PICK OF THE WEEK

It'll be desperately loud. There will be rough boys jumping up and down in black T-shirts at the front. And there will be bared teeth and straining thews on stage. Having said that, Metallica are certainly the best heavy metal band there's ever been. There, we've said it.

Sat, Sun, NEC Birmingham (0121-780 4133); Mon, Newcastle Arena (0191- 401 8000); Wed, The Point Dublin (4569 569); Sat 12, Earls Court, London SW5 (0171-373 8141/420 1000); Tue 15, Nynex Arena Manchester (0161-930 8000)

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Exquisitely minimalist American country-folk - feminine but not floral.

Mon 7.30pm, Purcell Room, London SE1 (0171-960 4242)