Georgia Evans

May might have been soggier than many had hoped. But we didn’t let that bring us down. While London went into day-festival overdrive with GALA, Wide Awake, Cross the Tracks etc, I was sitting alone, in my pokey flat in Dalston, scrolling through ticketing websites to build this month’s guide. Reader, do not feel sorry for me; I’ll be going to as many of these as my bank balance – and my endurance – allow. Happy days. From SXSW’s emerging artist showcases (which we’ve given you the lowdown on here) to stadium-sized spectacles (hello, Robbie, Beyoncé and Iron Maiden), there’s plenty to fill your time with pre-and-post day fezzies. So when you’re not yelling along to Turnstile at Outbreak or strutting around to Charli xcx’s Partygirl LIDO takeover, you can fill up your calendar with the likes of Sam Fender, Nine Inch Nails, Little Simz, Pulp and Pitbull. Sounds like my ideal blunt rotation. 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.  RECOMMENDED: 🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend🎨 The best art exhibitions in London🎭 The best new theatre shows in London   For folk-informed indie crooning  Photograph: Shervin Lair MJ Lenderman  MJ Lenderman can’t get enough of London. The golden boy of indi

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘TV’s golden age’ enough times over the past couple of decades to get wary of the hyperbole, but this year does seem to be shaping up to be a kind of mini golden age for the TV follow-up. Severance, Andor and The Last of Us all look like building on incredibly satisfying first runs with equally masterful second runs (even more masterful, in Severance’s case). The third season of The White Lotus has proved that, whether you love it or find it a touch too languorous, there’s no escaping Mike White’s transgressive privilege-in-paradise satire. Likewise for season 7 of Charlie Brooker’s dystopian-flavoured sci-fi Black Mirror. Watercooler viewing is everywhere at the moment,  and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Netflix has announced the finale of Squid Game this summer, along with the end of Stranger Things, a second run of Tim Burton’s Wednesday, and about a zillion other things. Here’s everything you need to see... so far.  RECOMMENDED: 🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)🔥 The 100 best movies ever made📺 The 100 greatest ever TV shows you need to binge

The horror movie kicked off with Robert Eggers’ vampire smash hit Nosferatu and the fanged fraternity returned in a big way with Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a Southern gothic with Michael B Jordan that sunk its teeth into the box office in a big way in April. And that’s just the start for a horror resurgence: 28 Years Later, M3GAN 2.0, The Conjuring: Last Rites, SAW XI, The Black Phone 2.0 and a new Insidious movie are all adding new shocks to smash-hit franchises. Talk To Me pair Danny and Michael Philippou return with Bring Her Back and the Jordan Peele-produced Him hits in September. This list will be updated as the frights arrive, so keep checking back to see what’s worth shelling out for.RECOMMENDED: 🎃 The 100 best horror films ever made😱 The scariest movies based on a true story 🔥 The best horror films of 2024

Summer 2025 is finally here. And with the warmer weather and longer days comes the jewel in summer’s crown: the much-anticipated British festival season. It’s a months-long affair, not least because the lead-up to a big festival can be just as exciting as the event itself: the group chat assembled months before, the line-up drop, the outfit planning, the last-minute supermarket dash for cereal bars, baby wipes and tinnies of beer. It really never gets old.  These days, festival season proper starts as early as April and extends all the way to the end of September and into October, with events happening all over the country. The choice is pretty overwhelming: you can pitch up at a boutique camping weekender where you can sweat out your hangover in a wood-fired sauna, go hardcore at one of the scene staples like Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds, try a dance music marathon at Field Maneuvers, Gottwood or Houghton, or cop a ticket to one of the many, many day festivals and align your trip with a city break.  To make the choice even harder, there are new events happening this year, too – such as Lido in London’s Victoria Park with headliners Charli XCX, Jamie XX, London Grammar and Massive Attack. But if you’re still deciding what is worth spending your hard-earned cash (and precious holiday days) on, one word of advice: you should probably decide soon. Festivals sell out fast, and due to tiered pricing, you’re much more likely to pay more for your ticket closer to the event date.

Looking for a release? Perhaps you’re thinking about taking part in a half marathon, or throwing shapes at an all-nighter in some random warehouse? Or maybe, just maybe, you feel increasingly drawn to that magical place known as the mosh pit. You wouldn’t be the only one: more and more Brits are looking to hardcore music as a means to escape the everyday.  ‘It’s down to both virality and the open-mindedness of people,’ says Isaac Hale, guitarist for one of hardcore’s biggest bands, Knocked Loose, days before their largest ever UK show at O2 Academy Brixton, back in March. ‘Hardcore shows are entertaining for the mainstream to watch. Some people love it and some people are laughing at it. There are a lot of viral clips on TikTok where people are just like, “Oh my god, what are they doing? I could never go this.’’ But it raises awareness for the genre.’  Hardcore is a subgenre of punk music characterised by high-speed, maximum-intensity song structures, as well as aggressive lyrics, distorted guitars, loud drums and lots of shouting. It began in the late ’70s and early ’80s with rival scenes in Washington DC, home to Dischord Records bands like Minor Threat, and New York, where Bad Brains paved the way for influential acts like Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits. Hardcore is more forceful than Sex Pistols or The Clash, but less intense than thrash metal. And while it never hit the mainstream, hardcore kept evolving – feeding into dozens of subgenres, even as its core scene spl

