Georgia Evans

Looking for the best places to stay in the gorgeous coastal city of Santa Barbara? Well, you're in the right place. Enjoy long, sunny days lazing by a pool in the warmth of the sun's rays, or out exploring the bustling cultural scene this seaside city has to offer. The Mediterranean vibes of the city will have you thinking you're far away in Italy or Spain but without the hours onboard a flight. From unique airstream stays to romantic beachfront getaways and trendy downtown apartments, we've got you covered for every kind of vacation. Have a look at our top picks of the best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara and book a Cali vacay to remember. Pass us a cocktail. Updated April 2024: If like us you can't quite get enough of Santa Barbara's stunning coastline but have yet to experience its wine country you'll love this rustic home set on a ranch, or for the hiking trails there's this boho chic cottage stay.  Here's more Santa Barbara inspiration:🍔 Eat at the best Restaurants in Santa Barbara🏖️ Book fun things to do in Santa Barbara😴 Discover luxury hotels in Santa Barbara Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts 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. 

Has movie music ever been better? With legends like John Williams and Howard Shore still at work, Hans Zimmer at the peaks of his powers, and the likes of Jonny Greenwood, AR Rahman, Mica Levi, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross knocking it out of the park, the modern film score is a Dolby Atmos-enhancing feast of modernist compositions, lush orchestral classicism and atmospheric soundscapes.What better time, then, to celebrate this art form within an art form – with a few iconic soundtracks thrown in – and pay tribute to the musicians who’ve given our favourite movies (and, to be fair, some stinkers) earworm-laden accompaniment? Of course, narrowing it all down to a mere 100 is tough. We’ve prioritised music written for the screen, but worthy contenders still missed out, including Dimitri Tiomkin’s era-defining score for It’s a Wonderful Life and Elton John’s hummable tunes for The Lion King.To help do the narrowing down, we’ve recruited iconic movie composers, directors and broadcasters like Philip Glass, Carter Burwell, Max Richter, Anne Dudley, AR Rahman, Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Edgar Wright and Mark Kermode to pick their favourites. Happy listening!Recommended: 🔥 The 100 best movies of all time.🪩 The 50 best uses of songs in movies.💃 The greatest musical movies ever made.

Yeah, you might get a hotel with a killer spa or cool, themed decor, but what about an Airbnb with its very own bowling alley? Whether you’re looking to soak up some warm weather from the comfort of your own rental, an authentic cabin, or one of the quirkiest Airbnbs in America, there’s a place just for you – and your extremely reasonable needs. Because obviously, an Airbnb with its own waterpark or petting zoo is what we need on our vacation. Live like an eccentric billionaire for a weekend or relive your youth with a fun place to stay. From a villa with its own tennis court to a mountain cabin with a private zoo, here's one heck of a range of Airbnbs in America boasting crazy amenities. RECOMMENDED: 🍔 Check out the best hotels in America for foodies⛄ Discover the best cozy hotels in the U.S. to embrace winter🏨 Book a stay at one of the best hotels in America Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, 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.

Palm Springs is a city unlike any other, offering impressive landscapes, an amazing food scene, crystal clear skies, and some fantastic shopping opportunities. To top this off, the Golf Capital boasts an ideal climate for year-round bliss – typically sunny and dry, accompanied by cooler nights during the holiday season. Need we say more? Whether you're craving a well-needed break from chaotic city life in Los Angeles or traveling from further afield, this is somewhere that's sure to leave you feeling refreshed and connected to nature. It's a little slice of paradise. Houses here come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. So, whether you desire a brightly colored pool house decked out in Instagrammable interiors, or a cozy escape that's packed with old-school character and charm, we've got the list for you. Read on for our pick of the best Airbnbs in Palm Springs.  Updated in April 2024: Did you know some of the most unimaginable stays are under your nose? As ever, it's our job to do the digging - the kind not involving nostrils – so you can get back to booking rare finds like this luxury boho retreat, or this Spanish-inspired home near downtown. You're welcome.  RECOMMENDED: 🏨Stay in the best Palm Springs hotels🌴Experience the best things to do in Palm Springs🌊 Check out the best Airbnbs in California 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 covered, editorial reviews, user

