Brighton rarely lets you down with the quantity and quality of gigs available, but this month it’s different… ok, maybe not. Along with the usual array of local talents, there are also some big name artists such as Jessie J and Kasabian and some smaller but equally gifted bands such as Casiokids and Wild Beasts.

FOOLS GOLD
Audio, Weds 2nd
Everyone who heard the first Fools Gold album back in 2009 had it as their album of the summer. Something about the San Francisco troupe’s Hebrew pop’n’roll perfectly captured the spirit of a wedding block party that only existed in the imagination. Theirs is a cross-party party; an all-inclusive Hasidic hoedown, all foot-stomping, crowd-involving party tunes, the likes of which you only usually hear coming out of tinny speakers behind the counter in a kosher Californian bodega. (MB)

PURE X
Green Door Store, Weds 2nd
This Austin trio released their debut album ‘Pleasure’ this year, gathering no moss on the hipster blogs as a consequence. It’s as drifting and hazy as chillwave, but full of melody and smooth gear changes in between the reverb and feedback. Influenced by the likes of My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus And Mary Chain at their most languid, the album seems dour and lacking ebullience at first, but eventually leaves you feeling quite sanguine once the mist clears. Their live sets apparently breathe the same rewarding air. (TR)

DOG IS DEAD
Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Thurs 3rd
This five-piece band have been on a continuous rise throughout 2011, not slowed in any way by carrying the weight of Nottingham’s expectations. This was further proved this summer with striking sets at festivals such as The Great Escape and Glastonbury. Their style of euphoric indie that’s heavy on sing-a-long melodies (if only you could sing like them) is as catchy as a frisbee covered in superglue and has earned them a signature to the major label, Atlantic. Expect their rise to continue well into 2012. (TR)

GLEN CAMPBELL
Dome, Thurs 3rd
“I still love making music and I still love performing for my fans. I’d like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin,” said Glen Campbell this summer, announcing plans to retire at the age of 75. Finally succumbing to a long-standing battle against Alzheimer’s, this will be your last chance to witness the dusty yearn of his elegiac Midwestern ruminations on love and life, most notably ‘Wichita Lineman’, arguably music’s greatest heartbreaker. For those that disagree: ‘Guess I’m Dumb’. (BG)

DANANANANAKROYD
The Haunt, Thurs 3rd
It’s a sad day for twee ‘fight pop’ rockers Dananananakroyd. The Dan Aykroyd-dedicated Glaswegian sextuplet, with more syllables than they have official releases, are embarking on their last ever tour. A tour they promise will be a ‘sphere of blood, guts, human flesh, fire and rock’. If getting sprayed in human residue or incendiaries appeals, or you’d just like to catch one of Britain’s best live acts giving it everything they’ve got one last time, you’ll be there. (TR)

JESSIE J
Brighton Centre. Thurs 3rd
“I love Jessie J as much as the next person, but how is her music ‘of black origin’? Is it cause she says ‘man dem’ in her tune?” ranted Lily Allen after October’s controversial Mobo Awards. SOURCE believes this chorus of disapproval actually missed the point. In fact, we reckon the only prize she deserves is ‘Most Boring Broken Leg In Medical History Ever To Feature On Dismally Naff “Only Way Is Essex” Version Of Lady Gaga’. Put that on your mantelpiece! (BG)

THE RAPTURE
Coalition, Thurs 3rd
Is the house of jealous lovers actually still standing? Just about, despite some internecine romantic issues. Eyebrows were first raised when Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte and Gabriel Andruzzi kicked Matt Safer out of his bedroom after finally realising his name wasn’t as cool as theirs. Marriage counsellors then went into overdrive, mistakenly believing ‘Sail Away’, the opening track on new album ‘In The Grace Of Your Love’, was an Enya cover. Not so. In fact, their fourth LP confirms a union in rude health. W.A.Y.U.H! (BG)

