Everything Everything. Brixton Academy. Friday 20th November 2015.

"You know when they say you've made it? Well, tonight, I think we made it!" announced Everything Everything lead singer Jonathan Higgs during their euphoric encore. On Friday evening, Everything Everything elevated themselves into the stratosphere. This was their first ever headline show at the Brixton Academy, and they totally pulled it off.

Most impressive was the feature of audience participation, from a mixed demographic of fascinated shouty youngsters to ageing rockers. This is the key to Everything Everything's success. The cryptic lyrics are instantly memorable. You don't tend to forget "Gorilla, limb, swipe and beat!" or "Yeah, so, um, wait a second!" The poppy uplifting Spring, Sun, Winter, Dread from the latest record also has the wonderful Peter Pan-like words: "I don't want to get older, no way!"

Higgs' lyrics are mostly riddles with bleak undertones, yet riddles with bleak undertones that you can sing to a sell out London crowd. It remains utterly unique. The lighting is fairly drastic too; at times there a huge silhouettes on the wall behind them, at other times they are suddenly cast aglow all in red.

The set comprised songs from their current album Get To Heaven, alongside a selection of tunes from their previous two records; Arc, and their critically acclaimed debut Man Alive. This was in effect a "Greatest Hits" show, with an emphasis on the more recent. For example, there was a back to back double header of Get to Heaven album tracks Fortune 500 and The Wheel; both performed with such gusto.

This show had bag fulls of energy. Bass player Jeremy Pritchard and guitarist Alex Robertshaw remain fairly still in equal positions either side of Higgs, who catches the eye by darting across the stage to sing to various parts of the audience. Wearing a sweeping quiff from left to right -almost akin to the hair of Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls - and a striking grey tunic - almost akin to an office cleaner - one can't help think this is where he got the inspiration. A few years ago the band took to wearing boiler suits onstage, again the theme a little unclear.

Ultimately, it didn't matter. The set was a stunner in terms of power and dance-ability, reaching a peak for the finale. The encore of My Kz, Ur Bf, No Reptiles and the final track Distant Past caused chaos in the standing section, with people, drinks, clothes, limbs, everything (everything) flying everywhere in delight. Yes Jonathan, you've made it.

Joanna Newsom. Eventim Apollo. Monday 9th November 2015.

From the first harp note to the last, Joanna Newsom performed a stellar set at the Eventim Apollo on this November evening.

Newsom was backed here by a terrific interchanging three piece band, including her older brother Peter on drums. It helped add to the closeness of the gig. This felt like Joanna letting you in to watch her play in the front room of her house. Early into the gig she asked if someone backstage could shine a bigger, bolder, brighter light onto her harp strings; the stage almost being too intimate and close.

The set featured a number of tracks from the latest album, Divers, alongside older well-received songs like Soft as Chalk and Emily. Highlights of the evening included a stunning performance of the title track from the last album Have One On Me; a song rising and falling in beats, vocals and time signatures. This theme continues on the latest record with Sapokanikan; a woozy tale of the lost artists' district in Washington. Nods of appreciation must also go to the upbeat keyboard-led Goose Eggs and the repetitive harp pattering rhythms of Time, As A Symptom.

There was a minor hiccup when Joanna forgot a line in the middle of Have One On Me, explaining afterwards with a smile that "there's always one old song that catches me out, sorry!" Her humility and joyfulness met by thunderous applause throughout the show.

The encore of Baby Birch and Peach, Plum, Pear was greeted with sheer delight from the enthusiastic audience. The delicacy of the performance, the intricacies of the notes and the depth of the lyrics held the crowd in rapt attention. There are so many nuances to the records that it almost seems impossible to pull it off, yet Joanna manages it.