London Music: Alternative & Indie

London Alternative & Indie Music Tickets. Photo Credit: Quique Lopez. C.C.License

Our Picks

The Wombats (Shepherds Bush Empire - 17 November 2008; The Forum - 18 November 2008)
The Wombats. Photo Credit: Matt Marchant. C.C. License.The three-member indie-rock band (made of two Liverpudlians and a Norwegian) will try its hand at holiday hitmaking with the new single Is It Christmas?. Pay attention to tracks from the group's first album, which alt bible Nylon magazine called a 'pop gem of a debut'.


Death Cab for Cutie (Alexandra Palace - 19 November 2008)
Death Cab for Cutie. Photo Credit: The Fayj. C.C. License."We're four friends who just happen to be in this band that somehow, at least over the last couple of years, has gotten really popular, and let's just have fun," frontman Ben Gibbard told Rolling Stone. See if they can make singing about failed relationships "fun" this November.


Primal Scream (Hammersmith Apollo - 28 November 2008)
Primal Scream. Photo Credit: Quique Lopez. C.C. License.The group recently named Best Live Act at the Vodafone Live Music Awards has plenty to offer at a London gig. After all, this is a band that's been shaping the face of British rock for more than 20 years.


Glasvegas (Shepherds Bush Empire - 1 December 2008)
Glasvegas. Photo Credit: celticblade. C.C. LicenseIndie icon Alan McGee called Glasvegas "the most exciting Scottish band for 20 years" after discovering them in Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - the same place he discovered Oasis 15 years ago. The group's rockabilly-pop sound has earned them icon status just two years in.


The Kooks (The Roundhouse - 1 to 3 December 2008)
The Kooks. Photo Credit: Whistling in the Dark. Creative Commons License.This Brighton band proves that the city where they met is good for more than beaches. Lead singer Luke Pritchard's easygoing, catchy tracks (She Moves in Her Own Way, Shine On) will help warm up even the chilliest winter nights.


Supergrass (Shepherds Bush Empire - 10 December 2008)
Supergrass. Photo Credit: mixedboi. C.C. LicenseThe three members of this '70s-influenced alt-rock group, formed in Oxford in 1993, bring to mind The Rolling Stones and The White Stripes but with have somehow remained slightly under the radar. Reminisce about their '90s prime with Alright and Richard Ill.


Kings of Leon (The O2 - 11 December 2008, 15, 16 and 30 June 2009; Wembley Arena - 22 December 2008)
Kings of Leon. Photo Credit: alterna2. C.C. LicenseThree brothers from Tennessee and their cousin clash southern rock and blues with garage beats to chart-climbing perfection. "We all figured we would end up being preachers,"frontman Calel Folowill told the Baltimore Sun. Music fans must be thankful they didn't.


The Fratellis (Roundhouse - 14 and 15 December 2008)
The Fratellis. Photo Credit: Jamie Milton- Photography. C.C. License.The Fratellis, beat-driving brothers from Glasgow who look appropriately scruffy for their yell-along pub favourites, have earned their status as one of the best UK bands today. Feel free to jump along to Chelsea Dagger and Baby Fratelli.


Elbow (Wembley Arena - 14 March 2009)
Elbow. Photo Credit: dan taylor. C.C. License.The Mercury-winning band is promoting a new sound, now that members of the group have become parents and are raising their own little rockers. Influences for their latest set of tracks include Zeppelin, flamenco and gallows humour.


Counting Crows (Wembley Arena - 14 May 2009)
Counting Crows. Photo Credit: pjinomaha. C.C. LicenseSure, they won that Academy Award back in 2004 for doing the Shrek 2 track, Accidentally in Love. But there's nothing cartoonish about this California band, with bouncy guitar strains and the chiming, infectious chorus of Mr Jones.


Selling Fast

 Feeder - 17 and 18 November 2008
 The Faint - 20 November 2008
 The Kills - 20 November 2008
 Mcfly - 27 November 2008
 New Found Glory - 28 November 2008
 Simple Plan - 29 November 2008
 Coldplay - 14, 15 and 16 December 2008
 The Hold Steady - 17 December 2008
 The Pogues - 18 to 20 December 2008
 Madness - 19 December 2008



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