Top 10 Live Sets of 2022
So here we are, finally at the true start of list week! And for the very first list of said week, I thought I’d re-explore something that I started doing last year, and something I really enjoyed writing. This would of course be an article going over my favourite live sets of the musical year of 2022, which will include gigs and festival performances.
In regards to the live sets I have seen this year, one can argue it has been fairly few and far between. However, 2022 has been the second year in a row in which I had managed to attend two festivals, which has definitely helped beef up this list quite a bit, to the point where I didn’t even have enough space to put some of the other live sets I wanted on here. That being said, I thought I’d go ahead and go through some honourable mentions first.
Honourable Mention: Enter Shikari @ Reading Festival 2022
On top of being a set of theirs that brought a good balance of old and new tracks (I mean, that moment where they decided to play “Sorry You’re Not A Winner”, will do down as one of my favourite moments of the entire festival), it just felt like a very communal and unifying set (that cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes” was fantastic as well).
Honourable Mention: Yves Tumor @ Chalk Brighton
This set most likely would’ve ended up an easy number 11 on this list. If only there weren’t another ten sets that topped it, you would probably see me go over it in more detail in this list. Nevertheless, it was still an incredibly bewitching and intimate set, jam-packed with the glamorous vibrance of Yve Tumor’s remarkable discography.
Honourable Mention: Denzel Curry @ Reading Festival 2022
This was one of the most highly-anticipated sets I had to look forward to for the entirety of Reading Festival this year. And if not for the set feeling cut short, it would’ve easily made this list. But with all of that aside, it was fantastic to listen to some of Denzel’s bangers, which included “Walkin” and “RICKY”, as well as see the artist engaging with a few fans as well.
Honourable Mention: Seeva @ Colours London
This was undeniably one of the most intmate live shows I have been to this year. Serving as a release party of sorts for Seeva’s 2022 EP Afterthoughts, it filled my heart with so much pride to see this incredibly talented singer and songwriter feeling their full self onstage. And I’m sure I can speak for everyone there when I say that we were all in awe.
But now with those honourable mentions out of the way, it’s time to dig in to what were my favourite live sets of the entire year, starting with number 10.
10 — Obongjayar @ All Points East 2022
Starting things off strong, we have what is arguably one of the best summer vibes I’ve had. You’ll need to understand that Obongjayar was the very first artist I had seen at a festival this year.
Me and my mates had arrived at All Points East only minutes before this set (which was of course one that I had been highly anticipating). But the fact that we arrived at a festival we had never been to before, to jump straight into a marvellous set from this incredibly talented artist was a very warm welcome indeed.
With the hot sun shining above, paired with Obongjayar’s incredibly soulful tunes, this was most certainly a festival experience to remember, which is really saying a lot regarding the nine other live sets ahead.
9 — Fever 333 @ Reading Festival 2022
I must admit, I hadn’t really heard much of Fever 333, outside of tracks like “Made An America”. However, Fever 333’s set absolutely blew me away!
Looking back on this set now, with threats that it wasn’t even going to happen, and with the band allegedly breaking up shortly after, I feel more than privileged to see this band in what could be one of their very last shows.
And while this set was as heavy as they come, there was a larger sense of community in the crowd than any other live set I’ve seen this year. And that made for a truly unforgettable experience, not to mention that I was introduced to a wide range of tracks the best way that one could experience.
8 — VUKOVI @ Chalk Brighton
Every time VUKOVI play in Brighton, I feel that it is essential to go and see them. Those who saw last year’s list would’ve heard about how much I enjoyed that set (and just how wild it really was.
My personal situation at the time of this year’s set was a little different to that in 2021, and I was preparing to start a new job the very day after this show. That being said, I wanted to take things easier this time around.
Looking back on it though, I feel like this was actually the right call to take; the 2021 set arrived as VUKOVI were still teasing their highly-anticipated third album NULA, but in the case of this show, that album had just arrived a few days before. And thus, this felt like a true full-circle moment, where I could just take in all of VUKOVI’s new tunes in a live space, and process just how far this incredible band has come.
7 — Little Simz @ Reading Festival 2022
Main stage crowds at Reading Festival are always a double-edged sword. While it’s great to see so many people come together to unite their passion for music, it does get intense to say the least.
And given the popularity of Little Simz, I was slightly anxious about exactly that. To my surprise, however, her set saw one of the most chilled and respectful main stage Reading crowds I’ve ever been part of.
And I think everyone was on the same page, and simply wanted to enjoy the music that Little Simz gave us. The transitions from song to song were utterly immaculate, and she really succeeded in giving her tracks a different, more live feel. I had wanted to see Little Simz live again ever since she supported Gorillaz back in late 2017. And it’s fair to say, she had every right to stand on that stage.
6 — Pusha T @ All Points East 2022
Out of all the artists at All Points East on the day that me and my friends were going, Pusha T was definitely the one that we were collectively the most excited for.