We know it for its rave scene, but Ibiza it’s also one of the Med’s best-kept secrets for its winning combination of laid-back street markets, stunning natural scenery, Old Town with UNESCO World Heritage credentials, and even notching up a cheeky award or two for its biodiversity. In other, words this beautiful island could never disappoint.  So, whether you're nursing nostalgia for those Balearic beats, dreaming of a baecation, or it's time to treat the family to some much-needed Vitamin D, make the most of sunny Ibiza with our round-up of the best Airbnb spots on the island, the best option for those looking for a more, authentic, local experience whatever your budget.  Updated April 2024: With so many destinations on the gorgeous Balaeric islands yet to uncover, we're regularly on the lookout for rentals that deserve a place on our curated list like this stunning historic cottage right by Sant Miquel Beach, or the gaping mountain views at this little studio. That's your cue to get packing.  RECOMMENDED:🪩Discover all the best things to do in Ibiza  🌞Check out all the best hotels in Ibiza Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts 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.

‘Can I be real for a minute? I’m more exhausted with the criticism than I’ve ever been,’ says Dominic Harrison, better known as Yungblud. ‘People think I’m lying all the time, or they just hate me. Being hated is so exhausting when all you want to do is spread love.’ He’s looking directly at me, his green eyes accentuated by Robert Smith-esque smudged eyeliner and gelled-up static hair that seems clownish for a moment of such sincerity.  After a moment’s pause, he smiles like a child who’s been caught doing something naughty. ‘But then again, I’ve always wanted to be divisive. Division is my enemy, but without it, I’d be bored.’ Yungblud is a man of dualities. Loved and hated. Punk and pop. Real and fake. Most people make up their mind about him before listening to his music or what he has to say – and it’s all too easy to judge a book by its cover, or a pop-punk jester by their Instagram. But today I’m experiencing something alarmingly close to what may well be authenticity from the 26-year-old rockstar.  Photograph: Jess Hand for Time Out By lunchtime, we’ve already got noise complaints from our stiffly buttoned-up neighbours in the Colindale office block we’ve hijacked for Time Out’s cover shoot. Dressed like a deranged Patrick Bateman-meets-John Lydon, he’s threading his tie into a paper shredder, riding a child’s bike on a boardroom table and photocopying his arse – unsurprisingly, not for the first time. Between takes, he’s drawn to the camera monitor, meticulously fl

Prague is gorgeous, cultured and just hands-down brilliant. So don't settle for substandard hotels when you can have the complete Prague experience in a quirky little Airbnb that enables you to see the city like a true local? The city's Airbnbs aren't only cheaper (most of the time) than a hotel, but they're unique. Think cute houseboats on the river, chic urban lofts and characterful homes with exposed beams. Mmm delightful. Let us show you some of the best places to stay in the capital and make sure your fun days exploring the vibrant restaurants, bars, and museums on offer are topped off with relaxing nights in one of the best Airbnbs in Prague. Updated April 2024: To showcase all that Prague has to offer, we regularly update this list with unique and on-trend properties. This time around we've done some digging and we've found this incredible secluded chalet in Štěchovice and this central apartment with a stunning balcony. Now what to pack... Looking for more travel inspo?📍Here are the best things to do in Prague 🏨 check out the best hotels in Prague💶On a budget? See cheap hotels in Prague Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts 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. 

Fancy getting away from it all? Us too. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of city life can get too much and you need a few days to chill out and drink some seriously good wine. Yep, we’re talking about Napa, the wine capital of California, full of gorgeous vineyards—boasting fabulous wine tastings—as well as great restaurants, too. But that’s not all there is to do in the region—there’s loads to discover. So why not head down and see it for yourself? And when you do, be sure to choose a luxurious place to rest your head in the evenings. Luckily for you, we've got the hottest picks of the best Airbnbs in Napa, so have a read-through and thank us later. Updated April 2024: We like to keep our lists relevant and up-to-date with the most talked raved about Airbnbs along with the rarest finds in Napa, like our newest entry this chic design farmhouse stay, this or this beautiful country home hidden among the orchards. Yes – places like this really do exist.  RECOMMENDED: 🏨 Best Napa hotels to book right now Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts 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. 

