How to review a gig

It’s easy to be daunted by the prospect of writing a review when you read the music press. The writers there seem to be trying to outdo each other in ever more creative ways of expressing their opinion. If you want to write a review like that, that’s fine - but it’s not what makes it good. A good review sums up the experience for those unlucky enough (or lucky, in many occasions) not to have been there.

Here are a few tips to help you on your way:

Make plans

Work out what you want to say and plan your flow. This will help to keep your writing focused and interesting. Most importantly, think about how you want to end your review. That’s the finishing line that you’ll be writing towards.

Just put a mark on the page

Starting to write can be a pretty daunting experience. So it’s probably best not to start with the first sentence - it’s usually one of the hardest bits to write. Start on the second paragraph and then come back to the beginning when you’ve got the flow going.

Describe the experience

It’s not just about the band. What was the venue like? How good was the sound? What about the stage set, lighting and pyrotechnics? Was it a hot and sweaty moshpit? Or was it a sterile, emotionless cavern?

Get emotional

How were you feeling before the gig? How did you feel during it? How did you feel when you left? Spill your heart out.

Be opinionated

Don’t just describe what happened on the night, give your opinion. Was it the best gig you’ve ever been to ever? Or were you disappointed? What would have made it better? Say what you think, even if it’s different to what everyone else thinks.

Leave it overnight

Write your piece. Then leave it and get a good night’s rest. Read it over in the morning and see if you’re still happy with it. It’s always good to see things with fresh eyes.

Be succinct

Don’t ramble. Keep it short.


So there you have it. Now all you need to do is find a gig to write about. Go back to the front page and see what’s coming up in your area. And we’ll look forward to seeing your review on the site.

Reviewed by ianah

Rated 5/5

This was my first visit to The Academy since its recent refurbishment and it certainly seemed smarter. The audience reflected the influences, music and style of the band – a broad church had gathered. With styles from suits to punks it was eclectic, ‘poppy’ and cross-generational. Parents had bought their kids along and I certainly wasn’t the oldest there! The venue was more or less full and the arrival of the band was, it appeared, keenly awaited.

Its some 29 years since The B-52’s burst onto the music scene out of Athens, Georgia, and time has not diminished their power. The B-52s have come a long way since their 1979 self-titled debut, featuring the ever popular ‘Rock Lobster.’ Although it is 16 years since their last recordings, the band has remained a popular live touring act and from the opening chords of ‘Pump’ to the closing bars of ‘Planet Claire’ they showed just why.

The band made an immediate impact with a new song ‘Pump’ before moving on to some of their established favourites including ‘Mesopotamia’, ‘Private Idaho’, ‘Strobelight’, ‘Love Shack’ and ‘Give me back my man’ as well as new material – most notably the new single ‘Juliet of the Spires’ and the impressive and funny ‘Love in the year 3000’. The sense of humour evident from their first outings on vinyl all those years ago is still there – listen to the lyrics of Love in the year 3000! All this and banter with the audience something, it seems, curiously absent from many gigs I’ve been to of late.

According to the publicity Keith Strickland says that ‘Funplex’, their latest offering, “sounds like us but updated”. Well, it’s exactly that. In a little under two hours we treated to the best of an impressive back catalogue – all the hits and more, and to be honest none of the new songs showcased either disappointed or seemed out of place. There were no distracting video images and the sound of the band remains as distinctive as ever with all the vocalists in fine form. Indeed, the musicians drafted in for the tour were also on top of their game, in particular Tracey the bass player impressed as did Steve the drummer.

But out front it was the trio of Schneider, Wilson and Pierson who provided the unique sound of the band who stood out as classic B-52’s sounds roared around entranced fans. We had to wait until the encores for both ‘Rock Lobster’ and ‘Planet Claire’ – but it was worth it. This was my first B-52’s gig and I really hope it’s not the last!

Been struggling to review gigs for my Uni paper, this has been a great help!