POP / Gig Guide

PULP

Lyrical, danceable pop from a persistent (but for all that, not bitter) shower from Sheffield. His 'n' Hers (Island) is the album of the moment, and the fans are a fun bunch too. Tonight Cambridge Junction; Fri London Forum

BLUR

Even if you hate them their nursery rhyme tunes have a habit of sticking in your head. Then there's always the fascination of listening to faux cockerney and wondering when it will fall apart. But the kids love Blur, their CD Parklife is Number 1 and what do you know anyway?

Tue Nottingham Rock City; Wed Wolverhampton Civic Hall

BILLY JOEL

Touring his River Of Dreams CD (Columbia), frankly out to make cash after being ripped off for so long. Hence the address to the Oxford Union Society tomorrow. Eh?

Tonight Oxford Union Society; Sat, Mon, Wed London Earl's Court Arena

DAVID LEE ROTH

Still singing about various types of she, the glam metal man is back on the road. Sorry, make that 'The Entire World', for that's his itinerary.

Fri Whitley Bay Ice Rink; Sat Liverpool Royal Court; Mon Birmingham Aston Villa Leisure Centre; Tue Cardiff Ice Rink

EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL

Ben and Trace and one guitar.

Wed Windsor Old Trout

HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS

Big in Melbourne since 1982. Fierce R & R with the sort of social conscience that Bono admires. Get in quick.

Sat Dublin Tivoli; Sun Belfast Limelight

TERRORVISION

Tuneful rock, plus Mutha's Day Out.

Tonight Birmingham Irish Centre; Fri London Astoria

NAPALM DEATH

Now more listenable. New CD: Fear, Emptiness, Despair. And what are you doing on Saturday night? Entombed support.

Sat London Marquee

DEACON BLUE

Considerate pop in best-of phase.

Tonight Gloucester Leisure Centre; Sat Birmingham Aston Villa Leisure Centre; Mon Leicester Granby Hall; Tue Sheffield City Hall

BRYAN ADAMS

The quiet Canadian.

Fri, Sat, Sun Wembley Arena

THE PROCLAIMERS

Ultrascots pub soul duo.

Tonight London Forum

BRAND NEW HEAVIES

Soul-funk for trendy clothes shops.

Tonight Brighton Event; Fri Cambridge Corn Exchange; Sat Norwich UEA

TRIBECA

Acid-jazzy funk, plus Son Of The Original, a jazz rap act with singing voices, mates with the Jamiroquai set.

Sun London Ronnie Scott's

BRITISH REGGAE AWARDS

More from the Pink Lady music festival - a ragga-heavy award night, with Don Campell, Winsome, Peter Hunningale, Wendy Walker, Tippa Irie, Mike Anthony, Lloyd Brown, Calvin Salmon, Danny Red, Bitty McClean, Apache Indian, Vivien Jones and General Levy. pounds 10, 7pm-11pm

Tonight London Clapham Grand

WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING

Semi-acoustic Aussies, plus fully-acoustic Canadians The Waltons.

Fri London Mean Fiddler; Sat London Kensington Orange; Tue Exeter Cavern; Wed Southampton Joiner's Arms

CARLEEN ANDERSON

Small but soulful diva of Young Disciples fame, way authentic live.

Tonight Bristol Victoria Rooms

LUKE MEDDINGS

Classy singer-songwriter of the New Poets school. Huggy & The Bears, Triple Blind support.

Sun London Subterania

COUNTRY, FOLK & WORLD MUSIC

IRIS DeMENT

The spirit of Elvis lives: white spirituals sung with angel voice. Genuine hick clothing too.

Sun London Cambridge Theatre

SALIF KEITA

New dates for the Malian singer superstar.

Tue Oxford Playhouse; Wed London Forum

EDDIE READER

Resonant pop-folk crossover act, now with a new record deal - 'Patience Of Angels' is the imminent single on Blanco Y Negro.

Tonight London Jazz Cafe; Sat Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms; Sun Birmingham Ronnie Scott's

TOWNES VAN ZANDT

This is as wicked as Western music gets. Cowboys, drifters, gamblers and outcasts. Leave your hat at home.

Tonight Aberdeen Lemon Tree; Fri Perth County Hotel; Sat Glasgow King Tut's; Sun Manchester Band on the Wall

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