Getintothis End of Year Picks
Taking a look and listening back at 2017’s best bits, Getintothis scribes and snappers offer their opinions on the last 12 months and who they hope to see shine in 2018.
It’s arguable 2017 wasn’t quite as bad as predicted. We still have Trump and Brexit screwing our lives to contend with, but there doesn’t seem to have been quite the procession of celebrity deaths that sealed the end of 2016.
David Attenborough is still with us in a quite breathtaking fashion in the form of Blue Planet II. Keith Chegwin, John Noakes, Tom Petty and Roger Moore are possible exceptions depending on your vintage. So, too Chester Bennington of Linkin Park whose suicide gave us a heartfelt piece by Jenni Kickhefer of She Drew The Gun soon after his death was announced.
These things remind us of how fragile we are. How a little, fickle thing can change our day, our week, our life. For good or for worse. So inevitably, perhaps, it’s easy simply to write off the year as a series of disasters, but in this case we want to look back to the good stuff.
And for anyone living in or about Liverpool there was loads of it.
Personal highlights included the quite magnificent Wrong Festival put on by Getintothis’ own Micheal Edward, finishing off a sensual assault of a day with a blistering set by Bo Ningen. No-one who was there will forget that one. So, it was a happy day when the news was announced Micheal is planning a return match next year. This really is one not to be missed.
Africa Oye seems to get better and better every year and 2017’s 25th anniversary was a vintage to be savoured. The weather helped, of course, but the line up was a cracker as well, with all but headliner Max Romeo being repeat visitors.
This year the park drew record numbers and it’s a reminder, along with others, such as LIMF, that Liverpool knows how to do big events. There is something about the vibe at Oye that keeps drawing us back – it’s always a feel good weekend.
Psych Fest is the other stand out from where we’re looking. Here, too is a festival that is as much of a voyage of discovery as anything else. The bands on the bill may not be household names to most, but people will travel long distances for this weekend, such is the quality on offer.
It is an event that truly deserves the description “International” both in terms of the bands booked to play and the varied languages we heard around the site over the weekend.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs frontman Matt Baty’s topless microphone swallowing antics in District will be seared in the memories of those who were lucky enough to get in there before the one out / one in policy kicked in. Once seen, it cannot be unseen and that’s fine.
The range and quality of Liverpool’s various music festivals was recognised in October by a series of nominations in the UK Festivals Awards with Creamfields, LIMF, Positive Vibration, Oye, Liverpool Music Week, Threshold and Sound City all getting a nod to their standing.
These are good things and Liverpool should recognise what it’s got, especially when there is a concern some promoters and bands are thought to bypass Liverpool in favour of Manchester. Venues such as the Arts Club, Leaf, The Magnet, The Philharmonic, Invisible Wind Factory, Buyers Club, The O2 have all staged wicked gigs this year. Plus, 2017 in Liverpool saw gigs from John Cale, Bob Dylan, Chic, Robert Plant, Mac De Marco to name but a few. That’s not too shabby. And then there was the recent news that Liverpool Music Week was crowned Line-Up of the Year at the UK Festival Awards. So there is cheer to be had.
The Getintothis archives are a treasure trove of boss nights out had by our team of reviewers and photographers and if you’d like to be involved, then just give us a shout – we’re always looking for people to add to the team.
For sure, there’s a shitstorm going on around us and it always seems to be getting worse. The appalling response to the Grenfell Tower fire being a master class in how to get things wrong by everyone concerned save the residents who still have no clue where they will end up. Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Treaty. The shocking response to the storms in Puerto Rico, again by the same administration. The Manchester terror attack. We could go on.
The bare faced lying from those in power who are elected to represent our interests, but who have little else but their own self interested political agendas to pursue without a care to where that leads. There is a temptation to look at all of this from a glass half (if that) empty point of view.
Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017
But there was a glorious sting in the tail. After Trump’s patently ridiculous tweet about not being chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year because he didn’t have the time to do an interview or some such bollocks, Time pulled a blinder and named The Silence Breakers as Person(s) of the Year.