Ahh, the United States of America. What a place to explore. With so many different cities, landscapes, and vibes, there's something for everyone on their travels to the country. Whether you take the summer to try out the best attractions in the USA, the most bizarre landmarks in the USA, or the best national parks in the U.S., there’s bound to be an interesting Airbnb nearby. And for a place as diverse as America, you need to stay somewhere that truly captures the country's essence. And no doubt, there's an Airbnb to match the vibe. We've got the strangest, most quirky Airbnbs across the U.S. From a Hobbit hole to a spaceship, you're going to question everything you know and have to book one to see it for yourself. Updated April 2024: We constantly scour Airbnb to find you some of the most exceptional (and whackiest) stays money can get you and on this occasion, we've found two new rentals we think are worth your while, like this stunning farm stay in the affectionately called, big ol' soup can (no joke) and this UFO just across the pond in Baja California. Enjoy. RECOMMENDED: 🌲The most jaw-dropping secluded Airbnbs in the U.S.👻The most haunted Airbnbs in the U.S. 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 covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no infl

There are a million podcasts out there, and 2024’s releases are showing no signs of slowing down. There’s already been a load of bangers since the beginning of the year, and here at Time Out, we’re determined to listen to them all. After all, how else are you going to know which one to choose? We’ve rounded up our favourites, from political podcasts that look behind the news to comedy podcasts with your favourite funny people, and plenty of those all-important investigative whodunnits to keep you up at night. If you’re looking to dig deeper into one genre, we’d recommend trying our specialist lists on for size (you’ll find them below). But for a full list of good, addictive podcasts of every genre, read on.  RECOMMENDED:🎧 The best podcasts on Spotify😂 The best comedy podcasts 🗞️ The best news podcasts💤 The best sleep podcasts🎶 The best music podcasts

​​Boutique hotels have been popping up around Malta’s historic capital of Valletta in recent years, returning dilapidated palazzos to their Baroque glory. If you’re looking for independent, design-led spots to rest your head, there’s a wealth of places to choose from. That does mean that sometimes trips err on the more expensive side, but you can also discover Asti Malta for mid-range stays and Gozo if you’re confined to a budget. For old-school grandeur, check out Mdina, the former capital which is now referred to as the ‘silent city’ for its nighttime calm. Conversely, the waterfront town of St Julian’s is unrestrained with its flashy local entertainment. Get a deeper look at the best hotels in Malta with our ultimate guide to them all here. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Malta🛏️ Explore more ideas of where to stay in Malta 🏖️ Discover the best islands of Croatia🕶️ Browse the best places to visit in Greece Who makes the cut? 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.

Nothing says a getaway quite like a trip to the Scottish Highlands. A place where you're sure to escape the hustle and bustle of the city scene. Hike mountains, dip your toes in the loch, and watch the sunset over the gorgeous landscape. Doesn't that sound perfect? And of course, a place that idyllic needs to be enjoyed with a stay at one of the many unique Airbnbs in the area. Cosy and comfy cottages with wood-burning stoves (you'll need it with the cold weather), glamping pods, and even castles; how could you ever choose? We've picked out the best of the best to help you decide. You're welcome.  Updated April 2024: We've added two new properties that offer panoramic views from their outdoor hot tubs. Need we say more?  RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇧 The best Airbnbs in the UK🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Check out the best Airbnbs in Glasgow🏰 Off to Edinburgh? Here's where to stay Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts 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.

Wide Awake bills itself as a ‘musical melting pot’ and ‘counter cultural celebration’, offering up leftfield indie, post-punk, electronica, techno and much, much more. This year the festival takes place on May 25 and the headliners are psychedelic Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Scottish pop trio Young Fathers and legendary shoegazers Slowdive. Further down the line-up, 2024 is set to be Wide Awake’s biggest year yet. Squid, Sevdaliza, The Dare, Ben UFO, Alice Glass, yeule, Special Interest, Lynks, Hannah Diamond, Dry Cleaning and Johnny Jewel are just some of the names on the bill. 

