Sydney's top gigs: TLC, Deftones, Columbus, Ceres, James
COLUMBUS
Friday, November 11, Newtown Social Club, ticketscout.com
Heart-on-sleeve Brisbane rockers Columbus fly south as one of their first stops on a national tour celebrating debut album Spring Forever. Expect killer riffs, heartfelt lyrics and fist-in-the-air anthems. Head down early for a full line-up that also includes Adelaide's very excellent Horror My Friend, PLTS and Blue Velvet. Tickets available for $15.
The Deftones will play the Hordern Pavilion on November 12.
CERES
Saturday, November 12, Newtown Social Club, ticketscout.com
Melbourne punk-rockers Ceres have plenty to celebrate this year – perhaps the biggest achievement being their excellent album Drag It Down on You being released on influential US label No Sleep Records, home to bands like Touche Amore. The band launch the sophomore set at the Social Club and tickets are available for $16.
DEFTONES
Saturday, November 12, Hordern Pavilion, ticketek.com.au
The American alt-metal act have been around nearly 30 years now but have finally scored their first No. 1 album in Australia with this year's Gore. Still turning out tunes miles ahead of their peers, the band make a welcome return to the country that's been with them every step of the way. Tickets for their only Sydney show are $96.01.
JAMES
Sunday, November 13, the Metro, sold out
The Manchester rockers were best known here thanks to their '90s hit Laid, but they had several more Britpop bangers that made them a big name in the scene at the time. Then their singer Tim Booth left. Lucky for fans, the band finally make it out to Australia – better late than never, right? This one's sold out.
TLC
Tuesday and Wednesday, November 15 and 16, Enmore Theatre, ticketek.com.au
While Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes is sadly no longer with us, having died in a car accident in 2002, the remaining two members of hit girl group TLC have continued to enjoy a worldwide fan base that can't get enough of their hits including No Scrubs and Waterfalls. Limited tickets available here for $91.65.