The Best Gigs To See In London This Month: February 2020

Harry Rosehill
By Harry Rosehill Last edited 50 months ago

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The Best Gigs To See In London This Month: February 2020
Photo: Pien Muller

Want to get out and hear some live tunes this month? Here's our roundup of some of the best gigs London's got to offer in February. At the time of writing there are tickets available for all the gigs we've included.

IDER: North London duo Ider make slinky pop with more than a hint of R&B. On top of the electronic drums and synths are lyrics that plenty of millennial women will find relatable. Electric Brixton, £15.93, book ahead, 5 February

OMAR SOULEYMAN: Once upon a time, Omar Souleyman was just a (prolific) Syrian wedding singer. Nowadays he's a globetrotting star, collaborating with the likes of Bjork and Four Tet one minute and performing at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony the next. He brings his inimitable blend of danceable electronic sounds and traditional Arabic singing to Hackney. EartH (Hackney), £18.15, book ahead, 6 February

Omar Souleyman plays EartH. Photo: Shutterstock

ANGEL OLSEN: It's somewhat shocking to see that there are still tickets left to watch one of the just-completed decade's most consistently brilliant singer-songwriters — Angel Olsen. Especially after she just released what might be her best album yet, the more spacious and epic All Mirrors. Act quick, these won't stick around. Eventim Apollo (Hammersmith), £28.25, book ahead, 11 February

KLEIN: Back when Klein performed at King's Place in 2019, there was a moment where a heavily reverbed voice asked for the (already gloomy) lights to be dimmed further. It was initially unclear if Klein was genuinely asking for a change in lighting, or if that was an intentional lyric. Essentially, be prepared for bewilderment. The Underworld (Camden), £11, book ahead, 13 February

YACHT: Ever-evolving duo Yacht make synth pop for the digital age. It's an appropriate topic, considering member Claire L. Evans is an accomplished technology writer in her downtime, and the band used the help of A.I. for their most recent album. Colours Hoxton, £16.50, book ahead, 13 February

Angel Olsen playing guitar
Angel Olsen comes to the Eventim Apollo. Photo: Shutterstock

NOVELIST: Once the next-big-hope for Grime, Novelist was never quite comfortable with that tag, and forged his own path in music. That culminated in the Mercury-nominated album Novelist Guy, a raw and uncompromising take on the realities of life in London. This show comes ahead of the release of his next album, Inferno. Village Underground (Shoreditch), £13.75, book ahead, 16 February

MURA MASA: Alex Crossney AKA Mura Masa is one of this generation's great string-pullers. By which we mean he writes and produces tons of music, and then drafts in some of the hottest names in the business to add vocals over the top. Think Charli XCX, A$AP Rocky, Nao, Clairo and tons more. We wouldn't be shocked if he brought out one or two of these famous friends at Ally Pally. Alexandra Palace, £34.25, book ahead, 20 February

KINDNESS: Kindness looks like an artist. That isn't meant as a dig, in fact the exact opposite. Adam Bainbridge's look perfectly matches the soft and emotive sounds used in Kindness' music. Don't be afraid to well up as this distinct brand of tender pop music blankets the room. EartH (Hackney), £18.15, book ahead, 22 February

Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein on guitar
Sleater Kinney at . Photo: Shutterstock

THESE NEW PURITANS: These New Puritans are the most underrated British band of the 21st century. That's a stupidly bold statement, but their discography is filled with countless moments of swelling cinematic brilliance. Their epic scope can't always be realised in the couple hundred people venues they regularly play, which is why the rare chance to see them at the Barbican cannot be missed. Barbican, £5-£22.50, book ahead, 23 February

SLEATER-KINNEY: Seminal late 90's and early noughties indie rock group Sleater-Kinney got back together a few years ago. This isn't a nostalgia-fest-cash-grab-reformation by any means however. Since reforming, the band have released two critically adored albums. O2 Academy Brixton, £35.25, book ahead, 26 February

Club nights

We've picked one club night per weekend, for those of you who like to party into the wee hours.

SOUTH LONDON SOUL TRAIN: A stalwart south of the river, if you want to get dancing in the Bussey Building to something a little funky, with proper instruments instead of just CDJs then The South London Soul Train is your bag. CLF Art Cafe (Peckham), £10+, book ahead, 1 February

HACKNEY DISCO ALL-NIGHTER: A does-what-it-says-on-the-tin event if there ever was one. Disco tunes in Hackney, from Italian groove-masters the amusingly named Tiger + Woods. Night Tales (Hackney), £7-£13.50, book ahead, 7 February

People dancing at a club
Photo: Night Tales

SHERELLE: More Galentine's Day than Valentine's at Phonox, as Sherelle — the one who went viral last year after another DJ dared touch the decks while she was playing — tops a lineup of bass heavy selectors. Phonox (Brixton), £10+, book ahead, 14 February

KLUNK: Now for something completely different. And that Monty Python reference is particularly apt considering DJ Bus Replacement Service brings a similar offbeat sense of humour to her style of DJing. The Kim Jong-un mask wearer isn't spinning alone: object blue, Happa and others soundtrack your party. Studio 9924 (Hackney Wick), £5+, book ahead, 21 February

ECLAIR FIFI: The team behind Oval Space and The Pickle Factory have a new London venue — Canvas. It's opening night, and to celebrate, Eclair Fifi baptises the dancefloor with her eclectic tunes all night long. Canvas (Bethnal Green), £7.50+, book ahead, 29 February

Last Updated 30 January 2020