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From Pussy Riot to Anastacia: The top picks from this week’s live music-Sharon O’Connell-Entertainment – Metro
The best gigs that you won’t want to miss over the next week.
The best of live music, including the return of some missed faces (Picture: REX, Getty, WireImage)
It’s nearly the weekend so it’s time to shake off the shackles of work and embrace the best gigs.
We have picked out the stand out live music performances, including Squeeze, who will be performing their back catalogue of hits, and political Russian band Pussy Riot, who have had a change of members.
There are also some familiar faces making welcome returns to the circuit.
Anastacia is on tour after a recovery from a long illness, while Midlake break their eight-year absence from the music scene.
Elsewhere, saviour of hip-hop Kendrick Lamar is on stage to be the saviour of the mid-week at the Hydro.
Here are the top picks from the live music scene across the next week.
Squeeze
Squeeze will be drawing from their back catalogue of hits (Picture: Danny Clifford)
Down the decades, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford’s new-wave/60s pop gang have been responsible for plenty of pointed – and poignant – vignettes about London life. They’ll be drawing from their vast back catalogue on this Food For Thought tour, in support of the Trussell Trust. Collection points for food donations will be set up at all venues.
Friday October 28, Corn Exchange, Cambridge and touring.
Pussy Riot
Pussy Riot have moved into political kitsch-pop (Picture: REX)
This Russian collective of socio-political activists – two members of which served jail time for their anti-Putin protest in Moscow cathedral – are still a recording and touring unit, though the membership has changed.
Recent mixtape Matriarchy Now moved them away from exclusively shouty, riot-grrrl punk into the (political) kitsch-pop realm, so take heed.
Saturday October 29, The Crossing, Birmingham and touring.
Midlake
After an eight year break, Midlake are back (Picture: Barbara FG)
An eight-year break is risky even for a cultishly popular band like this Texan folk-rock quintet, but their comeback album, 2022’s For The Sake Of Bethel Woods, was a strong one that opened up future sonic possibilities.
They’ll be playing from it here, so expect a few surprisingly muscular numbers and their usual lush melancholia.
Friday October 28, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds and touring.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar, he saviour of hip-hop (Picture: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Not too many artists are anointed as a saviour of their genre but in hip-hop, King Kenny – the first and only rapper to have won a Pulitzer Prize – has been.
In May, five years after his last album, he released Mr Morale & The Big Steppers and he’ll be leaning on that in these much-anticipated arena shows. Expect dazzling rhymes, dextrous flows and intense drama.
Wednesday November 2, OVO Hydro, Glasgow and touring.
Anastacia
After a recovery from health issues, Anastacia returns to the stage (Picture: Getty)
It’s been a while since we heard from the melodic pop-rock belter who’s racked up six UK Top Ten albums.
She’s been dogged by serious health issues for many years but has always recovered and now she’s hitting the road to mark 20 years since her debut LP, on the I’m Outta Lockdown tour.
Sunday October 30, at The Anvil, Basingstoke and touring.
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