CityLife

Helen Tither's gigs of 2008

YEAR TO REMEMBER: The Ting Tings

TWO spinetingling, gorgeously goosebumpy moments top my gigs of the year – and both involved homecoming musical heroes.

The first was courtesy of Salford’s unstoppable Ting Tings, the brash and ballsy Islington Mill duo, arrived who turned the twee pop music chart on its head in the spring of 2008.

Arriving at Academy 2 just hours after landing their first Number One, the super cool Katie White and Jules de Martino had the slightly shell-shocked air of people who can’t believe how far and how fast their star has shot into the stratosphere.

We meanwhile, were lucky enough to catch an act at that elusive perfect moment – big but on the verge of being much bigger – when the venue, the music and the timing create the kind of electric atmosphere that crackles across your skin and sends shivers down the spine.

As The addictive drum beat of That’s Not My Name called out across the room and Katie White held her hands in the air to a jubilant home crowd for a just one such moment that sealed the perfect gig.

My other goosebumpy spinetinglingly good moment was came in the form of Elbow’s emotional homecoming.

Another combination of perfect timing and talent for when the gods of music smiled down on an audience who, quite simply, couldn’t believe their luck.

As for the rest of the year, I was also blown away by the epic scale of Radiohead at Lancashire Cricket Club.

But still, the most special gigs are sometimes the smallest. And so my final moment of the year goes to local lass Sara Lowes, who was hidden away as support to The Tindersticks at In The City. An angelic voice with heartbreakingly beautiful songs.