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[title]May might have been soggier than many had hoped. But we didn’t let that bring us down. While London went into day-festival overdrive with GALA, Wide Awake, Cross the Tracks etc, I was sitting alone, in my pokey flat in Dalston, scrolling through ticketing websites to build this month’s guide. Reader, do not feel sorry for me; I’ll be going to as many of these as my bank balance – and my endurance – allow. Happy days.
From SXSW’s emerging artist showcases (which we’ve given you the lowdown on here) to stadium-sized spectacles (hello, Robbie, Beyoncé and Iron Maiden), there’s plenty to fill your time with pre-and-post day fezzies. So when you’re not yelling along to Turnstile at Outbreak or strutting around to Charli xcx’s Partygirl LIDO takeover, you can fill up your calendar with the likes of Sam Fender, Nine Inch Nails, Little Simz, Pulp and Pitbull. Sounds like my ideal blunt rotation.
Georgia curates Time Out’s music section. Her current obsession is Turnstile's single ‘Look Out for Me’, a band she's written about in her magnum opus, a feature on London's hardcore sceen, which you can read here. See if you can find her at any of these gigs; she's probably by the merch stand with a pint of Diet Coke.
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For folk-informed indie crooning
MJ Lenderman
MJ Lenderman can’t get enough of London. The golden boy of indie music is back in the capital, this time at Electric Ballroom, with his band The Wind. If you were lucky enough to snap up a ticket to his residency at The Garage last year, you’ll know the singer-songwriter comes armed with an arsenal of plinky plonky indie tunes characterised by dry wit and rocking guitar riffs. It’s no wonder he’s one of the scene’s hottest talents.
Eclectic Ballroom, NW1 8QP. Wed Jun 4, 7pm. From £25.96.
Waxahatchee
MJ Lenderman collaborator and fellow folk darling Waxahatchee will be heading to Eventim Apollo this month. The project of Katie Crutchfield has received widespread acclaim following their 2020 album Saint Cloud, which was the second-best ‘50 Best Albums of 2020’, according to Pitchfork and 2024’s Tigers Blood, which was nominated for Best Americana Album at the Grammys. The music is characterised by personable and upfront songwriting, echoing guitars and dashes of pop production, spanning themes of love, relationships and self-knowledge. This is sure to be a memorable night.
Eventim Apollo, W6 9QH. Wed Jun 6, 7pm. From £38.75.
For massive pop shows
Robbie Williams
It’s been a hell of a year for Robbie; he’s released an autobiographical film starring a CGI monkey, shown his Microsoft Paint-style self-help art in the Moco and is prepping to drop a new album with help from Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi. If you, like many others, have resurrected your love for the woke bloke from Stoke, then don’t miss the chance to catch him live as he plays the Emirates Stadium for two massive nights of radio-ready classics like ‘Kids’, ‘Rock DJ’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’. Any excuse to dig out the greatest hits CD.
Emirates Stadium, N7 7AJ. Fri Jun 6 and Sat Jun 7, 4pm. From £77.49.
Beyoncé
If seeing the clips of the US leg of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour has you experiencing serious FOMO, stop worrying right now. Live Nation has released a bunch of resale tickets that (as far as tickets go these days) aren’t too painful. Catch Queen Bey as she performs crossover country-pop bangers in Tottenham this June, complete with flawless vocals, extravagant dance numbers, and guest appearances from the singer’s two daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, N17 0BX. Various, Jun 5-16, 6.30pm. From £115.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is taking a break from her holiday schedule to hit Wembley Stadium this June. Catch the West Hampstead superstar performing her 2024 album Radical Optimism, alongside plenty more Grammy-winning anthems on her biggest headline show to date. Broken up into four acts, the show includes favourites ‘One Kiss’, ‘Be The One’ and ‘Houdini’ with a surprise cover thrown in for each city. If she’s done Daft Punk in Paris, here’s hoping she’ll do Chas & Dave in London.
Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS. Fri Jun 20 and Sat Jun 21, 7pm. From £92.
Sam Fender
Sam Fender released his third album People Watching back in Feb, so you’ve had more than enough time to prepare for this huge stadium show. Bask in the indie, pop and rock anthems from North Shields’ equivalent to Bruce Springsteen with 55,000 others at the massive London Stadium. Make sure to get there early to catch support from American indie-rockers The War on Drugs and Time Out cover star CMAT.
