2024 Top 10 Most Memorable Live Performances
2024 Top 10 Most Memorable Live Performances
By Oli Gonzalez
2024. It’s been a phenomenal year for me on a personal level, as far as live music has been concerned. I’ve put a serious dent into my bucket list, having seen a collection of my favourite bands for the first time live, made maiden visits to festivals and venues, and even a trip to The Netherlands for the first time ever, to Samhain Festival! It would be impossible to accurately report how many individual bands I’ve seen (it’s easily in the triple figures), though I attempt to narrow it down to only 10 here.
The majority have come at venues within walking distance of my home in Manchester, but others have come from festivals much further afield. Whilst this is not intended to be ranked in any way, there is one performance that well and truly blew me away and stands above the rest as THE premier live showing of this year. Also, I saw some bands on this list more than once, and decided to keep this to one performance per band. So, here we go…
10. Dragged Into Sunlight – 2nd November, Damnation Festival (Manchester)
The queue for their merch stand was long. VERY long. 100 people deep at one point. This was because it was the band’s first appearance in exactly 5 years. If you were there for their headline set on the Holy Goat Brewing ‘second’ stage, you’d understand why this was such a huge deal. If you weren’t’ (perhaps because you were at Ahab’s set in one of the most devastating clashes of all time) then you missed something special. Their exclusive playthrough of “Hatred For Mankind” will remain one of the most treasured memories for the Damnation faithful for years to come. Whilst the music was uncompromisingly devastating and intense, it was really the visual aspect that made this so compelling. The strobe lights, the fog, it was like witnessing the explosion of a star! I often wonder if Gojira’s track ‘The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe’ refers to a live Dragged Into Sunlight performance.
https://www.facebook.com/draggedintosunlight
09. Dead Posey – 17th July, Gullivers (Manchester)
Maybe the outlier on this list, the decision to see the North American Alt Rock act was very last minute. Though spontaneous gigs are sometimes the best. For me, the music was secondary. The reason for inclusion here was vocalist Danyell’s thoroughly captivating and larger than life performance on this mid-week shindig in the centre of Manchester. Honestly, I can’t recall ever seeing someone control the audience with such ease as she did that evening. I recall Kim, poor Kim, a petite lass just minding her own business and enjoying the gig. She was then summoned to the stage and within a minute was then crowd surfing around Gullivers like a packet of crisps caught in a strong wind. A thoroughly entertaining evening and discovery.
https://www.facebook.com/deadposey
08. Gaerea – 2nd June, Fortress Festival (Manchester)
One of the main reasons I chose to attend Fortress Festival this year. These Portuguese heavyweights are building a huge reputation for themselves for their stunning live performances and experimental approach to Black Metal. They burned through many tracks on their scorching album “Mirage” this evening, including ‘Salve’, ‘Arson’ and (at the time) their latest single ‘World Ablaze’. They arrived on that stage with the intent to cause absolute carnage and weren’t satisfied with people standing on ceremony, demanding everyone in Scarborough Spa to move and headbang violently along! It seemed only fair as they left everything on that stage moving frantically like their shoes had been set on fire. They’ve embraced modern technology and implemented an ‘ampless’ sound that resulted in an absolutely flawless mix that evening. A truly memorable performance.
https://www.facebook.com/gaerea
07. Saor – 30th July, Rebellion (Manchester)
I had heard that Saor were good live. “Aura” was, and still is, an amazing album. However, seeing this album live in the flesh was truly next level and far surpassed any expectations, even if the bar had been set through the roof! In the 10 years since releasing the album, the band have clearly dedicated themselves to their craft and have an entire team of dedicated sound and light engineers for their epic live performances. You can truly feel an atmosphere like nothing else at a Saor show. If you close your eyes, you can find yourself transported to the Scottish highlands in your mind’s eye, the inspiration for Saor’s Caledonian Black Metal. The introduction of Ella and her ethereal backing vocals juxtapose wonderfully with Andy Marshall’s epic growled vocals; a combination you won’t hear on the original album which is what made this performance the more gripping.
https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial
06. Sunken – 30th May, Star And Garter (Manchester)
An odd occurrence in so much as I saw the Danish Atmospheric Black Metal act twice in the space of 3 days this year. Whilst they were great at Fortress Festival, it was really their performance 2 days earlier in a small Manchester venue that grabbed me. Playing to roughly 100 people in a much smaller intimate venue (as opposed to nearly 2000 in Scarborough Spa) really allowed me to feel their Atmospheric qualities and appreciate the more subtle aspects of their performance. Even if the venue’s fire and safety regulations wouldn’t allow a smoke machine, this was still a memorable visual performance that was matched by a flawless live mix.
