From big-name residencies to legendary cult nights, London has it all. Here’s where to go clubbing in summer 2024, and who to see.
Jamie xx
Currently under way, Jamie xx’s 10-night The Floor residency at Bermondsey club Venue MOT Unit 18 (named in honour of the industrial site’s previous occupant) is a rare opportunity to catch a huge name in the cosiest of surroundings. The DJ and producer, who is one third of minimal pop giants The xx, is well used to headlining festivals, but for this string of 300-cap shows he’s playing alongside a different line-up each night and has cherry-picked some of his favourite names to join him.
Until May 25, Venue MOT Unit 18, Surrey Canal Road, SE14 5RT
Rhythm Section Gala Afterparty
Kicking off festival season in Peckham Rye Park, Gala Festival transforms the south London outside space into a melting pot of dance music, with highlights across the bank holiday weekend including Chaos in the CBD, Eris Drew, Octo Octa, Moxie, and Novelist. The only downside? Things wrap up at a 10pm curfew. Fortunately for fans of an all-nighter, there are plenty of after-parties to choose from: our pick is hosted by beloved local label Rhythm Section, with label founder Bradley Zero playing out alongside Paris DJ Chloé Caillet.
May 24, Peckham Audio, 133a Rye Lane, SE15 4BQ
Pxssy Palace Presents Bollywood vs Nollywood
A legendary staple of London’s queer scene, Pxssy Palace was founded by Nadine Artois and Skye Barr in 2015 to create a new space in the capital for queer, trans, intersex, and/or non-binary people of colour. Their next upcoming party, at Hackney Wick’s Colour Factory, is a big, bright, bold celebration of all things Nineties and Noughties Bollywood and Nollywood, with a packed bill including west London DJ and BBC Asian Network presenter DJ Kizzi, New York collective Yallah! Party, and the pioneering creativity of DJ Ritu. Though the night centres on and prioritises queer people of colour, there are a limited number of tickets for allies, which helps to fund free or discounted tickets.
May 26, Colour Factory, 8 Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN
High Lights
To quote the endlessly memed Brenda from Bristol when she learned of 2017’s snap general election: “You’re joking. Not another one!” Sure, London already has heaps of outdoorsy dance festivals which bring the basement club vibes out blinking into the sun, but this new addition in Barking looks great: a garage and techno heavy line-up (including Ross From Friends, Logic 1000, Kelly Lee Owens, Actress and Max Cooper) will appear across two gigantic installation-style stages.
May 31, Barking Park, IG11 8TA
TAAHLIAH Presents Ultimate Angels
Glasgow DJ and producer TAAHLIAH, left, is known for her high-energy, eclectic style, and played one of last year’s finest Boiler Room sets at Manchester’s Teletech Festival. Now she’s at the helm of Ultimate Angels — a trio of May parties at Colour Factory with a handpicked bill. Aside from fellow Glaswegian Miss Cabbage, the final instalment is a New York-heavy line-up and features rising stars Introspekt and Goth Jafar.
May 31, Colour Factory, 8 Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN
Adonis
Another cult fixture of the queer club scene, Adonis is back at its original home of The Cause and is as dark, debauched and sweaty as ever. Expect dance cages, high drama looks from multiple attendees, an impressive billing of Berghain grads and a blend of pumping house and super-smart edits.
June 1, The Cause, 60 Dock Road, E16 1YZ
WET
Long live the lesbian renaissance! Created in response to a dire lack of spaces for queer women to party in the capital, Wet is a night geared towards “dykes, lesbians, queer women, trans masc, femme and non-binary folks”, prioritising BPOC partiers. There’s a genre-bending soundtrack to match. Global club star HALFQUEEN headlines, alongside residents Rabz and Mo Probs, and NTS resident and “Riddim connoisseur” Lil Clart.
June 1, Peckham Audio, 133a Rye Lane, SE15 4BQ
Riposte
A free crack-of-dawn meal after the rave, you say? Dreams really do come true at the artsy queer club night Riposte, where there’s a complimentary brekkie from 5.30am-6am. While the music skews towards techno, this eclectic and “sex-positive” party also features performers, huge art installations and even a handful of workshops for anyone who fancies picking up a new hobby.
