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21-10-2006

Lucinda Williams, Rick Wakeman, and even Clive James take to the stages of the West Midlands over the next few weeks. Here are The Stirrer's selected live highlights.

From the Stirrer's point of view, it's already gig of the year, and it hasn't even taken place yet…Lucinda Williams at Symphony Hall on November 8.

So far as I'm aware she's never played Birmingham before, and her last tour pointedly missed out the city, even though her support act Laura Cantrell did stop off to play a blinding gig at the Glee Club.

Anyway, what can I tell you that you need to know about Lucinda to persuade you to go?

In this country she's been played mostly by Bob Harris on his Radio 2 country show, but this is aching folk-blues with a rock n'roll attitude. Lucinda's got a slurred, bruised drawl of a voice and she's clearly spent too many nights nursing a broken heart and an empty bottle. Sadness this deep can't be feigned, but she wrenches a melancholy joy from her heartache - and she knows how to rock to.

Just trust me, this will be great. Tickets a snip at £22.50.

More details from symphonyhall/boxoffice.

The same venue also has An Evening With Clive James on November 10 - he's a top telly presenter, written loads of witty books and is a decent raconteur.

Should be a interesting nightThe Robin in Bilston has it's usual eclectic mixture of visitors including, next Wednesday (October 25th) legendary prog-rockers Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson of Yes.

Not my bag, but a great chance to see genuine superstars at close quarter.

More details from The Robin

This Sunday (October 22) there's also a visit from 70's rockers Wishbone Ash.