There was fierce competition for a slot among the nominations for best live artist of 2012. The quality of gigs we’ve seen both from established and brand new artist has been astonishing. And the trend for music legends to put and end to their career breaks and return to the stage also keept getting stronger. The gigs that made the cut come from a troubled R&B soul returning after more than a decade of silence; half of the noughties most popular rock duo gone solo; the leader of one of the 90’s quintessential US bands; the current kings of rap watching their throne; the otherworldly vocals of finest British shoegaze singer ever and the band that has delivered their best album after a 30-year career.

And the nominees are: Read the rest of this entry »