Body Count play the Kentish Town Forum

FESTIVAL season has been upon us forsome time and while some may be going further afield for their annual summer music immersion, there is still so much to see on our doorstep. Hyde Park’s British Summer Time festival offers three weekends of big headliners, an assortment of eclectic supports and makes the most of the downtime between weekend shows with its Open House days, opening the site to all with free events, music, a street food market, open-air cinema and so much more. The festival begins on June 29 with All Things Orchestral with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing blockbuster hits from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Wizard of Oz and more. This is followed by SZA + Sampha + Snoh Aalegra (June 29), Kings of Leon + Paolo Nutini + The Vaccines (June 30), Morgan Wallen (July 4), Andrea Bocelli (July 5), Robbie Williams (July 6), Shania Twain (July 7), Stevie Nicks (July 12), Kylie (July 13) and Stray Kids (July 14). All nights feature special guests and supports including the likes of Seal, Shaun Ryder’s Black Grape and more – check out the website for full details.

• Not to be outdone, Finsbury Park has some big gigs of its own, starting with The Wolfe Tones celebrating their last ever London show with a massive line-up including Brògeal on July 5; Michael Bib presents One Life on July 6 featuring a huge electronic show – be ready to rave; something a little more soulful from Hozier on July 7; and, bringing some of the biggest names in hip-hop to the park, Wireless Festival on July 12-14 featuring Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, J Hus, Doja Cat, Future and, you’ve guessed it, many more.

• Also competing for the London festival attention is the Somerset House Summer Series (July 11-21), featuring SMINO, Hak Baker and the Patti Smith Quartet among others.

• For fans of something a little harder, Body Count, the Ice-T fronted thrash metal band play Kentish Town Forum on June 30.

• No doubt John Lydon will have a few tales to tell when he hits Union Chapel on June 29.

• One of the highlights of the year, Dig It Soundsystem’s Heath Party takes place at the bandstand on July 5.

• The Men Who Knew Too Much, the new project from Erran Baron Cohen (award-winning film composer of Borat, Bruno and Da Ali G Show) and Jules Brookes (founder of jazz funk outfit Raw Stylist), plays The Camden Club on June 30.

• Get your comedy and garage punk fix at The Lexington where comedian Stewart Lee presents three nights of his favourite garage punk greats preceded by 30-40 minutes of his work-in-progress material from his upcoming show Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf. The Primevals headline on July 1, The Shadracks (July 2) and The Fallen Leaves on July 3.

• Brittany Howard is a force to be seen – she plays Koko on July 2.

• Camden Courtyard, the new outdoor venue at Electric Ballroom, opens this weekend with Martin Kemp on July 5 and Unit 11 on July 6.

• Lisa Agnelli presents two pop rock candle concerts at Burgh House on July 7.

More upcoming gigs

June 28 – The Scapegoats, The World’s End; Arthur Verocai + Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Barbican Hall; Ty Segall, Roundhouse; Yutara Ogida, The Water Rats; Ping Pong Disco + The Raven Chords + Feast Of The Half Kings + Daddy Those Men Scare Me, The Dublin Castle;

June 29 – Jackals + The Nightfalls + Idyllic, The Dublin Castle; Biscuit Town, Green Note;

June 30 – Marina Sena, Jazz Cafe; Fritillaries, Green Note;

July 1 – Balance and Composure, Islington Assembly Hall;

July 1-2 – ANOHNI and the Johnsons, The Barbican;

July 2 – Joan Osborne, Union Chapel; Axel Flóvent, West Hampstead Arts Club ; Staples Jr Singers, 229; Sarah Isabella EP Launch, Cafe Koko;

July 3 – Against The Current, Lafayette; Mike Love, Jazz Cafe; Miranda Joan, 100 Club;

July 4 – BBC Introducing ft JC Stewart, Lusaint + Jarki Monno; Black Deer Live, The Lower Third; Outlaws & Independents ft Emilia Quinn + Savannah Gardner + Ags Connoly + Dom Glynn, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Bill Withers Birthday Party, The Forge; Lacey + You Over Me + The Kanz, The Black Heart; Weston Loney, The Social; Flo Perlin album launch, St Pancras Old Church;

July 5 – EXTC ft XTC’s Terry Chambers, The Forge; Pigeon Dog single launch with Lusa Morena, Ain’t, The Lexington;

July 6 – The Detroit Cobras celebrating the life of Rachel Nagy + Marcus Durant, The Forge; This Feeling presents Clamber + I See Orange + The Parallels + The Impersonals, The Water Rats; The Sadies, 100 Club;

July 6-7 – White Lies performing Big TV, Lafayette;

July 7 – Vincente García, The Garage; d4vd, Koko;

July 8 – Dea Matrona + Petch + Roswell, The Underworld;

July 9 – Kyle Falconer + The Lafontaines + Red Vanilla, The Underworld; Amen Dunes, Koko; Saxon & P Nut, Cafe Koko; Tuesday Blues – Dom Martin + Zoe Schwarz Bluez Party + Mark Harrison, 100 Club;

July 11 – Old Dirty Brasstards: Beyoncé On brass, 100 Club;

July 11-14 – Nils Frahm – Music For London, Barbican.