Camille O’Sullivan is at Union Chapel on November 18

BACK in 2014, the Barbican notoriously had to cancel its Just Jam event featuring the likes of JME, Big Narstie and Omar Souleyman – after City of London Police raised public order concerns.
At the time, there were rumbles that this was overzealous policing, focusing particularly on urban music, confirming the force’s institutional prejudices.

Nearly a decade later and the same issues persist – this time highlighted in an incredible show by HighRise Entertainment: The UK Drill Project. Performing at the Barbican, the talented seven-person cast skilfully unravel the police’s approach to interpreting drill lyrics as evidence to secure convictions through the tale of one young drill artist’s journey through the criminal justice system.

Powerful, thought-provoking, witty and clever, particularly notable for its aptly grotesque portrayal of politicians and their empty gestures, their deconstruction of the police drill lyrics interpretation form, each individual musical performance and the most haunting rendition of Amazing Grace I have ever heard. Sold out in no time, hopefully Barbican will give this an extended run next time.

• If you have seen a Camille O’Sullivan show you leave in no doubt she has poured every last drop of her being into every performance. Interpreting songs from the likes of Jaques Brel, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and David Bowie, Camille captivates in a way that must be experienced first-hand. See her at Union Chapel on Nov 18.

• Glasvegas have a knack for crafting lyrics that cut to the bone. See them live at Powerhaus on Nov 26.

• If a Wet Leg hook hasn’t crawled its way into your brain by now, where have you been hiding? Naturally their two Kentish Town Forum shows on Nov 23-24 are sold out but there’s always a chance some will appear on resale.

• Photographer Chris Floyd, who rose to prominence during the heights of Britpop and has photographed the likes of Paul McCartney, Tina Fey, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Iggy Pop and countless others, talks of the stories he captures and creates at Café Koko on Nov 23, followed by a Q&A, DJ and signing.

• Three slightly out of area gigs to highlight: Jamie T plays Ally Pally on Nov 18; Christine and the Queens presents his new persona Redcar at Royal Festival Hall on Nov 22 and Camden’s own postcode pop stars N-Dubz make their grand return with four nights at the 02 (Nov 17, 23, 24 and Dec 6).

• Slippers time at Cecil Sharp House on Nov 27 for another edition of Sunday Papers Live – bringing the newspapers to life with a day of culture, music, talks and food.

• Step out of the chaos and into an old-style jazz club at QT, under Covent Garden’s Middle Eight hotel where saxophonist Leo Green and his band have taken up residency. Green, who has played with Van Morrison and Jack Savoretti – and was dubbed by the late Jerry Lee Lewis as the greatest sax player he’d ever worked with – plays every Thursday to Saturday, while the venue also has live R&B and soul, West End / Musical Theatre live performances.

More upcoming gigs:

Nov 18 – Stanleys, The Old Blue Last; Mulimba, Camden Assembly; Black Sherif, Koko; Deux Furieuses album launch + Hurtling + Where We Sleep, The Lexington; Lady Blackbird, Barbican; Makaya McCraven, Islington Assembly Hall

Nov 19 – Kris Drever, Cecil Sharp House; Jitwam, Jazz Café; SOHN + Liam Mour, Electric Ballroom; John + DITZ, The Dome; Red Rum Club, The Garage; Deaf School, 100 Club

Nov 20 – Heather Nova, PowerHaus; CKay, Koko; Lizzy And The Banshees, The Lexington; Nduduzo Makhathini, Jazz Café; Miami Horror + Fake Turins, Islington Academy; The Staves, Barbican

Nov 21 – Zoe Wees, Lafayette; Castanights: An evening of flamenco fever, Jazz Café; Laura Eidi, Green Note

Nov 22 – Sega Bodega, Koko; Newtown Neurotics + Atilla The Stockbroker, The Lexington; Iyanya, Jazz Café; Brooke Annibale + Will Heggadon, Grace

Nov 23 – Lucy Farrell and Andrew Waite, Cecil Sharp House; Sudan Archives, Koko; Thea Gilmore, Kings Place; Ozric Tentacles + Gong, Electric Ballroom

Nov 24 – UPSAHL, PowerHaus; Jay Electronica, Jazz Café; Young Guns Islington Academy; Nothing, nowhere + guccihighwaters + sadeyes, Electric Ballroom; Hugh Cornwell Moments of Madness Tour, Islington Assembly Hall

Nov 24 + 25 – Nov 25 – Tamino, Koko; Judi Jackson, Lafayette; Nov 26 – Katie Spencer, The Slaughtered Lamb; Mary Gauthier + Jaimee Harris, Union Chapel; Dub Pistols, Lafayette; KRS-ONE, KOKO; Man The Lifeboats, The Lexington; Wayne Snow, Jazz Café; Jim Bob, Islington Assembly Hall

Nov 27 – Adnan Joubran, Lafayette; Nada Surf, The Garage; William Doyle, Kings Place

Nov 28 – Charlie Puth, London Coliseum; Prima Queen + Tapir!, The Lexington; Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jazz Café; Molly Hatchet, 100 Club

Nov 28 + 29 – K-Trap, Koko

Nov 30 – Pale Waves + Abby Roberts, The Forum; Emperor Penguin, Hope & Anchor; Songs My Mother Taught Me, Union Chapel; Swim Deep, The Garage; CMAT, Islington Assembly Hall; Osaka Monaurail, 100 Club

Dec 1 – Synsy, Camden Assembly; Big Country, PowerHaus; Yard Act, The Forum; House Gospel Choir, Koko; GUN, Islington Academy; Badflower + Dead Poet Society, Electric Ballroom.