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 In July, Blur will prove whether they can live up to all the excitement over their much anticipated Hyde Park gig. Madness are another band reviving a '90s tradition, bringing Madstock back onto the London festival scene after an 11-year absence. Kew Gardens and Somerset House also add to the rich pickings when it comes to live music.
 Blur Hyde Park, W2 2UH 2nd & 3rd July 2009 Damon Albarn's been writing operas, Graham Coxon has gently disappeared into the musical dead end of art-punk and Alex James has been writing an unspeakably smug Guardian column about organic cheese. But to be honest, Blur have always been loathsome art school gits. The important thing about them, the thing that will make this Hyde Park concert the gig of the year, is the effortless brilliance of the music. Endlessly inventive, gloriously catchy, and tripping joyously from witty intelligence to boozy raucousness, they were the most influential guitar band of the 1990s and a great live act to boot. Add to that appearances from Vampire Weekend, Foals, Amadou and Mariam and Florence and the Machine and it's no surprise these gigs have already proved hugely popular. Hyde Park will be absolutely heaving. Venue: Hyde Park Address: Westminster, W2 2UH Phone: 0870 400 0688 Date: 2nd & 3rd July 2009 Time: Gates 2.30pm, show starts 4pm Pricing: £45 Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube Blur - Information   London Literature FestivalSouthbank Centre, SE1 8XX 2nd July - 16th July 2009 Words, stories and author events are all part of the London Literature Festival, as you'd expect. Comedy, music and documentaries are also less obvious offerings that get piled into the capital's largest book event. This year, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy are among the highlights of the annual Southbank Centre event. There are also appearances from Sarah Waters, Lemn Sissay ("his poems are songs of the street," The Independent), Peter Ackroyd with his re-telling of The Canterbury Tales, and Vikram Seth as well as a whole host of international writers, prize-winning authors, historians, politicians, poets, artists and musicians. Radio 1Xtra presenter Gemma Cairney hosts an all female show featuring best friends Kate Nash and Laura Dockrill who are joined by Brigitte Aphrodite and Peggy Sue for an afternoon of live music and poetry. Meanwhile The School of Life looks at the philosophical side of books - after all, what you read can literally change your life. From short stories to cult classics, the festival focuses on words in every format. See www.southbankcentre.co.uk/literaturefestival Venue: Southbank Centre Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Phone: 0871 663 2500 Date: 2nd July - 16th July 2009 Time: Various. Check website Pricing: £7-£12 (Adults) | Discounts for multiple event bookings Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail London Literature Festival - Information  Pride London 2009Trafalgar Square, WC2H 7BP 4th July 2009 For the past few years London's Pride Parade has been growing in scale and ambition. Now they've got something even bigger to aim for with London chosen as the city to host WorldPride in 2012. For this year, the theme of the Pride parade is 'Come Out and Play', with the street party marking the end of Pride London Festival Fortnight (20th June to 5th July) in style. Gay, straight, whatever, you can join in the heady mix of fun and politics in what has become one of Britain's biggest street parties. Around half a million gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people are expected to fill the streets, starting out at Baker Street (at the side of Selfridges), making their down Oxford Street and Regent Street for the parade. Entertainment is provided by 80 floats and more than 200 costume groups and walking bands. The serious stuff takes place in Trafalgar Square, where community stalls and music support a rally, with major speakers celebrating a year of successes for the Gay Rights movement. Soho and Leicester Square host more frivolous activities, with cabaret and bands in the square, and the steets of Soho closed to cars - a street party in their place. The hundreds of lesbian and gay bars and clubs in the area keep the celebrations going all night long. Venue: Trafalgar Square Address: Westminster, WC2H 7BP Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 4th July 2009 Time: Parade departs Baker Street at 1pm | Stage performers from 3pm at Trafalgar Square Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Pride London 2009 - Information  O2 Wireless Festival 2009Hyde Park, W2 2UH 4th & 5th July 2009 A two-day festival smack bang in the middle of London - no long car journeys, no queuing for mud-covered taps, no losing your tent at 4am - it sounds like manna from heaven. Now in its fifth year, Wireless has established itself as a major live music event, attracting crowds of over 20,000 every day to Hyde Park. You don't have to commit yourself in quite the same way as a traditional festival - just dip in when you want, buy a ticket for the days you like (maybe one, maybe three) and go home to your own bed. The downside is that it definitely lacks the atmosphere of a camping festival - the weirdoes in costumes, stalls, tee-pees, organic cafes and strange entertainments have been replaced by blandly corporate fare, drenched in giant logos; there's definitely less of a community feel, and music licensing laws can restrict the volume. Gripes aside, the line-ups are consistently excellent. Dance duo