Get ready for a month full of eclectic live music performances across London’s venues featuring British and international talents. Here’s our London March gigs guide.
FATHER JOHN MISTY
8 March 2023, Hammersmith Apollo
Father John Misty is the stage name of Joshua Tillman, an American singer-songwriter, and musician. Tillman initially gained prominence as the drummer of the indie folk band Fleet Foxes before venturing out as a solo artist. He has since released five studio albums, characterised by his witty and introspective lyrics, lush instrumentation, and soulful vocals.
Tillman’s music often delves into themes of love, sexuality, spirituality, and human relationships. His live performances are renowned for their energy and intensity, with his band often expanding upon the lush arrangements heard on his studio recordings.
READ MORE: ★★★★☆ Chloë and the Next 20th Century review | Father John Misty’s satisfying, incomplete charm
COUNTRY TO COUNTRY FESTIVAL
C2C, the biggest dedicated country music festival in Europe, returns to London, Dublin, and Glasgow for its ten-year anniversary. Tens of thousands of fans attend each year, with star-studded line-ups featuring both established and emerging talent from Nashville, the UK, and Europe. The festival has grown in duration, size, and stature since its inception in 2013 and has brought country music to the UK and Ireland masses.
Country to Country has become a staple in the UK festival calendar, featuring programming that fans have come to love and expect from the weekend, including performances from the world’s best country stars.
LISTEN to our Country Music podcast in collaboration with BBR Music. Our hosts, Ross Jones, Ciara Bains and Holly Smith, chat with established and emerging country musicians about their life, music career, and creative process.
SELF ESTEEM
Various dates, including 11 March at Hammersmith Apollo
As part of her I Tour This All The Time tour, Self Esteem will be playing a three-week run of dates across the UK, including a night at Hammersmith’s Apollo. The tour name is an apt one, with the singer (real name, Rebecca Taylor) having been on a mammoth live exercise in support of her Mercury Award-nominated 2021 album, Prioritise Pleasure. Fingers-crossed fans will be treated to some new music on these dates.
GEORGE EZRA
With three UK No.1 albums under his belt, George Ezra is a world traveller and entertainer in pursuit of happiness. His latest album release, Gold Rush Kid, features his most personal and reflective songwriting to date, praised for its emotional lyricism and uplifting nature.
Partnering with YouTube Music, he’s also committed to sustainability efforts and helping the National Trust to plant or establish 20 million trees to become net zero by 2030, with carbon benefits going towards their net-zero ambitions.
LADY BLACKBIRD
14 March, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Photo: Christine Solomon
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Lady Blackbird already has admirers as high-flying as Bono and Taylor Swift, following her powerful performance of the track ‘Woman’ on The Graham Norton Show at the end of last year. A winner of the International Artist of the Year at the Jazz FM awards, you’ll have the chance to catch her remarkable vocals at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire.
VÖK
Icelandic dream-pop trio, Vök, will be gracing the stage at Oslo in Hackney on March 14th. Known for their ethereal and atmospheric soundscapes, the band’s music blends electronic beats, dreamy synths, and haunting vocals to create a unique and immersive experience.
Vök’s music explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery with lyrics that are both introspective and relatable. The band’s live shows are a sight to behold, with their mesmerizing visuals and captivating stage presence creating an intimate and otherworldly atmosphere. Vök has been steadily gaining a devoted following, and their Oslo show promises to be a magical and unforgettable evening for fans and newcomers alike.
OLIVIA DEAN
Photo: Olivia Lifungula
Enfield’s Olivia Dean has built a respectable following with her poignant ballads and warm pop anthems. Hailing from the prestigious Brit School and influenced by the likes of Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Carole King, the alternative soul singer was named Amazon Music’s 2021 Breakthrough Artist Of The Year, and takes on Camden’s KOKO in the middle of this month.
