As we head out of festival season, there are rich pickings to be had in the capital when it comes to seeing your favourite artists. And this autumn, they’re filling venues from the O2 to KOKO with electronica, pop, punk, folk and everything in between.
So if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, here are our picks of the biggest – and buzziest – gigs out there. Fill your boots, and your shopping cart.
SEPTEMBER
25-26 Jamie xx, Alexandra Palace
Electronic music sensation Jamie xx is back for a gig in his hometown. Expect earth-shattering beats and (just maybe) some cameos from his xx bandmates, with whom he’s been working on some new music. It would be rude not to, after all.
28-29 Janet Jackson, The O2
Jackson is having a moment right now, and quite right too. The superstar is heading to the O2 to celebrate her 50th anniversary in entertainment – as well as 35 years of her seminal album Rhythm Nation – so expect some state of the art R’n’B and a monster 41-song setlist.
30 Clavish, O2 Kentish Town Forum
One of the Standard’s names to watch in 2024, Stamford Hill rapper Clavish is bringing his unique spin on trap and drill to Kentish Town. Catch him before he gets really, really big.
OCTOBER
4 Slowdive, EartH
Reading shoegaze band Slowdive were the underdogs of the UK indie rock scene the first time around, and were unceremoniously booted off Creation Records right before they threw their weight behind a little old band named Oasis instead. Their current resurgence is a pleasant surprise.
4 The Wedding Present, 02 Shepherds Bush Empire
Leeds alt-rock band The Wedding Present have a cultish following thanks to their close ties with the C86 scene, and though they never quite reached the heights of The Smiths, their music shares the same jangling, bittersweet sense of melancholy.
10 Wunderhorse, Brixton Academy
Previously a member of scrappy punk band Dead Pretties, Jacob Slater now fronts the grunge-leaning Wunderhorse; their new album Midas is produced by Rolling Stones collaborator Craig Silvey.
11 Crowded House, The O2
Crowded House were formed all the way back in 1985, and despite several splits and a whole new line-up, the magic is still there (and so is frontman Neil Finn). Catch their easy-listening brand of dad-rock at the O2, along with plenty of nostalgic dads.
11 Overmono, Brixton Academy
Expect brothers Tom and Ed Russell to bring earth-shattering beats for their latest London gig. The electronic music duo have been playing various festivals in Europe all summer alongside artists like Four Tet and Skrillex, and their star is on the rise: catch their finely-tuned set before it sells out.
14 Lauryn Hill, The O2
Despite a furore over tour dates and low ticket sales, Lauryn Hill and reformed band The Fugees are still on the road, this time to celebrate her album The Miseducation of Ms. Lauryn Hill.
16 The Last Dinner Party, Eventim Apollo
Billed as one of the biggest bands of 2023, The Last Dinner Party capped off a mega summer season by releasing their debut album and playing to a jam-packed crowd at Glastonbury. This is a chance to catch them in a slightly more intimate setting: think lashings of glam-rock, high camp and ruffles.
16 Tsatsamis, Oslo
An early chance to catch the London dance-pop artist off the back of his excellent second EP Our Shame – if you’re lucky enough to bag an elusive ticket for the long-sold-out show, that is.
17 Dua Lipa, Royal Albert Hall
Didn’t catch her at Glastonbury? No problem: Dua Lipa is making her Royal Albert Show debut in October too. The combination of her slick 80’s flavoured synth-pop and the hall’s austere Victorian interior is an odd combination, but hey – we’ll take it.
23 The Pretenders, Palladium
Forty years old and still going strong, The Pretenders will be bringing their particular brand of rebellious rock to the Palladium for a greatest-hits tour that ranges from their debut 1979 album to new release Relentless.
26 Lankum, Eventim Apollo
Contemporary Irish folk music group Lankum know how to stage an epic set: lyrics about death and murder, angry shouting into the mic and a lingering sense of dread. So much so, actually, that their sound has been dubbed ‘doom folk’ – an endorsement if ever there was one.
30 The Libertines, Roundhouse
After years of break-ups and internal strife, The Libertines take over the Roundhouse bring their particular brand of garage rock on the back of their first album in nine years.
NOVEMBER
1 Barry Can’t Swim, O2 Academy Brixton
Scottish DJ and producer Joshua Mainnie’s chilled out beats are more suited for summer than a UK autumn, but don’t let that put you off. His star is on the rise and his brand of electronic music is more than capable of resurrecting memories of Ibiza sunsets on a chilly evening. Put that festival bucket hat back on and head along.
