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Summer festival season may feel like a distant memory, especially now it’s getting dark at 6pm (ugh), but that doesn’t mean live music is on hold. Here’s our pick of the most exciting gigs happening across the UK between now and Christmas.
Dua Lipa’s grand night out
Where: Royal Albert Hall, London
When: October 17
Why it will be great: Dua Lipa is playing stadiums next summer, so this is a one-off opportunity to see her somewhere a little more intimate. And aside from her stellar Glastonbury headline set, it’s her only full show on home soil this year. Definitely a hot ticket to ‘Dance The Night’ away at.
Becky Hill’s arena rave-up
Where: Utilita Arena, Cardiff
When: October 22
Why it will be great: The queen of UK dance music can make any venue feel like a sweaty club floor. This is the penultimate date of her first ever arena tour, so she’ll be really celebrating her remarkable rise – from a contestant on The Voice to pop powerhouse with 19 Top 40 hits to her name.
Ice Spice’s first UK tour
Where: O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
When: October 30
Why it will be great: After making her UK live debut at last summer’s Wireless Festival, rap firecracker Ice Spice is returning for a run of headline shows. This Manchester date is the first of four UK stops on her ‘Y2K!‘ world tour – catch her now before she levels up to even bigger venues.
Nick Cave’s emotional return
Where: OVO Hydro, Glasgow
When: November 3
Why it will be great: This Glasgow gig forms part of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds‘ first UK tour since 2017 – it really has been too long. The godfather of goth is known for his saturnine intensity, but euphoric highlights from this year’s excellent ‘Wild God‘ album will pierce the alluring gloom with shards of cathartic light.
Bob Dylan’s folk-rock masterclass
Where: Usher Hall, Edinburgh
When: November 5, 6
Why it will be great: Bob Dylan is a touring warhorse, but at 83, who knows how many UK trips he has left? He’s playing all over the country, including a trio of London dates at the Royal Albert Hall, but Edinburgh’s grand old Usher Hall is another stately place to spend an evening with a legend.
Nia Archives’ thrilling genre mash-ups
Where: 02 Academy Brixton, London
When: November 8
Why it will be great: This year, musical polymath Nia Archives cemented her rise with ‘Silence Is Loud‘, a brilliant debut that mixed jungle beats with Britpop swagger. It deservedly earned the Bradford-born artist a Mercury Prize nod, so this final date of her UK tour should put a cap on her absolutely storming 2024.
Courteeners’ huge homecoming
Where: Co-op Live, Manchester
When: November 15
Why it will be great: Since they dropped their debut album ‘St. Jude’ in 2008, Courteeners have blossomed into one of the UK’s biggest and best guitar bands. This hometown show comes hot on the heels of their upcoming seventh album, ‘Pink Cactus Café‘, due October 25, so the atmosphere is bound to be absolutely banging.
Benson Boone’s jubilant return
Where: O2 Academy Brixton, London
When: November 19, 20
Why it will be great: First he conquered TikTok, then he conquered the charts. The Washington singer-songwriter’s breakthrough single ‘Beautiful Things’ reached Number One in March and is officially the UK’s second most popular song of 2024. It’s bound to spark one hell of a singalong when he performs at his biggest headline shows yet.
Beabadoobee’s victory lap
Where: Alexandra Palace, London
When: November 21
Why it will be great: The Gen Z indie queen is having a monumental 2024. Her fab third album ‘This Is How Tomorrow Moves‘ made Number One and she’s just been included on the TIME100 Next list recognising emerging leaders from around the world. Now comes a nine-date UK tour culminating in this huge headline show at Ally Pally. Rock on!
Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ winter
Where: Co-op Live, Manchester
When: November 27
Why it will be great: Charli baby owned the summer with her brilliant sixth album ‘Brat‘, a club-ready celebration of messy hedonism and young womanhood. On release day (June 7), enough fans were searching for tickets on viagogo to fill Alexandra Palace, Royal Albert Hall and The O2 Indigo at the same time. Luckily, she’s now leveling up with her first ever UK arena tour. And don’t worry if you can’t make this Manchester date because she’ll also be turning London, Birmingham and Glasgow venues into a sea of green T-shirts.
Kygo’s winter warmer
Where: The O2, London
When: December 11
Why it will be great: The superstar DJ doesn’t tour often – this is only his second UK headline show since 2018. Don’t expect many Christmas songs, but do expect an onslaught of tropical house bangers including his billion-streamed hits ‘Firestone’, ‘Stole The Show’ and ‘It Ain’t Me’. It’s definitely a gig that will keep the cold at bay.
Human League’s pioneering pop
Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds
When: December 13
Why it will be great: From ‘Don’t You Want Me’ to ‘Mirror Man’, the synth-pop innovators have one of UK music’s most sparkling discographies. Plus, they’ve booked awesome support from comeback queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor, so this pre-Christmas show – one of eight UK dates – will feel like a massive party. Santa hats are optional, though.
Macca’s hit-packed extravaganza
Where: The O2, London
When: December 18, 19
Why it will be great: It’s actual Paul McCartney performing songs – nearly 40 of them, according to the latest setlist – from across his 60+-year career. Given that these dates take place just before Christmas, he might even bring the house down by singing ‘Wonderful Christmastime’. Either way, you’ll hear a brace of Beatles classics.
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