A massive piece published earlier this month went into great detail as to the reasons for the choice and, perhaps, more importantly, why the authors perceive a shift for the better. Kudos to Time for that – we salute you. It was a huge gesture. It may be seen as a brave one. But it was necessary. Peter Goodbody
Cabbage
Lewis Ridley
Top 5 Albums of 2017:
The Charlatans – Different Days
The National – Sleep Well Beast
The Cribs – 24/7 Rock Star Shit
Liam Gallagher – As You Were
Trampolene – From Swansea To Hornsey
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Liam Gallagher – I’ve All I Need
Trampolene – Imagine Something Yesterday
Cabbage – A Network Betrayal
Event of 2017
Lewis says: “Festival Internacional de Benicàssim – July. The second time I’ve been to Beni now and it’s just brilliant, the atmosphere on the Costa Azahar ahead of and during six nights of parties and live music is incomparable. Sets from Biffy Clyro, Liam Gallagher, The View and Kasabian standout as well as seeing my beloved Courteeners for the first time abroad. Amazing week.”
Music Tip for 2018
Lewis says: “There are so many, but a band that really hit the spot were Himalayas in a support slot at The Zanzibar Club in September. Their track ‘Thank God I’m Not You’ was BBC Introducing’s track of the week in November, the Cardiff band are really making waves.”
Fickle Friends
Amy Farnworth
Top 5 albums of 2017:
Liam Gallagher – As You Were
Khalid – American Teen
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice
London Grammar – Truth is a Beautiful Thing
Nick Murphy – Missing Link
Top 3 tracks of 2017:
London Grammar – Big Picture
Starley – Call on Me
Camp Cope – The Opener
Event of 2017:
Amy says: “Having spent most of 2017 living in Australia, and travelling South East Asia and Indonesia – in an attempt to ‘find myself’ – I have to say that the Ubud Village Jazz festival was my event highlight of 2017.
After completely losing myself in a clichéd yoga-haze throughout Laos, Cambodia and Bali, I decided to try and get a grip back on reality, and attended the annual two day festival on a whim, on my own, and ended up meeting some pretty cool cats and broadening my musical horizons. Sharing a sizeable bottle of Vodka with Grammy nominated pianist, Gerald Clayton, under a warm and endearing Ubud sky was pretty decent too. Ah…the jazz-infused memories.”
Music Tip for 2018:
Amy says: “Marsicans and Fickle Friends will probably pull it out of the bag for pop-indie domination with their happy-go-lucky vibes. But on top of that I predict the whole gig ticket buying process will self combust – prices will drop to 1994 lows; Emily Eavis will announce that tickets for Glastonbury 2019 will be super-easy to get our hands on, meaning no website crashes or waiting on a ‘holding page’; and money-scalping touts will mysteriously disappear into a hellish abyss along with the Kardashians and the bad eyebrow craze.
We can only live in hope…”
Billy Bragg
Will Neville
Top 5 albums of 2017:
The Mountain Goats – Goths
Lee Ranaldo – Electric Trim
The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir
Fake Laugh – Fake Laugh
The Feelies – In Between
Top 3 tracks of 2017:
Willie Nelson – Still Not Dead
Nathan Hall & The Sinister Locals – Everybody’s Burning Effigies
Chuck Prophet – Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins
Gig of 2017
Will says: “Billy Bragg at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – a perfect mix of rabble-rousing politics and heartfelt yearning love songs.”
Event of 2017
Will says: “Seeing The Human League perform an awesome version of their classic 1978 debut single Being Boiled in the dustbowl of Clarence Dock.”
Music tip for 2018
Will says: “London-based Italians Husky Loops whose eclectic pot pourri of influences seem to include Joe Meek, Devo, Stax, Robert Fripp and Nirvana.”