Perched right on the Eastern Esplanade – yes, like The Libertines' 2024 album – The Albion Rooms is a striking townhouse hotel made up of dark wooden furnishings, neon light installations and rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia.  Opened in 2020 by The Libertines (Carl Barât, Peter Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell) to be a meeting place for the band, it’s a sleek spot for indie fans to rest their head by the seaside, sip on the signature ‘defying gravity’ cocktails in the underground Wasteland bar, and maybe make a couple of tunes in the dedicated recording studio. There are just seven rooms, which makes The Albion Rooms feel intimate yet exclusive. The William Blake is very much decorated in Barât's black-and-gold rockstar style, while the Emily Dickinson, designed by Doherty, supposedly houses the bath that Jim Morrison died in. While you don’t have to be a fan to book a room here, longtime followers of the Libs will be starstruck by Peter’s artwork and the original print of the self-titled album hanging above the pub door. You might even catch one of them checking in from time to time. Neighbourhood Overlooking Walpole Bay, The Albion Rooms is a 14-minute walk from the beloved local spot, Shell Grotto and Palm Bay Beach. Margate train station is a mile away. For those looking to recreate an iconic Doherty moment, you’ve got The Dalby Cafe around the corner, where you can take on the mega breakfast challenge (Google it, you won't be disappointed).  Nearby Cliffs: An inviting loc

Maiden Voyage is back for 2024, this time in a brand new home of Burgess Park. And it's now moved to September, meaning you'll get to wrap up your festival season with the likes of Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist Arca, rising R&B talent Erika De Casier, former Time Out cover star Jayda G, Australian producer Mall Grab and many more.  This year also features new stage hosts including London Queer club Adonis and Berlin-based collective Live From Earth. Curating this year’s main stage will be PXSSY PALACE, while Sunday party UNFOLD are returning to elevate their sound and stage production for the festival's new south London home. 

  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’

If you love nothing better than the idea of grooving to reggae, Afrobeats and dancehall in the sun, this is the festival for you. City Splash is once again taking over Brockwell Park to celebrate the impact of Caribbean and African culture in the UK and beyond – giving you a chance to dance, connect over music and have a bloody good time. This year's line-up includes Capleton, Beenie Man, Shenseea, Busy Signal and Queen Omega.   Find more London music festivals.

Wide Awake bills itself as a ‘musical melting pot’, offering up leftfield indie, post-punk, electronica, techno and more. This year you've got psychedelic Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard headlining, alongside Young Fathers, Slowdive, The Dare, Ben UFO and Alice Glass among other indie stalwarts. There is no doubt it'll leave crowds surprised as it celebrates artists that defy traditional genre boundaries.

Autumn has truly been the Marina Abramović season in London. The legendary performance artist has already completed a full takeover of the Southbank Centre, has an ongoing retrospective at the RA, and is now completing the trifecta with a pivot to opera in ‘7 Deaths of Maria Callas’.  Why’s she done this? Well, Callas had long been a fascination for Abramović. The opera singer’s life was never quite separated from her performances (perhaps there’s a parallel there); she became a superstar in her scene, had a public affair with Aristotle Onassis and eventually died alone in her Paris flat in 1977. But Abramović also believes she ‘died’ onstage dozens of times. So it’s only right that she’s immortalised here, through ‘La Traviata’, ‘Tosca’, ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘Carmen’, ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ and ‘Norma’ – all performed like a greatest hits medley.  Combining art and live music, '7 Deaths of Maria Callas' is a hipster opera. A cool spin on an intimating genre. It feels like a good entryway for first-timers like myself who may only be a little familiar with the music. I very much fitted in with the Central Saint Martin-types speculating what ‘the mother of performance art’ had up her sleeve.  I couldn’t help but notice ENO’s fervent attempt to reach out to a younger audience. Posters advertise free tickets for those under 21 (you can sit anywhere! Even the front!) and hefty discounts for under-35s. The merch stand is flogging black T-shirts embellished with glittering gold ‘Choos

