. You might have caught him opening for Jack Penate last year, but now South African born, but London based Johnny Flynn is striking with his own headlining tour. The Pixies, Vaguhn Williams and Dianne Cluck are all checked on his myspace page and his blend of folk and blues conjure up a certain rustic charm. We've got a pair of tickets to his sold-out gig at The Luminaire on Thursday - enter below and......

Having treated audiences at the May 2007 All Tomorrow's Parties' "ATP vs. The Fans" festival to her gentle brand of Northern Californian folk, Mariee Sioux returns to the UK this week to play a series of London gigs. A childhood friend of Rough Trade favourite Alela Diane, Sioux also grew up in the mountainous, artist-friendly town of Nevada City, a landscape which can be heard speaking through both singer's works. With a languid step......

After a quick break travelling the US, this Londonista is back to normality bringing the weekly roundup of whats happening in London. Monday night sees Oakland metal stars High on Fire grace UL. Tickets are available for £12 each on the door or from See tickets. Reformed 90's Brit rockers Shed Seven grace Shepherds Bush Empire, with a few tickets left at £17.50 each, if you really must indulge your nostalgia. Finally, Scritti Politti plays......

To be honest the rain and coldness is kind of making us not want to go to gigs at the moment, preferring instead to wrap ourselves up warmly at home. But if we did, this is what we'd be bouncing at. Monday: The biggie tomorrow is of course Led Zep at the O2, but you've more chance of meeting Santa than getting tickets for that. So instead, forget the dinosaurs and try something new......

Tonight start the week by going to see massive Swedish popstar Marit Bergman at Hoxton Bar & Grill. She's playing a one off UK gig in an attempt to get signed in the UK. (£6, here. Former Hefner frontman Darren Hayman teams up with fledgling band The Wave Pictures at The Luminaire (£8, here). Plus the awesome Cold War Kids play Shepherd's Bush Empire. On Tuesday, German dance kids Digitalism are at the Scala......

As reported last week, Monday should see you going crazy to hear that one good song (are there others) by Peter Bjorn and John at the forum. More importantly make sure you get there in time to see support act Those Dancing Days. We caught them at Water Rats on Saturday and are pleased to report they combine cuteness and moodiness with alarming grace. The much loved Beirut play an instore at Rough Trade......

If you have a soft spot in your heart for psychedelic folk, you would do well to attend the fifth year of The Green Man Festival this coming weekend, 17 - 19 August, in Brecon Beacons, Wales. Featuring performances from Joanna Newsom, Vashti Bunyan, Battles and countless others, psychedelia and folk prove only to be starting points for this diverse selection of talent. For those who can't attend, however, all hope is not lost:......

As most major bands go into festival mode at the moment, London plays host to the best of the alternative bands from across the UK and worldwide. German classic rock your sort of thing? Then on Monday night get along to the Hammersmith Apollo, where Scorpions are playing their re-union tour (who isn’t doing a re-union tour these days?) Support comes from The Michael Schenker Group, and tickets are £35 each, still available from the......

As both bands and fans saunter back to the capital with the mother of all hangovers from Glastonbury, this week is a bit slow for music in the capital. Things are also running a bit slow for this Londonista, thus the later than normal posting of this weeks listings. Tonight sees Camden post-hardcore Hell is for Heroes play the Barfly, whilst Jason Molina fronted alt-country collective Magnolia Electric Co. play Scala. Hell is For Heroes......

Just a quick reminder that you can catch The Woodentops at The Luminaire this Thursday and we've got some tickets and an exclusive tour CDs to give away. Failing that, if you're a big loser, you'll still be entitled to special 2-for-1 pricing on tickets for the Luminaire gig. To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets or a copy of the CD you just need to give us the......

If you haven't already heard, The Woodentops are back, reforming for their first live dates in 14 years. Unlike other reformed bands, The Woodentops line-up will be the same people - front man Rolo, Benny Staples on drums, Frank de Freitas on bass and Simon Mawby on guitar - that scored a string of hits in the 80s, including Good Thing, Well Well Well and Move Me. They disbanded in 1992 but the enduring......

Eel Pie Eccentrics Mystery Jets have never been ones to do things in the regular rock'n'roll way, possibly why their Dad plays in the band, and possibly why they've just started an online treasure hunt ahead of their debut album and a small tour in support that takes in the Mean Fiddler on the 9th March. Clue 1. There's no place like home. Ah, that's easy then. Off to find a copy of Dark......

Time once again to cast an eye over this week's gig going highlights. Wednesday: If you haven't already been tempted by The Magic Numbers being nicer than is humanly possible at the Shepherd's Bush Empire or Hard Fi being T4 favourites at the Camden Electric Ballroom then why not check out the Tits of Death at the Vibe Bar, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane. Probably best not though if you're of a nervous disposition. Thursday:......