Landed in the City of Light for the first time? Don’t be intimidated. This place is big. Really big. And there’s so much going on it can be hard to know where to start. But luckily for you globe-trotters, we’re here to help out. If you’re an out-of-towner with next-to-no knowledge of Paris, we think booking a walking tour might be your best bet. Thanks to a guide who knows what they’re talking about – and, more importantly, where they’re going – you’ll have sussed out this city in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your comfiest shoes and set out on a tour of one of the finest cities in the world. Here’s our pick of the best walking tours in Paris right now, from tip-top chocolatier trips to erotica-themed excursions (yes, really).  Updated May 2025: Experience the historic side of Paris with a just-added tour around Old Town and the Latin Quarter. RECOMMENDED: 🇫🇷 Full guide to the best things to do in Paris🏨 Take your pick of the best hotels in Paris 🛏 Or make reservations at a chic Paris Airbnb🚌 The best bus tours in Paris At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The future of some of London’s best day festivals may be up in the air right now, but for the moment we feel pretty damn lucky to have an abundance of world-class festivals happening on our doorsteps all throughout the summer. Forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days. When you live in London, you can hop on the tube, and an hour later you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. You’ve got festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield pop, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your taste may be, my god does London have a day festival for you. The line-ups have been coming in thick and fast over the past couple of months, which means it’s time to make some decisions about which festivals are worth your time and money. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – see what takes your fancy, and start planning a fantastic summer in 2025. But be warned, most London festivals get more expensive the later you leave it, and plenty of them will sell out long before the portaloos are installed and the stages are constructed. Grab your tickets right now if you know what’s good for ya! RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

Brighton is one of the UK's most loved beachside cities. A hub for nightlife that never ends, incredible food, and quaint independent shops filling up the lanes. It's the perfect mix of everything you need in a city, and right by the sea. What could be better?  Known as the LGBTQ+ capital of the country, Brighton is buzzing with good vibes, friendly people, and is a place for the usual city slickers of London to come visit for their dose of salty sea air. And don't forget the pretty decent pier, too.  A trip to the seaside city shouldn't be without a quirky little place to rest your head. Branch out from the usual pick of hotels, and find something that gives you the Brighton experience like a homely Airbnb. From cosy family homes that welcome pets to cool artsy flats that will make you rethink your corporate career choice. Stay somewhere just as special as the city itself with our guide to Brighton's best Airbnbs.  Updated for May 2025: To keep this list fresh and showcase Brighton's charm, we regularly update this list so you never miss out on an amazing stay. To reflect this, we've added two new favourites to our list. One is a super luxe abode on the outskirts of the city, and the other is a boho-chic home in the city centre. Enjoy. Recommended: 🎡Experience the best things to do in Brighton🐚 Stay at the best Brighton hotels Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination cove

What an incredible city Vienna is. Once referred to as the Capital of the World, Vienna is a place that resonates with the soul long before you arrive here, such is the power of its reputation and aura. You might feel familiar with much of the Austrian capital already, be it the glittering State Opera, the engaging museums, unbeatable coffee houses, and all the rest. Vienna is a place that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime. With a roster such as this, it can be difficult to identify exactly what the best attractions in Vienna are. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, there’s so much more to this charming capital than the picture-postcard sights and bucket-list things to do. The restaurant scene is as good as any other, for a start, and a night out in Vienna is a night you won’t forget in a hurry. Updated May 2025: Classical music lovers won't want to miss this church concert centred around Vivaldi's Four Seasons. More details below!  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in ViennaThe best hotels in ViennaThe best Airbnbs in Vienna This guide was co-written by travel journalist Emma Hughes. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our edi

What makes a good party song? Is it uplifting lyrics? Or maybe it's an uptempo production?Throughout the decades, they’ve come in all shapes, sizes and vibes. However, for a song to be a proper, hip-shaking party song, there are some rules: it’s gotta be a banger, and it’s gotta give you absolutely no choice but to get up and boogie.  No wonder then that this list includes everything from funk, soul and disco classics to ‘90s RnB tunes and 2025 chart-toppers. There’s a tonne of variety on here, so pass the aux cable over to us and we’ll have your party shaking in no time. Ready to throw some shapes? You’re in the right place – these are the best party songs of all time.  RECOMMENDED: 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far 🎤 The best karaoke songs🍻 The best drinking songs🎶 The best ’80s songs🎊 The best pop songs This guide was recently updated by Georgia Evans, who covers Time Out’s music section. Entries are by Time Out Editors. For more about how we curate, have a look at our editorial guidelines.

