London Gigs Diary: 2-8 December 2013

Factory Floor end a busy year that finally saw them release their debut album through DFA with a headline spot at Heaven, with support from much fancied East India Youth on Tuesday; his debut album follows early in 2014.

Following the success of 2012’s Two Hands One Mouth European tour, which saw brothers Ron and Russell tours as a duo for the first time, Sparks bring the format to the Union Chapel for the second of two shows on Monday. With no band and no computers, expect a stripped back rendition of thier back catalogue.

Robyn Hitchcock impressed us last month on the Manchester leg of his tour. He’s getting up close and personal with the second of two dates at the tiny and beautiful St Pancras Old Church on Monday.

In what’s become something of a Christmas tradition, vastly under appreciated folk singer Thea Gilmore returns to London, on Tuesday taking to the stage of the Jazz Cafe. Meanwhile, ATP’s Netil House series rolls on with a show from Geoff Barrow’s BEAK> on Wednesday.

Back in February, Night Beds spent a week or so in the capital, and impressed us ahead of the release of his debut album, Country Sleep. We’re looking forward to see how a gruelling year on the road with his album has affected his live performances.

Monday 2 December

Goat – KOKO
Scott Matthew – The Islington
Sparks – Union Chapel
Robyn Hitchcock – St Pancras Old Church
Ty Segall – Scala
Destroyer – Bush Hall
Alasdair Roberts – Slaughtered Lamb
The Lovely Eggs – Lexington

Tuesday 3 December

Factory Floor + East India Youth – Heaven
Night Beds – Scala
Badly Drawn Boy – The Half Moon, Putney
Thea Gilmore – Jazz Cafe
A Celebration of Bert Jansch – Royal Festival Hall
Slint – Forum
Ballet School – Venue Basement
Rhodes – Servant Jazz Quarters

Wednesday 4 December

Jonathan Wilson – Islington Assembly Hall
Darkstar – Corsica Studios
Roddy Woomble – Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen
BEAK> – Netil House

Thursday 5 December

Dean Wareham – St Pancras Old Church
The Leisure Society – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Dutch Uncles – Islington Assembly Hall
Eagulls – Sebright Arms
Oh Land – Scala
Breton – Lexington
Fatboy Slim – XOYO

Friday 6 December

Autoheart – Cargo
Drenge – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Basement Jaxx – Brixton Academy
Peace – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Dignan Porch – Shacklewell Arms

Saturday 7 December

The Just Joans – The Victoria
Simian Mobile Disco – XOYO

Sunday 8 December

Stornoway + Nadine Shah – Barbican
Kate Rusby – Union Chapel
Yo La Tengo – Milton Court

Just announced

Following their huge shows at the Roundhouse last month, Arcade Fire – aka the Reflektors – are set to return to London next year. They’ll bring their show to Earls Court on 6 and 7 June.

The Barbican has announced a string of new dates for 2014, including an outing from 90-year-old psychedelic jazz legend Marshall Allen, with Sun Ra Arkestra, on 31 May. They’ve given us lots of warning about Nils Frahm‘s show (that’s him, pictured on the right) on 29 October, while Marc Almond is set to join forces with composer and saxophonist John Harle for their show, The Tyburn Tree, on 2 March.

Sophie Ellis Bextor has announced two dates at the Union Chapel, on 10 and 11 April, following a sold out night at Bush Hall on 21 January.

Festivals

And already next summer’s festivals have started to drip-feed their line-ups. Both Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and London’s Field Day – which in 2014 expands to a two-dayer – have booked Pixies to headline one day, with the Victoria Park event also confirming the returning Metronomy, who have a new album out in March. More on Primavera Sound here; and on Field Day here.