PATRICK WOLF
Komedia, Thurs 3rd
Whimsical Patrick’s had his share of struggles, battling unwanted and intrusive interest in his personal life and sexual orientation, and wildly varying receptions to his releases. Despite all that his latest album ‘Lupercalia’, released in June, is the work of a wolf that got the cream. Finally comfortable with himself and his music, the album’s a simpler, pared-down beast, but doesn’t lose any of his indisputably unique charm. (JMM)

JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JUNKYARD
Haunt, Fri 4th
The king of anti-folk returns to Brighton, sharing tales of everyday life in NYC with a healthy dose of flight of fancy. Jeff Lewis concerts are more than just gigs, and usually feature at least one PowerPoint presentation – thankfully featuring his comic book art and musical accompaniment rather than bar chart projections of Q3 returns. His brother Jack adds rocky basslines to Jeff’s lyrical folk in a touring line-up that now also includes a keyboard player called Nan. (AP)

CASIOKIDS
Haunt, Fri 4th
If the government are looking for new ways to source renewable energy then they should perhaps look into this Norwegian collective, so infectious and explosive is their live set, although any energy generated may well be offset by the number of synths on show. The hotly anticipated new album is due out here in January, so this is a first chance to hear it. If you thought that singing their unique brand of synth pop in their native tongue might make them inaccessible, you couldn’t be more wrong. (TR)

MAVERICK SABRE
Concorde 2, Mon 7th
Maverick Sabre, or Michael to his friends, is the Hackney-born genius currently found straddling the chasm between rap and guitar music. With a soulful voice reminiscent, oddly, of Amy Winehouse, albeit via an auto-tuned Akon, Maverick Sabre’s not like anyone else around at the moment. He’s had collaborations with friends in high places and a top 20 single already, and his debut album is released on the very day of this show, so it should be a good one. (JMM)

THE ANTLERS
Concorde 2, Tues 8th
We’ve got dark nights, chilly weather, choppy seas and the impending doom of Christmas, so let’s go the whole hog and wallow in the majestic misery of New York-based The Antlers. Admittedly this year’s ‘Burst Apart’ album had a little more light than its predecessor, the cancer and abuse-orientated ‘Hospice’, but it’s still laden with hauntingly hummable tunes, occasional falsetto hysterics and wonderfully despondent song titles such as ‘I Don’t Want Love’ and ‘Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out’. Happy days. (GS)

AK/DK
Pavilion Theatre, Thurs 10th
You might remember a few months ago that we put this double-drumming, improvisational synth duo on the cover and called them “the best live band in Brighton.” Well, since then they destroyed all-comers at Playgroup, even finding the time to play a second, gentle, daytime set. If you haven’t caught them yet this is going to be the best £4 you spend this month. And we’re not just saying that because it’s our SOURCE New Music gig. (JK)

STEVIE JACKSON
Concorde 2, Thurs 10th
The guitarist from Belle & Sebastian is behind some of the sweetest, twee-est indie ever made, but don’t let that cloud your judgement – Stevie “Reverb” Jackson’s solo endeavours are more 60s surf pop than melancholy folk. Having released the brilliantly titled ‘(I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson’ at the end of September, this tour veteran has hit the road on his own. Scotsman’s doing it for himself. (JMM)

BELLOWHEAD
Dome, Fri 11th
Eleven-strong English folk superstars Bellowhead play over 20 instruments between them, and their gentle and traditional approach to music making has seen them establish a vast fan base over the last seven years. Sea shanties and rock twinges abound as they promote their latest album, ‘Hedonism Live’. Support comes from pretty foursome Ahab, whose catchy harmonies destine them to become the popular folk equivalent of Take That. Folk That, if you will. (JMM)

