins, but y'know. With the allegations made by Alice Glass, the chance of seeing this live properly are very slim but oh well.
The Strokes - Under The Cover of Darkness
I won't lie, I find the Strokes a little overrated, but this song would undoubtedly be incredible live.
Blink-182 - I Miss You
To hear a crowd sing in the exact same tone 'Where are you?' would be a thing of beauty.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
Another one where I want to see a room of people collectively cry.
MGMT - Kids
This would have to be in a British audience, no other country's crowds sing along to instrumentals quite like we do, and this song pretty much demands that.
Band of Horses - The Funeral
I've seen a few live recordings of this, and it holds up, I need that.
Hozier - Take Me To Church
Hozier's vocals are absolutely impeccable, and the rawness and emotion he puts into this song live just seems unmatched.
All Time Low - Dear Maria, Count Me In
Just one of the best pop-punk songs ever.
Broken Family Band - It's All Over
Unfortunately this band don't seem to be active anymore, which is bloody depressing, because this song is just impeccable.
The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
I know this band don't have the best reputation beyond this song, but I would love to experience that moment.
The National - About Today
Matt Berninger is an artist built for devastating thousands of people at once, this song is his weapon to do so.
Artists
These are the bands that I'm just waiting to come to my city, or for me to have enough money to see.
Slipknot
Slipknot are everything about what makes metal seem as terrifying, unwelcoming and unhinged as the outside world think it is, even if the band members are fairly soft underneath their serial-killer-esque masks. The group have a fantastic back catalogue, seem to sound great live and just have one of the craziest setups and stage presences of any band active at the minute, something that just needs to be seen to believe.
The Streets
I'll be really honest, I'm not quite sure how good Mike Skinner and co. are live, at least from a technical standpoint, and considering the majority of his vocals are speechy I don't know how impressive it would be. Having said this, his are some of my favourite songs of all time, and I just know he would put in an exorbitant amount of energy and showmanship.
The National
I know that a bottle of red wine is essentially imperative when seeing the boys from Ohio, and good God I want that badly. Hands down one of my top 3 bands of all-time, I would do just about anything to see The National live, even if their modern setlists leave a little to be desired.
My Chemical Romance
Although I would need to sell one of my kidneys in order to be able to pay for tickets to this, I think any self-respecting music fan, whether they admit it or not, would love to see My Chemical Romance live. The Emo theatrics, iconic and stunning songs and technical mastery would make for an incredibly memorable gig.
Bakar
One of my biggest regrets from Reading 2019 was not seeing Bakar then, and I need to make that right. He blends hip hop and indie in such a unique way, with absolutely fantastic songwriting and the energy present on tracks like 'Dracula' would make for a fantastic gig in a smaller venue.
James Blake
On first listen of his material I was a little skeptical, but I'm sure that the trance-like electronic compositions would be even more hypnotic and captivating live. This is one that I'd have to see at an individual concert with a place that has the Soundsystem to back it up.
Radiohead
Radiohead just feel like one of those groups that I need to be able to say I've seen, and if they were ever in my city it would just be stupid to miss out on them at the end of the day. Not to mention I think they'd be utterly captivating and awe-inspiring, the level of musical skill and technical ability the group has is astounding.
Jamie T
One of the first artists I fell in love with, and the one that showed me that hip hop could be something other than Kanye and Snoop Dogg, not to say that Jamie T is exactly hip hop, but it was his sense of flow and rhymes that got me interested in more. I imagine the energy and atmosphere at one of his gigs is unmatched.
LCD Soundsystem
Although I am someone who rarely sees the point in seeing dance artists live, James Murphy would just be incredible to see live, the momentum he builds before the drop makes me want to see him live more than anything else.
Iron Maiden
They're getting on a bit, but come on, they're bloody Iron Maiden, if they can't put on a good show who can? Unfortunately their gigs are getting more and more expensive, but they don't seem to be slowing down the frequency of which they perform.
Elton John
I know he's doing his farewell tour so I'll likely never see him, but God I'd love to see Elton John so badly. His voice is fantastic, he varies his shows up, he's a proper performer and the atmosphere in the crowd would be unparalleled.
Artists no longer performing
Joy Division
To see Ian Curtis gyrate around on stage while monotonously delivering heartbreaking floor-filling bangers... perfection. Although New Order are a spiritual successor and still very much alive and kicking, it's just not the same without the dark mind of Curtis.
Elliott Smith
Bon Iver has always felt like the slightly cleaner version of Elliott Smith, and you know how much I love Bon Iver. His death in 2003 is still a little bit dodgy and unclear as to what happened, but undoubtedly the world lost a once in a generation songwriter in Smith.
Sunny Day Real Estate
Whilst they weren't around for long, I can just imagine the gigs they put on were so chaotic and perfect.
Brand New
Don't get me wrong, the allegations made against Brand New are pretty horrifying and make listening to them a pretty morally difficult thing to do, but I just know that back in the day their gigs would have been incredible.
Amy Winehouse
That voice is enough for anyone to want to see her live.
Frightened Rabbit
Scott Hutchinson's death was one of the first celebrity deaths that genuinely affected me, and I'm so disappointed I never got the chance to see them. Folk is a genre I want to get into more, and Frightened Rabbit are the reason for this, to see them live would incredible.
Have Mercy
Having followed the band for quite some time, when I found out that they broke up I was really upset that I'd never get a chance to hear 'Let's talk about your hair live', real shame.
The Smiths
Look, Morrisey's a prick, but the band knew how to make an incredible song, Johnny Marr is a legend and their stage presence was really quite something.
David Bowie
Apparently one of the best performers of all time, I think pretty much everyone wishes they could have seen the Starman in his prime.
Miscellaneous
There are a few fairly specific things I would absolutely love to see live, whether that be certain albums played in full, certain groups in certain settings or see things that are just impossible.
Two Door Cinema Club at a festival
I wouldn't really go out of my way to see the band by themselves, but at a festival setting I'm fairly sure they'd be absolutely sensational, very similar to the Wombats in that way.
Enter Shikari Headlining a major festival
They've been going for so damn long, working so bloody hard, they deserve to headline Download by now, come on Andy Copping.
Home, Like Noplace Is There played in full
This album deserves to be played in full and absolutely nothing else.
The Warped Tour
Yeah, I know it won't come back, but can someone make it happen? And bring it to the UK.
Lord of The Rings with live music
There's been a recent trend of having films played with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack to the film, I feel like seeing the Lord of the Rings like this would be something unforgettable.
An intimate show with Bon Iver
I want this, please and thank you.
So that's pretty much it on my immediate wantlist, like I said I'm lucky enough to be ticking off a few bucket list items this year, and I will be doing gig reviews for every single show (and interviews with select artists) but this is what's left. What's on yours? Let me know in the comments.
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