Headie One, Sam Lee, Nubya Garcia, Ghetts and Holly Humberstone will all be playing shows in the capital
s your gig-going diary in need of a few new dates? Read on for the upcoming shows that need to be on your radar – and grab your tickets before they sell out.
Making their first appearance at a London gig since 2018, and their first ever time playing London’s biggest indoor arena, New Order come to the O2. Tracks such as Blue Monday and Age of Consent will, of course, be best experienced in the flesh, but if you can’t make it down to the gig itself, the whole thing will be live-streamed too.
Nov 6, £35, The O2, SE10, theo2.co.uk
Grammy-nominated and invited to perform at President Biden’s inauguration — not bad credentials for this Texas duo. But it’s not just the White House who are fans, with the group’s Latin-flecked, psychedelia-tinged take on modern soul winning them legions of fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nov 6-7, £28.50, Roundhouse, NW1, roundhouse.org.uk
The Mercury Prize-nominated saxophonist brings her transcendental genre-mix to south London. Expect lashings of jazz, mixed in with plenty of dub, soul and other sounds from the African diaspora.
Nov 7, £22, Electric Brixton, SW2, electricbrixton.uk.com
A gigless pandemic period worked out pretty well for Humberstone — the Grantham-born indie-pop artist has seen a huge growth in recent months and is making the most of it with this headline show.
Nov 8, £17.80, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, W12, academymusicgroup.com
Sam Lee feels like a warm oddity in today’s music scene, with his deep knowledge and love of traditional music, his endeavours as a song collector and his marvellous performances as a folk singer.
Nov 11, £24.75, Union Chapel, N1, unionchapel.org.uk
A real treat, coming as part of EFG London Jazz Festival, sees a multi-generational partnership between two of the genre’s luminaries: the avant-garde hero Archie Shepp and the polymath Jason Moran, performing music from their excellent live album Let My People Go. Guitarist Shirley Tetteh of the groups Nérija and Maisha is the opening act, too — a must see.
Nov 12, £25, Barbican, EC2Y, barbican.org.uk
Steadfastly experimental and never predictable, Black Midi have ridden a wave of weirdness to become one of the UK’s most intriguing rock bands. If you missed tickets for their sold-out gig at Ally Pally Theatre, try this one — and don’t miss the excellent opening act, Philadelphia’s Moor Mother.
Nov 12, £22.50 Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk
Late Afrobeat icon Tony Allen will be celebrated here at the Southbank, with performances from his admirers and collaborators, including Damon Albarn, Femi Koleoso and others.
Nov 13, £30, Royal Festival Hall, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk
The Malian husband and wife duo bring their joyful, multi-stranded sounds to the Southbank Centre. Drawing on the rich musical heritage of their native country, as well as sounds from across Africa, Asia and beyond, they deliver something quite their own.
Nov 14, £25, Royal Festival Hall, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk
After a steady, 10-year ascent, Mahalia is now one of the UK’s biggest modern R&B and soul acts. She keeps on with the upwards trajectory at this gig.
Nov 19, £29, O2 Academy Brixton, SW9, academymusicgroup.com
After more than 15 years in the game, grime favourite Ghetts released his major label debut, Conflict of Interest, earlier this year. Expect a celebratory feel (and a few cameos from his musical mates) here at the Roundhouse.
Nov 20, £25, Roundhouse, NW1, roundhouse.org.uk
South-east Londoner Ajudha sold out Village Underground last time she played it, so it’s only natural that she upgrades to its bigger sister venue for her next headline gig. Get swept up in her beguiling swirl of jazz, soul, R&B and more.
Nov 21, £19.70, EartH, N16, earthackney.co.uk
Another Jazz Festival highlight comes in the form of trumpeter Yazz Ahmed — maybe best known for her bewitching cover of Radiohead’s Bloom, but with a wonderful discography of her own — who teams up with the BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as her usual quartet.
Nov 21, £15, Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk
Without question one of the most exciting young rappers in the UK right now, Salieu’s debut mix tape, Send Them To Coventry, showcased the raw talent of an artist whose style can switch from tender to truculent within a few bars.
Nov 24, £15.60, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, W12, academymusicgroup.com
Georgia released her euphoric, synth-heavy debut album in January 2020 — which should make this show all the better, given she’s waited so long to let loose all her pent-up energy.
Nov 26, £17.65, Electric Brixton, SW2, electricbrixton.uk.com
The great big nostalgia train continues apace, and we’re all aboard for this double-header at the O2 from Steps. The five-piece will play a career-spanning greatest hits set, with support from Sophie-Ellis Bextor.
Nov 26-27, £36, The O2, SE10, theo2.co.uk
Another huge milestone in the up-and-up career of Headie One. The drill kingpin will take over the 12,500-capacity venue, playing through the hits from debut album Edna.
Nov 27, £30, The SSE Arena Wembley, HA9, ssearena.co.uk
Part of the modern breed of artists who seem entirely unconcerned about any notions of genre, American artist Danielle Balbuena AKA 070 Shake comes to south London to play hits from her superb debut album, Modus Vivendi.
Nov 29, £26.80, O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5, academymusicgroup.com
Ready or not, here they come: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel are back together as Fugees to celebrate 25 years since The Score at the O2. They returned to the stage in September after 15 years of silence, and this show marks one of just two European concerts on the tour.
Dec 6, £65, The O2, SE10, theo2.co.uk
Ukrainian composer and pianist Lubomyr Melnyk comes to east London for this two-day residency. His “continuous music” style of playing is something to behold — a never-ending cascade of tumbling notes, seemingly without beginning or end, sweeping up its listener and carrying them along in currents of sound.
Dec 8-9, Cafe OTO, E8, cafeoto.co.uk
Sir Tom pushed the boat out with his latest album, Surrounded By Time, but this won’t be a purely experimental night from the 81-year-old — he will surely play through the classics that have sustained his six-decade career.
Dec 9, £45, The O2, SE10, theo2.co.uk
Grime hero D Double E’s Forum show is an upgraded gig from two previously planned gigs at Lafayette — proof of just how much demand he generates whenever he plays in London. Anyone who had tickets for those original gigs will still be able to get in here.
Dec 16, £21.50, O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5, academymusicgroup.com
Relive your Noughties glory years with the return of Pete, Carl and the gang. In total, the indie-rockers will be playing five nights in Kentish Town, but the first three are already sold out — the final two will undoubtedly follow suit soon.
Dec 17-18, £49.75, O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5, academymusicgroup.com
Did Little Simz drop the best album of 2021 with Sometimes I Might Be Introvert? Possibly. With the first two nights at this 5,000-capacity venue sold out, do your best to get down to the final performance, and witness a generational talent doing her thing.
Dec 18, £29.90, O2 Academy Brixton, SW9, academymusicgroup.com
Closing out the year with a humongous party in north-west London, the UK’s biggest queer collective take over Wembley Stadium. Pop sensation Raye performs live, while Drag Race icon Bimini Bon Boulash is also set to make an appearance.
Dec 31, £42.45, The SSE Arena Wembley, HA9, ssearena.co.uk
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