London sound: essential gigs in the capital this week

Festival: I’ll Be Your Mirror

All Tomorrow’s Parties, those innovative folk who decided to sidestep the mud and misery of festivals for an indoor take on a weekend of music at the Butlins holiday resort (sounds odd, but it works) kick off this weekend indoor fest at Ally Pally, celebrating rock and indie with a flannel shirt, Nineties-flecked vibe.

Curated by Scottish instrumental noisemongers Mogwai, this three-night orgy of feral six-string delights brings the weekend screaming into view with LA thrash- metal titans Slayer on Friday night.

Mogwai headline Saturday (their only London gig of the year) to show you don’t need a screaming frontman to be heavy, powerful and yet surprisingly melodic. Sunday night continues the surprises with Cincinatti’s The Afghan Whigs, back from retirement after 13 years, to tear through alternative soul-infused rock gems drawing from their extensive back catalogue.

With support from sludge-metallers Melvins, Seattle survivors Mudhoney and a host of others, who cares if it rains this weekend – it’s going to rock whatever!

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY
May 25-27 | Doors 4pm (Fri), 12pm (Sat & Sun) |  £39 
Tube | Wood Green 
atpfestival.com

Gig: Limp Bizkit 

It seems such a long time ago Fred Durst was the biggest name on Planet Rock. He and his limp cohorts are back for the first time in three years – continuing this week’s Nineties flavour – probably banging on about wanting to break stuff, despite now being middle-aged.

Tues, May 29 | 7pm | £29.50 
Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Rd, SW9 9SL
Tube |Brixton 
o2academybrixton.co.uk

Club: South City Roof Party

Enterting its fourth year, this season launch party welcomes the capital’s clubbers to a new venue, with awesome 360˚ views of the city from its rooftop terrace. With a line-up to die for – Ballearic legend Andy P, Jody Wisternoff, Colin Dale, So Called Scumbags and more – this is the best place to start your summer clubbing.

Sun, May 27 | 2pm-midnight | £10
The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 3ST
Tube | Peckham Rye 
residentadvisor.net

Gig: Beach House

They obtained cult status with their offbeat self- titled debut, but it wasn’t until breakthrough Teen Dream that this dream-pop duo hit paydirt with their melancholia. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally are back with a new album, the luscious Bloom, featuring single Myth, so expect them to dip into that and their back catalogue.

Thurs, May 24 | 7pm | £30+ 
Village Underground
54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ
Tube | Liverpool Street 
villageunderground.co.uk

Club: We fear silence: Blueprint

Techno legend Surgeon, aka Anthony Childs (above), heads to Cable for this ‘20 Years Of Surgeon’ anniversary DJ set, which will take in all aspects of his leftfield, diverse, industrial-flavoured career to date. James Ruskin, Silent Servant and Sigha round out this techno-head room one, with Russell Haswell, Tengui and MB & CB next door.

Sat, May 26 | 10pm-6am | £10+
Cable, 33 Bermondsey Street tunnel, SE1 3JW
Tube | London Bridge 
cable-london.com

Club: Urban Nerds

It’s all about the bass for this fifth birthday bash for bass brand Urban Nerds. After throwing banging parties across the country, they’ve handpicked an eclectic line-up of the UK’s finest bass artists – Newham Generals, Gorgon City, Kozzie, Scrufizzer and Warrior One – for this crazy night of choons. 

Sat, May 26 | 10pm-6am £10+ | Scala
275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL
Tube | King’s Cross 
urban-nerds.com

Gig: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

One of the best band names ever, if a slightly erroneous one (he’s not a dinosaur, extinct or otherwise, and there’s only one of him). Expect fans to be legion for the man they know as TEED, who will smash this Camden show with his electro-house tuneage, extravagant costumes, and eye-popping spectacle.

Weds, May 23 | 7pm \ £12
KOKO, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE
Tube | Mornington Crescent 
koko.uk.com