Gig List

Near enough every gig I’ve been to. All 200 odd of them.
2001
November 14th - Garbage (Astoria, London)
2002
April 8th - Garbage (Hackney, London)
May 16th - Rammstein (London Arena, London)
November 3rd - Tenacious D (Brixton Academy, London)
2003
March 7 - Feeder (Brixton Academy, London)
March 25th - Avril Lavigne (Brixton Academy, London)
June 19th - Evanescence (Astoria, London)
June 24th - Harry (100 Club, London)
August - Ash (V festival, Chelmsford)
August - Foo Fighters (V Festival, Chelmsford)
August - Feeder (V Festival, Chelmsford)
August - Distillers (V Festival, Chelmsford)
October 17th - The Donnas (Astoria, London)*
November 13th - Distillers (Astoria, London)
2004
February 8th - The Darkness (Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone)
February 19th - Span w/Bloc Party (Islington Bar Academy, London)
March 11th - Easyworld (ULU, London)
April 13th - Auf der Maur (Mean Fiddler, London)
April 15th - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Forum, London)
April 22nd - Span (Underworld, London)
May 1st - Feeder (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
May 14th - Ghost of the Robot (The Forum, London)
August - The Donnas (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Ash (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - The Offspring (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - The Darkness (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Razorlight (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - The White Stripes (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Melissa Auf der Maur (Reading Festival, Reading)
August 29th - Auf der Maur w/The Subways (Astoria, London)
September 26th - Charlotte Hatherley w/The Subways (ULU, London)
November 16th - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Forum, London)
December 1st - The Subways (Garage, London)
2005
January 17th - The Barbs (Camden Barfly, London)
February 3rd - Rammstein (Brixton Academy, London)
February 13th - Ordinary Boys w/The Subways (Astoria, London)
March 9th - The Donnas (Astoria, London)
March 30th - Garbage (Scala, London)
May 3rd - The Duke Spirit (HMV Oxford Street, London)
May 25th - The Subways (ULU, London)
June 2nd - Garbage (Paradiso, Amsterdam)
June 9th - Garbage (Brixton Academy, London)
June 20th - The Subways (Islington Academy, London)
June - Nine Black Alps (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Maximo Park (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Yourcodenameis: Milo (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - M83 (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Be Your Own Pet (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - The Killers (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - The White Stripes (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Hayseed Dixie (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Kaiser Chiefs (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - The Departure (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Rilo Kiley (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - The Subways (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Coldplay (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Dresden Dolls (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
June - Garbage (Glastonbury Festival, Somerset)
July 4th - The Subways (Virgin Megastore Oxford Street, London)
July 18th - The Subways (Camden Barfly, London)
July 25th - Charlotte Hatherley (Hoxton Bar, London)
August 25th - The Subways (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
August 25th - Queens Of The Stone Age (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
August 26th - The Departure (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
August 26th - Goldfrapp (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
August 26th - Babyshambles (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
August 26th - Robert Plant (Rock En Seine festival, Paris)
September 8th - Duke Spirit (Beercart Arms, Canterbury)
September 22nd - Duke Spirit (Social, London)
September 27th - The Subways (Hatfield University)
October 5th - The Subways (Astoria, London)
October 6th - The Subways (University, Colchester)
October 27th - The Subways (Brookes University, Oxford)
October 31st - The Kills/Be Your Own Pet (Zodiac, Oxford)
November 11th - The Subways (University, Reading)
November 12th - The Subways (The Forum, London)
December ??th - Art Brut (Camden Barfly, London)
2006
January 21st - XFM All Dayer (Camden Barfly, London)
February 1st - Be Your Own Pet (Bush Hall, London)
February 2nd - Be Your Own Pet (Camden Barfly, London)
February 9th - Goldfrapp (Brixton Academy, London)
February 21st - Little Man Tate w/The Suffrajets (Camden Barfly, London)
April 8th - Be Your Own Pet (Bloomsbury Bowling Alley, London)
April 21st - Be Your Own Pet (ULU, London)
April 24th - Jenny Lewis/Goldfrapp (Koko, London)
April 27th - Jenny Lewis (Shepherds Bush Empire, London)
May 8th - The Suffrajets (Camden Barfly, London)
May 16th - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Forum, London)
May 19th - The Noisettes (KIAD, Canterbury)
July 5th - Giant Drag (The Horn, St Albans)
July 6th - Pretty Girls Make Graves (Islington Academy, London)
