Gigs in London: A Guide To October 2022

Don’t believe us? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say – so get ready to get your lighters up! You’re in for a good’un this month – and we’re not just talking about the opening of new superclub The Beams. Here’s our roundup of the best gigs in London you can’t miss during October  2022:

October 1: Andrea Bocelli

Kicking off this gigs in London roundup is Andrea Bocelli – an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist who has 17 – yep really – 17 albums to his name! Selling over 75 million records worldwide, he’s had success as a real crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts all over the world. He’s playing the O2 in Greenwich, so don’t miss out if you’re looking for tickets!

October 1: Hard-Fi

Reunited just this year after an eleven-year hiatus, indie rockers Hard-Fi take to the O2 Forum Kentish Town this October – with all the original members present. Expect some new material alongside hits off their Brit-nominated debut album ‘Stars of CCTV’, including ‘Hard To Beat’ and ‘Living For The Weekend’.

October 1: Machine Gun Kelly

Though he’s recently been more famous for his red carpet antics with actress Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly is an American rapper, singer and actor who’s returning to the London stage to mark the release of his latest album, ‘Mainstream Sellout’. He’s playing OVO Arena in Wembley and tickets are still available. 

October 2: Shygirl

Blane Muise, better known by her stage name Shygirl, is an English rapper, DJ and singer-songwriter whose debut LP ‘Nymph’ came out just at the end of last month to rave reviews. To celebrate its release, she’s performing at the Metropolis nightclub in East London.

October 4: Clairo

Next up on this gigs in London roundup is Clairo, a beloved American singer-songwriter who recently featured on Lorde’s tracks ‘Solar Power’, ‘Stoned At The Nail Salon’ and ‘Mood Ring’. She’s performing at the O2 Academy Brixton on October 4 to perform tracks of her smash-hit album ‘Sling’, which featured on many ‘best of’ lists at the end of 2021.

October 5: Jools Holland

Now this man needs no introduction. Perhaps the UK’s most famous and beloved pianists, Jools Holland has over 15 albums to his name and has done the BBC show ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ for over 30 years now. To celebrate, he’s doing a celebratory show at the Hammersmith Apollo on October 5.

October 7: Maximo Park

Fresh off their hit album ‘Nature Always Wins’ – which reached number two in the charts when it was released last year – the Newcastle-based rock band Maximo Park are playing the iconic Roundhouse in Camden. Expect all the hits from their eclectic back catalogue – including off their debut album ‘A Certain Trigger’.

October 9 & 10: Robbie Williams

All around legend Robbie Williams – who has had eleven number one albums and seven number one albums – returns to the London stage to celebrate the release of his latest LP, ‘XXV’. Expect all the hits as well as new material over two nights at the O2. Altogether now – ‘I sit and wait, does an angel contemplate my fate…’

October 9: Adekunle Gold

Nigerian urban highlife singer, songwriter and performer Adekunle Gold – whose debut-single, ‘Sade’, a highlife cover of One Direction’s ‘Story of My Life’, was a smash-hit when it was released in 2014 – makes his London debut at the O2 Academy Brixton this month. He’ll no doubt be playing songs off his latest LP ‘Catch Me If You Can’ which featured a track with Stefflon Don.

October 12: Natalie Imbruglia

‘Nothing’s right I’m torn… I’m all out of faith’… we all know how the rest goes. Aussie singer-songwriter and actress Natalie Imbruglia returns to the London stage with a performance celebrating the release of her latest album – the critically-acclaimed ‘Firebird’. She’s playing at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. 

October 13: Priya Ragu

Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu rose to prominence back in 2020 with the release of her debut single ‘Good Life 2.0’. Nominated for the BBC’s ‘Sound Of’ poll this year, she’s considered one of the next big things, so make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to see her at Electric Brixton this month.

October 15: Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Formed all the way back in 1960 by the late Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have become one of South Africa’s most prolific recording artists, winning multiple awards over their illustrious career – including three Grammys! They’re playing the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the illustrious Southbank Centre on October 15.

