Recorded music highlights of 2008
My recorded music highlight of 2008 was the casio rap demo EP of a chap who calls himself ‘Hedluv’ and hails from the same Cornish town I grew up in. His debut EP ‘Cosmic Sounds’ is a wonderful collection of surprisingly memorable tunes about such important world events as how amazing the game Goldeneye was on the N64 and driving to places five minutes down the road.

Also getting a copy of ‘The Weather In Sweden’s debut album, formerly ‘The Salty Pirates’ this amazing indie-pop band have changed name and are currently label-searching with an absolutely near-perfect pop record in tow. Songs such as ‘My Academic Beard’ are anthems in-waiting, whilst ‘Twenty Something’ should be adorning many a bittersweet mixtape and ‘Forever All Taken Together’ seems destined to see festival crowds wrapping arms round one another, swaying and singing along. A brilliant and beautiful record.

Live music highlights of 2008
My live music highlight was the End of the Road festival in its entireity. This year I was generally looking forward to The Green Man Festival, and it was indeed a fantastic festival and I am looking forward to going again in ’09 (as I’m tentatively calling it), but once Green Man was over I had a craving, I was suffering at home, going festival cold turkey and I longed for another tent bound music experience. So, I got into the End of the Road at the last possible minute as a steward and got to see an amazing, joyous set by Bon Iver, a weird (totally) unplugged and oddly funny performance by Thingumajig*saw, the mighty Jeffrey Lewis and – my favourite band – The Mountain Goats, who played a set comprised of pretty much every song I hoped they’d play. The entire audience bellowing bitterly – but happily – along to ‘No Children’ was my festival highpoint.

What else did you enjoy this year?
Otherwise this year I have enjoyed using the Megabus, a lot. I have enjoyed the absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful film ‘The Fall’ that should, and will, be a cult DVD smash. I have also enjoyed the cafe down the road from me called Cafe Amour, or Cafe Aroma, I can never remember… it’s on Crwys Road.

2008 was…
…brief and hapharzardly assembled with sticky tape and glue.

2009 will be…
…Twangst.