Don’t believe us? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say – so get ready to get your lighters up! So without further ado and in the spirit of the end of Summer (sigh), here’s our roundup of the best gigs in London you can’t miss during September 2023. Let the good times roll!
Note that the O2 Academy Brixton will remain closed until further notice. Please check for details with regards to rescheduled gigs and cancellations.
September 2: Candlelight – A Tribute To Queen
Kicking off this roundup of the best gigs in London is Candlelight – A Tribute to Queen, which takes place in none other than the magnificent Southwark Cathedral. Located right in the heart of Bankside, it’s a landmark building that combines a wonderful architectural blend of Medieval, Norman, and Gothic elements with a rich history. After all, William Shakespeare, John Gower, and Charles Dickens were residents of the parish here. Listening to Queen in the same spot as Shakespeare hey?! Now that’s one for the books…
📍Southwark Cathedral.
🎫 Here.
September 4, 5, 6 & 8: Fred Again
Now this man really needs no introduction does he? After a fantastic run of Summer shows and festivals – including one of the best this author has ever seen at Glasto – Fred Again has announced a run of four shows at prestigious music venue Ally Pally. With critical acclaim and a hugely-dedicated fanbase, it’s no surprise that they’re all sold-out. However, hope isn’t completely lost as you can join the waiting list here. One thing’s for sure – you won’t have ‘Lost Dancing’ at this one!
📍Alexandra Palace.
🎫 Here.
September 6 & 7: Siouxsie Sioux
The eponymous banshee Siouxsie Sioux is back playing shows again after the best part of a decade, and you can be spellbound by her voice in London this September in legendary Art Deco (and Grade II-listed) venue Troxy. Expect all the hits from her latest compilation LP, ‘All Souls’, which was released in October of last year. It’s gonna be a good’un!
📍Troxy.
🎫 Here.
September 8: Friendly Fires DJ Set
Friendly Fires have now been together 15 years, and over that time, they’ve had three critically-acclaimed albums, countless singles and more. Taking over the decks at Between the Bridges – the unique riverside venue on Southbank with London’s largest outdoor drinking area and street food galore – you’ll get to hear Jack off the band from 7pm until late. Expect Friendly Fires classics and all the house/disco they love.
📍Between the Bridges.
🎫 Here.
September 8: Hudson Mohawke
Ross Matthew Birchard, better known by the stage name Hudson Mohawke, is a producer, DJ and composer from Scotland who combines electronica with hip hop and has worked with the likes of Pusha T, Drake and Kanye. An in-demand man, he’s playing the iconic nightclub Fabric on Friday September 8 for what promises to be one hell of a night. Support comes in the form of Nikki Nair, Kid Fonque and Jamz Supernova.
📍Fabric.
🎫 Here.
September 10: Sidiki Dembélé and Friends
Originally hailing from the Ivory Coast and hailing from a well-known Malian griot family, this performance by Sidiki Dembélé will see him collaborate with fellow musicians Aboubakar Konate and Momo Sangaré for a celebration of all things West Africa. They’re playing in a beer garden at The Speakeasy – one of Dalston’s best cocktail bars.
📍The Speakeasy.
🎫 Here.
September 10 & 27: Busted
“He told me he built a time machine like one in the fiiiilm I’ve seeeeeeen” (and it was a spitting image of the O2 arena)… The band of all our childhoods (well if you’re a millennial like me anyway), Busted are back baby for what promises to be a night packed full of hits. Expect to be singing along to ‘Year 3000’ like there’s no tomorrow for their 20th anniversary.
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
September 15: Sugababes
Another childhood fave here, the Sugababes are once again back to their original format (sorry Heidi, Jade and Amelle), and after a phenomenal response to their original comeback, they’re back for a sell-out show at the mighty O2. Expect hits like ‘Overload’, ‘Round Round’, ‘Freak Like Me’ and ‘About Me Now’ and support comes in the form of Shygirl. This is definitely one not to miss!
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
September 16: Artful Dodger
“You’re moving too fast, well I don’t think it’s right”… we all know how the rest of it goes. The legendary garage duo that are Artful Dodger reached major acclaim back in the 90’s, and they’ve worked with the likes of Craig David and Melanie Blatt. They’re playing the Site 5 Summer Party Venue at Studio Spaces for what promises to be a fantastic night out on the tiles. Expect plenty of special guests too.
📍Site 5.
🎫 Here.
September 16 & 17: Shania Twain
“Let’s go girls!” The iconic queen of country music Shania Twain is back on UK soil after her Chicken Shop Date back in March for two nights of hit after hit in the mighty O2 Arena. Expect older hits like ‘Man I Feel Like A Woman’ and ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ alongside new material off her latest album, ‘Queen of Me’, which raced to the top of the UK Albums Chart. You can’t miss out on this one – she’s a five-time Grammy Award-winner and one of the best-selling musicians of all time!
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
September 16: Rob Da Bank and Friends
Robert John Gorham, known by the pseudonym Rob da Bank, is an English DJ and co-founder of the music festival Bestival and Camp Bestival too. He’s playing Village Underground as part of the night ‘Speedy Wunderground’ which runs until 3am and features other DJs Heavenly Jukebox, Later Youth and YOUNGBLACKMALE too.
📍Village Underground.
🎫 Here.
September 16: Heaven After Dark
Heaven After Dark brings together cultural enthusiasts and purveyors of the best in electronic dance music to deliver a club event like no other. Following three sold out events in LA with headliners like Maceo Plex and Christian Loffler, the party now arrives in the UK. The first event will be an all day and night party that not only promotes true artistry but also celebrates diversity and collaboration through a mix of iconic and emerging artists twisting art and music into all new realities.
