Gigs in London - July 2015: the best live music this month

Jochan Embley picks out the best shows from across the capital this month, from D'Angelo to Neil Diamond
Here they come: The Roots
Noam Galai/Getty Images
Jochan Embley2 July 2015

July 1 – Gladys Knight @ Royal Albert Hall

Simply a titan of soul music with a body of work that spans more than half a century, Gladys Knight comes to London as part of her first UK tour in six years.

(020 7589 8212, royalalberthall.com)

July 5 – The Jesus and Mary Chain @ Roundhouse

The Scottish band’s debut album, Psychocandy, is approaching its 30th anniversary, but still resonates today. It will be performed from front to back at the Roundhouse.

(0300 6789 222, roundhouse.org.uk)

July 7 – Little Boots @ Oslo

The electro-pop singer comes to this intimate Hackney venue in support of her new album, Working Girl, which features three tracks off last year’s Business Pleasure EP.

(020 3553 4831, oslohackney.com)

July 9 – Chromeo @ Somerset House

The Summer Series at Somerset House, which runs from July 9-19, boasts a seriously impressive list of headliners – electro-funk duo Chromeo are the first.

(020 7845 4600, somersethouse.org.uk)

July 10 – The Roots @ O2 Brixton Academy

The Roots, who act as Jimmy Fallon’s house band on The Tonight Show in America, are famed for their eclectic, vibrant live shows. Here, they play their first headline London gig since 2011.

(020 7771 3000, o2academybrixton.co.uk)

July 10 – Gary Clark Jr @ Somerset House

Another one of the Summer Series headliners, the Texan guitarist will add multiple flavours to proceedings – soul, R&B, blues, jazz, rock and hip hop all melt into his music.

(020 7845 4600, somersethouse.org.uk)

July 12 – The Specials @ Kew Gardens

The ska and two-tone legends will close the Kew the Musical festival. It looks set to be a pretty laid-back affair – you can even bring a picnic if you want.

(020 8332 5655, kew.org)

July 13 – D’Angelo @ Roundhouse

Buoyed by the fervour surrounding Black Messiah, his first album for 14 years, D’Angelo played two triumphant, sold-out London shows in February. And he looks set to do it again, first at the Roundhouse and then at the Eventim Apollo later in the month.

(0300 6789 222, roundhouse.org.uk)

July 14, 16, 26 – Neil Diamond @ O2 Arena

The iconic American has more than his fair share of smash hits – Melody Calling, his most recent release, was his 32nd studio album – and he is still going strong at 74. Catch him here as he ends his transatlantic tour.

(020 8463 2000, theo2.co.uk)

Legend: Neil Diamond

July 14 – Nick Mulvey @ Somerset House

After leaving the Portico Quartet behind in 2011, Mulvey has forged his name as a folk singer-songwriter and was recognised with a Mercury Prize nomination in 2014.

(020 7845 4600, somersethouse.org.uk)

July 18 – Belle and Sebastian @ Somerset House

Belle and Sebastian's cult popularity is showing no signs of depleting as the Scottish indie pop outfit prepares to enter its third decade. They round up our picks from the Summer Series.

(020 7845 4600, somersethouse.org.uk)

July 23 – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ The Garage

From the time of their first self-titled album in 2009 to now, The Pains have moved on from urgently romantic lyrics and saccharine instrumentation to more considered, subtle sounds. Expect to experience all of it at this gig.

(020 7619 6721, thegaragehighbury.com)

July 26 – Badly Drawn Boy @ Barbican

Badly Drawn Boy's debut album, The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, is fifteen years old this year and probably his finest to date. He'll play it in full at the Barbican, with a sprinkling of tunes from the rest of the his catalogue.

(020 7638 4141, barbican.org.uk)

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