Festival season is getting fully underway. If it’s one-off gigs you fancy, though, then look no further. July will sort you out.
Olivia Rodrigo – 2-7 July, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London
Remarkably still a teenager, Olivia Rodrigo will be bringing her pop sensibilities to venues across the UK. Will she bring out Lily Allen again, for a rendition of ‘F**k You’? Perhaps.
Max Pope – 3, 10, 17, 24 July, Spitalfields City Farm, London
BRIT School graduate singer-songwriter Max Pope invites you to a unique four-week summer residency at Spitalfields City Farm, which is billed as “a celebration of music & nature in equal measures.” Found out just what that entails by heading there this month.
Sam Fender – 6 July, Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
Another favourite from this year’s Glastonbury, the beloved, down-to-earth Geordie is taking to Castlefield Bowl in Manchester as part of the Sounds of City concert.
Rex Orange County – 7 July, Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
Another to take to the stage – the day after Fender, in fact – is Rex Orange County. Expect soft, gentle tunes to sway to in the summer breeze. And who knows? Maybe his pal Tyler will turn up.
Jeff Mills – 10 July, Royal Festival Hall, London
A collaborative effort with the Southbank Centre, Jeff Mills is bringing his Tomorrow Comes the Harvest show to the Royal Festival Hall; the collection of musicians weave intricately textured music through waves of Afrofunk electro jazz, all with a beating heart of techno. The show is part of Southbank Centre’s summer season In The Black Fantastic.
James Vincent McMorrow – 16-17 July, OMEARA, London
Following the release of his album just last month, James Vincent McMorrow takes his beautiful sound to London Bridge’s OMEARA.
Phoebe Bridgers – 23-29 July, Manchester, London
Yet another artist who gave an impassioned performance at Glastonbury, which included her asking the crowd to join her in shouting “f**k the Supreme Court”. Phoebe Bridgers plays Manchester’s O2 Apollo for two nights, before four nights at O2 Brixton.
Arlo Parks – 12 July, Somerset House, London
As part of Somerset House’s Summer Series, West Londoner, Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks is showcasing there early in July. Expect pure poetry from her delicate repertoire.
HAIM – 13-21 July, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, London
I’ll stop with the Glastonbury chat. (But Haim were great there, too). The three sisters, Este, Danielle, and Alana, will be in the UK throughout July, too, playing venues across the country.
Rick Ross – Manchester (29 July), London (31 July)
Rozay. The Boss. Renzel. Teflon. However you prefer to call him, Rick Ross will be hitting the stage at both Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester and then Brixton on the final day of the month. What a way to round off July.