DJANGO DJANGO
Hope, Fri 11th
They hail from Scotland, they live in East London and Django Django are signed to Because – the French stable that rose up with Ed Banger among many others. Given this garbled upbringing, it’s no wonder that their sound is a chunky soup of Hot Chip, the Beach Boys and Ratatat. Fresh from touring with Metronomy, including a triumphant date at the Royal Albert Hall, Django Django are now heading out to play their own brand of surf harmony meets indie wonk. (MB)

THE MISERABLE RICH
Green Door Store, Sat 12th
Making their debut under the arches, the final show of the tour looks like being a bit of a party. Having played a number of churches and spooky stages across the country, this ‘SOURCE Presents’ gig sees the boys finally present their new album on home turf. The intimate venue should be the perfect place to showcase the songs, bob for apples and sacrifice a few virgins. Ghost stories are guaranteed, dressing up is positively encouraged and may be rewarded. (SC)

ADAM COHEN
Komedia, Mon 14th
He has some mighty big shoes to step into when the time comes, but those expecting a replication of his dad’s gravel-voiced musical poetry oeuvre may come away from this gig disappointed. Though there are vocal tics and shared themes, Adam is strictly Cohen lite, with a repertoire of love songs that tread a fine line between sensitive and banal. Expect women of a certain age to hang on his every word, but it’s the Leonard covers they’re waiting for. (AP)

THE DARKNESS
Dome, Weds 16th
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the biggest act in the solar system was… The Darkness. One half ridiculous, the other half fucking ridiculous, the quartet inevitably imploded in 2006, following the departure of singer Justin Hawkins, in a blizzard of very good cocaine, very bad songs, laughable outfits and even worse acrimony. Now, somehow, reformed, the original line-up will hope to reclaim all this lost ground, starting here. Only you can stop them. Newsnight is on TV. Stay at home. (BG)

DIMMU BORGIR
Concorde 2, Mon 14th
This isn’t just black metal; this is Norwegian black metal – the original and blackest. And Dimmu Borgir aren’t just any Norwegian black metal band – they are legends of a legendary scene. Relatively unfettered by controversy (membership squabbles don’t come close to the ritual murder and church burning that existed elsewhere in the scene), they are still going strong, still painting their faces white and still raising devil horns across the world, mostly in venues far larger. (MB)

KNIFEWORLD
Prince Albert, Weds 16th
Knifeworld are the new six-piece project from Cardiacs and Monsoon Bassoon member Kavus Torabi. Describing themselves as ‘delirious avant-progressive psychedelic rock’, their dense arrangements and joyful melancholia, with influences ranging from XTC to King Crimson, will take you on a challenging Dionysian journey onto the shores of Lysergia. Brighton three-piece Ham Legion (featuring ex-members of Little Trophy) create a unique blend of noisy lo-fi pop punctuated with proggy outbursts, psychedelic breakdowns and passages of cod metal joy. (LMM)

THE BIG PINK
Digital, Fri 18th
The phenomenal acclaim of The Big Pink’s debut album ‘A Brief History Of Love’ has granted the band a solid foundation on the electro rock scene – so solid that they claim to be experimenting with hip hop for their second album. With this performance happening just 10 days after the album’s first single release, ‘Stay Gold’, it would be wasteful for local fans to miss the band in the thick of their momentum. (JF)

MILKY WIMPSHAKE
West Hill Hall, Sat 19th
Despite their fearsomely twee name, Newcastle trio Milky Wimpshake are an energetic, highly melodic punk-pop riot in the flesh. Wiry singer Pete Dale was co-founder of Slampt, the DIY record label/arts organisation that helped give British indie a socialist shot in the arm during the 90s, before being mercilessly caricatured by ambitious escapees Kenickie on their debut EMI single ‘Punka’. An updated cut of 1995’s Slamptumentary film (originally a 50-copy VHS ‘videozine’) precedes tonight’s gig. (SH)

