Here's my 10 of the best ...
➓ TOM JONES, Royal Concert Hall, January 17
Some purists may have sneered at the announcement of Tom Jones playing Celtic Connections, but the Welsh warbler pulled it off.
He ran through his gospel and blues album, Praise & Blame, in fine style, with the songs showcasing the sheer strength of his voice, before throwing a few old favourites into the fire at the end.
➒ED SHEERAN, O2 ABC, October 14
The troubadour with the rapid-fire wordplay has been one of 2011's biggest stars, and tickets for this ABC show were like gold dust.
He soon showed why, delivering a commanding stage presence, a clever array of loops and a guest appearance from Scots songstress Nena Nesbitt. The highlight was the closing 15-minute version of You Need Me But I Don't Need You.
➑ADAM ANT, O2 Academy, May 23
Taking place as gales battered Scotland, Adam Ant swept into Glasgow as if he'd never been away.
He was assisted by a superb band, argued with the crowd over them disliking the support act, but barrelled through cracking versions of Kings Of The Wild Frontier and Stand And Deliver.
➐COLDPLAY, SECC, December 3
Chris Martin and company have the arena show down perfectly.
There was light-up glowing wristbands for all, the band sounded enormous throughout and Martin is still a compelling front man. A tremendously assured gig.
➏KATY B, Arches, May 5
THE year's dominant female may have been Adele, but London lass Katy B wasn't far behind.
This show suited the venue's clubby feel perfectly, mixing up dance beats with more familiar pop ideas, but it was brilliantly pulled off on the likes of Perfect Strange and a euphoric version of Hard To Get.
➎AERIALS UP, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, July 17
The pick of the hugely admirable King Tut's Summer Nights festival in July.
Seven-piece outfit Aerial's Up are gigging veterans now, and they rattled through a clutch of perfect guitar-pop tunes that were impossible not to grin to.
➍THE HORRORS, Oran Mor, June 15
Music's most unlikely reinvention continued, as The Horrors displayed an unforeseen danceable side.
This gig was held just before the release of one of 2011's best albums, Skying, and everything that made that record so superb was here, too, from the surprisingly rave-friendly beat of Changing The Rain to the cracking likes of Moving Further Away, that sounded huge, and, yes, a little bit like Simple Minds.
➌BLACK LIPS, Stereo, May 24
Atlanta garage rockers the Black Lips have been superb act for many a year, but their Stereo show earlier this year featured the foursome at the peak of their powers.
They may play a style of music that's immensely straightforward, scruffy and sweaty rock 'n' roll, but it created pandemonium and was infectious in its sheer fun.
➋TWIN ATLANTIC, Barrowland, May 6
There is nothing more heartening than watching a band claw their way up the gigging ladder to deserved success.
Frontman Sam McTrusty and the rest of Twin have been one of Scotland's most exciting bands for the past few years and, like Biffy Clyro, have earned their fan base the hard way.
They gave a superb performance at the O2 Academy earlier this month, but for sheer emotion, May's headline show at the Barrowland can't be beaten. Each of the foursome looked awe-struck to be there, but the gig itself was awesome.
➊PAUL SIMON,
Clyde Auditorium, June 24
Strolling on stage at half past seven, Paul Simon may have had one of the year's earliest starting times. But the next two and a bit hours were sheer class as the 69-year-old and his backing band effortlessly rolled through a massive career-spanning set.
There was fine material from new album So Beautiful Or So What, covers of rock 'n' roll standards like Mystery Train, and classics, such as 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover. But nothing could top a spine-tingling version of The Sound Of Silence.