Bristol is a lovely city: charming, artsy and buzzing with activity. Sometimes, though, you just need a little R&R. Aztec Hotel & Spa is the kind of place that’s fit for both locals and tourists thanks to its convenient location close to the city. Found about ten minutes from Bristol Parkway in a pretty bog-standard hotel – located in what appears to be a business park – the spa itself is anything but ordinary. With fluffy comfortable seating, a self-service bar and rows of private lounge chairs for mani-pedis, the newly opened Relax Lounge looks like it could be Kim Kardashian’s house. A soft, floral aroma wafted through the space: bliss. Fresh juices, ice cold water and bottles of fizz were all available, alongside light snacks (which I decided to skip, following a hefty full English in the hotel restaurant). The fitness facilities were of just as high a standard: there’s a large pool, which means you can get a few laps in pre or post glow-up, alongside a fully equipped gym if you want to build on your muscles ahead of a massage. There’s also the option to hop in the sauna or steam room whenever you feel like it.  I was booked in for the ‘Ultimate Glow’. It’s the full works: back, face and scalp, including a massage and facial. I can vouch that it was an hour and a half of pure relaxation: the massage pressure was just right, the skin treatments smelt amazing and I left feeling like a glowing goddess. I was also given a guide to what products were used as well as recommend

Set in a Grade II-listed former telephone exchange on High Holborn, The Hoxton channels its heritage into a vintage-meets-modern aesthetic. The metropolitan rooms feature warm interiors with touches of leather and dark wooden furniture, the bathrooms come decked out in black and white tiles with large waterfall-head showers, and the large lit-up mirrors encourage a new age of Instagrammers to show off their digs.  Yes, it’s a little hipster, but it’s charming. The hotel has clearly put a lot of thought into the guest experience, with Roberts radio clocks championing form and fashion, stylish Blank toiletries in the bathroom and Hoxton-branded mugs, maps and pens adding a homely feel. There’s even the opportunity to fill your mini-bar fridge with snacks at supermarket prices, so no eye-watering bills at check-out.  While there are plenty of great places to eat around the hotel, its onsite restaurant is a must for at least one night. Headed up by Chris Gillard (ex-St John chef), it champions the best of British cuisine alongside an expertly paired wine list in a bistro-style setting. You can also choose to head here for brunch or hang a dedicated ‘little breakfast’ bag on your door for £4 and have it filled up overnight.  Neighbourhood A shopaholic’s haven, the Hoxton sits right on the edge of one of London’s busiest shopping districts, with Covent Garden, Soho and Oxford Street all nearby, and it’s just a minute from Holborn tube station. Up the road, you’ll find Theatreland a

Being one of 11, yes, 11 productions of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol’, at least ‘Ghosted’ is self-aware enough to subtitle itself as ‘Another F***ing Christmas Carol’. Created by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper – formerly responsible for the cult gay pantomimes at Above the Stag Theatre – this shameless retelling is brought into the modern age by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper at The Other Palace’s Studio.  As expected, this adults-only version of the story is a lot. Scrooge is a cruel, borderline homophobic, letting agent and housing manager in modern-day London. She’s on a crusade to make everyone’s lives miserable, fucking over her nephew – the show’s Tiny Tim character – in the process, before being visited on Christmas Eve by three spirits. The twist is, they’re all queer, so they mercilessly read her and drop in the occasional joke about fisting other ghosts – which I don’t remember from the original text.  It’s a riot at points, with only four actors (Natalie Boakye, Christopher Lane, Liam McHugh and Nikki Biddington) juggling the roles of countless characters. Thus encouraging gags about them all ‘mucking in’ or pointing out how Scrooge's house looked similar to her office. Moments of self-deprecating humour such as this got a rapturous response. As did Lane’s trio of ghosts, all of whom had a loveable, hammy chaos to them.  It reminded me very much of the kind of ‘Drag Race’ humour that basic sorts like myself enjoy, with jokes about how the Ghost of Christmas p

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

Autumn is in full swing. The city is a sea of Moon Boots, fisherman hats and Northie puffers. But you know what? November in London is about more than just surviving the cold. You’ve got Bonfire Night (an excuse to unleash your primal urges on watching things burn and blow up), the beginnings of our obsession with Christmas and a whole bunch of exciting gigs at your disposal. In fact, the capital's live music scene is busier than ever this month. Just look at how long this list is! We’re giving you old-school punk from Sleater Kinney, sexy club anthems from rising star Babymorocco and the return of British/American rap sensation 21 Savage, alongside heaps more to get excited about. Have a scroll through and see why November in London is elite, actually.  RECOMMENDED: 🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend 🎨 The 10 best art exhibitions in London 🎭 The best new theatre shows in London  For when you wanna get loud  Meet Me @ the Altar  Olivia Rodrigo is selling out arenas, Blink 182 has made a mighty comeback and Paramore absolutely smashed a global tour. Pop punk is back, baby. And it’s a trend that’s simply not stopping. Meet Me @ the Altar is an American three-piece, endorsed by legends of the scene, such as Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years. Catch them as they take over the notorious Camden’s Underworld for a night of powerful pop-punk bangers with a Gen Z twist. Listen to ‘Say It (To My Face)’ for a taste.  The Underworld, NW1 9D

