JUST like the rest of the world, the Newcastle and Hunter music scene has been decimated by COVID-19.
We've seen venues close, musicians and their support crew go months without work and music lovers starved of entertainment as festivals and large concerts have been cancelled or postponed.
However through it all, the local scene found a way.
Quality local music continued to be released and venues like the Cambridge Hotel, Lizotte's, Stag and Hunter Hotel, Hamilton Station Hotel and the Civic Theatre and more continued to showcase original live music, albeit at a smaller capacity.
Of course 2020 won't be remembered fondly by most people, but there was still a wealth of incredible local music worth revisiting.
BEST ALBUMS
Forever In Bloom, Vacations: This was the moment Vacations emerged from being a uber-cool DIY band with a gigantic social media following to becoming the genuine article. Produced by Holy Holy guitarist Oscar Dawson at The Grove, the polished production on Forever In Bloom was worthy of the sparkling songwriting.
Vacations' trademark sun-drenched indie sound was still present, but songs like Lavender, Actors and Panache showcased a new maturity and the benefits of a more collaborative band approach.
Golden Exile, James Thomson: The third album from Newcastle's premier Americana singer-songwriter was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. Thomson surrounded himself with red-hot hands in Sean McMahon (guitar), Steve Hadley (bass) and Tracy McNeil (backing vocals) and it showed.
There's no fat on Golden Exile. Just pure warm and nostalgic songwriting of the finest kind.
Slob Stories, dave the band: It's questionable how much Nirvana producer Steve Albini added to Slob Stories, but what is beyond debate is the quality of the songwriting.
Distorted guitar and pounding drums meets melodic vocals have long been a winning formula, but dave the band were able to insert their own very Novocastrian spin.
LIVE REVIEW:Dave the band launch Slob Stories
Coldstream Road, e4444e: Romy Church, the artist behind e4444e, has previously shown an ability to conjure up emotive soundscapes with his experimental brand of electronica. Coldstream Road proved Church is also a talented songwriter.
For the first time e4444e adopted acoustic guitar and more folk-rock song structures in tracks like Wind Nocturne and Wolves, which provided a more welcoming introduction into his psychedelic world of wonder.
Muscle Memory, Lachlan X. Morris: Quality and consistency have been the hallmarks of Morris' output over his past three albums. On record No.4 Muscle Memory, Morris took his songwriting to new heights.
The embrace of '70s glam and pop-rock remains, but there was a new confident edge in tracks like Pick Up The Knife and Souvenir and greater control of melody on Supermoon.
BEST SINGLES
Baby, Georgie Jones: The Newcastle jazz diva moved into a new pop-rock direction on Baby and it clicked beautifully. It was a song of female empowerment, backed by a ear-worm hook and a powerful Jones delivery.
My Country, William Crighton: Midnight Oil passion and anger meets John Williamson bush charm, best describes Crighton's lead single off his forthcoming third album. Crighton raged about the country's inaction on climate change and made you believe every word.
Panache, Vacations: For the first time Vacations got you dancing (if you'd been allowed to) on their dark-disco track Panache. Campbell Burns' falsetto soared on the chorus before Sarah Sykes chimed in for a well-timed collaboration.
Half Light,Grace Turner: Duality is at the heart of Turner's songwriting. The light and the dark. In fact, it's probably at the heart of the Lake Macquarie-raised artist's personality. Half Light was the epic centre piece of her first EP Half Truths, as Turner exposed her inner contradictions.
Courtney Love, Tori Forsyth: Over the past year Forsyth has been moving away from her goth-country roots towards a grunge sound. However, she took a minor look back on her single Courtney Love. It's a scathing account of a woman who wronged her. The line, "she's got no substance" stings with genuine bitterness like a frosty winter westerly.
BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Boycott: Political punk rock has a new voice and it's all-girl band Boycott. Their debut EP Papillon and fiery single Please suggested their future is bright.
Craterface: Newcastle's hip-hop scene hasn't spawned anything of substance. Alt-rap duo Chester Chaffer and Harrison Chapman changed that with their album Burn After Listening, a kaleidoscopic mix of lo-fi production, mid-2000s hip-hop and electro-pop.
Viragos: After the demise of India & The Journey To The East, frontwoman India Seddon-Callaghan began collaborating with housemate and guitarist Rana Ellway. The result was indie-funk five-piece Viragos, who have since won the University of Newcastle band comp.