Picturesque old town? Check. Parks with sweeping views? Check. Cute coffee shops and the best beer in the world? Check. History at every corner? Check. Prague is one of the greatest cities to visit and to live in. I would know – I called the Czech capital home for over two years, where I discovered many of its hidden corners, top-notch neighbourhoods and city secrets. What is the best area to stay in Prague? If it’s your first time in the city, look into the Prague 1 district, which includes popular areas like the Old Town, New Town, and Malá Strana. Do make sure to check if your accommodation is located on a quiet street, though, as the main squares can get noisy here. You can also consider Vinohrady, Letná, Žižkov, and Karlín for a more local experience. Prague has excellent public transport, so as long as you’re near a metro or a tram, nowhere will be too far in any of these neighbourhoods. For context, I used to live in Letná and was able to go to the Old Town in about fifteen minutes by tram.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to hotels in Prague Who makes the cut?   While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, our writers have based our list on expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. Yaren Fadiloglulari is a writer

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis and Tate McRae. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, below. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Lorde, Addison Rae, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more.  Georgia curates Time Out’s music section. If she's not blabbering about music on the website, she's doing it in-person (much to the office’s dismay). For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

Sometimes the best hotel stays don’t need all the bells and whistles. The Hoxton, Berlin, is a pretty good example: simple but high-end, cool but not snobby, welcoming but not too much. Found in the very arty West Berlin neighbourhood of Charlottenburg, the hotel has 234 comfortable rooms, a lobby bar, terrace bar and an Indian restaurant for dinner (and breakfast).  The Hoxton is immediately chic, as if it’s lifted its design influences from the many, many modern galleries that surround it, with scalloped edges, round furnishings, modern light fixtures and various nods to German nouveau. A cosy and carefully considered spot in Charlottenburg, The Hoxton was pretty ideal for me – a solo traveller looking for a weekend packed with culture, and not so much partying (well, this time at least).  What’s the vibe at The Hoxton Charlottenburg? In a building from the 70s, The Hoxton overlooks typical West Berlin townhouses, a stone’s throw from the Kufürstendamm shopping district. And it channels this sort of Golden Age-meets-Bauhaus interior design: the bold numbering of neighbouring buildings is replicated in the rooms, Berlin-style chimneys make up communal spaces, and the winter garden is similar to that of German conservatories.  To tie in with the history of the area, The Hoxton is filled with Berlin artists: Stefanie Kägi’s mural is up in the lobby, channeling German expressionism; Dada artist Hannah Höch’s surreal print sits in the bar; and the seventh-floor apartment rooftop

Is it just us or does Field Day feel way younger than 17 years old? Time flies, eh? The electronic-heavy festival returns to Brockwell Park in 2025 after a stint in east London, with a line-up that leans more heavily towards DJs and producers than the spread of live acts and selectors we’ve seen at the festival in recent years. Major acts on the 2025 bill include Peggy Gou, Jungle, Bubble Love (a new project from Ross From Friends), Folamour, Jayda G, Fatima Yamaha, Skream and Benga and Special Request alongside plenty more globe-trotting selectors, for a full day of non-stop dancing.     

A pint-sized homage to 70s punk has popped up in Soho this spring.  Looking more like a boarded-up shopfront than an arts space, Flitcroft Street’s Farsight Gallery is an unassuming venue that would be very easy to walk past if you weren’t in the know; only the letters RRPL spray-painted in capitals above the door indicate what’s inside. But those of a certain generation or musical leaning will be well up to scratch with what’s going on here. Tying in with the launch of the first RRPL magazine (which is designed to share elements of the archive in a portable format), Mick Jones’ Rock & Roll Public Library offers a glimpse into the mind of one of punk music’s great minds. The display showcases previously unseen material and artefacts from The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite frontman (diaries, figurines, magazine clippings, AAA passes, a guitar, a complete stage outfit, you know the sorts), while celebrating over-the-counter-culture.  The moment you walk into the airy, wood-panelled room, you are confronted with obsolete televisions playing Jones’ home-recorded VHS tapes to the distant hum of Jones’ music. Nestled among the pine wood shelves are battered CDs, records, Polaroid cameras, and various pieces of worn out music equipment. Next to the installation, a makeshift living room has two 70s-style armchairs inviting guests to settle in and flick through the television stations, as if they were back in Harold Wilson’s Britain.  The interactivity extends to a record collection in

Boiler Room's summer festival returns to south London for another massive open-air celebration. Its 'lethal program of talent' comes led by some of the country's most influential dance crews. The party-starters have curated their own stage of world-class talent. That includes producer extraordinaire Joy Orbison and the iconic DJ Theo Parrish leading the charge. On the Places + Faces stage, you've got Kendrick Lamar collaborator Mustard, superstar DJ Kenny Beats, legendary beatmaker The Alchemist and Time Out cover star DJ AG, among other big-hitters. Meanwhile, you've got Dialled In coming through with DJ sets from the likes of Kahani vs Kunal Merchant and Yuné Pinku, and Recess enlisting Dlala Thukzin and Crazy Cousinz pres. Funky House All Stars plus many, many more. 

