by Marc Mullen A LEGEND before he was out of his teens, Alec Empire plays Dingwalls Camden Lock next Wednesday. A genuine musical revolutionary, after fronting the avant garde noise-punk outfit Atari Teenage Riot, he became an electronic music experimentalist, at one po

A LEGEND before he was out of his teens, Alec Empire plays Dingwalls Camden Lock next Wednesday.

A genuine musical revolutionary, after fronting the avant garde noise-punk outfit Atari Teenage Riot, he became an electronic music experimentalist, at one point making a track on a Gameboy.

As a remixer, he has worked with artists as diverse as blues legend R.L. Burnside, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, Bjork, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Slayer and Einsturzende Neubauten.

So in short, expect the unexpected. Tickets are £14.

Bristol-born Fink aka Finian Greenhall has turned from that staple of the west country - trip-hop - to a folkie in less than a decade.

Having released a pair of EPs, Finkfunk and Front Side Blunt Side on Ninja Tune, then LP Fresh Produce in 2000, he picked up his guitar again in 2006 and released the acoustic-based Biscuits For Breakfast, completing his transformation from electronica artist into a full-fledged singer/songwriter.

Fink plays Dingwalls next Thursday. Tickets are £10.

On Saturday March 8, the Luminaire on Kilburn High Road is having a nu-Madchester (is that a genre yet?) night.

Manc three-piece The Longcut headline and will unleash material from their forthcoming long-player.

Exciting and energetic live, The Longcut will be ably supported by Anglo-German outfit Kaputt... , featuring former Go! Team member Silke on vocals.

Great things are expected of the Pixie-esque outfit.

Post-punkers The Vanguard make their London debut and there will be DJs, possibly playing some old Madchester tunes.

Tickets are £8 in advance.

On Thursday March 13, Kid Harpoon plays Dingwalls. His songwriting is something laced with powerful, dream-like imagery - rivers, roses, devils - but don't let that put you off.

Playing his guitar like an extra limb, darting around the stage with an elfin charm and real urgency, his music is utterly compelling live.

Tickets are £7.50 in advance.

On the same night, the Luminaire host post-punk musical terrorists Art Brut.

Fronted by former postman Eddie Argos, expect a first-class delivery of material from their recently released second album - It's A Bit Complicated - which saw the band grow up just a little.

As Mr Argos put it: "The album is more if the same, but better. We've got a sense of humour, but we're not a joke."

Tickets are £10 in advance.