CAMDEN CRAWL'S SNEAK PREVIEW + VANESSA PARADIS MAKES RARE CAMDEN APPEARANCE + DIRTY BLUES FROM CIRCUS TOWN + STOKE NEWINGTON'S JAMMY LINE-UP

THE Camden Crawl has introduced me to an untold variety of bands I’d never heard of but have come to love.
So, in the lead-up to this year’s event – a welcome distraction from some royal wedding involving a girl who’s been called Kate all her life but now has to be referred to as Katherine – there’s the ongoing treat of the CC Tips nights.
CC Tips previews Crawl talent, a helpful nudge when struggling between the weekend’s delights.
So head to the Bull & Gate (Jan 27) for chilled-out beats from French multi-instrumentalist Anoraak, maverick Mat Motte and special guests.
PS - The Crawl’s also released details of the daytime line-up, see the Camden Crawl website

• Here’s one that came from leftfield – sultry pouty French singer and Johnny Depp’s missus, Vanessa Paradis makes a rare UK appearance at Koko (Feb 2) and, not surprisingly, has sold out already. Expect songs from her Greatest Hits album and some new tracks.
Ready for some retro Paradis baggy jumper dancing?



• It’s tough to decide which not-yet-famous band to see at The Dublin Castle when there’s something on every night and you know it’s full of hidden gems. So I’m helping out this week by suggesting filthy dirty blues maestros Circus Town (Jan 30).



• Stoke Newington International Airport’s a dark horse. It’s managed to secure the Topman CTRL gigs filmed for Channel 4. The line-up’s perfect. Each week someone different gets to curate the night so In-Betweener James Buckley has lined up Miles Kane, The Vaccines and States of Emotion (Jan 28), Misfits actor – and stunning singer – Iwan Rheon introduces White Lies, Brother and Gruff Rhys (Feb 1) and Mark Ronson brings in The View, The Joy Formidable and Lykke Li. Win tickets from www.topmanctrl.com