The best London gigs and concerts in July

July is shaping up to be a blast. If you, like myself, are already suffering the post-Glasto blues (no, you’ve rewatched Wolf Alice’s set too many times), then there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of London’s live music offerings this month. Catch world-famous rappers, nineties rock legends, crooning pop girls and experimental ambient pioneers all in London. That’s not even including the BST Hyde Park takeovers, Drake at Wireless and, of course, Oasis’ very much sold-out return to Wembley. So, while you may be swapping vast festival fields and sun-drenched partying for baking asphalt and the unbearable heat of the Central line, you can still neck lukewarm beers and lose your voice singing a little too loudly at some of the gigs here.

Georgia curates Time Out’s music section. Her current obsession is Turnstile's single ‘Look Out for Me’, a band she's written about in her magnum opus, a feature on London's hardcore sceen, which you can read here. See if you can find her at any of these gigs; she's probably by the merch stand with a pint of Diet Coke. 

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For the beer-chugging indie rockstars 

Fontaines DC

The boys have done well here, haven’t they? Fresh off the back of a killer 2024, post-punk five-piece Fontaines DC confirmed a mega love show at Finsbury Park this July. The band achieved genuine mainstream success with their fourth album, Romance, last year as well as a serious vibe shift, where they suddenly started dressing like characters from Hackers (perhaps to match the rave history of their label, XL Recordings?). They’ve teased new music with the single ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young' on their deluxe version of Romance, so fingers crossed for a couple of exclusive first performances. 

Finsbury Park, N4 2DH. Sat Jul 5, noon. From £61.05.

Kaiser Chiefs

Nobody reading this doesn’t love yelling along to ‘I Predict A Riot’ when they’re a few pints deep. And that’s ok. Embrace the nostalgia by heading to Ally Pally this July for the chance to see Ricky Wilson and co from the massive outdoor stage, with guests The Coral and We Are Scientists, as part of the Palace’s Summer Season line-up.

Alexandra Palace Park, N22 7AY. Sat Jul 19, 5pm. From £58.69.

Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette has been one of music’s most influential songwriters since 1995, bagging seven Grammy awards over her career. Fresh off the back of her Glasto slot, she’s comin' to The O2 to wrap up the European run of her 2025 world tour. Her expressive music and electric performances have earned her critical acclaim, with standouts like ‘Ironic’ and ‘You Oughta Know’ promising to be particularly exciting.

The O2, SE10 0DX. Sun Jul 27, 6pm. From £71.31.

For the emotionally-charged indie girls 

Faye Webster

American indie folk singer Faye Webster is back in the UK to celebrate her latest album, Underdressed at the Symphony. Recorded on a ranch in Texas, she admitted to pushing herself lyrically ‘further than ever before’ ahead of its release, where shades of indie rock, country and hip-hop complement her signature wit and cathartic songwriting. Exploring themes of breakups, desire and the mundaneness of modern life, it’s sure to sound lush when performed live at the Apollo – get there early to catch the hotly tipped London songwriter, Amie Blu. 

Eventim Apollo, W6 9QH. Wed Jul 2, 7pm. From £34.75.

Japanese Breakfast

J Brekkie released a stunning fourth album earlier this year, titled For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), to widespread acclaim. In contrast to its predecessor, Jubilee, it explored slightly more gothic themes or ‘psychic state of poets on the verge of inspiration’ in the words of frontwoman Michelle Zauner. This show at O2 Academy Brixton gives London’s saddest indie girls the chance to embrace the mellow prettiness of grand string arrangements and vintage-sounding guitars, each with a single tear running down their cheeks.

O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 9SL. Thur Jul 3, 7pm. From £39.40.

Cosmorat

Frequent gig-goers may recognise the name Cosmorat, given their non-stop commitment to live shows. They’ve been at SXSW, The 100 Club, Omeara, Star of Kings, and a whole bunch more. Now, they’re set to do an exciting in-the-round show at the teeny tiny Shacklewell Arms. Prepare to have your eardrums blasted by playful indie-pop, peppered with explosive screaming and bluesy guitars at an intimate live performance from one of the scene's most promising live acts.

