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[title]Look, I’m the last person who wants to admit that we’re already halfway through summer. So, I’m heading into August with a healthy sense of denial, fully pretending that the good times are never going to end. If you, like me, are clinging to every last golden hour of London’s day festivals, don’t worry, there’s still plenty on the horizon. Rally, All Points East, Body Movements, and Maiden Voyage are all to come, ready to help you stay in that blissful, beer-and-sweat scented daze. And yes, Oasis is back for round two to assist with that.
I’m also happy to report that our city is also living in the same sense of delusion, squeezing out a few final outdoor gigs of the year like the last drops of toothpaste from the tube. Whether you're after rock ‘n’ roll legends, K-pop icons, hip-hop greats or superstar DJs, London’s still got it going on. Here’s what you can expect for the month ahead.
Georgia is a freelance contributor to Time Out’s music section. Currently, she's obsessing over The Vines' 2002 record ‘Highly Evolved’, an album she's somehow overlooked for all these years (she was 6 when it came out). Catch her at one of these shows and strike up a chat about it.
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For anthemic indie rockers
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Anyone who was a teenager in the 2010s will understand the chokehold Catfish and the Bottlemen’s album The Balcony had on culture (my personal obsession with the band started with the frontman’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks appearance). Catch Van McCann and co. as they perform hits like ‘Kathleen’ and ‘Pacifier‘ from their 2014 debut, alongside many more stadium-ready indie rock anthems. Skinny jeans recommended, though not essential.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, N17 0BX. Sun Aug 3, 4.30pm. From £41.
Coldplay
Want your own kiss-cam moment? Coldplay is back in town, so you know what to do. Beyond the big screen shenanigans, you’ve got the chance to see one of Britain’s best rock bands (sorry, Oasis) in a hometown gig that promises big production, a shit load of pyro, glowing wristbands and more bangers than a night out at Popworld. Remember to bring your tissues for when they play ‘Fix You’. Coldplay: really good, actually.
Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS. August 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 5pm. From £57.75.
For the grumpy old moshers
Mogwai
Part of South Facing’s gig series, Mogwai is taking over Crystal Palace Bowl to showcase 30 years of expansive, cinematic rock music. The Glasgow-formed group helped define the sound of nineties post-rock with their distorted, guitar-based instrumental pieces, which are sure to sound blissful when experienced during an August sunset. They’re joined by Mercury-nominated Irish folk rockers Lankum, and a few more folk heroes.
Crystal Palace Bowl, SE19 2BA. Thur Aug 7, 4pm. From £55.45.
Smashing Pumpkins
American rock legends The Smashing Pumpkins are performing a massive open-air gig at Gunnersbury Park this August. Now a trio of Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin (aka the classic lineup), the group promise to perform a lengthy set of grunge, shoegaze and punk-informed hits from their impressive catalogue. Supporting are special guests that include Skunk Anansie and White Lies.
Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ. Sun Aug 10, 2pm. From £67.20.
Melvins
Regardless of whether you’ve heard of the Melvins, you’ve almost certainly heard someone they inspired. Green River, Soundgarden, Nirvana – yeah, all of them took inspiration from the group's sludge metal style. Post-nineties, the group played around with noise rock, doom metal, dark ambient, noise, jazz-rock, (among others) and remain to this day a genuinely thrilling band to see live. Give the often underrated 2006 album A Senile Animal a whirl, if you’re interested.
Electric Ballroom, NW1 8QP. Tue Aug 12, 7pm. From £41.45.
The Lemonheads
Formed in Boston in 1986, The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band best known for their fifth album, It's a Shame about Ray. On the record was a sped-up, pop punkish cover of Simon and Garfunkel's ‘Mrs. Robinson’, which went on to become one of the band's most successful singles. Hear this, ‘Into Your Arms’ and ‘If I Could Talk I’d Tell You’ as the group performs together at Electric Ballroom, and catch dishy frontman Evan Dando’s solo set at Rough Trade East if you’re a real long-time fan.
Electric Ballroom, NW1 8QP. Thur Aug 28, 7pm. From £35.70.
