With a number of the UK’s biggest and most impressive venues in our patch, we Midlanders are guaranteed a chance to see some of the music industry’s brightest stars as they tour the country. Our grass-roots music scene is super-cool, too. Here’s a selection of gigs worth grabbing a ticket for over the next few weeks...  

TRUE STRAYS

Neil Young, Muddy Waters and Fleetwood Mac are among the artists who have influenced the music of Joseph James and James Cameron - aka True Strays - a pair of Bristol-based pals whose first encounter with one another was in the sandpit at playgroup. Their friendship then blossomed in secondary school and has since taken flight to excellent effect, with the boys busily carving out a niche for themselves on the UK Americana scene. 

Drummonds Bar, Worcester, Saturday 20 April

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KATE RUSBY

Often referred to as ‘the Barnsley nightingale’, Kate Rusby is a superstar of the British folk scene. 
Her beautiful interpretations of traditional songs and finely crafted self-penned tunes have secured for her not only enormous mainstream success but also a legion of followers whose dedication to her knows no bounds.
A Mercury Prize winner, Kate visits Shropshire this month ‘with songs old and new’, in celebration of 30 years of touring.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sunday 21 April

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THE ACADEMIC

Featuring four fellas - including brothers Matthew and Stephen Murtagh - from the small village of Killucan in Ireland’s County Westmeath, The Academic started out a decade ago by playing Kings Of Leon covers in their local pub. In the years which followed, a winning combination of buoyant guitar hooks, earworm melodies and lyrics about teenage romance and tribulations in rural Ireland saw them make a real name for themselves. Their CV now includes two well-received albums and support slots for such stellar names as The Pixies, The Rolling Stones, Noel Gallagher and The Killers.

The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Monday 22 April

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KATHRYN TICKELL & THE DARKENING

Growing up in Northumbria, with a father who was an acclaimed performer of the songs of the area and many members of her family playing its traditional music, Kathryn Tickell’s musical path was more or less chosen for her. 

Nowadays a folk-scene veteran, she here joins forces with three other North-East England-based musicians to present a concert that explores the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years.

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Tuesday 23 April

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KATHRYN JOSEPH

Scottish folk singer Kathryn Joseph was plying her trade for 17 years before she became an ‘overnight success’ as middle-age loomed. After many years spent playing small gigs in small venues in Aberdeen - while earning her corn as a waitress and lacking any real confidence in either herself or her music - she finally released debut album Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled at the age of 40 - and promptly won the 2015 Scottish Album of the Year award. The ensuing period has seen her release two further albums and showcase her talent to excellent effect the length and breadth of the country.

She visits the Midlands on the back of a new EP which features fresh remixes from 2022 album For You Who Are The Wronged (plus a brand-new song).

The Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, Wednesday 24 April

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SAMARA JOY

Samara Joy has wasted no time in establishing herself as a dazzlingly bright star in the jazz-music firmament. Indeed, she recorded her first and self-titled album before she’d even graduated from college. She then followed up a year later with Linger Awhile, which not only topped the charts but also bagged her the ‘best jazz vocal album’ award at last year’s Grammys (at which she also claimed the ‘best new artist’ gong). 

The Bronx-born singer has picked up further silverware at this year’s Grammys too, winning the ‘best jazz performance’ accolade for the single Tight. 

Her Town Hall performance late this month comes as part of a short UK tour.

Birmingham Town Hall, Thursday 25 April

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ORBITAL

Brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll came to prominence back in the late 1980s, the electronic dance music duo scoring an unexpected hit with rave anthem Chime. But it was their 1994 appearance at Glastonbury that really propelled Orbital into orbit. Plenty of high-profile work followed, including contributions to soundtracks for movies such as The Saint and Event Horizon. The brothers split in 2004 after seven albums, once again pooled their considerable resources in 2009, then went separate ways again in 2014. Three years later they got back together and have since released two albums: Monsters Exist and last year’s Optical Delusion. 

O2 Institute, Birmingham, Friday 26 April

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THE CHASE

Playing together since their school days, Nottingham band The Chase serve up a menu of ’60s rock & ’90s Britpop-inspired music which pays tribute to their council-estate roots. The talented indie rockers visit Coventry as part of their spring tour.

hmv Empire, Coventry, Friday 26 April

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JAY PHELPS QUARTET

You don’t get to work with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Kamaal Williams, Amy Winehouse and Wizkid without being seriously good at what you do - and the fact that Jay Phelps has collaborated with all of the above speaks volumes for his incredible talent.  

The London-based Canadian trumpeter, who last year released seventh solo album The Now, visits the Midlands late this month with band-of-three Nicola Guida (keyboards), Josh Vadilevoo (bass) and Jim Bashford (drums). The in-demand trio are widely admired for their ability to generate an energy that manages to be both modern and groovy, while at the same time retaining a sensibility of the great Jazz tradition.  

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Friday 26 April

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JOHN SMITH 

Seven albums and more than 100 million Spotify streams bear testament to the talent and popularity of John Smith, a man who, across the better part of two decades of musicmaking, has evolved and pioneered a transatlantic blend of guitar techniques. 

A career which began with him opening for folk giants including John Martyn, Davy Graham and John Renbourn has also seen him guest with Martin Carthy, Roseanne Cash and Jarvis Cocker. He’s played sideman to David Gray and Joan Baez, too.

John visits Coventry in support of latest album The Living Kind, released last month.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 27 April

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NUBIYAN TWIST

Visiting Shrewsbury this month as part of three-day music & arts event Loopfest, Nubiyan Twist have made a real name for themselves thanks to a genre-transcending style that draws on jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae and dance music. 

Their appearance at the castle comes in support of fourth album Find Your Flame. 

“It’s a snapshot of our collective influences and journeys throughout the time it was made,” explains bandleader & producer Tom Excell, in talking about the record. “A catharsis for our struggles, yet a vessel for our joy... The collaborative process helped reignite a liberating fire of resistance in each of us.”

Shrewsbury Castle, Saturday 4 May

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DVTR

Dynamic duo DVTR - otherwise known as Demi Lune and Jean Divorce, who are otherwise known as Quebec indie outfit le Couleur’s Laurence Giroux-Do and JC Tellier - have been causing a significant stir in recent times with their enticing combination of hard-hitting lyrics, surprising soundscapes and unpredictable stage antics.

“We don’t reflect on anything or consider the results very much,” Divorce explained to cultmtl.com, in talking about their output. “We avoid the long, drawn-out and annoying process that a lot of bands put themselves through, and keep the rawness.”

Drummonds Bar, Worcester, Sunday 5 May

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PALOMA FAITH

Former Agent Provocateur sales assistant Paloma Faith launched her debut album, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?, 15 years ago and has since gone on to release a further five records. Her most recent offering, this year’s The Glorification Of Sadness, is being supported by these two Birmingham gigs. It is also, sad to say, Paloma’s ‘divorce album’, produced by the London-born 42-year-old as a response to the end of a 10-year relationship with the father of her two children.  

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sunday 5 & Monday 6 May

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LADY NADE

Folk, Americana, soul, jazz, blues and roots are combined to excellent effect in the music of Bristol-born Lady Nade - aka Nadine Gingell - who crowdfunded her first album and has since produced two further records. Boasting vocals that call to mind Nina Simone, she’s stopping off at St Lawrence’s to play her part in The Mystery Tour. The initiative sees her joining Daisy Chute ‘to champion the essence of collaboration in music - paying homage to the strength and creativity of female artists in the industry’.

Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, Wednesday 8 May: St. Lawrence’s Church, Biddulph, Wednesday 22 May

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JASMINE MYRA

Originally a leading light of Leeds’ cross-genre music scene, saxophonist, composer & band leader Jasmine Myra produces original instrumental music that boasts a euphoric, uplifting and emotive sound.  
Her visit to Coventry comes in support of sophomore album Rising, released on 3 May.

The Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, Friday 10 May

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ELBOW

Across 20-plus years and 10 studio albums, Manchester band Elbow have scored some massive successes, in the process winning, among other coveted gongs, three Ivor Novellos, a Mercury Music Prize and a Brit Award.

Comprising lead singer Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter, Pete Turner and - joining this year - touring & session drummer Alex Reeves, the band boast a well-deserved reputation for delivering arena shows that combine scale with intimacy. 

This month’s Birmingham concert comes in support of recently released chart-topping album Audio Vertigo.

Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Friday 10 May

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FLUFF

South West-based one-man-band punk project Fluff boasts a full-band sound and a level of popularity that saw him play Glastonbury last time round and receive an invitation to return this summer. 

“I’m fully independent, DIY, and keen to keep it that way,” he explains. “High energy and high octane - just good all-round party-punk fun!”   

Fluff is joined on the night by local four-piece punk outfit Kick The Clown and three-piece West Midlands punk band The Human Error. 

Paradiddles Music Cafe Bar, Worcester, Saturday 11 May

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KACEY MUSGRAVES

Kacey Musgraves’ fame and popularity was maybe built as much on her rebellion against the conventions of country music as it was on her talent - which, it has to be said, is considerable; an impressive seven Grammys bear solid testament to the Texas-born singer’s musicmaking abilities. 

