POP / Gig guide

WHITESNAKE

Lovely with a bit of gravy, as your granny used to say. Old school metal - fortunately their fans have kept the faith, which makes for a good atmosphere. Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is coming soon on EMI. Wooaargh]

Mon London Hammersmith Apollo; Tue Wolverhampton Civic Hall

BRYAN ADAMS

Had a hit with 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)'.

Sat Gateshead International Arena

BRUCE COCKBURN

Socially conscious Canadian rocker, whose guitar style has been called 'chainsaw in a velvet glove'.

Fri London Forum

JOHNNY CLEGG & SAVUKA

Zulu-Anglo-Celtic rock. From a white man who always spoke out against apartheid. Pay-off time. They're good too - like a S A Waterboys.

Wed London Shepherd's Bush Empire

EDDI READER

Growing old gracefully and heading towards folk. The way of the industry.

Tonight Leeds Irish Centre; Fri Stratford Phoenix Fest; Sat Dublin Tivoli

CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS

Pop bogle. Never mind the sell out, feel the rhythm. Plus London's own Darkman, who raps about rolling down to happening places like Peckham. Yush.

Tonight Poole Arts Centre; Fri Brixton Academy

ELVIS COSTELLO

Hand-tooled guitar pop. So emotional.

Tonight Glasgow Barrowlands

TERRY HALL

Ex-Specials man, as amusing and lyrical as ever.

Tonight Leeds Duchess Of York; Fri Liverpool Lomax; Sat Phoenix Fest; Mon London Subterania

THE CIGARETTES

Alex Chilton, Paul Westerberg. . . and now the Cigarettes? In their dreams.

Mon London Borderline; Wed London Camden Monarch (071-916 1049)

AL JARREAU

As well as singing the theme from Moonlighting, Al has worked with Quincy Jones. The latest CD Tenderness (WEA) is a cover-heavy cash-in ('She's Leaving Home', 'Summertime') but with a voice like this - if there was a Dulux chart for singers he'd be 'breeze on silk' - he could sing Burger King jingles and still make you flush.

Tonight, Fri London Royal Festival Hall

ISLEY BROTHERS

R & B in church safari suits. Anything goes. Angela Winbush (Mrs Ronnie Isley) supports.

Tonight York Barbican; Fri Notts Royal Centre; Sat Poole Arts Centre; Sun Bristol Hippodrome; Mon Plymouth Pavilion; Tue Basingstoke Anvil; Wed Cambridge Corn Exchange

ANTI RACIST FESTIVAL

With Don Campbell, Darkman, Hustlers HC's, Jazz Jamaica, Courtney Pine, and the Safri Boys.

Sat London SE18 Plumstead Common (info 081 317 8687) free

PHOENIX FESTIVAL

Alternative festival, part Glastonbury, part Reading, starts today. Headline acts: TODAY (5pm-11pm) Vox Stage On-U Sound night. Kiss / Jazzterania Stage JTQ, Urban Species. Melody Maker Stage Dodgy, Astralasia, T-Rextasy. FRI (noon-11pm) Main Stage The Wonder Stuff, Carter USM, the Fall, Squeeze, the Posies, Jah Wobble, Fun Da Mental, Goats, Whiteout. Vox Stage the Pogues, John Cale, Kirsty MacColl. Kiss / Jazzterania Stage Solsonics, Greg Osby & Street Jazz Melody Maker Stage Spiritualized, Stereolab. SAT Main Stage Paul Weller, PWEI, Ozric Tentacles, Crash Test Dummies, Gil Scott Heron, Senseless Things, Urban Dance Squad, Compulsion, Sandals, Baby Chaos. Vox Stage Beautiful South, Blue Aeroplanes, Terry Hall. Kiss / Jazzterania Stage Galliano, Groove Collective. Melody Maker Stage Back to the Planet, Swervedriver. SUN Main Stage Iggy Pop, Therapy?, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Killing Joke, Buzzcocks, Fatima Mansions, Magnapop, Family Cat, No F, Blaggers ITA. Vox Stage Inspiral Carpets, A House, Renegade Soudwave. Kiss / Jazzterania Stage Herbie Hancock, Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Melody Maker Stage Shellac, Girls Against Boys.

Long Marston Airfield, Stratford Upon Avon (071 284 4111) By road: from M5 J7 or J9 to Evesham, B4035 to Western Subedge, B4632. From M40 J15 to Stratford, A34 south for 1 mile, B4632. pounds 52 cash, pounds 56 cc.

COUNTRY, FOLK, JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC

GREG OSBY

Fresh and funky cross of bop and hip hop, led by Osby on sax. Not just for people who know their slo- flo from their flip-tip - for everybody.

Fri Phoenix Festival; Sat London Jazz Cafe; Sun London Subterania (with Fish Belly Black)

PAOLO CONTE

The Roberto Baggio of popular song. Unmissable.

Sat, Sun London Barbican Hall

DWIGHT YOAKAM

Final night. See review

Tonight Glasgow Royal Concert Hall