SUMMER CAMP
Green Door Store, Sat 19th
Jeremy Warmsley, he of slightly fey indie guitar pop, has for a while now been making music with his significant other Elizabeth Sankey, she of hipster music zine God Is In The TV. Having begun life as a full band-sized outfit playing tape-hiss guitar indie, they have, over a year or so and several singles (on Moshi Moshi), shed the band and most of the guitar, opting instead for a very faithful Casio keyboard 80s teen beach sit-com version of their cassette pop, just in time for their debut album. (MB)

THE BESNARD LAKES
Brighton Ballroom, Weds 23rd
Drawing on the ghosts of Beach Boys past, Canadian husband and wife duo Besnard Lakes are more Dennis than Brian Wilson, and reach a densely ambitious plateau of sound somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and the Alan Parsons Project. Support comes from local ones to watch Man Ray Sky, whose acclaimed live performances combine intense experimental noise with melodic lullabies and dreamy soundscapes, making it well worth arriving early so this time next year you can say you saw them before they were famous. (LMM)

WILD BEASTS
Concorde 2, Sat 26th
Despite that Olympian falsetto and lascivious tales of “taking it in the mouth, like a lion takes his game”, Wild Beasts’ gradual rise to prominence has been founded not on shrill overstatement and filthy theatrics but a special faith in the hypnotic, kaleidoscopic pull of their eroticised journey. Following the sublime, deftly produced third LP, ‘Smother’, they are now rightly positioned amongst British music’s finest acts, particularly on a live stage, where intimacy faces nightly submission to abandon’s bodyslam. Seconds out. (BG)

KASABIAN
Brighton Centre, Mon 28th
Following the scrapping of the Gallaghers’ rock’n’roll juggernaut, which last passed its MOT back in 1995, Kasabian’s eminence seems assured. But it’s difficult to get terribly excited by the Leicester rabble, whether the singer wears a Neu! t-shirt or not. Perhaps his Kula Shaker one was in the wash? Then that monster, Zeppelin-aping ‘Days Are Forgotten’ groove snakes in, like the reptilian tail on the velociraptor which adorns their smartly named new album. Basically, they’re marginally less pointless than Oasis. Is this progress? (BG)

MARIACHI EL BRONX
Concorde 2, Tues 29th
Fans of Los Angeles punk’n’roll outfit The Bronx may be familiar with this ‘I-can’t-believe-that’s-the-same-band’ side project, For those who haven’t been introduced, Mariachi El Bronx play energetic, trumpets-aplenty Hispanic music that will keep you smiling and dancing right until the last minute. With a second studio album under their belts, their cheerful take on traditional mariachi music provides a breath of fresh air in today’s American punk rock scene. Support comes from Cursive frontman Tim Kasher. (CB)

LISA HANNIGAN
Komedia, Mon 28
After recently releasing ‘Passenger’, the follow-up to her Mercury Prize-nominated debut ‘Sea Sew’, Lisa Hannigan plays her first full UK tour of the year. She brings her unique Irish folk to Brighton for the first time since her performance at the Songs For Nick Drake concert at the Brighton Dome back in January. Her return to the city is certainly welcome but make sure you get the venue right as the St George’s Church she’ll play on tour is in Bristol not Brighton. (AJM)

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS
Komedia, 30th November
The Durham siblings return to town following their blinding appearance at the infamous Beachdown festival. Still aged only 18 to 22, they’ve been doing this for over 10 years. A mixture of country, rockabilly, ska and swing, their live show is a sight and sound to behold as these annoyingly good looking and talented North Londoners switch instruments as easily as they change styles. And to complete the family unit Dad’s on rhythm guitar and, former Raincoat, Mum’s on double bass. (SC)

WORDS BY MATT BARKER, CHRIS BIGGS, STEVE CLEMENTS, JOSHUA FELDMAN, BEN GILBERT, STUART HUGGETT, JAMES KENDALL, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE, AMY JO MCLELLAN, LISA MARIE MUNDY, ADAM PETERS, THE RECOMMENDER, GARY SCATTERGOOD