Peter Gabriel’s part in Don’t Give Up.

A black and white photo of Tamsin Stephens, aka TTSSFU, on stage at Bedford Esquires. She is playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone.

A black and white photo of Jessica Baker, aka Ugly Ozo, on stage at Bedford Esquires. She is playing an electric guitar and leaning away from the microphone stand in the foreground.

A black and white photo of Kate Gore and her band The Screamers on stage at Bedford Esquires.

A common theme of gigs at @bedfordesquires.bsky.social is the quality of the whole bill. Outstanding support from #KateGoreAndTheScreamers and #UglyOzo last Saturday, before an excellent headline set by @ttssfu.bsky.social. The reaction to “Upstairs” felt like the start of something big.

A black and white photo of John Lydon on stage at Cambridge Junction. He is holding a microphone in his left hand and its stand in his right as he sings with his head back and his eyes closed.

Waiting for this year’s 2nd gig to start reminds me to reflect on the 1st: @publicimageltd.bsky.social, last week, at @cambridgejunction.bsky.social.

Lydon the frontman is still Lydon. Still spits the lyrics. Still harnesses the anger. Still raises goosebumps when the opening bars of Rise ring out.

A composite image of photos taken at gigs in 2025, presented in an irregular but symmetric grid. The image contains pictures of Submotion Orchestra; Sleeper; Jeffrey Lewis; Nerina Pallot; Katey Brooks; Baxter Dury; She Drew The Gun; Amelia Coburn; The Beths; Doves; Prima Queen; Alan Sparhawk; Desperate Journalist; Coach Party; Hamish Hawk; Du Blonde; The Orchestra (For Now); Anna Erhard; Self Esteem; The Popguns; China Crisis; Picture Parlour; John Otway; C Duncan; Honeyglaze; lilo; Betty Taylor; Allo Darlin'; Skunk Anansie; Young Knives; Low Girl; Little Comets; Bambara; Men Without Hats; WH Lung; Heartworms; Erika Vikman; Luke Sital-Singh; Paul Goodwin; The Boy Least Likely To; The Stanleys; She's In Parties; This Is The Kit; Chuck Prophet; Black Country, New Road; The Lottery Winners; John Grant; Morganway; Chartreuse; Joan As Police Woman; Oi Va Voi; and Nell Mescal.

My musical 2025 in one image. 52 shows, on stages in Cambridge, London, Bedford, and - for one night only - Cologne. See the alt text for details!

Thanks to the artists, venues, technicians, and promoters represented here; and to the others doing similar work all over the country. Roll on, 2026! ❤️

You lot are the Kings & Queens of tantalising Christmas messages! Thank you for some unforgettable nights in 2025. Godt nyttår, alle sammen.

A black and white photo of Wendy Pickles from the band The Popguns, on stage at The Lexington, London. She has raised her palms to the crowd as she sings into her microphone at the front of the stage.

Finally - finally! - got to see a #ThePopguns gig, at @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social on Saturday night. I’ve been hooked since hearing Still Waiting For The Winter on the Indietracks 2014 compilation. That they played it just made the night better still.

A black and white photo of Heartworms, the stage name of Jojo Orme, performing at Scala in London. She is pictured in silhouette, holding an electric guitar with bright lighting behind her.

For one still early in her career, Jojo Orme - #Heartworms - has remarkable control over the stage, the crowd, and the space she performs in. Utterly compelling at Scala on Monday night. Style and substance, and songs that stay with you.

A set of five original Christmas cards, hand-drawn by HappyToast.

My Christmas cards by @happytoast.co.uk arrived and I could not be more delighted by them.

A black and white photo of Henry Dartnall and The House of Lords from the band Young Knives, on stage at The Portland Arms, Cambridge, UK. The brothers are both playing guitars and leaning in to sing into the same microphone. A bright stage light is shining over The House of Lords’ left shoulder.

I really appreciate it when bands like @young-knives.bsky.social bring the things you associate with a big venue - custom lighting, banners, huge flags - to a place like #ThePortlandArms. It makes everything else about the show bigger too. Just like it did last night.

