Warpaint | Wed 22 Mar | O2 Institute | £18.50
Warpaint have evolved from their rambling, psychedelic roots and dovetailed with the mainstream’s xx-inspired thirst for glacial, moody atmospherics and muted garage grooves. But the band built their reputation on their live shows: a generous, immersive swarm of sound, a technicolour display where their recordings are just the study sketch. See our full preview here.

Cloud Nothings | Wed 22 Mar | Hare & Hounds | £10
At the heart of the Cloud Nothings sound is Dylan Baldi’s aggrieved howl, and raw, no-bullshit production that reads like a love letter to Braid, Jawbreaker and the Jade Tree back-catalogue. While the band has radically changed over the years, one thing remains the same – their dedication to earnest vulnerability. See our full preview here.

Alsarah and the Nubatones | Thu 23 Mar | Hare & Hounds | £15
An eclectic mix of East African sounds with Arabic overtones and a Western sheen, Alsarah and her band transcend cultural barriers with their Nubian folk-pop. With last year’s sophomore effort ‘Manara’, the band proved themselves to be masters of a new type of fusion, dripping with confidence and control; don’t miss their first-ever Birmingham appearance. See our full preview here.

Sinkane | Thu 23 Mar | Hare & Hounds | £9.50
DFA signee Sinkane blends sub-Saharan pop with shades of garage rock, jazzy electronica and much more besides. Upbeat, lively and futuristic – and a prolific tour outfit – Sinkane give fresh credence to the idea of the ‘world music’ tag. seetickets.com

Boat to Row + Midsummer | Fri 24 Mar | The MAC | £7
There’s more to Boat to Row’s pristine, charming folk songs than first meets the eye; they’re densely textured, slow-burning numbers capped with deceptively patient melodies and an unassuming sense of grandeur. Currently one of the finest folk acts Birmingham has to offer, the band play the MAC as part of a new series of shows. With support from the raucous, fresh-faced folk-pop of Midsummer. MAC Birmingham

Ed Geater + Bear | Fri 24 Mar | Hare & Hounds | £6
Birmingham’s answer to Jamie Woon has been gaining some considerable buzz lately, with the release of his ‘Unseen’ EP last October. Moving from his acoustic roots into smoothly produced, warmly propulsive garage, Ed Geater is clearly setting his sights on bigger and better things this year. See our full preview here.

Russian Circles | Sat 25 Mar | O2 Institute | £15.50
Kings of progressive post-rock Russian Circles continue to bend, break and ignore the rules of what a simple three-person rock set-up can do. Last year’s ‘Guidance’ was no exception, a maelstrom of churning, organic riffs, creeping in unexpected directions like the crooked branches of a tree. See our full preview here.

*Sold out: Sampha | Sun 26 Mar | O2 Institute | £20.50
Enigmatic South London producer-singer Sampha has been building up a huge library of astonishing collaborative work, from SBTRKT and Jessie Ware to Kanye and Solange, making him an under-appreciated influence in contemporary, transatlantic R&B. Finally breaking out in his own right with his gorgeous, plaintive voice and a faultless ear for tight production, this is your first chance to hear new album ‘Process’ live. See our full preview here.

Devon Sproule | Sun 26 Mar | Kitchen Garden Café | £12
Devon Sproule is another of those overlooked folk-jazz gems from the Northern side of the States, creating finely woven, freewheeling songs that stick in the head and heart of those that hear them. On the road after a few years of silence, it’s the first chance to hear her new album, ‘The Gold String’. Songkick.com