London

As nature begins to bloom so the music world awakens, hatching new albums by many of the more interesting ‘big guns’. We’ve already had U2’s rocking ‘No Line on the Horizon’, and March also sees the arrival of a bright shiny pop album called ‘Yes’ from the Pet Shop Boys, while lovers of husky, bluesy rock-pop are holding out for ‘Kingdom of Rust’, the first studio album from Manchester’s Doves in four years, out April 6. The same day will see the latest rollicking indie punk offering from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, ‘It’s Blitz!', and Eminem’s hotly anticipated new album “Relapse’ is also due for spring.

But in more select circles, it’s 2007 Mercury Prize nominee Bat for Lashes who makes the most welcome return. Known to her mum as Natasha Khan, the Brighton flower child will enchant us all over again with the catchy, otherworldly pop of her second album, ‘Two Suns’ (out April 6). Check Khan when she dons her feather headband and body paint at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, April 17 and 19.

PJ Harvey and John Parish (above) are back with their own second offering, ‘A Woman A Man Walked By’, and perform its mischievous, sinister blues at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, April 20 and 21. But even with the return of such critic’s pets, it’s psych-pop alchemists Animal Collective who are odds on to win every Album of the Year gong for ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’.

Other seasonal picks include indie-soul girl Florence Welch, whose band Florence and the Machine plays the Bloomsbury Ballroom on May 27 and 28, and Heaven on April 23, when spunky US punk-pop dudes The Virgins headline. Here you will see fresh-faced young pups bounding around. And that’s what spring is all about.

Picture credit: © Maria Mochnacz

Alexis Taylor © Charlie and Bevis Martin

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Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip recommends John Pearse, tailor (6 Meard St, W1F 0EG, 020 7434 0738), who has been making suits for rock stars for 30 years. ‘He made the suit for my wedding.’

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HOT LIST DOWNLOADS Visit blackberry.co.uk/hotlist to download our essential spring music and nightlife recommendations to your BlackBerry.

Essential music and related events for those in the know

Red Stripe Music Award 09

Various venues, March 12 and 20; April 18
Sessions showcase the annual award for young bands.
www.redstripe.net

Simply Madonna

Old Truman Brewery, until March 22
Madge’s collected ephemera, including a wedding dress from the ‘Like a Virgin’ tour.
www.marqueecapital.com

Various venues, April 1 to 5
Indulge in rock ’n’ roll behaviour, as the growing burlesque scene celebrates with a raunchy mix of variety, striptease and music. www.londonburlesquefest.com

Tate Britain, until April 26
A hip hop-meets-jazz free audio tour by young artists, MC Soweto Kinch and sculptor Nick Hornby. www.tate.org.uk/youngtate

Proud Galleries, Camden, until May 31 (free)
We’re used to seeing beautiful black and white photographs of the Stones, Hendrix etc; now salute the iconic images by Philip Morris of legends AC/DC in their earliest days.
www.proud.co.uk

Use your BlackBerry
Don’t miss out on the best night out ever. Use your BlackBerry smartphone to keep in touch with friends by text or email. Of course, you can change arrangements on the go with the Yahoo!, Windows Live, AIM or Facebook for BlackBerry applications. Need help finding where you need to be? Don’t forget BlackBerry can get you there with its built-in GPS.

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