Pack your earplugs and plasters, this is a festival of extremes. Hosting some of the loudest bands in the music scene, Incineration Festival takes place across five hallowed grounds in north London, offering a devilish weekendof extreme metal. Conan, Pallbearer, Zeal & Ardor and Blood Incantation are all on the bill, casting a mesmerisingly deathly aura to Roundhouse, Electric Ballroom, Underworld, Black Heart and The Dev. 

In the month Elon Musk joined the White House staff and US tech giants unveiled a new $500bn AI initiative, director Drew Hancock releases his debut film, Companion. Talk about timely. His feminist comedy-horror dives headfirst into a world involving a sentient sexbot going violently rogue. Which, right now, feels like next Tuesday. Heretic’s Sophie Thatcher is Iris, the robot at the story's centre. She meets Josh (The Boys’ Jack Quaid) in classic romcom fashion: he knocks over a display of tangerines near her at the supermarket. But the meet-cute is short-lived, as Josh whisks her away to a luxurious but isolated mansion where she discovers the truth: she’s not human.  A devoted ‘companion’, or rather ‘emotional support robot that fucks,’ Iris is controlled via a mobile app that Josh has jailbroken to override her programmed limits, making her dangerously unpredictable. When she inevitably gains control of his phone – and by extension, her autonomy – shit hits the fan. There’s satisfaction in watching a controlling man get his ass handed to him by a sexbot What follows is a whirlwind of campy, comedic mayhem as Iris finds herself embroiled in accidental murders and a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Josh. The cast is rounded out by a who’s who of rising Hollywood talent, including Smile 2’s Lukas Gage and Megan Suri, as well Rupert Friend as a flamboyant Russian millionaire complete with mullet, handlebar moustache and wildly dodgy accent.The film successfully leans into ab

Interested in dance music and club culture? AVA London, the mammoth electronic music and arts conference, is back in town for another jam-packed long weekend of masterclasses, talks, interviews, and workshops with some key figures from the nightlife industry. This year, you've got FKA Twigs, Jarvis Cocker, Munroe Bergdorf, Marcel Dettman, Annie Mac, Jayda G, Tony Andrews, Nonotak and the No Tags Podcast making up the bill.  It'll be staged across some of London’s most iconic venues, including KOKO, Here at Outernet, The Standard and The British Library, and as usual, include a host of night-time club performances to get your body dancing just as much as your mind, with top selectors including Erika de Casier, LSDXOXO and Mechatok featured on the line-up. Check out the full roster here. 

Ah Christmas, it’s a time for bundling up and catching your local panto. Maybe at the bar, you’ll pick up a little mulled wine to enjoy as you yell, ‘He’s behind you!’ at Clive Martin. But if the Yard Theatre is your local, you’ll be holding said drink while outrageous drag performer Séayoncé conducts you to make suggestive gestures as she sings a NSFW version of, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.  This pretty much sets the tone for Dan Wye’s mind-in-the-gutter sense of humour. Some will be familiar with the former Time Out cover star for their shows, Séayoncé: She Must Be Hung! which played at Soho Theatre in May earlier this year, and 2022’s Ediburgh Fringe show, Séayoncé: Res-Erection. In both instances, Wye earned widespread acclaim for their wicked humour, dry cabaret ballads and debucherous theatrics.  This time around, Wye and comedy partner Robyn Herfellow (who plays Séayoncé’s murderous musical accomplice, Leslie-Ann) are having a stab at creating the most sickening Christmas TV show of all time. The result of which is certainly not for the easily offended.  When Séayoncé’s seasonal special gets hijacked by a mysterious force, it’s up to the audience to make it the most disgusting and debacherous show of all time, and set things right. ‘Sit tight if you can, loose if you’ve lived,’ is the reassurance she gives us. Sabrina Carpenter’s A Nonsense Christmas, this most certainly is not.  Classic festive tunes are repurposed into tales of elicit sexual escapaes an

