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...  

MARTYN JOSEPH

Modern folk artist Martyn Joseph is a unique performer who is driven by passion, social awareness, and an abiding love for his trade.

“Really, what I do is try to write songs that might step up and make some sense of a moment in time,” explains Martyn, whose career has spanned 40-plus years, during which time he’s made 27 studio albums and accumulated more than half a million record sales. “A good song makes you feel like you’re not alone in the world.”

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thursday 29 January

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THE ORIELLES

The Orielles’ origin story is an unusual one. Coming together at a Halifax house party, they decided to form a band - even though sisters Esme and Sidonie Hand-Halford couldn’t actually play any instruments... “We decided, why not make a band,” Esme told Yorkshire Live. “We all got on and had the same idea about how we wanted to sound. When we first started out, we were much more of a post-punk band - the surf-pop sound came about as we naturally developed.” 

The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry, Wednesday 28 January

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LUCINDA WILLIAMS

Lucinda Williams’ Town Hall concert comes in support of latest studio album World’s Gone Wrong, a battle-cry offering in which the three-time Grammy Award winner aims ‘to confront America’s socio-political chaos head-on’... The album is the Louisiana-born singer-songwriter’s 16th, released 47 years after debut offering Ramblin’ On My Mind whispered her arrival on the traditional country & blues scene. 

Birmingham Town Hall, Thursday 29 January

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THE GOLDEN DREGS

Tugging a forelock in the direction of the Velvet Underground, Cornwall band The Golden Dregs - led by baritone Benjamin Woods - boast an Americana-infused sound and wrap their music around some delightfully dark and funny lyrics. 

This Hare & Hounds gig provides further opportunity for the talented six-piece to hone their live act - their performances can sometimes feel a little bit awkward and in need of some sharper stage choreography.

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Thursday 29 January

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SOPHIE LLOYD

Four million followers across her social channels and more than 180 million views on YouTube is testament to the irrefutable fact that Sophie Lloyd’s star is most definitely in the ascendant. 

Highlights of her still-blossoming career have included touring globally as guitarist for Machine Gun Kelly and receiving a host of rave reviews for her debut album, Imposter Syndrome, released back in 2023. 
Sophie is joined on the bill at KK’s by punk rocker Bex.     

KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, Friday 30 January

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ROB LAMBERTI PRESENTS: PERFECTLY GEORGE

Now here’s a show that no self-respecting George Michael fan will want to miss. Quality counterfeit Rob Lamberti’s homage to the late superstar-singer features music from across George’s career - from the high-energy 80s pop of Wham!, all the way through to some of the best-known numbers from his time as a solo artist. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 31 January

 

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SECKOU KEITA

Award-winning Senegalese musician Seckou Keita is a true master of the kora - a 22-string West African harp - and has played and appeared with an impressive array of hugely talented performers, including Yossou N’Dour, Miriam Makeba and Neil Finn.

This UK tour sees him blending traditional rhythms and modern compositions to create a unique sound that embraces afro-pop, urban and hip-hop. Transitional musical poetry - written and delivered by award-winning poets and rap artists from both the UK and Senegal - will be ‘craftily sampled and woven’ into the music.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Monday 2 February

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FROGHORN STRING BAND

Old-time dance tunes, Cajun waltzes, vintage honky-tonk country, classic bluegrass; the Foghorn String Band are happy playing them all. They don’t much mind where they do so either, whether that be at a neighbourhood square dance or a high-profile summertime festival. Very much considered to be the gold standard when it comes to hard-hitting and genuine old-time American string band music, the talented foursome visit the Potteries with a host of albums, thousands of shows and more than 20 years of worldwide touring under their belts.

Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent, Tuesday 3 February; Rhydycroesau Village Hall, Oswestry, Friday 6 February

 

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STEALING SHEEP

Stealing Sheep crept into the consciousness more than a decade ago with their beguiling debut album, Into The Diamond Sun. 

