Gigs
Best : Sufjan Stevens – The Playhouse, Edinburgh – 30 August 2015
A good year for great gigs but no obvious stand-out. I scored 6 acts at 9/11 with no 10s this year. So hard to choose, Kagoule really made it difficult, but the accolade has to go to Sufjan Stevens. Wasn’t expecting to be so enchanted and moved. Well done sir, well done indeed !
Close to best :
Kagoule – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh – 9 Dec 2015
Ane Brun – Oran Mor, Glasgow – 6 Dec 2015
FFS – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – 24 August 2015
Happyness –Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh – 8 May 2015
First Aid Kit –The Usher Hall, Edinburgh – 19 Jan 2015
Albums
Best : ‘Urth’ – Kagoule
Not such a great albums year for me which made ‘Urth’ stand out so obviously. What a debut. Every track a winner. A band I expect to continue to go from strength to strength.
Recommended:
‘Weird Little Birthday’ – Happyness
‘No Cities To Love’ – Sleater-Kinney
‘Bones & Longing ‘ – Gemma Hayes
‘When I’m Free’ – Ane Brun
‘Carrie & Lowell’ – Sufjan Stevens
‘Vulnicura’ – Bjork
‘Ask the Deep’ – Soley
2015 Favourite Artists & Discoveries
Kagoule
As above, Awesome band and no.1 2015 discovery for me.
Sleater-Kinney
Don’t know how I missed this band before, and sadly missed their Glasgow gig in May … Doh! Been listening, buying up back catalogue and YouTubing them ever since. Tremendous!
The Joy Formidable
Great Welsh band that I won’t miss on tour next year. This Ladder is Ours probably my favourite official video of 2015.
Happyness
So happy to have found out about Happyness. Another Sneaky Pete’s winner. Can’t wait to see what they get up to next.
George Glen 