Avawaves play The Lexington [Paris Seawell]

SOUTHBANK’S Meltdown Festival has the honour of being curated by none other than Little Simz – featuring The Streets, Mahalia, The Joy, Lola Young, Ghetts, John Batiste, Alewya and many more, this should be a priority for your music diary. See www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/meltdown/ for full line-up.

• Shubbak Festival, a huge celebration of contemporary Arab and SWANA (South West Asian & North African) culture, continues to June 15 with an enticing programme of performances, exhibitions, and community events across London including: Sada (Echo): Music from Palestine featuring DAM’s hard-hitting hip-hop anthems, stirring folk music from Rola Azar, Sama Abdulhadi’s fierce beats and Dana Salah’s blend of Arabic folklore amd global sounds, Barbican (June 6); Eid Souq – a market of beauty, and heritage from across the Arab world & SWANA region, Talking Textures exhibition by Yasemin Hassan exploring textured hair as a living archive of identity and resistance and a high-energy DJ set from British-Kurdish selector LANA, spinning SWANA rhythms at Coal Drops Yard on June 7-8; For Sudan, an evening of performance, expression, and reflection, honouring art and culture from a people and land facing unimaginable violence, and envisioning a future of liberation by, with, and for Sudanese communities, ft performances and activities including: drummer Mustafa Khogali, singer Shurooq Abuelnaas, and DJ Heba Tabidi; poetry from Ayah Speaks and Waleed Elgadi; traditional Sudanese dancefrom the Nawaris Performing Arts Group; and film screenings of Al-Sit, directed by Suzannah Mirghani and The Salon by Rafa Renas plus Henna and Sudanese national dress from Al Keneena Beauty Centre, the Living Library with Ahmad Akasha, and Sudanese food co-curated by Waleed Elgadi and Yassmin Abdel-Magied, at Grand Junction, Paddington on June 10; and the haunting tones of the oud from Iraqi virtuoso ad humanitarian Naseer Shamma at Barbican on June 15. See www.shubbak.co.uk for more info.

• Celebrated contemporary violinist duo Avawaves, who have become known for their original works on soundtracks including Charles Dance-narrated documentary Savage Waters and The Buccaneers, play The Lexington on June 6 in support of their third album Heartbeat.

• Can’t wait for the next season of Stranger Things? Djo aka Joseph David Keery, who plays Steve Harrington in the cult Netflix series, brings his Back On You tour to The Forum on June 5 in support of his third studio album. Newly discovered fact – in his early music career, he released music under the name Cool, Cool, Cool.

• If you think cruises are only for a certain type of person check out the Monsters of Rock Cruise 2026 featuring 80s Christian hair metal group Stryper, Black Label Society, The Darkness, Lita Ford, Vixen, Steven Adlker (of Guns ‘n Roses) and many more – book it if you dare …

• Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, musician and TV personality Erika Jayne plays Koko on  June 3 following the release of a string of recent singles including Bounce, Dominos and Drip Drop.

• Polish up your two-step as Rhinestone Rodeo rides into town – a club night featuring a selection of the best country music at Electric Ballroom on May 31.

• Cat Power sings Dylan ’66 – a song-for-song recreation of the singer’s historic Manchester Free Trade Hall show where Dylan switched from folk to electric part-way through the set – at Barbican on June 1.

• Queer Folk Festival promises the hottest queer folk artists around, followed by one of their famous Queer Ceilidh Dance Parties at Cecil Sharp House on June 7 ft Maddie Morris, The Pegwells and RE:VULVA plus a talk from Jo Brydon-Dickenson on the life and work of Edwardian folk song collector Percy Grainger through a trans lens, and a lively folk session in the bar.

• New York Dolls’ Steve Conte stops off at The Dublin Castle on June 8 in support of latest album The Concrete Jangle. Support from Charlotte Carpenter, Acme Sewage Co, Spitting Feathers, The Blissetts and DJ Sammi.

• Victoria Park’s Lido Festival (June 6-15) includes the likes of Massive Attack, Jamie XX, Yassin Bey, Roisin Murphy, Air, Skrillex, Charlie XCX, London Grammar and more – not to be missed.

More upcoming gigs

May 30 – Scotty McCreery, The Forum; Aviva, The Camden Assembly; Martha Wainwright, Union Chapel; Actress x Suzanne Ciani present Concrète Waves, Barbican Hall; Zkeletonz, The Finsbury; Uncle Waffles + Odeal (DJ), Moliy, Felo Le Tee & HAIVAI B, Roundhouse;

May 31 – Moin, Barbican; Las Migas + La Patri, Jazz Café; Athena, Electric Ballroom;

May 31-June 1 – The Waterboys, The Roundhouse;

June 1 – Anni Hung, The Social; Be:First, The Forum; Terry Bickers & The Inner Spiral, The Lexington;

June 2 –  Elizabeth Davidson-Blythe & Daniel Quayle, Green Note; Andrew Cushin, Dingwalls; Flunk, 229; Scoop + Hever + Freak, The Black Heart;

June 3 – The Herbaliser Band, Jazz Cafe;

June 4 – The Weaving, Cecil Sharp House; Wand, Scala; Ron Sexmith album launch, The Water Rats;

June 5 – Letz Zep, Rock ‘n Roll Rescue; Breland, Islington Assembly Hall; Hamdi, Koko; Himalayas, The Garage; Sonny Tennet, Scala; Pachyman + Lawne, Jazz Cafe;

June 6 – The Alehouse Sessions, Koko; Matt Johnson (Jamiroquai) + Julian Fontenell DJ set, Jazz Cafe; Letz Zep, Dingwwalls; Robbie Williams, Emirates Stadium; Songhoy Blues, Islington Assembly Hall; Madison Rose + Myylo, The Camden Club; Abdoulaye Samb’s Minnjiaraby, Green Note;

June 7 – The Crooks + Sunbeam + Marseille + Maystones, 100 Club; Day Fever, HERE at Outernet; Bo Ningen, The Dome;

June 8 – The Albadair Trio, Aces & Eights; Dark Angel performing the entire album Darkness Descends, in memory of JIM DURKIN, Electric Ballroom; Drizabone Soul Family, 229; Myke Towers, Roundhouse; Moonpunx Sunday Matinee ft Public Service Announcement + Family of Strangers + Tara Rez, The Fiddler’s Elbow;

June 9 – Alessia Cara, Roundhouse; The Jive Aces, 100 Club; Lifeguard, The Lexington;

June 9-11 – Slum Village (residency) + Amy True + DJ Drez (HHBITD), Jazz Cafe;

June 11 – Celeste, KOKO; Centimillimental, The Underworld; Rob Wheeler, Green Note; Tremours, The Lexington; The Get Up Kids, 25th Anniversary Tour for “Something To Write Home About”, Electric Ballroom;

June 12 – Imogen Clark, Green Note; Jadu Heart, HERE at Outernet; Kiat Jabloni, Islington Academy; Gingerella, The Camden Assembly; Freedom Pass + The Georgia Maria Band, The Camden Club; J

une 12-13 – The Duke Spirit, 100 Club.