Don’t believe us? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say – so get ready to get your lighters up! So without further ado, here’s our roundup of the best gigs in London you can’t miss during December 2023. Let the good times roll this cold and brisk festive season!
* Note that the O2 Academy Brixton will remain closed until further notice. Please check for details with regards to rescheduled gigs and cancellations.
December 1: Cher
Kicking off this roundup of the best gigs in London for December is a complete legend, let’s be honest. Cher – often referred to as the ‘Goddess of Pop’ – has had a career spanning over six decades now (!), picking up plenty of awards including a Grammy and even an Academy Award along the way. She won’t be singing at this one – it’s a career retrospective at Leicester Square’s Oden LUXE cinema, so expect loads of fun stories along the way.
📍O2 LUXE Leicester Square.
🎫 Here.
December 1: Kylie Minogue
Another icon who really needs no introduction, Kylie has had one hell of a year this year – with a number one album (‘Tension’), a top ten single and a Grammy nomination to her name. It was her 16th studio album (!), and she’ll no doubt be playing all the hits when she takes over the magnificent Royal Albert Hall tonight. Get ready to ‘Padam, Padam’!
📍Royal Albert Hall.
🎫 Here.
December 2: Scouting for Girls
British pop rock band first burst back onto the scene back in 2007 with the release of their self-titled album, which raced to the top of the charts and spawned the hit singles ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and ‘It’s Not About You’. They returned earlier this year with the release of their latest LP, ‘The Place We Used To Meet’, and you can catch them at Camden’s iconic Roundhouse.
📍Roundhouse.
🎫 Here.
December 2: Sugababes, Ross From Friends, SHYGIRL & More
Billed as ‘False Idols’ and taking over the mighty Tottenham club Drumsheds, this day rave is designed to ‘let the joy of music elevate your collective consciousness to a plain of harmonious hedonism’ – so sounds like it’s gonna be a fun one! Sugababes, SHYGIRL, Ross From Friends and Saoirse are all on the bill – so bring your dancing shoes.
📍Drumsheds.
🎫 Here.
December 4: Mist
Brummie rapper Mist first came to major prominence with the release of his second EP, ‘Diamond in the Dirt’, which peaked at number four in the UK Albums Chart and featured collaborations with Jessie Ware and Mr Eazi. His album, ‘Redemption’, came out earlier this year, and he’ll be playing at XOYO in Shoreditch this month in order to tour it, so expect all the hits!
📍XOYO.
🎫 Here.
December 5 & 6: Madonna
The ‘Queen of Pop’ is back, baby! With a career spanning five decades, Madonna isn’t exactly short of hits, and her ‘Celebration’ tour includes a hell of alot of them by all accounts. She’s sold a whopping 300 million albums worldwide, and her tours are often considered some of the best by any artist – so don’t miss out on seeing this one!
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
December 5: Sophie Ellis-Bextor
“It’s murder on the dancefloor, but you’d better not kill the groove…” who doesn’t love SEB, hey?! The Queen of the Kitchen Disco herself, who helped lighten the mood for so many during lockdown, is back playing a show at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo, where she’ll no doubt be playing tracks of her latest LP ‘Hana’.
📍Eventim Apollo.
🎫 Here.
December 6: Boney M
‘Rasputin’, ‘Daddy Cool’, ‘Rivers of Babylon’ – disco and funk stalwarts Boney M ain’t exactly short of hits, and you’ll be able to catch them at Boisdale in Canary Wharf for a Christmas special this month on December 6. They’ll be supported by Mi-Soul DJs for what seems to be one hell of a funky night.
📍Boisdale Canary Wharf.
🎫 Here.
December 8: D-12
Legendary rap and hip-hop collective D-12 are coming back to London Town for one night only in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their second (and final) studio album ‘D12 World’. They’ll be playing the Electric Brixton so if you’re a fan, then you really don’t want to miss out on this one!
📍Electric Brixton.
🎫 Here.
December 9: The Darkness
“I believe in a thing called love!” Everyone remembers The Darkness am-I-right? They won three Brit Awards back in 2004, and they’ve also had seven albums under their belts – the latest of which is 2021’s ‘Motorhead’ which won rave reviews on its release. They’ll be playing Camden’s Roundhouse this December so get ready to rock on!
📍Roundhouse.
🎫 Here.
