Eliane Correa and La Evolución Orchestra play Ronnie Scott’s

WHILE January is a little thin on gigs and some venues are taking a rest for the month, quantity means nothing when the selection is so rich and varied. With music from the Balkans, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Japan and Ireland, take a trip around the world without leaving London during the leanest month of the year!

• Discover the secret of Balkan-style folk dancing – and give any new year fitness resolutions a little help – with music from across the Balkans played by Ygra at Cecil Sharp House on Jan 11. No experience needed and no partner required – go solo or bring friends.

• Seize the chance to get your music in front of the professionals at a special Creator Clinic on Jan 10. With January being a tough month for some, the event, hosted by The Social and Wonk will focus on Mental Health in Music with personal insights from a panel of music industry experts. Taking place on Jan 10, there will also be a music feedback session where artists and producers can send in tracks for the A&Rs to provide their thoughts. The panel will include Griff Hardin (Defected), Raji Rags (NTS), Mary Davenport (Ninja Tune) and Stress Records plus Charlotte De Vega (Material Music), who will all be part of the feedback session as well. The night will be moderated by lau.ra and Lex Hearth.

• Celebrated Latina pianist and composer and long-time curator of the London Latin Jazz Fest Eliane Correa and La Evolución Orchestra, fronted by respected Cuban vocalists Dunia Correa and Yadira Ferrer, warm up January with a special set at Ronnie Scott’s on Jan 10.

• Five female fronted bands – Infected Rain, Semblant, Elyose, Skin On Flesh and Mirunthan – take to the stage at The Underworld on Jan 13 for the Motocultor Across Europe Tour 2025, promising a delicate mixture of power, brutality and melody.

• Iranian musician Mohsen Namjoo blends Persian poetry with a fusion of traditional melodies, blues and rock. See him play The Forum on Jan 18.

• Egyptian rapper Marwan Moussa, known for blending traditional instruments like the oud and tabla with modern trap and hip-hop beats, returns to Europe for his second tour, stopping off at Scala on Jan 19.

• Japanese visual kei rock band, Nightmare, mark their 25th anniversary with their first European tour, playing Islington Academy on Jan 19.

• Irish garage band The Strypes may be no more but former member Evan has found a new musical home with The Savage Hearts. They play The Dublin Castle alongside Sweet Retreat, Velvet Fuzz, The Sick Fix, The Station and DJ Sammie Starr on Jan 19.

• Acid house pioneer A Guy Called Gerald takes over the Jazz Cafe’s decks with a set tracing his extensive history at Jazz Cafe on Jan 22. He will be joined by renowned jungle and drum ‘n bass drummer, DJ and festival favourite Jungle Drummer.

• Ground-breaking music festival Unsound returns to Barbican for a specially curated evening highlighting the inventive talents of composer Mica Levi, who will present a selection of pieces for large-scale string ensemble, including a new UK premiere commissioned by Unsound, performed by leading Polish Chamber ensemble Sinfonietta Cracovia on Jan 17. Also on the line-up are experimental guitarist, cellist and composer Mabe Fratti and guitarist and composer Raphael Rogiński.

More upcoming gigs

Jan 10 – Laurence Jones, 229; The Preventions + Scary Luke, Dingwalls; Jan 11 – Ana Popovic, 229; The Jesus Lizard, Electric Ballroom; Acid Arab live AV show, HERE@Outernet; Latinas of London, Jazz Cafe; The Mountain Firework Company, Green Note; Jan 12 – Band of Friends – Celebration of the music and legacy of Rory Gallagher + The Too Bad Jims, 229; Jan 15 – Grainne Hunt + Roswell, Green Note; Jan 16 – Mobb Deep, Islington Academy; Gabriel Moreno, Green Note; Benny Biennale + Ben Belward + Mario Lottari, The Social; Jan 17 – Crawdaddy! The Fiddler’s Elbow; Jellybean Benitez, KOKO; The Violent Hearts + Wood and Nails, The Black Heart; Bad Nerves, Electric Ballroom; Jan 18 – Dusky + George Fitzgerald + Mia Lily, Koko; ForeignShapes perform with support from some of London’s best alt-rock acts: Imaginary Dreamers, Cody Jr, Desert Clouds and Hablo El Diablo, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Central Line, Jazz Cafe; Jan 18-19 – Sugaray Rayford + Errol Linton, 229; Jan 19 – Human Pyramids + Dog Unit, The Lexington; Jan 21 – King King, 229; Forgotten Pharaohs with special guests Inner Circle and Chris Daley. The Water Rats; JAN 22 – Dino D’Santiago, The Garage; Imogen and the Knife + Hank, 100 Club; Jan 22-24 – Floating Points, HERE @ Outernet; Jan 23 –  Summrs & Autumn – Aux: Volume 8, Roundhouse; Andy & Lucas, The Last Tour, Scala; Lost Romantic, Lafayette; Swim School + She’s In Parties + Cosmorat, 100 Club; Desperate Journalist, The Garage.