Hotels for Nothing But Thieves

Nothing But Thieves built their following on big, brooding rock songs that shift between falsetto restraint and full-throated noise, and a Saturday night crowd tends to sing every word back at them. Expect a set that leans on atmosphere as much as volume, with lighting doing a lot of the storytelling.

Doors early evening mean a full night ahead, whether that's a proper sit-down meal beforehand or a late one after. It's a February date, so dress for a cold walk at the other end.

An indoor arena within Birmingham's sprawling NEC complex, bp pulse LIVE hosts concerts, comedy and live events beside the exhibition halls on the city's eastern edge. The setting is a self-contained events campus, with on-site hotels, restaurants and lakeside walks rather than a traditional high street.

Birmingham International station and the nearby airport make arrivals straightforward, with fast trains into the centre. Booking a room on or near the complex lets you walk to the show and avoid the post-event car-park crawl.