London Gigs Diary: 31 January - 6 February 2011

It’s been announced that the BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms will be axed after five years of diverse Autumnal gigs primarily based at the Roundhouse venue in Camden. We've been there for some of its best nights, whether Dame Shirley Bassey or Sir Elton John. We’ve seen The Streets and Kasabian backed by full orchestras and Doves playing with the 20-strong London Bulgarian Choir. While the series seemed to have had some difficulty finding its identity which was tweaked every year, it came up with enough inventive live twists on the stars of contemporary music for its passing to leave an unwelcome gap in our calendar.

Gigs Of The Week: 31 Jan – 6 Feb 2011

Lulu And The Lampshades – Lexington, London – 2 Feb

With the impish Luisa and Heloise at the helm, Lulu And The Lampshades are celebrating the release of Cold Water, their debut EP. A cutesy and quirky musical style full of upbeat percussion and the employment of violins and ukeleles, they’re not going to be for everyone, but if you’re a lover and not a hater, their live show promises good things. With songs bursting with imagination and optimism, you might just fall in love a little bit.

More details here.

Los Campesinos! + Summer Camp + Grouplove – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 3 Feb

How strange to think that Los Campesinos! are now elderly statesmen of indie pop. But that’s how it looks on this sprightly bill, as they’re backed up by two of the best rising acts from that genre. We’ve been championing Summer Camp for some time with their sepia narrative tunes and Americans Grouplove are, on the basis of first single Colours, also promising big things this year.

More details here.

Gaggle (pictured) + Dry The River + Marques Toliver Borderline, London – 5 Feb

A dazzlingly original concept blending the voices of (give or take) 22 female voices with the arthouse values of East London and the nous of their commander-in-chief Deborah Coughlin, the Gaggle community has been delighting and infuriating audiences for about a year now. Without doubt an act to be seen live, they’re deservedly headlining this gig as part of HMV’s Next Big Thing series, which shines a light on a whole heap of rising stars in 8 venues across the city, each night hosting three acts for 10 quid.

More details here.

Also Recommended:

Metronomy – Heaven, London – 1 Feb

The View – Old Blue Last, London – 1/2 Feb

Richard Thompson – Royal Festival Hall, London – 2 Feb

Gang Of Four + John And Jehn – Heaven, London – 2 Feb

Jim Noir – The Garage, London – 2 Feb

Grouplove – Hoxton Hall, London – 3 Feb

Smoke Fairies + Sea Of Bees – Scala, London – 3 Feb

Cage The Elephant – The Garage, London – 3 Feb

The Duke Spirit – Heaven, London – 3 Feb

James Blake + Catherine Okada + Cloud Boat – Borderline, London – 4 Feb

Fenech Soler + Mirrors + Is Tropical – Upstairs At The Garage, London – 5 Feb

Chilly Gonzales + The Robot Heart – Borderline, London – 6 Feb

Just Announced:

Architecture In Helsinki                                                                                                     

Melbourne-bred pop experimentalists Architecture In Helsinki have taken four years over their latest album Moment Bends. First single That Beep, a confusion of Prince-funk, late ‘80s synths and a touch of bhangra, was first released back in 2008, so frankly it’s about time this record landed. They’ve lined up a few UK dates including one at London’s XOYO on 12 April.

More details here.

The Great Escape, Brighton

Brighton’s multi-venue music festival has announced its first wave of this year’s acts. Bigger names include Friendly Fires who will play at The Dome, Warpaint and Villagers. Other quality acts already confirmed include Nedry, Twin Shadow and PVT. The line-up will eventually swell to over 300 acts playing in 30 venues. It’ll be happening all over Brighton from 12-14 May.

More details here.

Fleet Foxes

Details of one of the most anticipated returns of the year are in. Fleet Foxes have scheduled their second album Helplessness Blues for release on 2 May. At this stage they’ve just announced one UK date as part of a trans-Atlantic tour and will play the Hammersmith Apollo on 31 May. Fingers at the ready - tickets go on sale 9am on 4 Feb.

More details here.

Arcade Fire + Mumford & Sons + Beirut + The Vaccines – Hyde Park, London – 30 June

Hyde Park might not be the most inviting of venues, but this line-up has a good chance of competing with its vast outdoor space. The common link between these four acts is that they all know how to work a crowd. Cynics might sneer at the manipulative folk of the people-pleasing Mumford & Sons but they’ve proven themselves very able live players with the ability to turn large crowds into riotous celebrations. Their commercial nous should fit in neatly between the dominant power of Arcade Fire and the more alternative style of Beirut whose sound has shifted over the years between emotionally gripping Balkan folk, Central European classicism and synthesised pop. With The Vaccines offering bottom-of-the-bill support, this should be one of Hyde Park’s best dates this summer.

More details here.

London Gigs Diary: 17-30 January 2011

After an extended break, we're back to keep an eye on the world of London’s gigs, and after a quiet few weeks it's all starting to take shape again nicely.

