The Best Concerts Events in London Right Now: Where the City’s Actually Going Out

Concerts events in London are having a bit of a moment. You can feel it on the Tube after 6pm: band tees everywhere, people clutching paper tickets like it’s 2009 again, and over 8,000 Londoners already circling this week’s gigs. If you’ve been meaning to "go to more live music" and haven’t actually booked anything, this is your nudge.

Right now, the city’s energy is split in the best possible way. Up in Camden, CIRCA79 are bringing SKA79 Live to the Dublin Castle – proper TWO TONE SKA, NEW WAVE & PUNK vibes in a pub that’s seen more legendary nights than you’ve had pints. Expect a slightly chaotic dance floor, a lot of checkerboard, and that feeling of leaving with ringing ears and a stupid grin. That’s your big-night-out, sweat-on-the-ceiling option.

On the other side of the spectrum, you’ve got The Princess Proms and The Princess Concert popping up – the ones everyone’s quietly booking for their inner Disney child (or their actual child). Think more sparkles than mosh pits, more selfies than stage-diving, but still very much a Live Event with capital letters. If you want something low-key magical rather than loud and lager-fuelled, this is the play.

Then there’s the cult and community side of things. The 100 Club London is still doing what it does best: packing in serious music fans who actually care about who’s on stage. Meanwhile, Jacek Stachursky’s “30-lecie w Londynie” is the definition of "if you know, you know" – a 30-year celebration that’s basically a pilgrimage for Polish pop and dance fans across the city. If you’ve ever ended a night in Ealing or Hammersmith singing along to Polish classics, this one’s probably already on your radar.

Venues like The White Swan Bar, St Mary le Strand and Soho Place (W1D 3BG – yes, literally just off Soho’s chaos) are where a lot of the quieter magic is happening: intimate sets, under-the-radar performers, the sort of nights you end up bragging about when that artist suddenly goes massive. These aren’t always the loudest listings, but they’re the ones you remember properly.

So how do you pick? If you want maximum nostalgia and jump-around energy, aim for Dublin Castle and the ska/punk nights. If you’re in your whimsical era (or parenting era), The Princess Proms and Princess Concerts are the obvious choice. If you’re a die-hard music head, look at 100 Club and Jacek Stachursky’s anniversary show. And if you just want to feel smug about discovering someone early, head for the smaller rooms at The White Swan Bar, St Mary le Strand, or tucked-away Soho spots. This is what music discovery actually looks like in London right now: a bit messy, very loyal, and absolutely worth leaving the sofa for.