July 8th - Duke Spirit (Finsbury Park, London)
July 28th - The Suffrajets (Koko, London)
August - The Hot Puppies (Electric Gardens, Hernehill)
August - The Long Blondes (Electric Gardens, Hernehill)
August - Reading Festival (Subways, etc)
August - Eagles Of Death Metal (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - The Subways (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Franz Ferdinand (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Giant Drag (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Be Your Own Pet (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Muse (Reading Festival, Reading)
August - Dresden Dolls (Reading Festival, Reading)
September 12th - The Subways (Shepherds Bush Empire, London)
November 11th - The Subways (Square, Harlow)
November 24th - Motorhead (Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone)
December 13th - The Duke Spirit (ICA, London)
2007
January 13th - Blood Red Shoes (Camden Barfly, London)
January 30th - Metric (Dingwalls, London)
March 23rd - The Subways (The Square, Harlow)
March 29th - Charlotte Hatherley (Borderline, London)*
March 30th - Blood Red Shoes (Lido, Margate)
April 28th - Blood Red Shoes (ULU, London)
May 8th - Blood Red Shoes (Heaven, London)
May 17th - The Subways (Buffalo Bar, London)
May 29th - Blood Red Shoes (Koko, London)
May 30th - Blood Red Shoes (Concord2, Brighton)
June 13th - Blood Red Shoes (Banquet Records, Kingston)
June 24th - Aerosmith (Hyde Park, London)
August 4th - Blood Red Shoes (Electric Gardens. Hernehill)
August 4th - The Pipettes (Electric Gardens, Hernehill)
August 20th - Rilo Kiley (Islington Academy, London)
August 31st - Blood Red Shoes (Lido, Margate)
September 14th - Alice Cooper (St Petersburg Times Forum, Tampa)
September 21st - Blood Red Shoes (Pavilion Theatre, Brighton)
October 10th - Blood Red Shoes (Bush Hall, London)
October 14th - Blood Red Shoes (Hertford Marquee)
October 23rd - Los Campesinos! (ULU, London)
November 5th - The Donnas (ULU, London)
2008
January 25th - Duke Spirit (The Fly, London)
February 2nd - Blood Red Shoes (229, London)
February 2nd - Blood Red Shoes (Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff)
February 7th - Blood Red Shoes (Sister Ray, London)
February 23rd - Los Campesinos!/Johnny Foreigner (Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth)
March 17th - Be Your Own Pet (Banquet Records, London)
March 23rd - The Eagles (O2, London)
March 26th - The Subways (Thekla, Bristol)
April 1st - Be Your Own Pet (Scala, London)
April 5th - Blood Red Shoes (Forum, Tonbridge Wells)*
April 9th - Blood Red Shoes (Kings College, London)
April 10th - The Subways w/Johnny Foreigner (ULU, London) (24)
May 13th - Johnny Foreigner (Kings College, London)
May 14th - The Subways (Hammersmith Working Mens Club, London)
May 28th - Maximo Park w/Blood Red Shoes (The Forum, London)
August 26th - Be Your Own Pet (Dingwalls, London)
August 31st - Blood Red Shoes (Offset, London)
September 15th - Metallica (O2, London)
September 30th - Johnny Foreigner w/Dananananakroyd (Madame JoJos, London)
October 10th - Blood Red Shoes (Freebutt, Brighton)
October 17th - Jenny Lewis (Koko, London)*
October 20th - Los Campesinos! (Electric Ballroom, London)
October 24th - Blood Red Shoes (Mean Fiddler, London)
2009
February 4th - Amanda Palmer (Electric Ballroom, London)
February 13th - Rosie & The Goldbug (Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, London)
February 23rd - Spinnerette (Islington Academy, London)
March 10th - Blood Red Shoes (Chinnerys, Southend)
April 5th - Rose Elinor Dougall (The Old Queens Head, London)
April 25th - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
May 16th - Sky Larkin (Farmhouse, Canterbury)
May 18th - Johnny Foreigner (Flowerpot, London)
May 21st - Rosie & The Goldbug (Water Rats, London)
June 8th - Rose Elinor Dougall (Luminaire, Kilburn)
June 9th - Rose Elinor Dougall (Puregroove records, London)
June 21st - Rose Elinor Dougall (Victoria Park, London)
June 28th - Bruce Springsteen (Hyde Park, London)
June 29th - Rose Elinor Dougall (Garage, London)
July 24th - Sky Larkin (Lexington, London)
August 5th - The Pipettes (Lexington, London)
August 14th - Gwenno (Puregroove records, London)
September 20th - Blood Red Shoes (Breda Barst)
September 30th - Sky Larkin (Cargo, London)
October 4th - Rose Elinor Dougall (Old Queens Head, London)
October 10th - Johnny Foreigner (Garage, London)
October 23rd - Rose Elinor Dougall (Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff)
November 25th - Blood Red Shoes (Cro Bar, Soho)
December 3rd - Sky Larkin/Los Campesinos! (Brixton Academy)
December 3rd - Rose Elinor Dougall (Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, London)
December 11th - Little Boots (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
December 19th - The Subways (The Square, Harlow) - did not attend. Forgot.
2010
January 23rd - Blood Red Shoes (Vienna)
January 27th - Rolo Tomassi (Barfly, London)
January 28th - Blood Red Shoes (Lexington)
February 3rd - Rose Elinor Dougall (Flowerpot, London)
February 4th - Rammstein (Wembley Arena, London)
March 13th - Blood Red Shoes (Garage, London) (26)
April 20th - The Pipettes (Puregroove records, London)
April 20th - The Pipettes (Hoxton Bar & Square, London)
