2008 has been a great year for gigs and of the many bands I've seen there are not many that I have not enjoyed. Generally (unless crushingly and arogantly awful) I don't mention the bands I didn't enjoy, and I don't go to see them again. Some of the awards may sound not very serious, but all the winners deserve to win something and you should go and see them.

Last year Little Fish were the big winners in the 1st annual Wildblanket awards, since then they have gone from strength to strength and picked up the Best Rock Act from the Indy Awards before signing with Custard Records and recording an album for Spring 2009 release. I have decided that they can only have one award this year and that is:

Biggest Leap Forward Award: Little Fish - From Oxford to LA (with a European tour supporting Supergrass en route)

Wildblanket Tip for 2009 - Bleech - previously known as Slummin Angels these guys are playing live as often as they can (which is very often). Since they are now all 18 (Katherine was 18 in December) there seems little to hold them back. I think they have the quality, enthusiasm and determination combined with humility and respect for their audience that will make them many friends.

Wildblanket Tip for 2010 - JAR - I saw their first gig at the Dublin Castle in early December and was impressed. I really think that if they work at it this year they will get a big following and press interest.

Biggest Gift offered to Wildblanket - The Brownies - Coming from Norwich I haven't seen as much of the Brownies as I'd like. I'm expecting a lot of their album which I think is coming out in the spring. They gave me a crate of beers from Norfolk.

Best Interpretation of a Katy Perry Song - Rubella  - Rubella are another band whose first gig I saw. They have got a lot of energy. Their amended version of 'I Kissed a Girl' doesn't spare any blushes.

Most continuous plays on my car CD player - the i hearts - Their 3 myspace songs stayed on repeat in my car as I travelled from Sailsbury to Fleet Services. That's a lot of plays, but their songs are well worth listening to more than once; in fact they become rather addictive. Yet another band where I saw their first gig.

Everybody's Favourite Band - No Cars - No Cars are a Japanese Band (don't tell anyone but really they live in London). They are so charming even the most hackneyed gig goer has to smile. If you need cheering up go and see No Cars, if you don't need cheering up you have probably already seen No Cars.

Most Inviting Band - Anna Calvi - When a band go to the trouble of posting full details of their gig including the full venue address and their stagetime, it not only makes life easier, it also makes me feel properly invited to the gig. Some bands are so vague in the details they publish you really wonder if they care whether anyone turns up. Anna Calvi are not just welcoming but well worth seeing and listening to....

Best Monthly Night - No One Died - this monthly promotion at the Enterprise puts on consistently good bills with some very special bands. I originally visited the night as bands I knew were playing, but by the end of the year I was investigating the bands on their bill before they happened. I came across both Anna Kalvi and Kaputt through this promotion. They also are very generous in putting me on the guestlist :-)

Best Jump into the Audience - Joana & the Wolf - In fact Joana must be responsible for many of the best leaps into the audience I have seen this year; although she is not without competition, barefoot forays into the audience during 'Wild Dogs' have been a highlight of the year for me. The music's good too !

Best Lift to Brighton - Eugene Machine - Eugene Machine don't do enough gigs, but when they do they are good. I particularly enjoyed a trip with them to Brighton where they played a great gig.

Best Festival - Southsea Festival - Josie put on an amazing festival with a huge number of bands at around a dozen venues in one road in Southsea.

Best album - Royal Treatment Plant, Hope is not Enough -  I have seen Royal Treatment Plant quite often since I first came across them in March this year. Their album was released in July and has been a favourite ever since.

Best Venue - Dublin Castle - Venues are only as good as their last gig, but there are some that have a better long term record than others. The Dublin Castle is my favourite because of the excellent London Pride and the lovely staff. It also scores highly on ambiance and location. This is the only category where I will mention a couple (well 3) of the other close contenders: The Cross Kings (excellent beer and good ambiance), The Vibe Bar (Good Ambiance, always free, adequate Guiness), The Enterprise (Nice Youngs Special, good lights).

Best Gig - Death Cigarettes @ Proud - Of the many brilliant gigs that I have seen this year , this is the gig that I just had to tell everyone about. Death Cigarettes are the most subversive band I have seen this year and never fail to produce a memorable live performance. I have seen them destroy a guitar and trash the drum kit (at seperate gigs). They are probably the most challenging band to photograph and the most satisfying to capture a good shot of.

Highly Commended:

And some other bands who deserve a mention but I'm running out of categories and these are bands I have only managed to catch a couple of times this year:
Ghostcat - Don't play enough, but I have enjoyed them a number of times since early 2007.
Kasms - I only came across Kasms in December but was impressed. Hope to see more of them in 2009.
Fever Fever - A distinctive Norwich band who I'm hoping will play London more in 2009.
The Johnsons - Not played in London so much this year but still worth seeing when you can.
Vulgarians - These guys would have had an award (probably for coolness) but I hear they are between drummers and so we shall see what the new year brings. If they play, I'll be there.
The Drawing Room - A wonderful venue where Richard the owner puts on bands he loves.
Carnival of Souls - Token all boy band, who I have known for quite a long time. They are still rocking the Barfly, although they are planning a change of direction and name in the new year. I'm sure they will still be worth seeing in their new guise.

And finally a huge thank you to everyone who has made 2008 a great year for live music and provided me with opportunities to photograph them, drink with them or just ramble on to them about Little Fish. At the end of the day I'm just a fan with a camera.