London's music scene: highlights and news

Explore the latest music news unfolding in London, from festival announcements and classical music programmes to venue updates.

French electro pioneers Justice announced as headliners for Field Day 2024

The Chemical Brothers. Field Day 2022. Photo by Eric Aydin Barberini.

Electro legends Justice have been announced as headliners for Field Day Festival's 17th edition, alongside PinkPantheress, Charlotte DeWitte. Due to take place in Victoria Park in August 2024, the iconic festival event promises a diverse lineup spanning electronic genres.
Date: 24th August 2024. Location: Victoria Park, East London. Price: Early birds from Β£50. Book now. Instagram: @fielddayfestivals

La Linea Festival Announces Second Wave of Artists

La Linea London Latin Music Festival. Ana Tijoux.

La Linea, London's Latin Music Festival, unveils its second wave of shows for the 24th edition in April. The festival will feature specially curated performances across the capital. Highlights include Desta French & Friends at the Jazz CafΓ©, Domenico Lancellotti and Ricardo Dias Gomes at Cafe Oto, and Nacao Zumbi at the Jazz CafΓ©.
Date: 12 - 22 April 2024. Website: la-linea. Instagram: @lalineafestival.

Brand New All-Dayer Event Set to Take Place at Crystal Palace Bowl

Grace Jones . Photo by Lawrence Watson.

Get ready for an electrifying addition to the summer festival calendar with Love Motion, a brand new all-dayer event set to ignite Crystal Palace Bowl on 26 July, as part of the South Facing festival. Headlining this exhilarating affair is the legendary Grace Jones, alongside Irish sensation RΓ³isΓ­n Murphy, disco icons Horse Meat Disco, and a stellar lineup of DJs including Dimitri from Paris, Oli Keens, and J-Felix. With its historic setting and vibrant lineup, Love Motion promises to be a highlight of the season, offering a day filled with infectious beats, incredible performances, and unforgettable memories.

Date: Friday 26 July 2024. Location: Crystal Palace Bowl. Price: from Β£43.70. Book now.

Chaka Khan to Curate Meltdown 2024 Festival at Southbank Centre

Chaka Khan. Β© Jo Metson Scott.

Iconic musician Chaka Khan has been announced as the curator for the upcoming Meltdown 2024 festival, hosted by the Southbank Centre. Celebrating her legendary 50-year career, Khan will infuse the 10-day summer event with her incredible voice and global influence, promising a celebration like no other in  June.

Date: 14 - 23 June 2024. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Website: southbankcentre.co.uk.


Cassie Kinoshi's will celebrate Women in Music at the Barbican

Casse Kinoshi. Β© Aurore Fouchez.

Cassie Kinoshi will present her largest show yet at the Barbican in March, in celebration of International Women’s Day. Joined by her ensemble seed, turntablist NikNak, and the London Contemporary Orchestra, Kinoshi will revisit her acclaimed 2023 piece 'gratitude' and premiere a new composition inspired by women's role in British music history.

Date: 7 March 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Barbican Centre. Price: Β£10-Β£15. Book now.

Featured
8 top family events in London this October half-term
8 top family events in London this October half-term

From roaring dinosaurs to lively discos and creative workshops, London is bursting with family fun this October half-term. Whether you’re exploring Regent’s Park’s open-air art, dancing at Sadler’s Wells, or watching classic films at the Barbican, there’s something to entertain every age and interest across the city…

Review: Cicoria by Angela Hartnett at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden
Review: Cicoria by Angela Hartnett at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Cicoria by Angela Hartnett is located in none other than London’s iconic Royal Opera House. Hartnett’s reputation precedes her…

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Your guide to London’s Christmas light switch-on events in 2025

Here’s a roundup of when and where you can experience the best of London’s Christmas light switch-on events for 2024.

