Music around MK: your guide to the week ahead

Popa ChubbyThe Stables, January 20Popa is a product of the streets of New York City, and cut his teeth on the hard edged urban sounds of the Big Apple. But he also knows that you have to make your own name, and that is exactly what this “post-modern Muddy Waters” (nice words from The New York Times) set out to do.He defines independence and defies genre, and he’s been playing it that way for the past quarter of a century.He is a singer, a songwriter and a guitar stylist with passions that run deep and shine bright.Listen to his current opus, The Catfish, for proof – it’s regal and delicious, and all-encompassing, from the jazz inspired Wes Is More to the hardcore flavoured Motorhead Saved My Life, as Popa tells the story of how Lemmy gave a young man identity and meaning. As it transpires Popa knows how to rock well too. Lemmy would love it.www.stables.org

EstronsBedford Esquires, January 21Welsh noiseniks Estrons and their ferocious brand of indie rock will be making their debut at the venue for Independent Venue Week. Often compared to Honeyblood or Wolf Alice at their most feral, Estrons (which is Welsh for “aliens”) spent 2016 touring with Slaves and playing the SxSX festival in Austin.www.seetickets.com

Lisbee StaintonCranfield Arms Bar, January 20Cultured folk-pop comes to play for the Forest Folk and Roots promotion this week, with the arrival of Lisbee Stainton.The English Rose with the eight-string guitar knows a few things about this music making malarkey – and began writing her own songs at just nine years of age.www.wegottickets.com

The SherlocksThe Craufurd ArmsMarch 10 These chaps were the first unsigned band since Arctic Monkeys to sell out their local venue the Sheffield Leadmill. The Sherlocks have drawn obvious comparisons from their influencers but this is a band with unquenchable ambition wanting to create their own sound.www..thecraufurdarms.com

Tom PaxtonThe Stables, January 19Tom’s music career has lasted 50 years, and counting. Along the way, he has recorded plenty of enduring songs and played thousands of live gigs around the world. His contribution was rewarded in 2009 when he was the recipient of a Grammy Award.www.stables.org

Chas & DaveMK TheatreFebruary 19 Chas & Dave are great musicians and know how to give an audience a good time. They have gained a cult audience of both young and old and due to public demand are about to be seen together on stage once more. We’re first in the queue for the awesome duo. They are a British institution!www.atgtickets.com

Amber ArcadesBedford Esquires, January 23Amber Arcades released their debut album Fading Light in June 2016 on the achingly hip Heavenly record label to universal acclaim. A shimmering mix of shoegaze, dream pop melodies and electronica, it took its influences from bands like Cocteau Twins, Beach House and Stereolab. www.seetickets.com