POP: THE FIVE BEST GIGS

1

Nitin Sawhney Tomorrow, Mon, Tue & Thur

Beginning of tour to promote his global- melt album Beyond Skin (See page 2).

Bull Arts, Barnet (08-449 0048) Sun; Ronnie Scotts, Birmingham (02- 643 4525) Mon; Embassy Rooms, London W (07-387 244) Tue; Arts Centre, Colchester (0206 500900) Thur

2

Macy Gray Fri

One-off gig for the LA soul singer with the "40-cigs-a-day" voice, whose debut album is among 999's finest.

Shepherds Bush Empire, London W2 (07-77 2000)

3

Johnny Dowd/Handsome Family

Tomorrow & Mon

A great Americana double-bill of psycho acid-blues and mad country songs.

Radio City, Birmingham (02-622 894) tomorrow; Embassy Rooms, London W (07-387 244) Mon

4

Clint Boon Experience Today, Mon & Tue

One of the best pop combos in the land bring their great new space opera album out on the road.

TJ's, Newport (0633 257244) today; Fat Pauly's, Norwich (0603 44044) Mon; Y Club, Chelmsford (0245 4406) Tue

5

Filter Thur

Ex-Nine Inch Nails types with a one-off gig to support their fine new album Title Of Record, a tuneful feast of stringed and electronic noise.

Scala, London N(07-833 2000)