The Windmill does the heavy lifting this week, with three fiver bills that between them cover synth weirdness, a band’s first London show and a noisy EP launch. Cafe OTO goes loud midweek, The Lexington and Green Note look after the songwriters, and on Friday a Parisian psych-pop band play their first UK run at The Finsbury, free. If you only go to one, make it Harlettes on Thursday.
Monday 12 October
All Spells + Gothy, Ashnymph, VCSB – The Windmill, Brixton
A Monday-night bill of electronic misfits. Gothy deal in shadowy hi-NRG, all warped vocals and dub-and-trance basslines; Ashnymph pile up hypnotic layered beats; and Brighton duo VCSB make lopsided DIY synth-pop with a post-punk streak. It’s £5, it starts at 7.45pm, and it’s a good way to shake off the start of the week.
Tuesday 13 October
Marika Hackman – The Lower Third, Denmark Street
Marika Hackman has played much bigger rooms than this 250-capacity basement, which is the reason to go. Her songs can be sharp, funny guitar-pop one minute and something much more hushed and odd the next, and a room this close lets you hear both. Doors 7pm, tickets from £23.50. Some outlets have already sold out, so check the listing before you set off.
Wednesday 14 October
Delphine Joussein: CALAMITY + Marjolaine Charbin – Cafe OTO, Dalston
French flautist Delphine Joussein runs her flute through distortion and electronics until it turns into drone, grind and squall. CALAMITY borrows from free jazz, noise, early music and extreme metal, and you won’t hear a flute quite like it anywhere else this month. London-based pianist Marjolaine Charbin opens with prepared-piano improvisation. 7.30pm, £12 in advance, £14 on the door.
Thursday 15 October
Harlettes + evil, Neighbour Club – The Windmill, Brixton
Manchester four-piece Harlettes come down for their first London show, with a new-wave sound that’s fresh rather than nostalgic. The support is worth turning up early for: evil are a new south-east London band mixing goth synth-rock with apocalyptic dance beats, and Neighbour Club play 90s-style slacker rock with boy-girl vocals. £5, 7.45pm.
Alice Costelloe + Marsy – The Lexington, King’s Cross
Alice Costelloe’s new songs leave her indie-rock past behind for mellotron, taishogoto and flute, some of it recorded during lessons and left deliberately rough. The subject matter is heavy, grief and a difficult relationship with a parent, and the upstairs room at The Lexington is the right size for it. Marsy is on at 8pm and Costelloe at 9pm. Tickets £15.82.
Wolf Eyes + Cuntroaches – Cafe OTO, Dalston
Upset the Rhythm have Michigan noise veterans Wolf Eyes at OTO for two nights, with new album Self Embalmed due this autumn. Berlin noise-punk trio Cuntroaches support. Bring earplugs. This is night one (night two is Friday). £20 on DICE, £22 on the door, 7.30pm.
Friday 16 October
Fabergé Falls + Cabin, Forever Forever – The Finsbury, Manor House
Paris five-piece Fabergé Falls bring their hazy, driving psych-pop to Green Lanes on their first UK run. Their debut album Blue Light Filter was recorded live at Motorbass studio. Entry is free via DICE, so there’s no excuse. Forever Forever are on at 8pm, Cabin at 8.45pm and Fabergé Falls at 9.30pm.
Saturday 17 October
Domestic Partners + MPTL Microplastics, Kiss Gem Burn, Jawharp – The Windmill, Brixton
Domestic Partners launch their Sea Song EP with what they call “piano death noise”, and the rest of the bill is just as hard to pin down: industrial folk from MPTL Microplastics, experimental doom from Kiss Gem Burn, and whatever Jawharp decide to do on the night. Four bands for £5, from 8pm.
Sunday 18 October
Jason McNiff + Sam Grassie – Green Note, Camden
Hastings songwriter Jason McNiff launches his tenth album, Ten Blue Songs. Expect late-night songs in his usual mix of English folk and Americana, played on fingerstyle guitar. Opener Sam Grassie works firmly in the British folk-guitar tradition, so get there in time for him too. Doors 7pm, music 8.30pm, £15.