April 29th - She & Him (Alhambra, Paris)
May 7th - She & Him (Koko, London)
May 28th - Rolo Tomassi (Underworld, London)
June ??th - Los Campesinos! (Garage, London)
August 18th - Pretty Reckless (Islington Academy, London)
September 20th - Sky Larkin (Lexington, London)
October 7th - Blood Red Shoes (Electric Ballroom, London)
November 5th - Rolo Tomassi (Electric Ballroom, London)
November 15th - Paramore (O2, London)
November 19th - Ellie Goulding (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
December 8th - Jenny And Johnny (Bush Hall, London)
December 16th - Pretty Reckless (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
December 19th - Rolo Tomassi (Bloomsbury Ballrooms, London) - cancelled, illness to Eva
2011
February 25th – Rose Elinor Dougall (Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London)
March 18th – Katy Perry (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
March 30th – Taylor Swift (BT Cellnet Arena
April 5th – The Subways (Buffalo Bar, London)
May 7th – Rolo Tomassi (Garage, London)
May 26th  – VersaEmerge (King’s College, London)
June 12th – The Subways (Farmhouse, Canterbury)
June 25th - Glee Live (BT Cellnet Arena, London)
July 5th – Darren Criss (Borderline, London)
October 29th – Marmozets (Barfly, London)
October 29th – Rolo Tomassi (Barfly, London)
2012
February 3rd – We Are The In Crowd (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
February 24th – Rammstein (BT Cellnet Arena, London)
April 3rd – Blood Red Shoes (acoustic) (Resident Records, Brighton)
April 27th – Blood Red Shoes (Concord2, Brighton)
May 3rd – Blood Red Shoes (Heaven, London)
May 9th – Garbage (Troxy, London)
May 10th – Maxïmo Park (Brighton Dome, Brighton)
May 16th – Garbage (l'Olympia, Paris)
May 28th – Summerslam 88 (The Hydrant, Brighton)
July 1st – Garbage  (Brixton Academy, London)
November 12th – Lucy Rose (Coalition, Brighton)
2013
January 22nd – Rolo Tomassi (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
January 22nd – Blood Red Shoes (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
February – Anavae (Bar Academy, Islington)
March 29th – Of Verona (100 Club, London)
April 7th  – Anavae (Bar Academy, Islington)
May 10th– We Are The In Crowd (Roundhouse, London)
May 14th  – Lucy Rose (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
May 17th – Marmozets (Concord2, Brighton)
June 30th – Lissie (Olympic Park, London)
June 30th – Bruce Springsteen (Olympic Park, London)
July 5th – Kaiser Chiefs (Hyde Park, London)
July 5th – Bon Jovi (Hyde Park, London)
July 12th - Lucy Rose (Hyde Park, London)
August 22nd – Lucy Rose (Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth)
September 7th – Selena Gomez (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
September 27th – Paramore (Wembley Arena, London)
September 30th - Marmozets (Upstairs at the Garage, London)*
October 2nd - Dog In The Snow (The Prince Albert, Brighton)
October 8th - Nina Nesbitt (The Haunt, Brighton)
October 11th - Pawws (Green Door Store, Brighton)
October 31st - Lorde/Nina Nesbitt (Oval Space, London)
November 1st - Deap Valley (Concord2, Brighton)
November 3rd - Big Deal (The Hope, Brighton)*
November 11th - Mt. Wolf (The Haunt, Brighton)
November 14th - Gabrielle Aplin (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
November 29th - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (Dalston Victoria, London)
2014
January 31st - Dog In The Snow (Blind Tiger Club, Brighton)
February 1st - Taylor Swift (O2, London)
February 9th - We Are The In Crowd (McLusky’s, Kingston)
February 10th - We Are The In Crowd (Koko, London)*
February 25th - Rae Morris (Komedia, Brighton)
March 2nd - Foxes (The Haunt, Brighton)
March 4th - Blood Red Shoes (Black Heart, Camden)
March 5th - Blood Red Shoes (Resident Records, Brighton)
March 6th - Anavae (Audio, Brighton)
March 6th - Dog In The Snow (Prince Albert, Brighton)
March 24th - The Pretty Reckless (Electric Ballroom, London)
April 25th - Blood Red Shoes (Concorde 2, Brighton)
April 27th - Lightknife (Komedia, Brighton)
April 30th - Blood Red Shoes (Electric Ballroom, London)
May 3rd - Blood Red Shoes (The Lounge, Canterbury)
May 4th - Pawws (Bramleys, Canterbury)
May 8th - Chloe Howl (Dr Martens Store, Brighton)
May 8th - Laurel (Komedia, Brighton)
May 8th - Tove Lo (Komedia, Brighton)
May 8th - Pawws (Komedia, Brighton)
May 9th - Wonder Villains (Prince Albert, Brighton)
May 9th - Honeyblood (Dome Studio, Brighton)
May 9th - Tove Lo (Warren, Brighton)
May 10th - Charli XCX (Corn Exchange, Brighton)
May 10th - The Subways (Concorde 2, Brighton)
May 10th - Wonder Villains (Blind Tiger, Brighton)
May 20th - Foxes (Concorde 2, Brighton)
June 1st - Demi Lovato (Koko, London)
June 6th - Lorde (Brixton Academy, London)*
June 25th - Lucy Rose (Sebright Arms, London)
June 28th - Aerosmith (Clapham Common, London)
July 4th - Black Sabbath/Motorhead (Hyde Park, London)*
July 6th - Lucy Rose (Abbot St Car Park, Dalston, London)
July 12th - Lucy Rose (Hyde Park, London)
July 12th - Hero Fisher (Hyde Park, London)
August 9th - Anavae (The Hope, Brighton)
September 2nd - Jenny Lewis (Roundhouse, London)
September 5th - Jenny Lewis (Islington Assembly Hall, London)
September 15th - Foxes (Roundhouse, London)
September 25th - Fear Of Men (The Hope, Brighton)