A black and white photo of Sarah Cosgrove from the band Low Girl, on stage at The Portland Arms, Cambridge, UK. She is playing a bass guitar and standing in front of an illuminated “Portland” sign.

It was good to catch up with #LowGirl touring their new album at #ThePortlandArms in Cambridge last night. Two years since they played the Blue Moon, the bigger room really suits their sound: inventive, melodic indie with sharp production.

A black and white photo of Katie Lloyd, Robert Lally, and Thom Rylance of the band The Lottery Winners, on stage at Cambridge Junction. Lally and Rylance are embracing at the front of the stage as Lloyd, smiling, looks on in the background.

If Vanessa from Virgin Records had been at @cambridgejunction.bsky.social last night, she’d have seen exactly why the #LotteryWinners sold it out weeks ago. A great show, an easy affinity with the crowd, and a touch of class as they paused their set to play Sally Cinnamon in tribute to #Mani.

A black and white photo of singer-songwriter Du Blonde on stage at The Portland Arms, Cambridge, UK. Their right hand is raised, and their left hand is holding the neck of an electric guitar.

When @dublonde.bsky.social played Scala back in February, I said how much I’d enjoyed it despite them not being fully fit.

Well, on Wednesday night they came to Cambridge’s #PortlandArms, firing on all cylinders. Great show - and candid stories - to a packed house.

A black and white photo of Katherine Parlour from the band Picture Parlour, on stage at The Lexington, London. Backlit with stage lighting, she is playing an electric guitar and leaning into a microphone to sing.

And then there was #PictureParlour, a proper rock band of a kind that seemed to go out of fashion for a while. Made a small venue feel like a much bigger one. They’re going to make big venues feel very good indeed. (2/2)

A black and white photo of Katie Dillon from the band She’s In Parties, on stage at The Lexington, London. She is standing behind a Korg keyboard with her arms outstretched and singing into a microphone.

Last night’s @diymag.com showcase at @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social was a genuine double-header, with the room full long before the music started.

I enjoyed #ShesInParties when they played Cambridge back in October, and they were every bit as good here. (1/2)

A black and white photo of (L-R) Kayla Smart, Sophie Patrick, and Claire Chittick of the Australian band Betty Taylor, on stage at The Grace in London. All three are playing electric guitars.

Is there already a term for a gig that you took a bit of a chance on, but it turned out to be great? If not, I’m calling it a “Betty Taylor”, after #BettyTaylor, who were just that at #TheGrace in London last night.

They’ve come a long way to play! Go and see them. You will not regret it.

A black and white photo of Christie Gardner and Helen Dixon from the band lilo, on stage at The Blue Moon, Cambridge. They are standing side by side, playing guitars and singing into stand microphones.

A very welcome Tuesday night visit to #TheBlueMoon in Cambridge by #lilo (pron. lee-lo), who brought along their full band as well as their songs and harmonies. Folk, indie, a dash of country, and good humour despite a broken-down tour van! Nice evening, that.

A black and white photograph of Jo Bevan and Simon Drowner of the band Desperate Journalist, on stage at The Lexington, London. Simon is in the background, playing a bass guitar. Jo is in the foreground, leaning away from the microphone that she’s singing into.

From note 1 of song 1 to the last strains of the not-an-encore, @despjournalist.bsky.social were on superb form at a very full, very warm @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social last night. A band - a voice - that I could never tire of hearing.

A black and white photo of the artist Lynks on stage at Cambridge Junction with their two dancers. They are dressed - in their own words - as a gimp-yeti-tennis player.

A black and white photo of John Grant on stage at Cambridge Junction. He is standing at the front of the stage, wearing sunglasses, and singing into the microphone that he’s holding in his right hand.

It does not feel like nine days since the triumphant return of #JohnGrant to @cambridgejunction.bsky.social - immediately preceded by the equally triumphant return of #Lynks.

