H&H Top 30 Gigs & Club Shows of 2019

2019 was another unforgettable year here at the Hare & Hounds, with over 700 bands & DJs across both venues, from huge rock artists to up & coming DJ gems. We’ve listened to every one of your suggestions and there were so many brilliant ones this year that we’ve just about managed to whittle it down to the top 30. Here are our Top 15 gigs and Top 15 club shows of 2019, in no particular order…

 

Top 15 Gigs

  • Amyl & the Sniffers – Right towards the end of the year, Aussie punk band Amyl & the Sniffers came to the Hare for an unforgettable show. Hotly tipped, this one sold out in just a few hours and they didn’t disappoint their loyal fans at their Birmingham debut – a sweaty, moshy, but perfect 90 minutes of pure punk rock.

Photo by Ellie Koepke

  • Akala – A monumental moment of 2019 was rapper & activist Akala playing our main room for Nordoff Robbins charity back in September. Not only was his sold-out show phenomenal, the charity managed to raise hundreds of pounds in aid of music therapy thanks to crowd donations.

Photo by Ellie Koepke

  • Snail Mail – Lindsey Jordan aka Snail Mail brought her band to the Hare for the second time in June. Another sold-out show, her 90s indie-folk tracks went down a treat live as they always do.

Photo by Sam Frank Wood

  • Crazy P – Crazy P always sell-out at the Hare, and their live show back in May was no exception. Danielle & the full band brought their A-game to their set full of fan favourites & new album hits.

Photo by Monica Martini

  • Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Pigs x7 had a huge year, and their sold-out show at the Hare proved why. An ear-melting blend of alt-rock sounds, they tore the roof off V1. Hats off to drumming duo Cattle on support too.

Photo by Ellie Koepke

  • Murkage Dave – A Hare & Hounds favourite, R&B vocalist Murkage Dave stopped by for his brilliant sold-out show in October, and even brought his friend & Brummie rapper Jaykae on stage with him for a tune.

 

Photo by Connor Walker 

  • Nubya Garcia – One of the UK’s finest young jazz musicians, saxophonist Nubya Garcia joined us in May. Her ethereal sax playing was matched by a brilliant band of musicians, making it one of our favourite jazz gigs of the year.

Photo by Ellie Koepke

  • The Amazons – Back in January, we got the news that The Amazons were doing an intimate tour of the UK. Their 250-cap main room show sold out in a few minutes, and when they arrived on Feb 13th their show did not disappoint.

Photo by Phil Drury

  • Bodega / Working Men’s Club – New Yorkers Bodega were one of indie’s hottest bands of 2019, and for good reason – their Hare & Hounds debut was one of the best we’ve seen. Support came from Working Men’s Club who also killed it, and returned for their own brilliant headline show in October.

Photo by Sam Frank Wood

  • The Orielles – In February Yorkshire indie-pop band The Orielles returned after a killer headline slot at All Years Leaving 2018. Their sets are always energetic and unpredictable, and this one was no exception.

Photo by Radek Kubiszyn

  • Beak> / Snapped Ankles – Back in May Beak> and support band Snapped Ankles wowed us with a refreshing experimental sound that the crowd absolutely loved, so much so that Snapped Ankles came back for a stellar sold out show of their own later in the year.

Photo by Denise Wilson

  • Melt Banana – Japanese noise-rock group Melt Banana played a headline show for Supersonic & This Is Tmrw this October, an absolute crowd favourite.

Photo by Sam Frank Wood

  • Barney Artist / Kofi Stone – One of our last live shows of 2019 was Barney Artist in December. The Londoner blended his lively jazz and hip-hop sound with moments of pure honesty, making it an unforgettable show in V2. Support came from Birmingham’s own Kofi Stone, who’s laid-back rapping style stands out for all the right reasons.

Photo by Ellie Koepke

  • Hot 8 Brass Band – One of  New Orlean’s finest musical groups, the Hot 8 Brass Band returned this year for a sold-out main room set which got everyone in the crowd moving.
  • The Beths – New Zealand four-piece The Beths joined us in May, and their V2 show sold out so fast it was upgraded to our main room, and then sold that out too – and for good reason! This phenomenal band blew us away with their modern pop-punk sensibilities and hooks.

 

Top 15 Club Shows

  • Horse Meat Disco – Long-term Hare & Hounds favourites Horse Meat Disco returned for another sold-out club show in October, alongside Leftfoot & Disco Pussy. Their eclectic disco set brought an incredible energy to the main room.

Photo by Radek Kubiszyn

  • Nu Guinea – Up & coming promoters Voyage Events had a brilliant 2019, but one of the highlights was bringing Italian DJ duo Nu Guinea to V2 for an intimate show earlier in the year.

Photo by Luke Hassan

  • Deptford Northern Soul Club – Deptford Northern Soul Club’s mission is to bring Northern Soul back into the conversation of modern dance music, and their Hare & Hounds debut in V2 in October did exactly that.

Photo by Radek Kubiszyn

  • Mr Scruff – Annual staple DJ, the Mancunian Mr Scruff returned to the Hare in May for a signature night of electronica, house & beyond.

Photo by Wayne Fox

  • Toddla T – the legendary Radio 1 DJ joined us back in February, playing his signature style of grime, house, broken beat and more to a crowd full of listeners.

Photo by Dominic Gerencser

  • Joe Goddard – Back in January, This Is Tmrw brought Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard to the venue, playing an all-night long set of house, disco & more.

Photo by Wayne Fox

  • Peach – Back in February, Shadow City & Leftfoot brought fast-rising DJ Peach to the Hare for a sold-out set in V1. Now playing some of the biggest festivals in the world, anyone who grabbed a ticket for this one lucked out.
  • Bruk Up Xmas – Birmingham’s broken beat promoters Bruk Up wrapped up their 2019 with a killer Christmas party featuring Perry Louis, EVM128 & Lord Byron.
  • LTJ Bukem – Broken Minds brought drum and bass legend LTJ Bukem to the Hare for an extended set back in June, one of the most memorable club nights of the summer.
  • Nu:Groove – Nu:Groove held two brilliant nights at the Hare this year, and their post-Christmas set in December was the perfect way to wrap up a brilliant year at the Hare.
  • Surgeon – Techno don Surgeon joined us in October for an all-night long set of crowd pleasers and un-Shazamable techno tunes.
  • Nightmares on Wax – Nightmares on Wax has played some killer live and DJ shows here in previous years, and this one was no exception.
  • Homoelectric – Luke Unabomber & Jamie Bull – The legendary Manchester club night Homoelectric stopped by with DJs Luke Unabomber & Jamie Bull in the summer, and with our resident club brand Leftfoot created an unforgettable night of house and disco.
  • Heritage with Fabio, Graeme Park, Slipmatt, Mark Luvdup & DJ SS – Hare & Hounds staple promoters Heritage Nights had some stellar events this year, but their two-roomer in November with Fabio, Graeme Park, Slipmatt, Mark Luvdup & DJ SS was a standout of classic house tunes.
  • Antal – Antal Heitlager, founder of Rush Hour Records, is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and accomplished DJs around. When we finally brought him to the Hare in August, his set full of world, Afro, house, techno & more lived up to his reputation & beyond – a true DJ’s DJ.

 

That’s it for our top 30 shows of 2019! All of your suggestions are saved over in our Instagram highlights, you can check them out here. Thanks again to everyone who’s come down to a show, we’ll see you soon for another great year and we can’t wait to bring some exciting names your way in 2020.