Friko play the Pitchfork Festival [Alexander Jibaja]

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THE last time I saw The Libertines play Camden was back in 2015 when they turned up six hours late for a truly memorable show at The Dublin Castle, one that felt more like a garage band practice than a professional show and all the better for it. Later that year, they were a no-show at the Electric Ballroom – the crowd was there, but the announcement came late into the evening. More recently, they seem to have been a lot more prolific. So, who knows what they have in store during their three-night residency at the Roundhouse this week (Oct 30-31 + Nov 1).

• It’s not even bonfire night and announcements have started filtering through about next year’s festivals. Most importantly, The Maccabees have just announced they will reform in time for next year’s All Points East Festival (August 24) – there’s an early Christmas present idea for some! And, not to be left behind, Hyde Park’s BST Festival has recently announced two headliners: Americana singer Zach Bryan tops his first UK festival on June 28, while Jeff Lynne’s ELO play their final show on July 13.

• Before that, the cutting edge Pitchfork Festival takes over a number of London music venues with a must-see line-up of artists including Kae Tempest, FRIKO, Jessica Pratt and Alan Sparhawk (Low), CASSISDEAD, Tierra Whack, billy woods, Snow Strippers, Arooj Aftab and many more. Venues include the Roundhouse, HERE at Outernet, The Lower Third, Islington Assembly Hall, The Garage and more – see https://pitchforkmusicfestival.co.uk/ for the full line-up.

• You may not hear him on the mainstream airwaves but you can catch rapper Lowkey’s politically charged lyrics and conscious hip-hop at Jazz Café at three shows on Nov 1-2. Get a flavour from his most recent album Soundtrack to the Struggle 2, which features Noam Chomsky, Frankie Boyle and Ken Loach.

• Check out Irish music in three very different forms next week. First, on Nov 2, Mr Irish Bastard bring the party to The Black Heart, a true drinking band, complete with tin whistle, violin and accordion. Then, on Nov 8, choose between the edgy hip-hop of Belfast band Kneecap at Kentish Town Forum – have you seen their movie yet? Or, the chiselled rock ‘n roll of up and comers The Clockworks at The Garage – so much choice!

• Trash punk band Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons, formerly known as The Johnsons, play The Dublin Castle on Nov 2 with support from AlterModerns, The SinicTones, The Go Go Cult and DJs We Got Killers.

• One of the Wu-Tang founder members GZA appears at Koko on Nov 4 with The Phunky Nomads.

• Rhoda Dakar, vocalist with The Bodysnatchers and The Specials, plays 100 Club on Nov 3.

• Ghost-Note (members of Grammy-winning Snarky Puppy), who have collaborated with Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks and more, play Jazz Cafe on Nov 3. Support from MckNasty.

• Troubadour Bill Dury, son of Ian, plays The Dublin Castle on Nov 7. He shares the bill with Nick Shane, The Magnetic Charms and Deft Left Hand.

• FKA Twigs performs at Letters Live’s special fundraising event at Koko on Nov 7 featuring readings and musical performances, with an appearance from Koko Foundation global ambassador Benedict Cumberbatch. Then, on Nov 8, Rizzle Kicks play the Mornington Crescent venue.

• Controversial Aussie punk band Amyl and The Sniffers play the Roundhouse on Nov 13-15 and Ally Pally on Nov 15, 2025.

• Enjoy the magic of Turin Brakes’ acoustic set at Union Chapel on Nov 14. Support from Tom Speight.

More upcoming gigs

Nov 1 – BEAK>, The Forum; Dreamers’ Circus + Flook, Union Chapel; Bien, Koko;

Nov 2 – Normski’s Dance Energy ft Rose Windross (the first lady of Soul II Soul) + Ragga Twins, The Forge; Danny & The Champions of the World, The Garage; The Story So Far, Roundhouse; Bernard Butler, Lafayette; Dame Area + Ysing, The Lexington; Elles Bailey, Islington Assembly Hall;

Nov 3 – Seckou Keita: Homeland Band, Koko; Knife Bride + Defects, Islington Academy;

Nov 4 – Gavin DeGraw, The Forum; Catty, Lafayette;

Nov 5 – The Cult – The 8424 Tour, Roundhouse; Cults, Lafayette; October Drift + Carpark + Juno Def, Scala; LeoStay Trill, The Camden Assembly;

Nov 5-6 – Crystal Fighters + Cassia, HERE at Outernet;

Nov 6 – Robert Finley, Union Chapel; Naima Bock, St Pancras Old Church;

Nov 7 – Faux Real, The Forum; Motive 105, Lafayette; Darcey Salt’s EP release ft Nath Brooks + Heavadny, The Old Queen’s Head; Black Water County, The Camden Assembly; Sun King, The Social; The Felice Brothers + Anthony D’Amato, Electric Ballroom; Electric Boys, The Camden Club; Le Vent du Nord, Cecil Sharp House; Los Bitchos + Faux Real, The Forum; Vanessa Moreno, The Forge;

Nov 8 – Todd Terry + Gee Lee, Jazz Cafe; Cat Pack, Jazz Cafe; Interpol, Alexandra Palace; Dom Martin, Green Note; Sega Bodega + Alice Glass + Doss, Here at Outernet; The Real People, Islington Academy;

Nov 9 – TIF, Islington Assembly Hall; Laurie Wright, Scala; PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS, 100 Club; JP Bimeni, The Forge; Josh Baker, Here at Outernet;

Nov 10 – Hawklords play 100 Club; Ed Harcourt, Lafayette; Infinity Song, Koko;

Nov 11 – Artemas, The Forum; Police Dog Hogan, Lafayette; Bea and her Business, KOKO; The Marías, Roundhouse; Mary Coughlan, Union Chapel; Terra Lightfoot, Green Note;

Nov 12 – Redd Kross, Dingwalls; RayGun + CALLBVCK + INYOURFACE + Black Swan, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Wasia Project, The Forum; Softcult + Bleach Lab, The Underworld;

Nov 13 – Sprints, The Forum; English Teacher, Koko; Sprints, The Forum; Medium Build, Islington Assembly Hall; Suthering, Cecil Sharp House; Noahfinnce + Taylor Acorn + South Arcade, Electric Ballroom; Allison Lupton, Shane Cook + Kyle Waymouth, Green Note; Mouth Culture, Underworld;

Nov 14 – Bully, Electric Ballroom; Lou Terry, 100 Club; Philippa Zawe, Green Note; Aiko, Islington Academy; Balaam And The Angel, The Garage.