The lineup includes Tiga, Christian Loffler, Magda, Audion, Radio Slave, Thylacine (Live), Matthew Dear and Olof Dreijer of The Knife. There will also be a special guest DJ playing a headline slot, which is currently kept under wraps…
📍Studio 388.
🎫 Here.
September 17: Fatma Said
Multi-award-winning opera star Fatma Said performs French and Arabic classical songs in London’s eclectic new live music venue, Lafayette, in King’s Cross St. Pancras this month. Expect material from her genre-defying albums Kaleidoscope and El Nour, with a programme focusing on French, Arabic, and American songs by composers such as Fauré, Poulenc, Legrand, Gershwin, and Rahbani.
📍Lafayette.
🎫 Here.
September 17: Seal
Celebrating three decades since the release of his first two records, the ‘Kiss From A Rose’ singer is back to finally put on a show in the Big Smoke. Wielding one of the most identifiable voices of all-time, you’re in for a good’un with this show at the London Palladium – which sees Seal team up with long-time producer and collaborator Trevor Horn, who will take on the role of musical director.
📍Palladium.
🎫 Here.
September 18: Echo and the Bunnymen
Monday nights don’t get too much better than catching a legendary band in a setting like the Royal Albert Hall am-I-right? With 13 LPs under their belt, countless singles and a heck of a lot of critical acclaim, the Liverpudlian band is back with a headline show at the Royal Albert Hall, playing tracks off their much beloved album ‘Ocean Rain’. “The killing time, unwillingly mine”….
📍Royal Albert Hall.
🎫 Here.
September 21: Candlelight – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Another Candlelight here, and another legendary band! This time, the maestros over at Candlelight will be playing tracks from none other than Fleetwood Mac, in the Grade I-listed St. Mary’s Church. A magical spot, it’s hard to miss – partly due to its 210-foot-tall spire! Some might say it’s the thing of ‘Dreams’ (sorry).
📍Royal Albert Hall.
🎫 Here.
September 21 & 22: Joe Hisaishi
Definitely one of our best gigs in London for September this one. The Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, best-known for his work in the Studio Ghibli movies, is here to treat London this month at none other than the impressive OVO Wembley Arena. Fancy similar but not as spenny? Well you only have to wait until next month, as the team at Candlelight are doing a tribute to the man himself at Westminster’s spectacular Central Hall.
📍OVO Wembley Arena.
🎫 Here.
September 22: Tinie
Ok, so he might have dropped the Tempah from his name, but Tinie is still all guns blazing. He’ll be DJing alongside Sam Supplier, Skepsis and others at the famous nightclub Ministry of Sound for what promises to be one hell of an epic night. Bring your dancing shoes!
📍Ministry of Sound.
🎫 Here.
September 26 & 27: The National
After an All Points East headline last Summer, The National are back for some soft tearjerkers at Ally Pally this year over two consecutive nights. The Grammy Award-winners will no doubt rock through all of their hits – including off their number one album ‘Sleep Well Beast’.
📍Alexandra Palace.
🎫 Here.
September 27: Unknown T
Daniel Richie Lena, known professionally as Unknown T, is a British rapper whose first album ‘Rise Above Hate’ was a major hit on the UK music scene when it first arrived back in Summer 2020. His follow-up, 2021’s ‘Adolescence’, did even better and reached number eight in the UK albums chart. He’s playing Camden hotspot KOKO for one night only on September 27, so don’t miss out – it’s definitely gonna be one of the best gigs in London this month.
📍KOKO.
🎫 Here.
September 28: Arlo Parkes
The Mercury Music Prize winner Arlo Parks is back playing a London headliner to bless us with her soothing melodies. Expect tracks off her debut number three album ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ and her follow-up LP ‘My Soft Machine’ which features the critically-acclaimed single ‘Devotion’.
📍Eventim Apollo.
🎫 Here.
September 28: James Blake
Bringing his idiosyncratic R&B vocals to the big stage, James Blake returns to London this Autumn for a giant show at the mighty Ally Pally. The Grammy Award-winner will no doubt be playing tracks off his latest release – 2023’s ‘Playing Robots into Heaven’, which is due to be released later this month.
📍Alexandra Palace.
🎫 Here.
September 28 & 29: PJ Harvey
English singer-songwriter – and MBE holder darling –PJ Harvey first hit the scene back in 1988, and ever since, she’s gone from strength to strength with multiple hit albums (10 to be exact) under her belt. Her latest, ‘I Inside The Old Year Dying’, was released this July and it not only won rave reviews, but it also raced to number five in the UK Albums Chart.
📍Roundhouse.
🎫 Here.
September 29: New Order
Our penultimate entry on this roundup of the best gigs in London is the famous rock band New Order – AKA Joy Division – who really at this point need no introduction. They were the flagship band for the Manchester-based independent record label Factory Records and its raucous nightclub The Haçienda, and have 10 successful albums under their belt. They’ll be playing a show at the O2 in Greenwich – so get ready for a grand old night!
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
September 29: The Cinematic Orchestra
Rounding off this list of the best gigs in London is none other than The Cinematic Orchestra – a British nu jazz and downtempo music group created in 1999 by Jason Swinscoe who first hit the public consciousness with the hit song ‘To Build A Home’. They’ve announced a 20th anniversary tour and audio reissue of their seminal 2003 album ‘Man With A Movie Camera’, and the live shows will feature songs from the album with all new visuals, celebrating the wider release across Europe. Head to the Royal Festival Hall on Southbank to see them in action!
📍Royal Festival Hall.
🎫 Here.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best gigs in London throughout September 2023. We’ll see you on the front row!