From massive pop residencies to tiny showings of the next big thing, get yourself down to some of London's best gigs.
FEBRUARY
PinkPantheress
This Somerset singer and producer scored a huge 2023 hit with her Ice Spice collab Boy’s a liar prt. 2 â ahead of opening for Olivia Rodrigo next year, she’s bringing her debut Heaven Knows to Ally Pally.
Alexandra Palace, Feb 23
Pretenders
Chrissie Hynde and co. have been making a habit of playing more tight-knit shows over the last few years, with a surprise set on Glastonbury’s Park Stage, and a 600-cap date at Lafayette. This cosy pair of dates at an iconic London theatre should be equally special.
London Palladium, Feb 28 - 29
MARCH
Niall Horan
The Once Directioner tapped into synth-pop with his third solo album The Show. Now, he’s taking the release to Wembley Arena; here’s hoping he’ll also keep up tradition and sneak in a cheeky 1D cover for the 2010s boyband OGs.
OVO Arena, Mar 1
O.
Speedy Wunderground-signed oddballs O. specialise in frantic, jammy dance-rock, powered by a honking great baritone saxophonist. Unhinged? Slightly, but the fact that they sound like a goose at a warehouse party is weirdly 90 per cent of the appeal.
Omeara, Mar 2
Fever Ray
Once best known as one half of influential Swedish duo The Knife, Karin Dreijer has since struck out along with solo project Fever Ray; last year’s Radical Romantics is a vibrant, experimental exploration of love and queer identity.
Eventim Apollo, Mar 2
NewDad
Galway dream-pop band NewDad win the prize for most brilliantly silly moniker. Following the release of their long awaited debut Madra (Irish for ‘Dog’) they’re due to play this beloved Camden venue.
KOKO, Mar 5
Potter Payper
An honest and revealing storyteller, Potter Payper lays bare his experiences of inner-city poverty growing up in London, and his entirely guest-free debut Real Back In Style narrowly missed out on number one in the UK. This show should prove a perfect victory lap.
Roundhouse, Mar 6 and 21
Barry Can’t Swim
Another leading contender for most brilliantly silly moniker in music, this Scottish producer has traded in fishmongery for floorfillers – catch his giddy, euphoric spin on dance in Chalk Farm.
Roundhouse, Mar 7
Lime Garden
This Brighton four-piece should have a big year, with their debut album (produced by PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius and Yard Act collaborator Ali Chant) out in February.
Lafayette, Mar 7
Amaarae
Not content with releasing one of the best pop albums of 2023 (the exceptional Fountain Baby) the American-Ghanaian artist has confirmed a pair of shows on Tottenham Court Road.
HERE Outernet, Mar 12-13
Miso Extra
Though Miso Extra has been cranking out top notch bangers for a few years now, she’s only just getting around to playing her first ever UK headline show – it’ll likely be worth the wait.
The Lower Third. Mar 12
Laufey
Fresh from her first Grammy win, the jazz-influenced Icelandic artist plays her biggest headline show yet
Roundhouse, March 13
Tricky
When Tricky’s debut album Maxinquaye came out in 1995, it helped to spearhead the emergence of trip-hop, a psychy, glitching fusion of electronica and hip-hop. Now, the cult classic is getting a special anniversary airing.
Roundhouse, Mar 14
Pixies
Attention, superfans of the Boston alt-rockers – in a run of very special shows in Kentish Town, they’ll play their classic early Nineties records Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde in full.
O2 Forum Kentish Town , Mar 16-18
Master Peace
At the beginning of March, the genre-blurring Peace Okezie releases his debut album How To Make A Master Peace; he specialises in taking the nostalgia and excess of Noughties indie and warping it into something entirely new.
Scala, Mar 19
Young Fathers
The experimental Scottish trio and Mercury Prize winners play the Royal Albert Hall for a very special fundraiser gig hosted by the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Royal Albert Hall, Mar 22
The Smile
In lieu of a new Radiohead album, a massive Ally Pally show from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s side project â also featuring Sons of Kemet’s Tom Skinner â will do quite nicely, thank you.
Alexandra Palace, March 23
Sky Ferreira
There’s still no sign of the long-promised follow-up to this Los Angeles’ singer’s classic debut Night Time, My Time over a decade after its release – but there’s a decent chance she could air some of Masochism, as her second album is to be titled, during this rare live show.
KOKO, Mar 26
MAVICA and KATYA
The Southbank Centre have teamed up with BBC Introducing for a string of free gigs in Queen Elizabeth Hall's foyer area, taking place every other Thursday from 6pm. Spanish singer-songwriter MAVICA and jazz-influenced multi-instrumentalist KATYA round out the run of wallet-friendly shows.
Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Mar 28
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Scottish shoegazers are currently gearing up to release their first album in seven years, Glasgow Eyes – and shortly after its March 8 release, they’re bringing it to Camden.
Roundhouse, Mar 29-30
Bonobo
Drawing on a heady blend of trip-hop, jazz and ambient, you can bet that Simon Green will bring a hint of reflectiveness to Tottenham’s former branch of IKEA, even when the beats are pounding at full pelt. He heads up a massive day for The Hydra, with the likes of DJ Koze, Mall Grab, Salute, George Fitzgerald, and Sofia Kourtesis also on the bill.
Drumsheds, Mar 31
APRIL
Tyla
Fusing pop with the South African house offshoot amapiano, Tyla’s Water was one of 2023’s biggest breakout hits – don’t miss her debut album’s first live airings in Camden.
Koko , Apr 1-2
Thundercat
The virtuoso bassist, acid jazz trailblazer and Grammy winner is staging a four night residency as part of his European tour.
Koko, Apr 3-5
Sprints
We’re barely settling into 2024, but Dublin garage-rockers Sprints have already laid down a claim for best albums of the year – and now, the buzzed about band are headed to Heaven.
Heaven, Apr 3
Bob Vylan
Apologies, Dylan fans – this isn’t a typo. Though they’ve nicked (most of) his name, this London duo are another prospect entirely, and specialise in a relentless fusion of punk and grime.
Bush Hall , Apr 7
Mika
He can be brown! He can be blue! He can be violet skies! – and he can also make a serious French-language album, apparently. Saying that, here’s hoping his sunny debut Life in Cartoon Motion gets its fair share of singalongs in Hammersmith.
Eventim Apollo , Apr 9
The Hives
The Swedish garage-rock revivalists are bringing their monochrome tuxedos to London to mark last year’s The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons – their first new album in eleven years.
Eventim Apollo, Apr 13
Stefflon Don
Drawing on a blend of dancehall, rap and grime, one of London’s biggest exports plays the Roundhouse as anticipation ramps up for her long-awaited debut album. Tickets are free, and distributed by Limitless Live and their charity partners.
Roundhouse , Apr 13
Lynks
Pairing hilarious one-liners with wonky queercore punk, expect brilliantly outlandish outfits and plenty of choreo from a Lynks live show.
Koko , Apr 17
Nightmares on Wax
Attention trip-hop fans, George Herbert Evelyn is bringing his genre classic Carboot Soul to Southbank Centre for a 25th birthday bash, with a 26-piece orchestra in tow no less.
Royal Festival Hall, Apr 19
Tate McRae
Fresh from sweeping the charts with her 2023 hits Greedy and Exes, the Canadian pop artist is staging a pair of huge Hammersmith shows to celebrate the release of her second album Think Later late last year.
Eventim Apollo, Apr 22-23
Thirty Seconds to Mars
As well as starring on the silver screen, actor Jared Leto fronts the band Thirty Seconds To Mars – their latest record It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day trades in their usual alt-rock for lighter, Eighties-inspired electro-rock.
The O2, Apr 23
Take That
And then there were three! Now a trio, the UK’s most successful boyband are hosting a gigantic, five-day residency at the O2; lighters at the ready for How Deep Is Your Love.
The O2, Apr 25-28 and Apr 30-May 1
Sampha
Though he’s well-known for collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, SBTRKT, Solange, and Frank Ocean, Sampha is an equally unstoppable solo artist, and last year’s Lahai was one of the year’s best albums. This Ally Pally victory lap should be something special.
Alexandra Palace, Apr 26
Adrianne Lenker
The Big Thief vocalist has a new solo album on the way in 2024, and judging by haunting early glimpse Ruined, it could be a good fit for the Barbican’s brutalist surroundings.
Barbican , 27-28
MAY
Kae Tempest
Last year, the multitalented south London artist was the subject of a fascinating and refreshingly hyperbole-free documentary, Being Kae Tempest: now, the playwright, poet, novelist and musician is headed to RAH.
Royal Albert Hall , May 1
Olivia Dean
Haringey’s brightest pop-soul talent bagged a Mercury Prize shortlist spot and a number four record with her inventive debut Messy – now, she’s bringing it to Hammersmith for a trio of gigs.
