Big things: Little Simz will come to Brixton this month
(Picture: Nwaka Okparaeke)December usually sees a bit of a winding down in the music industry — with all the year-end best-of lists already being written, no-one wants their album to get lost in amid a mire of mince pies and Mariah Carey.
But apart from those few days before and after Christmas, the live music scene in London barely lets up, with some huge names coming to town to play shows.
Many of them have already sold out, but there are a few tickets remaining for some stellar gigs. Here’s five of the best.
Tom Jones
Tom Jones pushed the boat out with his latest album, Surrounded By Time, which he’ll explore at this arena gig. But you needn’t worry if you think this will be a purely experimental night from the 81-year-old — he’ll surely play through all the classics that have sustained a career for almost six decades.
Dec 9, £45, The O2, SE10, theo2.co.uk
Sam Akpro
The south London music scene is one that just keeps on giving, and one of the latest products is Peckham artist Sam Akpro. His latest EP, Drift, is a genre-melting masterclass in atmospheric builders. And at £5 a ticket, it’s an absolute steal — catch him here at the Windmill in Brixton before he inevitably moves onto larger (and pricier) venues.
Dec 11, £5, Windmill Brixton, SW2, windmillbrixton.co.uk
D Double E
An undeniable legend of the London music scene, grime hero D Double E headlines the Forum. This is an upgraded show from two previously planned gigs at Lafayette — proof of just how much demand he generates whenever he plays in London — but anyone who had tickets for those original gigs will still be able to get in here.
Dec 16, £21.50, O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5, academymusicgroup.com
Madness
Pay a visit to the house of fun when Madness play their second London arena show in three shows (the first will be across town at the O2 on December 18). Expect a career-spanning set of all the ska legends’ best-known hits, and remember to leave your skinny jeans at home: this one calls for baggy trousers.
Dec 20, from £36, The SSE Arena, Wembley, HA9, ssearena.co.uk
Little Simz
Did Little Simz drop the best album of 2021 with Sometimes I Might Be Introvert? Possibly. The gig-going public certainly think so, as the first two nights at this 5,000-capacity venue sold out with lightning speed. Do your best to get down to the final performance, and witness a generational talent doing her thing.
