From tranquil to trendy: London gigs to book
We round up some of the more unusual and quirky London gigs in autumn, winter and beyond, available to book right now
Beach House
Purveyors of reverb-soaked dream pop, Beach House are now well into the second decade of their career, and have shown with each album no-one does ethereal choruses and soaring guitars quite like them. Touring in support of their latest album 7, their two London dates are nearly sold out - so act fast to catch a performance sure to be infused with their inimitable melancholy beauty.
Read more ...serpentwithfeet
A classically-trained singer with a giant septum piercing and dyed beard, Josiah ‘serpentwithfeet’ Wise writes and performs moving songs about love and sexuality that stand (or indeed float) in a singular space between gospel, R&B and avant-garde electronica. Think James Blake or FKA Twigs, but with even greater vocal mastery – his debut album soil was released this summer and received deservedly glowing reviews.
Read more ...Little Dragon
Hailing from Gothenberg, Sweden, this quartet make electronic-based indie-pop that can be catchy, groovy, moving or all of the above. In addition to their five albums they often crop up on remixes and collaborations, so expect an eclectic show anchored in drum machines and ABBA-worthy melodies.
Read more ...Talib Kweli
‘If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli’ – this homage from Jay-Z’s ‘Moment of Clarity’ illustrates the esteem Kwali’s rapping is held in. He has long been tunnelling a fruitful vein of conscious rap: thoughtful, socially-aware rhymes backed by jazz-and-soul-derived beats. His performance is sure to illustrate the enduring relevance of this old-school style and send the young upstarts back to their lyric books.
Read more ...Gogo Penguin
The name might be whimsical but the music is highly developed. This modern jazz trio - shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2014 - manage to do an awful lot with just bass, drums and piano, incorporating elements of classical and trip-hop into their compositions. The ornate surroundings of the Albert Hall are a fitting place to savour their avant-garde yet immediate sound.
Read more ...Moses Boyd Exodus
Two-time MOBO Best Jazz Act winner, the producer, drummer and bandleader Moses Boyd has undeniable rhythmic chops (just listen to his infectious single 'Rye Lane Shuffle'). More importantly however, he has taste: his recently-released debut Dispossessed Diaspora attests to a musical mind raised at a confluence of jazz, grime and electronica. Live, he and his well-drilled band are riotous and cerebral in equal measure.
Read more ...CHVRCHES
Whilst their name might be optimised for Google search rather than pronunciation, this should at least give you a better chance of securing tickets for one synthpop’s biggest modern acts, heirs to the British electronic pop tradition of New Order and Depeche Mode. Laser-guided hooks, like the unshakeable 'The Mother We Share', will not be in short supply.
Read more ...Jungle
The duo behind this disco-funk act initially preferred to remain anonymous behind their grooves – and largely still do in their choreography-heavy, arresting music videos. Their growing stature, largely developed off the back of their ecstatic, maximalist live shows, has seen them double down on the party-ready sound of their 2014 debut on this year's follow-up For Ever. If Nile Rodgers’ Chic celebration at the O2 is a little too retro for you, then Jungle are more-than-capable understudies to their funky forebears.
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