September 27th - Soph Nathan (The Hope, Brighton)
September 27th - Honeyblood (The Hope, Brighton)
October 6th - Marmozets (Komedia, Brighton)
November 12th - Honeyblood (The Haunt, Brighton)
November 24th - Echosmith (Barfly, London)
November 26th - The Pretty Reckless (Brixton Academy, London)*
December 2nd - Laurel (Prince Albert, Brighton)
December 3rd - Against The Current (Borderline, London)
December 12th - Foxes (Concorde 2, Brighton)
December 20th - Marmozets/Royal Blood (The Dome, Brighton)
2015
February 10th - Rae Morris (Komedia, Brighton)
February 20th - We Are The In Crowd (Forum, London)
March 17th - Lucy Rose (Concorde 2, Brighton)
March 24th - Charli XCX (Concorde 2, Brighton)
March 28th - Lucy Rose (Engine Rooms, Southampton)
April 22nd - Pvris (Concorde 2, Brighton)
The Great Escape
The Waletones - Fishbowl, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Ellie Rose - Fishbowl, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Kerri Watt - Fishbowl, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Rory Indiana - The Hope and Ruin, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Fickle Friends - The Hope and Ruin, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Ward Thomas - Prince Albert, Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
High Tyde - Patterns (downstairs), Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Kate Boy - Patterns (downstairs), Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
BROODS - Patterns (downstairs), Brighton, United Kingdom (14th May)
Orla Gartland - Prince Albert, Brighton, United Kingdom (15th May)
Secret Company - Shipwright Yard, Brighton, United Kingdom (15th May)
Dog in the Snow - Shipwright Yard, Brighton, United Kingdom (15th May)
PINS - Dome Studio, Brighton, United Kingdom (15th May)
Moumoon - Queen’s Hotel, Brighton, United Kingdom (16th May)
Jagaara - Dome Studio, Brighton, United Kingdom (16th May)
June 9th - Lucy Rose (Courtyard Theatre, London)
June 27th - Taylor Swift (Hyde Park, London)
July 6th - Lucy Rose (Church, Kingston)
July 8th - Gabrielle Aplin (The Haunt, Brighton)
August 1st - Mary Lambert (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton)
August 1st - Tulisa (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton)
August 1st - Ms Dynamite (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton)
August 1st - Ella Henderson (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton)
August 1st - Foxes (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton)
September 4th - Lucy Rose (Together The People, Preston Park, Brighton)
September 23rd - PINS (Oslo, London)*
October 13th - Rae Morris (Concorde 2, Brighton)*
October 28th - Izzy Bizu (Concorde 2, Brighton)
October 28th - Foxes (Concorde 2, Brighton)
November 8th - Dutch Uncles (Brixton Academy, London)
November 8th - Garbage (Brixton Academy, London)
November 14th - Flyte (Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth)
November 14th - Lucy Rose (Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth)
December 7th - Carly Rae Jepsen (Islington Assembly Hall, London)
December 15th - Lucy Rose (Hoxton)
December 17th - Anavae (Barfly, London)
2016
January 22nd - Lucy Rose (Ramsgate Music Hall, Kent) (Swampmother & SiVu)
February 15th - Gabrielle Aplin (Corn Exchange, Brighton) (Lewis Watson)
February 18th - Lucy Rose (Brighton Dome)
February 18th - PINS (Prince Albert, Brighton) (Peace And Love Barbershop Muhammed Ali)
March 31st - Chvrches (Royal Albert Hall, London) (Shura)
May 6th - HÆLOS (The Hope and Ruin, Brighton) (Vaiko)
May 11th - Foxes (Concorde 2, Brighton) (RIVRS)
— The Great Escape, Brighton - 19th May
Edward Sansom - Spiegeltent
Tuff Love - Brighthelm
Julia Jacklin - Komedia
Danielle Lewis - Latest Music Bar (Upstairs)
Mura Masa - All Saints Church
Shura - All Saints Church
Oh Wonder - All Saints Church
— The Great Escape, Brighton - 20th May
Me And My Drummer - Horatios
Black Honey - Wagner Hall
Black Honey - Horatios
— The Great Escape, Brighton - 21st May
The Big Moon - Komedia
Clean Cut Kid - Komedia
Julia Jacklin - Spiegeltent
The Barberettes - Latest Music Bar
Beverly - The Hope and Ruin (Bar)
Muna - Coalition
Muncie Girls - The Haunt
Area 52 - The Hub
Uniiqu3 - The Arch
Anna of the North - The Arch
June 8th - Anavae (Islington Garage upstairs, London)
June 13th - Garbage (Troxy, London) (The Pearl Harts)
August 6th - Carly Rae Jepsen (Pride, Preston Park, Brighton) (Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie)
22nd September - Anavae (Boston Music Room, London)
— Southsea Fest, Portsmouth - 1st October
The Big Moon (Pyramids)
Black Honey (Wedgewood Rooms)
Lonely The Brave (Wedgewood Rooms)
Lucy Rose (Wedgewood Rooms)
Honeyblood (Trinity Church)
10th October - Pretty Reckless (Scala, London)
9th December - Lucy Rose (The Idea Store, London)
2017
14th February - Gabrielle Aplin (The Haunt, Brighton)
8th March - Against The Current (The Haunt, Brighton)*
17th March - Tove Lo (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
13th April - Rose Elinor Dougall (The Lexington, London)
25th May - Ariana Grande (The O2, London)*
19th June - Paramore (Royal Albert Hall, London)
26th June - Tove Lo  (Concorde 2, Brighton)
30th June - Phil Collins (Hyde Park, London)
9th July - Lucy Rose (Pie & Vinyl, Southsea)
