Gig Of The Week – Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park
Despite it’s frankly ludicrous comfy slippers and Daily Mail name this three day festival in Hyde Park has thrown up some very juicy acts indeed. Friday is probably the weakest headliner but strongest overall day, with The Killers topping off a bill including Howling Bells, Metric, Silversun Pickups and Echo & The Bunnymen. Saturday sees the incomparable Neil Young play along with Fleet Foxes, Seasick Steve and not really anyone else of interest. If you’re still going by Sunday you’ll be tested by one of The Boss’s marathon sets after already gone through the purgatory of drivel like James Morrison and Starsailor. The pick of the day lineup is openers The Low Anthem. Expect corporate music hell in terms of surroundings and atmosphere, but when you have artists of that quality present shouldn’t it all be about the music? Somewhat bizarrely only the Saturday has not yet sold out, so grab a ticket; it’ll probably be the cheapest you’ll ever get to see Neil Young!
If that’s not your thing there’s a massive glut of bands playing the Zonino 4.5 all-dayer at Brixton Windmill, along with a bill topped of by Jonquil at OXSW2 at the same venue come Sunday.
The Killers -Where The White Boys Dance
Neil Young – Cinnamon Girl (Live)
Bruce Springsteen – Thunder Road
Photo: Andrea Barsanti, 22-6-08 Firenze
Read on for the capital’s best gigs this week…
Monday 22 June
Blur – Goldsmith’s College
Joe Gideon & The Shark – The Lexington
Slow Club – ICA
Wavves – The Luminaire
Worriedaboutsatan, 65daysofstatic – Clash Live @ The Social
Tuesday 23 June
The Low Anthem – Union Chapel
Colin Macintyre – Album Launch @ The Social
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Bush Hall
The Thermals – Cargo
Wednesday 24 June
Atmosphere – Scala
Eagles of Death Metal, Dananananaykroyd – Brixton Academy
Jamie T, Flashguns – Electric Ballroom
Shonen Knife – Brixton Windmill
Thursday 25 June
Bloc Party – Highbury Garage
Jonny Flynn – The Flowerpot
Morton Valence – Bob And Veronica’s Book Club @ The Enterprise
Piano Magic – Brixton Windmill
Friday 26 June
The Killers, Metric, Echo & The Bunnymen, Silversun Pickups, Howling Bells – Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park
Saturday 27 June
Action Beat, Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring, Pennines, Pagan Wanderer Lu, Tim Ten Yen +more – Zonino 4.5 @ Brixton Windmill
Brand New – Kentish Town Forum
Neil Young, Fleet Foxes, Seasick Steve, Johnny Flynn + More – Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park
Sunday 27 June
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Barden’s Boudoir
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Gaslight Anthem, The Low Anthem + More – Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park
Distance – Plastic People
Jonquil + loads more – Ox By Southwest 2 @ Brixton Windmill
