It’s a slightly quieter this week in London for gigs, possibly not an entirely bad thing given the event-packed preceding and forthcoming weeks.
It does however see the annual series of Teenage Cancer Trust shows return to the Royal Albert Hall. The most keenly-anticipated will arguably be the show by Pulp on Saturday. Last year’s reunion shows saw the band warmly re-embraced after their hiatus and tonight should be another celebration of their sparkling career. Other TCT shows at the RAH include appearances by Paul Weller & Roger Daltrey on Wednesday, Paul McCartney on Thursday, Example on Friday and Jessie J on Sunday.
Elsewhere Craig Finn takes time off from singing with The Hold Steady to play a solo show at Hoxton Bar Kitchen on Thursday ahead of latest album Clear Heart Full Eyes while Hoxton is also the setting for two gigs by American singer-songwriter Willy Mason who promotes new album Restless Fugitive on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, electronic Brooklyn duo Tanlines promote new album Mixed Emotions in a show at Cargo on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Lexington hosts gigs by Porcelain Raft on Monday and Those Darlins on Wednesday.
Field Music play a free show at Rough Trade East on Thursday, no doubt playing much of recently released fourth album Plumb while Demdike Stare play their slightly sinister, dubbed-out drones at their biggest show to date at Union Chapel on Saturday. Senegalese multi-instrumentalist Diabel Cissokho plays a pair of shows at St Ethelburga’s Church on Friday and Saturday
Café Oto celebrate the launch of their new inhouse record label OTOROKU with a show on Wednesday featuring German saxophone legend Peter Brotzmann playing with bassist John Edwards & drummer Steve Noble while Friday has a performance by two international improvising duos - Maja Ratkje & Ikue Mori’s collaboration being followed by a set by Evan Parker & John Wiese. More details can be found here.
Just announced
Hard Rock Calling announced details this week of another show due to take place in Hyde Park on 15th July that will see Paul Simon perform seminal album Gracelands in full. Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jimmy Cliff and Ladysmith Black Mambazo also appear on the bill.
Other shows just announced include:
The Cornshed Sisters – Union Chapel – 4th April
Lauren Hill – IndigO2 – 14th April
Jimmy Edgar – Fabric – 21st April
Tinariwen with Jose Gonzalez – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 3rd May
Neon Indian – Village Underground – 6th June
Jack White – Hammersmith Apollo – 22nd June
Van Dyke Parks – Barbican – 23rd June
Nicki Minaj – Hammersmith Apollo – 24th & 25th June
Regina Spektor – Royal Albert Hall – 2nd July