June 7, Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ
Sam Gellaitry with FS Green and James Massiah
Scottish DJ and Pink Pantheress collaborator Sam Gellaitry comes from a family of music fans: his dad owned a bagpipe-making business, while his brother got him into happy hardcore. Disclaimer, and perhaps a relief: the resulting tunes do not combine these two fairly jarring influences. Instead, expect a sunny, hand-wafty take on French house. Throughout June, you can catch him at a series of nights at Brixton spot Phonox. Our pick sees him playing alongside Dutch DJ FS Green and dancehall selector James Massiah.
June 7, Phonox, 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AY
A History of UK Pirate Radio
From the early days of Rinse.FM to pioneers like Dread Broadcasting Corporation, pirate radio and black music culture go hand in hand in London, with these stations playing out everything from lovers rock to grime. And at Camden’s Jazz Cafe, they’re celebrating the guerrilla stations (who broadcasted without a licence) and some of their favourite genres for an entire month of parties. This one focuses on all things UK garage with the help of DJ Spoony, Wookie, and Lady Passion.
June 14, The Jazz Cafe,5 Parkway, NW1 7PG
Michael Bibi: One Life
By all accounts, Ibiza hero Michael Bibi has had a bit of a rough ride lately: the superstar DJ had to put all of his gigs last summer on pause after being diagnosed with a rare form of brain and spinal cancer. He’s now in remission and back behind the decks. “One life, live it” has become something of a mantra, and, fittingly, it titles this massive, 45,000-cap homecoming party in Finsbury Park.
July 6, Finsbury Park, N4 1EE
Planningtorock
Bolton-born, Tallinn-based DJ and producer Planningtorock can always be counted upon for a good time; Jam Rahuoja Rostron has been tapped for reworks by everyone from Lady Gaga and Christine and the Queens to Robyn, and is a go-to collaborator for the likes of Romy and I. Jordan. Off the back of new single Get Your F***in Laws Off My Body, they’re headlining Cambridge Heath’s Metropolis.
July 6, Metropolis, 234 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9NN
Jungle Curates
Ooh la la, soul-leaning duo Jungle are putting on a packed line-up of dance faves at a fancy mansion in Bedford. Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Brainfeeder-signed producer Ross From Friends, and Peruvian, Berlin-based DJ Sofia Kourtesis are among the highlights.
July 14, Tofte Manor, Souldrop Road, Bedford MK44 1HH
Ben UFO Shoreditch Street Party
London promoters Krankbrotherconsistently put on a fun party, but somehow over the course of 15 years, they never got around to bookingHessle Audio founder and DJ Ben UFO. A whacking great street party in Shoreditch, headlined by the man himself, is the perfect way to put things right.
July 20, Clifton Street, EC2A 4LG
Junction 2
Tucked away in the outer reaches of Brentford, and boasting a stacked line-up that’s up there with the best — big names include Camelphat, Avalon Emerson, The Blessed Madonna, Honey Dijon, and Joy Anonymous — this jam-packed festival is well worth a look.
July 27, Boston Manor Park, TW8 9JU
Bicep — Chroma in the Park
This summer, heaps of big names are putting on their dream line-ups in parks across London, Belfast’s electronic duo Bicep among them. The Ninja Tune-signed pair have invited the likes of Joy Orbison, Baby T and Mia Koden along to their Finsbury Park one-dayer.
August 2, Finsbury Park, N4 1EE
Krankbrother present: Four Tet
Another Krankbrother special, Four Tet — back on his ambient A-game after a summer of raucous touring with Fred Again and Skrillex — is running the show at this Finsbury Park one-dayer for the third year in a row. As well as a five-hour set from Kieran Hebden himself, Anthony Naples, Champion, DJ ADHD, Jossy Mitsu, and Mala are all providing the warm-up vibes.
August 10, Finsbury Park, N4 1EE
Peggy Gou + Special Guests
See, we told you every DJ worth their salt was having a go at running a festival — Berlin-based star Peggy Gou is also at it this August, and has invited Mochakk, LSDXOXO, Sally C, and Hiver along as guests in Gunnersbury Park.
Aug 17, Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ
Body Movements
Previously a Hackney staple, Body Movements is shaping up into a belter this year as it heads to a new home south of the river. The queer dance festival always delivers a packed bill and 2024’s bigger-than-ever edition is no exception: get limbered up for Peach, COBRAH, Shanti Celeste, Hannah Holland, Or:la, and much much more.
