An alternative to Glastonbury – The best live music in London this June
Written by Mae Bristow - 13 June 2024
Even with a capacity the size of a city, getting Glasto tickets is a stressful process of pre-registration, virtual “waiting rooms” and a subsequent mad dash when the links go live. Complex maths is not needed to guess that many people tried and missed out on tickets and that some, stung by previous attempts in recent years, didn’t even bother.
We don’t want to queue for portaloos anyway. If the summer promises to be as wet as everybody attests, contracting trench foot while Chris Martin plays “Yellow” for the thousandth time makes staying in London seem a blessing.
We did want to see LCD Soundsystem, though.
There’s no point watching Glasto at home, not when there’s plenty of live music and listening bars for Londoners to enjoy. Not when you can get an overpriced taxi home at 3 am, and fall asleep in the comfort of your bed knowing that you still haven’t spent as much money as the Glasto-goers.
The concerts & events
Starting with the heavy hitters, let’s take a look at what concerts are happening across London when 210,000 people are standing in the rain in a field.
Crushed at the Windmill, Brixton
Crushed is the LA duo creating maximalist dream pop that evokes the alt-rock, Britpop, trip-hop, and electronica of the ‘90s, and the Windmill’s location will offer the perfect intimate surroundings for such a low-fi gig on the 25th of June.
Alvvays at the Troxy, Limehouse
The love child of indie pop and noise rock genres, Toronto’s Alvvays will take to the stage at the Troxy on the 26th of June and fill the space with their catchy melodies and frontwoman Molly Rankin’s sweet vocals. The tour is in support of their long-awaited Blue Rev album.
CSS at Islington Assembly Hall
Nope, not programming language. CSS or Cansei de Ser Sexy in Portuguese – [Got] tired of being sexy in English – is a 4-piece rock band from São Paulo whose Portuguese and English music has garnered many worldwide fans. The London stop on the 27th of June is part of a tour that celebrates their 20th anniversary – kind of. If you know, you know…
Troye Sivan at OVO Arena Wembley
Australian synth-pop singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, whose melodic voice and poignant lyrics have earned him a loyal following and led him to write for other artists, making him a household name in the process, will be taking the stage in London on the 27th of June for his Something To Give Each Other tour in support of his third studio album of the same name.
Anitta at the O2 Forum Kentish Town
Brazilian singer-songwriter in the genres of funk carioca, pop, and reggaeton, Anitta is a four-time Latin American Music Award-winner and eight-time Latin Grammy Award-nominee – these are only some of her accolades and successes. Not surprisingly, she is on her first international tour, stopping in London on the 28th of June for her sixth studio album, Funk Generation: Baile Funk Experience.
Pub in the Park, Chiswick
Whilst many think of Chef Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park as more of a food festival we’d be remiss not to mention that some musical household names will be taking to the stage including hip-hop legends De La Soul, and Jools Holland with special guests Imelda May and Ruby Turner to bring a little blues, soul, and jazz. The festival is taking place from the 28th – 30th of June.
Burna Boy at London Stadium, Stratford
Just a day before he takes the stage at Glasto, Londoners get treated to a concert by popular artist Burna Boy. The Nigerian artist’s combination of Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, and R&B has garnered him a Grammy Award and what’s probably going to be a sold-out show on the 29th of June at the London Stadium.
Green Day at Wembley Stadium
God, we never thought we’d have to put the words ‘dad-rock’ in front of pop-punk icons Green Day but it’s 2024 and if a band formed in the ‘80s – even the early ‘90s – they are now dad-rock. However, as the Wembley Stadium location attests, younger generations are just as into Green Day, and we’re looking forward to seeing a cross-generational audience turn up on the 29th of June and shout the lyrics to “Basket Case”.
Janelle Monáe at the O2 Academy Brixton
Super talented Grammy-nominated artist and musical chameleon, Janelle Monáe, known for her unique sound, visionary visuals, and knack for reinventing herself, will be taking the stage on the 29th of June in Brixton a day before Glasto-goers get to experience her set. We’d much rather see her at the O2 than way at the back of a thousand-something-strong crowd at Glasto.
Lana Del Rave: Pride Closing Party at Heaven, Charing Cross
Let’s not forget Glasto weekend takes place at the same time as Pride in London and on Sunday the 30th, popular nightclub Heaven will be hosting the closing party with a playlist celebrating the likes of Lana, Marina, Florence, Lorde, Aurora, Paramore, Grimes, Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks and more.
