The Guide offers a critical view of what's hot for the following week.

Marlena Shaw, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, Friday, April 14
A woman of the ghetto she may be but Marlena Shaw is still a queen of soul. With performances which blur the lines between jazz, soul, rock, pop and R&B and an extroverted stage presence, she is best known for the glorious summertime tune California Soul (recently poached by a poultry-related fast food company). She was also the voice behind such monster songs as Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and Remember Me. A true original, whose sound is soulful, swinging and versatile, Marlena honed her trade in the clubs of Sixties New York. A chance to see a true master at work. Starts 7.30pm, tickets cost £15. Call 01424 229111.

Jose Gonzalez, Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, Thurs, April 20
Brightonians love Jose. And he seems to love us, for this is the Swedish singer-guitarist's second gig in just over two months. The bigger venue of The Dome should provide a more suitable setting than the Concorde 2, where he played in February, as viewing was a bit restricted (although that didn't stop the crowd throwing bouncy balls at the appropriate time, in honour of THAT advert). Jose's music is a mix of bossa nova, flamenco and classical, influenced by the likes of Joy Division and The Beatles, as well as the traditional folk favoured by his Argentinean dad. Starts 7.30pm, tickets cost £14. Call 01273 709709.

Bunty Vs Chickens, Cella at the Sanctuary Cafe, Hove, Thurs, April 20
This duo is a mix of beatboxing and haunting vocals. A large portion of their show is improvised and as their entire set is created entirely by vocals and voice-sounds you can be sure an original night out awaits. Danny Lawda and Kassia Zermon met at music college in 2001 and have been performing together in a range of guises ever since. Their aim is to "take the audience on a musical journey" using their experiences of worldwide travel and performance as inspiration. Support comes in the form of psych-folk visionaries Goon. Starts 8pm, tickets cost £4/£3. Call 01273 770006.