Panic Shack play The Garage [@meganwinstone]

BEFORE Saturday comes, it’s time to dig out the Eurovision playlist and recall some of the hits of the past – Camden’s own Mae Muller, who deserved to come way higher than her 25th place in the 2023 finals should be in there with her track I Wrote This Song, as should Olly Alexander – a proven talent who was somehow wildly overlooked in 2024 when it came to judging hour. So, without reaching for the obvious Abba choices, who are your all-time faves?

• Cardiff’s Panic Shack recorded the first sounds on Girl Band Starter Pack – the opening track on their debut album (out July 18) – in the beer garden at an Amyl and the Sniffers gig. This life-embracing irreverence carries through their approach – catch them on their Don’t Quit Your Day Job tour when they stop at The Garage on May 28.

• Relive – or, for younger readers, experience for the first time – the heady vibes of the Acid House scene with immersive artist Darren Emmerson’s VR adventure experience In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats at Barbican between May 22 and August 3. Designed for groups of 1-4 people and produced by East City Films, the project revives the spiritual heart of the 1989 rave scene and is followed by a small exhibition exploring the British Acid House scene.

• Drum & Bass pioneer Fabio launches his label Generation Liquid at Camden Assembly on May 17. Then, on May 23, Fabio & Grooverider join Mantra, 4Hero and Ital Power + Blackeye MC at Jazz Café for Roots of Jungle, a club night dedicated to the roots of the jungle movement. And, carrying on the d’n’b theme, Ray Keith presents The Renegade to mark his 30 year legacy with an evening of d ‘n’b classics including tracks like The Chopper and Terrorist on May 24.

• Nashville duo JOHNNYSWIM – made up of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez, daughter of disco queen Donna Summer – met after a church service. They formed JOHHNYSWIMM a few years later in 2005 after their paths crossed again at a songwriting workshop. They play Scala on May 20.

• Gain an insight into the intriguing brains behind SPARKS! as the band has “an entirely MAD! conversation” with Rob Brydon at Union Chapel on May 25 to celebrate the release of the band’s 28th album, MAD!, out May 23. Also at Union Chapel, on May 26, James Vincent McMorrow plays his debut album Early In The Morning in full, solo, on guitar, to mark the 15th anniversary of its release. He will also perform new music and select covers.

• Detroit-born post-punk pop singer Lene Lovich, whose 1979 single Lucky Number was a hit, and became known as the “Queen of Quirk”, is said to have influenced the likes of Boy George, Madonna and Dresden Dolls. Known to have been historically reclusive, Lovich plays The Dome on May 17 with support from The Gospel.

• Desertfest, the festival of stoner rock, doom, psych and heavy rock takes place across multiple Camden venues between May 16-18. The line-up includes Zeal & Ardor, Amenra, Pallbearer, Conan, Planet of Zeus, Avon, Sons of Alpha Centauri, Maha Sohona and many more.

More upcoming gigs

May 16 – Rim’K. Jazz Cafe; Los Prisoneros, Dingwalls;

May 17 – Drax Project, Islington Assembly Hall; Fatoumata Diawara, Barbican; May 18 – Mia Kelly, Green Note; Punk Sunday Matinee, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Toucan, 100 Club; Holly Penfield, The Camden Club; Daniel Seavey, Koko;

May 19 – Say Sue Me, 100 Club; May 19-20 – Steven Wilson, Palladium;

May 20 – Jessie J, Union Chapel; PP Arnold + Ebba Åsman + Fitzroy Facey (DJ Set), Jazz Café; Eliza Marshall, The Harrison;

May 21 – Terra Spencer, Cecil Sharp House; Holly Head, The Social; Lowertown, The Garage; Winona Fighter + Young Fatigue, The Black Heart; Jenny Hval, Islington Assembly Hall; YT, Here at Outernet;

May 21-23 – Supergrass + Rizzy and the Gents, The Roundhouse;

May 22 – Gizmo Varillas, Jazz Cafe; YNG Martyr, Camden Assembly; Bess Attwell, Koko; Prima Queen, Islington Assembly Hall;

May 23 – Stanleys, The Lower Third; The Spitfires, Koko; Pity Party (Girls Club), The Garage; The Sherlocks, Electric Ballroom; Bradley Simpson + Nieve Ella, The Forum; Arcy Drive, Camden Assembly; The Spitfires, Koko;

May 24 – Princess Superstar, The Lower Third; Yogi-G and The Family Tree, The Social; Sunnbrella + Shoplifting + Toothpaste, The Lexington; Errol Linton, Green Note; Rotimo’s Shockolate Show + Kamo Mphela, The Roundhouse;

May 25 – Deft Left Hand + L’Extravagante + The Magnetic Charms + (Evening Show) + The False Dots + Dubvocaliza + Nial Logue + (Matinee Show), The Dublin Castle;

May 25-26 – The Sisters of Mercy, The Roundhouse;

May 26 – Cardinal Black, Lower Third; Hawkwind “There Is No Space For Us” Tour, Barbican; Amistat, Scala;

May 27 – Troy Redfern + Red Giant, 100 Club; The Ataris, Islington Academy; Throwing Muses, Electric Ballroom; Say Now, Camden Assembly;

May 28 – Paul Hutchinson and Karen Wimhurst + Hannah Cumming + Fiona Barrow, Cecil Sharp House; I See Stars, The Underworld; Hannah Rose Platt, The Water Rats;

May 29 – I’m With Her, Barbican; McLusky, Electric Ballroom; Topette!!, Cecil Sharp House; Salif Keita, Koko; MRCY, Islington Assembly Hall; DoomState + In Her Eyes (single release party) + Chi, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Zara + The Pyke Circuit + Tval + Drop Pink + DJ Julia Haxen, The Dublin Castle; Bella Hardy, The Water Rats.