In a break with tradition, but in-line with common sense, we are now going to publish our Week Ahead guides a few days in advance - giving you more time to work out where you want to go, more of a chance of getting hold of sought-after tickets and a wee bit more time to gather together your hard-earned.
This week:
All prices + booking fees. For ticket availability, click on the images, below
MGMT
The Brooklyn outfit are to embark on an extensive UK tour, tickets for which are now at a premium. Dublin welcomes the electro-poppers from next Thursday (16th) for three consecutive nights, before heading over to Glasgow and England. There are limited tickets available at face value for the London (£21.50), Leeds, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Glasgow (£18.50) dates - hurry, hurry!
Phil Selway
Radiohead's drummer has just released his debut solo album, "Familial" and is set to give it a big old launch at Bush Hall on Monday evening. This venue is fast becoming a warm-up for bigger gigs and Selway's concert is no exception - the following night he performs at the Royal Festival Hall! The former date has sold out (bar resales) but the RFH is still available on the door. On Wednesday, Phil heads to Newcastle to support Wilco, followed by a second support date in Glasgow on Thursday. Tickets are £20.
Hayseed Dixie
Those good ole boys with the rock 'n' roll covers, via the pluck of a fiddle and stomp of the feet, are back on British soil with another pretty lengthy stopover beginning with a date in Southampton on Tuesday, before resuming the run in Putney on Wednesday week (22nd) and beyond until Northampton on 5th October. Get your 'Rockgrass' fix right here - £16 admission for most of the shows.
The Vaselines
Scotland's indie-pop darlings and the love of Kurt Cobain's short life, The Vaselines, are on tour during September starting with Edinburgh on Wednesday and continuing to Leeds (Friday), Liverpool (Saturday) and more - tickets are still up for grabs at £15 approx.
Cherry Ghost
Manchester's Simon Aldred (plus band) is always a great bet live - after releasing two excellent albums in "Thirst For Romance" and "Beneath This Burning Shoreline, he's pretty much set up for some top 'live' entertainment, starting with an upcoming tour on the 22nd. Prior to that, Cherry Ghost plays a special one-off at Dingwalls in Camden on Wednesday and if you want to get all intimate down in the basement, £12.50 is the asking price.
Underworld
The much-publicised return of the Romford ravers continues with their official album-launch at the HMV Forum on Thursday. The new set called "Barking" sees a release on 13th September, three days before this in-demand date - tickets for the Forum are still around for £25, although standing tickets are in short supply.
Ólöf Arnalds
Iceland's pixie-voiced troubadour is back in the capital on Tuesday for a spot of Bush Hall lovin' - £9.50 is all it will cost to witness the chilling yet comforting Icelandic and English songs, trilled by an angel. Other dates in Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow also take place next week.
Seefeel
A name from the past, sure, but the exquisite ambient sound of Seefeel has been sorely missed, until now. A new EP called "Faults" sees the light of day on 20th September and, as well as being back on their spiritual label Warp, they also perform at Jam in Brighton on Wednesday (£7 - still available) and London's ICA on Thursday (£15 - limited amounts left). 14 years since their last gig? Better get clicking then!
Robin Guthrie
At the same venue on Sunday, you can see another performer from a similar ball-park - Robin Guthrie plus guests Heligoland. Guthrie was in Cocteau Twins when Seefeel's Mark Clifford remixed tracks for their "Otherness" EP in the late 90s - there are only a few tickets left at £15.
Willy Mason
Accomplished and revered songwriter Willy Mason begins a short tour on Tuesday in Brighton, followed by a sold-out concert in Manchester (21st) and a further trio in Bristol, London (Bush Hall again!) and York. Another recommended troubadour with an acoustic guitar is Mr Daintee himself, Martin Stephenson - he's at the Borderline on Friday (£15).
Ozzfest 2010
Not much happening in the world of festivals, however there are a few gatherings worth buying tickets for. Ozzy is back on Saturday with a line-up that includes the man himself plus Korn, Murderdolls (also on tour), Skindred (you've guessed it - also on tour) and Paradise Lost. The O2 Arena is the venue, £40 is the price and tickets are still available!
Acoustica Festival 2010
Other festivals include Exeter's Acoustica 2010, featuring the very best in acoustic and roots performers (see our separate article here) which starts on Friday, the Hell On Earth Tour 2010 which brings you the very best in noise around the UK (from Reading on Sunday to London the following weekend) and, not strictly a festival more a residency, the Troxy's cheeky Campfire Trails 2010 event runs from Wednesday to Friday, starring Felice Brothers, Wild Beasts and Old Crow Medicine Show. The latter show has pretty much sold out, but the first two are still selling for £18.50.
Annie the Musical
Carlisle's Sands Centre is the location for this popular musical tale about 'little orphan Annie', starting on Monday and running all week. Su Pollard stars in this version, along with a huge cast straight from the West End show (including co-star David McAlister). If you're in the North-West of England, escape the grim weather for just £19.50 upwards. Keeping with musicals, Exeter's AmOp Society presents their production of Cole Porter's zany "Anything Goes" at the Barnfield Theatre from Monday onwards - tickets cost £10 upwards.
Krapp's Last Tape
We still have some discount tickets available for Samuel Beckett's monologue presentation, "Krapp's Last Tape", starring award-winning actor, Michael Gambon. The Duchess Theatre hosts the 2-month run, beginning on Tuesday and continuing until 20th November. Since being featured on TV during the past week, including the Andrew Marr Show, tickets have started to shift pretty quickly. Discounted seats cost from £29.50 (click the link).
Yes, Prime Minister
The Gielgud Theatre hosts this new comedy-play based on the award-winning political satire from the 70s/80s, "Yes Minister". Beginning on Thursday, the story centres on the hapless PM Jim Hacker, placed under enormous pressure as a result of terrorist liaisons. Tickets start at £13.50, rising to £56.45. It's sure to be a hilarious production, since the original scriptwriters are at the writing helm once again.
Kevin Bridges
The dry wit of Scotland's Bridges is that rare and special thing and his quest for global domination begins next week from Thursday onwards. Armagh is the first stop, followed by many more stops including Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle and Hammersmith. Tickets are £22.50 (less outside of the big cities).
Stephen Fry
Not strictly a comedy gig, more of an autobiographical reading from his forthcoming book. Fry is an entertaining orator and an intelligent man, making his 'live' appearances all the more inviting. The Royal Festival Hall date on Monday is sold out, but there are still tickets available for Saturday's gig in Oxford, priced at £25. His Royal Albert Hall date on the 20th is also sold through, but the 21st is purchasable for £40 upwards.
Sarah Millican
Other comedians out and about include the Fosters Edinburgh Fringe nomination, Sarah Millican on Sunday in Manchester (sold out) and numerous other towns, also sold out. Sunday also sees wirey-haired eccentric Ross Noble hit Milton Keynes as part of a national tour which continues onto Manchester, Birmingham and many more.
World Snooker Championship
Did you read correctly? Sport? Yes indeed - we have access to tickets to the World Open Snooker Championship in Glasgow which starts on Saturday. If you want to see the top-ranked players such as the current number 1, John Higgins, as well as Ronnie 'The Rocket', Neil Robertson and Ally 'The Pilot' all vying for the esteemed title of World Open Champion, choose your date below. Early rounds cost £25 for an all-day admission, later rounds including the semis cost around £45 for the day (sessions are around £20 less).
Happy Clicking!