POP / Gig guide

DURAN DURAN

A last lunge for the pouting Brummies. After Hello], Vogue and hanging at Miami Beach, the hard work.

Tonight Cardiff Arena; Fri Wembley Arena; Mon Bournemouth BIC

D:REAM

Peter Cunnah starts his tour. Dance pop inna My Guy stylee. 'Things Can Only Get Better', single of the year.

Wed Leeds Metropolitan Uni

KENNY G

Man or Afghan hound? Seattle-born (cor]) sax player, 35 times more popular in the US than here. Very, very, very untroubled jazz-piping.

Tonight Birmingham Symphony Hall; Fri Glasgow Concert Hall; Sun Manchester Apollo; Mon, Tue London Royal Albert Hall

UB40

Last days for the reggae pleasers.

Sat Belfast King's Hall; Sun Dublin Point

THE FALL

The best rock band in Britain, now with added drum machines. Plus guitar-laden World of Leather.

Fri London Brixton Fridge

THERAPY?

Ear-splitting yet sensible hardcore rock from one of the successes of the last two years. If they were American we'd be licking their clumpy boots. Settle for a blast of the new CD Troublegum (A&M) on 7 Feb.

Tonight Limerick Theatre Royal; Fri Galway Leisure Land; Sat Cork City Hall

TINDERSTICKS

Like Leonard Cohen gone more rockin'. Drugstore support, featuring Isabelle, so far better known for her height (5' 0') than her singing. So far. Recommended.

Tonight Cardiff Uni; Sat London Astoria 2

ELASTICA

Three girls who sport the colour-supp neo mod look, and a blurry bloke.

Tue Manchester Hop & Grape; Wed Newcastle Riverside

MANIC STREET PREACHERS

If punk's back, this lot must be the Damned. Support from Eve's Plum - hey, Lou Reed likes 'em, so they must be good.

Tonight Southampton Guild Hall; Fri London Brixton Academy; Sat Bristol Uni; Mon Hull Uni; Tue Middlesbrough Town Hall; Wed Glasgow Plaza

MEGADOG

Ring in the (Chinese) Year of the Dog, with white rappers Senser, knob-twiddlers The Grid, Creation's semi-ambient gambit Dreadzone, and all the way from Tonbridge, Conemelt.

Fri London Holloway Rd Rocket (9pm-6am)

CARLEEN ANDERSON

The former Young Disciples vocalist, now kickin' it solo as a jazz / gospel artist on a narrative tip. Plus New York beat poetess Dana Bryant, Talkin Loud-type London funk from Vibe Tribe, and DJs Femi and Marco. Step-pop Bobby Byrd conducts the drums.

Fri London Forum

FREAK POWER

Norman Cook (Housemartins, Beats International), his new band. It's acid house, mum.

Wed Northampton Roadmenders

SHAKATAK

Doodling pop jazz, in the same bracket as George Benson and Level 42.

Tonight London Jazz Cafe

HEITOR

Simply Red's guitarist. Bit of a muso. A clue to the guest: Socialist mumbles 'Lick chalk, mun'. Mon Birmingham Ronnie Scott's; Tue London Jazz Cafe; Wed Manc'r Band On The Wall

BANCO DE GAIA

The best of the hippy trippy trance bunch. Dodgy headline.

Tonight London Islington Garage

LOL WILLIAMS

Still drawing in coachloads from Essex, it's the golden voice of Harlow. Plus well-heeled Simon Bass, who grew too big for the Small Town Idols.

Sun London Ronnie Scott's

COUNTRY, FOLK, JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC

GRAND UNION

An eight-piece collaboration of jazz and Indian musicians, in a show called Prastatikuran (Hindi for 'presentation'). Check out the snake charmer's tune gone jazz, a sitar 'Balues', and jazz versions of classical ragas.

Sat Newcastle Riverside; Wed Burnley Mechanics