Best gig or event you've been to?

Queen, Elland Road, May 29th 1982. Scorching hot day and a brilliant concert (except for the Teardrop Explodes being a support act). £9 for the concert and (if memory serves me correctly) a fiver for the coach to the concert from Manchester. Those were the days!

Where do I start? Green Day in 2009 will always be a very, VERY fond memory for me. Perfect setlist, such a good night in general.

All Time Low in Manchester was a perfect storm of brilliance for me. Amazing live band, some fantastic friends there, and meeting them afterwards was the icing on the cake.

Although March will probably be the best week of gigs in a long time. All Time Low in Manchester, The Band Perry in Dublin, All Time Low in Dublin and Fall Out Boy in Dublin. Four gigs in five days, I honestly can't wait.

Has to be my first ever big concert. Phoenix Park 1983 (Yes I'm old, but was only a young fella then )

U2, Simple Minds, Big Country, Eurythmics

Followed by Slane 86
Queen - (just a year after Live Aid)
Remembering 80,000 + people clapping to Radio Gaga and We Will Rock You still gives me goosebumps

Sherfin wrote: »

Slane 86
Queen - (just a year after Live Aid)
Remembering 80,000 + people clapping to Radio Gaga and We Will Rock You still gives me goosebumps

This. Great gig.

Followed closely by AC/DC in Punchestown a few years back. Angus Young playing some serious guitar stuff on a catwalk in the pissing rain. Awesome.

The first gig i was ever at was The Cure in the RDS in 1989, I was 12. The second the Prodigy in Killarney in 1992, their first gig outside of the UK, both amazing gigs and a good bench mark for later events. My favourite live band is Wilco, seen them in many venues but seeing them live in Vicar Street was incredible. In fact Vicar street is the best venue ive ever been too, another standout gig i remember there were the Violent Femmes, id loved them for years and it was an amazing gig.

Kings of Leon - Temple Bar Music Centre 2004. Great gig and atmosphere.

Foo Fighters in the Olympia 2000. Dave Grohl climbing onto the balcony and walking from one end to the other while playing guitar. Also Dave opening the gig playing the drums. Quality.

So many amazing times but the top 2 win on the fact that they left me emotionally drained having cried my way through them both:

1. John Mayer in Glasgow
2. Dirty Dancing in London

Others that were just epic were:

Primal Scream in a tent at Oxegen - Moving on up was the closest I think I have come to being in heaven. Just so spiritual.

Stone Roses in the Phoenix Park - had never had the pleasure of seeing my favourite band live before and they lived up to my imagination.

Ian Brown in the Phoenix Park - Got into the pit and I swear the Monkeyman sang to me throughout.

Roland Gift in the Hot Press Hall of Fame (now the Academy) - saw him there 2 nights and first night there was no one there. I was sitting in the front row dictating which songs he should sing next, met him after and got loads of hugs and kisses and told my name would be on guest list for the following night's show. It was almost as good but there were more there. He still recognised me and said hello from the stage and then signed all my FYC memorabilia and posed for more pics. Love that guy.

Erasure at Electric Picnic - My then young sons were very embarrassed that their mummy dragged them up to the front and sang every word to every song.

Greenday in the O2 - even though I was not a massive fan of theirs, my then 11 year old son was. I had gotten him the tickets as his birthday present and the pure joy and love on his face throughout the gig made it really special.

Groove Armada at Witness - stumbled into a tent to get out of the rain and hadn't realised they were playing. Epic sound from the brass section.

Loads of others. I rarely drink much at gigs and don't do drugs so for me the atmosphere, music and experience is nearly always memorable.

I was at a fantastic gig by The Mouldy Peaches in Whelans at which the crowd formed a giant and unruly conga line. That was class.

The gig I enjoyed most is probably a toss up between Arcade Fire in the Phoenix park which was epic and the Pixies gig at the Olympia when they played the whole of Dolittle from start to finish for the album's 20th anniversary. Kim Deal was back and everybody seemed in good form, even Frank, who is usually a bit dour and not much of a showman was all chatty with the audience and enjoying himself while proving beyond a shadow of a doubt, they still got it.

Naturally, I already have my tickets for The Pixies supporting Arcade Fire in Marley Park this summer. Here's hoping that will be the gig I'm back here to cite!