December 10 & 11: Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Michael Gough, known by the stage name Badly Drawn Boy, is an English indie singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s been playing music for well over 20 years now – including the soundtrack to the Hugh Grant film ‘About a Boy’. His latest, 2020’s ‘Banana Ski Shoes’, won rave reviews from music critics across the board – he’ll be performing at the beautiful Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush this month so you can expect loads of hits at this one.
📍Bush Hall.
🎫 Here.
December 11: Ice Cube, The Game & Cypress Hill
American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer Ice Cube is a man of many talents, and he’s coming back to the capital for one night only in what promises to be one hell of a good night out. He’ll no doubt be playing his solo stuff and tracks with N.W.A. – and he’ll be joined by none other than The Game and Cypress Hill too at the O2 in Greenwich.
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
December 12: Leona Lewis
X Factor-winner Leona Lewis has had a pretty incredible career since 2006 back when she won – which includes the release of five LPs, acting roles (including Cats on Broadway in NYC) and multiple tours. That includes this year’s tour, entitled ‘Christmas With Love’, includes ‘an evening of Christmas classics and greatest hits’ – so you’re in for a good’un here!
📍Eventim Apollo.
🎫 Here.
December 12: Rick Astley
‘He’s never gonna give you up’ when you’re in the crowd at his show – it’s Rick bloody Astley after all! Playing Camden’s Roundhouse, you’re in for one heck of a good show here. Expect all your favourite tracks and material off his latest LP, 2023’s ‘Are We There Yet’.
📍Roundhouse.
🎫 Here.
December 13: Gregory Porter
American singer, songwriter and actor Gregory Porter has twice won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album’, so he’s a pretty talented man it has to be said! His latest album – this year’s ‘Christmas Wish’ – is called ‘Christmas Wish’, so no guesses as to why he’s performing this month! Catch him at the spectacular Royal Albert Hall for one night only – you don’t wanna miss out on this one!
📍Royal Albert Hall.
🎫 Here.
December 14: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Another one of the best gigs in London for December here, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will be taking over Wembley’s OVO Arena later this month for one night only. It’s currently sold out, so check their website for further details to see if any more become available.
📍OVO Arena.
🎫 Here.
December 14: Django, Django
British art rock band Django Djano have drawn somewhat of a cult following since they released their first LP called, um, ‘Django Django’ back in 2012. Since then, they’ve had four other LPs, including this year’s ‘Off Planet’. They’ll be playing for one-night only at Camden hotspot KOKO on December 14.
📍KOKO.
🎫 Here.
December 16: Joy Orbison
A cheeky dose of techno and electronica chiming in just one week before Christmas Eve? Gone on then, son. It’d be rude not to, let’s face it. Catch him playing the famous Troxy in Shadwell – bring your rave shoes!
📍Troxy.
🎫 Here.
December 17: Tom Jones & Germein
It’s not unusual to want to end your year belting out ‘It’s Not Unusual’, so why not go and do exactly that! The Welsh superstar will be playing the gargantuan O2 Arena later this month – what better Crimbo present, hey?!
📍O2 Arena.
🎫 Here.
December 18: Maverick Sabre
Irish singer, songwriter, and rapper Maverick Sabre first gained major acclaim with the release of his 2012 album ‘Lonely are the Brave’ which raced to number two in the UK Albums Chart and spawned the hit singles ‘I Need’ and ‘Let Me Go’. His latest album. ‘Don’t Forget to Look Up’, came out at the beginning of 2022 to critical acclaim, and was released on his own record label FAMM. He’ll no doubt be playing tracks off it when he performs at the prestigious Bush Hall later this month.
📍Bush Hall.
🎫 Here.
December 22: Joel Correy
Dance maestro Joel Corry first started out on none other than Geordie Shore, and since then he’s had multiple top ten hits, an album which hit number five in the UK charts and collaborations with Raye, David Guetta, Rita Ora, Tom Grennan and Ella Henderson. Not bad right?! He’ll be playing super club Egg in King’s Cross the week before Christmas – festive rave anyone?
📍Egg.
🎫 Here.
December 30: Gilles Peterson
Speaking of dance, you really can’t miss out on Gilles Peterson – our final addition to this gigs in London roundup. After all, the DJ, French broadcaster and record producer has toured all over the globe – and he’s returning back to London Town this December 30 for a night at the landmark venue the Jazz Cafe.
📍Jazz Cafe.
🎫 Here.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best gigs in London throughout December 2023. We’ll see you on the front row!