The Charlatans
Del Pike
Michael Head – Adios Senor Pussycat
The Fall – New Facts Emerge
Billy Bragg – Bridges Not Walls
Jesus and Mary Chain – Damage and Joy
The Fall – Nine out of Ten
Sleaford Mods – BHS
Mark Lanegan Band
Tom Adam
Mark Lanegan – Gargoyle
Queens of the Stone Age – Villains
The National – Sleep well beast
Bully – Losing
Conor Oberst – A Little Uncanny
Event of 2017
Tom says: “Off Festival – Great mid-size, alternative music festival with good food, drinks and great music, in 2017 performed bands like PJ Harvey, Idles, Shame, Swans, Sheer Mag, Beak, Ulrika Spacek, great vibe where mixture of young people and middle age families with kids all having great time together.”
Music Tip for 2018
Tom says: “I think bands and artists like Idles, False Advertising, Jorja Smith, Tom Grennan, Pale Waves, Shame, Singrid, Sam Fender and Dream Wife going to make significant progress in 2018.”
Greg Wilson LIMF 2016
Banjo
Top 5 Albums of 2017:
Mark Eitzel – Hey Mr. Ferryman
“Mark Eitzel returns to form with an album that is the equal of anything he has done so far in his extraordinary career. If you only hear one album this year, it should be this.“
Paul Draper – Spooky Action
“Back in action with his solo debut album, the ex-Mansun singer has produced an album that intrigues and excites in equal measure. As inventive and catchy as ever.”
Fred V & Grafix – Cinematic Party Music
“The titans of Stadium Drum ‘n’ Bass return with an album full of pop hooks and skittering rhythms. Somewhere in an alternative universe, Fred V & Grafix are the world’s most popular band.“
Irresistible Force – Kira Kira
“Anyone who has followed ambient music since the acid house years will have at least one Irresistible Force album in their collection. After all these years their music is as good as ever. Like slipping into a warm bath after a night out.“
Greg Wilson – JAMMS Graduation Ball mix
“Not really an album, but this is my most played piece of music in recent months. Remixes and mash ups mean things are not as they seem in Greg Wilson’s world, but a more eclectic and enjoyable mix would be impossible to find.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2017:
Mark Eitzel – An Answer
Paul Draper – Don’t Poke the Bear
Ride – Weather Diaries
Event of 2017
Banjo says: “My 10th Glastonbury, for many reasons. Its scale and stature make it the best festival in the world, and it’s something the country should be proud of. No less than a national treasure. Add in some excellent company, a cider bus, Radiohead, The Orb and John Digweed and, really, how could life be better than it is at Glastonbury?“
Music Tip for 2018
Banjo says: “OVVLS. Surely their time will come in 2018! Already sounding like stars and making simply incredible music, the world needs to wake up to OVVLS.
Also, it will be interesting to see how people try to fill the void left by Glastonbury’s absence in 2018 – expect a flurry of boutique festivals springing up and perhaps only lasting for one year.”
Thurston Moore
Matthew Wood
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Toro Y Moi – Boo Boo
The Horrors – V
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana
Thurston Moore – Rock N Roll Consciousness
Four Tet – New Energy
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Tyler, the creator – 911/ Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean and Steve Lacey)
Japanese Breakfast – Road Head
Another Weekend – Ariel Pink
Event of 2017
Matthew says: “Chic with Nile Rodgers, Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury. A class act that came at just the right time, the Sunday of Glastonbury is always a weird and hazy experience and you rely on the music to save you from settling into an indefinite hibernation as your body recounts all that you’ve put it through in the previous days.
Chic with Nile Rodgers are a bona fide cure for any extent of hangover and their wealth of perfect, number 1 hits make this a Glastonbury highlight that will undoubtedly be remembered for decades to come. They invigorate the crowd with their performance getting even the most weary of legs moving, while touching hearts with Rodgers‘ recount of his successful battle with cancer. A rocking rendition of Let’s Dance shines amid a set of priceless pearls and it’s everything we need to sign off the greatest festival on the planet.”
Music Tip for 2018
Matthew says: “Cult Party – Stoke-On-Trent born, Manchester-dwelling creative Leo Robinson has been churning out acoustic alt-folk tunes since he discovered Daniel Johnston and Phil Elverum in his youth.