The Liverpool trio have since carved out a unique place for themselves on the UK pop scene, regularly embracing new instruments and styles in an effort to keep their music developing both sonically and conceptually. Last year saw them release their sixth studio album - the audacious GLO (Girl Life Online) - via their new label, G-IRL (Girl In Real Life). 

The Tin at The Coal Vaults, Coventry, Friday 6 February

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FATBOY SLIM

The one-time bassist for indie rock band The Housemartins, Quentin Leo Cook - aka Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim - is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most creative DJs. Adopting the Fatboy Slim moniker in 1996, Cook scored a massive hit with Better Living Through Chemistry. Follow-up albums You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby and Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars played their part in achieving mainstream popularity for the big beat genre. 

Norman visits Birmingham early this month with his Acid Ballroom tour.

O2 Academy, Birmingham, Friday 6 & Saturday 7 February

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MILES KANE

The co-frontman of supergroup The Last Shadow Puppets - alongside Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner - guitar star Miles Kane is widely admired for his energetic performances and blistering live shows. 
He appears in Birmingham this month in support of sixth studio album Sunlight In The Shadows, a 12-track offering of psyche-infused rock & roll that’s brimful with hooks and beautifully layered with lush, screeching guitars... Miles will be joined on the night by special guests Villanelle. 

O2 Institute, Birmingham, Saturday 7 February

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ELKIE BROOKS

With an impressive 60-plus years in the music industry behind her and 20 albums under her belt, Elkie Brooks quite rightly continues to hold the title of British Queen of Blues. She’s back in Birmingham this month with her ongoing Long Farewell tour, presenting a gig that will feature all of her greatest hits, including Pearl’s A Singer, Fool (If You Think It’s Over), Don’t Cry Out Loud and Sunshine After The Rain.

Birmingham Town Hall, Saturday 7 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Saturday 21 March

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SCOTT LAVENE

Master storyteller Scott Lavene visits Coventry just six months after the release of his critically acclaimed album Cars, Buses, Bedsits And Shops, a record widely celebrated for its bringing together of dark humour, unique love songs, and snapshots of squalor and cheek. 

“On tour, I’d become used to playing the story-based songs, the spoken-word ones,” explains Scott, in talking about the motivation behind the album. “But fans kept asking me why I didn’t sing anymore, which surprised me. So over the course of a month, I wrote a dozen proper songs!”   

Just Dropped In, Coventry, Sunday 8 February

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COLLABRO

Since winning Britain’s Got Talent, Collabro have earned themselves an impressive following with their musical-theatre renditions. Their visit to Worcester comes as part of a tour which sees them performing intimate, piano-led concerts in some of the UK’s most beautiful cathedrals. 

Worcester Cathedral, Friday 13 February

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BROOKE COMBE

Rising star Brooke Combe visits the region this month off the back of a US tour supporting Benson Boone and a debut appearance on A Night With Jools Holland.

Brilliantly bringing a new edge to Northern Soul, the Scottish singer-songwriter is touring the UK having last year released debut album Dancing On The Edge Of The World to considerable acclaim. 

The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 13 February; Dive, Wolverhampton, Saturday 14 February; O2 Academy, Birmingham, Friday 3 April

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LAURENCE JONES

Laurence Jones’ CV provides ample evidence of just how hugely talented and well regarded he is. Legendary American guitarist & singer Buddy Guy hailed him “a young Eric Clapton”, while music-industry icons Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck and Johnny Winter have all been so impressed that they’ve had the Liverpool-based blues-rock guitar maestro hit the road with them. Status Quo are also among his many admirers, taking him on their farewell tour back in 2024... Laurence is visiting Worcester this month to perform a special acoustic concert. Support comes from his real-life partner, Amy Eftekhari.  

The Marrs Bar, Worcester, Sun 15 February

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SUEDE

Think back to the Britpop era of the 1990s, and four bands spring readily to mind: Oasis, Blur, Pulp and Suede. 

