Beak>Ender @ Brudenell Social Club, Saturday 7^th – Sunday 8^th December

Curated and headlined by Beak>, a project founded by Portishead founder Geoff Barrow, this weekend mini-festival at the Brudenell Social Club features a pretty enviable line-up of other new and avant-garde acts, including the likes of Lankum, Bilge Pump, Alice Hubble, James Holden and Black Country New Road. At £25 for a weekend ticket, there are very many worse and more expensive ways to spend a cold weekend in December! (TICKETS)

The National @ First Direct Arena, Sunday 8^th December

Still riding high on a wave of goodwill that’s carried them through five exceptional studio albums going back to 2007’s Boxer, The National bring their latest European tour to the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Sunday evening. This year’s album I Am Easy To Findwas their most ambitious and emotionally graceful record to date, and their powerful live shows are finally getting the kind of settings they deserve. If you’ve never seen them before, grab this opportunity! (TICKETS)

Hot Snakes @ Brudenell Social Club, Wednesday 11^th December

Last year, post-hardcore cult icons Hot Snakes delivered some new music to go with their reunion in the shape of Jericho Sirens, their first new album in 14 years. Now with a brand new single ‘Checkmate’ released recently, the quintet (who now boast two drummers!) arrive at the Brudenell Social Club to bring what’s sure to be a face-melting racket to liven up your mid-week. (TICKETS)

Little Simz @ LUU Stylus, Wednesday 11^th December

Yet another emergent star in British hip-hop’s increasingly healthy scene in 2019, Little Simz made her breakout with the fantastic GREY Area, a year that’s seen her scoop up plaudits with aplomb and no small amount of album sales, as well as successful spots on the festival circuit. On Wednesday night, she brings her victory lap tour of the UK to Leeds Uni. (TICKETS)

Hiss Golden Messenger @ Brudenell Social Club, Thursday 12^th December

The prolific MC Taylor brings Hiss Golden Messenger back to his regular stomping ground of the Brudenell Social Club this week, this time promoting his band’s 11^th studio album Terms Of Surrender. Ruminating on life and its joys and disappointments, set to elements of classic American songbook writing and alt-folk, Taylor is a wonder to behold in the live arena. (TICKETS)

Shellac @ Brudenell Social Club, Friday 13^th December

Alternative rock royalty arrives at the Brude on Friday night, in the form of Steve Albini’s occasionally active Shellac project. Having steadfastly refused to play the traditional music industry game for well over two decades, 2019 has seen them make the unusual step of looking backwards, with the release of double-LP The End Of Radiocapturing the band’s astonishing Maida Vale sessions from 1994 and 2004. Tickets are long sold out, but perhaps you know somebody with a spare?