The xx start a week-long residency at Brixton Academy on Wednesday
Gigs Of The Week
The xx bring a huge cast of support act to their week-long residency at Brixton Academy, which starts on Wednesday 8 March and continues through to Wednesday 15 March. The trio launched their Night and Day series in 2013, with a run of curated shows in Lisbon, Berlin and London. This year’s run is in support of their new album, I See You, and includes after show parties in smaller venues around Brixton. The line-up includes Cat Power, Francis and The Lights, Sampha, Savages’ Jehnny Beth, and Floating Points.
In summer 2015, Efterklang premiered their radical take on opera, with an immersive show in a cold war bunker, beneath an abandoned hospital in Copenhagen. In what sounds like an utterly chilling experience, they led the audience into the depth of the hospital and through the story of a mysterious underground cult. Their London show will be a little bit different; for a start, it’s at the Barbican, but their re-working of this piece – Leaves – The Color Of Falling – will no doubt be something very special indeed. They’ll be joined by The Happy Hopeless Orchestra and a number of vocalists for the show on Thursday 9 March.
The wonderful Tinariwen return to London this week, for a show at Electric Brixton. The Malian blues masters recorded their new album in California; it was the first time they’ve recorded outside Africa – political instabilities at home forced their hand. But their temporary surroundings didn’t impact the sound or feel of their work: they swapped one desert for another, pitching up in Joshua Tree. Hear the resulting masterpiece on Thursday 9 March.
Announcement Of The Week
It may still feel very much like winter, but festival announcements are coming thick and strong. The most exciting this week were Green Man, who have added Kate Tempest, The Shins, Sleaford Mods, Thee Oh Seas Daniel Johnston and Shirley Collins to their line-up, and Indietracks, whose new organisers have really pulled it out the bag, confirming The Wedding Present, Cate Le Bon, Martha, The Wave Pictures, Joanna Gruesome and The Tuts among others. Tickets for both are on sale now.
The xx MP3s or CDs
The xx on Spotify
