This year has been pretty incredible for gigs. I definitely made the most of my time in London and have been to more shows and festivals than any other year of my life - 91 to be exact (full list HERE)! So, here’s my top five. I was going to do a top ten, but I’ve been to so many amazing ones, it was hard to pick and choose, but these five didn’t require any thought.

1. Four Year Strong – Fighting Cocks, Kingston - 16/02/11.

This band has had such an impact on me. I’ve seen them 16-times, so getting to see Rise or Die Trying in FULL at a 120-capacity venue and going batshit crazy with so many of my friends was just incredible. It was also the last time I saw them with Josh. Sob.

2. Promise of Redemption – Purple Turtle, London - 24/09/11.

I don’t think there’s been an album that’s affected me more than When The Flowers Bloom. It was made even more special, because myself, Chris and Leigh really helped make it happen. When we heard Valencia were coming over with The Wonder Years, we emailed Shane asking if he was up for it and he was! I never thought the day would come where POR would do a show over here, but it did. Not even ashamed to admit that I cried during a couple of songs. Everything just flooded back. 

3. The Ghost of a Thousand – The Underworld, London - 23/07/11.

This was The Ghost of a Thousand’s last headline show, one of my favourite UK bands. Absolutely insane. I saw their final performance at Hevy Fest and while shit was lost, it certainly didn’t come close to the intimacy and intensity of The Underworld two weeks prior.

4. Terror – The Underworld, London - 07/07/11.

There’s no doubt that Terror are one of the best live bands around and pretty much my favourite active hardcore band. I’ve seen them a bunch of times and their sets are always awesomely predictable, but this one stood out for one reason: 15 stage dives. I had a bet with my friend Sam that I could do 11 stage dives during their set, I was dead after the second one, but I powered through with UNRELENTING WILL and achieved a personal best! They didn’t even finish their set, they did about 16 songs then during Keepers of The Faith a fight broke out and immediately stopped playing - only at a Terror show!

5. Great Cynics – The Atlantic, FEST - Gainesville, Florida - 29/10/11.

Getting to see Giles with a load of my favourite people, at my first Fest, was just wonderful. So many friends, sing-a-longs and human pyramids. It was pretty much a Kingston show just 4000-miles away from home. I hadn’t smiled and laughed so much during a set in a long time, if ever! Maybe I would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn’t broke a rib the day before, ha.