The best music festivals in London this summer

Summer sounds: South West Four festival on Clapham Common
Luke Dyson
David Smyth12 April 2019

London festival season is almost upon us, providing the perfect opportunity for fans who want to see the very best musicians around, but can't be doing with all that camping.

From the long-established big-hitters to the new kids on the block, these are the music events in the capital you need to know about.

The big ones

The Strokes
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All Points East

Returning for a second year, this two-weekend monster again has a must-see line-up. Everyone should find a favourite among the six headliners: The Chemical Brothers, The Strokes, Christine and the Queens, Bring Me the Horizon, Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver. Afternoon temptations are plentiful too, including the reformed Raconteurs, James Blake, Little Simz and Kamasi Washington.

Victoria Park, E3. May 24-June 2, allpointseastfestival.com

The Stadiums

The London Stadium (the 2012 Olympic stadium) hosted more gigs than Wembley last year, so this summer the home of the England team has gone bananas, inviting eight different acts to invade the pitch. They include the latest Spice Girls reunion, Korean boy-band phenomenon BTS and acrobatic superstar Pink. For fans of the classics, there’s Fleetwood Mac, The Who, The Eagles, Bon Jovi and Billy Joel. Meanwhile, Muse and Metallica play the London Stadium and Twickenham respectively.

Wembley Stadium, HA9. June 1-July 6, wembleystadium.com/events

London Stadium, E20. June 1, muse.mu/tour

Twickenham Stadium, TW2. June 20, metallica.com/tour

The best new music festivals in London for 2019

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Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park

You can’t move for divas around Hyde Park this summer, with both Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion making rare trips to the UK, while Florence + the Machine and Robbie Williams look set to put on shows that are just as extravagant. Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie will get together for a soul day on July 6. Look out, too, for big-name support acts including Black Eyed Peas, The National and Josh Groban.

Hyde Park, W1. July 5-14, bst-hydepark.com

Wireless

Haringey council is going to have its work cut out policing the new clause in the Wireless festival’s licence, which requests that performers “not perform vulgar material”. There’ll be F-words aplenty at what has increasingly become a dedicated rap festival. Homegrown acts are dotted around the bill including AJ Tracey, Not3s and Bugzy Malone, but really it’s all about the arrival of the big Americans. Cardi B, ASAP Rocky, Migos, Travis Scott and Future will all be there.

Finsbury Park, N4. July 5-7, wirelessfestival.co.uk

Bob Dylan and Neil Young

This double bill of legends takes place amid the British Summer Time shows at Hyde Park but has been promoted under a separate banner. Laura Marling, Cat Power and Sam Fender provide youthful support, with proceedings kicking off at 2pm.

Hyde Park, W1. July 12, axs.co.uk

Mid-size

Skepta
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Field Day

The edgy music festival has sent its attendees around the houses lately, moving from Victoria Park to Brockwell Park last year, and this time to four warehouses and an outdoor space in Enfield. Being all the way out there means they can put on what they’re calling “London’s loudest festival”. Those shaking the speakers include Skepta, Jorja Smith, Diplo, Pusha T and Octavian.

Meridian Water, N18. June 7-8, fielddayfestivals.com

Mighty Hoopla

Having shared facilities with Field Day last year, this summer the LGBT-geared one is on its own in a park that has struggled to win over both festival-goers and local residents in the past. The line-up should raise a smile, with disco queen Chaka Khan lording it over retro pop stars Bananarama, All Saints and Liberty X. More current material comes from Tove Lo and Confidence Man.

Brockwell Park, SW2. June 8, mightyhoopla.com

Community

Finsbury Park is a little less busy this summer, but this indie-focused one-dayer remains. Top of the bill is the chirpy pop-rock of The Kooks, still hugely popular well over a decade since their biggest album. Then there are newer retro types Blossoms, one-man Proclaimers Gerry Cinnamon and something louder from Bedford band Don Broco.

Finsbury Park, N4. June 30, communityfestival.london

The London gigs you absolutely have to see in 2019

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Lovebox

In its second year out west, this colourful fixture on London’s festival calendar has another impressive, eclectic line-up. Rap, R&B and dance music all have big-name representatives, with Chance the Rapper, Solange, Giggs and Four Tet booked. Watch out, too, for hip-hop veterans Cypress Hill performing their triple platinum 1993 album Black Sunday in full, heavily populated rap band Brockhampton and body positive soul star Lizzo.

Gunnersbury Park, W3. July 12-13, loveboxfestival.com

ONBlackheath

There’s sure to be plenty of colourful headgear on display when Grace Jones and Jamiroquai share top billing at this south London happening. They’ll be joined by big-selling man mountain Rag’n’Bone Man, superlative hip-hop band The Roots and jazz multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier. There’s also a range of family entertainment and an edible line-up from Street Feast.

Blackheath, SE3. July 13-14, onblackheath.com

Citadel

This is the equivalent of one of those artsier camping festivals in one tent-free day. So there’ll be representatives from the Science Museum, the UK Space Agency and the Roundhouse, as well as music from bands including Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bastille and Friendly Fires.

Gunnersbury Park, W3. July 14, citadelfestival.com

House of Common

Madness play two very different homecoming shows this summer, the first on June 15 in the civilised surroundings of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, and the second this reggae-focused all-dayer on Clapham Common. They’ll be joined in Clapham by a couple of Jamaican giants, Jimmy Cliff and Horace Andy, as well as the son of the biggest giant of all, Ziggy Marley.

Clapham Common, SW4. August 26, madness.co.uk/houseofcommon

Dance on

Carl Cox
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Steel Yard

The people behind the Creamfields festival are building their 20m “superstructure” in London again, a vast contraption that puts clubbers inside the lightshow. Names providing beats include dance legend Carl Cox doing his Space Ibiza set and Sweden’s Eric Prydz putting on his HOLO show, which will dazzle the crowd with 3D holographic animations.

