THE WANTED Brighton Centre Fri 1st
Has there ever been a boy band ripped of both hunk but also wit? Word reaches SOURCE that Simon Cowell was so incensed by news of the group’s graduation from the secret pop finishing school housed near Crawley train station that he put a bounty on their lives. Hence the name, chosen by Max, Siva, Jay, Tom and Nathan, clearly arch ironists to the end. It is into this chart bear pit that One Direction must now tread. Yeah they’re wanted. Dead or alive. (BG)
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS Dome Weds 6th
Expect all the usual twinkly pop hits and incredibly sickly-sweet love songs, with a self-deprecating, acerbic edge. You have to enjoy their sense of painful irony: if convincing yourself that Elvis isn’t dead to be certain that your ex is coming back is what it takes, and you remember rushing home to see Michaela Strachan on The Really Wild Show, you’ll know exactly where this South Ruislip group are coming from. (NH)
DUM DUM GIRLS Komedia Weds 6th
Like the Vivian Girls, DDG make reverbed-out, west coast slacker indie, with more than half an eye on the same classic guitar pop that the Ramones ripped their songs off from. Further similarities abound: Dee Dee Dum Dum is their singer, all the girls have Dum Dum as not only a surname, but a finger tattoo. The cherry on the old school cred crown is the Dum Dum’s fantastic debut LP ‘I Will Be’ was produced by the fella who wrote ‘My Boyfriend’s Back’ and ‘I Want Candy’. (MB)
THOMAS WHITE The Basement Sat 9th
If you’re a Thomas White fan it will be worth getting down to The Basement on Saturday 9th not only to hear him play with a full band but, to pick up a copy of his new album. Not set for official release this could be the only chance to pick up a copy of ‘Yalla’, recorded in Egypt in December. Thomas White will be supported by Tandy Hard and Jane Bartholomew. Tickets are £5 in advance from Resident or Rounder or £7 on the door. (SC)
ALICE RUSSELL • Brighton Centre Sun 10th
Having collaborated with the likes of TM Juke, Mr Scruff and Quantic, British soul singer Alice Russell has been noticed by the right people for a good reason. With a powerful, deep voice she sounds classic and new at the same time, like you’ve always heard her but can’t place where from. This works perfectly with her nu-jazz style, with touches of house and funk. Chilled out and uplifting, she’s hard to resist, and a fitting headliner for this Brighton Marathon after party. (SJ)
JOSE GONZALES De la Warr Pavilion Sat 10th
After capturing the simple beauty of rubber balls bouncing down a hill for Sony advert in 2006 with his cover of The Knife’s ‘Heartbeats’, Jose Gonzales has since become Sweden’s biggest selling artist. Now, with the help of orchestral musical collective The Gothenberg String Theory he is bringing his warming, subtle sounds to the UK. This multi-media musical collaboration will explore some incredible musical ideas, and is definitely not one to miss. (JC)
THE JIM JONES REVUE Concorde 2 Weds 13th
They don’t make rock’n’roll like this anymore. That’s basically because it’s no longer possible. Mind-numbing studio techniques and straitjacketed marketing manifestos preclude any such unbridled whiplash of goodtime boogie getting past the hedge funders running music. So it’s to The Jim Jones Revue’s credit that they make a noise subverting such rules, being in thrall to Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Sonics and making good on the promise of last album ‘Burning Your House Down’. Fire extinguishers available at the door. (BG)
KATE BUSH TRIBUTE: THE HOUNDS OF LOVE Komedia Weds 13th
In view of her critical acclaim it seems unusual that Kate Bush only managed to tour once in her extensive and successful career. However, keen to provide aficionados the opportunity to experience a performance the position has been dutifully filled by tribute band; Hounds of Love. Such a unique act will be difficult to emulate, but this 6 piece formed in 2008 set out to recreate the stage presence and eccentricity of a Bush show. How well this is done remains to been revealed but we await with eager ears. (HM)
BOWLING FOR SOUP Concorde 2 Thurs 14th
This should be an unusual treat for fans of the raucous foursome, as on this short and sweet 10-date tour, members Jarrett and Erik bring their no-holds-or-irony-barred pop punk fusion to the UK with an acoustic twist. Head to the Concorde 2 for a presumably silly and sweaty evening, but a valuable chance to see them in a more intimate environment. (NH)
SPLITTING THE ATOM III • Hector’s House Sat 16th
The latest instalment of Club Zygotic’s epic music fests kicks off at 3pm, presenting around 11 hours of noise, free music and experimental weirdness, so long as the bad vibrations don’t cause Hector’s to implode into the downstairs toilets first. Our recommendations include the bass drones of Slash’s Wormhole (Henry ‘Shitmat’ Collins in hoover-abusing mode), the extreme tape collages of Deepkiss 720 and clattering electronic trio Medicine And Duty, but you can just stick your (ear-protected) head in anytime and listen. (SH)
ASOBI SEKSU Audio Thurs 21st
You may have heard Asobi Seksu’s unique dream pop sound on Skins; they reflect that show’s bittersweet depiction of youth. Their songs capture something about the highs and lows of life, fun and light but with a sadness threatening to break through the sunshine. Yuki Chikudake’s beautifully soft vocals echo around bouncy, catchy melodies. It’s all peppered with hypnotic guitar and keyboards. Their sound is fun and light, and glued together with heartfelt passion. (SJ)
KRIS DREVER Green Door Store Sat 23rd