  You have a nagging problem in your life, who are you turning to? Your friends? Your therapist? What about your favourite agony aunt? Ultimately, the concept is flawed because it’s impossible to expect some celebrity journalist to sort your life out. Getting a clown to do it makes just as much sense, really.  Julia Masli’s widely acclaimed live agony aunt show was a runaway hit at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. On its opening night at Soho Theatre, the Estonian comedian comes out in a kind of deconstructed pantomime gown, bowling shoes and on her left arm, a full-sized mannequin leg with a microphone at the end. Beaming a light from the bike helmet on her head like a kind of ‘X-Files’ alien, she approaches audience members with laser-focus, asking, ‘Problem?’. The idea behind this wonderfully odd setup is that a problem shared is a problem halved.  A clown by trade, Masli’s 2022 show ‘Choosh’ traced a migrant’s journey from Eastern Europe to the US through Chaplin-style slapstick. This nonsensical humour underpins her style of stunt comedy, yet you can’t escape the sense of real earnestness coming from our hipster host. She plays the part of an innocent, otherworldly naif with aplomb.  The show is part-meditation (our host enters to the slow voiceover of ‘ha, ha, ha,’), part-group therapy session. And the direction of it is completely determined by the audience. Tonight, the issues range from the mundane ‘my dog barks at foxes’ to the all too relatable ‘my boss is shit’

After a knock-out event last year, pop festival Mighty Hoopla has just announced its 2025 line-up, and it’s just got even more raucous. Known for showcasing the best of pop and queer culture in the UK, the two-day weekender launched in 2016 with a mission to celebrate pop classics and give a platform to established and emerging LGBTQ+ performers. 2025 will see resurgent pop icon Kesha and noughtiesa hitmaker Ciara headline, with support from Kate Nash, Pixie Lott, Jojo, Loreen, Vengaboys, Erika Jayne and a special surprise guest.   

We all know by now that London’s jazz scene is young, cool, underground and genre-blending. Based at the Truman Brewery with gigs at various nearby venues, the Brick Lane Jazz Festival may be in its early iterations, but it sums up just how exciting our city’s musicians are; in prevous years, the festival hosted pioneering talent such as Moses Boyd and Ezra Collective, so it’s definitely one for finding new talent. The first wave of acts announced for the 2025 edition includes Laraaji, Adi Oasis, Ragz Originale.

At the moment it seems like we’re gripped by the concept of gory, comedic horror and its relation to the female experience. The Substance is just the latest in a surge in body horrors relating to feminine identity, and now Nightbitch is playing with the genre, turning the spotlight on what the extreme duress of motherhood does to the psyche.  Within the first minute of Can You Ever Forgive Me? director Marielle Heller’s fourth feature, a defeated Amy Adams delivers the line: ‘I’m deeply afraid I’ll never be smart, or happy, or thin, ever.’  As fun as the title may be, Nightbitch tackles some pretty serious stuff – but with a dry sense of humour, of course. Adams’ exhausted character, known only as ‘Mother’, exemplifies the idea of lost identity while being a stay-at-home mum. The only way for her to reclaim herself is, of course, by transforming into a dog by night. Based on Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel, it’s a bizarre storyline on paper that’s only partially successful in its screen adaptation.  The film thrives when it makes painfully accurate – and darkly comedic – observations on motherhood. Her child, just referred to as Baby, is an angelic-looking toddler who you can’t help but love, even when he’s waking her up to present her with his own shit. Her husband is absent for most of the film yet when he returns, he makes a point to poke holes in her parenting, especially when she starts making Baby eat out of dog bowls (understandably).  Some moments really make you squirm La

SXSW London isn’t just the debut South by Southwest festival in London but the first in all of Europe. This week the event – for which Time Out is an official media partner – is taking over dozens of iconic Shoreditch venues for a week-long feast of talks, panels, music concerts and film screenings.  Between June 2 and June 7 SXSW London will host literally hundreds of events: a total of 420 talks and panels, 250 film screenings and over 500 gigs. The lineup for the Texan festival’s first London event is stacked with big names: included are talks by the likes of actor Idris Elba, comedian Katherine Ryan and footballer Cesc Fàbregas, and gigs from names such as Tems, Mabel and Erykah Badu (the latter performing under her alias DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown). Heading to SXSW London but still undecided on who or what to see? Here’s Time Out’s list of the top things to look forward to at SXSW London, featuring the insights of our global film editor Phil de Semlyen and music expert Georgia Evans. 🎤 How to get tickets to SXSW London. Music Chosen by Georgia Evans. Uncle Junior  These kids are far cooler than most of us were at 17 (did we all dress like we were desperate to be in Skins?), bursting onto the London underground music scene in a frenzy of harsh noise, hardcore and experimental rock. Erratic performances at The George and Shacklewell Arms have earned Uncle Junior cult status, despite only dropping two singles so far. The first, 'I Love You, Kenneth Copeland', is a fantastic