Eventim Apollo, Apr 2 and Apr 4-5
Nadine Shah
Ramsgate-based indie musician Nadine Shah is currently gearing up for the release of her fifth album Filthy Underneath; as well as supporting Depeche Mode earlier in the year, she’s confirmed a solo show in Soho.
Heaven , May 2
Bar Italia
When they first formed in lockdown, this London trio cut a mysterious picture – as well as releasing zero press shots, they didn’t even tell people their names. But with debut album The Twits, they’re stepping out from the shadows, and their scuzzy fare recalls pre-Britpop Nineties indie
Electric Brixton , May 2
Mitski
Though she first broke through a decade ago, Mitski has become an unlikely TikTok star in recent years, her melodrama-steeped, baroque indie attracting a cultish crowd so overwhelmingly enthusiastic that she almost quit music. Fortunately, she rethought things: one new album (2023’s The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We) later, she’s booked in a four-night London residency.
Eventim Apollo , May 8 - 11
Odeal
After scoring a massive 2023 hit with his single Be Easy, Odeal is one of this year’s names to watch – catch him at Kentish Town Forum now, and bag ‘I was there’ bragging rights when he inevitably blows up.
O2 Kentish Town Forum , May 8
The Japanese House
When Dirty Hit signed artist Amber Bain brings her devastatingly sharp pop songs to Roundhouse, things could quite quickly get emosh – I’m not crying, it’s just my hayfever!
Roundhouse , May 9
Olivia Rodrigo
Now pop royalty following a dizzyingly quick ascent, Olivia Rodrigo’s massive run of arena shows is easily among the most talked-about gigs of 2024 – and for good reason. Her second album GUTS almost topped the Standard’s albums of the year, losing out only to Boygenius.
The O2 , May 14-15 and 17-18
Faye Webster
It’s been a real treat to watch this Atlanta musician, who has been trucking away and making exceptional indie-rock for over a decade, breaking through in a bigger way in recent years. The tunes stand up alone, but a surge of new fans from TikTok and a spot on Barack Obama’s favourite songs of 2020 (with Better Distractions) has surely helped.
KOKO , May 15-16
CMAT
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s country-tinged pop should go down a storm in Kentish Town as the Irish singer continues touring her wildly successful second album Crazymad, for Me.
O2 Kentish Town Forum , May 16
Nicki Minaj
The so-called Queen of Rap has already attained legend status as one of the world’s biggest-selling artists, as well as influencing an entire generation of rappers. Now, here’s another accolade: her biggest world tour to date.
The O2 , May 28
English Teacher
Leeds art-rockers English Teacher have a knack for writing ridiculously catchy songs about… erm, paving slabs and a-roads, that helps them to stick out from the crowd. 2024 feels like it could be their year.
Electric Brixton , May 29
JUNE
Ethel Cain
The buzzy Florida singer-songwriter is bringing her Southern Gothic-inspired indie rock back to UK shores. Don’t miss out; she was spellbinding when she opened for Boygenius and MUNA at Gunnersbury Park last summer.
Roundhouse, June 5 and 10
Liam Gallagher
Ok, so this isn’t quite the full-blown Oasis reunion Britpoppers have been dreaming of, but it’s the closest we’ll get for now â the frontman will be performing their debut album Definitely Maybe in full as it turns 20.
The O2, June 6-7 and 10-11
Beth Gibbons
Portishead’s Beth Gibbons and her homemade drum kit â made out a paella dish and a water bottle, among other things â should prove an an experimental treat for the ears when it comes to the Brutalist Barbican.
Barbican, June 9
Bikini Kill
Girls to the front! A long time in the making, this triumphant London comeback has been thwarted and postponed several times due to COVID, but now Kathleen Hanna and co are officially coming back to the capital.
Roundhouse, June 12
Doja Cat
The LA rapper is heading to Greenwich to Paint The Town Red â support comes from the rising star Hemlocke Springs, one of our big names to watch for 2024.
The O2, June 14 and 17
Foo Fighters
After rocking up as surprise Glastonbury guests last summer as The Churn-Ups, there’s nothing low-key about Foos latest string of massive stadium dates.
London Stadium, June 20 and 22
Taylor Swift
The long wait for Swifties is finally over: the star’s blockbuster Eras Tour is finally coming to London. After kicking things off with a trio of Wembley dates, she’ll also return for round two in August.
Wembley Stadium, June 21- 23 and August 15-17 and 19-20
Girls Aloud
The greatest girlband of the Noughties are embarking on a celebration tour, dedicated to the memory of their late bandmate Sarah Harding. Hold tight for some emotional moments, and pop bangers galore.
