POP / Gig guide

MEAT LOAF

Glowing, mega-sized rock monster, giving it some of that.

Tonight Wembley Arena; Sat, Sun Birmingham NEC; Tue, Wed Sheffield Arena

SAINT ETIENNE

Deliberately-sweet pop by and for the music machine generation. Tiger Bay, the latest CD, is a slowie.

Tonight Bristol Uni; Fri London Shepherd's Bush Empire; Sat Dublin Tivoli; Sun Belfast Limelight

KRISTIN HERSH

Solo effort from the Throwing Muses' lead singer. Serious student gear. Do not under any circumstances miss the support act, Vic Chesnutt, a singer-songwiter from Athens GA, currently getting props from B Mould and M Stipe for his CD Drunk. Can you get enough of boozy, Southern spinners of twisted yarns? Of course not.

Tonight Bristol St George's Hall; Fri Nottingham Albert Hall; Sun London Albert Hall; Mon Warrington Parr Hall; Tue Leeds City Varieties Theatre; Wed Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

THE WONDER STUFF

Student scene. Is long hair passe?

Tonight, Fri Glasgow Barrowlands; Sun Aberdeen Music Hall; Tue Hull City Hall; Wed Preston Guild Hall

SOUL ASYLUM

They call this stuff 'slowed down Bon Jovi', and it's the biggest thing since grunge. Support from Died Pretty and the Meat Puppets.

Tonight London Brixton Academy

GLENN TILBROOK

See diary

Tonight Tunbridge Wells Forum; Mon, Tue Dublin Whelan's

MICHELLE SHOCKED

She's solo, she's electric, and she's back.

Fri Bristol Uni; Sat Manchester Uni; Sun Sheffield Uni; Mon Newcastle Wed Norwich Waterfront

CULTURE BEAT

Fizzy technoid pop in the 2 Unlimited vein. First UK show.

Wed London Heaven

MAZE

Slinky soul act, featuring Frankie Beverly.

Sat, Sun London Hammersmith Apollo; Mon Cambridge Corn Exchange; Tue Leeds T&C

BANCO DE GAIA

Partially-crusty trance. Shave yer head, pierce yer tongue. Or vice versa.

Sat London Holloway Rd Rocket

KITE

The occasional band of singer-songwriter Tony - sensual, laid back soul. Plus Dhara.

Sun London Ronnie Scott's

COUNTRY, FOLK, JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK

Acapella gospel choir from the US, fearsomely PC.

Sat London Queen Elizabeth Hall

JAZZ JAMAICA

Intelligent crossover from reggae to jazz.

Sat London Blackheath Concert Halls

JOHN DENVER

See review.

Tonight London Hammersmith Apollo