If the ongoing frustrations of the Olympic tickets website are getting you down, why not book for a gig or two instead? Here's the pick of the bunch on sale this Friday, from 9am:
Ritzy Bryan and the rest of charismatic Welsh alt-rockers The Joy Formidable have announced a tiny warm-up date in advance of their appearance at Reading Festival. See them at The Lexington on 21 August. Tickets £15 + bf.
Remember Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong? After a flurry of press attention, the Razorlight-esque group split in 2009. From their ashes has emerged Toy, all synths, guitars and studied indifference. Taste their sound at Heaven on 24 October. Tickets £10 + bf.
It's that time again – 2manydjs have announced their annual Soulwaxmas show at O2 Academy Brixton on 21 December. Tickets £27.50 + bf.
Also playing the famous south London venue is former Guns 'n' Roses legend Slash, who these days is infinitely more entertaining than Axl Rose and co. See him on 11 October. Tickets £35 + bf.
Finally, you can see US indie-folkers The Low Anthem when they bring their melancholic sound and unusual instruments to Bush Hall on 29 August. Tickets £15 + bf.
Also booking this week: another January date for Alt-J, Spector, Alabama 3 and Savages.