October 15: CruCast

CruCast is one of the most influential and respected brands in all of bass music. Their indoor festival will transform the famous halls of Printworks into one hell of a crazy party with next-level lights, lasers and an all-consuming sound. The line-up is suitably massive with Special Guests Problem Central and CruCast regulars including Skepsis, Darkzy, Kanine and Window Kid joined by an array of talents. You can found out more about it here.

October 15: Sampa The Great

Sampa Tembo, known professionally as Sampa the Great, is a Zambian singer, rapper and songwriter. She had major success with the release of her first album ‘The Return’ in 2019, and recently released her latest album ‘As Above, So Below’ to rave reviews last month. She’s playing the revamped KOKO which opened earlier this year.

October 20: Franz Ferdinand

Double Brit award winners Franz Ferdinand return to London for their first show in a while with what promises to be a great night at Ally Pally. They’ve got five albums’ worth of material and recently released their compilation album ‘Hits To The Head’. Expect to hear all the hits including ‘Take Me Out’ and ‘Do You Want To’.

October 21: Sports Team

Fresh off their latest album release ‘Gulp!’ and a Pyramid Stage performance at Glastonbury, the hugely-popular alternative rock band Sports Team are hitting up Camden’s Roundhouse on October 21. You’ll get to hear all of their hits off their debut album ‘Deep Down Happy’ as well as their latest material too.

October 21 & 22: Sam Smith

Multi-Grammy award winner Sam Smith needs no introduction, and they’re back with a bang with the release of their latest single ‘Unholy’ with Kim Petras. They’re playing two nights at the magnificent Royal Albert Hall, so expect to hear all of the hits including ‘Stay With Me’, ‘Latch’ and ‘Dancing With A Stranger’.

October 22: Lykke Li

Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li first came to attention when she released her debut album ‘Little Bit’, and since then she’s released five different albums. Her latest, ‘Eyeye’, came out in May and to celebrate she’s performing a sold-out show at the Barbican on October 22.

October 22: Aitch

Harrison James Armstrong, known professionally as Aitch, is a British rapper from Manchester whose album, ‘Close To Home’, hit number two in the UK charts on its release in August. He’s hitting up Ally Pally on October 22 for what promises to be a knockout show.

October 25: Ella Henderson

X Factor alumni Ella Henderson made major waves with the release of her debut album ‘Chapter One’ back in 2014, which raced to the top of the charts. She released her second LP, `Everything I Didn’t Say, just earlier this year which features the hit ‘Let’s Go Home Together’ with Tom Grennan. She’s playing the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on October 25. 

October 25 & 26: Bon Iver

Grammy award winners Bon Iver return to UK soil for two nights at Wembley’s SSE Arena. One night has already sold out, so if you’re wanting to see this famous folk band in the flesh, then you’d better hurry!

October 25 & 26: Paolo Nutini

Eight years after the release of his last LP, Scottish singer Paolo Nutini returned this year with his fourth album ‘Last Night in the Bittersweet’. It received a pretty great reception, and he’s playing two nights at Ally Pally to showcase it and no doubt many of his old hits too. 

October 26: Rina Sawayama

Our penultimate addition to this gigs in London roundup is Rina Sawayama – a Japanese-British singer and songwriter whose debut album ‘Sawayama’ was released to great critical acclaim. Her second album ‘Hold The Girl’ was released just last month, and she’s performing at the O2 Academy Brixton to support it.

October 29: Kasabian

Rounding off this gigs in London roundup is Kasabian – a Brit award winning band who have had smash hits including ‘Shoot The Runner’ and ‘Fire’. Fresh off the release of their latest number one album ‘The Alchemist’s Euphoria’, they’re performing a headline show at Ally Pally. 

So there you have it – a roundup of the best gigs in London throughout October 2022. We’ll see you on the front row!