The Shacklewell Arms, E8 2EB. Wed Jul 23, 7.30 pm. From £11.33.  

St Vincent

Somerset House Summer Series is back with a whole bunch of exciting gigs planned. This performance by St Vincent is a particular standout, as the six-time Grammy award-winner brings her unique brand of art rock-meets-experimental pop to central London. Her recently released, self-produced project All Born Screaming only flexed her penchant for intricate guitar work and theatrical performance, which you can see from her Jools Holland appearance last year, so you can only expect a phenomenal live show here.

Somerset House, WC2R 1LA. Wed Jul 16, 7.30pm. From £58.75. 

 

For the hip-hop know-it-alls

50 Cent

NYC rapper 50 Cent soundtracked the noughties (and most of our shared adolescence) with his club-ready anthems. If hearing ‘Candy Shop’ or ‘In da Club’ takes you back immediately to the sweaty haze of your sticky-floored student union, then there’s no excuse to miss Curtis James Jackson III’s return to London. He’s joined by legendary R&B star Mary J Blige a for a night of epic proportions. 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, N17 0BX. Thur Jul 3, 4.30pm. From £76.10.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

When these two announced their world tour together, the internet went absolutely insane, mainly because their only Canadian date was in Drake’s hometown of Toronto (tea). Spats aside, this collaborative show has already teased some banging moments. Opening in Minneapolis with Lamar on a trademark black Buick GNX and SZA’s wildfire-inspired orange-glowing woodland set, it set a precedent for a big-budget show that successfully brings together two opposing musical styles with a surprising ease. 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, N17 0BX. Tue Jul 22 and Wed Jul 23, 5pm. From £140.

Schoolboy Q

Schoolboy Q is bringing some LA rap flavour to north London this July. The California-based wordsmith began as part of the Black Hippy collective, alongside collaborators Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar, before releasing his own highly praised solo projects. His 2015 album Oxymoron produced two of his biggest singles, ‘Collard Greens’ and ‘Studio’, which are sure to sound incredible when blasted through the amphitheatre-like setting of the Roundhouse. 

Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Mon Jul 7, 7pm. From £37.50. 

For the ‘brat summer’-deprived pop gals 

Camilla Cabello

Tying in with her fourth studio album, C,XOXO, Camilla Cabello is playing Eventim Apollo this month, and it’s a must for pop girlies. Following her departure from girl band Fifth Harmony, Cabello asserted herself as one to watch with her earworm single ‘Havana’. Within C, XOXO, Cabello delves into a more experimental pop sound, as if Charli xcx had been living in Miami for the past decade, exploring lost love and aimless youth on the Gucci Mane-sampling ‘I Luv It’ and the Pitbull-esque ‘B.O.A.T.’.

Eventim Apollo, W6 9QH. Tue Jul 8 , 7pm. From £150.

Stray Kids

K-pop superstars Stray Kids are the definition of a ‘global sensation’. The eight-piece became the seventh-best-selling artist globally in 2022, before breaking records for the first six consecutive Billboard 200 entries last year. If you missed their BST show, you’re in with the chance to catch the group at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where anthemic pop, intricate dance numbers and full-scale production are guaranteed. 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, N17 0BX. Fri Jul 18, 7pm. From £158.

Billie Eilish

With standout moments like ‘Birds of a Feather’ and ‘Lunch’, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft successfully delved into a more joyful sound (shifting away from her usual gothic teen angst) where she embraced the mess of falling in love. Join her at The O2 for an incredible six-night run, where you can let your hair down and bask in the butterflies feeling you get from a new relationship.

The O2, SE10 0DX. Thur Jul 10-Wed Jul 16, 6.30pm. From £159.

Lana Del Rey 

Sometimes you need to just get all up in your feelings. And that’s where Lana comes in. The American crooner released a typically moody single, ‘Bluebird’, earlier this year, teasing a more country-inflected sound. If the pictures of her Ireland dates are anything to go by, you can expect a stage setup to match this fresh off the prairie vibe, with rocking chairs on the porch, festooned lighting and moss-covered trees. Elaborate, yes, but what else could you want from a melancholic queen? 

Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS. Thur Jul 3 and Fri Jul 4, 7.15pm. From £106.70. 