Basement Jaxx are set to headline on Saturday 4th July and while it will take a lot to top Daft Punk's performance in 2007 and Fatboy Slim's explosive set last year, if anyone can, it's funky house partners in crime Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. Venue: Hyde Park Address: Bayswater Road / Kensington Road, W2 2UH Phone: 020 7298 2100 Date: 4th & 5th July 2009 Time: 12noon-late Pricing: £40-£179 O2 Wireless Festival 2009 - Information  Summer Swing at Kew GardensRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew, TW9 3AB 7th July - 11th July 2009 The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is an enchanting spot in summer. The stage for Summer Swing is set up at dusk on the front steps of the Temperate House, the largest surviving Victorian glass structure in the world. This makes for a gorgeous setting, which is lit up by a firework finale at the close of each concert. Much like the summer evening picnic and champagne concerts at Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath, these concerts in Kew attract the whole family - toddlers, twenty-somethings, parents and grandparents sharing the same picnic rug (although you might struggle to get your teenagers excited about this year's line-up). The inimitable Jools Holland bookends proceedings with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (Tuesday 7th & Saturday 11th July), Abba tribute band Bjorn Again share a slot with Jive Talkin's Bee Gees Story (8th July), The Bootleg Beatles team up with The Counterfeit Stones (Thursday 9th July) while flamenco-latin stars The Gypsy Kings get in on the act with Cuban funksters Motimba (Friday 10th July). For more information go to www.kew.org/swing. Venue: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Address: Kew, TW9 3AB Phone: 01825 731 853 Date: 7th July - 11th July 2009 Time: 6.30pm (Gates open), 7.30pm (Concerts begin) Pricing: £30-£37.50 Summer Swing at Kew Gardens - Information  Somerset House Summer SeriesSomerset House, WC2R 1LA 9th July - 18th July 2009 The Courtyard of Somerset House is an idyllic, calming, escapist location for a concert on a summer's evening. As a breeze drifts in off the Thames you'll forget the city bustle outside and tune into some great music, surrounded by one of eighteenth century London's most spectacular buildings. So far nine of the ten acts have been confirmed for the annual Summer Series and it's shaping up to be quite a spectacle. Grace Jones, back with the excellent Hurricane, kicks off the season on 9th July followed by Midlands rockers The Enemy on 10th July. Britain's mouthy pop temptress Lily Allen will be in demand on 11th July, with an as-yet-unnamed act lined up for 12th July. Inspite of their terrible name, US prog-rock outfit The Mars Volta drop in on 13th July while Salford electro pop duo The Ting Tings play on 14th July. There are then performances from Australian six-piece breakbeat electronic rockers Pendulum on 15th July and mesmerising singer Bat For Lashes on 16th July before things calm down somewhat for the melodic Athlete on 17th July. Welsh psychedelic rock group Super Furry Animals provide the cherry on the cake with a closing concert on 18th July. Keep checking www.somersethouse.org.uk/music for the latest line-up additions and for ticket information. Venue: Somerset House Address: Strand, WC2R 1LA Phone: 020 7845 4600 Date: 9th July - 18th July 2009 Time: 7.30pm (Doors open) Pricing: £22.50-£45 Somerset House Summer Series - Information  Rhythm of LondonVarious Venues Across London 10th & 11th July 2009 Music will liven up the streets of London at the Rhythm of London festival, a two-day celebration of music making backed by mayor Boris Johnson and taking place on 10th and 11th July throughout London. On Friday 10th July the focus is on music in schools, but it's on Saturday that the festival really gets going with 'street pianos' in several London squares and city landmarks - part of the Sing London programme. Live music will be performed by local musicians in bandstands. Look out for impromptu public concerts at bandstands in Barnet, Golders Green, Hampstead, Hillingdon, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets, in collaboration with Matrix and the Musicians Union. The overall aim is to make music education accessible to all so participation is positively encouraged, even if you've never picked up a musical instrument before. Schools throughout the capital are taking part. Other musical events include 'Pluck', which is taking place in Canary Wharf as part of the City of London Festival featuring a huge variety of stringed instruments - from the guitar to the ukulele. Venue: Various Venues Across London Phone: 020 7983 4100 Date: 10th & 11th July 2009 Time: Various Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Various Rhythm of London - Information  London Bridge FestivalVarious Venues in London Bridge Area, SE1 9SP 10th July - 25th July 2009 Billing itself as "Like Edinburgh Fringe but in the middle of London", the London Bridge Festival is a mish mash of arts events taking place over two weeks at venues across this part of London. Because it's open to all, the variety of events and talent is pretty much endless. Comedy, music, poetry, film, theatre, street shows, tours, children's events, art and photography all come under the festival's banner. Events are taking place at 39 venues in the London Bridge area, and growing. Like we said, anyone can take part and it's fun trying with initiatives like the 48 Hours Film Competition - two days to make a film - and the Story Writing