READ MORE: Vök: ‘Life is just better when you can play live music’
THE LATHUMS
Hailing from Wigan, four-piece indie rockers The Lathums have been making waves in the UK music scene with their infectious melodies, catchy hooks, and anthemic choruses. The Lathums’ music is characterised by its uplifting and optimistic vibe, with lyrics that celebrate the joys and struggles of everyday life. The band’s live shows have been praised for their energy and authenticity, with the audience singing along to every word. They’ve been tipped for big things in the coming years, and their Roundhouse show promises to be a special night for fans.
DEVONTÉ HYNES (+ LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA)
Mercurial artist Dev Hynes, who goes under the name Blood Orange, among other monikers, will be accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Hall, to perform contemporary classical music that confronts the complexities of 21st century identity.
LAMB OF GOD
American metal band Lamb of God will unleash their powerful and energetic live performance at OVO Wembley Arena on March 21st. Known for their intense, hard-hitting music, the band has been at the forefront of the metal scene since the late 1990s, with a loyal fanbase that has grown with each release.
Lamb of God’s music often tackles political and social issues with thought-provoking and confrontational lyrics. The band’s live shows are notorious for their electrifying energy, with the audience feeding off the band’s raw power. The OVO Wembley Arena show promises to be a must-see for metal fans, with Lamb of God delivering a performance that is sure to leave a lasting impact.
WET LEG
The wave of Wet Leg shows no sign of abating following the release of their acclaimed self-titled debut album almost a year ago. Wins at the Grammys and the BRITs earlier this year build on the success of their Mercury nomination last year, as well as their much-loved live shows among the festival circuit (which proved so popular at Glastonbury, organisers had to temporarily close the gates). This month, Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers will be playing the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will play will take to stage at London’s Alexandra Palace this month. With a prolific and colourful career, the Australian rock band has released 23 albums, 10 of which have charted in the Top 20 in Australia.
They have garnered international critical acclaim and have made headline festival appearances. The band’s fervent worldwide fanbase is dedicated to exploring and expanding “The Gizzverse” through memes, mixes, videos, graphics, theories, and discussions. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s return to London promises an exciting event for fans and music lovers everywhere.
BIIG PIIG
Fresh from the release of her eclectic, glossy Bubblegum mixtape earlier this year – which offers verses in both Spanish and English – Jessica Smyth, aka Biig Piig, will be playing Electric Brixton among a handful of dates across the UK and her native Ireland. These shows come ahead of her support slot of Jamie T’s glittering Finsbury Park show in June, which will also see IDLES, Kojey Radical and Hak Baker support.
A BOOGIE WIT DA HOODIE
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie brings his Me Vs. Myself Tour to Ally Pally. The Bronx rapper’s effortless style combines nonchalant flows, trap beats, and occasional R&B smoothness, as heard on breakout hit ‘Still Think About You’ and triple-platinum single ‘Drowning’. With top ten hit albums The Bigger Artist and Hoodie SZN and projects like Artist 2.0 and B4 AVA, he’s set to release his fourth studio album, Me vs Myself, on 9 December 2022.
READ MORE: ★★☆☆☆ A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie review | Me vs. Myself
LAURA ROY
Two-time Grammy-nominated artist Laura Roy will be celebrating the release of her brand-new EP Odyssey with her first headline show of the year at the end of the month. The London-based, Canadian singer-songwriter will be bringing her unique sound – inspired by classic 70’s folk and 90’s RnB vocals – to the rather quaint Hackney music venue Paper Dress Vintage.
THE BLAZE
French duo The Blaze will bring their captivating live show to London’s Hammersmith Apollo on March 29th. Their music is known for its unique blend of electronic and acoustic elements, creating a dreamy, emotional, ethereal, visceral soundscape.
The Blaze’s music videos are equally renowned for their stunning visuals, making the duo’s live show a feast for both the ears and the eyes. Their debut album, Dancehall, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim, and the duo has since become one of the most exciting acts in electronic music. The Hammersmith Apollo show promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans and music enthusiasts.
