It’s always around this time of year, when the leaves begin to fall from the trees, that NX in Newcastle moves through the gears to bring us a veritable feast of barnstorming gigs. And their October selection looks particularly enticing this year. Here are four of my very favourites.

One of the best live acts I’ve seen in recent years is The Struts (4 October, £32.50). These alt rockers are INCREDIBLE (yes, caps) on stage and it’s little wonder they’ve been asked to open for bands such as The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses. Their raucous shows are never ones to be missed and their appearance in Newcastle looks extra enticing in October as they’re set to be joined by Barns Courtney (who brings the glam-stomp) and James Bruner (an up and comer from Illinois who’s all buzz). LA-based singer-songwriter JXDN (5 October, £26, 60) has become a real breakout star this year, a position he cemented with his fizzing ‘When The Music Stops’ album. It’s a release that takes everything that was good about his debut album ‘Tell Me About Tomorrow’ and amps things up another notch. Huge melodies just tumble out of this fella and his cathartic live shows have seen him creating unique bonds with audiences the world over. I caught Bob Vylan (pictured - 29 October, £22) the last time they played Newcastle and it’s no exaggeration to say that it was one of the best live experiences of my life. This London two-piece go off like a Roman candle, but among their exuberant clatter of rock, rap, grime, punk and dance, they also bring important social messages about everything from exploitation in the music industry to toxic masculinity. And their much feted new album ‘Humble As The Sun’ is among the year’s best. Another album that’s sure to be included on many end of year’s polls is that of the Mercury nominated Nia Archives (31 October, £25). Her fantastic ‘Silence Is Loud’ release has won a whole load of glittering reviews with the self-described “emotional junglist” hitting listeners up with an infectious jungle sound that has all the immediacy of big pop hits. The aforementioned acts are just four of the biggies that I’ve plucked from NX’s line-up for this October, but you can grab their full listings from the website, below. JL

NX, Westgate Road, Newcastle, nxnewcastle.com