South
The Blood Arm
Los Angeles band, essentially Franz Ferdinand with keyboards, bring the ruckus and some occasionally saucy rock.
· Bristol, Sunday 26 & Swindon, Friday 1
The Killers
Brandon Flowers returns to lead the Las Vegas synth-rockers. Former anglophile material now superseded by Springsteen-aping rock of new LP Sam's Town.
· London, Sunday 26 to Tuesday 28
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie leads the revolutionary rockers, now returned to the rocking template.
· Cambridge, Monday 27; Bristol, Tuesday 28; Southampton, Wednesday 29 & London, Friday 1
The Rumble Strips
Charlie Waller leads the anthemic, Dexy's-like charge of this London band. New single, Oh Creole, illustrates some of their soul power.
· London, Saturday 25; Southampton, Tuesday 28 & Bath, Thursday 30
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia touts recent Steve Albini-produced album. New Yorker Jeffrey Lewis provides quality joke-folk.
· Cambridge, Sunday 26; Leicester, Monday 27; London, Tuesday 28 & Brighton, Wednesday 28
London
Richard Hawley
The Sheffield-based crooner brings the sumptuous-sounding material of his recent album Coles Corner. Feel the quality.
· Shepherd's Bush Empire, W12, Wednesday 29
The Insomniac's Ball
Young and impressive stuff for this all-nighter. Note particularly the anthemic, Dexy's-like charge of London band the Rumble Strips.
· SEOne, SE1, Saturday 25
The Killers
Brandon Flowers returns to lead the Las Vegas synth-rockers. Former anglophile material now superseded by Springsteen-aping rock of new LP Sam's Town.
· Carling Academy Brixton, SW9, Sunday 26 to Tuesday 28
George Michael
Ex-Wham! singer celebrates 25 years in music with mum-filled gigs. Pop and occasionally political stuff from the scantly-bearded star.
· Earls Court, SW5, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia touts recent Steve Albini-produced album. New Yorker Jeffrey Lewis provides quality joke-folk.
· The Scala, N1, Tuesday
Central
The Blood Arm
Los Angeles band, essentially Franz Ferdinand with keyboards, bring the ruckus. New LP Lie Lover Lie brings occasionally saucy rock.
· Bristol, Sunday 26 & Swindon, Friday 1
The Killers
Brandon Flowers returns to lead the Las Vegas band. Former anglophile material now superseded by slightly bigger rock of new LP Sam's Town.
· Nottingham, Saturday 25
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie leads the revolutionary rockers, now back with the template of their Give Out But Don't Give Up LP from a decade ago.
· Norwich, Saturday 25; Cambridge, Monday 27; Bristol, Tuesday 28 & London, Friday 1
The Rumble Strips
Charlie Waller leads the Dexy's-like charge of this London band. New single, Oh Creole, illustrates some of their soul power.
· Northampton, Tuesday 28; Birmingham, Wednesday 29 & Bath, Thursday 30
Twisted Folk Tour
Nina Nastasia brings material from recent Steve Albini-produced album. New Yorker Jeffrey Lewis provides quality joke-folk in support.
· Cambridge, Sunday 26 & Leicester, Monday 28
North
Don Caballero
Heavily infuential, and heavy, Pittsburgh math rockers turn guitars inside out, upside down and such. No throwing of shapes. Possible noodling though.
· Leeds, Wednesday 29 & London, Thursday 30
Albert Hammond Jr
Strokes guitarist and style guru brings his poodle perm and rocking songs that outdo his compadres at times.
· Manchester, Saturday 25; London, Wednesday 29 & Middlesbrough, Friday 1
The Sadies
Raw twang and harmonies Gram Parsons could only dream of from the Good brothers and their almost yee-haw Canadian country rocker bunch.
· London, Saturday 25 & Newcastle upon Tyne, Wednesday 29
Scotland and Ireland
Don Caballero
Heavy, and heavily infuential, Pittsburgh math rockers turn guitars inside out, upside down and suchlike. No throwing of shapes. Possible noodling though.
· Glasgow, Tuesday 28
Albert Hammond Jr
Strokes guitarist and style guru brings his poodle perm and rocking songs that outdo his compadres at times. Easily. Another Graham Coxon in the making?
· Glasgow, Monday 27
The Legend!
The riot grrrl/grunge scene fuelling music journalist, first Creation label artist, Plan B supremo and author launches his long-awaited Nirvana book, and performs too.
· Edinburgh, Saturday 25 & Glasgow, Sunday 26
