2016 Review of the year
Trevor Locke looks back through his notebooks and picks out the bands, artists and gigs which stood out for him.
He said: “Making a selection from all the gigs I saw that year was difficult; the main challenge for me was what to put in and how I would feel about leaving out gigs that wow’ed me but then you can’t just list everything. In the entries below the main acts are mentioned but not all the bands that played on any given date. ”
January
16th
The Lids play at The Shed; the first of a number of performances which marked them out as one of the most exiting bands of the year.
22nd
Scribble Victory; fabulous. Very good vocalists. Music full of verve and vitality.
February
12th
Michael Vickers performs at the obs Unplugged finals round 1. Upbeat, lively, entertaining.
20th
Corrupt Nation. A band with some serious levels of talent. Plenty of punch and a star quality lead singer. Also on stage that night The Reckless Youth. They brought back those days of large, enthusiastic crowds for one big dance number after another.
26th
Arc Isla and Aztec Temples at the Scholar Bar. Two of my favourite bands.
27th
Once Vagrant Souls put on a storming set at the DCIP semi-finals. Also tonight we saw Alligatr and Scribble Victory again with the show being topped off by The World Can Wait.
March
6th
Duffys Bar played host to one of the first rounds of Metal 2 The Masses with Blood Oath, The Mire Deep and others. Flying the flag for metal.
18th
Photo: Henry J. Allen
The Skunk Boy Project plays at The Cookie. Nate Swettenham. An outstanding artist.
20th
Final Coil wins at Metal 2 The Masses at Firebug with a resoundingly good performance.
24th
Green Day’s music featured in a musical at Curve – in American Idiot. Fantastic musical.
25th
Around 5,000 people gathered in Humberstone Gate to see performances by Jonezy and David Lewis from Once Vagrant Souls.
April
2nd
Punk legends The Vibrators performed at The Shed with IVMK, The Docs and Budgie Smugglers.
9th
De Sade headline at the Musician with support from Zed Rock.
12th
Trilogy brought stunning blues to the Musician with support from Alligatr.
29th
Photo: Trevor Cobbe
Hand Made festival. Many bands; but let me mention Ash Mammal, Her Name Is Calla, The Reckless Youth, Reuben Wisner and a packed out performance by 65 Days Of Static.
Photo: RhinoFeroSs photography
30th
Photo: Kevin Gaughan.
Hand Made festival. Notable appearances by Clubs, Lonely The Brave and Arcades.
May
7th
Photo by Kevin Gaughan.
Musician. Grand Final of the OBS.
From the band’s page on Facebook.
28th and 29th May. Kasabian play at King Power stadium. Well we had to put it in.
June
4th
Riverside festival. Bands on the main stage included Idle Empire and James Cull and the Black Storm Nation.
At The De Montfort Hall it was an Uprising of metal bands.
17th
Photo: Kevin Gaughan.
Urban Voodoo Machine at the Donkey.
July
1st
at The Soundhouse, October 10th 2014
Cabin Boy Jumped Ship at The Shed. Mind blowing.
15th
Arc Isla at Soundhouse.
23rd
Photo: Pascal Pereira Photography.
Simon Says festival – day 1. Steven Faulkner gives one of his legendary performances. Not My Good Arm on the outdoor stage. Kevin Hewick on stage in the DeMontfort Hall. Ash Mammal in the Marquee. Diesel Park West. The Brandy Thieves. Jersey Budd.
24th
Simon Says festival – day 2. Headlined by The Wonder Stuff. A rare appearance by The Gadjos. Also saw Kermes. Mahalia. Matt Henshaw. Howard Rose.
The Great Escape Festival 2016.
Photo: Keith Jobey
August
2nd
The Brandy Thieves at The Shed with Corrupt Nation, The Lids and Jimmy Amnesia.
19th
Calder McLaughlin at The Soundhouse marking a decade of music making.
28th
Loughborough: Jonezy at Beaconfest and The Phantom for the annual outdoor festival with many acts, notably Last Edition.
30th
The Musician saw a memorable performance by blues/jazz band Trilogy – an astoundingly good performance. What makes Trilogy so remarkable? Well, for one thing, it is the consummate skill with which they make music and the two singers whose have wonderful voices.
31st
Photo: Keith Jobey
Kevin Hewick at the Musician. Album launch.
September
2nd
The Shed and a highly enjoyable performance by Whiskey Rebellion.
At Sumo, Escapade was on a line-up with Jimmy Amnesia, as photographed by Kevin Gaughan.
6th
Always a great pleasure to enjoy Flip Like Wilson.
9th
The Cookie played host to Alligatr and Royal Arcade. Kevin Gaughan was there to take the pictures.
16th
Worth mentioning the audition gigs for Glastonbudget festival; there were many of them and most of them were pretty good; Before The Crash and Beneath The Lights was one that stood out.
26th
The Jav’lins at The Shed. This band is the life and soul of blues rock. Also tonight Brandon Neal and Michael Vickers – two marvellous solo artists.
30th
Legends Gaye Bykers on Acid play at The Donkey. It was a celebration and an event that brings back the history of live music in Leicester.
October
7th
Duffy’s Bar with Scribble Victory, Flip Like Wilson and Beneath The Lights.
8th
Oxjam Takeover Leicester. So many singers, bands and other acts performing across most of the city centre’s venues.
31st
The Cookie. Alligatr, Gloss, Midnight Wire.
November
18th
The Musician. Skam night. Sensational.
19th
Jonezy headlines a star line-up at The Shed.
26th
Photo: Keith Jobey.
White Noise festival at Firebug
December
27th
Leicester band Linear hang up their guitars after a resounding last gig.
31st
New Years Eve at The Shed; the last show before it closed for refurbishment.
Every year I do a review of the gigs I have attended and every year it’s the same brutal exercise of deciding what to put in. This selection is not in any way comprehensive. If you want to see the bigger picture, go through all 12 monthly digests – they are all listed above
Rest in Peace
Arts in Leicestershire is taken down; the end of its era.
Clubs (Leicester band)
David Bowie
George Martin
George Michael
Greg Lake
Ken Last
Leonard Cohen
Linear
Natalie Cole
Prince
Ricci Martin
Rick Parfitt
Viola Beach
and many others
News
Our roundup of music news for 2016.
See also:
Our roundup of Music in January (coming soon)