https://www.facebook.com/SunkenDenmark
05. Amenra – 26th October, Samhain Festival (Maastricht, Netherlands)
I’ve seen Amenra multiple times now. It never gets old. Their performance is a religious experience. Not many bands can match the overwhelming intensity and emotional output when they’re on stage. They do this so consistently and effortlessly like it’s another day at the office. Somehow though, seeing them perform live in a venue only a stone’s throw away from their native Belgium felt all the more special. Whereas they seem to be a niche band here in the UK, in central Europe they’re treated like superstars, hence their headline slot at Samhain Festival. The extra details afforded to them on this slot, along with building the stage and sound for their own unique requirements, is perhaps what made this all the more special.
https://www.facebook.com/churchofra
04. Hundred Year Old Man – 1st December, Star And Garter (Manchester)
The third time I had seen the band this year, though the first two had been on the lower end of festival lineups, right down the pecking order and even opening in one case. This led to performances that I knew didn’t really showcase their full potential. Being given the respect they deserve as a headline band on this evening was that platform they needed to demonstrate their full potential and their blistering live performances. Genuinely, I thought the building was going to collapse at one point given the magnitude of the low end bass rumbles! Some bands look awful at Star And Garter, given the poor lighting equipment on offer there.But HYOM provided their own custom light bars and rig that was coordinated exquisitely with the music which served to enhance their majestic live sound. This is an experience you simply can’t download and need to see in the flesh.
https://www.facebook.com/hundredyearoldman
03. Solstafir – 21st November, Club Academy (Manchester)
It was a frosty November night in Manchester, which would have likely made the Icelandic act feel right at home. I also felt right at home here with the 100 minute Atmospheric Post-metal clinic! They left no stone unturned in a perfect live mix and demonstrated mind-boggling attention to detail to get the absolute best from each of their instruments. The set featured older classics as well as many from their latest record “Hin Helga Kvol”, with songs ranging from slower and more ballad-like, through to raging Black Metal inspired ferocity. I need to see them again.
https://www.facebook.com/solstafirice
02. Meshuggah – 16th August, ArcTanGent Festival (Bristol)
I’ll admit, prior to their legendary headline set at Bloodstock 2023, I had been quoted as saying “Meshuggah aren’t big enough to headline”. After watching videos on YouTube, I quickly realised how dumb I sounded by saying that. I was lucky enough to be in the flesh to see them on their only UK date this year in the fields of Fernhill Farm. Many others had travelled to the festival purely for the Swedish giants, as evidenced by the huge crowd that had amassed even an hour before their set, poised to secure a prime viewing spot. My recollection of this set was being consumed in that monstrous 80 minute pit, where bodies were flying into one another with reckless abandon nor regard for their own safety and wellbeing. Especially during their magnus opus ‘Bleed’. Whilst they’re heavy on record, they’re unfathomably crushing and devastating in the live arena. Like a fine wine, they seem to only get better with age and show no signs of slowing down. I’ll never doubt Meshuggah again.
https://www.facebook.com/meshuggah
…and…the one performance that well and truly stands on top of the mountain as the best this year.
01. Ultha – 1st June – Fortress Festival (Scarborough)
The stage was draped in ominous static red lights. 5 musicians from Germany took to their places to make the 1800 or so in attendance aware of their devastating brand of Atmospheric Black Metal. Little did they know what an impact their set would have on me. Anybody who’s came within 5 metres of me will know about this set. The set that genuinely left me reeling and close to tears, such was the unrelenting and untamed visceral energy in their performance. Just when I thought they had reached the limit of the intensity levels, they somehow continued to raise the bar even more. Whilst Ralph is a phenomenal vocalist in his own right, nothing can compare to the feeling of the blood in your veins running ice cold each time Chris unleashes one of his signature primitive high pitch shrieks of primitive angst. No matter how hard you try, nothing can prepare you for, or be compared to, the live show that is Ultha.
https://www.facebook.com/templeofultha
Other Honourable Mentions:
Seth – 27th October, Samhain Festival (Maastricht, Netherlands)
Explosions In The Sky – 15th August, ArcTanGent Festival (Bristol)
Ranges – 7th May, Deaf Institute (Manchester)
Marduk – 16th April, Club Academy (Manchester)
Disclaimer: This article is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this article, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
