Got a spare night this week and want to try something new? Here’s our hand-picked selection of shows happening in London, New York and Los Angeles to point you in the right direction (including a free one for each, so no excuses)! And if you can’t make it, or the concerts aren’t in your area, make sure you add the artists to your Tracker pronto so you can catch them next time they’re in your town.

Here are this week’s Ones To Track:

LONDON

Tom Williams & The Boat / Jazz Café / 8 February / £10

After a year saturated with nu-folk success stories, it was always going to take something special to push the genre into new space in 2012. Tom Williams & The Boat do just that, attaching their own gritty edge to the charming foundations laid down by Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling. Tom & co. play the Camden Jazz Café on Wednesday, topping an impressive bill that includes Fictions and Two Wounded Birds.

Tom Williams & The Boat – Concentrate by Mud Hut Digital

Balam Acab / Rough Trade East / 7 February / FREE

The hugely talented Balam Acab takes a brief time-out from the Tri-Angle Records tour to play a free DJ set at Rough Trade East on Tuesday. Debut album ‘Wander/Wonder’ was released last year to huge critical acclaim; the delicate, ethereal and shimmering sound is instantly comparable to league leaders Four Tet and Aphex Twin. If you’re looking to improve your week with an out-of-body experience, this is the (free!) ticket.

  Balam Acab- Oh, Why by homoheadphonico

NEW YORK

Ski Lodge / Spike Hill / 10 February / $7 

This Friday sees indie-pop new boys Ski Lodge grace the stage at Brooklyn’s Spike Hill. Lead track ‘A Game’ was a blog sensation late last year, and with further success on the cards for 2012 (and at just $5 a ticket) you’d be crazy to miss this one.

 A Game by Ski Lodge

Cate Le Bon / Other Music / 6 February / FREE 

Fresh from the release of her second album, Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon will play a free show tonight (Monday) at Other Music. The new record is full to the brim with blurting guitar, uplifting harmonies and irresistible rolling drum beats. What a way to start the week.

Cate Le Bon – Eyes So Bright by The Camden Crawl

LOS ANGELES

Com Truise / Echoplex / 7 February / $15

Music fans of Los Angeles, head down to Echoplex on Tuesday for a chillwave masterclass. The fantastically named Com Truise blends nostalgic synth melodies with larger-than-life 80s percussion that even New Order would be proud of. Check out ‘Fairlight’ below for a taster. Support comes from Teengirl Fantasy – also one to watch.

 Fairlight by Com Truise

Lana Del Rey / Amoeba Music / 7 February / FREE

With the hugely anticipated debut album ‘Born To Die’ now out in the open it’s back down to business for New York starlet Lana Del Rey. The singer-songwriter will be looking to bury the controversy of the last few weeks with a knock-out show at Amoeba Music on Sunset Boulevard. Entry is free, but you’d be best advised to get down there very early – queuing starts at 4pm!

Lana Del Rey – Video Games by Interscope Records

Got a spare night this week and want to try something new? We’ve sifted through the shows happening in London, New York and Los Angeles to point you in the right direction (including a free one for each, so no excuses)! And if you can’t make it, or the concerts aren’t in your area, make sure you add the artists to your Tracker pronto so you can catch them next time they’re in your town.

Here are this week’s Ones To Track:

LONDON

Azari & III / Heaven / 2 Feb

House revolutionaries Azari & III bring their cool, clinical and limitlessly moreish sound to London’s Heaven on Thursday night. The Toronto quartet are formed of two ‘machine-men’ and two vocalists, whose stage presence is worth the ticket-price alone. If you’re looking to start the weekend early, look no further.
Manic by Azari & III
 
 
 

Django Django / Rough Trade East / 1 Feb

Their self-titled debut album is already likely to be a front runner for the best of lists for 2012, so don’t miss out on a chance to catch the band play this intimate venue for free before everyone and their brother catches on. Check out single ‘Default’ for a taster of their unique sound:
Django Django – Default by Django Django
 
 
 

NEW YORK

Blouse / 285 Kent Ave / 31 Jan

Portland trio Blouse bring their dreamy pop sound to New York tonight. They named themselves after an ad in a dry cleaners. This probably won’t affect your decision to see them, but it’s a interesting random fact nonetheless. This however, might do the trick:
 Into Black by BLOUSE
 
 
 

Nicolas Jaar / Moma PS1 / 5 Feb

Free shows don’t come much more exciting than this. Electronic music producer Nicolas Jaar was one of the most intriguing names to emerge from the electronic music scene in 2011 and this Sunday, the guys at Pitchfork present ‘From Scratch’ at MOMA PS1 which will see a unique “multidisciplinary” collaboration between him and fellow artists, film-makers and DJs from New York.
 Nicolas Jaar – Colomb by CircusCompany
 
 
 

LOS ANGELES

Gotye / El Rey Theatre / 2 Feb

Los Angeles welcomes Gotye to the El Rey Theatre this week for a dose of the Australian’s deliciously catchy alt-pop. Gotye’s latest album ‘Making Mirrors’ flew straight to the top of the charts down-under, and if you’ve yet to fall in love with lead single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, it only takes one listen.
 
 
 

Rituals / Central Social Aid / 30 Jan

Rituals will be gracing the Central Social Aid & Pleasure Club with a free show on Monday. Their experimental sound is as serene as it is intense; don’t miss a chance to discover how their latest EP ‘Ice Blocks’ translates to the live stage.
 Spinning Out of Control by Rituals