The Wedding Present, Leeds Academy

So that was 2011. A year that started with I am Kloot in York and ended with The Wedding Present in Leeds. Two gigs that feature in the Velvet Owl Gig Collective New Years Honours List.

Best Gig - I am Kloot, The Duchess, York: A cold and bitter January night, an expensive misunderstanding at the parking meter, and a venue full of chattering idiots wasn't enough to stop this being named the VO collective's favourite gig of the year.

Strangest Venue - Holmbridge Village Hall: Folk supergroup, Drever, Woomble and McKusker rocked up to play a venue more used to hosting local am dram productions as part of the Holmfirth Arts Festival. Warm beer served from a trestle table and a raffle for a meat tray added to the Twin Peaks style weirdness.

Worst Backdrop - Yuck, Sheffield Leadmill: A semen encrusted bedsheet with the words Yuck splattered across it. It doesn't get any more indie than that.

Best Venue - The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds: A fabulous, intimate venue, a great sound system and an excellent choice of alcoholic beverages. Nuff said.

The night that took the Velvet Owls out of their comfort zone - NME Awards Tour, Leeds Academy: An evening where the music of Magnetic Man and 800 youths going  absolutely batshit felt like it was the end of days to some of the collective.

The night that made us go, meh - The Wedding Present, Leeds Academy: Despite the end of year party atmosphere and a venue full of loyal fans awaiting the return of their prodigal son, The Wedding Present felt a little lacklustre and somewhat half-hearted.

So that was the year that was. The Velvet Owl Gig Collective sang, danced and laughed at Tim Burgess' hair. Roll on 2012. Who knows what adventures it may bring.