ANY reflection on a vintage year for gigs has to start with a big shout out to Cassie (Loud Women), Reuben (Songs from Below) and Rory (New Roots).

The best promoters are fans, who love music and make gigs a pleasure to attend. Theirs are always inclusive, friendly, intimate and fun and thanks to that trio I’ve seen enthralling artists — AJAR UK, Argonaut, Bugeye, Maddy Carty, Dolls, Dream Nails, Efa Supertramp, Jordan Le Fay, Fightmilk, Al Goodwin, Lilith Ai, Madame So, Petrol Girls, Alice Phelps, Lee Southall, Chris T-T and Nia Wyn to name just a few.

All deserve mass exposure but being up close and personal is what I cherish most. In a 2,000-capacity venue The Fat White Family lost that connection and had nothing to compare to the sheer joy and exuberance of watching the Loud Women festival or Thee Faction rocking up a pub with the awesome Tuts.