Midnight Til Morning play Koko on January 14 [Billy Zammit]

IF you’re ready to come out of hibernation, we have an Aussie-Japanese pop-metal fusion outfit, an old-school acid house rave from A Guy Called Gerald, some drum ’n’ bass from General Levy, a whole month of blues from January Blues Festival, all manner of folk dancing and plenty more…

• Save on the gym fees and burn calories folk-style by heading to Cecil Sharp House where there’s a whole selection of dance events to choose from: Try Balkan dance with Ygra at Balkanplus (Jan 10 and Feb 14); A family barn dance (Jan 11); Morris Dancing (Jan 13); English Country Dancing (Jan 15); or Knees Up Cecil Sharp Ceilidh! (Jan 16). There’s also live folk music from Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham, who perform traditional and traditionally influenced contemporary songs, told through spellbinding harmonies and impressive concertina systems.

• The Maydan Ensemble, which blends modern jazz with Arabic, Anatolian and Persian folk music, plays Green Note on Jan 9.

• January Blues Festival continues throughout this month at 229 with a packed programme of gigs including King King and Little Odets (Jan 9 + 10); Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado (Jan 11); Robben Ford (Jan 14-15); Nine Below Zero (Jan 16); Vanessa Collier (Jan 17); James Hunter (Jan 19); and Ten Years After (Jan 21).

• Start the year with a high-energy set from drum ’n’ bass, jungle, ragga, reggae MC General Levy, who heads to Jazz Café tomorrow (Jan 9) along with an as-yet unannounced collective of friends. Also bringing an unannounced collection of friends, UK hip-hop artist Coops, who has performed with Nas, collaborated with Kojey Radical, Talos and Lunar C and regularly plays sold-out shows, plays Jazz Café on Jan 15.

• Relive the days of acid house when A Guy Called Gerald of 808 State and Voodoo Ray fame takes over Koko’s stage.

• The boyband lives on! American-Australian four-piece Midnight Til Morning – formed on Netflix show Building The Band – have already amassed millions of streams following the release of their first two singles. See them at Koko on Jan 14.

• Now in its 16th year, Crawdaddy continues its occupation of every third Friday at the Fiddler’s Elbow, with Gary, Lucienne and Danny, plus special guests, playing northern soul, mod, Motown, vintage R&B, Two Tone, ska and rocksteady, all on vinyl.

• Turkish rock giants Athena, founded by twin brothers Gokhan and Hakan Ozoguz and known for their adaptations of folk songs, play a rescheduled date at Electric Ballroom on Jan 16.

• Quirky Aussie Japanese pop metal trio Babybeard, formed of Australian stuntman, wrestler and performer Ladybeard and Japanese vocalists Suzu and Mahri, play Downstairs at The Dome on Jan 18.

• Irish folk group The Highstool Prophets visit Islington Academy on their first ever English tour on Jan 17.

• Another reminder to keep an eye on the Roundhouse’s incredible programme of opportunities for young people interested in the arts. There’s an intriguing one running from Jan 17-April 4 – Project rEVOLUTION with Boy Blue at Roundhouse Works gives 18- to 25-year-old hip hop and street dancers the chance to train with Boy Blue, create a new dance theatre piece, and perform on the Roundhouse stage.

More upcoming gigs

Jan 9 – Wren + Slow Mass + Outlander, The Black Heart; Jan 10 – Anti-Nowhere League + Knock-Off, 100 Club; 3 Colour Dessert + Başka + Ultraviolet + The Rackets, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Premier Jester, The Black Heart;

Jan 11 – The Wolfgang Press, Pozi, Terse Affection, The Lexington;

Jan 13 – ARTMS, The Forum;

Jan 14 – Madmans Esprit, The Underworld; Infertile Crabs + Dan Spanner Trio + Fever Dreams Collective + DJ Joei Supernova, The Dublin Castle;

Jan 15 – ANNISOKAY, The Garage; A Night to Remember ft Olivia Chaney, Joe Webb, 2Fox, Festival Voices, Ristband, King’s Place; Limbonauts, The Water Rats; Annisokay, The Garage; Candidate, Green Note;

Jan 16 – Superheaven, The Forum; Maya Jane Coles, KOKO;

Jan 17 – Roda Dhakar, 100 Club; The Wonder Years, The Forum;

Jan 18 – Queen Horizon + Daioni + The Sick Fix + Soundcheck In The Alley + Lonesome Boy, The Dublin Castle;

Jan 21 – Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, The Dome; Postcode, The Camden Club;

Jan 22 – The Hara, Camden Assembly; Johnnie Guilbert, The Garage; Arc De Soleil, Roundhouse;

Jan 15 – Xecê, Islington Assembly Hall.