You can also expect new treatments of older material plus some superb lighting and effects.Where & when: University, Exeter (0990 321321) 14 Mar; Colston Hall, Bristol (01179 223686) 15 Mar; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (01902 552121) 22 Mar; Corn Exchange, Cambridge (01223 357851) 23 Mar; Guildhall, Southampton (01703 632601) 24 Mar; Centre, Brighton (0870 900 9100) 26 Mar; Brixton Academy, London SW9 (0171-771 2000) 27 Mar.In short: techno's brightest act returns. Expect to see such culty favourites as the Bhangramuffins and the Guru Maharishi Yogi.Where & when: tour begins at Leicester's De Montford Hall (0116-233 3111) 20 Feb.In short: high-quality, catchphrase-driven sketches. JR25ORBITALThe Hartnoll brothers go out on a UK tour for the first time in two years to coincide with the release of the Middle of Nowhere album. DB24`GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME'One of BBC2's big recent comedy hits - they have the British Comedy Award to prove it - follows in the footsteps of The Fast Show and Shooting Stars by transferring to the live arena. Now they turn their attention to the homelife of the superannuated chatshow hostess (Aherne) and her mollycoddled son (Cash).Where & when: BBC1, Feb.In short: Caroline Aherne's deceptively sweet presenter transposed to her home setting. JR `CERTAIN YOUNG MEN', ALMEIDA"What are two grown men doing living together faking all the stupidities of a straight relationship?" Peter Gill, a distinguished director/playwright of considerable finesse, on his new play - a sharp, poignant comedy of contemporary manners starring Jeremy Northam, Sean Chapman and Andrew Woodall.Where & when: Almeida, London N1 (0171-359 4404) 21 Jan to 20 Feb.In short: men behaving sadly.

XB22`MRS MERTON AND MALCOLM'Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Henry Normal proved themselves more than capable of writing a sitcom with The Royle Family, the best new comedy of last year. Writer-director Thomas Vinterberg brings off a shotgun-wedding of cathartic drama with absurdist comedy in this groundbreaking debut.Where & when: opens 5 Mar.In short: Four Rape Cases and a Murder. DC21`FESTEN'The first film released under Denmark's infamous Dogme manifesto (hand- held camera, natural light, amateur aesthetic), Festen follows the nose-diving trajectory of a plush family get-together gone hideously awry. As well as three major commissions by contemporary composers, there will be the chance to hear a special recording of Benjamin Britten's last opera, based on Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, and Michael Tippett's operatic take on Homer, King Priam.Where & when: Radio 3 (FM 90.2-92.4) 31 Mar to 7 May.In short: an invaluable stock-take of postwar British composition.

RT20`ENDLESS PARADE'Radio 3's mega three-year retrospective series "Sounding the Century" begins the run-up to its millennial climax with a strand entitled "Endless Parade", focusing on post-1945 Britain. This first appearance in Britain as a leader sees him joined by his regular accompanists, Wynton's brother Jason on drums and Roland Guerin on bass.Where & when: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1 (0171-960 4242) 24 Jan.In short: a piano version of Wynton Marsalis. As such, he was a natural soulmate for the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, whose band he joined in 1985. JP19MARCUS ROBERTSBlind pianist Roberts is blessed with a staggering technique allied to a deep love for the traditions of jazz.

TL18BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLETThe London premiere of David Bintley's powerful Edward II opens a varied spring season for Birmingham Royal Ballet, including company premieres by Twyla Tharp and William Forsythe, plus the return to Sadler's Wells of Ninette de Valois's long-lost Prospect Before Us.Where & when: Sadler's Wells Theatre, London EC1 (0171-863 8000) 2-6, 10-13 Feb; Birmingham Hippodrome (0121-622 7486) 24 to 27 Feb, 3 to 6 Mar, 5 to 10 & 13 to 15 May.In short: ballet that packs a punch. DH17`PORTRAITS BY INGRES', NATIONAL GALLERYIn the first half of the 19th century, Ingres produced some of the smartest, most intense portraiture ever. His men, icons of power; his women, dreamy melanges of flesh and fabric, luxurious in every sense; sex and money in perfect harmony.Where & when: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2 (0171-839 3321) 27 Jan to Apr.In short: images of triumphant, bourgeois luxury. Wagner's medieval allegory of innocence as a redeeming force also comes handsomely cast, with Kim Begley in the title role, Gwynne Howell as Gurnemanz and Kathryn Harries as Kundry, with Mark Elder conducting.Where & when: Coliseum, London WC2 (0171-632 8300) 13 Feb to 19 Mar.In short: Holy Grail of operas; a great staging can mesmerise. The pick of the Brits are Mogwai on 23 Jan with diverse support from Bonnie Prince Billy and Clinic, while the Bluetones and Mansun headline on 20 and 22 Jan respectively.Where & when: Astoria, London W1 (0171-434 0403) 18 to 24 Jan.In short: book now for Sebadoh and Rev! TP16`PARSIFAL', ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERAWagner's last opera, the all-too-rarely-staged sacred-music drama Parsifal, receives a brand-new production from English National Opera, directed by Nikolaus Lehnhoff, to set designs by Raimund Bauer and lighting from Wolfgang Gobbel.