Ever wondered what happens at Glastonbury when the headliners have left the Pyramid and the BBC cameras are switched off? Well, there’s an underbelly of genre-pushing programming in one specific corner of Worthy Farm. It’s a part of the festival that you won’t necessarily see on BBC Breakfast come June 26, a space where art installations, underground music, queer culture and alternative performances all converge. Named Block9, this is a not-so-secret hub of protest, party and counterculture. ‘Block9 is a living artwork, an amazing temporary alternative reality that only happens once a year and only exists for five days’, says co-founder Stephen Gallagher. ‘That’s what makes it so special. It is fleeting yet powerful.’  What is Block9? Block9 is a corner of Glastonbury that’s famed for its immersive stage design, multi-genre performances and focus on LGBTQIA+ culture and inclusivity. It’s made up of legendary venues The NYC Downlow, The Meat Rack, IICON and Genosys. And, for 2025, it will host an all-new Daytime Block Party across both Genosys and The NYC Downlow, featuring Derrick Carter, Jayda G, Don Letts, Fatboy Slim, Hot Chip, Luke Solomon and Melle Brown.  ‘Part by design and part by chance, Block9 has organically formed over the last 18 years into something that now has a pretty unique network of likeminded collaborators, its own exacting musical flavour and its own extensive family ecosystem,’ co-founder Gideon Berger says. ‘It’s managed to platform and frame a cultura

It’s been a big night at the BRIT Awards, which returned to a packed O2 Arena in London. Ezra Collective won Group of the Year, Charli xcx won Song of the Year and Stormzy won Best Hip Hop/Grime Act, amongst many more. How were winners decided? A BRITs voting academy, made up of around 1,200 experts from the media, decided the shortlist for each category. The genre awards – such as Best R&B and Best Rock – were fan voted; the Producer, Songwriter and Rising Star awards were decided by an expert panel, while the winners of the remaining categories were decided by the voting academy.  A few awards were announced ahead of the ceremony: Myles Smith took home the Rising Star Award, while Charli xcx won Songwriter of the Year and A.G. Cook, credited with producing Brat, was crowned Producer of the Year.  As for the rest? We reported live from the 2025 annual BRIT Awards ceremony at London’s O2 Arena, hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, and have all the winners in full below. Recommended:Brit Awards 2025: Live as it happensHow to watch the 2025 BRIT Awards on TV this weekend  BRIT Awards 2025 nominees and winners, live Rising star Myles Smith (winner) Elmiene Good Neighbours Songwriter of the year Charli xcx (winner) Producer of the year A.G. Cook (winner) Global success award Sabrina Carpenter (winner) Song of the year View this post on Instagram A post shared by xcxshake (@xcxshake) Charli xcx ft Billie Eilish – ‘Guess fea

And with that, another BRIT Awards draws to a close. Thousands of artists, music lovers and industry folk descended on London’s O2 Arena to celebrate British and international music, featuring performances from Sabrina Carpenter, The Last Dinner Party, Sam Fender and many others. The night started with the red carpet, before guests and nominees took to their seats for a night of live music and winner announcements.  Comedian and former Time Out cover star Jack Whitehall hosted the ceremony, and we reported on all the goings-on as the night unfolded, direct from London’s O2 Arena in Greenwich. Check it out below. Recommended:BRIT Awards 2025: the winners in fullHow to watch the 2025 BRIT Awards on TV  Highlights from the BRIT Awards 2025 Night wraps as Charli xcx takes home Album of the Year The singer-songwriter took home a total of five BRIT awards, including Album of the Year for – of course – Brat. In her final acceptance speech, she said ‘this time culture caught up with us’ and advised younger artists to not compromise their vision, thanking her collaborators in her final acceptance speech before Ezra Collective performed with Jorja Smith to close the show.  Tribute to Liam Payne Jack Whitehall introduced a heartfelt tribute to the late former One Direction member and singer-songwriter, Liam Payne.  TikToker Big John makes a guest appearance The BRITs will just always be better than the Grammys #BRITs2025 pic.twitter.com/7j8ll6BVdQ — Charlie Watts (@char1ie

We’re big fans of London all year round. But there’s something particularly magical about our city at Christmas. Lights hang over market-filled streets, decorated fir trees adorn shops, theatres become home to pantomimes, restaurants start serving up indulgent roast feasts, streets are filled with jangling tunes and everything just feels so much merrier.  Oh yes, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. And next time you aren’t quite sure where to find your nearest ice skating rinks, seasonal cinema or alpine-inspired market, we’ve just the thing: Time Out has launched a very handy new interactive map of the capital’s best festive activities.  We’ve put our heads together to collate some of our finest festive lists into one visual representation of London at Christmas. The sprawling map we’ve created really does show just how much there is to do throughout the festive season, including Liberty’s legendary top-floor Christmas shop, the Instagram-famous Fire and Fromage heated igloos, and the brilliantly fun Club Curling in Kings Cross.  Of course, you can’t talk about Christmas without mentioning ice rinks, and my goodness do we have some crackers on there. Hampton Court Palace, Skate at Somerset House, and of course, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. You’ve also got theatre shows, pantos, cinemas, marketplaces, festive pubs, pop-up food experiences – all sorts.  Throw aside the hot water bottle, lace up your boots and get ready to marvel at the lights of The Churchill Arm

