Hibbett & Christopher

Hibbett & Christopher play The Grove on Wednesday 21 October, one of four intimate concerts they're taking around England this autumn. The duo is a collaboration between C J Thorpe-Tracey, the Brighton author and alt-folk singer-songwriter, and MJ Hibbett, the Peterborough underground pop hero who holds a PhD in 'Doctor Doom'. They've been friends and musical fellow travellers for about 25 years, and this is the project that brings them together on stage.

It's a 'two men and a piano' set, and they describe the sound as harking back to the sardonic light-entertainment heyday of Hinge & Bracket, Flanders & Swann and Gerard Hoffnung, with acidic hints of Randy Newman and Tom Lehrer alongside their own Gen X underground alt-pop modernism. Their debut single is called 'When You Hear A Bird', and it comes with the tagline: 'When you hear a bird, look up and you will see a bird.'

They're currently recording a debut album with Jon Clayton at One Cat Studio in Crystal Palace, which is due in 2027, so this is a chance to hear the material before the record is out. The Nottingham date is part of a small run of four shows across England this autumn, rather than a full tour, and it's one of the few times they'll be playing live this year.

They're not the only ones on the bill: Vom Vorton and Sarah Farrell open for them. The Grove is at Unit 48 Freckingham St, Sneinton Market, Nottingham NG1 1DQ. Doors are at 19:00, and tickets are £12.10 including fees, which works out to about £11 face value.