London Stadium, E20 2ST. Fri Jun 6, 7pm. From £72.40.
Pitbull
If you were on social media a few months ago, you may well have seen the viral videos of Pitbull’s crowd at his last O2 appearance. After all, you can't ignore the image of Mr Worldwide blasting confetti out to a swell of polyester suits and rubber bald caps. If you, like many among us, fancy joining in this mass fancy dress party, then head over for round two this month, where you'll get to relive classics like ‘I know You Want Me’, plus a couple of covers (I believe he does a Guns N Roses song?) with support from pop-reggae icon Shaggy. If you can't find that fun, then you're soulless, I'm afraid.
The O2, SE10 0DX. Mon Jun 9 and Tue Jun 10, 6.30pm. From £87.
Rema
Nigerian singer-songwriter Rema will be taking over The O2 this June, bringing some smoking hot tracks along with him. The rapper gained recognition for his single ‘Dumebi’, a sleeper hit that soared in popularity when Barack Obama named it one of his songs of the summer in 2019, spawning five remixes as a result. He follows this up with the 2022 hit ‘Calm down’, a remix of a Selena Gomez song that's regarded as one of the most successful Afrobeats releases of all time due to its international chart success. This year, he's touring the Grammy-nominated 2025 album Heis, which is the perfect excuse to go along and see why he's such an exciting young talent.
The O2, SE10 0DX. Sun Jun 8, 6.30pm. From £28.
For the new wave indie bois
Youth Lagoon
Youth Lagoon plays with a variety of genres, neo-psychedelia, pop, Americana, electronic and folk, resulting in albums that sound like a collection of vignettes. His latest album, Rarely Do I Dream, received widespread praise for its cinematic quality, where gothic folk songs were mixed up with clips of home videos to give listeners an intimate look at the mind of the musician. Hear them all come to life at Islington Assembly Hall this month.
Islington Assembly Hall, N1 2UD. Thur Jun 19, 7pm. From £23.25.
Elias Rønnenfelt
Elias Rønnenfelt is a musician and poet whose debut album Heavy Glory came out last year. Best known for being the lead singer of the band Iceage, the artist has used his solo work to drift into a more insular, Americana-inspired sound. It’s here that he’s dropped the rockstar braggadocio and instead adopted a newfound sense of vulnerability that underpins a lot of his new songwriting. Expect less stagediving, more gentle swaying from this one.
Moth Club, E9 6NU. Thur Jun 12, 7.30pm. From £18.71.
For chin-stroking jazz aficionados
Badbadnotgood
Two-time Grammy winners Badbadnotgood are set to perform their signature fusion of jazz and hip-hop this June as part of Little Simz’s Meltdown. The Canadian instrumental ensemble previously worked with Tyler, The Creator, Ghostface Killah and Kendrick Lamar, stepping away from traditional standards in favour of fresh production with guest vocalists adding extra flair to the group's releases. Over the past year, they’ve been dropping a series of slightly more chilled-sounding mixtapes titled Mid Spiral, which you’re likely to hear here alongside other more upbeat work.
Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX. Mon Jun 16, 7pm. From £27.
Little Simz & Chineke! Orchestra
This year’s Meltdown curator is performing with the Chineke! Orchestra for an unmissable, one-of-a-kind closing concert. Catch Little Simz at the Royal Festival Hall, where she rounds off the festival with a stacked set of new and old hits. Having asserted herself as a singular voice in British music with albums like the Mercury-winning Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, this is a unique opportunity to catch the artist with Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra.
Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX. Sun Jun 22, 7pm. From £62.
For when you want to punch a wall
Cap’n Jazz
For fans of American Football, Title Fight and Carseat Headrest. Cap’n Jazz had a short-lived yet highly influential stint in the late 90s, carving an emo sound that feels a little more accessible and indie-focused than your My Chems and Panic! At the Discos. Supposedly, the group’s first and only full-length album, Shmap'n Shmazz, was composed while tripping on mushrooms at a bonfire. It’s retained a cultish underground adoration since its release 30 years ago, hence this special anniversary performance.
Electric Ballroom, NW1 8QP. Tue Jun 10, 7pm. From £36.31.
Terror
Missed Terror at Outbreak? This is your chance to see the American hardcore legends in an intimate setting, supported by Baltimore band Jivebomb and British rising stars No Relief and Supernova. This ferocious night at the New Cross Inn will offer fans the chance to get properly up-close to (and maybe on stage with) the LA five-piece who’ve been regularly releasing music since 2004. Give ‘Return to Strength’ a spin and limber up ahead of the circle pit.
