It’s another week in London where gig goers may have to give careful consideration as to which gigging option they go for on certain evenings. Monday offers three enticing selections to kick things off. Swedish nu-shoegaze sensations I Break Horses play their debut UK show at Cargo, showcasing the hazy, electronically embellished guitar-pop of debut album Hearts. Elsewhere Vetiver appear at Dingwalls in support of excellent fifth album The Errant Charm. Finally sometime Espers vocalist Meg Baird promotes sophomore release Seasons On Earth at a show at Cafe OTO, with support from Sharron Kraus and Fursaxa.
A similar situation exists on Tuesday. Cult Syrian techno maestro Omar Souleyman follows up his crowd-pleasing appearance at the Field Day festival earlier in the year with a headline show at XOYO. The Sun Ra Arkestra begin a three night residency at Cafe OTO, whilst Tuesday also boasts appearances from Real Estate at the Scala, Peaking Lights at Plastic People and Iceage at Corsica Studios.
On Wednesday the Caribou Vibration Ensemble play the Scala, free-jazz legend Pharoah Sanders plays the Jazz Cafe, ex-Arab Strap guitarist Malcolm Middleton plays a solo show at the Shacklewell Arms and Toro Y Moi promote current album Underneath The Pine at the Garage.
Thursday sees an evening of ambient electronic at XOYO courtesy of Kompakt-signed pair The Field and Walls (read about their respective current albums here and here), Wild Flag (featuring ex-Sleater Kinney personnel) play the Lexington whilst The Leisure Society play their biggest show to date at the Barbican.
On Friday the Vortex is the location for a fantastic double bill of experimental post-rock/drone/noise featuring Bleeding Heart Narrative and Petrels. Haeligewielle, the debut album from Petrels in particular is a stunning piece of work and it should be fascinating to see how it translates live. Elsewhere, DJ Shadow appears at the Kentish Town Forum on the same night.
The weekend sees the pace slow slightly, although you can still catch New Order (sans Peter Hook) at the Troxy and Miracle Fortress playing from second album Was I The Wave? at Hoxton square Bar & Kitchen on Sunday.
So, another excellent offering of gigs in the capital. You should really go to one.
Also recommended:
Spank Rock – Scala – 5th December
Fairewell - Shacklewell Arms – 6th December
Felice Brothers – KOKO – 6th December
First Aid Kit – Bush Hall – 6th December
We Were Evergreen – Borderline – 6th December
Allo Darlin – Ritzy Cinema – 7th December
CSS – Heaven – 7th December
Art Brut – Bull And Gate – 8th December
Mull Historical Society – Bush Hall – 8th December
Left With Pictures & William D Drake – Union Chapel – 10th December (lunch time set 12:00 – 14:00)
Just announced:
Field Music – Kings College – 24th February
Goyte - Shepherd's Bush Empire - 29th February
Youth Lagoon – Electrowerkz – 6th March
Spiritualized – Hackney Empire – 19th March
Summer Camp - Scala - 21st March
The Antlers - Shepherd's Bush Empire - 26th April
Ane Brun - Shepherd's Bush Empire - 28th April
The Monochrome Set - Dingwalls - 29th April
The Rapture - Shepherd's Bush Empire - 2nd May
