London: Bjork

When she’s not busy taking on paparazzi or dressing up like a swan for the red carpet, Bjork is also the world’s most daring, avant garde pop princess, and she’s bringing her outstanding Biophilia stage show to London for what will be a very special night indeed. 

Since premiering at the Manchester International Festival two years ago, Björk has taken her Biophilia tour round the globe, stunning and delighting everywhere it goes. The album itself, Björk’s eighth, released in 2011, was not just another record. Far from it.

Taking three years to make, it was released with a group of iPad and iPhone apps, was intended as part of a children’s educational project “using sound, texts and visuals” and was made using a load of specially invented instruments (example: a gravity harp). As well as this impressive contraption, it had 10 absolutely stunning songs on it, too. With such ambition in the project from the outset, you can imagine that the stage show is quite something else. 

Putting musical and performance innovation at the top of the bill, the show is not your usual pop-filled, outfit-changing night out. It features a Tesla coil alongside its invented instruments, an Icelandic female choir, TV screens presenting specially designed visuals for each song, and an introduction and betwixt song explanations by British national treasure David Attenborough.

Audiences worldwide have been stunned by the show’s spectacle and ambition – tickets might not be cheap, but you won’t see anything like this for a while. 

Alexandra Palace, N22 7AYTUE,
Sep 3 | Doors at 6.30pm |  £65+  
Tube |  Wood Green  
alexandrapalace.com

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Gig: Alkaline Trio

After their Reading and Leeds fest appearances, the Chicago three-piece drop in to play this decidedly more intimate show. Their eighth studio album, My Shame Is True, was out in spring and widely celebrated as a return to form with some of the group’s strongest songwriting for years. Also marks 10 years of this ace venue.

Thur, Aug 29. 7pm  £22  
Islington Academy N1 Centre,
16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS 
Tube | Angel  
o2academyislington.co.uk  

 

Club: Club de Fromage – Baywatch Bash

With the end of summer round the corner, Fromage’s Fat Tony and Slow Alfie are throwing this Baywatch party for all Hasselhoffs and Pamela Andersons out there. Those in red swimsuits and Speedos get to queue jump, and there will be all the best rock and pop from the last 50 years amid all the slow motion dancing.

Sat, Aug 31. 10.30pm-3am  £8  
Islington Academy  N1 Centre,
16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS 
Tube | Angel  
o2academyislington.co.uk 

 

Club: Soundcrash present – Typesun

The Bristol producer, drummer and DJ has been making a name for himself as part of the FallingUp collective, and comes to London for this headline show with a full band in tow. Support comes from Mancunian producer Pale (DJ set), emerging star Debian Blak (live) and DJ duo Howson’s Groove (live).

Sat, Aug 31. 9pm-3am  £5+ 
Birthdays 33-35 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BJ 
Tube | Dalston Kingsland  
soundcrashmusic.com

 

Gig: iTunes festival 2013

The annual orgy of free music returns to the Roundhouse in Camden. Highlights include series opener Lady Gaga (1), Sigur Rós (2), Arctic Monkeys (9), Kings of Leon (11), Primal Scream (20), Pixies (25) and Justin Timberlake (29). Register on the iTunes website then cross your fingers you get lucky and win tickets.

Sep 1-29. 7pm  FREE  
The Roundhouse Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH 
Tube | Chalk Farm  
itunesfestival.com 

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Club: Sai’s House Party XII – DJ Yoda

Hip-hop turntablist DJ Yoda will be dropping by north London’s Big Chill House for a special up close and intimate set. Nominated by Q Magazine as one of the 10 DJs you need to see before you die, he has became legendary for his diverse sets, his eclectic record collection and his inventive live shows.

Sat, Aug 31. 9pm-4am. Free, pre-10pm  
Big Chill House Big Chill House,
257-259 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL  
Tube | King’s Cross  
wearebigchill.com 

 

 

Gig: The Great Indoors 4

This fourth annual indoor ‘festival’ celebrates bands, beer and burgers. For a modest sum you get Mark Gardner from shoegaze legends Ride, punks Her Parents, indie rockers The Winter Olympics, disco punks Desperate Journalist, classic rockers Cabin, art-rock noisemongers Razmo and Drop The Needle DJs. Top. 

Sat, Aug 31. 2pm  £6 
The Windmill 22 Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ 
Tube | Brixton  
windmillbrixton.co.uk 

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Festival watch: End of the Road

Sigur Rós, Eels, Dinosaur Jr, Poliça and Savages are among the musical acts at this north Dorset festival. Aussie Felicity Ward (above) can be found in the comedy tent, with loads of other activities going on such as a circus skills workshop, clay creations instruction, a stop-motion animation class, as well as the Where Is My Mind Music Quiz, a croquet lawn and the Ringo Music Bingo. Marks the end of festival season in some pretty damn fine style indeed. 
 

Aug 30-Sep 1. £175.
Larmer Tree Gardens, SP5 5PY

 

Photos: Getty; Mike Baker Photography