Both Pusha and this live set absolutely oozed with coolness, and brought a second wave of that amazing vibe that the aforementioned Obongjayar brought to the festival. The minutes of this set seemed to absolutely fly by, because me and the crew were just having so much fun watching this set.
Pusha T didn’t need to do anything extravogent with this performance; he just let his music do the work. It really makes me wish that his December show in London wasn’t postponed to an unknown date, because that kind of energy he brought to All Points East is absolutely addictive.
5 — Gorillaz @ All Points East 2022
Moving on from one All Points East set to the other, we actually have the headliner of the entire day; none other than Gorillaz.
The only other time I had seen this band live was at the Brighton Centre (supported by the aforementioned Little Simz). I remember enjoying that set so much that I had my doubts as to whether this one could top it.
It turns out though, that it absolutely could. On top of being the bands only UK-based live set in the entirety of 2022, this performance was as crammed with songs as it possibly could be, with tracks ranging from debut album classics, to teaser tracks for the upcoming album Cracker Island.
Speaking of which, this set even saw a surprise appearance from Tame Impala, to perform the track “New Gold”, which was unreleased at the time. With this, the set saw many a featured artist to add to the set’s illustrious vibrance.
4 — Ho99o9 @ Reading Festival 2022
For the longest time, I have wanted to see Ho99o9 perform live. And with this year’s Reading Festival, that chance finally arrived. Fair to say, it was the pure insanity that I had hoped for.
This was undoubtedly the heaviest live set I’ve had to enjoy this year. But as if that merit alone wasn’t enough to warrant Ho99o9’s Reading Festival performance being on here, they also found ways to really make the set tick with people through unique interludes between tracks.
Fair to say, this band made their aesthetic known in full force, which should certainly help out those spectators who happened to stumble across them on a whim. But for someone for me, who had been listening to their music for over half a decade, it was absolutely fantastic to finally see Ho99o9 bring their chaotic energy to the stage.
3 — Dorian Electra @ Chalk Brighton
Dorian Electra’s gig in April of this year, was undoubtedly my favourite live set outside of festival performances.
The queer and independent music artist put on a show that was just as wild, colourful, and camp as I was hoping it would be. On top of that, it brought together a crowd of people that were just as vibrant.
As well as all of the Dorian Electra bops, which I have been wanting to see live since discovering the artist, they also enlisted a generous batch of remixes as well, amping up the electric energy of the set up to 11, and making sure that there was something for everyone there.
It really felt like an evening that gave myself (and I imagine, many others) to just let loose and be themselves, which is a sentiment that not many live sets can boast. Pair that with what has arguably been the best Brighton venue for gigs in 2022, and you have yourself a truly stellar live show.
2 — Turnstile @ All Points East 2022
The possible reason why I couldn’t find a photo for the band playing at the actual festival, was probably that everyone was just too busy having fun; myself included!
Turnstile had no need for breaking songs up with talk. Instead, it was just banger, after banger, after banger. I for one was so invested into screaming along with Turnstile’s lyrics, that I actually ended up not being able to properly vocalise for about a week!
The beauty of Turnstile’s set at All Points East lies in three things; its simplicity, energy, and engagement with fans. Chanting the beginning of “Blackout” with everyone else in the crowd was one of my favourite highlights of the entire year.
Turnstile’s musical style was absolutely made to be performed live, and as someone who had been wanting to see them for years, I am thrilled to finally say that I finally saw them, and had an absolute blast in doing so.
1 — Bring Me The Horizon @ Reading Festival 2022
That’s right; Bring Me The Horizon snag the win for best live set of the year, two years in a row. And I’m hardly surprised either; they’re just that good!
But in contrast to the grandeur of the O2, in which I saw their live show last year, a festival setting had Bring Me The Horizon feeling right at home. There was something about this Festival set that felt so damn intimate, as frontman Oli Sykes genuinely looked the happiest I’ve even seen him.
As the band performed old and new bangers, while finally going through a well-deserved place as headliner, It really felt like a celebratory moment for the band. And I’m sure I can speak for all of the fans that were there, but we were celebrating with them, every step of the way.
But as if that wasn’t enough, this set was packed with surprises throughout. And while the amazing visuals certainly made up for most of that, the most impressive surprise was the appearance of Ed Sheeran to perform “Bad Habits” alongside the band.
I can safely say that Bring Me The Horizon now stands as one of the best live bands to see, and this festival performance is a massive reason why I believe this so strongly.
With the way things are shaping up for the new year, I am very hopeful that I will be able to experience a tonne more live shows in 2023. But looking back on this year, I come to realise what an incredible year it’s been for me. These live shows, and many more, are a very big reason to thank for this.
From here, we move from live, to recorded, where I will be soon going over my favourite EPs, albums, and tracks of the entire year, so stay tuned for those.
