Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango – live at All Saint’s Church, Highgate, on September 6

DENMARK Street’s rich musical history is well documented but, as some stores have closed in recent years and the area has been developed, Tin Pan Alley’s position as a modern cultural landmark has come into question by some. Yet, those expert music shops are still there, brimming with valuable knowledge and steeped in the folklore of the past. And, it seems, a new generation is starting to pay attention to the area, with Yungblud opening a store on the street recently and, on Saturday (Sept 6), Denmark Street Sessions, billed to be a series of live performances, exhibitions, pop ups and talks centred around music and culture in stores, bars, clubs and apartments – along the street designed to celebrate the street’s story, history and future. Taking place from 2pm, expect live performances, special appearances, a collection of flash tattoos inspired by the musical history of the street, an underground rave photography exhibition and much more. See chateaudenmark.com/denmark-street-sessions for more info

• Our reviewer Isabel Loubser braved the dustbowl conditions of All Points East to see Barry Can’t Swim and more at Victoria Park. See her review online at https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk

• You might think persuading someone to pay more than £200 for the privilege of sleeping through a concert would be a hard sell but Max Richter’s 8-hour overnight Sleep installation, which does just that, has been a cultural experience for a decade, and has been brought to Sydney Opera House, Philharmonie de Paris and The Great Wall of China over the years. Designed to be played to an audience in bed, encouraged to fall asleep, the performance moves to Ally Pally this weekend (Sept 5-6) to mark the installation’s 10 year anniversary.

• UK Banjo player Kate Griffin and multi-instrumentalist Matchume Zango from Mozambique bring their cross-cultural collaboration to All Saint’s Church, Highgate, on Sept 6. Having met at an online residency during Covid, their musical endeavours flourished as they combined their respective traditions, incorporated world rhythms and contemporary song-writing. Their set will feature Matchume’s arsenal of percussion including timbila, xitende, mbira, and congas, Kate’s banjo, and a supporting trio of Evan Carson (Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, The Drystones) on drums, Ben Evans on Bass, and Ford Collier (Mishra, The Drystones) on low whistle and guitar.

• You wouldn’t think the miserablists would have the staying power but unbelievably Feeling Gloomy, the club night devoted to sad songs turns 20 this weekend. Conceived by Carl Hill, who found his mood was lightened by listening to a song about being hit by a double decker bus – you know the one – Feeling Gloomy has attracted like-minded depressives and gloomsters for two decades, and has had stints in New York, Berlin, Glasto and attracted guest appearances from the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Brett Anderson, Matt Berry and Paddy Considine. To mark the anniversary, The Phoenix will be hosting a party with the expected sad songs and a performance from Cure tribute band The Incureables on Sept 6.

• Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ book tour’s Cat On The Road To Findout has an intriguing tagline – An evening of tales, tunes and other mysteries … He stops off at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on Sept 11, where he will be discussing his memoir and his life as well as performing a selection of unplugged performances of his songs.

• Daði Freyr is probably most familiar in the UK as Iceland’s quirky 2020 Eurovision entry for 2020, his song Think About Things was a viral hit, with over 100 million streams and hits. Since then, he’s built up an international following with his catchy tunes and synchronised dances, selling out venues across Europe and the US. Now, he is bringing his  Sensual, Seductive & Sexy Tour to Islington Assembly Hall on Sept 17-18.

Upcoming gigs

SEPT 5: Dope Lemon + Piri & Tommy, The Forum; Therapy?, 229; Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, Electric Ballroom; Rubel, Jazz Cafe; The Brummies, The Camden Club;

SEPT 6: Gemma Hayes, The Lexington; Day Fever, HERE at Outernet; Regent, The Dublin Castle; Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Garage;

SEPT 7: The Oo, The Dublin Castle; Steve Ashley, Green Note; Mariia Petrovska Live, Green Note; The Rabbits, The Water Rats; Damas Gratis & Los Mirlos, Electric Ballroom; DEVISION REDUX, The Dome;

SEPT 8: Sophie Ellis Bextor, KOKO; Blusher, The Camden Assembly;

SEPT 9: The Twang + The Jacques, 100 Club; Ash, Scala; Electric Lady + Dylan Gers, The Black Heart; TX2, The Dome;

SEPT 9-10: Ash, Scala;

SEPT 10: Sienna Spiro, KOKO; Beauty School Dropout, 100 Club;

SEPT 11: DOPE D.O.D feat DOPEY x R.A. THE RUGGED MAN, The Underworld; The Fleshtones, 100 Club; Riley Green, The Forum; SEPT 12: Don West, Jazz Cafe; Night Verses, The Dome; OsamaSon, KOKO;

SEPT 13: Bayaan, The Garage; Kerala Dust, Here at Outernet; The Frank and Walters, 229; Bayaan, The Garage; Dinosaur Pile-Up + The XERTS + Snake Eyes, Electric Ballroom; Johnny Foreigner + Cowz + The Real Jobz, The Dome;

SEPT 14: La Sonora Santanera, KOKO; Kosheen, Electric Ballroom; Parasiite + Eddie + The Minster, The Fiddler’s Elbow;

SEPT 14-15: Lowkey, Jazz Cafe;

SEPT 15: Knox, Electric Ballroom;

SEPT 17: Frankie Armstrong, Cecil Sharp House; Steven Bamidele + Madeleine + Uromi + Célia Tab, 100 Club; Seán Millar, Green Note; Aslan + Ava McKechnie, Islington Academy; Siobhan Winifred, The Garage; Poison The Well + Bodyweb & Killing Me Softly, Electric Ballroom; Ming City Rockers + No Feelings + Glitter Kick + Dave Renegade + Poorly Trained Radicals, The Dublin Castle; Col Gerrard, The Camden Club;

SEPT 18: Oliver Anthony, The Forum; Lastelle + Blight Town, The Dome; RXPTRS + The Blue Eyed Giant + Fangs Out, The Black Heart; Jasper Hodges, The Camden Assembly; Rationale, HERE at Outernet; FM, Islington Academy; Oliver Anthony Music, The Forum; Lastelle, Downstairs at The Dome; Daddy Long Legs, 100 Club; The Wild Things + Inge Lamboo, Islington Academy.