International public art exhibition brings climate crisis to nationwide billboards ahead of COP30
International public art exhibition brings climate crisis to nationwide billboards ahead of COP30

The fifth season of The Gallery, It’s Not Easy Being Green, opens across the UK on 7 October 2025 and in Brazil on 14 October, ahead of COP30 in BelΓ©m. Sixteen international artists, including Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Hannah Starkey, and UΓ½ra Sodoma, bring the climate crisis directly into public view. Instead of traditional galleries, their artworks appear on thousands of billboards…

Where to dine in London during Frieze Week 2025
Where to dine in London during Frieze Week 2025

Discover 20+ restaurants to dine at in London during Frieze London and Frieze Masters, from Mediterranean and Japanese to Italian, Middle Eastern, and modern British cuisine…

In conversation with Łukasz Twarkowski
In conversation with Łukasz Twarkowski

We spoke to visionary director Łukasz Twarkowski ahead of the UK premiere of ROHTKO, a groundbreaking production that takes inspiration from the infamous Rothko forgery scandal to ask urgent questions about originality, truth and value in art today. Combining theatre, cinema, sound and digital technology, the work challenges…

In conversation with Tima Jam
In conversation with Tima Jam

Iranian-born British curator and producer Tima Jam is the Founder of Art Voyage, a new migrant-led cultural platform committed to building a dynamic, equitable, and globally connected arts ecosystem through novel initiatives comprising exhibitions, public art, summits, residences, and community engagement to create a lasting cultural and social impact…

Review: LACRIMA, Barbican Theatre
Review: LACRIMA, Barbican Theatre

Caroline Guiela Nguyen’s LACRIMA is a staggeringly ambitious, searing expose of exploitation in the fashion industry and what people are prepared to sacrifice in the pursuit of beauty. At almost three hours in length it is a bold undertaking, but the result is a powerful…

In conversation with Deb Dasgupta
In conversation with Deb Dasgupta

Absolut Vodka celebrated the launch of its Keith Haring Artist-Edition bottle with a public art takeover, transforming London’s Charing Cross station into β€œHaring Cross” on 17–18 September. We spoke with Deb Dasgupta, Absolut’s Vice President of Global Marketing…

In conversation with Maya Gurung-Russell Campbell
In conversation with Maya Gurung-Russell Campbell

Maya Gurung-Russell Campbell is an artist working across sculpture, image, and text, exploring personal and collective memory. She is currently studying at the Royal Academy Schools (graduating 2026) and holds a BA in Photography from the London College of Communication…

Discover the best museums and galleries to visit in Malta
Discover the best museums and galleries to visit in Malta

Malta’s cultural life has levelled up. The newly opened MICAS dazzles on the international art stage, while independent galleries are showcasing bold contemporary voices. Heritage remains at the core, with the National Museum of Archaeology and the ancient walled city of Mdina reminding visitors of Malta’s millennia of rich and colourful history…

In conversation with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley
In conversation with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley lives and works between Berlin and London. Working predominantly in animation, sound, performance and video game development, and with a background in DIY print media and activism, the artist’s practice focuses on intertwining lived experience with fiction to imaginatively retell and archive the stories of Black Trans people…

Leicester Square’s first ever ice rink to open this Christmas
Leicester Square’s first ever ice rink to open this Christmas

Get ready to lace up your skates because something magical is coming to Leicester Square this November. For the first time ever, the heart of London’s West End will host an outdoor ice rink, bringing festive fun to life with sparkling lights, music, and seasonal activities for all ages…

Must-see art galleries and museums in Ibiza
Must-see art galleries and museums in Ibiza

Ibiza isn’t just beaches and nightlife, it’s a cultural hotspot. Discover the best art galleries and museums on the island, from contemporary exhibitions to historic collections, and explore Ibiza’s vibrant creative scene…

In conversation with YARA + DAVINA
In conversation with YARA + DAVINA

YARA + DAVINA make social practice artwork, creating ambitious public artworks that respond to site, context and audience. Unfailingly inventive, they use formats from within popular culture to make works which are accessible and playful…