New Cross Inn, SE14 6AS. Wed Jun 18, 6pm. From £27.50.
Jane Remover
Jane Remover is an emo digicore artist, making music that sounds like Skrillex, My Chem and Porter Robinson all whizzed up in a blender. Song lyrics reflecting on hyper-online teenage angst, such as ‘Can't lie, it's all I think about when I wake up / Might be better off showing skin, playing games on camera / Prayers answered,’ which make them one of Gen Z’s most hyped new artists. If you’ve ever paid to see JPEGMAFIA, 2hollis or Ecco2K, Jane should be next on your list.
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts), SW1Y 5AH. Wed Jun 11, 7.30pm. From £25.14.
Power Trip
One of thrash metal’s most exciting acts, Power Trip, has been on the Billboard charts and received a Grammy nomination for the song ‘Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Axe)’. Formed in Dallas in 2008, the band has two studio albums, Manifest Decimation (2013) and Nightmare Logic (2017), which they’ll be drawing from when they play at the Electric Ballroom this month.
Electric Ballroom, NW1 8QP. Thur Jun 19, 7pm. From £29.80.
For an alternative to stadium rock
Linkin Park
Back in September 2024, Linkin Park announced the end of a seven-year hiatus, with the new additions of Emily Armstrong (formerly of Dead Sara) as co-vocalist and drummer Colin Brittain. Eight years after the passing of Chester Bennington, this massive return to London will honour the former frontman while asserting a new era for the group, as signified by the blistering new album FROM ZERO. Featuring the chart-topping single ‘The Emptiness Machine’, the album was praised as being a ‘punchy comeback’ by The Guardian, so you can set expectations high.
Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS. Sat Jun 28, 5pm. From £80.50.
Iron Maiden
One for the old school metal heads. Iron Maiden are back in the capital this summer on the Run For Your Lives 2025 tour. The group teased fans by promising a massive 50-year celebration, with an extra-special set list spanning nine studio albums from Iron Maiden to Fear Of The Dark, with their most elaborate show to date. But don’t be tempted to film your way through the gig, as the group stated on behalf of Eddie (their mascot) to put down your phone and experience the songs like they were first played back in the ‘80s.
London Stadium, E20 2ST. Sat Jun 28, 7pm. From £80.50.
Deftones
Deftones are back in the UK for the first time in three years, playing their biggest show here to date, at London's Crystal Palace Park. Joined by guests Weezer and High Vis, it’s the ultimate Glasto alternative for retired skater boys. The group has released nine studio albums, the most recent being Grammy-nominated Ohms, and maintains a cult following that defies generational listening trends. Of course, you can expect universal favourites like ‘Be Quiet And Drive Away’ and ‘Back to School’, but we’re holding out for a deep cut or two, like ‘What Happened to You’.
Crystal Palace Park, SE19 2GA. Sun Jun 29, 2pm. From £85.15.
Nine Inch Nails
More (very talented) sad blokes from the 90s. Nine Inch Nails will be bringing the Peel It Back Tour to the O2 this summer, forcing all of London’s goths to brave the sunlight, just for the commute to Greenwich. The duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross may have been heavily into film composing stuff recently (Challengers, Bones and All, Mid90s), but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped making new NIN tracks. Back in April 2024, Ross told GQ, ‘I do feel excited about starting on the next record. I think we’re in a place now where we kind of have an idea.’ So keep fingers crossed for some new songs at this.
The O2, SE10 0DX. Wed Jun 18, 6.30pm. From £66.35.
For dedicated BBC Radio 6 Music listeners
Pulp
Nineties legends Pulp have been doing the rounds for the last couple of years, with the massive Finsbury Park show, two nights at Eventim Apollo, and now, two back-to-back nights at The O2. This latter marks the band’s first new album in 24 years, More, which was teased with the fervent teaser single ‘Spike Island’. The Britpop staples had kept fans waiting, having signed with Rough Trade last year, following their return to the stage for the first time since 2012, so expect euphoric scenes from Jarvis Cocker and co.
The O2, SE10 0DX. Fri Jun 13 and Sat Jun 14, 6.30pm. From £56.10.
