Most bonkers band
 | | Arnocops |
Arnocops at the Attic: Surreal probably doesn’t do it justice. A band who dress as Arnold Schwarznegger and have songs based on the scripts of his film. Does it get any better? If you take into account the fact that they went out onto Oxford Road fully kitted out to drum up trade, probably not. Honourable mentions: Copter and their eight foot robot at Tiger Lounge; Tenacious D’s rock opera at the Arena Services to odd music
 | | Dom and Andy |
Andy and Dom at Electric Mud/B Music: Ever ready to subvert us all, Andy Votel and Dom Thomas have brought psychedelia back to clubland and beyond with Electric Mud at the Mint Lounge, a warehouse party at Islington Mill and putting Voice of the Seven Woods on in the Christmas Market. Hats off to them! Honourable mentions: FictionNonFiction’s perennial oddness at Tiger Lounge; Naomi Kashiwagi – the Gramophone DJ Best facial hair
 | | Gogol Bordello |
Gogol Bordello at Academy 2: Calling your music gypsy punk is one thing, sporting a massive great brush of a moustache at the same time is something else completely. Eugene Hutz’s facial adornment needs saluting even more than his outlandish music. Honourable mentions: Eagles of Death Metal at Academy 2; Slayer at the Arena Most rock poses
 | | Juliette and the Licks |
Juliette and the Licks at Academy 2: Who would have thought it would take a Hollywood actress to show the world of music how to rock with a capital R? Sporting leather pants and a feathered headband, Juliette Lewis must have struck every pose going as she screamed her way round the Academy 2. Honourable mentions: Jack White letting himself go with the Raconteurs at the Apollo; Dave Grohl’s use of the runway at Old Trafford Surprise comeback
 | | Northside |
Northside: Madchester, so much to answer for (as Morrissey might have said), but shocking as it was to have them back, Northside’s return after 14 years was greeted with massive cheers and the dusting off of a fair few beanie hats. Given the price that Chicken Rhythms has been fetching on online auctions, you can’t blame them for giving it another whirl. Honourable mentions: the unexpected revival of everyone’s favourite boy band Take That; Evan Dando breathing new life into The Lemonheads at Academy 2 | 
