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Live music makes me feel emotional, alive and thankful.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I joined Music in Hospitals & Care musicians in the adult acute mental health wards at Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow. It was incredibly powerful seeing live music visibly relax the patients and transform the space for the staff who were there.

Live music makes me feel hopeful, inspired and alive.

My favourite live music experience would have to be the celebrated 1995 revival of Steven Sondheim’s ‘A Little Night Music’. I was lucky enough to see Dame Judi Dench sing ‘Send in the Clowns’ and it was perfection – such a beautifully heartfelt performance. I’ve loved Sondheim ever since.

Live music makes me feel alive, connected and inspired.

My favourite live music experience would have to be stumbling across a surprise acoustic set from The Guillemots at the Southbank Centre. Their songs often move me but the setting and seeing them live moved me to tears. It was a magical experience and a testament to the power of music.

Live music makes me feel moved, motivated and whole.

Visiting the Neonatal Unit in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital with a Music in Hospitals & Care musician sticks in my mind. I spent some time on the ward before the music began so I was able to experience the immediate change in atmosphere and the looks on people faces as the music reached them. It was magical!

Live music makes me feel emotional, excited and comforted.

I remember one particularly special hospital Christmas party. It is such a difficult time of year for people to be away from loved ones, but patients, family members and staff came together to join in with the Music in Hospitals & Care musician. We shared laughter, tears and a ‘blether’. It was a powerful experience.

Live music makes me feel thankful, content and amazed.

My favourite live music experience is when I saw Lucy Dacus live in The Old Fruit Market in Glasgow. Her songs are very emotional and her band were outstanding. Even though the venue was on the bigger side it was perfect for such an intimate gig.

Live music makes me feel mindful, zestful and harmonious.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when the samba drumming band I play in performed at Ashton Memorial in Lancaster last Christmas, for loved ones lost.  The community came together and we lit candles for each person.  It was both a poignant and celebratory occasion, which everyone took comfort from.

Live music makes me feel inspired, connected and joyful.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I went to the Busted reunion concert. In primary school I was a huge fan of them but they split up before I was able to see them live, so I jumped at this chance – it was just as amazing as I’d imagined!

Live music makes me feel alive, energised and connected.

I think the live music experience that had the biggest ‘wow’ factor and impact for me was singing John Rutter’s ‘Gloria’ with a full mixed youth choir and orchestra at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth. Awesome music, surrounded by sound, with the bass section thundering away behind me. Pure joy!

Live music makes me feel reflective, emotional and free.

My favourite live music experience would have to be a live stream I organised with Music in Hospitals & Care musicians Laura-Jayne Hunter and Hattie Whitehead. They shared their own arrangements of classic songs with amazing harmonies and lots of health and care settings engaged by sending lovely messages and song requests in.

Live music makes me feel alive, happy and connected.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I had the chance to be lead singer for a band at my university’s annual May Ball. There is nothing like the buzz of playing for a room full of people who are singing along with you.

Live music makes me feel inspired, empowered and alive.

My favourite live music experience was when I performed with my sister in Brighton with the Migrant English Project. I loved selecting a sensitive and nostalgic repertoire of Arabic songs which had an immense, visible impact on refugees and asylum seekers who are unable to access live music.

Live music makes me feel emotional, captivated and alive.

It’s so hard to pick just one favourite live music experience, but seeing Johnny Flynn in London was really memorable. We had a front row view and could really engage in the lively energetic songs along with people around us, but could also experience the heartfelt emotions in his acoustic sets. It was amazing!

Live music makes me feel immersed, free and inspired.

My favourite live music experience was seeing The Who at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, I was overcome with emotion. From the opening chords played very loudly by Pete Townshend, I knew that I wanted to be involved in music for the rest of my life.

Live music makes me feel connected, emotional and immersed.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I saw The Buzzcocks in a small independent venue in Oxford. It is one of the first times I remember going to see live music – I was near the front and completely taken in by the whole experience.

Live music makes me feel animated, euphoric and present.

My favourite live music experience would have to be Music in Hospitals & Care musicians A4 Brass Quartet at Lancasterian School in Manchester. It was amazing to see how the group of multi-sensory impaired children interacted with the instruments and used new signals they had learnt to request changes in the tempo or volume.

Live music makes me feels exhilarated, peaceful and motivated.

One of my favourite live music experiences would have to be when I went backstage for the day at Leeds Festival. We got to meet with the musicians and watching them perform at the side of the stage was a brand new experience for me that I’ll never forget.

Live music makes me feel included, relaxed and inspired.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I watched Music in Hospitals & Care harpist Margaret Watson playing in an Intensive Care Unit. It was not an environment I had ever been to before and was very clinical and overwhelming, even just as a visitor. The music gave a sense of calm and normality.

Live music makes me feel euphoric, uninhibited and seen.

My favourite live music experience was when I was eight and I went to see a musical about the life of Dusty Springfield. I remember feeling the lump swell in my throat when the performer started singing the song ‘Goin’ Back’ and looking around to see several other tear-stained faces in the audience. It was then that I realised the power of live music.

Live music makes me feel, emotional, inspired and alive.

I couldn’t possibly pick one favourite live music experience, but the ones that stick in my mind are where I’ve been moved to tears (mostly happy tears) or when I’ve enjoyed that music with the ones I love and being able to share that with them. Watching Ed Sheeran from only a few metres away was pretty special!

Live music makes me feel happy, energised and engaged.

My favourite live music experience – there are too many! Barns Courtney in Glasgow in 2019 was incredible. The last live music I saw was a Christmas carol concert, the singing was just magical. A couple of gigs I had tickets for have been rescheduled for this year and I can’t wait!

Live music makes me feel happy, emotional and inspired.

One of my favourite live music experiences would have to be seeing my ultimate musical hero, George Michael, performing at Hampden Park in Glasgow in 2006.  Everyone was having a wonderful time, engaging with the music and dancing along.  It was a fabulous experience.

Live music makes me feel energised, alive and peaceful.

I once won tickets to a Children in Need Live concert at the Royal Albert Hall. There were many big names including Paul McCartney. It was the first live music experience my son had been to and the best thing was seeing his joy and amazement that we were actually there in person.

Live music makes me feel connected, happy and emotional.

It’s really hard to pick my favourite live music experience – every single one is unique. I love watching the impact of live music on people, how they react to hearing their favourite song, how the smiles all of a sudden grow, how the mood changes and observing the emotions live music can unlock.