Since then he’s been part of multiple productions, his music delving into themes of naturalism, transcendentalism and philosophical musings on the human self and its relation with the earth.”
Spoon
Childhood – Universal High
Sheer Mag – Need to Feel Your Love
Clean Cut Kid – Felt
Spoon – Hot Thoughts
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Psychopomp
SPQR – Suffer
Samurai Kip
Mark Rowley
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Black Angels – Death Song
OMNI – Multi-task
The Cribs – 24 7 Rock Star Shit
The Moonlandingz – Interplanetry Class Classics
Future Islands – The Far Field
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Samurai Kip – Ode To Moonlight
Gardenback – Sleepless
Pale Rider – I Run On Rain
(Also, any one of a number of Cabbage tunes, such as Necroflat In The Palace, Dissonance, Terrorist Synthesizer, Fraudulant Artist, Ertrinken, …)
Event of 2017
Mark says: “Confessional Festival, Blackurn (ft Cabbage, She Drew The Gun). Amazing gig in a church with a gathering of 500 people. (I was very lucky to be invited to write a review, as it sold out over 4 months in advance).
Also (in no particular order), Green Man Festival (ft. Badbadnotgood, Future Islands, Sleaford Mods); Liverpool Psych Fest (ft. The Black Angels, Songhoy Blues); Manchester Neighbourhood Festival (ft. Peace, XamVolo); The Cribs’ ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’ 10th Anniversary Tour (at Manchester Academy and Sound City); Capeesh KOTJ #1 (ft. SPILT, Gardenback, Samurai Kip, Wife at 81 Renshaw); EVAC Club.The.Mammoth (ft. The Fall, Cabbage, Kagoule); Strange Waves II (ft. Parquet Courts, OMNI, Nap Eyes)”
Music Tip for 2018
Mark says: “XamVolo, The Vryll Society, Samurai Kip”
Hannah Peel
Rick Leach
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Hannah Peel – Journey to Cassiopeia
Sarah Davachi – All My Circles Run
The National – Sleep Well Beast
Ex Eye – Ex Eye
Tchiakovsky – Symph 3,4,6 Petrenko/RLPO
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Mogwai – Party in the Dark
The National – Turtleneck
Clark – Butterfly Prowler
Event of 2017
Rick says: “The fact it seems we’ve managed to get through 2017 with “President” Trump in the White House is an event in itself.”
Music Tip for 2018
Rick says: “Bruce Springsteen to finally play Liverpool.”
Charles Howl
Cath Bore
Top 5 Albums of 2017:
Charles Howl – My Idol Family
Danny Nellis/Charles Howl writes lyrics with scalpel, they’re so sharp and cutting, but shows a genuine vulnerability as well. With this record he’s left behind the psych carry-on from his first album and EP, and shows himself to be a very special songwriter.
Spinning Coin – Permo
Glasgow indie pop and I loves it. So full of colour, and is chockful of terrific tunes.
Girl Ray – Earl Grey
Dark cynical lyrics cleverly concealed by pretty, pretty melodies and amazing harmonies.
Meilyr Jones – Mimesis
The recording of a concert and celebration of the album 2013 in a church chapel in London in May 2016, with a choir and orchestra. I won’t go on about it, as once I start I won’t be able to stop.
Siobhan Wilson – There Are No Saints
Classically trained Scottish singer songwriter pulls from her time living in France to produce this stunner of a record.
Top 3 Tracks of 2017:
Euros Childs – Happy Coma
Song about a man who prefers a quiet life swaddled in a long and delicious sleep, to the monotony of the real, and the everyday. We’ve all been there, Euros.
Charles Howl – American Boy
Saw him/them do this in November, with a string quartet. It took on a strange, Jacques Brel-esque quality and tone, and both floored and charmed me. A beautiful shock.
Colorama – It’s Not You/In Your Memory
Can’t decide which one of these heartbreakers I like the best; it changes daily. I’ll leave them to fight it out between themselves.