Finsbury Park, N4. May 26, creamfields.com/steelyardlondon

Gala

The other opportunity to dance on grass over the late May bank holiday is this proudly independent affair, without the big-name recognition factor of Steel Yard but with plenty of high-quality electronic sounds. Chez Damier, Crazy P, Gerd Janson and Honey Dijon are high on the bill.

Peckham Rye Park, SE15. May 26, thisisgala.co.uk

South West Four

This August bank holiday fiesta is booking “afternoon headline sets” again, which means that Tinie Tempah and Plan B get top billing despite playing in the middle of the day, while the night-time stuff is left to big dance names including Martin Garrix, Pendulum, Sigma and Chase & Status. A Sunday rap stage stars Wiley and Wretch 32.

Clapham Common, SW4. August 24-25, southwestfour.com

Southport Weekender

This house and soul event isn’t in Southport, and isn’t in Finsbury Park this time either, having set sail south for Crystal Palace. The line-up hasn’t been announced yet but they know what they’re doing — the organisers are currently on their 52nd party in Butlin’s.

Crystal Palace, SE19. August 31, southportweekenderfestival.com

Hospitality in the Park

After the summer is over, Finsbury Park will rumble one more time to the frantic sounds of this drum and bass event. In the spirit of all those bands who play classic albums track by track, LTJ Bukem will be doing a “1990-1995 set”. Other notable names include S.P.Y, Camo & Krooked and Mala.

Finsbury Park, N4. September 21, hospitalityinthepark.london

Beautiful Backdrops

Kylie
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Hampton Court Palace Festival

There are plenty of ways to splash the cash at probably the poshest outdoor music event of the summer, whether you want to get yourself a Fortnum & Mason hamper or a “waterside gazebo”. The concert offerings are slightly livelier than usual, with pop rockers Busted, Aussie icon Kylie and disco king Nile Rodgers appearing. Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Tears for Fears, Caro Emerald, The Jacksons and, as ever, Jools Holland are also in the line-up.

Hampton Court Palace. June 6-22, hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

Live at Chelsea

Rivalling Hampton Court in the extravagance stakes, this event at the home of the Chelsea Pensioners offers the opportunity to dine in the State Apartments or have a two-course barbecue outside. The music comes from Tom Jones (twice) plus the Gipsy Kings and Toto. The latter will be joined by comedy rockers The Darkness.

Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3. June 13-16, liveatchelsea.com

Greenwich Music Time

With Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College beside you and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf across the water, this is a grand spot to watch a gig. This year there are fewer shows than usual but the line-up is still wildly eclectic, featuring mod rock from Paul Weller, dance sounds from Groove Armada and something cosy from Cliff Richard, plus an orchestra playing songs from West End musicals.

Old Royal Naval College, SE10. July 1-7, greenwichmusictime.co.uk

Kew the Music

The benefit of a series of one-night events rather than a conventional festival is that the organisers can book acts with little in common. So those appearing beside the Temperate House this summer include young chart-topper Jess Glynne, Eighties throwback Rick Astley, revived garage hero Craig David and Nineties rockers Garbage. All that plus, naturally, Jools Holland.

Kew Gardens, TW9. July 9-14, kew.org

Somerset House Summer Series

The neoclassical courtyard by the Thames always has a more interesting musical selection than most. This time the bookings range from the experimental R&B of The Internet (Jul 11) and the cutting-edge jazz of Sons of Kemet (Jul 13) to the flamenco pop of Rosalía (Jul 15) and the indie disco of Parcels (Jul 18). Look out, too, for three bands who have been away a long time: Doves (Jul 16), The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Jul 17) and Gossip (Jul 21).

Somerset House, WC2. July 11-21, somersethouse.org.uk/music

Indoors

Frank Turner
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Camden Rocks

You don’t even have to spend much time outside for some of the events in London’s festival calendar. Camden Rocks, similar to the Camden Crawl of the past, grants access to 20 venues around the High Street, where around 400 rock acts will be on the go, including Frank Turner, Deaf Havana, Ash and Ratboy.

Camden High Street, NW1. June 1-2, camdenrocksfestival.com

Bushstock

This all-day event from Communion, the Mumford & Sons-associated record label and concert promoter, has hosted early career sets from the likes of George Ezra, Michael Kiwanuka and Bastille in the past. So it’s worth keeping an eye on this year’s participants, who include Gang of Youths, Novo Amor, Ider and Laurel.

Various venues, Shepherd’s Bush. June 15, bushstock.co.uk

Nile Rodgers’ Meltdown

The latest giant to follow David Bowie, Patti Smith and David Byrne and don the curator’s hat at Meltdown is Nile Rodgers of Chic. He hasn’t announced any shows at the time of going to press, but given that his recent collaborators on record include Daft Punk, Elton John and Lady Gaga, he’s going to be dipping into an incredible address book.

Newcomers

Nas
Getty Images for BET

The Ends

The newest major festival to take place close to London is this Croydon three-dayer, which treads on Wireless’s toes somewhat by booking rappers including Nas, De La Soul and Ghetts. There’s a broader international feel too, however, with appearances from Nigerian star Wizkid, reggae bigwig Damian Marley and Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin.

Lloyd Park, Croydon. May 31-Jun 2, theendsfestival.co.uk

Cross the Tracks

There’s soul, funk and jazz coming to south London this summer at this new one-day event. Chaka Khan tops the bill, playing after more veterans in the shape of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. Further down, it’s an excellent showcase for London’s thriving current jazz and soul scene, with sets from Jordan Rakei, The Comet is Coming and Oscar Jerome.

Brockwell Park, SW2. Jun 9, xthetracks.com

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