Jazz, blues & soul
Exploration of London’s live music scene must include experiences at the city’s jazz, blues, and piano bars. Full stop. If you’re already familiar, let’s recap some favourites and what they’ve got on this June, and if you’re new, let’s give you some places to start.
Ronnie Scott’s, Soho
A London institution since 1959, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club hasn’t just been presenting the very finest live music in jazz, blues, and soul, but also crossovers into the genres of swing, bossanova, funk, Motown, electronic and so much more.
With an original location on Soho’s Gerrard Street, Ronnie Scott’s has occupied 47 Frith Street for nearly sixty years. Whilst the live music has naturally and gracefully incorporated modern genres, this is still a jazz club of old, meaning you’re here for a night out, you’re here til late, and any imaginings you had of what a jazz bar is – it’s that and more.
We cannot stress this enough: book a ticket.
There is always something on at Ronnie Scott’s. Always. From the 26th through the 30th of June alone here’s a taster of what’s on:
- Late Late Show hosted by Leo Richardson – 26th of June, jazz/hardbop
- Braziliance – 26th of June, Latin groove/Bossanova/samba
- Late Late Show hosted by Myele Manzanza – 27th of June electronica/fusion/postbop
- Monty Alexander D-Day – 24th of June – 28th of June, jazz/piano/postbop
- Voodoo Lounge – 24th of June – 22nd of July, blues/R&B
- Black Art Jazz Collective – 29th of June, jazz/postbop
- Pixie and the Gypsies – 30th of June, jazz/world
- Sunday Live Music Sessions: Dom and the Ikos – 30th of June, blues/funk
- W3 Funk Sessions – 30th of June, funk
If you know your jazz from your blues – perhaps you’ve even been to Ronnie Scott’s – then we don’t need to convince you. If you’re dipping your toes in for the first time, click a link, read a snippet about the artist, or maybe listen to a snippet of a song. In our opinion, purchase a ticket, go for the experience, and give yourself the chance to fall in love with a new genre or two.
Jazz Cafe, Camden
Not just a Jazz Cafe, the live music venue has hosted artists of many genres at its North London digs for the past thirty-four years. Its stage has seen the likes of Sun Ra Arkestra, Pharoah Sanders, Jamiroquai, Amy Winehouse, and Lee Scratch Perry, and brought the genres of hip-hop, electronica, blues, world, reggae, Latin and soul into its fold.
During Glasto week of the 26th of June – 30th of June, Jazz Cafe has everything from 17th-century tavern music, Turkish psychedelic rock, and post-disco to Latin, house, and Brazilian art pop.
The Blues Kitchen, Camden
With live music every night of the week, The Blues Kitchen on Camden High Street is known for its showcase performances in the genres of blues, soul, and rock & roll. Massive windows with neon signs look into what appears to be diner booths with people dining on American grill favourites and sipping on cocktails. But peer further and you’ll see behind the bar small tables and stools and a stage along the back wall. This is no longer a restaurant but a blues bar.
If North London is too far a journey for you, there are also Blues Kitchen outposts in Shoreditch and Brixton, but in our opinion, it’s The Blues Kitchen in Camden – with all its music history – we’re most drawn to.
Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues Bar, Soho
This tiny hole-in-the-wall bar in the Carnaby Lanes is either well-known and well-loved or stumbled upon by the unsuspecting as they look for the quickest path away from Oxford Circus and into Soho.
Like The Blues Kitchen, the independent Ain’t Nothin’ But is all about live blues, soul, and rock & roll, but they don’t serve food here. It’s all about the music, scotch, bourbon, and beer. John Lee Hooker lyrics aside, they do have a full bar.
We love Ain’t Nothin’ But for being a long-standing blues bar that feels like the blues bars of old – small space, low stage, and musicians thrown together to jam. Whilst the Central location may be off-putting to some, it’s a hole-in-the-wall bar down a narrow street and once you’re inside, you can forget the madness that is Central London.
The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston
For the past quarter of a century, Vortex has been a home for jazz and improvised and experimental music and was named one of the top 150 jazz clubs in the world by Downbeat magazine.
From a tiny brick building thirty years ago to its current industrial and neon-lit building, Vortex has a long history of championing jazz music at affordable prices. During the final week in June, the lineup at Vortex includes vocalist Tereza Catarov, Noah Stoneman Trio featuring piano, drums and bass, guitarist and session musician Sheldon Agwu, a jazz orchestra, a quintet, and a new acoustic trio headed by composer, arranger and pianist, Janette Mason.
Want more? Check out our favourite Shoreditch jazz bars.