Left-leaning politically - which is historically something of a rarity on the country scene - Kacey has been ploughing her energies into sixth studio album Deeper Well. A rootsy, folky, contemplative, back-to-basics offering, it was released in March to mainly favourable reviews. 

Visiting Wolverhampton in support of the record, she is joined for the gig by special guest Madi Diaz.   

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Monday 13 May

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KENNY THOMAS

“Live gigs are one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a musician,” says British soul star and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kenny Thomas. “It’s where my fans come together for a night of soul music and serious partying... It’s an opportunity for us to play songs from my third album, Him, which was never commercially released. Over three decades on from when I first started out, this tour demonstrates that soul music is here to stay.” 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 16 May

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BRYAN ADAMS

To say Bryan Adams has done well for himself over a near half century of musicmaking would be a spectacular understatement. With worldwide record sales in excess of 75 million, he’s long been established as one of the world’s greatest-ever rock performers. 

The 64-year-old Canadian is this month bringing his So Happy It Hurts tour to Coventry Building Society Arena - a venue which he last played 19 years ago. 

Coventry Building Society Arena, Friday 17 May

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BLUE ROSE CODE

Seamlessly blending folk, Americana, jazz, rock and pop, Blue Rose Code - led by Edinburgh-born singer Ross Wilson - visit Shrewsbury in support of brand-new offering Bright Circumstance. 

Coming nearly five years after the last studio album, the 10-track record is being marketed as ‘a return of the Caledonian soul and roots mastery that has built them the kind of cult live following that most indie artists would kill for’.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Friday 17 May

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GRANNY'S ATTIC

Granny’s Attic comprises a trio of young folk musicians who started performing together at Bishop Perowne College in Worcester in 2009. Taking a lively and vibrant approach to traditional English, Irish and Scottish folk music, all three performers are accomplished vocalists who between them also play an impressive array of instruments, including melodeon, concertina, guitar, fiddle and mandolin.

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Friday 17 May

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THESE WICKED RIVERS

“In a dark and cruel world,” says These Wicked Rivers’ lead guitarist, Arran Day, “we feel very honoured to provide an escape through music for our loyal followers.” Soulful - indeed, bordering on spiritual - live performances of blues-infused modern rock have seen These Wicked Rivers develop a significant fanbase across the 10 years they’ve been performing.

Hailing from Derby and drawing inspiration from the likes of Black Stone Cherry and Rival Sons, the band play Stoke in support of new album Force Of Nature.

The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 18 May

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ARAB STRAP

Featuring core members Aiden Moffat (vocalist) and Malcolm Middleton (multi-instrumentalist), Arab Strap built their reputation around stark and sordid autobiographical narratives concerning the misadventures of youth. Time moves on, however, and Aiden is comfortable about admitting the inspiration for their lyrics in more recent times has tended to come from “things I’ve read that interest me”. 

The boys’ Birmingham stop-off comes in support of their latest album, the 12-track I’m Totally Fine With It Don’t Give A Fuck Anymore. 

Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, Wednesday 22 May

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GARY NUMAN

London-born electronic & industrial pioneer Gary Numan first caused a stir as lead singer of new wave band Tubeway Army. 

He released debut solo album The Pleasure Principle in 1979 - scoring a number-one hit with his most famous song, Cars - and visits Birmingham to celebrate the record’s 45th anniversary.

O2 Institute, Birmingham, Friday 31 May

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TEDDY SWIMS

Creating music which touches its forelock in the direction of a variety of genres, rising-star Teddy Swims - real name Jaten Collin Dimsdale - has made a big splash in a short time, having initially built a significant following via song covers performed on his YouTube channel back in 2019 & 2020.

The Georgia-born singer-songwriter is making not one but two Birmingham stop-offs this month in support of his debut studio album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1). The record is described by its publicity as ‘a heart-on-your-sleeve... cards-on-the-table body of work brimming with soul, sorrow and solace’.  

O2 Academy, Birmingham, Friday 31 May

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EMMA RAWICZ QUARTET

Creating music that fuses multiple influences - from lilting Afro Cuban-inspired grooves to hard-hitting modern jazz & funk numbers - award-winning saxophonist & composer Emma Rawicz is a new star burning brightly in the musical firmament. 

Voted best newcomer at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2022, and a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition that same year, she is joined for this Wolverhampton gig by Ivo Neame (piano), Freddie Jensen (bass) and Asaf Sirkis (drums).

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Friday 31 May