London’s Best Live Music Venues
Royal Albert Hall
On the edge of Hyde Park, this South Ken landmark is best known for its black-tie Proms. In between the classical events, it hosts what the regulars probably still call popular music nights. Annual charity concerts for the Teenage Cancer Trust bring big-name acts from Noel Gallagher to Nile Rodgers onto its gilded stage. For a mere £2m, the old girl recently got an all-new sound system that means the rock and pop now sounds as good as Rachmaninov.
Coming Up: Jon Hopkins (18/03), Noel Gallagher (27/03), Nile Rodgers & Chic (29/03)
Kensington Gore, South Kensington, SW7 2AP
Visit RoyalAlbertHall.com
Brixton Academy
Since this 20s cinema-theatre reopened as a music place in the 80s, it has established itself as one of the city’s biggest and best non-arena venues – thanks in part to a sloped floor that improves sightlines for all. Everyone from the Smiths to the Strokes has passed through, including local boy David Bowie. Later this month, current local favourite King Krule is doing a couple of nights on his 5,000-capacity home patch. Just beware: the programmers are going through a hot spell right now, with lots of gigs selling out quickly.
Coming Up: King Krule (24-25/03), Peter Hook & The Light (15/05), Beck (11-12/07)
211 Stockwell Road, Brixton, SW9 9SL
Visit AcademyMusicGroup.com
Hammersmith Apollo
Another landmark London music venue and another ex-cinema. A similar size to the Brixton Academy, this one’s hosted the Beatles, the Stones and that man Bowie – for his last ever gig as Ziggy Stardust. There’s a lot of comedy here these days but, when the seats are stripped out, there’s still some serious music to be heard. Dreamy Americans Cigarettes After Sex are up soon, with northern indie favourites Elbow on the slate for next month.
Coming Up: Cigarettes After Sex (24/03), Elbow (27-29/04), Bright Eyes (01/09)
45 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6 9QH
Visit EventimApollo.com
Roundhouse
Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison… This old engine shed has got a rich musical history of its own. Most recently, BBC Radio 6 Music chose it to part-host its 2020 festival, with an unlikely combo of Mercury Prize nominees – Michael Kiwanuka and Black Midi – sharing a Friday-night bill here. Unusual architecture is part of its appeal, as well as a prime location in the musical hotbed that is Camden. Britpop stalwarts Ash are among those currently in the queue to play.
Coming Up: Jesus & Mary Chain (22/03), Ash (27/03), Thundercat (09/04)
Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8EH
Visit Roundhouse.org.uk
Royal Festival Hall
As the centrepiece of the Southbank Centre, the 2,700-capacity Royal Festival Hall is committed to all of the arts, but its gig bookings are often the most eye-catching. Each June, it hosts Meltdown Festival. This year’s ten-day event is being overseen by Grace Jones, who has already lined up Beyoncé’s even cooler little sister, Solange.
Coming Up: Goldfrapp (29-30/03), Tindersticks (22/05), Solange (12/06)
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, SE1 8XX
Visit SouthbankCentre.org
Kentish Town Forum
This listed former cinema is all about the music. With none of the pretensions you’ll find at multi-arts or classical venues, the 2,300-capacity Forum hosts all kinds of music including – occasionally – some very big names looking to scale down their arena acts and get a bit closer to the fans. Choose between seating upstairs and livelier standing downstairs.
Coming Up: Blossoms (17-19/03), Baxter Dury (22/04), George Clinton (01/06)
9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY
Visit AcademyMusicGroup.com
Shepherd’s Bush Empire
A west London alternative to the similar-sized Forum, the Empire has the same open-arms bookings policy. Its prettier than its rival, but arguably less functional. As well as ground-floor standing, there’s a choice of balconies: the first level has some of the best spots in the house, but go up another level and the action can start to feel pretty distant. Get there early – and get down the front.
Coming Up: Mystery Jets (22/04), Weyes Blood (10/06), TLC (29/06)
Shepherd’s Bush Green, Shepherd’s Bush, W12 8TT
Visit AcademyMusicGroup.com
Electric Ballroom
A longstanding bastion of indie music in Camden, the Electric Ballroom is an old-school venue with a low ceiling that improves the sound and marks it out from some of its higher-ceilinged competitors. It actually feels like a rock venue, which is to be cherished, but its narrow main space means you should be prompt if you want a decent view. Among the upcoming highlights are California’s electrifying Oh Sees.
Coming Up: Slow Readers Club (03/04), Hinds (22/04), Oh Sees (22-23/05)
184 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1 8QP
Visit ElectricBallroom.co.uk
EartH
Evolutionary Arts Hackney, to give it its full name, is the newcomer in this list. Built from the remnants of Hackney Arts Centre, it opened in 2018 and is really two venues in one: the ground-floor Hall can take 1,200 for standing gigs; upstairs, the tiered theatre space can seat 750. Some early gigs downstairs felt uncomfortably oversubscribed, but the facilities are all there to make this a welcome addition to the city’s mid-sized music scene.
Coming Up: 808 State (27/03), MJ Cole (29/04), Handsome Family (17/05)
11-17 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 8BH
Visit EartHackney.co.uk
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