Our top pick of gigs that are too good to miss – featuring female, non-binary and queer bands that we love.
These are our top tips for week commencing 16 October 2023.
| When? | Where? | Where?? | Who? | Why/How? |
| Tuesday 17 October | Liverpool | 24 Kitchen Street | Cherym + Sally Pepper + more | The delightful Derry trio’s mainland UK tour started last weekend, and continues all this week. Catch them if you can! Tickets |
| Tuesday 17 October | Brighton | The Green Door Store | Aly + more | A solo show from the angelic voiced rhythm guitarist out of Friend Of Franky, singing her own lovely songs. Tickets |
| Wednesday 18 October | Birkenhead | The Swinging Arm | Nervous Twitch + Roxanne and the Reprobates | ‘The Twitch’ are one band that’s always worth seeing. |
| Wednesday 18 October | Brighton | Dust | Hotwax + Pussyliquor | Launch show at a new Brighton venue for the stardom-bound Hastings trio’s “Invite Me Kindly” EP. 5 Star support from Pussyliquor, too. Tickets |
| Wednesday 18 October | London (Dulwich) | The Ivy House | Sassyhiya + Lucy Leave + more | First of two shows on two consecutive nights for Sassyhiya. This one’s on the south side of the Thames. Tickets |
| Wednesday 18 October | Brighton | The Rossi Bar | Mowfy + more | Yet another of Brighton’s best upcomers, with lots of gigs on the way after a short hiatus. Pay on the door (minimum £2) – all donations going to Capital Project Trust |
| Wednesday 18 October | Manchester | Gullivers | Lande Hekt + support | The former Muncie Girl starts a short solo tour tonight and also plays Oxford tomorrow and Bristol on Sunday. Tickets |
| Thursday 19 October | London (Archway) | New River Studios | Sassyhiya + Theresa Kelly + more | The Sassys’ other gig this week is on the North side. Tickets |
| Thursday 19 October | London (Brixton) | The Electric | Dream Wife + Prima Queen | The last UK show of DW’s “Social Lubrication” tour before it heads off to the EU for the rest of the year. Tickets |
| Thursday 19 October | Glasgow | Nice n Sleazy | Maita | Portland headliners of last weekend’s LOUD WOMEN birthday party continue their UK tour in Glasgow Tickets |
| Friday 20 October | London (Finsbury Park) | The Night Owl | Thee Dagger Debs + BBQT | A rare London show for these terrific R&B rockers. Tickets |
| Friday 20 October | Whitchurch | Percy’s Café Bar | The Sewer Cats + Velvet Fist + Jess Payne + more | Cass and Josh keep themselves busy with a “free entry – donations welcome” Friday night. |
| Friday 20 October | London (Deptford) | The Matchstick Piehouse | Cherym + Annabel Allum + X-Ray Vez | ***Gig Of The Week*** Hannah, Alanagh and Nyree play their London show in this hidden gem of a venue in the back streets of Deptford. Be there or be L7! Tickets |
| Friday 20 October | Carlisle | The Old Fire Station | The Rezillos + Voodoo Radio | Celebrating the 45th anniversary of their “Can’t Stand The Rezillos” album + stellar support from everyone’s favourite dad-and-daughter combo. Tickets |
| Friday 20 October | Folkestone | Speedway | Message From The Ravens | A couple of Kent-based shows for the folk witches this week. See below for details of the other one. Tickets |
| Friday 20 October | Leicester | The Musician | The Pearl Harts | The Harts’ tour supporting the Jim Jones All Stars goes right through to mid-November – two shows this week. Tickets |
| Saturday 21 October | Lewes | The Con Club | The Pearl Harts | Tickets |
| Saturday 21 October | Bristol | The Chelsea Inn | The Menstrual Cramps + Comeback Clit + The Maisonettes | A hometown show for Emilia & co., with a formidable undercard – and it’s free to get in. |
| Saturday 21 October | Margate | Dreamland | Miki Berenyi Trio | The first of a few for the former Lush Frontperson in support of her book ‘Fingers Crossed’. Tickets |
| Saturday 21 October | Brighton | The Green Door Store | Knife Bride + Support | A one-off warm-up hometown show for the pop-metal quintet before they head off on tour in the EU. Tickets |
| Sunday 22 October | Cardiff | Jacobs Market Gallery | Banshi | This wonderful slightly-delic Welsh quintet are playing only their second gig of 2023 as part of the final day of Cardiff’s SWN festival. They’re on at 1945. Tickets |
| Sunday 22 October | Broadstairs | The Magnet | Message From The Ravens | Here IS MFTR’s other show – and it’s an early one (on stage 1700). Free to get in |
| Sunday 22 October | Hove | The Brunswick | Grunt Work + more | Hotly tipped as Brighton’s newest Next Big Thing, GW get a definite two thumbs up from your Gigs Guru. £7 on the door |
| Sunday 22 October | Kingston Upon Thames | The Fighting Cocks | Dinosaur Skull + Dannie Lu Carr + more | An all-afternoon, all-ages show headlined by Thornton Heath’s biggest little band, with £2 tickets for under 18s. Not too expensive for over 18s either. Doors at 1200, music starts at 1400. Tickets |