Appetite on the Farm 2025 review
Appetite on the Farm 2025 review

There are electronic music festivals, and then there’s Houghton. Tucked away in the forests of Houghton Hall in Norfolk, this artist-led weekender has built a cult reputation since its debut in 2017 thanks to its unique 24-hour music licence, carefully curated lineup, and the absence of phone signal…

The largest survey exhibition of Tracey Emin is set to open at Tate Modern in 2026
The largest survey exhibition of Tracey Emin is set to open at Tate Modern in 2026

Tate Modern will open the largest survey exhibition of Dame Tracey Emin’s career, A Second Life, in February 2026. Spanning more than 40 years of her practice, the show highlights Emin’s fearless exploration of passion, pain, and healing, with a focus on the female body and personal experience…

Como Garden, High Street Kensington review
Como Garden, High Street Kensington review

Como Garden is a casual Italian restaurant on a side street off High Street Kensington, marked by a bright red awning and outdoor tables…

What’s on in London this week: 8 - 14 September 2025
What’s on in London this week: 8 - 14 September 2025

London offers a week of culture and creativity with events including Somerset House opening its doors to the public for Step Inside 25, the Last Night of the Proms, London Design Festival, new art shows from Helen Cammock, and the opening of the David Bowie Centre, architectural discoveries at Open House Festival…

We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon by Rambert/(LA)HORDE Ballet national de Marseille, Southbank Centre review
We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon by Rambert/(LA)HORDE Ballet national de Marseille, Southbank Centre review

Touted as the dance event of the year, we set off with great anticipation to attend We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon, a title borrowed from a quote reportedly spoken by Gene Kelly to Buzz Aldrin. The performance brought together dancers from powerhouse companies Rambert and the Ballet National de Marseille under the direction of (La)Horde…

Drumsheds announces biggest season yet with AW25/26 programme and venue upgrades
Drumsheds announces biggest season yet with AW25/26 programme and venue upgrades

Drumsheds returns to its Tottenham warehouse this September for the Autumn/Winter 2025–26 season, featuring over 30 shows across bass, techno, house, garage, and alternative electronic music. Including performances by Adam Beyer, Peggy Gou, DJ Snake, Amelie Lens…

In conversation with Marc Costa, General Manager at Chinois
In conversation with Marc Costa, General Manager at Chinois

Born and raised on the island of Ibiza, Marc Costa has spent over 15 years building a career that bridges nightlife and real estate. We sat down with Marc to talk about his journey, the unique identity of Chinois, and what it takes to create unforgettable experiences in Ibiza’s world-renowned nightlife scene…

In conversation with Aaron Wright
In conversation with Aaron Wright

Aaron Wright is a curator of contemporary performing arts, originally from the Midlands, and currently serves as Head of Performance & Dance at London’s Southbank Centre, a role he took on in 2023. Alongside his work at the Southbank Centre, he runs the queer performance club night Knickerbocker at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick…

What’s on in London this week: 1 - 7 September 2025
What’s on in London this week: 1 - 7 September 2025

It’s a great week in London for dance, with exciting performances and immersive shows taking place across the city. Alongside this, there are new exhibitions opening, live music events, and outdoor festivals to enjoy. Here is our pick of things to do in London this week…

In conversation with Mandy Yin
In conversation with Mandy Yin

Mandy Yin, the Malaysian-born chef behind Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar, is returning as ambassador for celebrASIA, taking place at Battersea Power Station from 5–7 September 2025. Yin has created an exclusive chicken satay burger with Chick’N’Sours, combining traditional Malaysian flavours with a modern twist, and we spoke to her about sharing her cuisine and culture with festival-goers…

Riviera Restaurant, St James’s review
Riviera Restaurant, St James’s review

Riviera is touted as La Cote D’Azur in the heart of London and with this week’s scorching weather we could very well have been on the French Riviera. Ideally located amongst several art venues and London Landmarks this Mediterranean-influenced restaurant in St James from the Zandi brothers’ Emerald Hospitality Group…

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