The year of 2016 was certainly an interesting one in the music world. Though many headlines will focus on those who have passed this year, we wanted to reflect on the joyous occasions that music brought throughout 2016. In doing so, we asked a number of musicians to tell us about some of their favorite experiences throughout the year, and will be running features all week to celebrate all things live music.

For the third part of this series, we asked, “What was your favorite show that you saw in 2016?” and got a wide range of answers, from small club shows, to headlining festival sets, to Argentine tango shows. Three different artists mentioned being blown away by Radiohead, two tapped The Claypool Lennon Delirium as their favorite, and several chose performances by artists who also participated in the survey. Without further ado, here’s what your favorite musicians had to say:

Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers) – My very favorite was the McCrary Sisters in Nashville. Also, Del McCoury and his boys at Delfest and Grace Potter at thse Grand Point North Festival.

Karl Denson – I saw my first real tango show in Buenos Aires this year. A medium-size club where the band was seated right above the stage; the music was as good, if not better than the dancing, which was spectacular. A unique mix of jazz, flamenco classical modern and dancing with the physicality of martial arts, Good for the soul.

Michael Kang (The String Cheese Incident) – Kamasi Washington at Electric Forest Festival.

Chuck Jones (Dopapod) – Radiohead at MSG

Alric Carter (TAUK) – Radiohead @ MSG

Eli Winderman (Dopapod) – Radiohead and Tame Impala in Portugal with my girlfriend on our vacation. Absolutely amazing concert.

Cory Wong (Vulfpeck collaborator) – I saw Prince a couple months before he died. LEGEND.

Scrambled Greg (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong) – The Claypool Lennon Delirium and Umphrey’s McGee at The Peach.

Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio Band) – Claypool-Lennon..

Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk) – Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) – Grateful Dead

Jesus Coomes (Lettuce) – Dead & Co feat. John MAYER and OTEIL

Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company) – Too hard to pick but I seem to remember experiencing an arched back the last time Soulive played. Brooklyn Bowl? [Editor’s Note: This was actually in 2015, but we feel you, Oteil. Bowlive 2017 anyone?]

Ryan Jalbert (The Motet) – With my schedule being so insane this past year, I unfortunately made it out to see less music than I have in past years but I still got to enjoy some inspiring performances. We got to co-bill with the “Monsters of Funk” super group in NOLA which consisted of Bernard Purdie, Leo Nocentelli, Oteil Burbridge and Ivan Neville so that was amazing. Mr. Purdie came on our bus to hang and was super humble and gracious and that was just one of those special nights that only happens in New Orleans. A few of us caught Chance the Rapper at the Fillmore and he’s an amazing performer. Also it was so great seeing our dudes Lettuce crush their Red Rocks headliner and really stretch out on tunes, take chances and get trippy on such a high profile gig just as they would on any other stage. Their sense of adventure is always inspiring.

William Apostol (Billy Strings) – I would have to say my first Phish show with special guest Bob Weir in Nashville… Mind Blown!!!


Jeremy Schon (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong) – Flight of The Conchords at Wolf Trap.

Rob Compa (Dopapod) – Duke Levine Band at Mexicali Live [NJ]. Duke and Kevin Barry are two of the greatest players in the world. I always leave a show practically in tears. It’s powerfully emotive as well as virtuosic.

Matt Gibbs (Evolfo) – David Liebe Hart at Palisades in Brooklyn. ¡Salame!

Seth Walker – John Scofield, Brad Meldau and Mark Guiliana Trio at Blue Note [NYC]. Pure art.

Neal Evans (Dopapod) – Thundercat at Bisco

Simon Allen (The New Mastersounds) – It might well be The Floozies set at Electric Forest in Michigan in June. I’d never heard of them before and the whole audio-visual experience knocked my socks off.

Nick Tkachyk (Spafford) – Lotus at the Vic in Chicago. Bass shook my insides. Mike made me dance.

Craig Brodhead (Turkuaz) – Garage a Trois Jazz Fest late night Tipitina’s.

Dave Watts (The Motet) – Steely Dan at Red Rocks

JP Biondo (Cabinet) – Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Nigel Hall (Lettuce) – Cory Henry and the Funk Apsostles

Pappy Biondo (Cabinet) – Hurray for the Riff Raff, Bluebird Denver

Laurie Shook (The Shook Twins) – Milk Carton Kids at Fayettville Roots Festival

Dominic Peters (Goldfish) – Tycho at Euphoria Festival

T Sisters – Fantastic Negrito at the Ghost Ship Benefit at the Fox Theater overwhelmed us with his raw style and poignant message.

David Shaw (The Revivalists) – Andrew Bird

Mike Gantzer (Aqueous) – I’d have to give it to Snarky Puppy earlier this year- I caught them for the first time in Buffalo in March, and I felt like I was 15 again, my mind was just so completely blown by every aspect of the show, all the way from the absurd musicianship and appreciation they all seem to have for one another, to the immaculate sound out front in the venue. Just killer.