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...  

 

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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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’.

St. Lawrence’s Church, Biddulph, 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