This image: Fickle Friends
Jordan Worland, from local music website Slate the Disco, selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge during October
The autumn live music season gets off to a grand start this October in Cambridge. Norfolk Street’s The Blue Moon has a host of evenings that catch our eye, starting with Cambridge punk outfit Bloody Knees (26th) in what will be their first hometown show in ages. The four-piece are back with new EP Maybe It’s Easy this month and this gig gives us the chance to remind ourselves of their excellent, gut-punching, raging guitars and growls.
The Blue Moon features the duo of Sally Anne Morgan and Sarah Louise Henson who hail from North Carolina. Experiencing their sparse and unadorned use of close vocal harmony and acoustic instrumentation in a live setting will make for an eerie and atmospheric evening, especially in the intimate surroundings.
Instrumental doom outfit The Grey play on the 17th, whilst on the 27th The Blue Moon welcomes Noga Erez (left), an Israeli musician, singer-songwriter, keyboard player and producer who creates uncompromising, unpredictable, sophisticated and bold dance-heavy beats and dynamic melodies.
We have a tie for our top pick at The Portland Arms this month. Firstly, Diet Cig on the 23rd, and then (Sandy) Alex G on the 25th. Diet Cig is the New York boy-girl duo of Alex Luciano (guitar and vocals) and Noah Bowman (drums). Their debut album released earlier this year was a triumph of raucous pop-punk that was clever, funny, confrontational and ever so slightly twee. (Sandy) Alex G also released a new record, Rocket, this year – a brilliantly considered next step and his catchiest record yet.
New York City’s Jeffrey Lewis is a comic book artist and indie-rock musician, mixing captivating folk spiels with raw-edged garage rock. He never disappoints when in town and he’s back on the 5th with his brilliant full-band show. Other Portland tips this month include the pop-punk stylings of Junior (18th) and indie-pop stalwarts The Lovely Eggs (30th).
At Hidden Rooms on Jesus Lane this month we highly recommend the Alex Hitchcock & Will Barry Duo on the 5th. This new duo format sees them explore each other’s original compositions and repertoires, ranging from Hermeto Pascoal to Lennie Tristano.
October is a busy month at the Cambridge Junction, too, and there’s a host of gigs on our radar. It’s hard to pick highlights, but topping our must-see list is The Horrors (who released their fifth album, V, last month) on the 26th.
This image: Bloody Knees
Local lad done really good Nick Mulvey returns to the Junction on the 16th with his new record in tow. Wake Up Now is Mulvey’s sprawling sophomore solo record and the follow-up to his Mercury Prize-nominated debut from 2015. The record is filled with great leftfield rhythms, harnessing an exquisitely natural guitarist doing extraordinary things, painting unique colours across a very moreish collection of songs.
Last seen in Cambridge opening for The Kooks, Fickle Friends perfectly craft glittering pop music; they play the J2 on the 14th. Also at Cambridge Junction this month, folk festival faves CC Smugglers take to the stage on the 19th whilst The Pigeon Detectives bring their Wait For Me ten-year-anniversary tour to town on the 30th.
South London legends Squeeze are at the Corn Exchange on the 27th, while hit-maker Dizzee Rascal stops by on the 13th. A pioneer of grime music, he brings brand new material from his latest record, Raskit.
