The ten best gigs this week that you can actually get tickets for

Another week, another crop of ace London gigs. Out of everything that isn’t sold out, here’s our top ten – just click on the red headers to read more.

10. White

Catch this hotly tipped scratchy punk-funk five-piece, after a summer tearing up festivals. Under the Bridge. Fulham Broadway. Fri Sep 23.

9. Ed Harcourt

Nice guy Ed is a recent convert to boxing, which he thanks for his new, punchier sound. Village Underground. Shoreditch High St Overground. Wed Sep 21. 

8. Unity

Benefit gig where lineup of psych, industrial and electronic bands get really noisy against Brexit-fuelled hate crime. New River Studios. Manor House. Sun Sep 23. 

7. Spector

Emblematically London indie four-piece, presumably crushed by Brexit, given their last single: ‘Born in the EU.’ Camden Assembly. Chalk Farm. Fri Sep 23.

6. AR Rahman

The prolific film composer is a bona fide hit machine and this one-off show will be both cinematic and spectacular. Wembley Arena. Wembley Park. Thu Sep 22.

5. Rat Boy

Young pretender to Jamie T’s crown with witty lyrics on Wetherspoons and signing on. All to chirpy, frantic beats. O2 Forum Kentish Town. Kentish Town. Thu Sep 22.

4. Girls In Airports

Energetic Scandi-jazz band who don’t shy away from adding Afrobeat rhythms. Pizza Express Jazz Club. Tottenham Court Rd. Thu Sep 22. 

3. Diiv

This Brooklyn slacker pop band sold out their Electric Ballroom show for the following night. So get in quick for some euphoric shoegazing. XOYO. Old St. Sat Sep 24.

2. Afropunk

Born in Brooklyn, this day festival has a great bill headlined by the gloriously intimidating Grace Jones. Alexandra Palace. Alexandra Palace rail. Sat Sep 24.

Best gig this week: Kojey Radical

Raw, frustrated, almost trip-hoppy sounds from the Hoxton MC and art director who takes risks emotionally. Recent, celebrated EP ‘23 Winters’ tackled his difficult relationship with his dad – who also narrated it. Jazz Cafe. Camden Town. Thu Sep 22.

...and here are loads more gigs this week. Don’t say we’re not good to you.

NB. All events were available to book at time of writing.