Icons, influences and young whippersnappers.

Friday sees the first time at the Assembly for punk poet John Cooper Clarke. After a chequered career which has encompassed five decades, heroin addiction and an appearance on the GCSE syllabus, John is now an elder statesman of British culture. He’s had a programme on BBC Radio 6, appeared as his younger self in the Ian Curtis biopic Control, been a voiceover in TV ads and performs all over Europe.

Tickets £15

From (almost) the same era Altered Images are at the Assembly on Saturday. Originally formed as a post-punk new wave band alternative enough to support Siouxsie & the Banshees (their debut single Dead Pop Stars caused some controversy), the band found chart fame with the help of singer Claire Grogan. Hopefully they’ll remember to play their early stuff as well as the twee pop hits.

Tickets £17.50

Sunday sees an Assembly debut for singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner, whose 2007 debut album Hand Built by Robots went double platinum and featured the top ten hit Dream Catch Me. After successful shows at festivals around the world including Glastonbury and Isle of Wight, Newton has a third album, Write It On Your Skin, due for release in July.

Tickets £16 (returns only)

For further details, ring 01926-311311 or visit www.leamingtonassembly.com