11th July - Lucy Rose (Resident Records, Brighton)
14th July - Lucy Rose (Duke of York’s Cinema, Brighton)
15th July - Oh Wonder (Resident Records, Brighton)
5th August - Louisa Johnson (Brighton Pride)
5th August - Years and Years (Brighton Pride)
11th August - Sainte (Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London)
16th August - Billy Lunn (Prince Albert, Brighton)
22nd August - Marmozets (The Haunt, Brighton)
4th September - Anavae (Paper Dress Vintage, London)
30th September - Lorde (Brighton Centre)
5th October - Dua Lipa (Brighton Dome)
4th November - Lucy Rose (Old Market, Hove)
24th November - Lucy Rose (Engine Rooms, Southampton)
2018
31st March - Anavae (Thousand Island, London)
12th June - Camila Cabello (Brixton Academy, London)
14th June - Katy Perry/Hailee Steinfeld (BT Cellnet Arena, London)
22nd June - Taylor Swift/Camila Cabello/Charli XCX (Wembley Stadium, London)
6th July - Little Mix (Sussex County Cricket Ground, Hove)
4th August - Britney Spears/Pixie Lott/Ella Eyre (Brighton Pride)
24th August - Britney Spears (BT Cellnet Arena, London)
27th September - Kylie Minogue (BT Cellnet Arena, London)
12th November - Sigrid (Brixton Academy)
2019
22nd March - Lucy Rose (Resident Records, Brighton)
4th May - Lucy Rose (Ancienne Belgique, Brussels) [fainted halfway through]
10th May - Anavae (Mesmerist, Brighton)
22th May - Zara Larsson (Electric, Brixton)
29th May - Carly Rae Jepsen/Daya (XOYO, London)
2nd June - Rachel Bloom (Palladium, London)
3rd June - AU/RA/Charlotte (Komedia, Brighton)
10th June - Halsey (Electric Ballroom, Camden)
6th July - Rammstein (Franchise FC Stadium, Milton Keynes)
11th July - Aly & AJ (Scala, London)
24th July - Jenny Lewis (Concorde 2, Brighton)
25th July - Jenny Lewis (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)*
6th August - Kylie/Clean Bandit (ft Marina for one song)/Emeli Sande/Fleur East/Bjorn Again/Rina Sawayama/Zak Abel/Alice Chater (Preston Park, Brighton)
19th August - Ariana Grande (O2, London)
5th November - Marina (Brighton Centre, Brighton)
6th November - Anavae (Concorde 2, Brighton)
4th December - Lucy Rose (Barbican Theatre, London)
10th December - Nina Nesbitt (Electric Ballroom, London)*
2020
8th February - Carly Rae Jepsen (Brixton Academy, London)
2021
27th August - Zara Larsson (Kingston Pryzm)
20th October - Maneskin (Islington Academy, London)
2022
2nd March - Foxes (Islington Assembly Hall, London)
31st March - Against The Current (Chalk, Brighton)
6th July - Olivia Rodrigo (Hammersmith Odeon, London)
11th July - Carly Rae Jepsen (Somerset House, London)
6th August - Christina Aguilera (Brighton Pride)
7th August - Sophie Ellis Bextor (Brighton Pride)
12th August - Pale Waves (Resident Records, Brighton) - cancelled due to illness
24th September - Lights (Chalk, Brighton)
27th October - Sugababes (Brighton Centre) - did not attend, flu 
5th November - Tove Lo (Roundhouse, London) - did not attend, train strikes
11th November - Muna (Chalk, Brighton)
12th November - Sigrid (Wembley Arena, London)
27th November - Poppy (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
2023
3rd February - The Subways (Chalk, Brighton)
13th February - Carly Rae Jepsen (Brighton Dome)
15th February - Carly Rae Jepsen (Alexandra Palace, London)
7th March - Mimi Webb (Chalk, Brighton) 
9th April - Billie Marten (Resident Records, Brighton)
19th April - Ava Max (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London)
12th May - Maisie Peters (Brighton Dome) - did not attend, family tragedy
29th May - The Warning (Bush Hall, London)
2nd June - Pvris (Resident Records, Brighton)
17th June - Beyonce (Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam)
19th June - Sabrina Carpenter (Hammersmith Odeon, London) -  did not attend, stuck in Amsterdam
26th June - The Warning w/Dead Pony (Islington Academy, London)
2nd July - Blackpink w/Sabrina Carpenter, Rebecca Black, Annika Bennett, Peach PCR (Hyde Park, London)
23rd July - The Who (Hove Cricket Ground, Brighton)
5th August - Brighton Pride - Zara Larsson, Black Eyed Peas, Confidence Man, Dylan (Preston Park, Brighton)
20th August - Boygenius w/Muna, Ethel Cain, Soak (Gunnersbury Park, London)
24th August - Be Your Own PET! (Concorde 2, Brighton) - did not attend, other family tragedy
20th September - Dead Pony (Green Door Store, Brighton)
14th October - Madonna (The O2, London)
1st December - Against The Current (Kentish Town Forum, London)
2024
21st February - Zara Larsson (Roundhouse, London)
27th April - The Warning (Kentish Town Forum, London)
3rd & 4th May - Olivia Rodrigo (Co-Op Live, Manchester) - did not attend, venue falling apart
18th May - Olivia Rodrigo (The O2, London)
21st June - Taylor Swift (Wembley Stadium, London)
3rd July - Against The Current/Dead Pony (Lafayette, London)
18th July - Taylor Swift (Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen)
22nd July - The Warning (Crate Brewery, London)
25th July - Bruce Springsteen (Wembley Stadium, London)
3rd August - Girls Aloud (Preston Park, Brighton)
20th August - Taylor Swift (Wembley Stadium, London)
Asterisked ones are ones I meant to attend, but couldn't for whatever reason - lack of money, bike issues, lack of motivation - or were cancelled by the artist (depression, poor ticket sales, act of terrorism).
x

