Five bands you need to see in November

Fill up your gig calendar with five must see bands from across the spectrum.

Ben Smith

Last updated: 28th Oct 2016

Image: Cast

Our mittens are deep into touring season and the nights are getting darker. I think we can all agree that there is no greater reprieve than emerging from a sweatbox into the cold winter air. Unless of course, an all-killer set was had by all and you're stood there screaming "we want more" post-encore with very little chance of that actually happening.

Anyway, we've scoped five bands from across November who will indeed leave you belting your lungs out to their tune.

Victor Wooten Trio

Victor Wooten's bass playing capabilities define the word 'virtuoso' in its ultimate sense. The five time Grammy award winner and former band member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is truly one of the greatest.

He is joined by Sugarhill's house drummer Dennis Chambers and musical polymath Bob Franceschini in what has to be one of the most sonically gifted triumvirates we've ever laid eyes on.

Read Victor Wooten at Fleece in Bristol review

London - Rah Rah Rooms, Sunday 6th November

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Crystal Fighters

Combining traditional folk with otherworldly electronics, Basque tribe Crystal Fighters latest record Everything Is My Family is as fresh as the milk in your fridge.

They have reshuffled their pack due to the extremely sad death of their drummer; though they've re-emerged with a record that embraces the meaning of life and this feeling of youthful liberation will no doubt come across in a belting live show.

Read Crystal Fighters 'Everything Is My Family' review

Liverpool - 02 Academy 2, Friday 18th November

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Gong

Psych-rock is all the rage on the touring circuit right now and who better to experience swirling grooves with than sixties flag-bearers Gong?

The Aussie space voyagers return with a new record Rejoice! I'm Dead! - their first since the death of their founder Daevid Allen. In response to the inevitable, bassist Dave Surt exclaimed "You bet it's a f*****g Gong Record.

Read Gong announce Rejoice! I'm Dead! tour dates and new album

Manchester - Gorilla, Thursday 24th November

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Cast

It's new LPs aplenty as John Power's Cast prepare to release their sixth record, twenty years since opening statement All Change arrived.

An equal spectacle as they were in the brit-pop hey day, with a back-catalogue that ages like whisky, Cast's selected dates up in Scotland rub off particularly special with Glaswegian troubadour Gerry Cinnamon hooked in on support duty.

Read John Power interview: 'We're kicking up the dust and sprinkling the magic'

Alloa - Town Hall, Friday 25th November

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Inverness - The Ironworks, Saturday 26th November

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Smoove & Turrell

Flying the Geordie heartland to spread the word of fourth album Crown Posada, Smoove and Turrell are your soulful tonic to bring good times. This spritely gang of musicians continue to break the parameters of funk and soul, weaving hip hop to electronica into the blend.

If you're yet to discover the raw power of John Turrell's vocal in the flesh, then the band's reworking of Hot Chocolate's 'You Could've been A Lady' should be top priority in your gigging calendar.

Like this? Read Smoove & Turrel interview 'We're all just lads off the street'

Birmingham - Hare and Hounds, Friday 4th November

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