London Gigs Diary: 25 February – 3 March

The week gets off with two amazing FREE shows hosted by the good people at Rough Trade.

In the east they’ve got local boys Theme Park, whose debut album finally comes out on Monday. They’ve already sold out a show at Heaven next month, and we’re predicting big things from this trio in 2013.

Across town, the Notting Hill branch hosts west Londoner Keaton Henson, who wowed us at the Freud Museum last week. His second album also hits the shelves on Monday and his appearance at the smaller, lesser played shop is apt, given his tour of teeny tiny museums and libraries.

For those of a folky or acoustic persuasion should check out two of our tips, Marika Hackman and George Ezra, who are both in town this week. We were at Marika’s single launch show in Dalston last year and her eerie, Nico-ish voice blew us away. She’s supporting the wonderful Ethan Johns at the Southbank’s Purcell Room on Monday while George, whose gravely, deep baritone impressed us when we saw him supporting Jesca Hoop last year, will be at the Book Club on Thursday.

Caitlin Rose will be putting in the hours this week, playing two shows – Dingwalls on Wednesday and the Windmill on Sunday – in support of her new album, The Stand In, which we awarded four stars. Likewise, Richard Thompson will be playing at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Monday and the Barbican on Tuesday.

Iconic jazz pianist Keith Jarrett will play a rare solo show at the Royal Festival Hall on Monday – it’ll be the master of improvisation’s first performance in the UK since 2008. The equally iconic Billy Bragg will showcase his forthcoming album Tooth and Nail with a show at the Lexington on Wednesday. Tickets sold out within minutes for a what promises to be an intimate glimpse at Bragg’s latest offering.

Here’s our pick of the rest…

Monday 25 February

Ethan Johns // Marika Hackman – Purcell Room

Richard Thompson – Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Fidlar – Garage

Keith Jarrett – Royal Festival Hall

Keaton Henson – Rough Trade West

Theme Park – Rough Trade East

Tuesday 26 February

Little Green Cars – Hoxton Hall

Esben and The Witch – Scala

Jagwar Ma – Birthdays

The Wave Pictures // Tigercats – Barfly

James Blake – ICA

Wednesday 27 February

Billy Bragg – Lexington

Sky Ferreira – XOYO

Walk The Moon – Scala

CHVRCHES – ICA

Polly Scattergood – Sebright Arms

Thursday 28 February

Iceage -  Electrowerkz

Jake Bugg – Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Four Tet – Heaven

Mazes – Birthdays

George Ezra – The Book Club

Friday 1 March

Gallon Drunk – Lexington

NZCA/Lines – Old Queen’s Head

Kanye West – Hammersmith Apollo

Milky Wimpshake – Grosvenor, Stockwell

Saturday 2 March

Girls Aloud – 02 Arena

Sunday 3 March

Caitlin Rose – The Windmill

Paloma Faith – Union Chapel

Just announced

All Tomorrow’s Parties will host the third I’ll Be Your Mirror festival at Alexandra Palace on 4-5 May. Yeah Yeah Yeahs will play and curate the Saturday, with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Black Lips, The Locust, Prince Rama, Anika and The Field among those already confirmed. Grizzly Bear take over on the Sunday, playing their biggest UK show to date. They’ll be bringing Tortoise, The Walkmen and Van Dyke Parks along – with James Murphy playing a DJ set.

After the success of Queen of Denmark, musicOMH favourite John Grant is set to release his second solo album, Pale Green Ghosts on 11 March. A show at Heaven has long sold out, but this week he announced a string of European dates, including one at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 15 May.

Alarm Bells, formed from the ashes of Dananananaykroyd, have announced their first single, Speeding Ticket, will be released next month, with a handful of live dates in support, including a free show at the Old Blue Last on 16 March.