Gogol Bordello @ Carling Academy, 19 Dec

Just in time for Christmas, Gogol Bordello, your favorite Eastern Europeans based in New York, are descending on Glasgow. With a sound like a cross between a Klezmer band and The Clash, Gypsy-punk is not a genre that seems to have a lot of competition for the top spot (unless you've heard differently?) but Gogol Bordello clearly dominate. The sheer energy of their performances is legendary, but the vague impression that you should be at your cousin’s bar mitzvah niggles at the back of your mind. Regardless, accordions mixed with crowd surfing can only raise the bar on any night out. [Marta Nelson]