A freezing trip up the M11 to Harlow, of all places, to check out a couple of bands I know nothing about. And boy, am I glad I did...

APO fail to ignite and French post-rock / electronica crossover band M83 debut songs from forthcoming album

The tongue-twisting goth band return from obscurity for two gigs in distant lands, and luckily we're in town to witness the first, In Rome. Have they still got it?

Runner ups for "Richy's Band Of The Year 2004" (and it was VERY close) finish off their European tour with an intimate gig, with string quartet, at the Scala.

The band of the year bow out in style by introducing us to some new material. Bring on the dificult second album - 2005 is looking good already!

Two gigs in five weeks. They say familiarity breeds contempt. Can the Departure become for more than a fleeting obsession

Yaaaaaawn... I struggle to stay awake as The Thrills plod through a dull as dishwater set. I really, really should've known better

"US Rock 'n' Roll Supergroup Incorporated" rolls into town for their highly anticpated first London gig.

Yob-rock workout for the returning Harsh Sharks. Haven't a clue what I'm talking about? Don't worry - trying to figure out what it's all about is half the fun at a Campag gig, ...

Was it worth the wait? The newly resurrected pups finally play the UK again, airing tracks from new album "The Greater Wrong Of The Right" plus all the old favourites.

Extremely intimate gig (is that the bass player I smell?), in Bristol's premier pub venue, to warm up for extensive U.S. tour supporting The Cure.

Much maligned heavy rockers play an even smaller venue (and a condensed set) this time round. Plenty of pyros though.

Nottingham's finest three-piece stun us into submission at the ICA. How can a band this good be so criminally underrated?

Two great nights in the company of some Californian Killers. With some crowd-surfing Scandinavian power-pop-metal thrown in for good measure.

One night of my life for a chance to see Starsailor perform their dull as dishwater shtick at a "charidee" event? Hardly a Fair Trade, I'm afraid

Stadium dwelling panto-metallers rock the Astoria for one night only. Grown men screaming and running about in halloween masks and bolier suits? Entertainment? You bet.

Bath alt_rock three-piece make another foray up the M4 for this well received showcase gig. You A&R men got your chequebooks ready?

Disappointing gig from this years first proper phenomenon. The Scottish art-rockers choose the worst venue in London to end their first major UK tour.

The dance-rock crossover act bring their peculiarly successful blend of drum & bass, techno and stadium rock back home to the picturesque West Country.

Ugly band make ugly noise. Disappointing gig from LA's scuzziest proto-punk metallers. Too much bluster and no tunes

Back where they belong, the original Wild Boys take us on a major trip down memory lane with a Greatest Hits set - plus a few good new numbers...

Epic, 80's infused rock bluster from ex-Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist, that doesn't quite live up to expectations...

A full on Welsh evening, with herbed up pikeys taking on the old school psych rockers - and winning by a country mile...

A cold, cold night in King's Cross. NYC's finest dance/rock producer shows us that his band can cut the mustard live too. Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Southampton four-piece preview tracks from their upcoming debut album "Faded Seaside Glamour" - next time we'll know ALL these songs, not just "Long Time Coming"...

A masterclass in emotional honesty from Ex-God Machine frontman Robin Proper-Sheppard, playing songs from the awesome "People Are Like Seasons"

The net turns me on to two new bands. I decide to check them out at the ICA after hearing a combined 3'10" of their music and boy, am I glad I did!

Jaxx-attack in Brixton!! Awesome display from consumate stadium-dance duo - and I don't mean the Audio Bullys!

Electronic (in more ways than one) legends play their first gig in London for 13 years, and it's a two-and-a-half-hour tour de france force

Confident move into the mainstream as Snow Patrol gently rock the Electric Ballroom, "Run"-ning all the way to the bank.

The Melbourne muppets attempt to demonstrate exactly why their particular brand off blues rock is taking off worldwide, in another exclusive, intimate gig at the Academy.

Going out of my way to see a support band? There's only one band that could drag me to a Serafin gig. Prog rock for the 21st century - 'SIze style.

Rock pixie Brian Molko and his not-so-merry-men return for the first of 3 sold out nights at Brixton, and treat us to a superb greatest hits set

A voice that stops you in your tracks and music that makes your heart soar. Last chance to see The Veils in a venue this small. Coming to a festival near you.

"So that's what happened to Aled Jones..." I overhear someone say. Jokes aside, Keane make a pleasant enough racket and all without guitars ??!!

A big disappointment in King's Cross. No, not another late train, just a troubled, average set from Montreal's post rock deities

Depressive grooves aplenty at the Brixton Academy. Can Elbow confound expectations and actually entertain?

Get up-close and personal at another in Longview's recent series of intimate gigs. This time they're playing to 150 people in a Mayfair club on a Tuesday. Nice!

Can all the superlatives tossed around about this band be true? And, will they be able to compete with hotly tipped Seachange on the same bill? We find out at the Underworld

The Coopers tempt me to yet another BRMC gig. This time it's one of my new favourite venues, Brighton Dome - will BRMC fare better here than they did at Brixton last year?

Touted as THE UK band to take on Linkin Park at their own game, Lost Prophets are back with a new album and a suitably energetic opening salvo in their live campaign.

Manchester Shoegazers take the Coldplay formula back to the early 90's and give it a good seeing to. All the right ingredients - chiming guitars and emotive lyrics, but do they add up?

Quirky, folksy, cute. Not usually words that would inspire me to check out a band, but The Shins had me hooked after hearing one track. Can they cut it live, and what do they look like?

Start the year as I mean to go on. This is my 7th (!) B-Line experience, and this time it's a secret gig for 200 people, a mile away from my flat. A perfect night's rock and roll entertainment.