Recently nominated as folk singer of the year at the BBC folk awards, Kris Drever is big news in the world of folk right now. As well as being a member of the Scottish folk trio Lau, in the past few years he’s collaborated with the likes of Roddy Woomble and Kate Rusby as well as releasing two critically acclaimed solo albums, the most recent being ‘Mark The Hard Earth’. This show promises to be a great opportunity to see the man in the unique, intimate surroundings of the Green Door Store. (IC)
KATIE MELUA Dome Mon 25th
Katie Melua’s musical achievements shine like a thousand stars through MDMAzing goggle eyes, laser-tattooed with nuggets of crystal into a hitherto impossible fourth visual dimension. Not only was she correct in identifying how many bicycles there are in Beijing, but she also once played a concert 303 metres below sea level on a North Sea gas rig. To top all this, she is also SOURCE’s mother’s favourite singer, behind Shakin’ Stevens and Slim Whitman! Brighton kids: what are you waiting for?! (BG)
N-DUBZ Brighton Centre Tues 26th
Lock up your daughters. Actually, lock up all family members, pets, vehicles, stashes of methadrone and anything else that isn’t nailed down. It’s a mark of just how low N-Dubz have set the bar when it comes to public behaviour that not even world limbo champ Shemika Charles could get under it. In fact, news reaches SOURCE that Dappy and co haven’t bothered booking hotel rooms for tonight’s gig and will instead be driven directly to the police station after the show to save time. (BG)
MOUNT KIMBIE • Audio Tues 26th
Here is a duo who defy definition – ‘machine music’ is apparently the genre that Mount Kimbie can come under, but they’re really like nothing you’ll have heard before. Experimental rhythms and melodies create ambient soundscapes that tread lightly at the poolside of dubstep, and occasionally hip hop, but never quite take the plunge. Their debut album ‘Crooks & Lovers’ came out last year to critical acclaim, and whatever noises they’re making, they’re certainly worth seeing. (JC)
MOUNT KIMBIE • Audio Tues 26th
Some musicians seem to inspire utter devotion in their fans, and Mount Kimbie certainly do. If you have a friend who likes them, you will have already heard that they’re coming to Brighton. Repeatedly. For everyone else, James Blake’s old bandmates are indeed coming, and it’s worth seeing if they live up to the hype. Their much lauded, unique sound is influenced by dubstep, but it would be unfair to pigeon-hole something so diverse: their songs feature ambient jaunts, tingly percussion and sped-up, otherworldly vocals. (JMM)
BEADY EYE Brighton Centre Weds 27th
It may be a terrible name but the chosen moniker upon which Liam Gallagher has based his rock resurrection at least deserves one arched eyebrow from brother Noel. Because he’s at least ensured this new band would sit closer to The Beatles than Oasis in record shops. We have grown accustomed to such limited ambitions but there is an honesty, style and energy to Beady Eye that remains as undeniable as their leader’s infinite, granite arrogance. Don’t expect any Oasis songs. Do expect a flat champagne supernova. (BG)
Second Opinion
So here it is, Liam Gallagher’s new project after Oasis. It would be nice to judge Beady Eye without the shadow of ‘that other band’ hanging over us, but that’s obviously impossible. ‘Bring the Light’, their first single, is a catchy, toe tapping number, riddled with piano amidst the guitar. It’s closer to Paul Weller’s legacy, than say, the Beatles. Their album is a mixed bag, but there’s some genuinely fresh, exciting song writing on show. Who was it that said ‘don’t look back in anger’? (SJ)
Second Opinion II
No doubt a lot of the crowd heading to Beady Eye will be hoping for a few bars of ‘Wonderwall’ or ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ but, this is Liam Gallagher, and apparently anything remotely good he did whilst in Oasis doesn’t matter any more. So, here is a band that are probably a bit more classic ‘rock and roll’ than Oasis and that may be a step in the right direction, and possibly a great show. But a nostalgia trip, this is not. (JC)
SONS OF NOEL AND ADRIAN • Green Door Store Thurs 28th
Sparkly, multi-faceted homegrown folkies Sons of Noel and Adrian are back at Brighton’s flourishing new venue the Green Door Store. This is assuming an audience can fit inside once the whole of the band are there. Tonight’s show will cap their European tour, as they continue to gain might with their layered harmonies and extensive instrumentalism. It’ll also help plug their latest EP, ‘Rivers’. (NH)
MONARCHY IN THE UK • Prince Albert Fri 29th
Just because we’ve got an extra day off work, doesn’t mean we’ll all be dancing in the street for William and Kate’s nuptials. No, some of us want to mosh. Brighton die-hards Peter & The Test Tube Babies and reformed Ipswich skatepunks The Stupids provide the Establishment-rattling power chords at the Albert’s two-fingered salute to the House of Windsor, subtitled, in case you were in any doubt, ‘Fuck The Royal Wedding’. It really is 1981 all over again. (SH)
ONRA & MEMOTONE Coalition Sat 30th
Worldly producer Onra’s over from Paris to treat us to his unique take on future hip hop. Having taken the scene by surprise in 2007 with an album comprising old instrumentals from Vietnamese and Chinese records, and a later project focusing on Bollywood, Onra is credited with being pioneering, genuine and involving. Support comes from Black Acre’s next big thing, multi-instrumentalist and all-round talented creative Memotone, whose enchanting tunes are gaining more and more attention. Prepare to be impressed. (JMM)
WORDS BY MATT BARKER, IAN CHAMBERS, JAKE CUNNINGHAM, BEN GILBERT, NICOLE HOLGATE, STUART HUGGETT, SEAN JORDAN, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE