The Best Stuff of 2013

Already sounds really, like, out of date doesn’t it. 2013? Who cares?

Good things happened though, and we want them to be recognised. It will also massively help if we decide to do another book in 2017. I can barely remember what happened last week as it is.

So, here are this year’s winners, as voted by the Rhubarb Bomb reading public…

  

Album Of The Year - Cyclone by The Michael Ainsley Band

Not a bad year for the band. On the strength of reviews alone, they should really have had two albums in this category. There isn’t much between them, but we chose this because it had the song from the Long Division video on it, and it seemed you all agreed with us too. A band with an exciting 2014 ahead of them.

Runners-Up

Creature Feature – Piskie Sits 

Moon Coastal Maine – Imp

Sometimes Lifes Cool – Mi Mye

Single / EP Of The Year - My Cat / Fruit by Allusondrugs

The closest fought category this year, Allusondrugs claimed victory on the final day, by a single vote. Wow! A band from the increasingly impressive Clue Records, they are very much on the ascendency at the moment, and once again, we look forward to seeing what 2014 will bring for them.

Runners-Up

19 – Narcs

Two Hearts – Tiny Planets

Vicugna Pacos – Fur Blend

Gig Of The Year - Philophobia Fifth Birthday All-Dayer

With around ten bands playing over the course of a day, it’s no wonder Philophobia ran away with this award. It was a wonderful day, celebrating something that is very special in Wakefield, and that all too many people take for granted. It was your kindly editor’s birthday also, so I don’t recall how the night ended, but let’s presume it was amazing.

Runners-Up

Art Brut @ The Hop

Jamie Lockhart’s Holiday Fundraiser (inc The Old House)

Mi Mye Album Recording @ Long Division

Skaters (+ Blackeye, Forever Cult & Slugs)

Festival Of The Year - Beacons

For the second year running Beacons takes the crown of best festival. It’s has grown massively since its first year and continues to do so in a completely agreeable way. Interesting line-ups, thoughtful touches to the site and great scenery conspire to make it a wonderful experience all round.

Runners-Up

A Carefully Planned Festival

Crooked Ways

Live At Leeds

Y01 Festival

Making Wakefield Better – Unity Hall Begins

Unity Hall may not be opening for another 8 months, but it already has the city super-excited. Its appearance on Calender news, reporting the official handing over of the keys to the public co-operative that has bought the huge music venue and arts centre, was a major turning point for the project that has already been three years in the making.

Runners-Up

A Night Of Enlightenment @ The Orangery

Plays & Pints

Wakefield Lit Fest

Wood Street Market

Best Rhubarb Bomb Article - The Day The EDL Came To Town

Perhaps winning because it was the most current, the article on the EDL’s trip to Wakefield will perhaps be the one that is most widely useful in the future. An attempt at an honest discussion at what the EDL could represent, followed by the sad reality clearly rang true with many people.

Runners-Up

Another Failed Festival Application

How I Made Diamond Studios

Rites Of Passage: Corporate Festivals & High Street Music Chains

Best Live Band Of The Year - Middleman

You either agree with this statement, or you've never seen them live. 2013 was another stupendously good year for the band and they put more sweat, care and tears into their gigs than anyone we know. We left with a smile on our faces (and tired legs) every single time. 

Best Long Division Performance - Post War Glamour Girls

A lovely surprise, but a completely deserved victory for Post War Glamour Girls who performed at Wakefield Theatre Royal for Long Division in 2013. Despite being up against Mark E Smith of all people, the Leeds band ended up topping the poll. Since Long Division is about celebrating supremely talented and independently minded artists we are really chuffed that this great band has come out on top. New album due very soon, and it is brilliant…

Runners-Up

Ed Tudor Pole

Jeffrey Lewis & Peter Stampfel

The Fall

Too Many T's

Tru DIY award - Liam Pease Smith

2013 was a year for celebration, but it was tinged with sadness too, as we also saw the passing of local musician, Liam Pease Smith. A complex character, certainly, but at his heart he was a true individual and showed no compromise in his art, or life in general. As we said in the obituary we wrote, just the tiniest differences in an all too short life could have resulted in something wonderful and long lasting. He is still missed, but we salute a man who, for better or for worse, lived his art in his own individual way. The full obituary can be read here.

Thanks to everyone who voted x