For the edgy indie kids
Wednesday
This stripped-back solo show from Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman gives you the chance to hear some of the band's new material before anyone else in the UK. Bleeds, out September 19, draws on a plethora of shoegaze and country-rock influences, with songs like ‘Elderberry Wine’ lifting a veil on small-town American life through dusty-sounding guitars and creaky pedal steel.
Rough Trade East, E1 6QL. Mon Aug 11, 7pm. From £18.06.
MJ Lenderman & The Wind
Hartzman’s Wednesday bandmate (and ex-boyfriend) MJ Lenderman is still riding the wave of his debut solo album. Released last year to widespread critical acclaim, Manning Fireworks was all over end-of-year lists for 2024 and was even named the best album of the year by The New Yorker. Characterised by its Americana-inspired guitars and vivid storytelling, his dryly humourous ditties such as ‘She’s Leaving You’ have a timeless quality.
Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Fri Aug 15, 7pm. From £26.
For the dancefloor explorers
Porij
Music magazine Dork is celebrating its 100th issue with a show that truly demonstrates its ‘Down With Boring’ ethos. This day fest-esque celebration at Signature Brew will feature live tunes from Manchester four-piece Porij, who splice together elements of funk, art-pop, indie rock and even a little bit of UK garage to create a genre-blurring sound.
Signature Brew, E17 5QJ. Sat Aug 2, 2pm. From £22.75.
Scenic Route DJs
One of London’s most exciting emerging labels and events organiser, Scenic Route is back with a night of cutting-edge sound. Crafting experimental pop with the likes of Spivak, System Olympia and Nourished By Time, the label has earned its reputation for being one of the capital’s coolest tastemakers. This night at Moth Club will feature, ‘melancholy dub-funk, jangling psychedelia, moon-burnt sophisti-pop and stained glass folk mutations’ and while I don’t really know what any of that means, I can promise that you’ll leave with a significantly broadened musical palate.
Moth Club, E9 6NU. Fri Aug 1, 7pm. From £26.99.
Honey Dijon
House music icon and DJ extraordinaire Honey Dijon is taking over Finsbury Park for an epic all-day rave as part of Krankbrother’s latest event series. The ‘Baddy on the Floor’ hitmaker will be wrapping up the event that features sets from Kerri Chandler, KILIMANJARO, Anastazja and TSHA under the trees of the north London park. Get a couple of hard seltzers down you and prepare for a marathon dance-off.
Finsbury Park, N4 1EE. Sat Aug 9, 1pm. From £58.76.
For the retired NME hoarders
The Libertines
Wrapping up their world tour of the No.1 album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, The Libertines are playing a massive Gunnersbury Park takeover that’s the stuff of indie landfill dreams. Featuring Supergrass, Soft Play, Hak Baker, Lambrini Girls and Real Farmer, it’s supposedly the group’s final show for the foreseeable future, so if you’re a real supporter, you’ll buy a ticket and dig out a red military jacket for the show.
Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ. Sat, 9 Aug, 1:00 pm. From £62.16.
Gorillaz
Coinciding with the ‘House of Kong’ exhibition at the Copper Box Arena in east London, Gorillaz are playing four one-off gigs, with each dedicated to an early record that’ll be played in full. Hear 2001’s Gorillaz, 2005’s Demon Days, 2010’s Plastic Beach, and a very special ‘Mystery Show’, with each show recreating the albums’ original visuals. If you can’t wait for the show? Immerse yourself in the virtual band at ‘House of Kong’, running from August 8 to September 3.
Copper Box Arena, E20 3HB. Aug 29, 30, Sept 2, 3, 7pm. From £80.
For the nostalgic rap fans
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes was, unsurprisingly, one of the best performers at Glastonbury this summer. The rap legend has proper party-ready heaters that include ‘Break Ya Neck’, ‘I Know What You Want’ and the Pussycat Dolls’ breakout single ‘Don't Cha’. If you fancy watching the hulking wordsmith reel off high-intensity rap verses at breakneck speed, this epic day party at South Facing, featuring fellow legends Redman and Big Daddy Kane, is not to be missed.
