The hottest gigs, albums and moooosic for us 'ternative rockers.

It has to be REM , Reveal.
Like them or loathe them this album is for everyone and is just ......well.......indescribably good!

Being a wise old sage in the world of 'gigging' I have learnt that there is a lot more to it than turning up on the night and listening to a band , oh no my friends. Here's a list of definite essentials to enjoy the gig to the full:

• Travel- always, always make sure you've sorted out your transport options ,whether it be the back of your dad's Ford Sierra or a taxi. Don't rely fully on trains and buses ,be warned it is inevitable that you'll a) lose you ticket b) get the timetable mixed up or c) miss the last one altogether.
  
  
• Company- It may sound shallow but trust me being at a gig alone is no fun, best bring along a good mate (or 10) to jump around with. Going with your parents is never a good thing but if you have too, make sure there's at least 10 metres between you and them.
  
  
• Moshing, crowd surfing and general pastimes- You are most likely to end up with a 6ft guy standing in front of you with an afro but fear not ,a little push there, a shove here and you'll find your way into the gig heaven that is 'the middle' of the crowd. Moshing (basically jumping about) a cool thing as long as it's the right band for it but crowd surfing is another matter, this is where you try (and usually fail) to climb up onto the top of the crowd and allow your fragile being to be swept along by them, it usually lands you in trouble and is best avoided.

• Merchandise- the official stuff is always expensive , I wouldn't bother but there's sometimes rip off merchandise sold outside a lot cheaper , worth a try!.
  
  
• Drinks- well unless you're over 18 you can't buy alcohol but other drinks are normally available quite cheap.
  
  
• Support Bands- (come on before the main band) usually crap but occasionally worth a listen and ,as the band are nearly always on later than stated, they fill a boring gap (o:

And of course there is the most important thing, ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!!!

-Emily