A Running Total

I set myself a little task this month. Partly as conditioning ahead of my marathon training when it starts on (*gulp*) Christmas Eve, and partly to see if I could do it through poor weather and long days at work, I decided to try and run at least a mile a day throughout October. I could run further but a mile was the bare minimum that I had to do in each 24 hour period.

Then I remembered that I don't measure runs in miles but in kilometres. So I upped the minimum slightly to 2km (1.25 miles) instead.

My running streak started two days before October did, as I did a parkrun - Kerry and Patrick's last one in Hove before they moved to the Midlands, so there was no way I wasn't doing it! As I ran with them I got my first plus 30 minute time at that course since the marathon, but it was not about a PB and all about saying goodbye. The following day was a six km run to stretch my legs ahead of a busy day in London.

I tried not to stick to the same routes when doing my basic 2k runs. The first two runs went to Hove park and then a half lap before finishing - the second was much more fun as I had Dana accompanying me. Wednesday saw me use running as a method of transport for the first time as I ran to a Zumba class. If I do this again in the future I should factor in that it takes a bit longer than taking the train, but at least my sweaty arrival hid how badly I was at dancing for exercise! Thursday was a run to Tesco - I needed to go and get some groceries anyway so took a slight detour to tie in my run with the trip.

Friday was one of my fastest runs yet, as I managed the 2k in 10:25 - it was Claire's leaving drinks that evening and if I reached the bar before 5pm I had a free pint waiting for me, as part of a promotion for a brewery whose beer isn't nice enough for me to give them a shoutout. This was after finishing work and I also had to cram in prepping my bike for the weekend in a short space of time - luckily I made it to the bar with four minutes to spare! That pint, and three others before eating, meant that I was not in a fit state to ride my motorbike to work at 6am the following morning. Instead I got a train and a rail replacement bus, doubling my journey time to and from work to an hour each way - on top of a twelve hour shift! I didn't get home until 8pm on Saturday evening but forcing myself to go out and run in the pouring rain while knackered was probably the point in this run of, well, runs that I thought I could easily fit the marathon training around my work schedule.

Needless to stay I didn't get a personal best on that run.

The next day was dryer, and soberer, so I took my bike to work instead. It was bloody cold each way so Sunday's run was actually longer as it took a while to get my legs going. These weekend runs were going to be the trickiest to fit in as I work 12 hour days every other weekend; the other working weekend later in the week I'm on nights for, and there's usually a dead 3 hours from 1am to 4am which I'd earmarked for a run then. From the Monday I switched to late shifts at work, so my runs switched to the morning. This started around Hove park but the habit of playing Pokemon Go screwed up the GPS, so I'm not taking these times as gospel. Wednesday incorporated the game to give me a goal to run to, as there was a raid happening at Aldrington station so I ran there. Thursday and Friday were treadmill runs in the gym before work, to give me a bit of a change.

There was a medical reason behind that swap as well. I'd noticed earlier in the week that my shins were aching more and more during and after the runs and talking with a houseguest (hi JJ!) who had suffered from shin splints I decided to call a halt to the Run-tober plans. Thursday and Friday were easier on a very springy treadmill at work, but Saturday's parkrun enforced the decision as a good one.

Yesterday's parkrun. The last one down here with Claire for a while, as she's moving to Manchester. My plan was to stick with her as long as possible, as she's faster than I am (the only time I've beat her was when she gave me a five minute head start, and we tied the day after she gave blood and nearly passed out) but it only took me two social cues to realise that she wanted to run with me, which was a new personal best! She dragged me to a time of 27:57, a scant 13 seconds off my fastest parkrun time ever but boy are my legs showing the effect of a fortnight of running now.

Oh, and yesterday's run was significant in other ways, too...

Yes, after falling 20km short of the same goal last year, and hitting my 200km goal on New Year's Eve in 2016, I've hit this year's goal with 79 days (a good 20%) remaining! So I've decided to bump it up to a nice round 300km, keeping to an increase of 50km a year.

Dock 'n' roll

An interesting thing happened with this morning's parkrun. Yes, I wore my pb shirt, and yes, I got a personal best, but it was a new course - I could've walked it and still got a PB. That I came in just under thirty minutes (29:36, my fifth fastest parkrun time) after a night out on a new course is pretty good; but not worthy of a blog post.

It was after I had finished, I noticed one of the people who has finished before me was pleased that she had beaten the "serious runner". I know that parkrun is "a run, not a race" but it sparks a competitive spirit in some and I asked her who the serious runner was, wondering if I'd beaten them too. I was taken aback when she said that she meant me! Given that at this point I was red faced and sweaty, having had 80% of today's participants finish before me, I asked how on earth she thought I could be a serious runner and she gestured to my Brighton Marathon shirt and said "anyone who completes a marathon and still keeps running after must be a serious runner"!

It got me thinking, if not now then at what point do I start considering myself a serious runner? When I've run a 5k? A 10k? A half? A full? I've done all of those, and got medals for most too! I'm a serious runner, whether I like it or not.

Victoria Dock is a really nice parkrun, an out and back with the start/finish point just before the 3k mark. It goes around the dock, behind the Excel centre then back under the cablecar and round the residential side of the water, past some more restored cranes to the finish by the Crystal. It's flat, even flatter than Hove Prom and I was pleased with my time - I suppose a free breakfast back at the hotel definitely motivated me as well.

Next week, another tourist trip - back to Worthing for the first time in a few years, and a time of 31:55 to beat. I'll be wearing my Brighton Marathon shirt, which including the above run has seen me get 6 personal best times (either course or distance) in 5 races, so I'm confident of adding to it on Saturday!

A struggle, but I Prest-on regardless

Another Saturday morning parkrun (which I was surprised to find out today is parkrun, not Parkrun or Park Run), another PB of sorts, and one I worked for!

