Londonist, multi-faceted, eclectic creatures that we are, has got a new favourite sound. Trouble is, we’re a bit perplexed as to how to describe it. It’s bluegrass, it’s folk, it’s honest, it’s toe-tapping, it’s happy, and we like the lyrics. Or, if we can get all synaesthetic on you, they sound like the smell of aftershave on a sheepskin jacket, or the taste of black pepper on strawberries, or the feel of corduroy rubbed......

We're a big fan of gigs at Union Chapel in Islington and this Wednesday it's set to be blessed by various part of current British indie royalty with the debut solo show from Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows. We like Andy because he has to deal with Johnny Borrell on a regular basis, and we hear that's not a very easy feat. We also massively enjoy the fact that he wrote the band's biggest hit......

It was somehow appropriate that Bill Oddie should be in attendance to witness the final display of England's finest young songbird on the eve of her maiden migration to the winter warmth of Texas and California. Laura Marling closed her brief national tour on Sunday night playing to an audience entirely composed of purchasers of the lavish Songbox version of her debut album, "Alas, I Cannot Swim" in a performance at the Union Chapel......

It's been a strange ol' week for Londonist music-wise. On Monday we got worried about a rise in nightclub violence, on Tuesday caught Goldfrapp at Union Chapel, on Wednesday caught Nick Cave at HMV and on Thursday got excited about a new-ish club night at Three Blind Mice. Looking ahead to this week however, Monday sees Panic At the Disco and Kate Nash play sold out shows at the Roundhouse and Hammersmith Apollo respectively, whilst......

Seems like Monday was a good day for album launch shows. Whilst Londonista Dave was experiencing the fragile ether-eality of Goldfrapp in Union Chapel, we were in the slightly less salubrious surroundings of HMV Oxford Street, where a reed thin moustachioed man is hopping up and down preaching hell and damnation, or at least something about scissors and prolix, next to some guru-esque sixties serial killer lookalike who's doing strange things to strange things.......

“Erm… hello. So this is… erm… a dress rehearsal. If anything untoward happens, we may stop.” Some might think that Alison Goldfrapp’s introduction to the ‘friends only warm up show’ at the Union Chapel last night was a little bit insipid. And, to be fair, they would be right. The crowd looked mostly bemused as the large group of performers that is Goldfrapp traipsed onto the stage in the amazing Victorian gothic church in......

This week saw Londonist get incredibly excited about a few live music events. First up, was French pop sensation Yelle, who played an intimate show at the Old Blue Last. Then, we had the Camden Crawl line up which, as ever, is pretty amazing for those of us who value music over sleep. Finally, Sally got (understandably) excited about The King Blues @ the 100 Club. Once we've come down from our excitement of last......

Every now and again we try and bring you the finer things in life. Sure, there's loads of indie, goth, electro and Viking death metal to talk about but what about music on the more classical end of the spectrum? Portico Quartet are currently touring their "inimitable" sound with Basquiat Strings and will headline a gig at the Union Chapel this Friday. We'll be there but we're not sure what to expect. They have......

To be honest the rain and coldness is kind of making us not want to go to gigs at the moment, preferring instead to wrap ourselves up warmly at home. But if we did, this is what we'd be bouncing at. Monday: The biggie tomorrow is of course Led Zep at the O2, but you've more chance of meeting Santa than getting tickets for that. So instead, forget the dinosaurs and try something new......

It’s probably fair to say that the couple of hundred people who wandered up to the Union Chapel in Islington last Friday were expecting a fairly low-key affair. Arguably the biggest name at the Little Noise Sessions gig in aid of Mencap was to be the compere, Radio 1’s Jo Whiley, although we accept that a few of the audience may have been a bit excited about US indie rockers We Are Scientists. Not......

Cult canadian star Feist is back in the UK playing a sold out date at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on Monday night. Now "1, 2, 3, 4" is all over an advert it might be tricky to find tix but we reckon the ever reliable XXX. Kill Hannah bring their Chicago rock to Kings College with I Was A Cub Scout and Saving Aimee supporting. Tickets are £7.50 and here and American R&B lothario......