Rock the rock ‘n’ roll old timers

Slayer

Thrash metal legends Slayer is leading the charge on this filthy day of proper head-banging, face-clenching rock and roll. Expect a sea of leather-clad, balding old men with blown-out tattoos to be slowly melting away under the hot July sun while enjoying a massive Finsbury Park all-dayer that brings together some of the scene’s finest. With support from Mastodon, Anthrax, Amon Amarth, Hatebreed, and Neckbreakker, it’s an essential outing for anyone who’s ever stepped foot in Helgis. 

Finsbury Park, N4 1EE. Sun Jul 6, noon. From £104.50.

Judas Priest & Alice Cooper

Two metal heavyweights are co-headlining a massive night at the O2 this month. Tying in with the band’s Shield Of Pain tour, Judas Priest is paying homage to 35 years of the Painkiller album, promising a ‘rare unique set including beloved classics’. They’re joined by The Godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper, who’s been at the whole gigging thing for more than 60 years. Expect nothing but a full-blown spectacle from these two.

The O2, SE10 0DX. Fri Jul 25, 6.30pm. From £81.

Doobie Brothers

If you want to channel your inner Dazed and Confused character, head to this night with Doobie Brothers. The California natives are masters of vocal harmonies and eclectic rock instrumentals that blend elements of folk, country and blues, creating a distinctively eclectic sound. Dig out a thin floral shirt and your flares and prepare to boogie to hits like ‘What a Fool Believes’, ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’ and ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’.  

The O2, SE10 0DX. Sat Jul 19, 6.30pm. From £104.20.

For the heavily online music critics

Yeule 

If an artist takes their name from a Final Fantasy character, you can kind of guess the type of music they’ll be making. Yeule’s futuristic synth-pop makes use of robotic jitters and ethereal electronic flourishes, with ambient, glitch and Asian post-pop all coming together. The artist released the trip-hop-inspired album Evangelic Girl Is a Gun on Ninja Tune in May, with production from Mura Masa and AG Cook scattered throughout the project. 

O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Wed Jul 2, 7pm. From £28.47.

Cortisa Star

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok any time in the past year, you would have seen Cortisa Star. The viral hitmaker has already been supported by Doechii, Charli xcx, Skaiwater and more, graced the cover of The Face and released her debut EP E.M.O. (EVIL MOTION OVERLOAD) to an international fandom – not bad for a 19-year-old. Her boisterous hyperpop rapping style is characterised by bombastic club beats, abrasive glitches and bratty one-liners that are made to be screamed back at her in a live setting. 

XOYO, EC2A 4AP. Sat Jul 19, 7pm. From £21.84.

Nettspend 

Nettspend is a rising American rapper who first garnered attention for his viral track ‘Drankdrankdrank’, which went viral on Twitter in 2023. He’s a Gen Z favourite for his ‘post-post-rage rap’ style, as dubbed by the New York Times, with distorted 808s and pitched-up layered vocals. Considering his influences are Chief Keef, Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug, prepare to be thrown around a mosh pit and maybe hit on the head by a phone or two.

Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ. Thur Jul 17, 7pm. From £30.25.

For the overly stressed jazz heads

Jim Jarmusch

This duo first performed live at the Issue Project Room in 2011, which led to the recording of their album Concerning the Entrance Into Eternity the following year. Over a decade later, you can hear Jozef Van Wissem, aka the self-declared ‘lute player with a punk rock attitude’, and film director and guitarist Jim Jarmusch draw on avant-garde minimalism and classical phrases to create something suitably grand and cinematic that’s made for this kind of venue.

The Clapham Grand, SW11 1TT. Wed Jul 9, 7pm. From £36.

Haroumi Hosono

One of the most revered Japanese musicians of all time, Haroumi Hosono was not just part of the pioneering electronic trio Yellow Magic Orchestra, but was also a member of the influential folk rock act Happy End, and consistently released solo albums for five decades. The 77-year-old has dabbled in classic rock, J-pop, jazz, exotica, lounge, film scores – you name it. He even recorded a minimalist soundtrack for Muji. This Royal Festival Hall show is a rare chance to catch a master of his craft.

Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX. Sat Jul 19, 7pm. From £27.