As part of our quiz team exploring new runs, Patrick and Kerry went all the way to Swindon in Wiltshire, 130 miles/210km away. Claire and I took the short trip across Brighton to Preston Park instead. Rather than our usual jaunt up and down Hove Promenade, we did a convoluted P shaped route around a park incorporating an out-and-back and two loops. It was also a stinking hot 17 degree morning.

Due to a gap of 45 minutes between services from Hove to Preston Park station I arrived shortly after 8am for a 9am start. After sitting watching the dogs playing I made myself useful by helping set up the finish tunnel and start signs. Claire arrived and we warmed up together, catching up on things since Wednesday. Claire mentioned giving blood on Thursday evening and I brought up my work shifts while we shifted into a position on the starting line and suddenly we were off!

The start caught us all by surprise and there was much bleeping of tracking apps as we shuffled over the start line. I realised how spoiled we are with the wide expanse of Hove Prom as the start was congested and tightly funnelled. A lot of darting about and slower pace as I fought to keep an eye on Claire, who had sped off ahead. I realised that I had no idea how far I'd run and where each km was until I hit the first u-turn and realised I'd done just over a km in 6 and a half minutes - almost a minute slower than last week! I lost sight of Claire but stuck to my holistic pacing method - finding someone who looked like they were going a good pace and follow close behind. 

This saw me slowly reeling Claire in and keeping to a good pace, running the 3rd km in 5 minutes 27 seconds - only 2 seconds slower than my fastest km last week. This took a toll on me with a lap and a half left and I revised my goal to a sub-30 minute time. The heat was really laying down and I whipped off my headband again - for the second week running it's been too hot wearing it, so next week I'll leave the fabric one for a plastic hairclip. Round the final u-turn and with one kilometre to go I noticed that Claire was still in sight, maybe this would be the first time I beat her without her giving me a five minute head start?

I was grateful of the slight coolness of the intermittent shade, upping my pace slightly so that with 250m to go I pulled alongside, as Claire gasped that she was feeling a bit peaky. All thoughts of a competitive sprint finish were flung to the wayside as I gave up the rest of my by now warm drink and matched her pace to get her to the shade at the end. We struggled over the line in 29:47, nearly four minutes faster than my last run here but just glad it was over! A sit down in the shade with some cups of water from the nearby cafe definitely helped with the recovery. But that makes it four PBs in my last three runs, and if I can beat 34 minutes 28 seconds next week on the mountains of Bevendean, I can keep this run going!

Another run, another PB

Another honk of the PB klaxon! Three PBs in my last two runs, and slaying some demons too. Not a bad start to my weekend!

Today was my first run as a Marathon Runner. After resting for a few days post run I was fine last Saturday morning; a few light sessions on the exercise bike (8k on Monday, 12k on Thursday) convinced me it was time to get my running shoes back on. Down to the usual parkrun of Hove Prom, last seen as the 25th mile of Brighton marathon. Last time I went along there was a slow drudge along helped by the appearance of Kerry and Patrick for a motivational boost - I had to do better this time.

Another notch on the motivation scale was my parkrun times. I hadn't had a PB since March last year, and in that time Kerry has overtaken me with her own PB. This added an extra mildly competitive edge, especially as she turned up today wearing a Swindon shirt! Last night's run prep of a late night at the theatre, together with being clogged up with London air, wasn't ideal preparation - but I didn't want to let that stop me. I'd compiled a special playlist for today, eschewing the backlog of podcasts as I wanted to keep the tempo up. 

A nice few chats before the start, with Carly, Claire, Emily and the Swindon pair, before we took up our positions...closer to the start line than usual. A shorter opening speech than I remembered and we were off!

00:00:00 Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy Of Gold

A swift start, and we quickly got into a steady pace. I hung off Kerry's shoulder to get a good pace going - 5:29 min/km for the first kilometre of five. I spotted Claire not too far ahead of us and briefly wondered if I could overhaul her as well, but focused on keeping Kerry close. 

00:03:24 AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Round the first bend, and Kerry had realised I was close behind, content to preserve my energy. The first Km was done and I was feeling good, not bad considering I didn't properly warm up! I kept the top of the i360 in my sights to improve my posture and breathing. A quarter of the run done and I noticed that the frontrunners hadn't reached halfway yet - as the course is two laps, with the start/finish passed the other way as halfway round each lap, it was good to see that they weren't too far ahead. It's demoralising getting lapped!

00:08:16 Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart

I'd planned this playlist to gradually increase the tempo so as not to blow out an early pace. At 2km I was still hanging off Kerry's shoulder but I noticed she was starting to slow. I decided to take the lead and have her become the hunter, so I motored past her and kept my pace up.

00:13:00 Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

Just after 13 minutes down, I passed the halfway point. Around two minutes faster than I usually hit this bit, and I was still feeling good. I told myself repeatedly that I had run further than this without slowing to walk during my marathon, and I didn't need to reserve nearly as much energy for the rest of my race, plus I didn't wanna disappoint Bruce! This took me round the 3rd turn of four, and I noted Claire not too far ahead, and Kerry behind. 

00:17:29 Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle

The four kilometre was the toughest, and Kerry noted she saw me starting to wobble. I was regretting my long sleeved undershirt, but some relief came from losing my microfibre technical reflective go-faster headband (£3 from Decathlon) and focusing back on the top of the i360. 

00:22:03 Van Halen - Jump

A check of my watch as the song changed and I passed the 4km mark. One more to go, a final turn and I was facing the cooling breeze. This helped and I could see the finishing line in sight! Kerry was behind, Claire too far ahead to catch up. Keeping up with the same pace would see me surpassing my personal best time of 00:29:18. All I had to do was not slow down.