Crystal Palace Bowl, SE19 2BA. Fri Aug 15, 4pm. From £49.50.
Will Smith
The Fresh Prince is coming to London this August, ready to soundtrack your summer with his signature brand of swear-free, radio-friendly rap. His delightfully uncool style earned him worldwide fame (being one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors also helps) with hits like ‘Summertime’ and ‘Miami’ being firm favourites for millennial student union DJs across the country. Hear these alongside his newer stuff as he comes to Brixton for one night only.
O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 9SL. Thur Aug 28, 7pm. From £76.34.
Skepta
Boy Better Know co-founder and London rap legend Skepta is back again with his two-day takeover of Crystal Palace Bowl, as part of Big Smoke. The grime MC, rapper, record producer and DJ may be more focused on his house music project Más Tiempo recently, he’s still performing the hits when called upon. This particular show is sure to be a big one as it ties in with the 20-year anniversary of BBK, which launched the careers of JME, Jammer, Wiley, Frisco and many more ‘00s legends.
Crystal Palace Bowl, SE19 2BA. Sat Aug 9, 2pm. From £75.60.
For NTS Radio supporters
Noname
American rapper Noname broke out in 2018, when she released her second album, Room 25. its coming-of-age storytelling against backdrop of neo-soul and cosmic jazz influences earned her critical acclaim, which she revolted against by taking an immediate year-long hiatus to focus on her internet book club. Her most recent work, the 2023 album Sundial, is underpinned with themes of moral questioning and political comedy which is sure to sound even more impactful in the intimate Jazz Café main room.
Jazz Café, NW1 7PG. Aug 12 and 13, 7pm. From £37.50.
Khruangbin
Khruangbin’s music influence is truly global, as the trio of Lee Ochoa, Mark Speer and Donald "DJ" Johnson draw on parts of Thai rock, Iranian pop, dub, and American soul, rock, and psychedelia to create their transcendent sound. This Gunnersbury Park takeover is sure to be a dreamy summer night out, where a – hopefully – hot and hazy afternoon comes soundtracked by eclectic rock ‘n’ roll, with support from TV on The Radio, Palace and NoSo!.
Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ. Fri Aug 15, 4pm. From £56.
For the pop girls
BLACKPINK
If you don’t know who BLACKPINK are by now, I’m sorry I cannot help you. Arguably the biggest stars in K-Pop, the South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment consists of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, with a combined net worth of $85 million. The girl group is a leading force in the Korean Wave and ‘girl crush’ movement, which draws on themes of self-confidence and female empowerment. To see exactly why they’re so popular, catch them as they make history as the first K-pop group to play Wembley (twice).
Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS. Aug 15 and 16, 5pm. From £75.85.
Addison Rae
Pivoting from TikTok sensation to full-blown pop girlie, nobody is doing it like Addison right now. From her outlandish street style to her friendship with the queen of east London, Charli xcx, the American performer has somehow managed to create a buzz around herself that’s met with actually very good music. Sashay along to ‘Aquamarine’, weep to ‘Headphones On’ and see if you can hit the high notes of ‘Fame is a Gun’ at her Kentish Forum two-night takeover.
O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Aug 30 and 31, 7pm. From £35.
Crystal Palace Bowl, SE19 2BA. Sat Aug 9, 2pm. From £75.60.
For the intellectual hardcore stans
'Visibly High' and Pest Control at United and Strong Fest
Missing Outbreak already? Well, United and Strong Fest is sure to scratch that itch. Heading to Number 90, Hackney Wick this August, the event comes from promoters Concrete Culture, whose close affiliation with labels such as Northern Unrest have put them at the forefront of the UK’s hardcore scene. This epic pre-show is headlined by ‘secret act’ Visibly High (just check the comments if you really can’t wait to find out who it is) and features performances by Pest Control, Bodyweb and Hitmen. One for fans of Turnstile and all things ‘heavy’.
Number 90, E9 5LN. Thur Aug 7, 7pm. From £5.