Meet the Music News Blitz team part one: Best gigs, worst gigs and Festival bucket lists

The Music News Blitz content team is a heady mix of Bob Dylan, Prodigy and Beatles fans - but you don’t know them from Adam, so it’s time to introduce them.

Sip Media Solutions’ Managing Editor Simon Wilkes took some convincing to add this brand to the News Blitz network - but he’s all in now, and wants to showcase the band he has put together to run the site, YouTube and social media channels.

Content Editor Harvey Cotterill is taking on the role of front man, but he has a brilliant backing band, so let’s find out what floats their musical boats in part one of our editor intros…

What’s the best gig you’ve been to and why?

Harvey Cotterill (HC) - I think Sam Fender at St James’ Park for me. The greatest atmosphere I have ever felt and sense of belonging and euphoria it gave me is unmatched.

Charlie Gardener (CG) - Hands down The Prodigy who I nearly went to see a second time hadn’t uni clashed - just an overall unique experience for me.

Matt Dudley (MD) - Sam Fender for me, but it's close as Arctic Monkeys & Catfish and the Bottlemen were unreal as well. The atmosphere for ‘Dying Light’ won’t be topped.

Katie Ransome (KR) - Going to have to go with JLS. Younger me absolutely loved belting the lyrics to ‘Beat Again’ in the middle of a random park in Ipswich. And I guess they do say you never forget your first.

Simon Wilkes (SW) - Foo Fighters in Manchester - have always loved Nirvana but Dave Grohl is just on another level with the Foos - the place went crazy to The Pretender.

Nicole Powell (NP) - I saw an upcoming-ish Nigerian artist, Qing Madi, last summer. Even though I didn’t know her music before, her performance turned me into a stan.

What’s the worst gig you’ve been to and why?

HC - Declan McKenna takes it for me. I saw him at Newcastle City Hall and the crowd was such a let down. They were mosh pitting to songs not worthy of it, such as “the kids don’t want to come home”. Overall an uncomfortable experience ruined by the crowd,

CG - An Imagine Dragons concert in which I was subject to some uncomfortably “suggestive” dancing from another (and much older) concert goer.

MD - Not many I’ve been to and not enjoyed, but someone I've seen twice and think is heavily overrated is Liam Gallagher.

KR - Going to regretfully have to go with Ashniko. Nothing wrong with the gig itself, the dancing, effects and costumes were so on brand, just the company that let the side down unfortunately.

SW: Robbie Williams at Roundhay Park. Basement Jaxx supported and were astonishing - colourful, energetic - the place was bouncing. Then Robbie came on, moaned about how tired he was, said he’d taken an adrenaline shot to get through the gig - and was awful.

NP - Don’t think I didn’t like any I’ve been to - I’m apparently the only lucky one in the team lol.

What Festival is top of your bucket list to attend?

HC - It has to be Glastonbury. It’s a festival that is so exclusive and a bucket list worthy item in general.

CG - Tomorrowland might be a basic one but a friend of mine went last year and it seemed phenomenal. It would be different to other festivals I’ve attended too which would add to the experience.

MD - Probably more basic than Charlie’s but Glastonbury for the experience more than the music.

KR - Being described as a wannabe American by basically everyone I know, I have to stay on brand here and go with Coachella. The vibes look absolutely insane and I can only dream of pulling off some of those outfits.

SW - It has to be Glastonbury too - but only when I can afford the glamping option. I don’t do camping - never have, never will, and watch every minute of Glasto from the comfort of my sofa every year. But one year, it has to be done - just in a massive luxury motorhome.

NP - Call me Katie Ransome cause Coachella’s at the top of my bucket list too.

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