Ever looked at a music festival line-up and realise, with abject horror, how desperately out of touch you are? Several of Time Out London’s editorial team felt like that when Pitchfork released the line-up for its London festival, which is taking over some of the capital’s best-loved music venues this week for its third edition.  Among big hitters like the Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, riot grl legends Sleater-Kinney and dance music protégé Yaeji are a frankly concerning number of head-scratchers, even for us NTS-listening, ‘Crack’ magazine-reading Cafe Oto regulars.  Luckily for you, we’ve spent the last few weeks swotting up on the lesser-known artists appearing on the eclectic bill, so that we can tell you who is worth buying a ticket for. Here are some of our favourite up-and-comers to look out for.  Balming Tiger Who are they?: Balming Tiger are a South Korean multi-national alternative K-pop collective consisting of rapper Omega Sapien, DJ Abyssm director San Yawn, music video directors Jan'Qui and Leesuho, singer-songwriters Sogumm, Wnjn, Mudd the Student, and editor Henson. The hip-hop single ‘Sexy Nukim’ with BTS’s RM is a good entry point. For fans of: BTS, NewJeans, So!YoON. Village Underground. Wed Nov 8.  CHAI Who are they?: A sugary sweet experimental pop group blending elements of Tom Tom Club, Basement Jaxx and CSS to create punchy anthems inspired by female empowerment and redefining ‘kawaii’ culture.  For fans of: Confidence Man, Kero

Duran Duran started their careers in Birmingham more than 40 years ago. Since then, the band have sold over 100 million records, achieved 30 Top 40 UK singles (‘Rio’, ‘Girls on Film’, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’: you know them) and, in 2022, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In the build-up to their 16th album, ‘Danse Macabre’ – a collection of covers and new songs exploring the band’s darker melodies – drummer Roger Taylor tells us why performing in their native Birmingham this year was a symbolic return for the group.  ‘I’ve got really special memories of the night we played at Utilita Arena back in May. We felt so much love from the audience and it was a real homecoming show. It’s an arena but it doesn’t feel cold, it feels quite intimate. The location is really beautiful because it’s in the area where all the canals in the town meet, so it feels like you’re really in the centre of Birmingham.  ‘That was also our neighbourhood when we were growing up. We’d play ‘Rum Runner’ in the early eighties to 100 people, so to go back there more than 40 years later, playing to 10,000 or 12,000 people, it really was quite a moment. We can be playing New York’s Madison Square Garden or the Hollywood Bowl in LA, but Birmingham is always the most important show ‘The roar when we walked out to the crowd is a particular standout memory: we started the show [like we were] coming in from space via screen footage, on this kind of spaceship which landed at the back of the arena.

‘I probably wouldn’t be making music if I hadn’t moved to Nottingham,’ says Yazmin Lacey, between playing festival slots. ‘When I was living in London, I was around a lot of creative people. But you know, it’s so intense and fast paced and saturated, that I think if you’re like me and come into music late, you don’t have the space to just try things out.’  Born and raised in east London, Lacey would occasionally sing in her church choir, but had never considered music as a career. When she left the capital for Nottingham (a night out in the city inspired her to make the move), she found herself surrounded by artists and musicians, as well as a producer ex-boyfriend who convinced her to start recording. This led to her playing shows around her adopted hometown – where she stayed for 11 years – and to Lacey eventually being picked up by Gilles Peterson’s Future Bubbler series, a compilation focusing on unsigned, up-and-coming artists.  Her critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Voice Notes’ came out earlier this year, which she’s been performing at festivals across the country. Here, Lacey takes us through her favourite places in Nottingham, from a Japanese fusion restaurant to a pub with underground caves.  Eat  ‘Kushi-ya used to be a vegan cafe back in the day. It’s actually where I had my first gig: it was really small, you could probably fit about 30 people in there, and it was bloody dreadful. I remember thinking, ‘‘who intentionally stands in front of a room full of people lik

