Rocking Through 2024: A Year of Unforgettable Gigs and Thrilling Performances!
From the electric buzz of Wayward Sons in January to the wild finale with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes in December, my year has been a kaleidoscope of rock’s finest moments. Each gig, a unique story, from Nottingham’s legendary Rock City to the neon glow of Las Vegas, from small intimate venues to standing on the rails in a stadium, each concert has built a thrilling narrative of a life lived loud and proud. Join me on this exhilarating ride through 2024’s greatest live performances, and let the music take you to new heights. You can listen along to the year of live gigs by checking out the Spotify playlist below.
2024 has been a year packed with electrifying performances, spectacular moments, and an unbreakable bond with the music scene. It all began all the way back in January with the explosive energy of Wayward Sons, who tore through hits like “Any Other Way” and “Ghost,” setting the tone for an epic year of gigs.

March stormed in with The Hives, igniting the crowd with their raw, punk-infused sound and frenetic stage presence. “Tick Tick Boom” and “Hate to Say I Told You So” set the place on fire. Each gig seemingly outdoing the last, and by May, American rockers Ugly Kid Joe took the stage, delivering their grunge-infused anthems like “Everything About You” and “Cats in the Cradle,” stirring up nostalgia and raw energy.

Following them, the legendary Scorpions at their residency at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, rocked with timeless hits like “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “Wind of Change” before embarking on their tour. Right behind them, Tenacious D brought comedic brilliance with “Tribute” and “The Metal.” Shortly after the gig, Jack and Kyle split up because of differences, but don’t worry—they are meant to be touring again in ’25.


June saw AC/DC UK, delivering an authentic performance that felt like a time warp back to AC/DC’s glory days. They were a good warm-up for when the real AC/DC tour stops off in the UK in July. Summer heated up in July with heavy hitters. Pretty Reckless brought dark, seductive energy with “Heaven Knows” and “Death By Rock And Roll,” while AC/DC rocked a packed stadium at Wembley electrifying the crowd with “Thunderstruck” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Arielle‘s gig at the Marshall amp factory in Milton Keynes was a highlight, providing a rare and enjoyable experience to visit the home of the manufacturer that powers so much rock history.

Living Colour was a trip down memory lane, putting on a great show with “Cult of Personality” and “Love Rears Its Ugly Head.” Larger-than-life Jared James Nichols blistered with “Nails in My Coffin” and “Don’t Be Scared.”

August was bittersweet with Brave Rival‘s powerful set including “Guilty Love” and “Heart Attack.” Aerosmith announced they were to stop touring, marking an end to their era. A band that I have seen live many times will be deeply missed for their immense contribution to rock music. There was a heartfelt tribute to Motorhead’s Lemmy, whose ashes were escorted by 40 motorbikes from the Bloodstock festival in Derbyshire to Nottingham’s Rock City, made it a true rock ‘n’ roll moment. Lemmy’s bust is a sight to see—make sure to check it out when you visit the venue. This month was especially poignant for me as I also paid tribute to my own father, who passed away, making August a month of reflection and deep personal significance.

September was a rollercoaster of rock. The Lazys, an Australian band I have looked forward to seeing for a long time, brought high-octane performances with “Shake It Like You Mean It” and “Nothing But Trouble.” Junkyard Drive delivered gritty riffs with “Where I Belong” and “Mr Rock N Roll,” and The Dead Daisies‘ all-star lineup reunited with John Corabi, rocked with “Make Some Noise” and “Dead and Gone.” The Bites are a great live band that shouldn’t be missed, kept the energy high with “Do Me A Favor.” The Treatment kicked off with “Let It Begin,” while The Molotovs fired up the crowd with “Nasty Piece of Work,” and The Sex Pistols with their new singer, Frank Carter, took us back to punk glory with “Anarchy in the UK” and “God Save the Queen” as they brought an authentic but fresh sound to the stage. Watch out for them in 2025.


November was a whirlwind with the dynamic Royal Republic, performing their disco-infused rock and energetic show with hits like “Baby” and “Tommy-Gun.” Local Nottingham rockers Continental Lovers brought their gritty sound inspired by 80’s giants Hanoi Rocks. Florence Black delivered an explosive set with their powerful rock anthems. Cam Cole wowed with his incredible one-man band performance, blending folk, blues, and rock with tracks like “Mama” and “New Age Blues.” Irish duo Dea Matrona captivated with “Stamp on It” and “Make You My Star,” while The Hot Damn brought their infectious party vibe and sass to Nottingham with “Dance Around” and “Change Your Mind.” Troy Redfern was a great support for Philip Sayce, who got groovy with “Lady Love Devine.” The Quireboys mixed old and new hits together with their impactful set which included “7 O’clock”,” Jeeze Louise” and “Hey You.” A huge shout out to the Massive Wagons who took the top spot for gig of the year with their unforgettable performance, including “Sleep Forever” and “In It Together,” capped off by Baz sailing around Rock City in a dingy, making it a night to remember by everyone who raised their hands to support him.



December started strong with an incredible set by Eddie 9v, who brought raw blues energy and soulful performances that set the stage on fire. Robert Jon and the Wreck took the stage, delivering a high note with “Do You Remember” and “Shine a Light on Me Brother.” Finally, the year closed with a bang as Me First and the Gimme Gimmes—not just a cover band, but The Cover Band—brought their punk rock covers to life. Their set was fantastic, featuring classics like “Country Road” and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” They made it a real party for my final gig of the year by singing Christmas songs such as Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” and Wizard’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every day.” Who doesn’t like a bit of Roy Wood and Noddy Holder in December? It was the perfect way to end the year on a high note.


Reflecting on this wild ride, every band, every song, and every note played a part in making this year truly exceptional. And, of course, I can’t forget the venues of Nottingham, in particular Rock City —my local venue and the heartbeat of live music in the UK. With 2025 on the horizon, the anticipation for another fantastic year of live music is already building. And if you see Rock News at any of the gigs in 2025, be sure to say hello!
Stay tuned for epic performances and stories, which will all be captured in reviews and photos at rocknews.co.uk. And whist your waiting for your next concert check out this year’s gig playlist on Spotify,
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So, here’s to a fantastic 2025 with more nights lost in the music and the endless pursuit of that perfect gig.



Rocking Through 2024: A Year of Unforgettable Gigs and Thrilling Performances! @ Rock News.