I have a very busy week. Wednesday is The Webb Sisters. Thursday, Clive Gregson. Saturday is The Zombies and Sunday Gillian Welch. All in Glasgow.
I'm not often as busy as this....

I have a bit of a mixed bag. The weekend after next, Tcha Limberger with his Kalotaszeg Trio (traditional Transylvanian folk music). The following weekend I will welcome the start of the Xmas season by seeing Electric 6 and it is highly likely I'll be singing along with this at some point:

Saw Bellowhead at the Robin2 in Bilston last Saturday. And very good they were too.

Coming up

Walter Trout at the Slade Rooms
Seth Lakeman back at the Robin
Kate Rusby at Wolverhampton Civic

Actually there may be one or two before then, but I shall be going to see the Rocking At the 2i's hit maker at the less than grand Coach & Horses on Carshalton High Street on Boxing Day...

The diminutive Mr Harris is now 79, has prostate cancer & sings to backing tapes but he still wears his original 50s drape.

Objectively, he's really not all that good but I saw him at the same venue on Saturday night and do you know what? It was a great night out - it's not every day you can see someone who worked with Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran & Gene Vincent in a dodgy Surrey boozer. Actually, in this case it might be every day, but you know what I mean...

In passing, can I claim Most Eclectic Consecutive Gigs? The day after Wee Willie I went to see the Mekons. They were great too...

this Saturday at Warwick and Macca next month in Manchester.

Marillion in Manchester in December. One of their annual Christmas shows. 3 days off from the fun factory, can't wait.

on an awayday to Belfast, and assuming I get back in time, June Tabor and the Oyster Band on Sunday in Sale

I'd forgotten about the second one when I booked the first one. Bugger!

Currently in my ticket drawer: Greg Davies, Shed Seven, Paul McCartney, Ben Ottewell, Laura Veirs, Noel Gallagher, Kaiser Chiefs and The Stone Roses.

Thea Gilmore at the Half Moon in December.

* Unless you count the tiny local theatre's production of Jekyll and Hyde tomorrow.

Wire on Saturday night if I can be arsed driving into town on my own. I've not got a ticket yet but if Magazine last week was anything to go by, I should be fine paying on the door.

The only confirmed gig this side of Christmas is The Unthanks doing their Antony and their Johnsons/Robert Wyatt show in early September.

Next year, it's Elvis Costello and Randy Newman, although I'm on my own for that one after Mrs Yorkio claimed to have fallen asleep last time we saw him. (I can't quite believe he's played the Sage three times now.)

She is truly outstanding, you're in for a treat. You really feel she is singing to you, not 'at' you. Look out for her cover of 'Spoonful'. Last Monday was Evanescence - Amy Lee is another brilliant performer. How can she sing with such power for so long? This week it's Alabama 3 in Manchester then Lloyd Cole in Buxton.

I'm hoping they mix the tunes up a bit otherwise it might flag after the interval.

Friday. That's it.

Ade Edmondson's punk-folk band, at the refurbished City Varieties in Leeds this Friday. My mate is bringing his wife & kids (8 & 6) and it'll be their first gig (the kids, not his wife's).

Then on Sunday, I'll be running the Abbey Dash in the morning; having some biers in the German Market in the afternoon; and wandering across to the Academy for some goddamn mother*ckin country acid house music, courtesy of Larry Love and his kin. Hallelujah!

next week in Brum. Always a great night with these guys. Then a wind down until new year - so far got Costello lined up and tickets to take GLW to see Billy Connolly.

Saw Thomas Dolby doing a fantastic show in Birmingham on Sunday, followed by Yuck (who were OK) last night in Nottingham.

Tonight - in common with a few people above - am off to see Wire, but in Birmingham this time.

On Wednesday, I'll probably be asleep on the settee by nine o'clock!

Off to see Lloyd Cole in the Rock Capital Of The North (Morecambe) with Prestonia of this parish.

Expect tales of depravity, sin and existentialism on the morrow.

I shall be catching the Map Reference 41°N 93°W hitmakers on weds (do try and catch them on this tour, they're on cracking form and they might even do some old)

Friendly Fires on Thursday, providing the singers has got his voice back.

but next Tuesday i'll be at Koko for Okkervil River (they were bloody marvellous at End of the Road) and the week after it's Pink Montaintops at the Lexington. Would have been at the Fountains of Wayne show but shift changes buggered that.

Massivstas are communing to see the mighty HMHB in Manchester in December.

and descent into an apathetic torpor over the last few months I've kicked my static backside towards Guillemots at Koko this Thursday. Hopefully they'll be on stimulating form.

We are also close to the Southbank Centre on Saturday so the lure of the London Jazz Festival might throw up something unexpected.

...but I've got Adam Ant lined up for December, and The Duke Spirit in early March. Also got Spiritualized in late March as long as Mr. Pierce doesn't reschedule for the third time.

Bellowhead in Cambridge tomorrow (or Jim Lauderdale in Leicester) and Gillian Welch in Hammersmith on the 23rd, (thanks Carl).

June next year. Che meraviglioso!

tomorrow night, Ash @ Sub89 Reading next Wednesday and The Unthanks @ St James Picadilly on Friday

Off to see Cashier No. 9 at XOYO near Old St this Thurs then next week it's Vintage Trouble in Camden..

I don't know how she's done it but Imelda's made Rockabilly cool again.. Brilliant. Saw her at the Roundhouse earlier this year.. amazing gig.

...Friday AND Saturday it's Brooks'n'Books: fabulous Statesboro bluesman Brooks Williams at his now annual foray to Booshop Dave's 'No Alibis' bookstore in Belfast - songs on Friday night, 'American primitive' guitar on Saturday.

Yes, he does play 'Statesboro Blues'... and he also plays this classic, his own 'Belfast Blues':