The latter, formed in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Justine Frischmann and bassist Mat Osman, launched their debut album in 1993, and in so doing also kickstarted the whole Britpop movement. 
Splitting up 10 years later, they re-formed in 2010 and have been active ever since, releasing five well-received studio albums, including last autumn’s Antidepressants. 

hmv empire, Coventry, Monday 16 February

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MERMAID CHUNKY

Audio visual Gloucestershire duo Mermaid Chunky - comprising Freya Tate and Moina Moin - are forging a career for themselves in a truly unique way. Drawing on their shared and splendidly bizarre sense of humour, they create genre-crossing and frequently mindbending sounds which are primarily designed to celebrate their friendship and make them happy (other people enjoying their music is very much viewed as a bonus!). 

To further stand out from the crowd, they dress in homemade costumes, create soundscapes using everyday objects, and describe themselves when on stage as bathing in milkmaid serenity and improvised chaos. Expect a memorable experience.   

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Thursday 19 February  

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CHANTEL MCGREGOR

Blues-rock musician Chantel McGregor was once told by a major label that she had “a great voice, but girls don’t play guitar like that!” Ignoring their view, she enrolled at the Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s history to achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 distinctions.
She’s since released three studio albums of new material, including debut offering Like No Other and last year’s The Healing.

The Robin, Bilston, Thursday 19 February; Temperance, Leamington Spa, Sunday 6 December

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CHARM OF FINCHES 

Darkly bewitching folk-pop, boasting seamless blood harmonies that ‘traverse melancholy and wonder in equal measure’, is the stock-in-trade of Melbourne sisters Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes. With a propensity for writing haunting tunes about emotive subjects such as love and grief, the Aussie duo visit Shrewsbury this month in support of their brand-new single, Meteor, a song inspired by ‘the powerful forces of nature that reflect a tumultuous inner world’.

The Hive, Shrewsbury, Sunday 22 February; Temperance, Leamington Spa, Tuesday 24 February; Kitchen Garden, Birmingham, Wednesday 25 February

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RAYE

Last year was a truly fabulous one for Rachel Keen, better known, of course, as Raye. Highlights included an appearance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, an impressive performance of Adele’s big Bond number, Skyfall, at the Oscars, and chart-busting success with the spectacularly catchy single Where Is My Husband!.

And the award-winning singer-songwriter & record producer is certainly hitting the ground running in 2026, stopping off in Birmingham for two nights as part of a four-month-long world tour. Support for both gigs comes courtesy of her talented younger sisters, Absolutely and Amma.     

bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham, Monday 23 & Tuesday 24 February

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SPIERS & BODEN

Founding members of big band folk phenomenon Bellowhead, John Spiers and Jon Boden are musicians extraordinaire, boasting between them an impressive mastery of fiddle, guitar, assorted squeezebox instruments and the stomp box. Oh, and they both know how to carry a tune into the bargain! With more than a quarter-century of experience playing together, the fellas are a well-honed duo indeed, and are widely admired for their ability to give traditional folk music a brand-new feel.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Monday 23 February; Kidderminster Town Hall, Tuesday 24 February; Number 8 Arts Centre, Pershore, Wednesday 4 March

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BADLY DRAWN BOY

Damon Gough’s debut album, The Hour Of Bewilderbeast, announced him as a star in the making, winning him the Mercury Music Prize in the year 2000. Twelve months later, he penned the score for the Hugh Grant movie About A Boy, and then quickly followed up with two further albums: Have You Fed The Fish? and One Plus One Is One. 

Touring solo for much of the time since those heady early-career days, he’s recorded only one album in the last 13 years but retains a solid fanbase and an admirable ability to be his raw and honest self when on stage.    

The Jam House, Birmingham, Wednesday 25 February

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KAISER CHIEFS

Primarily inspired by new wave and punk-rock music of the late 1970s and 1980s, Kaiser Chiefs have released eight studio albums, including their debut offering Employment, which caused a major chart splash back in 2005. Having last year celebrated the album’s 20th anniversary with a series of headline-grabbing summertime shows, the boys then decided to extend the party into 2026 by announcing a new set of concert dates, one of which is this late-month Wolverhampton stop-off.

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 28 February