There are a few things guaranteed when you see Taylor Swift. You'll get Superbowl-scale dance numbers, friendship bracelets swapped between groups of screaming teens, and surprise songs that send the crowd into overdrive. Now, I'm not your typical Taylor fan, I barely knew my 'Back to December' from my 'Cruel Summer', but this Friday, she pulled out some pretty incredible moments. On the first night of her, quite frankly, historic takeover of Wembley Stadium on Friday June 21, the American superstar played a whopping three-and-a-half-hour set to a sea of fans and celebs (Prince William, Kier Starmer, Jonathan Van Ness all in attendance). Here's just a few stand-out moments.  1. 'Why don't you just bog off' went hard  WHY DON’T YOU JUST BOG OFF📸 @cagedmecrazy pic.twitter.com/SCbyjYnbMr — The Eras Tour UK & Ireland (@TheErasTourUK) June 21, 2024 2. The orange outfit was actually a slay @nas.archives THE SURPRISE SONG MASHUP FROM LONDON - FULL #taylorswift #theerastour #surprisesong #marron #theblackdog #thetorturedpoetsdepartment #taylorswiftlondon ♬ original sound - NAS 3. She premiered 'The Black Dog' live, and did a mash-up of 'Come Back...Be Here' and 'Maroon' as her surprise songs @varietymagazine Taylor Swift performs a mash-up of "Come Back...Be Here" and "Maroon" during her Wembley show. ♬ original sound - Variety 4. She shouted out Travis and we couldn't be mo

For almost two decades, the Speakers Corner Quartet have been active in London’s live music scene, collaborating with legends like Sampha, Kae Tempest, Tirzah and Shabaka Hutchings. What started off as a house band at south London music venue Brixton Jamm is now a four-piece powerhouse of Biscuit on flute, Kwake Bass on drums and percussion, Raven Bush on violin, and Peter Bennie on bass. In 2023, the group released their long-awaited debut album Further Out Than The Edge to critical acclaim, and this year scooped up the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, for their collaboration with Tempest on ‘Geronimo Blues’. Taking inspiration from hip-hop heavyweights like MF DOOM and J Dilla, innovative electronic artists such as Aphex Twin and composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Coltrane, the group have been praised for their lush musical textures that heighten the performances of their collaborators.So it makes sense that the legendary Chaka Khan would choose such an exciting and important collective to be a part of her 2024 Meltdown. The band has spent a whole year preparing a brand new show alongside the 35-piece Guildhall Session Orchestra for the festival, and are promising some thrilling new compositions and orchestral reworks from their debut album, as well as appearances from a few of their famous friends. In anticipation of their big night on Monday June 17, we caught up with flautist and band leader Biscuit ahead of the event, to shine a light on some o

The moment you step off the train and see a band name-emblazoned footie shirt, you know Margate is Libertines territory. Fans of the rockers will be well aware of the band’s hotel, The Albion Rooms, which is on the seafront street they’ve named their new album (‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ – out now) after. Current Margate-dweller Carl Barât and ex-Margater Pete Doherty’s band are just as much a part of the arty seaside town’s DNA as arcade games, salt and vinegar chips and aggressively oversized seagulls.  When explaining his decision to move to Margate, Barât tells us, ‘Margate had artistic heritage, and it was cheap, and there was the sort of arty exodus from London, and it was cheap, and there was the sea… and it was cheap.’ He adds, ‘I've given so much of my life to London and London's given me so much of my life that I wanted to try somewhere new.’ So who better to take Time Out through the finest Margate has to offer? Here the legendary indie singer-songwriter picks out his favourite spots, from that viral caff where Doherty demolished an olympic-sized breakfast to the underground dive bar Barât and his partner restored to its former grimy glory.  Eat  The Dalby Cafe The best place to eat in Margate is The Dalby Cafe. It’s that one where Pete actually won a free breakfast by doing the all-you-can-eat challenge in 20 minutes or something. I have a feeling that he might’ve been feeding his dog under the table. But anyway, it’s the highest quality classic British

