Here are the nominees for Best Live Performance.

There’s nothing better than seeing your favourite artist, sportspeople, or event live. The total immersion that comes from being in a crowd all enjoying the same spectacle can be indescribable. Here are some of the best of the last year.

Alternative Rugby Commentary
Jed “the Jedi” Thian’s profanity-laced and completely one-eyed take on international rugby matches has become an A-list ticket in town. Despite moving from the SFBH to the Loaded Hog the Alt-Commentary has lost none of its… charm. And if you don’t like it live the call is also available around the world via the internets.

The Gossip at SFBH
Strictly speaking, it happened in 2007, but since it was two days after the awards ceremony (and one Wellingtonista’s motivation for having the awards on the Thursday not the Friday so that she wouldn’t be hungover for it) and because Beth Ditto and co put on such a fantastic show, it can’t go unmentioned. Half the crowd were pulled up on stage for the final songs, everyone was worked up into a sweaty mess, and ladies who like ladies swooned all over the city. Magic.

The Phoenix Foundation in Frank Kitts Park
Part of the Meridian Summer Series, these bearded and much beloved Wellingtonians (except when they take the last filo at Deluxe) pulled off a blinder of a set under some very pretty lights right after the release of their third album Happy Ending. They didn’t play singalong/whisperalong favourite ‘Nest Egg’, which made for some sad pandas, but the weather was perfect and the crowd were well entertained. What a way to impress the out-of-towners who were in town for Webstock!

The New Zealand Under 17 Womens’ Football Team at the Stadium
After not doing very well up in Auckland, the girls travelled down to the Cake Tin for their final match against Colombia… and they KICKED ASS! Cheered on by the football-mad Wellington crowd (letting out all that pent-up Wellington Phoenix angst), Rosie White scored a hat-trick against the South American champions and they finished the tournament with their heads held high.

Pelorus Trust Fireworks Shows
Since both the Wellington Sky Show on Guy Fawke’s Day and the Fireshow at the Petone Winter Carnival are sponsored by the Pelorus Trust, we’ve included them together. Everyone loves fireworks, and not just a Mount Vesuvius in your backyard. These massive fireworks extravaganzas make you go ooo, ahh, and even clap at the end, despite trying to be cool and not doing so.

Squiggles, originally uploaded by -Nicole-