Bradford Beat

Former Telegraph & Argus music writer Simon Ashberry has been involved with BCB in one capacity or another for more than a decade.

As a journalist, he's followed the careers of the likes of Embrace, Terrorvision, New Model Army, Tasmin Archer, Pianoman and Ooberman.

You might also remember him as the bass player in the Bradford band Loom, who also featured Trip and Stumble guitarist John Rigby.

Each December we do the Christmas Countdown - our choice of the top 20 tracks of the year. Here's the 2012 rundown plus a reminder of 2009, 2010 and 2011:

1 Whiter Than - Note To Self
2 Django Django - Default
3 Field Music - A New Town
4 Sentimentalists _ I'm Lonely For Every Woman I've Ever Known
5 The Maccabees - Pelican
6 The Ting Tings - Silence
7 The Seven inches - Peruvian Poncho
8 Little Comets - Worry
9 Mara Carlyle - Ping Ting
10 Nick Toczek - Noo Yawk
11 Paul Weller - That Dangerous Age
12 Benjamin Francis Leftwich - In The Open
13 City and Colour - The Grand Optimist
14 Downdime - In Space
15 handmadehands - Words That Mean Nothing
16 The Wind-Up Birds - Cross Country
17 Yo El Rey - And One For The Doctor
18 Rodina and the Wolf - What Are You Trying To Do?
19 Alt-J - Something Good
20 Jed's Blues Band - Dirty Water

2011 Christmas Countdown:

1 The Wind Up Birds - Meet Me At The Depot
2 Half Man Half Biscuit - Descending The Stiperstones
3 Juffage - My Weakness
4 PJ Harvey - The Words That Maketh Murder
5 Young Knives - Love My Name
6 Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
7 handmadehands – Over The Edge
8 Pigeon Detectives – Lost
9 Chapel Club – Surfacing
10 Alt-J – Matilda
11 Billy DeLines – Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone?
12 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Senator
13 Pete and the Pirates – Half Moon Street
14 Trespassers William – I Could Go Back
15 Colourmusic – Yes!
16 Kingheadlock – Lifeless Life
17 Threshold Shift – Hang In There
18 Terrorvision – Rock Radio
19 Gomez – The Place and the People
20 Lulu and the Lampshades – Feet To The Sky

2010 Christmas Countdown:

1 The Divine Comedy - The Indie Disco
2 Broken Bells - The High Road
3 The National - England
4 Talk To Angels - He Loves Cilla
5 Arcade Fire - Empty Room
6 Yeasayer – Madder Red
7 Massive Attack – Girl I Love You
8 Babybird – Black Flowers
9 Vampire Weekend – Cousins
10 Whole Sky Monitor – Shoot The People
11 iLiKETRAiNS - Sea of Regret
12 State of Error - Sign The Line
13 Sunshine Underground - A Warning Sign
14 Black Keys - Tighten Up
15 Grinderman - Heathen Child
16 Being 747 - Life In The Trees
17 The Fall - Bury Parts 2 + 4
18 Vicky and Sunny - Ahkhon Main Ek Khawab
19 Creole Choir of Cuba - Chen Nan Ren
20 Cee Lo Green - Forget U

2009 Christmas Countdown:

1 Super Furry Animals - Inaugural Trams
2 Depeche Mode - Peace
3 Rev Chunky - Wednesday Downers
4 Crystal Stilts - Shattered Shine
5 Ben and Steve - Our Sounds
6 Tricky - Puppy Toy
7 Tiny Masters of Today - Pop Chart
8 Sky Larkin - Beeline
9 Lord Auch - Maredo
10 Secret Machines - Last Believer, Drop Dead
11 Roger Davies - Brighouse On A Saturday Night
12 Pop Levi - Police Sign
13 Aggrevation - Should've Known
14 Blue Roses - I Am Leaving
15 Official Secrets Act - Something That You Want
16 The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
17 Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
18 Prom Knight - Counter Intelligence
19 Scaramanga Six - Misadventure
20 New Model Army - Autumn