The final list for the year, and it’s a new one! Since the podcast has gone on hiatus, this seemed like the easiest way to highlight some of the great live music of the year. We’ve seen plenty of incredible bands and acts this year, and wanted to highlight some of the very best. Now, of course this isn’t all of them, I’d be here all day if it were. We saw so many that this list was almost impossible to narrow down, so we just wanted to highlight some that have stood out to us the most after however many months later.
Also, disclaimer, these are in no particular order. We aren’t complete monsters!
The New Roses: The Craufurd Arms – Milton Keynes
It’s no secret at this point that The New Roses are one of my favourite modern bands. Their brand of old-school, sleazy hard rock is incredible, and their songwriting skill in the genre is second to none. I’ve seen them a number of times now and, just like I said in my review of this show, they somehow keep getting better and better. The return of Norman on lead guitar and Timmy taking a step into solely vocals has somehow made the band even better live. Every single member played their hearts out at this show and put on one hell of a performance for the crowd. This was the first time I’ve seen the band headlining their own show, and their 90-minute set is something I truly believe everyone should get to experience!
Ice Nine Kills: Rock City – Nottingham
Another of my favourite bands currently, I’d been waiting for this gig for a while. Booked pretty far in advance, it then got pushed back and moved around due to them landing a support slot with the mighty Metallica. However, to say was worth the wait is an understatement! Welcome to Horrorwood is my favourite album of the decade so far, and to see it be brought to live so masterfully and theatrically was incredible.
Adding a third guitarist to make up for the absence of guitar god Dan Sugarman made the sound MASSIVE, but there was no denying this was the Spencer show. And honestly, it was right to be. He is one of the best frontmen around today, both from a vocal and performance standpoint. His cleans and growls are phenomenal (as are the rest of the bands), and his theatrical antics and costume changes are captivating. Not only are they putting out some of the best music currently, but they have become a NEED TO SEE band too. Not many artists can say that these days!
Cam: The Long Road 2023
Out of the mess of Jon Pardi’s very last minute cancellation of his headline set came one of the most surprising and brilliant performances I’ve ever seen. I had no idea who Cam was when she was announced to be replacing Jon, but I came away being a HUGE fan. Her performance was so effortlessly perfect; filled with emotion, insane talent and catchy vocal hooks. And every single track she played was amazing, a true testament to her songwriting skill with only two albums out. She even threw in a nod to Pardi with a fantastic cover of ‘Head Over Boots’. And I have no problem at all admitting that I shed a tear at the emotional ‘Village’. I probably said it better in my review, but yeah, this was one hell of a headline set!
Parkway Drive: Graspop Metal Meeting 2023
Somehow, this was the first time I got to see the metalcore titans. I’ve been a fan of them for years but it never quite lined up until now. Yet again I find myself thinking the term ‘worth the wait’. The crowd were on fire for the entire set, abuzz with energy and knowing every song, singing and dancing and moshing constantly. Meanwhile Winston conducted everyone perfectly, a phenomenal frontman holding the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. Add that to the incredible stage show and everyone else in the band playing their parts exceptionally, and it was one hell of a set. One that, honestly, is going to be tough to top next year!
Daði Freyr: Rock City – Nottingham
Anyone familiar with all of our dadi’s will know exactly how good the guy is live. The Eurovision alumni is known as much for his live show and stage presence as he is for his catchy electro-dance-pop songs. His awkward charisma is off the charts and had the crowd laughing along constantly between songs. And then between his smooth, unique voice and the rest of the band playing their fucking asses off, the tracks sounded incredible, too. I haven’t seen anything like this live before and it blew me away. I would recommend this to any of our majority rock, metal or country listeners, you certainly wouldn’t be disappointed!
The War & Treaty: The Long Road 2023
I mean, just listen to the vocals on the video below. They can pull this off live, so of course this was going to be a highlight set! I think I described this in my review (same link as Cam) as being like a religious experience, and I fully stand by that. The couple are absolutely brilliant live, and their band more than back them up well. It helps that their songs are incredible too, but their stage presence and chemistry is captivating. My literal only issue with this set was that it was like, mid afternoon. Hopefully after how the crowd went insane for them and they’ve gotten bigger since, when they’re back they’ll be towards the top of the bill!
Kim Jennett: Trillians – Newcastle
The ex-Voodoo Blood and Myke Grey frontwoman has long been revered for her incredible live performances. Her solo stuff is no exception, as here she played a variety of both of those bands’ songs and some of her own, as well as a smattering of covers. She is one of the most energetic front-people in the game and the fact that she can still hold the impressive notes and growls while moving around how she does is nothing short of insane. I know my review was slightly on the comedic side with my band supporting, but I meant every positive word I said about her. No doubt she’ll have plenty of dates lined up for 2024, so I’d highly recommend heading down to check her out!
FEVER 333: Graspop Metal Meeting 2023
Of course these guys made this list. I’m sure any time any reviewer has seen one of Jason’s projects live and done a list like this, he’s made it onto it. Even though Jason has been doing this stuff for over two decades now, the energy he brings to the stage is insane. Throwing himself around, screaming his lungs out and even climbing the sound stage, the guy is a madman. I was slightly worried heading into the gig as his band had rather publicly quit earlier in the year, but the new members are awesome and fit right in. While it is very much all eyes on Jason, the tracks sound incredible live and everyone played their parts to perfection. It certainly won’t be a set I forget any time soon!
Trivium: O2 Academy – Sheffield
I feel like I have an unsung pact with Matthew Heafy that I have to include him on at least one of my end of year lists each year. Since neither Trivium or Ibaraki put out new albums this year, they couldn’t make that list. And with them announcing they’re taking a bit of a break after the tour this show was on, it isn’t most anticipated albums, either. So, I guess it’s only fitting they make this one!
What is there to say about this show that I haven’t already said in my review? The band are at the top of their games currently and played a Shogun anniversary set, an album widely regarded as maybe their best. The crowd ate up every second of it and went mad throughout the entire gig. It was certainly a sweaty one! Matt’s vocals sounded great and their playing has always been on another level. While both of their support bands also did fantastically and more than warranted a spot on this list if there was more space, there is no denying why Trivium went on last. They are a band that should be far bigger than they are, but if it means we get to see them in more smaller, intimate venues like this, I’m all for it!
Those Damn Crows: Call of the Wild 2023
Last but certainly not least, we get a band who are sure to be the futures of British rock music. The band have been going from strength to strength for years now, and seeing them headline a festival like this is honestly amazing. They not only deserve it and have earnt it, but put on the show to warrant it, too. Shane is an amazing frontman who had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand throughout. And the rest of the band played everything perfectly, too. Their songs are all incredible, and they put the setlist together really well. Call of the Wild always do well with the bands they book, but this felt like something truly special to watch. I reviewed the whole festival, which you can also check out here!