For the last few years, singer song writers have featured heavily but this year they have taken a back seat. This probably reflects who I’ve saw this year. It is also the first time a Jazz record has been on my list, with Jamie Branch. And for probably the only time, the list features a snooker player!

As usual, deciding on the order has been difficult. I’ve spent the last week re-listening to all my favourite albums to work out my top 20. The top three were especially difficult as they all were my favourite album at some point of the year.

Top 20 Albums of 2019

1. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
2. The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears
3. Black Midi – Schalagenheim
4. Dry Cleaning – Sweet Princess EP
5. LIFE – A Picture of Good Health
6. Drahla – Useless Coordinates
7. Richard Dawson – 2020
8. Erland Cooper – Sule Skerry
9. Warmduscher – Tainted Lunch
10. Avalanche Party – 24 Carat Diamond Trephine
11. Girl Band – The Talkies
12. Aldous Harding – Designer
13. RAKTA – Falha Comum
14. Jamie Branch – FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise
15. Lewsberg – Lewsberg
16. Automatic – Signal
17. Ezra Furman – Twelve Nudes
18. Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury
19. The Utopia Strong – The Utopia Strong
20. French Vanilla – How Am I Not Myself

The festival introduced a new beach area. The area, near Concorde has three stages. A big headline stage, and second stage and an acoustic stage, along with space for food trucks. It is a nice space, if a little out the way which meant you really had to have a reason to trek down there. Luckily, the weather was great which helped. I’m not sure this will be the stage to be at if it rains.

Idles were the main draw on Day 1 playing a headline set. There were queues to get into the space. Luckily I managed to get in just before they started and oddly, without any pushing, there was a space at the end of the barrier. Idles went down really well. The audience loved them and they seemed to love the audience hanging around taking selfies and signing merch.

There was also a New York band, Bodega, who had made some serious waves at SXSW with several people telling me I had to catch them. My first try at catching them was at the Green Door Store but this was packed and one in one out. I managed to squeeze in at the back for the last few songs and it was obvious how good they were. Luckily they were playing the Haunt later in the festival with Warmduscher on straight before. So I got there early and made sure I was down at the front. Oh my, Bodega are very good.

There was other interesting and hyped music around. Other highlights, The Ninth Wave, Warmdusher, Drahla, Nelson Cann, Hotel Lux, Hatis Noir, Life and Veronica Bianqui (who played a venue the night before)

There was so much good music around. Most of the bands I saw were enjoyable, some like Amyl and the Sniffers, I thought were overhyped, but they were still good. Others like Pip Blom and Sister Talk always put on good shows. This year was pretty much a perfect festival.

Artists I liked

Hotel Lux, Drahla, Shame, Hussy, Lucia, The Band Of Holy Joy, Warmdusher, Honeyblood, The Horrors, Snapped Ankles, Desperate Journalist, She Drew A Gun, Pulled Apart By Horses, British Sea Power, Koyo,  Yonaka, Gang Of Four, Peter Hook and the Light, Helen McCookerybook, Jo Quail, Myrkur, SKiNNY MiLK, Dronningen, Dream Wife, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Artists that were okay

Yowl, Crosa Rosa, Melt Dunes, Moderate Rebels, Soccer Mummy, Sweaty Palms, Scoundrel

Artists I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Crewel Intentions, Chemtrails, God Colony, The Orb, Lower Slaughter, Drug Store Romeos, Eyrie Leiu, Alabama Three, Judy Dyble and Andy Lewis

Best Gig

January was actually a decent start to the year. The Rockaway Beach festival was a good way to start a new year. Next year it needs more acts. But it was a good break. But there was one outstanding gig this month. Myrkur at St John on Bethnal Green was simply stunning. A perfect location for folk gothic folk music.

Best new artist

I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy Peter Hook. I thought it might be a bit karaoke. But he was really good.

Best photo