Best Live Shows of 2024: Opinion

There are not enough superlatives to do Janelle Monáe justice. If you ever get chance to go and see her live, go. No questions asked. It is a wholly positive show full of equality, love, joy, homage, and great music.

Full review and pictures here.

Gary Numan is celebrated 45 years of Replicas and The Pleasure Principle. We are in Manchester for the first of three nights at the O2 Ritz. As expected, the great man delivered an incredible performance with his band.

Full review and pictures here.

Springsteen in New Jersey. U2 in Dublin. Primal Scream in Glasgow. Seeing Liam Gallagher in Manchester fits perfectly in that bracket of seeing a band on their home turf. Since leaving Oasis, Liam has grafted to keep the dream alive. As of 2024, and 30+ years in, he shows no signs of slowing. Rock and roll needs Liam Gallagher.

The songs of Definitely Maybe soundtracked a generation. They are still soundtracking generations. Those in attendance will surely attest to that. Now people have Oasis proper to look forward to.

Full review and pictures here.

Reaper Agency UK put on a belting day long event featuring a slew of bands playing full album/release shows. Bands included The Infernal Sea, Ninkharsag, The Suns Journey Through The Night, Abduction, Andracca and Devastator.

Full review and pictures here.

“It’s a Blues gig. You’re not here to be happy!” That might sound rich coming from a young musician who has a constant smile on her face, but Joanne Shaw Taylor continues the upward trajectory that repays the faith of Dave Stewart and Joe Bonamassa.

Full review and pictures here.

Jo Quail and Jon Gomm resumed their joint headline tour owing to cancellation in late 2023. We witnessed two complete virtuosos of their craft in Manchester.

Full review and pictures here.

2024 is destined to be one of Cast’s finest years yet. Love Is The Call is earned rave reviews; not least from us here on At The Barrier (review here). It was a no brainer to get down to Manchester Ritz and see one of finest bands of the last few decades.

Full review and pictures here.

For the uninitiated, Ida Nielsen is a bit of a legend of the bass. She was a member of 3RDEYEGIRL and played a huge part in Prince’s New Power Generation for many years. With an arsenal of mighty grooves, the solo endeavours of the Danish bassist perhaps fly a little more under the radar, however you cannot deny the standing, class and talent of the incredibly funky Ida Nielsen.

Full review and pictures here.

Orbital were celebrating their seminal Green and Brown albums on tour in 2024. Both albums delivered in order, back to back, was an incredible experience. Throw into the mix a special appearance from Mancunian poet, Mike Garry, and you have a truly memorable evening of classic, euphoric dance.

Full review and pictures here.

With the five strong band, Harry takes to the stage dressed in a funky black and white outfit topped off with some shades which stay on for at least a few tracks despite it already being dark outside. She’s looking full of punk-pop-cool while the audience are dressed in waterproofs and plastic ponchos braving the rain that began just before the gig began and refuses to stop. The rain is pouring down but spirits remain high as Blondie storm through a setlist of hits.

Full review and pictures here.

With The Darkness blazing a trail across the UK and Europe they stopped off at the stunning venue of Warwick Castle – surely one of the finest and most complete castles in the UK. A setting which created a majestic backdrop for a ballistic show put on by a band that is, slowly but surely, reclaiming it’s crown as the kings of 70s inspired glam rock and roll.

Full review here.

A night of top class Swedish heavy metal is topped by Arch Enemy who will return with a new album in 2025. They will also return to UK shores with another incendiary show.

Full review and pictures here.

Albert Lee showed why he was a guitar great when he played at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre this year. Now added to the bill of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025, Albert Lee will no doubt be making more appearances on our pages here.

Full review and pictures here.

Evil Sacrecrow offer a cracking show with a fab atmosphere throughout and entertainment of the highest order. Definitely more than just another metal gig, if Evil Scarecrow are playing anywhere near you in the future I would suggest it would be a good investment of your time to pop along and join in the fun!

Full review and pictures here.

The Niteworks journey came to an emotional end as the band called time on their storied career. We were at their final fling in London as they raised the roof with their unique brand of ‘Gaelictronica’.

Full review and pictures here.

Sleep Token are now clearly major players not only within the sphere of prog metal but in all music. Their show is more a dramatic musical experience than just a concert. The way the show represents their music combined with the exotic but not over elaborate ever changing light show is a masterstroke. Their slot as Download 2025 headliners alongside Green Day and Korn will see them being the ‘new blood’ as far as headliners go.

Full review and pictures here.

Two years on and here we are again – happy as can be – all good friends and jolly good companeeee. The band of eleven folksters is back on the road to deliver lashings of joy and goodwill to their loyal supporters. We catch Bellowhead in several locations on their more recent run.

Full review and pictures here.

John Grant is a fine songwriter. He is an incredibly talented, evocative and flamboyant performer. The Art Of The Lie is brought to life in Manchester. Support from BIG SPECIAL and Peter Alexander Jobson makes this one of the best bills of the year.

Full review and pictures here.

Frankie Archer is having quite the year, since appearing on Jools Holland’s Later a little over 12 months ago, her exhilarating brand of folk’n’beats making new friend upon new friend. We caught her brilliant show in Birmingham.

Full review and pictures here.

It has been impossible to escape Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour over the past couple of years. World domination has certainly been achieved. We caught the tour in Liverpool and in London. The latter saw a live premiere of Florida! with Florence & The Machine making an unexpected appearance.

Full review and pictures here (Liverpool) and here (London).

One of our favourite festivals on the circuit did not disappoint in 2024. Times are hard when it comes to festivals, but Fairport Convention are keeping their annual get together going. A wide and varied bill trod the boards in Oxfordshire once more in August. It was another resounding success.

Full review and pictures here.

Blue Rose Code live embody healing and solidarity and wherever they play they have a special connection with their audience. Live they also bring a deep appreciation of the way music can cross over, blending soul, jazz, folk and other influences, such that songs and performances never stand still. We are very lucky to have Ross and Blue Rose Code.

Full review and pictures here.

The packed out Music Room certainly wasn’t downtrodden by the challenging subjects that intertwine Grace’s discography, indeed they seemed energised by the fact that they have such a shining star willing to fight the underdogs corner and they sang and danced throughout, making for a very uplifting and powerful evening.

Full review and pictures here.

Barbara topped a year that saw them release another fine selection of singles/EP’s as well as play support to The Modfather, Paul Weller. 2025 is shaping up to be another brilliant year in the land of Barbara.

Full review and pictures here.