Sparks
American pop-rock duo Sparks will play Eventim Apollo for two nights in June, as part of the MAD! album cycle. Promising a mix of old and new classics, the duo crafted a signature style of cinematic, literary and romantic songwriting, paired with a theatrical stage presence where Russell's hyperactivity is heavily contrasted with scowls from his brother Ron. Give the classic hits ‘This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us’ and ‘The Number One Song in Heaven’ a listen to really get in the mood.
Eventim Apollo, W6 9QH. Wed Jun 18 and Thur Jun 19, 7pm. From £47.25.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ever wondered what electroclash would sound like if it were performed with an orchestra? Well, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are set to answer that question. Accompanied by strings, acoustic guitars and a piano, the New York legends have promised a series of shows that act as ‘a retrospective and a celebration’ that’ll breathe new life into classic indie anthems. Maybe don’t count on hearing the ‘Heads Will Roll’ A-Trak Remix here.
Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP. Wed Jun 18 and Thur Jun 19, 6.45pm. From £84.50.
Kim Deal
She was one of the nineties' most distinctive voices, shaping the sound of a generation with Pixies and The Breeders. But 2024 ushered in a new era for Kim Deal, who decided to release her first-ever solo record, Nobody Loves You More. Revealing sides to her that many may not have known, the indie-rock star croons like a classic '60s pop star on tracks like ‘Summerland’, plays with doo-wop in ‘Are You Mine’ and tells the story of a beachside outlaw on the Steve Albini-recoreded ‘Coast’. Leave excuses at the door and just enjoy a new era for the legendary rockstar.
Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Fri Jun 20, 7pm. From £35.
The Hard Quartet
The Hard Quartet, a supergroup featuring indie rockers Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney and Jim White, is the kind of group Gen-Xers go wild for. And I can’t blame them. The band has asserted that it's the natural result of decades of friendship and playing music in each other’s presence, so expect a jovial night of slacker rock as exemplified by the singles ‘Earth Hater’, ‘Rio’s Song’, and ‘Our Hometown Boy’.
EartH Hackney, N16 8BH. Fri Jun 27, 7pm. From £42.90.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros
In true Dead fashion, you simply can’t predict what Bobby Weir will play when he steps on the stage. The legendary American musician and songwriter (and Grateful Dead co-founder) will play at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time this month, marking his first show in London in over two decades. The show promises two full sets of music, including reimagined Grateful Dead classics and selections from Bobby’s solo career, accompanied by the full 68-piece Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP. Sat Jun 21, 6.30pm. From £79.
For genre-blending rap verses
Denzel Curry
American rapper Denzel Curry is renowned for switching up styles. His collaborations with Robert Glasper and Kenny Beats leaned more into psychedelic, jazz-infused beats, while newer projects, such as his most recent album King of the Mischievous South Vol 2, go back to his trap roots. Peppered with guest appearances by A$AP Rocky, Ty Dolla $ign and Kingpin Skinny Pimp, it's bursting with a visceral energy that, one, justifies his booking at Outbreak in Manchester and, two, makes his live performances bloody exciting to be a part of.
O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 9SL. Wed Jun 18, 7pm. From £39.40.
For dancefloor-filling electronic bops
Eris Drew + Octo Octa
Part of Krankbrother's mega summer series, Eris Drew + Octo Octa will be co-headlining a Shoreditch street party that's sure to pop off. To save yourself the FOMO of tapping through IG stories watching other people dancing, tinnies in hand, to euphoric house, techno and UK rave, then nab a ticket. The event itself will kick off on Clifton Street, with the T4T LUV NRG co-founders going back-to-back following sets from support acts Angel D'lite and Shana G, Expect biting high-energy performances that’ll remind you exactly why London in the summer is so damn great.
Clifton Street, EC2A 4LG. Sat Jun 21, 2pm. From £46.08.
Mochakk
One for the budding tech-house DJs here. Pedro Maia, aka Mochakk, is ready to play his latest headline show in the UK this summer. Blending hip-hop, trap, pop and house, the Brazilian DJ first gained popularity on social media for the lively nature of his sets. As a result, he's toured internationally and played stages at Sónar and Coachella, as well as affirming a status for rhythmic, sets that ooze cool. There's no doubt this’ll be a deluge of DDJ FLX4-owning folk in Oakley sunglasses and Buffalo boots.
O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 9SL. Sat Jun 28, 9pm. From £43.40.