Competition (supported by the Times Literary Supplement). They've certaintly got a sense of humour - as you can tell from their tongue-in-cheek 'Boris Awards' in honour of the city's floppy fringed mayor. Expect to see off-the-wall dancing by the Cloud Dance company, join the Sock Mob for a walking Tour with a Twist, see theatre taking place in Zipcars, and join in the Carioca jamming. www.londonbridgefestival.com Venue: Various Venues in London Bridge Area Date: 10th July - 25th July 2009 Time: Various Pricing: Various Nearest Station: Various London Bridge Festival - Information  Shoreditch Festival 2009Shoreditch Park, N1 6TA 16th July - 23rd July 2009 The Shoreditch Festival has been brought forward to July for 2009. The opening event in Shoreditch Park is followed by a host of street arts, theatre and workshops all around the area, many of which are free. Highlights of this year's festival include Proms in Shoreditch Park with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a firework finale, performances by the English National Ballet, plus live music across two stages including the brand new Shoreditch Park amphitheatre. There are old fashioned tea dances, modern theatre shows, the Shoreditch Bark dog show, bouldering competitions and plenty to keep the kids entertained with a special children's area, a huge variety of stalls and food. After its successful debut last year, the Lift returns to Shoreditch Festival taking theatre to the park with a portable performance space and a programme of events, shows and workshops. Check the website www.shoreditchfestival.org.uk for details. Venue: Shoreditch Park Address: New North Road, N1 6TA Date: 17th July - 22nd July 2009 Time: Various Pricing: Free, Some performances in The Lift will be ticketed Nearest Station: Old Street Tube Shoreditch Festival 2009 - Information  MadstockVictoria Park, E3 5SN 17th July 2009 After an 11-year hiatus, Madstock is returning to Victoria Park this summer after ska veterans Madness - the brains behind the festival - decided to revive their '90s tradition. It's hard to believe that its 30 years since Suggs et al first burst on to the scene with their debut single The Prince. Now back with an eighth studio album, The Liberty of Norton Folgate, Madness will be joined by The Pogues and Man Like Me on the main stage, while a whole cluster of other acts - including Abba tribute band Bjorn Again - will perform across two support stages. The previous four Madstock festivals were played out to 75,000 fans in Finsbury Park, but this much-anticipated revival will be held in London's new festival location of choice, the East End gem Victoria Park. "Madstock for us is musically, socially and geographically our homecoming," says Suggs. "There is no other day like it, for us, our families and for the people that come to see us." For more details go to www.madness.co.uk. Venue: Victoria Park Address: Grove Road, E3 5SN Phone: 020 8985 1957 Date: 17th July 2009 Time: 2pm-Late Pricing: £35-£45 Madstock - Information  Lovebox Weekender 2009Victoria Park, E3 5SN 18th & 19th July 2009 The best of London's festivals is Groove Armada's Glastonbury-inspired multi-genre party in Victoria Park. This is the park party that comes closest to capturing the vibe of a proper festival, with a huge range of musical styles across multiple stages, and a friendly, music-loving crowd. Victoria Park is a great festival venue, with loads of space and a sympathetic council who let them turn the music up really loud. This year pop legends Duran Duran headline alongside Groove Armada, with a superb support coming from hip hop collective N*E*R*D, Friendly Fires, Fat Freddys Drop, Florence and the Machine, Simian Mobile Disco, Ladyhawke, Horse Meat Disco, secretsundaze and hundreds of more acts to be announced. Set in 40 acres of leafy East End parkland, Lovebox ("An annual loveletter to the capital" - The Guardian) also boasts cabaret, a circus, a gourmet farmers' market and a kids' area. This is really one of the highlights of the summer. Tickets now available on www.lovebox.net Venue: Victoria Park Address: Old Ford Road, E3 5SN Phone: 0870 534 4444 Date: 18th & 19th July 2009 Time: 12pm-10.30pm Pricing: £42.50 (one day), £75 (weekend) Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube Lovebox Weekender 2009 - Information  Tiesto: Live in Victoria ParkVictoria Park, E3 5SN 31st July - 1st August 2009 The world's premiere trance DJ Tiesto hits the East End with a huge festival set in front of thousands in the spacious Victoria Park. The Dutch master is renowned for his electric live shows, and with a new album out in the summer and his production team's trademark special effects, this afternoon/evening affair under (hopefully) the glorious English sunshine will be one of the capital's most charged live music events of 2009. If his 2008 In Search Of Sunrise summer tour at The O2 is anything to go by, Tiesto has a treat in store for those lucky enough to get hold of tickets. He might be named after a type of car (or adult's mag) bred with a supermarket chain, but Tiesto wasn't named Mixmag's top DJ of 2008 for nothing! It's on a Friday, so we suggest taking half a day off work, heading down to the park with your mates for a picnic and a spot of sun, then hitting the main event. You might need to take Monday off too, mind. Venue: Victoria Park Address: Grove Road, E3 5SN Phone: 020 8985 1957 Date: 31st July - 1st August 2009 Time: 2pm (Gates open) Pricing: £36-£75 Tiesto: Live in Victoria Park - Information |
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