Top 10 best ever gigs so far!
I've done well over 2000 gigs to date in the last 25 years.
These are my current TOP 10 BEST GIGS EVER (many done a lot more than
once!)
If you think there's another one which should be a contender, let me know.
If you were at one of them, drop me an email! And if you have a photo of me
at one, email it to me...
1. Annandale Hotel, Sydney, Australia (solo)
The night before the 1993 Australian General Election.
Without doubt, in my opinion the best gig I
have ever done. The place was absolutely packed, the atmosphere was
electric and everyone, including me, had a fantastic time. And Labour won
the election!
2. Vancouver Folk Festival, Canada, 1989-90-2-3 (solo)
I toured Canada for the first time in 1989, coast to coast, and the Folk
Fest in Vancouver was one of the last gigs on that tour. The location
(Jericho Beach Park) was absolutely beautiful, the bullfrogs were in full
throated chorus from the nearby swamp and I went down so well that the
organiser Garry Cristall just kept inviting me back year and year. And,
after a 12 year gap, I'm happy to say I'll be returning in 2005!
3. Political Song Festival, Berlin, GDR, 1986-1987-1988 (solo)
Billy Bragg, the Newtown Neurotics and myself were the first punk performers
to be invited to the German Democratic Republic to perform at the annual
song festival there, and I went on to do about 30 gigs in the GDR in the
next three years before the Wall came down and everything changed (some
things for the better and many definitely for the worse) By then I was
gigging all over Germany and to date must have done well over 300 gigs
there, solo and latterly more and more with my band Barnstormer. But the
gigs at the Song Festival were fantastic and the nights spent talking about
politics, music and life with loads of interesting people at the Haus der
jungen Talente in East Berlin were if anything even better...and they
improved my German no end!
4. Glastonbury Festival, UK, 1982-2005
I have performed at every one there has been since '82, latterly with Barnstormer and my mate John Otway as well as solo. In every way this is by far the best festival in the UK, not just because of the wonderful and appreciative crowds I get at my performances in the Cabaret Marquee but because there is so much else to do and see elsewhere. Cheers, Arabella!
5. A theatre (forgotten the name) in Auckland, New Zealand, 1993 (solo)
After both national New Zealand TV news channels turned out to film me
arriving at the airport. Shows how little there is going on there.....!!
6. Young Vic, London, UK, 1981
Along with my old ranting poetry mate Seething Wells I gatecrashed a poetry gig organised by Paul Weller, went down brilliantly, it was reviewed in the national music press - it all started from there really. Possibly the most important gig I ever did.
7. Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany, 1993 at the FC St. Pauli End of Season
Party (solo)
Then about four times since with my band Barnstormer, all for
the brilliant St. Pauli Fans! If you are on the radical left and you like
football, punk rock and beer then regardless of your nationality, you will
love the unique phenomenon which is FC St. Pauli! Check out their website
at www.fcstpauli.de
8. My 40th Birthday bash Upstairs at the Garage, London, UK
With Barnstormer, Mark Thomas, Blyth Power and Seething Wells - 21st October
1997. At the time we broke the attendance record for the place and it was a
fantastic, memorable gig.
9. Glastonwick, Southwick, UK. 1995-2005
Southwick's Annual Beer, Music, Poetry and More Beer Festival, enjoyed by thousands of people over 7 years.
We organised it. I compered it. In 2003 Southwick Community Association said
they didn't want to do a beer festival any more and so we moved Glastonwick
to Shoreham Airport, its current and very successful home.
And of many really great German/Austrian/Swiss/Dutch gigs for Barnstormer
in the last 8 years, after a very difficult choice:
10. Fabrik, Duisburg, Germany, about 10 times since 1996.
Fantastic, friendly, welcoming place. Cheers to all the Zebras!
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