In different ways, both outstanding at what they do. I’d see either again in a heartbeat.

Malka Kovalenko of the band Blue Cinema, on stage at Cambridge Junction as part of the Shiny New Model festival.

The band Panic Shack, on stage at Cambridge Junction as part of the Shiny New Model festival.

The band Home Counties, on stage at Cambridge Junction as part of the Shiny New Model festival.

Katie Dillon of the band She’s In Parties, on stage at Cambridge Junction as part of the Shiny New Model festival.

The second instalment of #ShinyNewModel festival at @cambridgejunction.bsky.social last Saturday. Great addition to the local live music scene. Kudos to @greenmindgigs.bsky.social and all the acts who took part. Highlights for me? #BlueCinema, #PanicShack, #HomeCounties, and #ShesInParties.

I’ll give you that one, but I was rather hoping you’d choose Erika Vikman. 🇫🇮

A framed Allo Darlin’ 2025 tour poster, hanging on a wall.

Also, @allodarlin.bsky.social have tour posters that would grace any wall. Buy them for your friends!

A black and white photo of Elizabeth Morris Innset from the band Allo Darlin’, on stage at EartH Hall, Hackney, London. She is playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone on a stand.

I part ways from the @allodarlin.bsky.social tour at this point, but #EartHHackney was a great place to leave it.

Different production (and loads of different songs) from Tuesday. Special guests! But the same joy. And they still played Capricornia. ❤️

Glasgow; Manchester - look after them, yeah?

A black and white photo of Elizabeth Morris Innsett and Bill Botting from the band Allo Darlin’, on stage at The Old Cold Store, Nottingham, UK. Elizabeth is away from her microphone, dancing while playing the ukulele. Bill is to her left, playing the bass guitar.

Tonight’s @allodarlin.bsky.social gig at Nottingham #OldColdStore was full of the joy that keeps me - and so many others - coming back for more.

Some very welcome surprises on the set list, too. Anticipation already building for Thursday…

A black and white photo of Kathryn Williams on stage at Cambridge Junction, UK. She is behind a music stand, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

A really lovely gig by @kathrynwilliamsuk.bsky.social at @cambridgejunction.bsky.social last night. A new album and a huge catalogue of songs to draw from makes for shows that are as fresh and engaging and charming as ever.

Finland’s Erika Vikman on stage at The Garage in London, UK. She is singing into the microphone that she holds in her right hand, while wreathed in stage smoke and bathed in yellow light.

Without a doubt, the hottest ticket in London last night was the UK debut of #ErikaVikman at #TheGarage. Language is no barrier when you - and your band - perform like that. Fantastic, friendly crowd and a show that I’ll remember for a long time.

We are _so_ ready. ❤️

A black and white photo of the band Sleeper on stage at Electric Ballroom, Camden, London. Jon Stewart and Louise Wener are front of stage, playing guitar and singing, respectively. Andy Maclure is visible in the background, playing drums.

Especially after missing out first time round, I remember the euphoria of the first #Sleeper reunion shows. Eight years on, their live sets incorporate new songs and revisit old ones with the same vitality. A quality gig at Camden #ElectricBallroom last night.

A black and white photo of Elizabeth Stokes of NZ band The Beths, on stage at the Roundhouse, London. She is leaning forward to sing into a microphone as she plays her electric guitar. An Orange-branded amplifier is visible in the background.

Four albums in, @thebeths.bsky.social are at the point where, if they played everyone’s favourite song, they’d be on stage for three hours or more.

It also means that the normal-length set they played at the Roundhouse last night was full of everything that’s great about them. I love that band.

A pub sounds like the perfect venue to me!

A black and white photo of Georgia Ellery, from the band Black Country, New Road, on stage at Cambridge Corn Exchange. She is playing an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone, and looking up into the crowd.

There is something very special about a big room full of people falling completely silent to listen to _that_ moment of a show. It happened more than once during Black Country, New Road’s hometown gig at Cambridge Corn Exchange on Wednesday night. Emotional, that one.