Necronomidal | Tue 5 Jun | Hare & Hounds | £11
The bizarre phenomenon of Japanese pop idol lands in Birmingham for the first time with The Black Winds Over Albion tour featuring three manufactured bands headlined by the cute dark wave bubblegum metal of Necronomidal. The female five piece from Kōenji in Tokyo look like they have stepped directly from the blackest of Manga books. The babymetal punks Screaming Sixties and solo J-Popper Double And complete the bill.  www.skiddle.com

Himalayas | Wed 6 Jun | Sunflower Lounge | £6.60
The hard edged Welsh indie rockers Himalayas have scored a support slot with The Kaiser Chiefs and The Cribs this weekend in the big smoke which gives you a sharp clue as to their musical heritage, last years Thank God I’m Not You single blew us away with its tight grunged up indie flair. Catch them warming up at The Sunflower Lounge this Wednesday with Reading roclers Valeras. seetickets.com

Wrapped In Plastic | Thu 7 Jun | Flapper | £5
With The Flapper’s days sadly numbered it’s absolutely incumbent on all of the city’s live music fans to celebrate what has been such an eclectically wonderful venue whilst they still can, it’s a tragedy that such an iconic venue is being swept aside. Local degenerates Wrapped In Plastic will certainly be lobbing the aural V’s at progress nobody wants with their NIN/Ministry like brand of jackhammer riffs and cultural iconoclasm. Support comes from the gritty synth rock duo Def Neon who produce caustic pop melodies that recall the early days of Human League layered with serating riffs, a great bill is completed by Liars At The Witch Trial. www.wrappedinplastic.org

The Mouse Outfit | Fri 8 Jun | Hare & Hounds | £11
Come and lose yourself in the languid grooves of hip hop beat masters the The Mouse Outfit. Chini, Pitch and Defty form the core of the Manchester based nine piece band whose output is both prolific and cutting edge. Debut album ‘Escape Music’ won Wordplay Magazine’s hip hop album of the year award in 2013. 2015’s ‘Step Steadier’ saw more experimental and harder influences stretch the laid back Mouse Outfit sound. Check out our full preview here.

Bloodhound | Sat 9 Jun | Castle & Falcon | £6.60
It’s loud up north, just ask Bloodhound as the Hull trio (all the best bands are threesomes) come steamrolling into Birmingham on a wave of pile driving noise torn from the soul of QOTSA and Royal Blood, its heady stuff and we can sniff the Sabs in their too. You get another three bands for your power chord buck with MARC, Klasside and Minefield all appearing too. www.seetickets.com

Palm | Sun 10 Jun | Hare & Hounds | £8
Formed in New York in 2011 the rhythmically eccentric art rockers Palm have been making their own peculiar musical waves ever since. Latest album Rock Island, only the band’s second, you can’t rush greatness, sees Palm fine tune their engaging musical deconstruction that somehow manages to engender perfection in its sweet chaos. Stay calm and let Palm take you on a journey of discovery awash with charming sonic insouciance, begin by supping Dog Milk here. www.skiddle.com

Nouvelle Vague | Mon 11 Jun | Town Hall | £31
The French art poseurs have cornered the market in sophisticated swinging cover versions of iconic alternative tunes, there’s a beautiful gallic flair about Nouvelle Vague and live they are an absolutely charming delight. The unique and reverential approach of Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux’s project to the post-punk canon has lent a whole new exquisite bent to some untouchable songs, Nouvelle Vague’s wonderfully lilting version of Love Will Tear Us Apart is unforgettable. www.thsh.co.uk