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[title]Oh London, are you in for a treat. May in our city is truly something to behold. Everyone's spirits are lifted by colourful spring blooms, clement temperatures and the promise of long weekends spent dancing outdoors with all your mates and a can of White Claw always to hand. In fact, if you have a scan through our music festival list you’ll quickly see there’s an abundance of May bank holiday festies you should be booking right now. And as you would with the Hackney Half, you need to make sure you’re properly psyched up and ready for a summer full of live music. So, get stretching, pack your earplugs (safety first) and your vaseline (for the chafing) and run head-first into our top picks of gigs in London this May.
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For a nice sit-down gig
Cat Power
If you were lucky enough to catch Cat Power’s original Bob Dylan night then you’ll know exactly how exciting this will be. In fact, it was so good that they made a CD of it. This show at The London Palladium is going to be a cracker, as she puts her own spin on the music of The Bard, put. We imagine it’ll be a very chilled-out affair.
The London Palladium, W1F 7TF. Wed May 1, 7pm. From £40.50.
For world-building alt-pop
Allie X
Despite co-writing for Troye Sivan and BTS, Allie X (aka 38-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Alexandra Hughes) has always felt overlooked. She even wrote about it in a song called ‘You Slept On Me’. Her 2024 album ‘Girl With No Face,’ has a ghoulish ‘80s glam rock campiness to it, and while that kind of pastiche can be difficult to pull off, it feels like Allie X manages to hit the sweet spot of it being cool and not too theatrical.
KOKO, NW1 7JE. Tue May 28, 7pm. From £27.06.
Frost Children
Frost Children is an American pop-rock duo consisting of siblings Angel and Lulu Prost. In April last year, they released their sophomore album ‘Hearth Room’, as an accompaniment to their debut ‘Speed Run’ – both of which will be performed in full at this show. While the first project may have tapped into an internet-fuelled hyperpop sound, the second veers more into classic indie. Tracks like ‘Got Me By The Tail’ are tender yet humorous with lines like, ‘yeah, you’re cruel but so am I, and that’s alright’, almost sounding like something from the 00s NYC indie sleaze scene.
The Underworld, NW1 9DL. Thur May 16, 7pm. From £17.15.
Kenya Grace
When Kenya Grace dropped her single ‘Strangers’ in October last year, it became the second song entirely written and produced by a British female solo artist to hit number one. The first person to achieve this with Kate Bush, so she’s in damn good company. Blending garage, dubstep and dance, her style comes informed by the likes of Flume and AlunaGeorge, attracting an audience of high-energy gig-goers looking for a party. Join them, why don’t you?
Heaven, WC2N 6NG. Wed May 1, 6pm. From £20.50.
For ethereal pop-twirling
Air
French electronic music duo Air are back in London, celebrating their seminal classic ‘Moon Safari’ with two phenomenal nights at the Royal Albert Hall. Inspired by the story of two students of astrophysics and architecture walking into a bar on the moon, the 1998 classic is a downtempo collection made up of lush synthesisers and layered vocal arrangements, which has influenced musicians such as Charlotte Gainsbourg and directors such as Sofia Coppola. Catch the final (if a little expensive) tickets while you can.
Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP. Fri May 31, 7.30pm. From £134.
For a fresh take on R&B
Erika De Casier
Earlier this year, Erika De Casier released her debut album, ‘Essentials’ to widespread critical acclaim. The Danish-Portuguese singer seems to have masterfully crafted her own niche by blending elements of R&B, pop and electronica. The results are a 90s-era aesthetic that feels nostalgic yet fresh. Lead single ‘Lucky’ gives you a taste of what you can expect, as her hypnotic ASMR-esque vocals skirt over jittering, almost drum-'n'-bass, percussion.
KOKO, NW1 7JE. Wed May 29, 7pm. From £29.31.
Humble the Great
Fresh from releasing his debut EP in March, London R&B newcomer Humble the Great will be bringing fresh R&B sounds to The Lower Third this month. The 12-song collection ‘every night was the same’ explores each emotional stage of a breakup, whether it be anger, grief or acceptance with an intelligence that keeps you hooked. Highlights include the single ‘pink dress’ which got widespread radio play from the likes of Clara Amfo and ‘u.’ featuring fellow rising star Kamal.
The Lower Third, WC2H 8NJ. Wed May 29, 7pm. From £13.75.
For the indie groovers
Bar Italia
Taking their name from the Soho caff that's synonymous with old-school Soho, Bar Italia are rising stars of London’s indie music scene. Mashing up alternative rock, post-punk, hypnagogic pop, and shoegaze, the band caught the attention of the World Music label (founded by Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland) and are set to keep making infectious tracks such as ‘my little tony’ in the near future.
Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ. Thur May 2, 7pm. From £23.
Rachel Chinouriri
Finding a fan in Florence Pugh is a real ‘achievement unlocked!’ for any self-respecting indie artist (the actor regularly posts about consuming and making music). It seems like she’s got great taste too, if Rachel Chinourini is anything to go by. Returning to Kingston for a gig to celebrate the new album ’What A Devastating Turn of Events’, she will be doing a reduced-capacity show and a live Q&A. Inspired by Chinouriri’s life so far, the album is characterised by brutally honest lyricism, exploring life’s light and shade, through cathartic songwriting.
PRYZM Kingston, KT1 1QP. Thur May 2, 8.30pm. From £12.
