Well, that’s another year almost done. Its been tough for live venues running at reduced capacity punter hesitancy (understandable) It’s only really been half a year when the Governments mucked us about, major labels took over pressing plants at the expense of independent bands, the pandemic hasn’t fucked off, we’ve lost some special people from our Rock n Roll world and we’ve all grown a little older and possibly unwiser (is there such a word?) but on times it felt fantastic to get back out there to some of our favourite venues for half the year. It did feel great to see some of our fellow live show warriors and on times it felt like we’d never been away.

But, there have been some fantastic albums released, concerts seen, books read people interviewed and new bands made.  Here at RPM Online we’re going to celebrate those achievements with our lists.  We all love a list or a pigeon hole, or a debate as to what genre our favourites fit into but the bottom line is we need this thing called Rock and Roll more than ever to see us through some tough times as we reengage with old friends and make new ones.

People, welcome to the next few days as the fine writers of RPM Online offer up their choices of the runners and riders of 2021.  Before I open up this can of worms can I just thank this fine body of men for their efforts over the past year and if you’ve bought an album on the recommendation of RPM then thank you. Also, The PR people who’ve done right by their clients and of course the musicians and songwriters who put in the hard yards in these very difficult times thank you thank you thank you we love you all.  So without further waffle here are the lists for 2021. Starting with some of the live shows that helped put smiles back on people’s faces. There might no tbe the quantity yet but we sure as hell saw some quality shows in the latter half of 2021.

BEST LIVE SHOWS OF 2021 as seen by the writers of RPM Online

  Fraser Deathtraps

The Hives – Guildhall, Portsmouth

 Wildhearts – Fleece, Bristol

 The Hip Priests – Chameleon, Nottingham

 The Hives (Offspring & Bob Vylan) – CIA, Cardiff

 Wildhearts – Tramshed, Cardiff

 The Hip Priests (& Electric Shakes) – Le Pub, Newport

 Rebellion/Hits (Maid of Ace & Dirtbox Disco) – Wintergarden, Blackpool

 Goldie Lookin’ Chain – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

 Fleur East – Butlins, Bognor

 Platinum Queen  – Butlins, Bognor

Johnny Hayward

Roger Taylor – Cardiff, St David’s Hall

The Bar Stool Preachers – Flemfest, Pontllanfraith Rugby Club

Cock Sparrer/Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Bristol. The Fleece

The Hip Priests/Deathtraps/Electric Shakes – Newport, Le Pub

Gaye Bykers On Acid – Newport, Le Pub

Ben Hughes

The Future Shape of Sound/The Urban Voodoo Machine – Gypsy Hotel 15th Anniversary Show, Brixton

Bob Vylan – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

The Wildhearts – The Tramshed, Cardiff

Hands Off Gretel – The Crescent, York

The Professionals – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Gareth ‘Hotshot’ Hooper

Jesse Malin – Fleece And Furkin, Bristol

Wildhearts – The Tramshed, Cardiff

The Hip Priests – Le Pub, Newport

Urban Voodoo Machine – Bunkhouse, Swansea

Dom Daley

Jesse malin. Fleece, Bristol

Trampoline.  The Globe, Cardiff

Wildhearts. Tramshed, Cardiff

Hip Priests, Deathtraps, Electric Shakes. le pub, Newport

Bar stool preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids. le pub, Newport

Urban Voodoo Machine. Bunkhouse, Swansea

The Shunkos. Neath, The Duke

Dan Kasm

Jesus and Mary Chain, Albert Hall Manchester

Mysterines, Grand Central Liverpool

Crawlers, East Village Arts Club

Video Nasties and Zetra, Outpost Liverpool

Panic Shack, Jacaranda Liverpool

Nev Brooks

Fields of the Nephilim- The Tiv. Buckley

Jesse Malin, Kris Gruen – Bristol , Fleece

Cock Sparrer, Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Fleece, Bristol

 Gaye Bykers on Acid – LePub, Newport

Bar Stool Preachers/Riskee and the ridicule/Bottlekids – LePub, Newport

Ane Brun- Shepherds Bush O2, London