00:26:04 Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart

Didn't I listen to this already? I put that out of my mind as the course passed under my feet. I steadily advanced towards the line, slowly reeling in the woman in front until a blur of peach out the corner of my right eye. Someone was going for a sprint finish. Well, I wasn't having that and I found an extra burst of energy to keep her behind me, overtake the woman ahead and finish in 252nd position with a new personal best time of 00:27:44!

The post run chats revealed a successful day for a lot of us, with a fair number of new PBs. I was pleased that my marathon hadn't caused any lasting damage, and that a lot of my slower times recently had been fear of getting injured before the marathon - with no such worry this time around I could think positively. I was convinced before the start that I'd beat my previous times and this mental attitude definitely helped.

L-R: Patrick, Emily, Kerry, yours truly, Claire

Snickers

Two honks of the PB klaxon, because I managed to get two personal bests in one run, yesterday! 

Yesterday I ran Brighton Marathon with my brother. Tell a lie. Yesterday, we completed Brighton Marathon. There's a reason that people recommend training plans, and we grossly underestimated what we'd got into! Nice atmosphere at the beginning, with a lap of the park where the starting corrals were knocking off both the first mile, and the highest point of the course. Easy, right? One mile down, barely broken a sweat. Down the main road into town, past familiar sights, lots of people calling out my name - getting it printed on the front of my shirt was the best decision I made preparing for this - knocking off miles two and three. Nice and easy! More posing for pictures as my wife surprised me by appearing between the pre-agreed spots, nice boost to take me past my old flat, up a hill that I'm not entirely convinced wasn't completely vertical, then back down the main route through town.

Down to the seafront, passing the mile 5 banner and crowds on both sides of the road were cheering me - I think by this point Phil was regretting not getting his name put on his shirt too. Up the steady climb to the clifftops and never again will I say that certain roads are flat. While they may seem that way perched on a motorbike, running up them reveals the true gradient! Out towards Ovingdean, ticking off miles 6 and 7, a steady pace, enjoying the view and going to part of the Sussex countryside I'd never visited before. It was about 8 and a half miles before I first slowed down to walk - a personal best in terms of steady running. 

Back out of Ovingdean, a village that helped me discover my love of jelly babies, and an evil double-back climb before heading back to town. More clifftop running, enjoying the views, glad it wasn't sunny. Being annoyed by the camber of the road, which may be one of the reasons my ankles are protesting this morning. A supply drop from my wife (and Phil's partner) at 12.5 miles, because despite normally having good math skills and running a half marathon last year, I can't work out the halfway point of a marathon. This was the loudest point of the whole run, and precisely the wrong time to start listening to music in one earphone! 

Approaching the 14 mile mark, scanning the crowds for signs to pass the time (I'll read any text if it's put in front of me, if I could combine running and reading I'd be much better at this!) I suddenly noticed one with my name on! Two friends from my local parkrun and pub quiz had roped in their friends and come down to cheer me on! Seeing Patrick and Kerry, and then half a mile later Claire and Matthew (the other third from our quiz team) with a supply drop was a real boost ahead of what my brother declared "the longest, most boring road ever" - the four mile out-and-back from Hove to Portslade. I used to walk this road daily to get to work so I knew what to expect, but I think it took a lot from him. We helped break it up by running to a bit of street furniture, then walking to the next one, and it really helped keep positive.

Unfortunately that deserted us after mile 18. Aside from Vanessa popping up with supplies, this was the bleakest part of the run. The psychological effect of turning away from the finish line was a blow; as was more of the dreaded camber, the rain, the sparse support, and Phil's knee giving him gip. These combined for a slow effort, and apart from catching each other up after toilet breaks (19.5 miles was the first time I came to a complete stop!) we didn't break above a walk. The grey, windy, cold, wet section through Shoreham Port - industrial estates aren't the nicest of scenery - up to the power station was the point where all motivation deserted me. I knew that all I had to do was get to the next water station, opposite where my bike gets MOTed, and that would be enough - after that would be the turn back towards the finish line and while we still had five miles to go, we had to do it anyway as everyone was waiting for us at the end so we may as well complete it!

It was at this point that we realised warmer clothing would've probably been beneficial as we were both shivering in our shorts and t-shirts/vest tops. Phil blagged a blanket from a first aid tent and we swapped this on the long route back. I honestly don't remember anything of miles 23 to 24 apart from endless grey clouds and a large amount of people shuffling along like a zombie movie. Just after the 24 mile point I got to familiar territory - the next mile or so was part of my usual parkrun route and I knew it like the back of my hand! Even more of a boost, Patrick and Kerry surprised me with an unplanned support slot and walked with us up to the 25 mile point. It was nice to have a distraction as Phil and I were out on our feet. Thankfully the psychological marker of only having a mile and a bit helped, and the crowds of support returned along the seafront. I noticed that my response to people calling my name changed over the run - from an upbeat "thank you, young lady/man!", to a simple thanks, to a raised fist of acknowledgement, to a weary thumbs up, to a very minimal wave! 

The sun came out to see us home, which means that I managed to get sunburned in the same run - in the same few miles - that I needed a blanket to keep warm. Thanks, British weather! Past the 26 mile banner we started to pick up into a gentle jog and crossed the line together, in 6 hours and 5 minutes. If I do it again it'll be with several more half-marathons and longer runs under my belt, as I'm normally upbeat and optimistic but this took it out of me. Still, I've run a marathon now, and nobody can take that away from me - not bad for the kid who preferred to hide in the library than take part in PE at school!

(Incidentally, from a few minutes of Googling, it appears that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has never completed a marathon himself - which means that I can be judged as a better sportsman than The Rock, using this as a barometer!)