Eric Cantona

JUDGING by the moody promo pic – a singer with a beanie and plaid shirt, gazing into the distance – Bloomsbury Theatre has lined up an earnest singer-songwriter for their Oct 28-29 gig. But look a little closer and it’s actually poetic gallic footballer Eric Cantona making his debut with Cantona sings Eric – the tour. No doubt this will be one to remember.

• Mark three decades of the definitive drum ‘n’ bass label when 30 Years of Metalheadz comes to Koko on Oct 20. DJ, producer and label co-founder Goldie said: “It’s about the grassroots. It’s about taking it back 360 to where we first cut our teeth. Camden is that. It’s the first place I met Kemistry and where I dreamed of making music. Koko could not be a better venue and we’ll be there with the band and full Headz crew. Let’s go.” Expect a carefully curated line-up selected by Goldie tracing the label’s history through to today.

• And if that’s not enough drum ’n’ bass / jungle, head over to Here @ Outernet on Oct 21 where Roni Size and LTJ Bukem will be taking over the decks – if Bukem maintains his form from my uni days – expect him to be fashionably late!

• Doc ‘n’ Roll Film Festival returns to London next week (Oct 26-Nov 12) with a wide and eclectic programme of fascinating music documentaries about The Zombies, Cyndi Lauper, Max Roach, Rock Chicks, The Skids, Pavement and many more playing across Barbican Cinema, Finsbury Park Picturehouse, Hackney Picturehouse, Rich Mix and others. Check the website for full details www.docnrollfestival.com

• The third Friday of the month is approaching, which means it must be time for Crawdaddy! at The Fiddler’s Elbow (Oct 20) where DJs Gary, Lucienne and Danny, plus special guests Lisa Hurley and Brian Baker, play the finest northern soul, mod, Motown, vintage R&B, Two Tone, ska and rocksteady, all on vinyl.

• After nearly 40 years in music, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto brings a new show to Koko on Oct 22 interpreting the songs of her late father João Gilberto, widely regarded as the “father of Bossa Nova music”. With support from Nina Miranda, accompanied for the first time on stage by her son Johan.

• Blondshell (above) aka Sabrina Teitelbaum plays Lafayette on Nov 1 in support of her self-titled debut album released earlier this month.

• Remember Finland’s 2023 Eurovision entry Käärijä’s Cha Cha Cha, a strangely addictive fan favourite that sent chants of the chorus across Liverpool, ultimately winning second place? Replay the moment when he appears at Roundhouse on Oct 23.

• The Union Chapel continues in its tradition of creating unique moments when The John Martyn Project and The Sandy Denny Project share the bill on Nov 2. Six artists will bring their own connections to celebrate the music of the late and much-loved singer-songwriter John Martyn, who I only learned of when he used to park his barge under the music venue where I worked and came in for a drink in his sandals. I hope this latest event will introduce his music to new generations as well as provide a welcome revival to older devotees. Expect extracts from John’s back catalogue, from obscure live recordings to classic favourites reworked. The Sandy Denny Project is billed as a tribute as opposed to a cover band, an interpretation of the musician’s work by six folk-rock musicians.

• US rapper and actor Killer Mike is a bit of a big deal. See him at Lafayette on Oct 31.

• Expect the usual antics, fancy dress, games, themed tunes and freaky décor plus an appearance from air guitar champs Lucifer’s Grandmother at Club de Fromage and Not Another Indi Disco’s joint Murder on the dancefloor Halloween party at Islington Academy on Oct 28.

• Glenn Hughes performs Classic Deep Purple, celebrating the 50th anniversary of album Burn at Electric Ballroom on Oct 25. With support from The Damn Truth.

Joseph play Lafayette on Nov 2

More upcoming gigs…

Oct 20 – Wheatus (above), The Garage; Brooklyn Funk Essentials, The Forge; Nihiloxica Jazz Café; Oct 21 – Larkin Poe + The Sheepdogs, Roundhouse; Sirens of Lesbos, Jazz Café; Laurie Wright + The Molotovs + Super Swamp Jellyfish + James Bone, The Underworld;

Zoe Nicol (above), The Harrison; Röyksopp, The Forum; Sabin Rai & The Pharaoh, Scala; Rainbow Frog Biscuits, Camden Assembly; Oct 22 – Hailu Mergia, Islington Assembly Hall; Hawklords, The Forge; The Waterboys, Roundhouse; Ollie Wride, Scala; Oct 23 – Glenn Musto: Fire Sky River Earth, Green Note; Will Downing & Maysa, The Forum; The Japanese House, Outernet; Casey Lowry, Koko; Iris DeMent, Union Chapel; The Jordan, St Pancras Old Church; Oct 24 – Ellie Goulding, Roundhouse; Speedvark + Girls Out Late + UCL & Circus Society, The Fiddlers Elbow; Kingfishr, Camden Assembly; Oct 24-25 – Billy Cobham, Jazz Cafe; Oct 25 – Natacha Atlas, The Forge; Weird Brainz + Neuro Placid + The Quiet Screamers + Guest In The Car + DJs, The Dublin Castle; Overmono, Roundhouse; Iman + Death Ingloria + Night Thieves, The Black Heart;

Modernlove (above), Scala; Oct 26 – Little Man Tate + Shambolics + LOVEBREAKERS, Islington Academy; Hania Rani, Roundhouse; Stella Prince, Betsey Trotwood; English Teacher + Alien Chicks, Scala; Altered Images, 229; The Big Smoke Family + Nick Etwell Trio + DJ Chris Tofu, The Forge; Onipa Jazz Café; Fews, The Lexington; Romain Virgo, Islington Academy; Oct 27 – Holly Johnson, The Palladium; Wreckless Eric, Lexington; High Vis, Islington Assembly Hall; Monster Queen, The Halloween Ball, Camden Assembly; The Dead South, The Roundhouse; The Rifles + Buster Shuffle + The Lilacs, Electric Ballroom; Oct 28 – Swansea Sound, The Water Rats; The Mission, Roundhouse; The Dust Coda, Dingwalls; Mansur Brown, Lafayette; Oct 29 – Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa, Koko; Ragz Originale, Scala; Joyce, Jazz Café; Punk Rock Factory, Islington Academy; Oct 30 – Glen Hansard, Palladium; The Commoners, 100 Club; Samantha Fish + Jesse Dayton + The Commoners, 100 Club; Devin The Dude, Jazz Café; Oct 31 – The Soup Dragons + The Vaselines + BMX Bandits + The Pastels (DJ set), Electric Ballroom; Kurt Elling Superblu, Union Chapel; Medium Build + Philine Sonny, The Lexington; Inhaler, The Forum; Waterparks + Stand Atlantic, Roundhouse; Nov 1 – Liv Warfield, Jazz Café; Joshua Burnell, The Water Rats; Briston Maroney, Scala; Nov 2 – Casisdead, Koko; Elli Ingram, Islington Assembly Hall; Alien Chicks + Saloon Dion + Man / Woman / Chainsaw, 100 Club; JOSEPH, Lafayette; Nov 2-3 – Natalie Merchant, London Palladium.