European concerts this month offer both new talents - such as Hinds, from Madrid – and veterans making welcome returns, like Ennio Morricone and Marianne Faithfull. Of course, there are plenty of now-established rock acts too: Hozier, Foals, Tame Impala and Ellie Goulding are all hitting the road.HozierThe Irish singer-songwriter still keeps his best-known single “Take Me to Church” for the encores. But Hozier is fast developing beyond that signature, as three sold-out nights at the O2 Brixton Academy showed. His live shows are helped by his growing confidence, with the songs gaining extra flourishes in the telling. His backing band is both rootsy and bluesy. There is folk and gospel too, right from the opening “Like Real People Do.”Multi-instrumentalist Mia Fitz shines through. The use of cello underlines how different Hozier is from your average band. “To Be Alone,” with its chorus “woo-hoo”s, now gets an audience singalong as people get to know the tunes. Now that wasn’t happening even six months ago. Hozier strays into covers of Bowie and the Beatles along the way. See him now before he goes stellar with the second album. Some dates have sold out, but tickets are available online from secondary web-based sellers. Perhaps less ideally, the touts were out in force at Brixton on Saturday and doubtless will be elsewhere. Hozier plays more concerts in the UK, followed by Berlin (Feb. 19), Koln, Montreux, Vienna, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. Information: http://hozier.com/live/HindsIf you like rough and ready female bands – Fuzzbox, Slits, the reformed Sleater-Kinney, Girlschool, maybe even Haim – this indie quartet will appeal. Those crashed power chords, the wild hair, the empowered lyrics. The Spanish group developed from a duo called Deers and have just released a debut album called “Leave Me Alone.” They are noisy, their nailvarnish is probably chipped and jeans ripped, and they do fun songs like “And I Will Send Your Flowers Back.” This is girlpower with attitude and laddered stockings. Hinds dates are across Europe in February before heading to the US. Gigs in Barreiro, Porto, Portugal; Koko Camden on Feb. 18 and other UK venues including Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol; also Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris on Feb. 29. Information: http://www.hindsband.com/tour/Little SimzIt gave joy to those involved as the rapper was named one of the winners in the European section of “Forbes 30 Under 30” in January. Not that it was a total surprise after her promising single “Dead Body,” followed by a strong album and endorsements from everyone from Kendrick Lemar to Dizzee Rascal. She is just 21. What’s next? It’s time for more great female rappers. Little Simz is at La Maroquinerie, Ménilmontant on February 3 and the O2 Academy Islington on Feb 16. Also Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Birmingham and Glasgow this month. Information: http://www.songkick.com/artists/6418354-little-simzFoalsThe Oxford-based band was also lauded in the Forbes 30 Under 30 awards, with singer Yannis Philippakis getting special mention. The frontman quit his course at Oxford a decade ago and has since forged a single-minded course up to the last album “What Went Down.” The title track, with its wild dog video, is impressive and it sounds even better live. At Paris Olympia on Feb. 3 and Wembley Arena, London on Feb 16. Other dates during the month include Amsterdam, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Koln, Leeds, Lille, Lyon, and Manchester. Some evenings are with the band Everything Everything. Foals then head for North America. Information: http://www.foals.co.uk/live.htm?loc=Tame ImpalaAustralia’s Tame Impala has grown from one of the ranks of indie stars to serious contenders – not just the next Flaming Lips, TV on the Radio or Death Cab for Cutie, but the next R.E.M. While the critics were going into ecstasy before the fans, the punters have followed and Tame Impala is now a nine-year overnight psychedelic success thanks to its founder Kevin Parker. See them in Oslo, Stockholm, Sweden, or Hamburg in February. Tame Impala rocks Berlin, on Feb. 8, followed by Koln, Manchester, Alexandra Palace, London, on Feb. 12 and 13. Next stop is Bogota, Colombia. Information: http://www.tameimpala.com/tours/Ellie GouldingThe star is having a rough time at present over newspaper stories and misquotes. She can console herself that her music has led to transatlantic success and a Grammy nomination for “Love Me Like You Do.” “Fifty Shades of Grey” has much to answer for, though her good looks doesn’t do any harm and her vocal talent explains a lot. Goulding plays Le Zenith, Paris, on Feb. 25, as well as February dates in Madrid, Zurich and Luxembourg. Her UK dates in March include two nights at the02 Arena. Information: http://tour.elliegoulding.com/Ennio MorriconeMorricone’s music condenses nicely to a CD-length collection or concert awash with film themes and spaghetti-western color (usually blood red) that immediately conjures up images of Clint Eastwood’s man with no name. The music has influenced many rockers and been endlessly sampled. Now 87, Morricone is still leading a big orchestra through themes such as “A Fistful of Dollars,” “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “Chi Mai” and “Once Upon a Time in America.” Dates in Dublin (Feb 14) and London’s O2 (Feb 16). Information: http://www.theo2.co.uk/events/detail/ennio-morricone-1Marianne FaithfullIt has been more than 50 years since she had a hit aged 16 with “As Tears Go By.” She deserves to be known as more than a former Rolling Stones girlfriend who has overcome heroin and health scares. Faithfull has delivered some impeccable albums such as “A Secret Life.” The voice has dropped and sometimes cracks beautifully and the passion she brings to performance is, if anything, stronger than ever. Faithfull follows her showcase at the Roundhouse with a performance in Cognac, France. Information: http://www.mariannefaithfull.org.uk/shows
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