And The Award for The Best Gig Review Voted By You Goes To...
Reflecting on my first year as a Substacker, interrogating the posts that you viewed the most and a special Christmas wish in the form of a fun fan survey
When I started this newsletter, I had no idea what to expect. The arts and music sector continues to be a dicey space for music journalists and artists alike (Kate can articulate this far better than me). Since going freelance in 2018, I’ve written for my fair share of websites and journals that are “working on their payment model,” i.e., please write for free indefinitely. But Substack suddenly offered up an alternative approach, a way to bring all my musical musings to you directly to your inbox.
Ever the enthusiastic student, you’ll be unsurprised to hear that I’ve been diligently keeping track of my metrics to try and understand what’s working and what could maybe use a healthy reset. And while I haven’t quite hit the total number of subscribers I’d hoped to by the end of the year, my readership has doubled in percentage terms since launching in February. When you benchmark this figure against other — often far more exhaustive — platforms like Instagram, the results are even more impressive (the latter has seen a mere 3.8% follower growth). I was also keen to maintain an open rate of at least 60% or above1. I’m pleased to report that I’ve snuck in just above 61%, with March being the highest.
But for all its merits (a beautifully curated community to share my work with that isn’t powered by some tech bros’ ever-changing algorithms), managing a Substack like this takes time and I’m keen to reflect on what you think the future of Babe, Gig In The City? should look like, particularly — in all honesty — because this year alone it’s absolutely had an impact on my pitching (that being said, I still successfully published 16 articles across The Skinny, Guitar World and some local press in Kent).
So my Christmas wish, if I can get one in early, is that you take the super short survey below and share your thoughts. After all, Babe, Gig In The City? is your ticket to the show and I want to make sure you have the best time in the crowd once you’re here.
Now, just like a regular Mark Goodier, I’m here with your Top 10 rundown of the most viewed posts across Babe, Gig In The City?, from sprechgesang art-house bands to noughties nostalgia. Let the Christmas countdown that no one saw coming begin!
10. Scene Report: Camp Bestival
One of the perks of being a paid subscriber to Babe, Gig In The City? is a Backstage Pass to some of the juicier content, including monthly Scene Reports so it thrills me to see my tales from Camp Bestival sneak into the top ten. However, I can’t help but wonder if it was more my teaching adventures in the Inclusic Rock School tent rather than Mr Motivator that racked up the views.
9. Art Brut
Another pretty personal number as I snatched tickets to be reunited with one-time wedding band Art Brut back by the sea in Margate. Finally, these cult heroes get the top ten they’ve always deserved even with my documented frustrations about the turbo bozos who stood next to me chatting the whole way through their fucking set.
8. Honeyblood
In the Spring, I riffed around the do-it-yourself mentality and there’s no better poster girl for that than Honeyblood’s Steena Tweedale. From her Patreon-powered solo EP to her lockdown live streams, Tweedale proves that more people are moving towards alternative models to have a direct line to their listeners and fans (myself included!)
7. The Nightingales
A shock revelation hit me in May as someone in the crowd asked if I’d seen these Brummie post-punks before. Not only have I shared the stage with the band tens of times2 but since, my best and former Ebony to my Ivory, Fliss joined the group in 2012, I’ve attended at least one show from their UK tours possibly making them the live act I’ve seen perform the most. Ever.
6. Bloc Party
Sibling synchronicity fuelled this soggy reflection as my brother and I headed into Crystal Palace Park to celebrate these indie disco staples and the 25th anniversary of their debut, Silent Alarm3. Again this one included some choice memories from a former outing to see the band which ultimately ended in Sam getting caught in a fistfight somewhere outside Liverpool Street station.
Babe, Gig In The City is (mostly) free to read, but only because some excellent sorts opt to donate money so I can keep bringing these love letters to live music. Why not treat yourself to a Backstage Pass for the New Year to do the same and unlock the final five below?
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