With hype all around, the next few weeks offer choice opportunities to catch some of the tipsters' big hopes for the coming year. This month sees the return of the New To Q Sessions and next month offers up the NME Awards Shows, both brimming with talent and zeitgeist. It's a good time to get out to venues and check out which acts have the potential to own 2011.

Gigs Of The Week: 17-30 Jan 2011 

Anaïs Mitchell (pictured) – Union Chapel, London – 25 Jan

This is going to be a truly special night. If you have any sense head to the Union Chapel for a full cast staging of Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown album, one of 2010’s under-the-radar masterpieces. A staggering work in its ambition, Mitchell employed a talented roster to help her reimagine classical Greek myths in a world of rowdy blues bars and heartbreaking romanticism. Now, for the first time in this country, we get to see its theatrical leanings performed as it should be. Confirmed cast members include Martin Carthy and Jim Moray, and we're hoping that Ani DiFranco and Ben Knox Miller will be among those recreating their recorded roles in person. Plus, ahead of all that, head to The Slaughtered Lamb on 23 Jan for an afternoon of hanging out with Anaïs as she’ll be there to talk about the project and play a few of the songs acoustically.

More details here.

Guillemots – Unannounced venue, London – 27 Jan

An unannounced venue. Such intrigue and drama. Let’s hope the location of this “welcome back” gig comes as a nice surprise on its reveal the day before the show, and it’s not just a case that noone got round to booking somewhere. What is assured however, is that the return of Guillemots is something to be celebrated, and following a pre-ticket release countdown for fans, this date sold out in four minutes. With Fyfe Dangerfield‘s debut solo album safely in the bag, he’s back with the rest of his elaborately-titled flock, MC Lord Magrão, Aristazabal Hawkes and Greig Stewart. This will be the first chance to hear material due for release on their third album later this year.

More details here. 

The Irrepressibles + Gabby Young And Other Animals – Barbican Hall, London – 29 Jan

Two of the most impressive and theatrical live acts around are taking over the Barbican for a night catering for those who like a show. The Irrepressibles, led by Jamie McDermott, should provide a spectacle to complement their lush orchestral pieces of flamboyant drama. And speaking of flamboyance, Gabby Young, who also uses an ensemble to great effect, will be providing support. Expect her to flesh out her charming and irresistible tunes with a touch of burlesque, a side order of skiffle and a whole heap of ridiculous costumery.

More details here.

Also Recommended:

Jessie J + Liam Bailey – Scala, London – 17 Jan

Tennis + Swanton Bombs – Madame Jojo’s, London – 18 Jan

Hercules And Love Affair – Heaven, London – 19 Jan

Jonny + Wye Oak – Water Rats, London – 20 Jan

Luke Haines performing Outsider Music – Hoxton Pony, London – 20 Jan

Teengirl Fantasy + Dikta + Treelight For Sunlight – Hoxton Square Bar + Kitchen, London – 20 Jan

White Lies + Sleigh Bells + Jamie Woon + Funeral Party – Forum, London – 20 Jan

The Futureheads + Chapel Club – Forum, London – 21 Jan

Manic Street Preachers + British Sea Power – Brixton Academy, London – 21/22 Jan

Sssh! featuring Stuart Braithwaite, The London Snorkelling Team + Still Corners – Cecil Sharp House, London – 22 Jan

Bruno Mars – Cafe De Paris, London – 24 Jan                                                                        

The Walkmen + The Head And The Heart + Treelight For Sunlight – Shepherd's Bush Empire, London – 25 Jan

Anika – Lexington, London – 26 Jan

Anna Calvi – Hoxton Hall, London – 27 Jan

Ani DiFranco + Jim Moray – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 27 Jan

The Pierces + Murray James + David’s Lyre – Bush Hall, London – 28 Jan

Justin Currie + Heidi Spencer & The Rarebirds – Union Chapel, London – 30 Jan

Just Announced:

Bright Eyes

Fresh from his Monsters Of Folk project, Conor Oberst is back in his Bright Eyes day job. The band has announced a string of dates in February, to include a night at Scala on 14 February coinciding with the release of The People’s Key, their seventh album. Offering an aural refuge from Valentine’s Day, Oberst together with the other mainstays of the band, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, present a much more enticing option. They’ll also be playing in Glasgow and Nottingham.

More details here.

TEETH + Seams + Vialka + Drugg + Antwerp

A collection of some of the more intriguing offbeat acts has been put together by promoters God Don’t Like It for a night of diverse fun at The Macbeth on 19 February. Headliners TEETH have attracted a lot of attention since supporting Sleigh Bells last year. With intoxicating frontwoman Veronica belting her way through their electro-punk set, they’re more than worthy of a headline slot. Support includes the French boy/girl two-piece Vialka and Birmingham-bred electronic whizz Seams.

More details here. 

Twin Shadow 

4ad’s Twin Shadow, aka George Lewis Jr is getting more ambitious with every announcement. From shining from the bottom of a bill at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen just a few months ago, he’s sold out a headline gig at the Lexington later this month, is supporting the wonderful Warpaint at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in February and has now promised to come back to London on 11 May for his own gig at Scala. At this rate expect total world domination by next Spring.

More details here.