7 Glass Animals, The O2
Wholesome indie rock band Glass Animals have overcome tragedy and adversity since forming in 2010 - the band’s drummer Joe Seaward was severely injured in 2018 – but now they’re back and touring once more. Come for the FIFA anthem Heat Waves, stay for the feel-good vibes.
7 Empress Of, Fabric
Musician Loreley Rodriguez has gained a cult following for her experimental electropop tracks, but her star is on the rise: catch her in action in Fabric.
8 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The O2
The legendary singer-songwriter and his ever-changing backing band aren’t a sight to be missed. Cave’s chameleonic music – which shifts from gothic rock to punk and back
8 Nia Archives, Brixton Academy
A Mercury Prize nominee, the self-described “emotional junglist” Nia Archives layers melodies over relentless breakbeats to create something that feels entirely unique. Fresh from releasing new album Silence Is Loud, she’s capping off festival season with a worldwide tour.
8 Kneecap, Kentish Forum
Buzzy Irish group Kneecap received rave reviews for their 2024 album Fine Art. No surprise there: their English/ Irish language lyrics, addressing deprivation, nights out and the Troubles, is uniformly excellent. A chance to see them at the relatively small Kentish Forum should not be missed.
9 corto.alto, Village Underground
Post-jazz act corto.alto (aka Liam Shortall) gained a coveted Mercury nod this year for their 2023 album Bad With Names, but for those in the know it’s not a surprise. His unique take on jazz incorporates lush strings alongside lo-fi synths and blaring brass, making the end result very catchy indeed.
10 Conan Gray, OVO Arena
Youtuber turned Gen Z singing sensation (and Olivia Rodrigo contemporary) Conan Gray brings his own particular brand of pop and sharp songwriting to the OVO Arena.
12 Bob Dylan, Royal Albert Hall
The iconic Bob Dylan, playing some of his biggest hits to the Royal Albert Hall? Nuff said.
15 Ezra Collective, OVO Arena
Jazz is definitely having a moment, and Ezra Collective are leading the charge. The London-based quintet broke through into the mainstream by infusing their sound with elements of soul, reggae, calypso and afrobeat; the resulting concoction is something quite special.
16 Rachel Chinouriri, Kentish Town Forum
Chinouriri has had a good year: an excellent Glastonbury set, a slot to support Sabrina Carpenter on tour, and growing acclaim for her brand of new-wave indie Britpop. She’s one to watch: well worth a trip to Kentish Town Forum.
20 The Corrs, The O2
You can’t go wrong with a bit of old fashioned Irish folk-pop from the ever-likeable Corrs. And they’re being joined by Natalie Imbruglia for their tour, too: what’s not to love?
20 Paris Paloma, KOKO
Folk-pop artist Paris Paloma shot through into the TikTok stratosphere last year with her viral hit Labour. With her debut album only just out, her witchy, ethereal tunes are the perfect accompaniment to a cold autumn night.
21 Beabadoobee, Alexandra Palace
Despite being only 24, Beabadoobee has already ticked off a lot of career highlights: she supported Taylor Swift on tour this year, was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards and has released three albums. Now, she’s bringing her dreamy, Gen-Z friendly music to the 10,000 capacity Ally Pally.
22 Fontaines D.C. Alexandra Palace
The Irish post-punk rockers have been around for a decade but its only recently that they’ve started to break through into the mainstream. With a Mercury Prize nod and a critically acclaimed fourth album under their belt, they’re set for even bigger things – making their set at Ally Pally the perfect chance to catch them.
23 Fat Dog, Kentish Town Forum
South London locals Fat Dog were formed in the middle of lockdown, but they’ve since made a name for themselves as one of the industry’s wildest live acts. Drawing inspiration from dance, punk and the video game series Serious Sam, the end result is more coherent than you would expect, and insanely addictive to boot.
28 Jarvis Cocker and Alexis Taylor, Dingwalls
What’s this? Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and co-founder of Hot Chip Alexis Taylor going back to back in an epic DJ set? Smashing together their eclectic tastes (indie, electronic, aggressive rock), this ought to be a fun one – or at the very least, packed with surprises.
29 IDLES, Alexandra Palace
Formed in 2009, IDLES is still bringing their angry punk rock to the masses. Grab those moshing shoes and head along to join them at Alexandra Palace.
28 Charli XCX, The O2
Brat girl summer is over, but electro-pop superstar Charli xcx is still more than capable of drawing a massive crowd to party away the night at the O2 arena. Expect to see plenty of vapes, ripped tank tops and messy hair in the crowd.
