No relation to producer Phil Spector or footballer Jonathan Spector sadly. Lovely voice, very playful and inventive. £15 seems a bit steep for a gig at the university, mind.

www.myspace.com/reginaspektor

Tickets £15 adv

Ranting American pop with a subtle Morrissey fixation. A rewarding live experience.

www.myspace.com/thedecemberists

Tickets £11 adv

Keiran Hebden is unpredictable live: this’ll be either a rave or, with drummer Steve Reid, a jazzy delight. Luckily Reid will be present.
www.myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden

Tickets £10.50 adv

Long-awaited comeback by the man they call Rice. Tickets are going for £150 a pair on eBay. Expect heartfelt ballads and assorted emotions galore.
www.myspace.com/damienrice

Tickets £23.50 adv (sold out)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (CLHSY!) return for another inevitably breathtaking performance at Manchester Academy. Expect high-energy, helium-voiced, hell-for-leather music.

Support from Cold War Kids and Elvis Perkins.

www.myspace.com/clapyourhandssayyeah

Tickets £12.50 adv