Best of 2014 2014: A year in DIY Presents gigs

Whether it’s a freebie or a festival showcase, 2014’s played host to several special DIY Presents gigs, led by some of the best acts around.

Some hitched up out of the blue, others took off on mini-tours - on one occasion, almost a dozen new bands shared the same space for one chaotic, amazing all-day event. It’s been an unbelievable privilege to see crowds flock to these gigs, the odd fan seeing their favourite new band for the first time.

These DIY Presents gigs tend to begin just as the clocks turn towards a new year. Following that, they stampede into showcase festivals, stay for the summer, all while peering into some of the UK’s most beloved venues for one-off nights. 2014’s been a year of surprises too, one of the most memorable moments being when the best promoters in London joined forces to in-part make up for the last minute cancellation of a festival. Other times, it’s been about the ecstatic response given to a band when they least suspect it, like the visible excitement in Alvvays when they sold out a headline show for the first time.

Below, we attempt to round up the madness of the last twelve months. Keep an eye on our Presents page for everything coming up in 2015 - there’s plenty in store.