56 gigs and seven music festivals and at a very rough count, 150 acts seen in total. That was the year that was. That number has now been whittled down to the ten best shows of 2025. So here they are, listed in chronological order:
the Jesus Lizard – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 09/01/2025
The year was only nine days old and we had the slightly unsettling sight of a 64 year old David Yow crawling across the outstretched arms of a packed Brudenell crowd. That he and this evening should still be lingering long in the memory 11 months later says much about the impact of this gig.
Chuck Prophet and his Cumbia Shoes – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 20/02/2025
“It is only February, I know, but this already feels like it could well be the gig of the year.” And the final words of my review have proved to be very accurate.
Spiritualized – Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 22/03/2025
This was one of five UK shows to mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Pure Phase, Spiritualized’s second studio album. It was played here in full and the fact that it was taking place in the city where I had been to both school and university merely added to its personal significance.
Father John Misty – O2 Apollo, Manchester, 13/04/2025
The brilliance of Father John Misty’s last album Mahashmashana had suggested that this might end up being a bit special and that is exactly what it turned out to be.
Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 02/05/2025
Not content with having featured in this list for 2024, Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band are back once again. And quite rightly so, too.
Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders – Fulford Arms, York, 11/05/2025
This is yet another example of the unerring taste of Joe Coates, the man behind local live music promoter Please Please You. I had never even heard of Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders, let alone heard their music, but decided to take a chance, trusting Joe’s judgement in these matters. It proved to be a chance well worth having been taken.
Nick Cave – Cavea Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy, 21/07/2025
At a rough approximation, this was the 18th occasion in which I had seen Nick Cave in concert in nigh on 30 years, a combination of which have been with the Bad Seeds, Grinderman, and Warren Ellis, or solo. Or, more accurately in this instance, accompanied by Colin Greenwood. And not once has he failed to deliver. The fact that this performance took place in the Eternal City made it a bit more special.
Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band – Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, 30/08/2025
Yes, it is Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band. Again. They have released one of my top albums of the year in New Threats from the Soul and now appear in this list for the second time in 2025. It may have been mid-afternoon, and it may have been absolutely pouring down, but they still delivered.
Father John Misty – Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, 30/08/2025
And then later the same day in the exact same location, Father John Misty also made his second appearance in my list of top ten gigs of 2025. You could not really have put a cigarette paper between this one and the show in Manchester back in April in terms of their individual show-stopping, theatrical brilliance.
Bob Dylan – First Direct Arena, Leeds, 14/11/2025
And then, of course, there is Bob Dylan. Not everyone there that night would necessarily agree, but I thought he was great. It was the sound of an 84 year old cultural icon continuing to go his own sweet way.
