Forest Claudette plays The Grace

THE art of the songwriter will be celebrated at a stellar music charity event at London Palladium on May 20. Elton John’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, Tom Odell, Gabriels, Celeste, KAMILLE, Max Richter and film and TV composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, known for his theme for White Lotus are among the many names due to take the stage for The Other Songs Live to raise money for three music charities, while the event will also include on-stage interviews offering an insight into the songwriting process.

• As if that wasn’t enough excitement, the one and only Barry Manilow is due to play his last London concerts with a 14-night residency (May 23 and June 9) at London Palladium. He says he chose to play the shows, entitled The Last London Concerts, at the Palladium as it was where he began his love affair with the British public in 1978.

• Rising Australian-American alt-R&B artist Forest Claudette plays The Grace on May 23. Their interpretation of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ track Can’t Stop is fresh, while new EP Jupiter is deliciously chill.

• Three-time Blues Music Award nominees The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, led by premier finger-picker Rev Peyton, stops off at The Dome on May 17.

• Expect the streets to look a little more Camden-y this weekend as the 13th edition of sludge, stoner rock and doom metal festival Desertfest returns (May 17-19). Playing across six venues, the festival features the likes of Suicidal Tendencies, Ozric Tentacles, Masters of Reality, Cancer Bats and many more.

• The work of the late visionary cellist Arthur Russell will be brought to life by a line-up of talented artists in Travels Over Feeling: The Music of Arthur Russell, at Barbican on May 25. Christine and the Queens, Kate Le Bon, Loraine James, Nabihah Iqbal and many more will join Speakers Corner Quartet, which will serve as “house band” for the night, accompanied by cellist Lucinda Chua, who will recreate part of Russell’s signature sound.

• A quick mention of some kickass gigs – IYAMAH, Lafayette (May 21); Gurriers, The Blue Basement, Third Man Records (May 24); Amyl and the Sniffers + Upchuck, Scala (May 27); Hinds, The Lower Third (May 27-28); and Jane’s Addiction (May 27 + 29).

• Celebrate the 80th birthday of Motown’s Gladys Knight with an all-star band fronted by New Orleans Soul vocalist Acantha Lang at The Forge on May 28.

More upcoming gigs

May 17 – Katherine Priddy, Union Chapel; James Anderson’s Curious Feet, Muddy Puddle;

May 17-18 – Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers, The Forge;

May 18 – Grey Daze, The Garage; Tarabband, Jazz Cafe;

May 19 – Darren Keily, Lafayette; Jack Badcock, Green Note;

May 22 – John Douglas, Green Note; The Mountain Goats, Roundhouse; His Lordship, The Dome; J Bernardt, The Social; Wesley Stace, The Green Note;

May 23 – Celebrate House Music Classics With Live Band in London Dingwalls; Lucy Spraggan, The Forum; Friday Pilots Club, Islington Academy; Highschool, The Dome; The Magic Gang, Roundhouse; Abbie McCarthy’s Good Karma Club, The Grace; Nina Nesbitt, Camden Assembly;

May 24 – The Prisoners + Inspiral Carpets, Roundhouse; Arab Strap, Koko; Bruce Dickinson, The Forum; Arrested Development, Islington Assembly Hall; Barry Adamson, Jazz Cafe;

May 24-25 – Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Forge;

May 25 – FM, Dingwalls; Club de Fromage Daytime Party (over 30s), Scala;

May 25 + June 8 – Gary Numan, Roundhouse;

May 26 – Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, Water Rats; Pet Shop Boys, Koko;

May 27 – Lady Wray, Jazz Cafe;

May 28 – The Beatnuts, Jazz Cafe; Girl With No Face, Koko; Robin Trower, Islington Assembly Hall;

May 29 – Teenage Dads, Islington Academy; Kamaal Williams + friends, Jazz Cafe;

May 30 – Wolfgang Valbrun, The Forge; Pete Philly & Perquisite, Camden Assembly.