Gigs

Live music from across the region...

Curtis Eller

The Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, Fri 9 September

Showbusiness veteran Curtis Eller began performing at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat. His band, Curtis Eller’s American Circus, has developed a devoted international following and combines American history with physical comedy and explosive rock & roll energy. Having once been described as ‘New York’s angriest yodelling banjo player’, he returns to the UK for the first time in three years for a limited run of intimate solo acoustic performances.

Toyah

The Assembly, Leamington, Fri 23 September

In a career spanning more than four decades, Birmingham-born musician & actress Toyah Willcox has had eight top-40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in more than 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows. With biggest hits including It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and I Want To Be Free, Toyah here performs close to home with her band.

Gigs

Martin Carthy

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 15 September

For more than 50 years, Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators and most quietly controversial figures. Described by Q Magazine as ‘arguably the greatest English folk-song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all’, the ballad singer and ground-breaking acoustic and electric guitarist has recorded 10 solo albums and over 40 collaborative records. Those with whom he’s teamed up creatively include, among many others, his late wife Norma Waterson, daughter Eliza Carthy, Steeleye Span and Dave Swarbrick.

Peter Broderick

Drapers’ Hall, Coventry, Sun 25 September

Peter Broderick is an American-born multiinstrumentalist and singer, brought up in a musical household in Oregon. In his later teenage years, he became entwined in the indie folk scene and has played with the likes of Horse Feathers, Norfolk & Western, Loch Lomond and Laura Gibson. “I love all music,” says Peter, “which is not to say that every song I hear touches me. My aim is to approach music with a sense of openness and wonder, and to never be tied down to any one particular style.”

Agnes Obel

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 12 September

Danish composer, singer & pianist Agnes Obel plays, sings, records and produces all her own material. A classical and folk crossover artist, she visits Birmingham with a show that brings together brand-new compositions with a selection of songs from critically acclaimed albums Philharmonics, Aventine and Citizen Of Glass.

Chris Wood

West Malvern Social Club, Fri 16 September

Singer-songwriter Chris Wood’s music has been described as ‘as close as it gets to a perfect union of voice and guitar, lyrics and melody, compassion, irony, realism, wit, and humanity’. It’s been a while since the self-taught musician released an album, but just for the record, 2016’s So Much To Defend included reflections on subjects as diverse as minorleague football, empty-nest syndrome, learning to swim and cook-in sauce.