1 SIMPHIWE DANA

Potentially the gig of the month, as the ethereal South African jazz-soul singer dips into her idiosyncratic but soulful album, The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 (www.southbankcentre.co.uk 0871 6632500), Thur

2 BASQUIAT STRINGS, PORTICO QUARTET

Ben Davis’s bold fusion ensemble blends Bartók-style settings with sinuous drums. Support from the quirky sax and percussion of the Portico Quartet. Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, N1 (020-7734 8932), Fri

Radiohead make Mercury shortlist

Radiohead competes with The Last Shadow Puppets, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and Estelle for the prestigious prize

BACKGROUND

• Portico Quartet

• Top five jazz: Simphiwe Dana, Basquiat Strings, Portico Quartet, African Soul Rebels

3 AFRICAN SOUL REBELS

A triple bill headlined by Salif Keita. Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton (www.brightondome.org 01273 709709), Fri; Barbican Hall, Silk Street, EC2 (www.barbican.org.uk 0845 1207550), Mon; The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke (www.theanvil.org.uk 01256 844244), Fri

4 THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK IN LONDON

Julie Wilson rounds off her residency on Sunday, to be followed by Maude Maggart. Jermyn Street Theatre, Jermyn Street, SW1 (www.americansongbookinlondon.com 020-7287 2875), Sat & Sun; Maggart, from Tues, until Feb 24

5 CHANGO SPASIUK

The Argentine accordion player goes a-roaming over the prairies. Arts Centre, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich (www.norwichartscentre.co.uk 01603 660352), Fri