South
Espers
Extremely spartan, yet beautifully melodic folk rock from this Philadelphian band. Go on now - party like it's 1599.
· Bristol, Sunday 19 & London, Wednesday 22
The Magic Numbers
Mellow close harmonies from this experiment in facial hair. New album Those The Brokes follows an "if it ain't broke..." policy for the uncomplicated enjoyment of many.
· London, Saturday 18
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie's enduring band return with classic rock'n'roll remininscent of their Give Out But Don't Give Up LP of a decade ago. Our rocks are duly off.
· London, Friday 24
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia brings the melancholic folky material, while the laughs are provided by the excellent Jeffrey Lewis. All good stuff.
· Bristol, Thursday 23
Amy Winehouse
The highly opinionated jazz-soul singer-songwriter touts material from her Back To Black album, including rousing recent single Rehab.
· Cambridge, Sunday 19; Bristol, Tuesday 21 & London, Friday 24
London
Acid Mothers Temple
Japanese experimentalists bring extremely hairy psychedelic noise. Quality support comes from The Early Years, and their krautrock stylings.
· Corsica Studios, SE17, Sunday 19
Espers
Extremely spartan, yet beautifully melodic folk rock from this Philadelphian band. Go on now - party like it's 1599. Edith Frost offers support.
· Bush Hall, W12, Wednesday 22
The Magic Numbers
Mellow close harmonies from this experiment in facial hair. New album Those The Brokes takes the "if it ain't broke..." route.
· Carling Apollo Hammersmith, W6, Saturday 18
Scritti Politti
Green Gartside, hardly looking his 50 years, brings high quality soul-pop, slightly pared down from its original incarnation. Welcome back.
· Shepherd's Bush Empire, W12, Sunday 19
Amy Winehouse
The highly opinionated singer-songwriter touts the rousing soul of her latest single Rehab. Quality Bjork-like support comes from Bat For Lashes.
· Union Chapel, N1, Friday 24
Central
The Aliens
Former members of The Beta Band, accompanied by Lone Pigeon bring exuberant live show. Classic pop meets avant oddness in their mix.
· Stoke-on-Trent, Sunday 19 & Nottingham, Wednesday 22
Espers
Extremely spartan, yet beautifully melodic folk rock from this Philadelphian band. Go on now - party like it's 1599.
· Bristol, Sunday 19
The Killers
Brandon Flowers returns with a band we discover has gone a bit more classic rock since he's been away. New album Sam's Town is duly awash in U2-style hugeness.
· Wolverhampton, Saturday 18
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie's enduring band return with classic rock'n'roll remininscent of their Give Out But Don't Give Up LP of a decade ago. Our rocks are duly off.
· Nottingham, Wednesday 22 & London, Friday 24
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia brings the melancholic folky material, while the laughs are provided by the excellent Jeffrey Lewis. All good stuff.
· Norwich, Wednesday 22; Bristol, Thursday 23 & Coventry, Friday 24
North
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie's enduring band return with rock'n'roll remininscent of their Give Out But Don't Give Up LP of a decade ago.
· Manchester, Saturday 18 & Sunday 19; Liverpool, Tuesday 21 & London, Friday 24
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia brings the melancholic folky material, while the laughs are provided by the excellent Jeffrey Lewis. All good stuff.
· Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, Sunday 19 & Brudenell, Leeds, Monday 20
Union Of Knives
Moody bleeps and guitars from the Scottish three-piece, like Aphex Twin remixing Muse.
· Faversham, Leeds, Saturday 18; Barfly, Liverpool, Monday 20 & Boardwalk, Sheffield, Tuesday 21
Scotland and Ireland
Espers, St Jude's Infirmary
Heading even further into woods musically, the former Philadelphia indie folkers bring out arcane medieval instruments amid their droney second LP.
· Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Monday 20
Fionn Regan
Chin-stroked diary-like lyrics, but wry too from the Dylan gone hobo-looking up and coming Dublin troubadour.
· Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick, Thursday 23 & The Savoy, Cork, Friday 24
Twisted Folk Tour
Might not be flavour of the month any more, but who cares about that anyway when there's cartoon-flavoured Lewis, bluesy Whitmore and ballsy Nastasia on offer.
· ABC2, Glasgow, Tuesday 21