Festival season is well and truly here. You’ve bought your tickets, you know your headliners and you’ve sorted out some kind of ironic costume (most likely a onesie) for the last night of music. But instead of just lazing around a campsite, accruing various stages of sunburn and listening to your neighbour’s non-stop – and quite frankly, terrible – playlist of heavy drum ‘n’ bass, get yourself up and dance to these acts. Because you never know, they might just be the next big thing. These musicians have at least three major festivals booked for summer, have already garnered cult-like status and are definitely set to impress. And really, is there anything better than bragging, ‘I saw them before they got big’? We think not.  1. CMAT  Photograph: Sarah Doyle Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, aka CMAT, is an Irish singer-songwriter who channels the essence of Nashville into her tongue-in-cheek country-pop tunes. Her tacky glam aesthetic is a fun contrast to the seriousness of her songwriting, with lyrics that are mournful, accessible and emotionally literate in a way that’s ever so charming. Also, if you wanted an excuse to pack one of those pink cowboy hats with a plastic crown, this could be as good as you’re going to get. Yee-haw. Key track: ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!’ Where to see them: South Facing, Isle of Wight, Bluedot 2. High Vis  Photograph: James Edson If there’s one word to describe High Vis, it would be hardcore: like Turnstile, PiL and Stone Roses all whizzed up in

From the moment that Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February, Balham’s Polish White Eagle Club knew what was needed. A call-out for donations on Instagram and Facebook left its community centre flooded with duvets, pillows, clothes, toys and sanitary products. ‘We were humbled by the support we received at the beginning,’ says its media officer Kate Frolova. She’s speaking to me from a busy café in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine. The background hum indicates that life is carrying on almost as normal, just with the occasional air-raid siren. The day before, she spent 19 hours in a car in the Donbas region so she could donate aid packages from the Polish White Eagle Club to a local orphanage. She’s also been working in Donetsk in an area that’s inaccessible to most officials. Back in south-west London, the club’s organisers have found a waning interest in Ukraine’s plight. ‘We’re seeing a decline in donations because the war’s not on front pages any more,’ explains Frolova. To tackle the fatigue, the charity has arranged a fresh burst of activity. ‘We’re accepting funds because we know what’s needed on the ground and it’s easier to buy the products ourselves,’ she says. ‘We’re also helping refugees in the UK, integrating them into society and getting them education through Wednesday night meetings. And because lots of people arrive with few belongings, we’re providing them with quality clothing.’ What started as a local community appeal has evolved into a full-scale operati

Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick are the owners of Chuku’s, a Nigerian tapas restaurant in Tottenham. Here are their picks of the best places to hit up next time you're in the area.  1. Electric Grubb Ifey ‘The food at this Caribbean takeaway is one thing, but the owners embody what we love about Tottenham. They have so many regulars. When I walk in, I feel a sense of belonging.’ 286 High Rd, N15 4AJ. 2. Yinka Ilori art installations Ifey ‘When I pass the wall on the bus it brightens my day. I’m reminded that there’s a number of people on this journey together and that hard work can pay off.’ Opposite Tottenham Hale station.  Photograph: Walthamstow Wetlands 3. Walthamstow Wetlands Ifey ‘The first time I went was in spring 2020. I was having a bad day and wanted to be outside of London. The whole time I was there, I felt like I was somewhere else. It had such a calming effect.’ 2 Forest Rd, N17 9NH. 4. Beatles mural Emeka ‘There’s a mural that says “The love you take is equal to the love you make” [from ‘The End’ on ‘Abbey Road’]. It’s art for the community. It helps me think: Let me try and have a positive impact on others.’ Watermead Way. 5. Las Delicias de Juancho Emeka ‘We both speak different languages: French and Spanish. It’s a real joy to go to this Colombian coffee shop to have a chat in Spanish. The coffee’s very good!’ 276 Tottenham High Rd, N15 4AJ. Photograph: Shutterstock 6. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Emeka ‘A match day always brings an amazing energy to the st