Christmas festivities don’t stand in the way of live music in Cambridge this month, so if you’re fearful of hearing Wizzard, The Pogues and Bing Crosby one too many times, here are our picks of what to catch instead this month.
Our first pick, duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela, bring a Mexican flavour to the Corn Exchange on 1 December. This year’s Glastonbury Festival saw the pair playing the main stage, following two sold-out back to back nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The Aztec hammerers wowed crowds with a set based on their stellar album 9 Dead Alive, which was released earlier this year. Before they became the most visible flamenco duo of the early 2000s, Rob and Gab were combining their talents in a metal group.
Bill Ryder-Jones, who boasts a collection of cinematic songs that fuse exquisite strings and sublime orchestral movements with emotive, vocal-led pieces, plays The Portland Arms on 2 December. The show is co-headlined by Saint Saviour, an artist who came to prominence as the frontwoman for Groove Armada’s Black Light record and subsequent live shows, but who, as a solo artist, boasts a far more intimate and alluring sound, based principally on an incredible vocal.
Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter Mike Rosenberg, the man who is better known as the multi platinum-selling Passenger, is in Cambridge this month. Passenger’s Whispers tour show at the Corn Exchange on the fourth has been sold out for some time, but if you’ve already got tickets you’ll be in for a rousing and moving show led by that unmistakable voice.
Undoubtedly one of the must-see shows of the year is Basement Jaxx at the Corn Exchange on 8 December. With the release of their seventh studio album Junto earlier in the year, it’s no surprise to see the masters of dance dusting off their legendary live show for another tour. We’re just thankful that this time they’re bringing the show to Cambridge. Showcasing a back catalogue of dominating house sounds, while always remaining cheerfully inventive, this gig promises to be a great night out.
Always so welcome in Cambridge and never one to disappoint, Beans On Toast will play the Cambridge Junction J2 on 4 December, as part of the tour to support his new album. Marking the release of his sixth studio album with Xtra Mile Recordings, as is traditional on his 1st December birthday, The Next Album Tour 2014 will be an unforgettable experience as the singer, storyteller and guitar player’s self-deprecating nature goes a long way towards breaking down the barriers between musician and audience, creating a real sense of equality throughout.
Laura Stevenson is undertaking her first full band tour for three years this month, including a date at The Portland Arms on the 16th. The tour follows Laura’s recent album, Wheel, which was produced by Kevin McMahon (Swans, Titus Andronicus, Frightened Rabbit, Real Estate) and features strings from Grammy award-winning Rob Moose.
We finish with our gig of the month, a triumphant homecoming show for Lonely The Brave, one of the breakout bands of the year. Having released their debut album The Day’s War to massive critical acclaim and a place at number 14 in the UK album charts a few months back, Cambridge quintet Lonely The Brave play at the Junction on 13 December. Support on the night comes from Sam Duckworth of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly fame, along with Cambridge’s next exciting breakthrough act, Bloody Knees.
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