One of our favourite local promoters f54 have a brilliant line-up of gigs in the offing over the next month or so, and here’s our pick of the bunch.

If we’re talking “must sees” for November then we’re talking Midwife aka Madeline Johnston who is known for her sparse, emotionally charged experimental pop (5 November, Cluny 2, Newcastle). We’re also talking the brilliant Cola, a very feisty post-punk outfit from Canada who have released one of the year’s finest albums in ‘Cost Of Living Adjustment’ (6 November, The Cluny, Newcastle). And you simply must check out Mykki Blanco, the American rapper, performance artist, and poet who is one of the most prominent pioneers of alt-left-field hip-hop (6 November, Zerox, Newcastle). The art-rock supergroup Bleak Squad are also in town featuring several heavyweights of the Australian alt-music scene (pictured – 14 November, Star & Shadow, Newcastle). Leeds electronic duo Turnspit also return with their captivating and unpredictable live set that flows between moments of intimacy and high-energy club intensity (19 November, The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle). Oh, and I simply must find room to mention one of my faves, Prefab Sprout’s Martin McAloon who is coming to Sunderland’s Pop Recs on 4 December. His gigs are always celebratory affairs. DP

Check out the full listings for f54 gigs at: f54.seetickets.com/search/all