Ross Maclean
@rossmaclean
Freelance film critic and broadcaster, so likes films a fair bit. Appears on BBC Radio Scotland. Member of London Critics’ Circle.
This was the big one. The part of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ I’ve been looking forward to all year: a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds quasi-homecoming in Brighton. The event and everything surrounding it was emotionally overwhelming. What a night.
Always a treat to see The Flaming Lips but Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ was treated to them in the blazing sunshine and in a support slot perfectly suited to big sounds in a big space before Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in Brighton.
A Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ bonus event and one of the most amazing things my eyes have ever beheld. A few hours ahead of the huge gig I had travelled for, an unannounced rooftop Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds gig in a narrow Brighton lane. An event that will live with me forever.
Game of Thrones: The Mad King was one of the most astounding things I’ve ever seen on a stage. Genuinely awestruck at points. The material lends itself well to the Shakespearean gravitas it’s afforded by @the-rsc.bsky.social and the performance space and puppetry is something else.
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ is not above FOMO and so despite having seen him in Glasgow four months back, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see another awe-inspiring David Byrne gig — in Edinburgh this time. Don’t regret my decision for a second. Beautiful.
A definite Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ support highlight was seeing the most apt opening band for Shirley Manson’s hometown gig with her old hometown bandmates, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, whose blistering short set gave a sense of closing the loop.
A drizzly, haar-shrouded evening of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and a homecoming for Shirley Manson with Garbage at Edinburgh Castle. Clear emotion on the stage and atmosphere by the bucketload.
Then rounding out this evening of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ with Alanis Morissette. A performer with an innate ability to connect with her audience and a joy to see her again.
And as is now a Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ tradition carried over from last year, it’s also time for my semi-regular ‘Went to see Wet Leg again’ post. This time with the least invested crowd imaginable.
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ in the park for a stellar bill of acts in a location with less than stellar vibes. First time seeing Skunk Anansie and on the strength of that, definitely won’t be the last.
Went to see Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day and the end credits incorrectly credit Alex Macqueen as Alexander Armstrong. Never seen the likes in a finished film before. How does that slip through? Can assure you it was definitely Alex Macqueen in the film.
Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ don’t stop and this time it was Elvis Costello & The Imposters performing with a focus on the early deep bench of immaculate songwriting.
Back in the Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ saddle for The B-52’s. A band I never figured I’d see but an outstanding party band. Blistering fun in a sweltering Barrowlands.
Rounding out the best three-day run of gigs in Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ — nay, my life — the weekend was capped by a dash back to the UK and life-affirming gig under blue evening skies with Sparks at Kelvingrove Bandstand.