30-08-2023 14:52 PM - edited 18-10-2023 14:51 PM
You, your bestie and 90's icon Natalie Imbruglia at a show money can't buy... sounds pretty incredible, right? There’re 10 pairs of tickets up for grabs and every SMARTY customer has the chance to enter. Try your luck below.
Tell me more
This money-can’t-buy experience will take place at Virgin Radio's Sunset Sessions with SMARTY on Friday 29th September.
Hosted by drivetime legend Ricky Wilson, Natalie Imbruglia will perform an honest, intimate and stripped back set of her biggest and best hits. This exclusive performance will be set at the top of the NewsUK tower in London as the sun sets across the city – what an experience, right?
But hurry, the competition closing date is just around the corner…
Fancy it?
To enter you’ll need to respond below, telling us “What has been your favourite live gig and why?” We can’t wait to read your answers.
UPDATE - COMPETITION CLOSED
The competition is now closed, and we will make the draw for the winners from all the eligible entries and contact them in the next 24 hours.
So, keep your fingers crossed and an eye on your email inbox. Make sure you check your spam folders too, just in case.
Thanks to everyone who contributed some brilliant entries. We had over 560 posts and have had an amazingly diverse range of response, from Christian festivals to back-room-of-a-pub gigs, from massive stadium concerts to someone’s wedding. It’s been brilliant reading them all. Thank you.
And it’s never too late to see live music; go to a big venue, visit a festival, or just see what your local arts’ centre has on. You never know what you’re going to find.
Keep up the great work everyone; the SMARTY Community belongs to us all and succeeds because of your great contributions.
We were delighted to welcome SMARTY competition winners to watch this intimate performance with Drivetime host Ricky Wilson hosting the event.
06-09-2023 08:01 AM
THE JONAS BROTHERS in Milan because I was 16 and crazy for them
06-09-2023 08:02 AM
James bay at the NX in Newcastle. It's a smaller venue so a totally different feel. It was nice to experience something different. He was engaging and it was a fab gig.
06-09-2023 08:03 AM
THE JONAS BROTHERS in Milan because I was 16 and totally crazy for them
06-09-2023 08:01 AM
The final Runrig Concert at Stirling Castle, Summer 2018. Wonderful Scottish Band we’d been following for over 20 years. One of their songs ‘The Story’ featured in the recent Edinburgh Tattoo. Fond memories and wonderful times. Still play their music regularly.
06-09-2023 08:04 AM
There have been a lot of gigs, but Counting Crows on what I think was their firs UK tour supporting their first album 'August and Everything After' back in 1994 probably was amazing, totally raw and emotional filled lyrics and singing.
06-09-2023 08:04 AM
I got dragged along to see olly murs this year, but what made it sweeter was that the starting act was the one and only Natalie imbruglia. Olly murs surprised Mr as he was really good
06-09-2023 08:05 AM
Porcupine Tree at Wembley- absolutely brilliant 🤩 the drummer is a legend fist time I had seen them live would love to see them again
06-09-2023 08:06 AM
Robbie Williams playing to 200 people in a night club
06-09-2023 08:05 AM
MassMatiks at the BoilerRoom in Guildford. It was my first ever gig and at such an intimate venue I loved it!
06-09-2023 08:08 AM
My favourite live gig was Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour at Wembley in 1990 with my older brother. It was the first gig I ever attended and my parents didn't want me to attend as the Pope define it as Satanic!
06-09-2023 08:05 AM
My favourite live gig was seeing Meshuggah at the HMV Forum (now O2 Forum) back in 2012. It was with a group off friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and it was a great evening full of memories I'll keep forever!
06-09-2023 08:09 AM
Final Concert of Runrig at Stirling Castle Summer 2018. Wonderful Scottish Rock Band who we followed for over 20 years. One if their songs ‘The Story’ featured at the recent Edinburgh Tattoo. Still listen regularly to their inspiring and different music.
06-09-2023 08:09 AM
Paul Weller at The Royal Albert Hall
06-09-2023 08:09 AM
Madness Gloucester Leisure centre back in the day 1985 they were absolutely bonkers and brilliant and still are. The Nutty boys at their height....
06-09-2023 08:10 AM
Porcupine tree at Wembley absolutely brilliant the drummer is a legend would love to see them again 🤩
06-09-2023 08:10 AM
Seeing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at the Madjeski stadium, the gig was on my birthday and made an awesome present. Always remember it starting slowly but the moment the sun went down it went mad!
