The little alt-Americana indie rocker is playing the legendary Hammersmith Apollo this weekend, in support of his latest self-titled long player. Hard to believe that the mean who didn’t sing Everything I Do I Do It For You has been plugging away at this game for almost 15 years now, racking up almost an album a year culminating in his 14th, last year’s Ryan Adams. Well, we say plugging away but only in the sense of touring the world, selling zillions of ace records and collecting critical plaudits and industry accolades as far as the eye can see. He’s a talented little man, is ol’ Ryan.

When: Feb 27 / 7pm
Where: Hammersmith Apollo, W6 9QH
Cost: £25
Tube: Hammersmith
Web: eventimapollo.com

Van Morrison – Feb 28 & Mar 1
The man from Northern Ireland is almost 70 this year, and that is almost as many pounds it will cost you to catch this enigmatic, prolific and hugely influential musician in the flesh this week But it’s gonna be worth it. In his 40+ years in the biz, he’s continually produced astounding work, right up to his latest offering, 2012 Born To Sing: No Plan B. And let’s face it, it is a good thing that he decided not to pursue an alternative career as think of all the tunes shows and wonder we would have lost.

When: Feb 28 & Mar 1 / 7pm
Where: Nells Jazz & Blues, W14 8TG
Cost: £75+
Tube: West Kensington
Web: nellsjazzandblues.com

Acoustic East – Mar 5-27
Stumbling round a fantastiucally peculiar little festival called Tonefest in Dorset a couple of summers ago (the bloke who runs it is called Tony), we found a show by an amazing singer songeriter called Jake Morley, who could quite frankly make sounds come out of a guitar we had never neard before by making it in to a curiously multi-instrument creation that worked aas both strings and percussion. Don’t believe us, check out the video below for his track This City for proof. Even more amazing, he is just one of the plethora of acts who will be taking to the stage at this eight-night mini fest of new and emerging talent. Top stuff!

Where: Venues across east London / times vary
When: Mar 5-27
Cost: £10

Where: The Barge House, N1 5RY
Tube: Haggerston
Web: bargehouse.co.uk 

Where: The Stags Head, N1 5RA
Tube: Haggerston
Web: stagsheadhoxton.co.uk

Where: The Proud Archivist
Tube: Haggerston
Web: theproudarchivist.co.uk

 

Next week: Tech-oiks Underworld bring their dubnobasswithmyheadman opus and other treats to the Apollo!