Jade's Music Blog

Spring
One of the year’s biggest success stories – Liverpool trio The Wombats – went down a storm when they sold out the Academy.
Following news that the Summer Pops were to be cancelled, the ECHO stepped in as major sponsor and the events moved to Aintree.
The Cubical, The Pedantics, The Regimental and The Wild Eyes came over all Summer Holiday and headed down to London in a double-decker bus to play a showcase of the new sound of Liverpool, and took their fans along for the ride.
We talked to Brit winner Amy Winehouse ahead of her sell-out date at the Liverpool Academy where she talked about her 15 minutes of rehab and why she loved The Zutons’ track Valerie.
Echo and the Bunnymen played a great gig at charity gig Versus Cancer, alongside Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, The Charlatans and Paul Weller.
The Arctic Monkeys were the name on everyone’s lips as, when they could have filled Anfield and Goodison Park combined, they chose to showcase second album Favourite Worst Nightmare at the Liverpool Academy in front of just 1,200 fan-club devotees.
They were supported by The Little Flames, whop announced soon afterwards that they would be going their separate ways. Miles Kane, Joe Edwards and Greg Mighall formed The Rascals and Eva Petersen began work on a solo project.
Meanwhile, West Derby lovely Candie Candie Payne took time out from wowing Jonathan Ross and Jools Holland to play her first solo gig in Liverpool.
John Power played a homecoming gig at Mountford Hall, and the fifth International Pop Overthrow Festival showcased more than 100 indie bands from all over the world.
Plus, we had Crosby music festival, and great gigs from The Twang, Milburn and Stephen Fretwell

Summer
The period from June to August wasn’t the best for Merseyside music. It’d promised to be the summer of sound, an unprecedented celebration of Merseyside's burgeoning music scene. Then suddenly it all went rather flat, with the cancellation of two festivals in as many days.
Liverpool’s first ever “green� music festival was called off in the face of growing financial difficulties.
But those disappointed could at least take comfort in being able to go to see Echo and the Bunnymen and John Power for free at Eclectica in St Helens on the same day.
Mathew Street was another matter. The council cited health and safety concerns for their decision to cancel the event.
But, the bands were all lined up to play, the fans were looking forward to it, so the ECHO launched a campaign calling upon venues to open their doors. The response was overwhelming, and the show went on.
Heavy rains saw mudbaths at Glastonbury and Knowsley Hall festivals, but the
Summer Pops had a great season in its new venue, with standout gigs from Pink, The Pretenders, Girls Aloud and – after her original date was cancelled – Amy Winehouse.
The Racals’ Miles Kane went to France to record an album with Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner.
The Alterkicks released their debut album, and promptly announced that they were to go their separate ways.
The Zutons guitarist Boyan Chowdhury also revealed that he was to leave the bands to pursue a solo project.
We launched SOUND 07, the ECHO's essential guide to the Liverpool music scene with contributions from Echo and the Bunnymen, The Coral, Pete Wylie, Shack, Madness, Candie Payne, Amy Winehouse, Pink, Kelis and Mark Ronson

Autumn
The ECHO Arena was announced as the venue for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008.
September saw great gigs from Modest Mouse and Amsterdam at the Carling Academy, the Dead 60s free instore gig at Probe Records and Sonic Hearts took up residency for four weeks at Barfly.
We launched our ECHO Unsigned Band of the Week slot, raising the profile of the best up-and-coming acts in Merseyside.
There were notable gigs from Happy Mondays, Seth Lakeman, Mark Ronson, The Gossip, The Bravery, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Cherry Ghost, Jack Peñate, and The Cribs.
ECHO Unsigned Band of the Week The Troubadours from Speke, Runcorn and Wigan, released their debut single – Gimme Love – to acclaim from Zane Lowe and Jonathan Ross.
It was also announced that the NME Tour 2008 would be calling in at Liverpool University, with shows from The Cribs, Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong, Does It Offend You, Yeah? And The Ting Tings.

Winter
Liverpool Music Week had great gigs from hundreds of bands, including The Rascals, The Hot Melts, Eugene McGuinness and The Maybes?
The Wombats launched their debut album, A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation, with two fancy dress boat parties on the Mersey and aftershow gigs at Korova.
The Royal Variety Show saw performances from Bon Jovi, Seal, Enrique Iglesias and the Sense of Sound choir at the Empire.
Echo and the Bunnymen played two sold-out dates at the Academy, The Coral played three, and The Icicle Works got together for a reunion gig, supported by Amsterdam.
On the BBC, the Liverpool Nativity showcased some of the city’s greatest songs.
The Zutons headlined the Deltasonic Christmas Party in aid of Alder Hey, with performances from The Suzukis, The Rascals, and special guests. The night culminated in a family first – Candie, Howie and Sean Payne shared a stage for the first time, and were joined by Sean’s fiancée Abi Harding.

What were your musical highlights of 2007? Leave a comment below and share your views.

For a full guide of the bands to watch for 2008 see Monday’s ECHO.