Event of 2017
Cath says: “No festival today”
Music Tip for 2018
Cath says: “Boy Azooga – signed to Heavenly, and I’m hardly sticking my neck out tipping these. Dead made up to stumble across them by accident when they supported Estrons at Buyers Club in Sept. Also, Bill Nickson (although I suspect his success will come in 2019, to be fair), and I have to add Rory Wynne’s new project because he’s so very, very good“.
CHIC and Nile Rodgers
Craig MacDonald
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Sampha – Process
Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
Bedouine – Bedouine
Eyre Llew – Atelo
Wolf Alice – Visions of a life
Top 3 tracks of 2017
Arcade Fire – Everything Now
LCD Soundsystem – Call the police
Young Fathers – Only God Knows
Gig of the year
Craig says: “Nile Rodgers and Chic – Liverpool Music Week – seeing people from as young as 10 to as old as 80 all dancing, singing, enjoying life together thanks to the incredible power of Nile Rodgers and Chic. To top it off the Echo Arena actually sounded good for once!”
Event of 2017
Craig says: “Bar marrying my beautiful wife, I’d have to say the Manchester Arena attacks. It shocked us all.”
Music Tips for 2018
Craig says: “Lee O’Hanlon to be knighted for his services to music? No?
In all seriousness King Hannah, Sub Blue and Queen Zee and The Sasstones for me will be the acts to watch out for in 2018 if you aren’t already.”
Sundara Karma
Sarah Pitman
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Nothing But Thieves – Broken Machine
Alt J – Relaxer
Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Human
Sundara Karma – Youth is only ever fun in retrospect
London Grammar – Truth is a beautiful thing
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Jo Mary – Wife Song
The Wombats – Lemon to a knife fight
She Drew the Gun – Sweet Harmony
Event of 2017
Sarah says: “Mad Cool Festival 2017, Madrid, Spain
When you go abroad for a festival you expect some sun, this wasn’t the case this summer in Madrid as it rained and thundered for 3 day straight. This however didn’t dampen the atmosphere of this urban festival. With headliners Foo Fighters, Green Day and Kings of Leon the festival was a sell out and drew crowds from all over the world (I even bumped into 5 other scousers).”
Music tip for 2018
Sarah says: “My music tip has to be Wildfires. Having only been a band for under a year they have already taken the city by storm. From playing Getintothis’ Deep Cuts and EBGBS for Liverpool Music Week, expect great things from this band in 2018.”
Kelly Lee Owens
Amaan Khan
Top 5 albums of 2017:
Kelly Lee Owens – Kelly Lee Owens
“As much as she hates categorisation and genre-labelling, I will say this: If you like trip-hop, listen to this. If you don’t like trip-hop or techno, then specially listen to this! Full of details and flow, this will reel you in. It did me.”
Angelo De Augustine – Swim Inside the Moon
“Recorded in a bathroom with just guitar vocals and lo-fi quality. This is some dreamy drugged intimacy.”
This Is The Kit – Moonshine Freeze
“I don’t need to say this. This girl is going places.”
Sampha – Process
“Well deserved mercury prize victory there. The production value on this is superb.”
Gorillaz – Humanz
“Now I am on tricky waters. Is this an album? Damon Albarn seems to have made a playlist of random works of a random style and assortment. So it seemed. But this is a grower and it wasn’t going to be nowhere near this list until I saw the band and its guests live. The dimensions just changed and here it is. An album on this spot just for how amazingly long it continues to take to grow on me – I am enjoying being patient with it”
Top 3 tracks of 2017:
Daniel Caesar – Get You
“Re-released with the album this year. Otherwise had a prior release in 2016. Babies will be made to this tune!”
Sampha – (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano
Kelly Lee Owens – S.O.
Event of 2017:
Amaan says: “Marconi Union at Capstone Theatre – Now this was nowhere near the greatest gig of the year – that’s contested between Gorillaz at MEN or Thundercat at IWF – but something happened on seeing them live and their First Light is now my most played track of the year on Spotify and a whole new world of electronic music opened.”
