1 The Invisible
The south London pop experimentalists hit the road in support of their recent album. Patience felt like something of a quantum leap for the band: simultaneously seductively melodic, unknowably enigmatic and teeming with odd ideas.
Manchester, Mon; Bristol, Tue; London, Wed; Glasgow, Fri
2 Afropunk
This inaugural London edition of the festival that celebrates radicalism in black music takes in Young Fathers, Laura Mvula, Akala and many more before culminating in the only appropriate way – with a performance by the remarkable Grace Jones. An artist of ferocious individualism, she continues to inspire awe in everyone who encounters her genre-busting, hula-hooping live brilliance.
3 Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
Ghostface has, in recent years, proved to be the most creatively restless and forward-looking Wu-Tang veteran. But at this date, he’ll be taking a rare glance backwards as he and Raekwon return to the latter’s 1995 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… which they’ll be performing in its entirety.
O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5, Sun
4 Michael Rother
The former Neu! man’s live sets are reliably blissful affairs even without his old sparring partner, the late Klaus Dinger. Expect motorik pulse-beats, twinkling electronics, artful guitar drones and a tangible sense of transcendence; this is rock music as joyous psychedelic ritual.
Leeds, Tue; London, Thu; Glasgow, Fri
5 Chance The Rapper
Chancelor “Chance” Bennett’s independent, DIY career path takes a unexpected turn at the final night of the flashily branded Apple Music festival. In support of his excellent recent Coloring Book mixtape, Chance will be performing an intimate set in one of London’s most storied venues. This show – like the others in the series – will be broadcast by Apple Music if you can’t get hold of a ticket.
