An attempt to pick my best Live Concerts experiences of Year 2025. I went to a lot of concerts this year and I saw many great gigs. Below are listed some of the best.
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THE BEST OF THE BEST
1 - Ani DiFranco @ National Concert Hall, Dublin, 2025-06-22 [Concert Review]
It had been more than 20 years since I'd last seen Ani DiFranco live. When she finally returned to Europe I didn't hesitate to secure myself Row 2 seats for her Dublin gig. I would have preferred to see more of my "funkier" favorites in the setlist, but you don't always get what you want. Sometimes you get want the artist thinks you really need instead. And what we got was an awesome night in Ani's company.
Ani is every bit as charismatic, witty, emotional, outgoing, laughing, smiling. Exactly like I remembered her from the days of way back. She has her full voice intact and she has an awesome band. What an Irish night to remember.
2 - Nena @ Amager Bio, Copenhagen, 2025-08-06 [Concert]
Anyone who lived their teenage years in Europe in the 1980s knows Nena very well. What I didn't know was that she still has a very lively fanbase left here. It was a trip down memory lane with many of the old Nena Band favorites but also with a lot of her later/newer songs. It all blended together really well.
The crowd was on fire and so was Nena and her band. It was one of those nights where you don't know what to expect and then get blown away. I've already bought tickets for my next Nena gig in the fall of 2026.
3 - Gemma Ray @ Galiläakirche, Berlin, 2025-10-10 [Concert Review]
It had been 7 long years since Gemma Ray last played a live concert, so when Gemma announced a solo concert at Berlin's Galiläa-Kirche, I knew I had to go. I found myself a nice seat on Row 2 with a good view to the stage. I also found out that this church actually was selling cold beers for the show. Maybe God knows how to rock n roll after all?!
The sound was pretty good in the church and the crowd kept their mouths shut. The acoustics gave a raw touch to it that suited the music fine. Gemma's great voice, her guitar, reverbs, delays and church acoustic is not a bad mix. It was really nice to enjoy a live concert by Gemma Ray again. I hope for new music and live gigs from Gemma in the future.
4 - Kate Clover @ Nochtwache, Hamburg, 2025-07-10 [Concert Review]
I spent a few days of my summer vacation going to Hamburg to see Kate Clover at Nochtwache, a small venue in the Reeperbahn area of St. Pauli. The band line-up was almost unchanged from Copenhagen's Beta the year before, only the bass-player had been replaced with a new guy. Kate interacted a lot with the crowd as the band moved through the setlist of songs from her first and second albums.
It was a nice evening in great company and I'll be ready for more Kate Clover the next time she comes around. Let's hope she includes Copenhagen next time.
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THE SURPRISES
1 - Sodakill @ Råhuset, Copenhagen, 2025-08-01 [Concert]
These 4 young Swedish girls took me completely by surprise. I had no knowledge of them before I saw this gig at Raahuset. They play a melodic sort of catchy punk music with lots of other rock elements blended in. They know how to put on a kick-ass show and they were really great and entertaining.
I bought their album after the show and I love it. I have been playing it a lot. I really hope they'll return to Copenhagen some time soon.
2 - Truffle Valley Boys @ Mojo Blues Bar, Copenhagen, 2025-08-03 [Concert]
This was a wild shot. I heard about them on Facebook and decided to join a friend to hear them at Copenhagen's small Mojo Blues Bar. They are a four-piece band based in Italy and they are dedicated to bringing back the sound of authentic 1950s Blue Grass music. They were quite amazing. They really recreated that blue grass feeling with oustanding musicianship and vocals, all gathering around a single microphone at the front of the stage.
Very recommended if you ever get a chance to catch these guys live!
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THE OLD WAR HORSES
1 - Iron Maiden @ Royal Arena, Copenhagen, 2025-06-09 [Concert Review]
Iron Maiden were back in Copenhagen and they had brought a fantastic setlist and stage setup with them. What could possibly go wrong? Well, sometimes incompetent sound technicians can sabotage an otherwise great gig. Tonight was one of those evenings. With better sound I would have rated this gig even higher. The stage design with multiple screens and backdrop featured some of the best use of images and video I have ever seen at a concert. Video and live performance from the band melted together as some sort of theater play. It really looked amazing.
The setlist was a trip down memory lane through all the earlier and best Maiden albums. Iron Maiden don't really look like the old men most of them are and it doesn't look like they are about to retire any day soon. Good for them and good for us!
2 - Duran Duran @ Royal Arena, Copenhagen, 2025-06-06 [Concert Review]
It looked as if a lot of the audience were there to experience the soundtrack of their youth. They/we got what we came for. I've always really liked their first 3 albums and they are very much parts of the sound of the 1980s for me. We got a lot of songs from those albums. The sound quality was great and you could hear that Simon Le Bon still has enough of his voice intact. He was struggling a bit with a few parts but it wasn't a problem and it was nice to hear him sing the old favorites again. John Taylor is also an important part of the band with his great bass playing.
I got the old hits I came for and I think it was a really fun evening at the Royal Arena. Duran Duran are still guarantee for a great pop party and they have the quality songs that never really get old.
3 - W.A.S.P. @ Amager Bio, Copenhagen, 2025-10-06 [Concert Review]
I have been listening quite a bit to the older W.A.S.P. records in recent years. W.A.S.P. sadly cancelled last time they were to play Copenhagen a few years ago, but this time the gig went ahead as planned. Let me just assure you they are still in fine form. Blackie Lawless is still able to sing with his usual high pitched voice and the rest of the band kick ass too. They plowed their way through the first W.A.S.P. album from beginning to end and added some extra songs for the encore.
It was a great evening in good company. We Are Sexual Perverts. Or something.
Content Type: Music Comment
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Updated: 2025-12-24 20:54
Created: 2025-12-24 20:06
