Fraser T Smith plays The Roundhouse [Cicely]

THE Forge in Delancey Street was such a vibrant venue, attracting incredible musicians from across the globe, where the Cuban beats brought out the fancy footwork and some snappy dressers and people of all ages happily asked each other to dance. So, it was sad to hear of its closure in 2017. But now it’s back and we’re receiving the kind of listings that promise it may be returning to its much-loved culture, plus some exciting new names to come. Look out for Brit-Funk Association featuring former members of Beggar & Co + Hi-Tension + Light of the World + Incognito + Snowboy DJ (Mar 24-25), Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory (Mar 30); Incredible Ukrainian jazz harpist Alina Bzhezhinska’s Alina HipHarp Collective ft Tony Kofi, combining original works and covers to pay homage to some of jazz, funk and hip-hop’s greatest innovators (April 3) and, in May, two nights from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals (May 9-10) plus plenty more to come – including Sun Ra Arkestra ft Marshall Allen, member since 1958 (Aug 10-11)!

• The massive live band singalong phenomenon Massaoke is back at Electric Ballroom for four dates starting on Mar 24 – expect hairbrush anthems, a live band of spandex-clad rock stars confetti, guitar solos and plenty more.

• Multi award-winning producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T Smith aka Future Utopia introduces debut solo album 12 Questions featuring the likes of Stromzy, Dave Kano, Ghetts, Bastille Idris Elb and more to the Roundhouse on Mar 24 to coincide with the release of We Were We Still Are, the lead single from his forthcoming EP of the same name ft Kae Tempest.

• Nice to see Camden fave Beans on Toast back in north London after playing way too many dates daahn in Clapham – see him at Lafayette on Mar 25. Catch another Camden fixture in King’s Cross on Mar 27 as Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall bring new project The Waeve to Lafayette. Also coming up The Go! Team (Mar 30-31) and Bartees Strange (April 4).

• Long-serving Jamaican roots reggae band The Abyssinians play Jazz Café on Mar 28-29, then, on Mar 31 jazz pianist Sultan Stevenson launches his debut album Faithful One at Favourite Things, the JC’s rising jazz talent showcase plus support from Oreglo and GW Jazz. And for the hip-hop heads out there – D.C producer and multi-instrumentalist Damu The Fudgemunk joins Raw Poetic and Patick Fritz on April 1 and, for three nights (April 4-6), Detroit rap collective Slum Village headline.

• Stamford Hill Mobo-nominated rapper Clavish plays two nights at Islington Academy on Mar 28-29 and quirky 90s indie outfit Space bring their Spiders and Tin Planet 25th Anniversary tour to the Academy, playing both albums in full for the very first time on Mar 31.

• MF Tomlinson plays new album We Are Still Wild Horses plus some oldies at The Lexington on Mar 30.

• More upcoming gigs:

Mar 24 – W.A.S.P. – 40 Years Live + South of Salem, Roundhouse;
Mar 24-25 – Marc Cohn, Union Chapel;
Mar 25 – Stiff Little Fingers, Roundhouse;
Mar 25-26 – Peven Everett, Jazz Café;
Mar 26 – Nneka, Islington Assembly Hall; Mar 27 – Eels + The Inspector Cluzo, Roundhouse; Lakecia Benjamin, Jazz Café;
Mar 28 – Death Cab For Cutie, Roundhouse; Chris Shiflett + Dea Matrona, Scala;
Mar 29 – Charlotte Dos Santos, Islington Assembly Hall;
Mar 30 – Bloodywood + Lake Malice, Electric Ballroom; RY X + London Philharmonic, Roundhouse; Couch, Jazz Café; The Luka State, Camden Assembly; Mozart Estate, Boston Music Room;
Mar 31 – Rainbow Kitten Surprise + Daisy Brain, Roundhouse; Emiliana Torrini & The Colorist Orchestra, Union Chape; Silky, The Forum;
April 1 – Dubmorphology X Gaika; Iceage, Islington Assembly Hall; Steve Hillage band + The Utopia Strong, The Forum;
April 3 – Chris Elliott and Caitlin Jones, Green Note; Dardust, Islington Academy; April 4 – Badly Drawn Boy, Ally Pally;
April 5 – PVA + Jessica Winter + Birthday Girl + Lynks, Scala; Kyoto Kyoto + Butch Cassidy + Red Mar, The Lexington; Dom Martin, Water Rats;
April 6 – Wunderhorse, Electric Ballroom; Dr Feelgood, PowerHaus.