The Hunter gig calendar looked an absolute belter too.

English icons Elton John and Rod Stewart were returning to the wineries, Groovin The Moo had secured acts like Gang Of Youths, Supergrass and Tones and I, and Under The Southern Stars were delivering a '90s rock triple treat of Live, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots. There was also the November double-header of This That and Scene & Heard.

But the world changed in March. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the single greatest upheaval to the entertainment and arts industry, placing thousands of musicians and their support crews out of work.

Music fans flocked to livestreams, but it was never the same. It lacked the visceral energy only live entertainment can bring. Thankfully in late July gigs returned, albeit as restricted and seated affairs.

Despite the hardships, there was still some amazing performances in 2020 and here will detail the highlights. Let's hope for a more rocking and safer 2021.

THE anthemic beauty of Middle Kids' songs was perfectly matched by the ornate surrounds of Newcastle City Hall.

There was an uplifting vibe in the air as the Sydney indie four-piece waltzed onstage for their Great Southern Nights gig. With minimal shows for 12 months due to frontwoman Hannah Joy having a baby, and then COVID, there was genuine enthusiasm from both band and audience.

Middle Kids have played several sets in Newcastle, but they've never sounded this polished. The hectic years of touring to their growing US fan base had honed their craft. It also doesn't hurt they have an increasingly deep songbook to draw from.

Edge Of Town, Never Start and Mistake were delivered with delight and Joy's stunning voice and girl-next-door charisma only further charmed the sold-out crowd.

"There was zero too-cool-rock-star posturing from Joy," we wrote. "Instead she constantly hammed it up with quirky facial expressions and banter. Joy appeared like she was loving every minute."

IT feels like an eternity since the Rocket Man walked down the yellow brick road two final times in Hunter wine country. It was pre-COVID and there was 20,000 packed into Hope Estate to farewell one of the most iconic performers of all time.

Elton John didn't disappoint. The 25-song set featured classics like Candle In The Wind, Your Song and Crocodile Rock as well as lesser-known song Indian Summer.

"The 72-year-old was unable to reach his higher notes, and relied heavily on a bluesy bark, but he's lost none of his nimbleness on the piano," we wrote.

What was crystal clear was the emotion. Punters young and old were visibly moved as John departed the stage. It was fitting finale to an amazing career.

UNDOUBTEDLY the wildest show of 2020 was glam rock revivalists Starcrawler, who supported fellow LA surf-rockers The Growlers. There was plenty of hype surrounding Starcrawler, fronted by 190-centimetre singer Arrow de Wilde, and it even drew out a curious Silverchair legend Daniel Johns.

From a pure musical standpoint Starcrawler were a distorted mess. But de Wilde provided essential viewing. We wrote: "She convulsed, prayed, tossed water on the crowd, simulated oral sex, choked herself with the microphone chord and whacked herself in the head as if in self-flagellation for her rock'n'roll sins."

The Growlers might have been the headliner, but they couldn't match the theatrics of their support. Instead they settled into a chilled psych-rock groove that gave every grommet in Newcastle the chance to cut the rug.

"It feels good to be out hey?" Lime Cordiale co-frontman Oliver Leimbach said to the sold-out crowd of 100 people seated at candlelit tables inside the Cambridge.

Indeed it was. After almost four months without live music and little else in terms of live entertainment, Newcastle punters were desperate to feel normal again.

The new normal of seated shows was obviously not ideal, but Lime Cordiale definitely still had the crowd animated. Thanks to the Sydney indie-pop band's second album 14 Steps To A Better You, Lime Cordiale have arguably become the hottest Australian band of the COVID-era. This show was one of eight sold-out 100-capacity gigs at the Cambridge. Then in November they played to 750 people at the Civic Theatre.

It's not difficult to identity the charm of Lime Cordiale. They perform catchy numbers, which blend rock, reggae, folk, ska in a breezy summery mix.

It might have been the middle of a COVID winter, but Lime Cordiale almost had us imagining it was a virus-free summer.

AMAZINGLY this gig was free of charge. If you're into Americana or alt-country you'd know Melbourne's Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife are the real deal.

This performance was held a week before the release of McNeil's fifth album You Be The Lightning, which deservedly came in No.17 in Double J's best albums of 2020.

It was cosmic alt-country meets the Californian rock-pop of Fleetwood Mac. New songs Like A Brother, Catch You and Stars sparkled and were locked in tight by a red-hot GoodLife line-up of Dan Parsons (guitar), Bree Hartley (drums), Brendan McMahon (keyboards) and Craig Kelly (bass).

While McNeil might be the chief and songwriter, she gave Parsons ample opportunities to wow the audience with nuanced solos and flourishes. This was an enthralling evening of emotive songwriting placed in the hands of esteemed musos.

Elephant Sessions, Stag & Hunter Hotel, January 5: A huge dose of Scottish neo-trad - explosive, mesmerising and engaging. Bits of pieces, thrown together, to create something with class and style, with the lightest touch of tradition. Mixing jazz and folk and rock, worthy of stadium-sized audiences.

Cedric Burnside, Lizotte's, March 5: Genuine north Mississippi hill country blues at its best. Once he picked up the electric guitar and introduced drummer Reed Watson, they proceeded to rip it up in an awesome, nasty bite of funk, starting with Tell Me Baby.

Jimmy Barnes, Lizotte's, October 1: Jimmy being Jimmy has come to mean different things. On this night, surrounded by family, he was your next door neighbour playing all your favourites just like he owned them.

William Crighton, Sawtooth Studios, September 8: It was rehearsal day for the first Music People show in this smart little studio in Tighes Hill. Crighton unveiled a solo version of Killara, a ripper of a ballad that will feature on his new album in 2021. It was intense, brave and Australian as it gets. Hair-raising. Unforgettable.

Starcrawler, 48 Watt Street, January 9: The theatrical element of Starcrawler singer Arrow de Wilde's performance was captivating as she mixed punk attitude with shock-rock antics.

Elton John, Hope Estate, January 11: It was a great honour to photograph one of music's true superstars on his final world tour.

Cedric Burnside, Lizotte's, March 5: Mr Burnside is one exceptionally cool singer-songwriter. This was the last gig I photographed before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the music industry.

Lime Cordiale, Cambridge Hotel, July 29: The energy of this socially-distanced mid-COVID performance was a most welcome relief from the restrictions of 2020.

Middle Kids, Newcastle City Hall, November 14: Watching Middle Kids perform impassioned alt-indie rock in the dignified surrounds of City Hall was very satisfying and extremely enjoyable.