London Gigs Diary: 2-8 July

The announcement of the BLOC festival earlier this year was one of the most striking and ambitious of 2012. It takes place over Friday and Saturday in the London Pleasure Gardens, a new custom-built, hi-spec venue in Royal Victoria Docks that makes it sound unlike any other festival in the UK (some stages will be floating on water and we are promised spectacular audio-visual effects). It offers uniqueness and exclusivity both in location and line-up. It has a dizzyingly good line up of acts, predominantly electronic in nature but with some additional wildcard entries. Flying Lotus, Orbital, Richie Hawtin, Snoop Dogg, Steve Reich, Gary Numan, Nicolas Jaar, Squarepusher, Four Tet, Actress and Battles are the names that initially spring from the page. You can get full details here; our full preview will appear soon.

In terms of gigs the highlight undoubtedly takes place at the Royal Albert Hall where Regina Spektor plays her first UK show in several years. Sixth album What We Saw From The Cheap Seats saw her continue with the quirky, beautiful songs that have been a feature of her recent albums. The grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall should suit her and you can catch her there on Monday.

Later in the week on Friday Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys plays a show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall where he will play all of Hotel Shampoo. Meanwhile, M. Ward is also in London this week, promoting latest album A Wasteland Companion at a show at KOKO on Monday (read about his show from earlier this year here). The following evening sees Tallest Man On Earth appear at Hackney Empire, playing from latest offering There’s No Leaving Now. Shepherd’s Bush has a trio of gigs this week also. Metric play tracks from new album Synthetica on Monday, The Wailers appear on Wednesday fresh from supporting The Stone Roses at their Manchester shows and Gossip make their London live return on Thursday (read our review of latest album A Joyful Noise here).

There’s a selection of smaller, yet no less enticing shows also happening this week. Echo Lake experienced tragic news earlier this month with the death of their drummer Pete Hayes, just before the release of debut album Wild Peace. They appear at the Lexington on Wednesday in what is sure to be an emotional evening.  Up in Camden, Twin Shadow plays a date at Dingwalls on Wednesday whilst singer-songwriter Mara Carlyle plays a show at the Green Note on Thursday. On the same night meanwhile, Gaggle promote current album From The Mouth Of The Cave at Village Underground.

Also taking place this week:

Monday

Japanther – Birthdays

Wednesday

 This Is The Kit – Green Note

Thursday

Active Child – Village Underground

Bleeding Heart Narrative – Shacklewell Arms

Friday

Fred Frith – Cafe Oto

Saturday

Fred Frith – Cafe Oto

Laura Marling – Royal Albert Hall

Just announced:

Lower Dens – Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen – 16^th August

Howlin’ Rain & Sleepy Sun – Garage – 12^th September

The Beach Boys – Royal Albert Hall – 27^th September

Aphex Twin & The Heritage Orchestra – Barbican – 10^th October

Hot Chip – Brixton Academy – 18^th October

Tim Burgess – Union Chapel – 24^th October

World Party – Royal Albert Hall – 1^st November

Damien Dempsey – Electric Ballroom – 1^st November

∆ (Alt-J) – Electric Ballroom – 5^th November

Swans & Sir Richard Bishop – KOKO – 15^th November

Alabama Shakes – Coronet – 16^th November

Supersilent & John Paul Jones – Village Underground – 18^th November

Hundred Reasons – Coronet - 22^nd November