Several big artists put on sale tours and one off shows earlier this week, so be sure to get booking for the following: Amy Winehouse plays Brixton Academy on Thursday and Friday 22nd and 23rd November, before playing Hammersmith Apollo on the Saturday 24th November. Tickets for all three nights are rapidly going fast at £22.50 a person. Reverend and the Makers play the Astoria on Wednesday 24th October. Tickets are £12.50 each. Super Furry......

Monday sees Portland, Oregon’s new indie-rock darlings The Thermals play Dingwalls with support from Siberia’s SonicFlyer. Tickets are still available from See Tickets at £8.50 each plus booking fees. Tellison play their “disarming melodies and big-hearted guitars” at the Camden Barfly, with support coming from Encyclopedia, The Xcerts and Gavin Osborn, with tickets only £6 each. Popular Canadian singer-songwriter Feist plays Scala on Tuesday night, though tickets are long gone unfortunately – Scarlet mist may......

Monday night sees Tom “Squarepusher” Jenkinson bring his experimental drum'n'bass with a heavy jazz fusion influence to Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Southbank Centre. Evan Parker supports, and this is sold out unfortunately, though be sure to check back for last minute availability or other sources. Lily Allen places her summer session at Somerset house, with support from Mark Ronson. Tickets are long gone, though Scarlet Mist may be useful for some. The Dykeenies bring......

As a wise man once said, "Bloody hell, it's Soft Cell!" Well, actually, it's not Soft Cell. It's just Marc Almond solo. And the man wasn't all that wise. It was Alan Partridge. Either way, though, Monday gives you a chance to see Marc Almond of Soft Cell at Shepherd's Bush Empire. It's his 50th birthday party, so buy him something nice. For those whose prefer sax to synth, septuagenarian free jazz legend Ornette Coleman......

Busy week for presales with everyone announcing their autumn tours. All tickets are on sale on Friday at 9am, unless otherwise stated. Klaxons are finishing off a triumphant year with a date at Brixton Academy on Wednesday 5th December, though expect more dates to be added quickly. They sold out four nights at Brixton earlier this year, now those mad Canadians known as Arcade Fire have announced a date at Alexandra Palace on Saturday November......

Ticket from Toronto: £299. Getting your song chosen for a Mastercard ad: Priceless. Last Thursday Findlay Brown, whose song Come Home is currently playing to millions of TV viewers daily in the Christmas Mastercard advert, joined a folksy line-up of four artists in the space of three hours at the awe-inspiring Union Chapel in Islington. With a half-hour slot at the start of the evening, Brown had to contend with latecomers and lots of......

Last week we went out to watch a man from Beirut with colourful trousers and big hair, sing songs about fat girls, gay affairs, and lollipops. Tonight, we think you should do the same. Mika was born in the middle of a warzone in 1983 (yes, we realise that makes him disgustingly young), moved to Paris and spent most of his youth in London. What you need to know is that he's Universal Records......

Good news for fans of the Union Chapel in Islington as a music venue come about today, as the venue announces that they will be re-opening on May 4. Last year, the chapel shut down as a music venue following arguments between the Church and the promoters about the consumption of alcohol within the holy building. Added to this major problem, were complaints from neighbours about the noise levels. A compromise has been sought......

"Will the drummer and the keyboard player please come to the stage". It's could be considered an inauspicious start to the show but kudos to Kaibosh for laughing off the fact that half their number are still queuing at the bar. Indeed you'd be forgiven for thinking that had half the band still been the other side of town it wouldn't have overly worried them. On stage they play with a confidence that doesn't......

Sad news reaches us that the Union Chapel in Islington is to close. The Union Chapel Project (UCP) said that: ...a recent vote by the Church membership to ban the consumption of alcohol in main auditorium, with immediate effect, was carried by a small majority. We asked for time to establish alternative income streams to offset the financial repercussions of this ban and the consequent damage to the bar lead economy. An appeal against......