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Vashti Bunyan @ Bridgewater Hall

Technically a four-way headline night between Adem, Vashti, Vetiver and Juana Molina. All acts are good in their own right but solo ladies Vashti and Juana particularly stand out.

www.twistedfolk.com

Tickets £12.50, £15, £17.50

Joanna Newsom @ Bridgewater Hall

Potentially one of the best gigs of 2007 – and it’s only mid-January! Newsom should sound amazing given the venue’s acoustics and support is from the equally worthwhile (but lesser-known) Alasdair Roberts.

Newsom will be backed by the Northern Sinfonia.

www.myspace.com/joannanewsom

Tickets £17.50 to £19.50

Low @ Academy

The slowcore trio return to Manchester. Expect mellowed-out people nodding and singing along in slow motion.
www.chairkickers.com

Tickets £15 adv

Shack @ Academy 3

Mick Head and co return to Manchester for the final time this year. Always a great live act and a welcome change from the usual Scouse rock. Tickets are a bit pricey, mind!
www.myspace.com/shacktheband

Tickets £15 adv