The Sherlocks
Top 5 albums of 2017
Liam Gallagher – As You Were
Kasabian – For Crying Out Loud
The Sherlocks – Live For The Moment
Shed Seven – Instant Pleasures
Noel Gallagher – Who Built The Moon
Top 3 tracks of 2017
Liam Gallagher – For What it’s Worth
Kasabian – You’re in love with a psycho
Noel Gallagher – It’s a Beautiful World
Event of 2017
Amos says: “The Courteeners, Old Trafford”
Top tip for 2018
Amos says: “The Sherlocks”
Blaenavon
Lucia Matusikova
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Bad Karma Boy – Prekrásny Nový Svet
A-Ha – Summer Solstice: MTV Unplugged
Blaenavon – That’s Your Lot
Depeche Mode – Spirit
The Horrors – V
Top 3 Tracks of 2017:
Ivan & the Parazol – Serial Killer
Judas – Some People
Kasabian – III Ray (The King)
Event of 2017
Lucia says: “The Rolling Stones at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria. It’s the fucking Rolling Stones!”
Music Tip for 2018
Lucia says: “Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Patti Smith are playing in London and Dublin together. Definitely, gonna be one of the best events of 2018.”
Shame
Lucy McLachlan
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Black Angels – Death Song
Cherry Glazerr – Apocalipstick
LA Witch – LA Witch
Black Lips – Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art
Metz – Strange Peace
Top 3 Tracks of 2017
Black Angels – I’d Kill For Her / Half Believing – I cant decide, the whole album is magical.
Warbly Jets – The Lowdown – My soundtrack to the last half of this year and a thank you nod for letting me crash their UK tour.
The Jjohns – Lucy – a ridiculously catchy song and obviously the name has nothing to do with why I picked it…
Event of 2017
Lucy says: “Liverpool Psych Fest – the only place to watch bands I’ve never had the opportunity to see in Liverpool. Highlights being Cosmonauts, LA Witch, Elephant Stone, Guantanamo Baywatch, Black Angels; and the most challenging and exhilarating band to photograph – A Place To Bury Strangers was a rollercoaster ride to shoot, I had a smile on my face the entire time!”
Music Tip for 2018
Lucy says: “Shame have been a big discovery for me this year, I love their live shows so much. I can’t wait for the debut album to come out in January, hope it lives up to the raw energy that comes with the gigs!”
Sleaford Mods at The Kazimier
Simon Kirk
Top 5 albums of 2017
Protomartyr – Relatives in Descent
Sleaford Mods – English Tapas
Priests – Nothing Feels Natural
The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
King Woman – Created in the Image of Suffering
Top 3 Songs of 2017
Protomartyr – Windsor Hum
Priests – Nothing Feels Natural
The War On Drugs – The Strangest Thing
Event of the Year
Simon says: “A tie between Glastonbury and Liverpool Psych Fest.”
Tip for 2018:
Simon says: “Stay frosty.”
Pale Rider at District
Jamie Bowman
Top 5 Albums of 2017:
Ride – Weather Diaries
Richard Dawson – Peasant
The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Michael Head and Red Elastic Band – Adiós Señor Pussycat
Howie Payne – Mountain
Top 3 Tracks of 2017:
Noel Gallagher – Holy Mountain
Ride – Charm Assault
Morrissey – Spent the Day in Bed
Event of 2017
Jamie says: “Liverpool Psych Fest – continues to set the bar for a brilliantly run festival both in terms of line up, atmosphere and setting. Compare to the shitstorm of Hope and Glory to realise how lucky we are to have it. A big shout out to the Captain Beefheart weekend at the Bluecoat too – a brilliantly odd day of talks, poetry, art and low lunar notes.”
Music Tip for 2018
Jamie says: “Pale Rider – Liverpool’s latest pysch rock masters. Superb live and they just get better and better each time I see them.I was also mightily impressed with King Hannah – beautiful, mournful psych blues in the style of Mazzy Star. Please record something NOW. ”
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