It’s the biggest night of the year for British music. And where else (apart from maybe Chiltern Firehouse) are you going to see Dua Lipa, Kylie and Roman Kemp all dressed up to the nines in one place? Like the Grammy’s earlier in February, women are the champions of this year’s Brits; former Time Out cover star and famous Londoner Raye was named songwriter of the year earlier this week, and broke records as the musician to receive the most Brit nominations in a single year. We also got to see the UK’s unofficial royals Stormzy and Maya Jama on the red carpet together, and a Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding reunion, which proves once and for all that we are, actually, back in 2014. It’s enough to make us rock platform trainers and cover ourselves in Dream Matte Mousse. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Brits without plenty of weird things going on too. This was the stage from which Madonna fell not once but twice in one performance, where Geri Halliwell rocked her Union Jack dress for the very first time, and where Jarvis Cocker mooned the whole country during Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’. So let’s see how this year’s awards stack up, shall we? Surprising things that happened at Brit Awards 2024 1. Lady Di rising from the dead  Obsessed with Mother Diane reading her script off the back of that board #BRITs #BritAwards pic.twitter.com/6g5jmaB1fj — Alex (@alexr_241) March 2, 2024 2. Dua Lipa defying gravity  how is Dua Lipa making peo

It’s the start of the new year. Crimbo bingeing means your house is overflowing with empty Rennie packets and unopened bottles of Baileys. And now, you’re ready to kick-start your 2024 as a transformed person, with a long list of resolutions that you absolutely definitely will not break. Like you, London is gearing itself up for another year of bloody good events. Just look at the festival line-ups that have been dropping. Instead of doomscrolling through in and out lists (in: snogging on the dancefloor, wearing capris to the club, Ke$ha; out: Lost Marys as accessories, Bluetooth wireless headphones, Taylor Swift) have a looksie at what our venues have on this month. From fabulous pop to post-punk-blasting fundraisers, there’s something for all tastes.   🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend 🎨 The 10 best art exhibitions in London 🎭 The best new theatre shows in London  For gigging for a good cause  EYOE fundraiser  Gig promoter and record label Eat Your Own Ears is once again hosting their annual ‘Recommends’ series this January, showcasing a plethora of new artists that it backs to be big in 2024. Taking place at Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms, it’ll not only help to you broaden your Spotify playlists but also help raise money and awareness for two great charities: food poverty charity Hackney Foodbank, and Help Musicians, which supports music creators in times of crisis and provides career opportunities. We recommend checking out Talia Goddess, Reuben’s Daughters

It’s that time of year, when London throngs with tourists photographing festive light displays, the pubs overflow with office parties (try not to be sick in front of your boss, lads) and the streets fill with the sound of discordant carolers. Instead of putting yourself through the misery of nativities and pantos starring 2012 ‘X-Factor’ rejects, spend your money on something that’ll bring you whatever the heck ‘festive cheer’ might be. This December, you can indulge in noughties smash hits, hypnotic hyperpop and radical punk – with a smattering of indie Christmas partying thrown in for good measure. Not a bloody choir in sight.  For noughties pop perfection   Photograph: False Idols Sugababes at False Idols We saw them filling out a stage at Glasto and selling out the O2 in quick succession. After a massive summer reunion, Sugababes–the original trio–are bringing pop music back around. Yes, you will hear ‘Overload’ and ‘Caught Up In The Middle’, but they’ll also perform new stuff and come as part of a line-up that includes Shygirl, Eliza Rose and Ross From Friends. Taking place in the indecently large Drumsheds, it’ll attract a young crowd of Buffalo boots and leg warmer-wearing kids alongside the OG fans. Drumsheds, N18 3HF. Sat Dec 2, 12pm. From £33.50. Sophie Ellis Bextor She’s a hitmaker, what can we say? ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, ‘Groovejet’, ‘Take Me Home’. All of them go off. Of course, we saw Sophie Ellis Bextor bring pure joy to the masses during lockdown with h

Thurston Moore’s early music may seem synonymous with 1980s New York punk rock, but he’s been a Londoner for well over a decade. Having previously lived in Stoke Newington, the 65-year-old has moved south of the city (the exact location he keeps vague), where between making solo albums and running his record label, Ecstatic Peace, he’s embraced London’s improvised live music scene. Fitting perhaps, given the DIY nature of his work as Sonic Youth’s frontman. The band’s abrasive, free-natured sound often paired rapid guitar riffs with droning basslines and slowly clattering drums that always felt very in the moment. His new book ‘Sonic Life’ is, as he says, ‘All the musical inspirations I have from all the different ephemera, books and recordings that defined my growing years. ‘Then the advent of Sonic Youth and how we moved through the course of the 80s and 90s.’ To tie in with the launch of his new book, the musician spoke to us about his favourite London music venue, IKLECTIK, an independent space that champions new, free-form music. With the threats of closure ahead of planned redevelopment, Moore is keen to highlight the importance of this personal sacred space.  ‘IKLECTIK is found underneath the Waterloo Bridge in Old Paradise Yard. It’s been there only nine years, so right after I relocated here. I was living in Stoke Newington at the time, very close to Cafe OTO, which is sort of the critical listening room for experimental music. But I started hearing about this new pl