Dates: September 17 – 28

What happened: Sprawling Sprinsteen-esque sets that not only showcased the band at their most tender and heartbreaking, but also their most maniacal and menacing. It was a career-spanning emotional rollercoaster, all set to a multimedia extravaganza.

What made it brilliant: Having capped off their tour for previous album ‘Trouble Will Find Me’ at The O2, this time saw them arena-primed and ready to magnify their misery to a headline scale. Emily Eavis tipped them to top the bill at Glastonbury in the future, and we can’t disagree. After 20 years of grind, the ‘Sleep Well Beast’ tour was the victory lap of The National playing the long game and winning.

Key date: Glastonbury. It was a bold move to warm up for the Foos with a set that was nearly 50% new material, but it paid off. They planted in their flag in the ground at Worthy Farm, and the future is theirs.