Bars, pubs & live music venues
Concerts and jazz and blues bars aside, let’s check out some notable live music venues, bars and pubs that will keep London entertained (and dry and warm) during Glasto week.
KOKO, Camden
With several incarnations and names including an Edwardian theatre and cinema before becoming a live music venue, KOKO came to its current incarnation in 2004 via fire and subsequent refurbishment in 2020. In short, the venue has a long history from plays to films, and from the Rolling Stones to raves.
KOKO has a regular roster of gigs and DJ nights, in the final week of June you can expect the likes of a performance by musician and singer-songwriter Kim Gordon, best known for her work in ‘80s and ‘90s alt-rock band Sonic Youth. KOKO’s Midsummer party with a night of house and disco, and a performance by He.She.They in celebration of London Pride weekend.
EartH, Hackney
Theatre and concert hall EartH, (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) located in the Dalston end of Shacklewell, will be getting wild on the 28th of June with drum and bass DJs Goldie and Doc Scott, and celebrating a weekend of London Pride with Reclaiming Queer Women Spaces for a night of soul, hip-hop, classic dancehall, reggae and more, and Gal Pals a Pride party with resident DJs playing the likes of SOPHIE, Sugababes, Beyoncé, and Janelle Monáe.
Green Note, Camden
The best place in London for roots, acoustic, and world music, Green Note serves music seven nights a week and during the final week of June, you can expect bluegrass, Scandi-folk, jazz, rhythm & blues and more with performances by Tray Wellington, Brooke Law Band, Jaeja, Heidi Vogel, No Good Woman & The Kingsnakes, and Biscuit Town.
The Shacklewell Arms, Shacklewell
Pub, live music venue, and club nights. The Shacklewell Arms is the London equivalent of the American dive bar and the basement performance space is the ideal place for a gig – maybe a little moshing – depending on who’s playing.
The lineup at The Shacklewell Arms looks pretty impressive in the last week of June. Starting on the 26th, a synth-led gig by Morgan Noise, an evening of math rock, folk, and pop presented by Flashback Records on the evening of the 27th, a Night Terrors-hosted night of darkwave, post-punk, and shoegaze with Parisian act Sad Madona and Blanche Biau on the 28th.
Also on Friday the 28th, from 11 pm, disco, funk, and boogie club night And The Beat Goes On with resident DJ Arnie Wrong precedes a Saturday night of electronic music with Eve Maret, Margomool, and New German Cinema. Saturday the 29th also has a night called A Love Letter to Blondie and The Talking Heads and on Sunday the 30th, a performance by synth-punk band Kill, the Icon!
Similar: Head over to The Victoria in Dalston for a gig by Manchester band Huw and The Greater Good on Thursday, the 27th of June.
Corsica Studios, Elephant & Castle
If you’re more into club nights and raving then head over to Corsica Studios. On the 26th of June, expect bass and club music with Algorave, and on the 28th, Soul Feeder – a lineup of DJs playing experimental club music.
Similar: The Cause in the London Docklands for a day party on Saturday the 29th of June, and The Pickle Factory in Cambridge Heath for Hipjoint – a night of house, groovy techno, and trance, or a night of pure house music on the 29th with Vitess, Trixie, and Bassam.
Colour Factory, Hackney Wick
On Saturday, the 28th of June, Colour Factory bar & club will throw the Pride party to end all Pride parties. Hot on the heels of last year’s party, they’re going all in with a 15-hour event. Expect a Garden Party, Bouncy Castle, performances, and Queer Market stall during the day leading to a night rave presented by Howl late into the night.
Night Tales, Hackney
Bar, restaurant, outdoor terrace, and recognised club space, Night Tales wears many hats. On Friday and Saturday, the 28th and 29th of June there will be groovy, dub-laden house music with Ecuadorian DJ Nicola Cruz and Londoner Loa Szala (29th of June) and more house music on Saturday.
Similar: Head to Dalston Roofpark on Friday the 28th of June for their Dalston Disco Fridays, and Moth Club in Hackney for ‘70s and ‘80s disco, soul, and Italo in a love letter to the era-defining nightclubs of New York such as Studio 54, Paradise Garage, and The Loft.
Notting Hill Arts Club, Notting Hill
Not to leave West London in the dust when it comes to live music, Notting Hill Arts Club will be hosting Swedish-American indie folk singer-songwriter Lexi Berg with a gig on Thursday, the 27th of June and NHAC will host a party with Zamara Star Band and a host of other DJs on Friday the 28th.
Looking for more bars & pubs? Check out the following: