At the end of one of the best Live Performance years I can remember, it was time for us at Shakenstir to sit down and select the finest shows of 2003. It has been a difficult task to choose a winner, but one show at Manchester’s Carling Apollo venue was eventually selected the unanimous winner. For me, live performance is the ‘lie-detector’ test; the yardstick by which others are judged; the essence of music. And live performance is the challenge that many acts, regardless of quality, find the most difficult to meet and beat. It should also be remembered that to be able to perform at their best, acts require a dedicated and skilled band of people to support them on stage, and venues with their eye focused on the quality ball.

As you can imagine, we have visited venues small and large, including huge festival sites (in the UK and Ireland). Suffice it to say that some venues do not even meet minimum standards and should be excluded from any tour schedule. I have visited venues sited not too far from where I’m typing this piece that acts visit at their peril (from every live performance aspect). Fortunately these are the exceptions and overall the standard of venues is high, and great places to see and hear the best artists and music around.

Radiohead’s show at Manchester’s Carling Apollo was our unanimous winner, and the Carling Apollo proved on several occasions in 2003 to be the best venue. So good was the show that in our books it will go down as one of the best live performances of all time (you can read two reports in our Live Reviews section). The venue also supplied another highlight of the year when I saw The White Stripes perform a magical set back in April.

Manchester University’s Academy venues are some of the best in the North West and it was at one of the these that I witnessed the formidable American singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco and her excellent label mate, Hamell On Trial, thrill a capacity audience. This time around, DiFranco performed without her wonderful backing band, and gave the best performance I have seen from her. Here is a lady who connects with an audience and like few other artists can.

At the beginning of 2003, I was treated to a live performance by a new Canadian singer/songwriter at the University’s smallest venue, The Hop & Grape (or is it the Academy 3 now?). Kathleen Edwards debut album FAILER hinted at greatness, this live performance confirmed it. The university also provided another rather special, and for me, surprising highlight of 2003. A heavily pregnant Cerys Matthews gave a wonderful, earthy and joyful performance in her new solo country guise.

Before we depart for Liverpool, there was one performance that left me uncertain. Goldfrapp gave a fantastic vocal performance at Manchester University. But she failed to connect with an audience who was well and truly ‘up for it.’ She appeared distant, withdrawn and if she can overcome this problem, she will be a truly great live performer.

Liverpool University’s Academy venues go from strength to strength. It was there that I witnessed one of the year’s finest and most moving performances. Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man (Paul Webb of Talk Talk) released one of the very best albums of 2002 with OUT OF SEASON. Despite suffering from a bad cold (she missed the sound check), Gibbons blew me away (in a very short show) with her deeply expressive and sincere performance, and one that I will remember for many years.

In 2003 the NME Awards tour stopped off at Liverpool University and a diverse range of acts provided an exciting and value-packed show. The Datsuns, Interpol and The Polyphonic Spree gave and received in abundance, while The Thrills frankly didn’t…

My final selection from Liverpool University was the passionate and audience-friendly performance by the double bill of Maria McKee and Ireland’s wonderful band, Woodstar, while Liverpool’s Barfly venue boasted another great young Irish band in The Revs.

Closer to home in Chester, I caught a magnificent set by London’s great indie rock band White Buffalo, while in my hometown of Wrexham, Lambchop and Eileen Rose celebrated their last show on a long Europe-wide tour with an incredible exhibition of deep introspection. Also in Wrexham, Mike Peters (The Alarm, Dead Men Walking)held his Alarmstock, 2 Days Of Acoustic Music event. Peters covered everything from old Alarm classics to some brilliant new material (due for release early in 2004). It was a wonderful performance marathon to a sell-out audience.

One word, Metallica! And the secret gig of secret gigs at April’s Download metal rock festival in Donington. An unknown act called Apocalyptica appeared on the menu for the festival’s secondary stage at 3.30pm on the closing day. Rumours were rife but nobody really knew until the covers were removed from the on-stage amps to reveal Metallica’s new logo, just seconds before the band was due to perform. You had to be there to experience the anticipation, response and vibe to what turned out to be the performance of that festival. Amazing!

Despite Kerrang’s exclusive pre-gig knowledge and photo concession, Shakenstir was the first in the world to report in detail (with photos!) on the gig within 24 hours of the event, and 48 hours prior to Kerrang! (who were not best pleased…).

One weekend in July produced several performance highlights of 2003. I covered the glorious Witnness festival in Dublin, while my associate covered the Move festival in Manchester. Performances by the Frames, David Gray, Jerry Fish and Bell X1 at the Witnness festival were extraordinary, while R.E.M. pulled out all the emotional stops at Move. In a wonderful live performance year, our favourite event promoter was SJM Concerts who provided an eclectic mix of artists for us to enjoy. And just when I thought it was safe to sink bank into my armchair, Manchester Academy 2 beckons me back for one final, and fantastic fling. Electric Six, Kid Symphony and Moco provide a wonderful show (and the year’s most vocal audience) to end my live review year.

Shakenstir’s Top 10 Live Performances of 2003 are:

Radiohead @ Carling Apollo, Manchester

Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man @ Academy 1, Liverpool

Ani DiFranco @ Academy 2, Manchester

Metallica @ Download Festival, Manchester

Frames @ Witnness Festival, Dublin

The White Stripes @ Carling Apollo, Manchester

R.E.M. @ Move Festival, Manchester

David Gray @ Witnness Festival, Dublin

Lambchop @ Central Station, Wrexham

Kathleen Edwards @ Hop & Grape, Manchester

Ed