Fabiana Palladino
The Paul Insitute-signed vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, received widespread critical acclaim for her self-titled debut last month. If you've had the 10-track collection on repeat since then, this is your chance to catch it live. Be amazed by the singer's shapeshifting sound which effortlessly moves between R&B, soul, pop and disco, with a cool 80s pastiche to her visuals.
Village Underground, EC2A 3PQ. Thur May 23, 7.30pm. From £17.85.
Nukuluk
Experimental hip-hop and electronica collective Nukuluk will be running a residency series at Bermondsey Social Club this month. Promising ‘new material in abundance’, the five-piece draws off chaotic, eureka moments that come up in studio sessions, so expect a free-form improvised vibe from the group during this three-night event.
Bermondsey Social Club, SE16 3LR. Fri May 17-Sun May 19. From £10.
For a proper rave
AGGRO DR1FT
A kind of mad concept is taking over EartH this month. From the mind of renegade director, DJ and skateboarding legend Harmony Korine, this night marks the first London screening of AGGRO DR1FT, a new film featuring rapper Travis Scott. Following this, the party heads downstairs where you’ll dance to the live sounds of Evian Christ and Harmony Korine aka EDGLRD who promises a mind-boggling audiovisual experience. If the New York show is anything to go by, this is going to be wild.
EartH, N16 8BH. Fri May 10, 8pm From £55.11.
Elkka
Elkka is a rising talent in dance music, working as a DJ, producer and label boss. Her 00s-style R&B vocals and layered production will attract fans of I. Jordan, Daphni and Shanti Celeste. Meanwhile, her achievements include being awarded BBC Radio 1 ’Essential Mix of the Year’ and support from Floating Points and Annie Mac. The heady dance banger ‘I Just Want To Love You’ is one to play at pre-drinks before this show at Phonox.
Phonox, SW9 7AY. Sat May 18, 9.30 pm. From £7.50.
Mount Kimbie
For 15 years now years Mount Kimbie (Dominic Maker and Kai Campos), have been crafting a unique electronic sound that’s come to define London’s indie clubbing scene. This show at Roundhouse with long-term collaborators Andrea Balency-Béarn and Marc Pell will feature a plethora of hits, dating back to the 2010 debut ‘Crooks & Lovers’, through to the most recent full-length album ‘Love What Survives’. A must for indie music heads.
Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Fri May 3, 7pm. From £37.89.
For rap anthems
Danny Brown
In his early years, Danny Brown was considered a court jester of hip-hop. But it’s not all fun and games though, as his most recent album ‘Quaranta’ explored the darker side of fame, touching on his experiences with drug and alcohol addiction through personal lyricism and beats from longtime collaborators such as the Alchemist.
O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Wed May 22 May, 7pm. From £41.80.
Nicki Minaj
Alright Barbz, this one's for you. Nicki Minaj is taking over the O2 ahead of her Wireless headline slot in July, just in time to catch all your fave ‘Pink Friday 2’ songs live. The hitmaker has been named ‘the first woman to score 100 Billboard Hot 100 hits’, accumulated billions of streams and sold out tours around the world. Yes, you will get to relive your teenagedom with songs like ‘Starships’ and you will enjoy every moment of it.
The O2 arena, SE10 0DX. May 28, 6.30pm. From 149.
For a little bit of country
Kacey Musgraves
Seven-time Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves is bringing her new album ‘Deeper Well’ to the roundhouse this May. It’s her fifth – and, arguably most emotional – album delving into themes of love, letting go and embracing hope. Reflecting on the idea of ‘Saturn's return’ or the changes that happen after the age of 27, it’s a folk-pop trip through psychedelic country soundscapes that are sure to sound even more incredible from inside the echoe-y Roundhouse.
Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Tue May 14 May and Wed May 15, 7pm. From £47.25.
Hovvdy
Indie pop duo Hovvdy, hailing from Austin, will be playing Lafayette this May. The new self-titled album tackles themes of tested relationships and familial bonds. The group emerged as a fixture in the Texas indie scene in the 2010s for their blend of folksy, lo-fi collage-like tunes, with country-inflected vocals and sincere lyricism.
Lafayette, N1C 4PW. Fri May 24, 7pm. From £22.
For when you just need to yell about something
Scream
Scream are often recognised as pioneers of the Washington hardcore scene. Formed in 1979, the four-piece first met in school and bonded over a shared interest in punk and new wave. They then channelled this energy into their first full-length album (and their magnum opus), ‘Still Screaming’. Six albums later, their influence is still being felt. Expect to see your other favourite hardcore bands in the mosh pit at this one.
The Lexington, N1 9JB. Fri May 10, 7pm. From £20.
For post-punk rebels
cruush
The shoegaze resurgence rumbles on (DIIV, Hotline TNT and Slowdive have all been featured in this very gig guide over the past few months), and cruush are lined up to be the next big thing. A four-piece from Manchester, they make heady and hypnotic music that blends old-school indie shoegaze with heavier modern post-punk. Get into the vibe by listening to ‘As she grows’ on repeat before the show.
The George Tavern, E1 0LA. Wed May 29, 7pm. From £10.35.
Lip Critic
Part of New York’s fizzing post-punk scene, Lip Critic are a US import with widespread critical acclaim. Hailed by NME as ‘on their way to becoming the next great NYC band’, they have cult status for high-impact performances that exude pure punk energy. Their undeniably rowdy track ‘It’s The Magic’ conjures the image of a terror-sickened wasteland, with its industrial drones and malevolent shouting. Considering its history, The Windmill is a very suitable spot to catch them.
The Windmill, SW2 5BZ. Wed May 15, 7.30pm. From £11.