06-09-2023 08:11 AM
My Favourite live gig has to be Santana in Australia in 2017. He is one of my favourite musicians ever and what made it the best ever was at the end he took notice of me, being on the front row. He called me onto stage and gave me his guitar pick and let me have hold of his guitar, i even got to have a quick chat with him. Such an amazing experience :):):)
06-09-2023 08:11 AM
The only gig I have been to was The Proclaimers, I was a 19 year old working in Norway and it was amazing, a small select gig,able to get up close and personal with the guys. Songs that we all knew and some that were new at the time, 35 years later I can still remember it so vividly, makes me smile as thinking about the concert and time long gone.
Theresa.xx
06-09-2023 08:13 AM
The Killers in Manchester, listening to my favourite song Mr Brightside live and dancing like no one was watching was the best experience ever!!
06-09-2023 08:14 AM
My favourite gig - Leonard Cohen in Manchester. I went with my partner who is a big fan. I wasn't expecting to enjoy the gig but was stunned by a real gentleman who told a story and explained the motivation for his writing. Cohen spent 3 hours on stage, there was no warm up act, his band was brilliant and he let them shine individually and together. The audience all wore sensible shoes and were thoroughly enthralled - this gig was just before Cohen passed away and I have to say that having just discovered the depth of his poetry, music and lyrics he is sadly missed.
06-09-2023 08:15 AM
Pink at Wembley Stadium - she really flew!
06-09-2023 08:16 AM
Back in the day and best decade Madness Gloucester Leisure centre 1985. Nutty boys at their height, and still brilliant today
06-09-2023 08:15 AM
Fleetwood Mac in Glasgow was amazing
06-09-2023 08:17 AM
Favourite live gig, was a small time band Skinny Living. Was intimate and my god they can sing! Can't wait to see them grow and live again ❤️
06-09-2023 08:16 AM
Yes please
06-09-2023 08:20 AM
Never experienced, hope I am able to win to get this exciting experience in my life.
06-09-2023 08:21 AM
Prodigy at warriors dance festival, met up with several different groups of friends and got to listen to the music that got me into dance music as a kid
06-09-2023 08:23 AM
This is a hard one but most recently it has been Haim where they brought out Taylor Swift as a secret surprise guest, or Dermot Kennedy at all points east who I didn’t even know I was a fan of until I found myself crying at how amazing he was!
06-09-2023 08:24 AM
Never experienced , hope I am able to win to gain exciting experience.
06-09-2023 08:24 AM
My favourite gig has to be Kasabian at Carlisle Sands Centre back in 2008. It was my first ever gig, I was 12 years old and went with my parents! I was just starting to really get in to music and the whole set was electric. Serge was (and probably still is) the coolest guy I’ve seen on stage😎
06-09-2023 08:24 AM
Seeing the Prodigy in Milton Keynes back in the 2000’s was incredible. Dry ice filling the arena and the lead singer drifting through the crowd with cat eye contact lenses and Keith Flint thrashing inside a glass cube. An iconic show that I’ll never forget.
06-09-2023 08:25 AM
I don't have a favourite gig and nobody wants to hear about it anyway. I'm just entering to win the tickets and give them to the Mrs.
06-09-2023 08:26 AM
Status quo at rewind festival. They were the headline act - so last on & by this time it was pouring with rain so lots had left. They thanked everyone for hanging in there & played an extra special set for us.
06-09-2023 08:26 AM
Eric Clapton live soon after his son died....very moving and inspirational.
06-09-2023 08:26 AM
The first ever concert I went to was with a group of friends and my family. We went to see a Fleetwood Mac tribute band called Fleetwood Mad. It was only a small venue but it was amazing. We sang at the top of our lungs and had a great time spending a fun night with my family and friends! Can’t wait until I can go to another concert, with my friends and my family.
06-09-2023 08:28 AM
I loved the atmosphere of the live gig, me and my friend stayed up all night and we met some amazing people.
06-09-2023 08:29 AM
Eric Clapton live shortly after his family bereavement. Very moving.
06-09-2023 08:24 AM
Pink Floyd at Earls Court in 1994. A band I grew up listening to whilst going through all the twists and turns of puberty but relating to their songs. So in 1994 I got to see them live and they didn't disappoint. What an emotional roller-coaster bringing back childhood memories, good and bad. Superb atmosphere, entrancing visuals and a crystal lotus flower opening up from a gigantic disco ball suspended above our heads. Unforgettable!
Lou Lou and Take That who were a couple of rows in front of us also appeared to be enthralled by it all.
I still think about that experience and how it made me feel. ... ALIVE!
06-09-2023 08:31 AM
The Ian Gillian Band at the Marque in the mid eighties. An intimate and famous venue with a long history. Absolutely rammed, hot sweaty and fantastic. we were about 1ft from the small stage which was surrounded by the most enormous speakers. Not exactely stripped back but raw and powerful.
06-09-2023 08:30 AM
The Eagles at Bingley Hall on their Hotel California tour 1977...and my first ever gig!! What a first gig eh?! 😆🎸