Ali Al Hashimi · Authors · Festivals & Gigs

Gig Review

Tom A. Smith

April 23, 2026 at The Sunflower Lounge

Pure Mackem excellence and showmanship from a future superstar

April 27, 2026

Guide

Day Trippers

Festivals & Gigs Guide To UK Day Festivals 2026

April 7, 2026

Gig Review

mgk

March 10, 2026 at Utilita Arena Birmingham

A live spectacle that’s as chaotic and entertaining as MGK himself.

March 17, 2026

Gig Review

Big Special

February 21, 2026 at O2 Institute Birmingham

A triumphant homecoming from a truly special duo · There’s no place like home. And for Black Country duo Big Special, composed of vocalist Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney, tonight will have felt the sweetest.

February 23, 2026

Gig Review

Miles Kane

February 7, 2026 at O2 Institute Birmingham

Even during winter, Miles’ sunlight brightens the darkest skies

February 8, 2026

Gig Review

Only The Poets

February 2, 2026 at Brixton Academy

A monumental performance on a history-defining night · Sold out £1 Brixton gig offers glimpse of what’s to come for Reading band

February 4, 2026

Gig Review

Biffy Clyro

January 16, 2026 at Utilita Arena Birmingham

Scotland’s finest prove that they are only getting better · A little love and a whole load of arena-made anthems

January 21, 2026

Roundup

Favourite Sets of 2025

Live highlights of the year from our reviewers

January 15, 2026

Gig Review

Mumford & Sons

December 7, 2025 at Utilita Arena Birmingham

Riding the waves of the 2020s folk revival, the band soar to new heights

December 11, 2025

Gig Review

The Wombats

December 6, 2025 at BP Pulse Live

Wombats on their biggest ever Arena tour · More than just 2000s landfill indie, these guys deliver a truly enjoyable show

December 10, 2025

Gig Review

Alessi Rose

November 28, 2025 at O2 Academy Birmingham

A future superstar in the making and her passionate fanbase are turning their pretty world into a reality

December 1, 2025

Gig Review

English Teacher

November 24, 2025 at Chalk

While not quite the finished article, there’s no denying they’re on the right trajectory · 2024 Mercury Prize winners still developing craft after whirlwind breakthrough

November 26, 2025

Gig Review

Westside Cowboy

November 19, 2025 at The Sunflower Lounge

You better believe the hype, because these are guys will be something great · Winners of the 2025 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition

November 21, 2025

Festival Review

Live At Leeds In The City 2025

November 15, 2025

The most important festival in the country, and a really damn good festival at that.

November 17, 2025

Gig Review

Maruja

November 13, 2025 at Electric Ballroom

Turning pain and violence into love and affection · A post-punk symphony of chaotic virtuosity

November 14, 2025

Gig Review

hard life

October 30, 2025 at Brixton Academy

A different name, but the tunes hit all the same · Band were forced to change name after corporate legal nonsense

November 1, 2025

Gig Review

Keo

October 25, 2025 at O2 Institute Birmingham

The most exciting thing to come out of Britain right now · Sky is the limit for indie upstarts

October 29, 2025

Gig Review

Gurriers

October 24, 2025 at O2 Academy2 Oxford

Gurriers bring a high-octane show to Oxford · Raw, compelling and exhilarating, they are a band that deserve to be heard live

October 25, 2025

Gig Review

The Royston Club

October 18, 2025 at O2 Institute Birmingham

Eclectic and electric, there’s no signs of slowing down for these Welsh hotshots.

October 20, 2025

Gig Review

Rose Gray

October 8, 2025 at O2 Institute3

Made for the nightclub dancefloor, but born to play the biggest of stages.

October 9, 2025

Gig Review

Coldplay

August 26, 2025 at Wembley Stadium

A night of pure joy and euphoria proves why they are the biggest band on the planet

September 9, 2025

Gig Review

Fontaines D.C.

August 15, 2025 at Wythenshawe Park

They may not speak much, but these future Glastonbury headliners let their music do the talking.

August 20, 2025

Gig Review

Catfish and the Bottlemen

August 3, 2025 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

A grand tale of “what if’s” and “what could’ve been’s” on a night where you’d rather be at the better gig next door

August 8, 2025

Gig Review

Billie Eilish

July 27, 2025 at 3Arena

An ‘all-killer no-filler’ set from this generation’s go-to popstar · Billie balances cathartic energy and vulnerability

August 1, 2025

Gig Review

Kendrick Lamar & SZA

July 10, 2025 at Villa Park

Two of America’s biggest musicians prove that opposites can attract · Kendrick and SZA trade bangers on the Grand National Tour

July 16, 2025

Gig Review

Dua Lipa

June 20, 2025 at Wembley Stadium

Radical Optimism tour hits Wembley · London-born star cements herself amongst British pop royalty and makes England’s home hers

June 21, 2025

Gig Review

Magdalena Bay

June 10, 2025 at O2 Academy

Synthpop pioneers deliver their first Leeds show to a sold-out crowd and emerge with flying colours. · Following an initial tour across the UK in the last quarter of 2024, LA-based alternative pop duo Magdalena Bay return to UK soil.

June 12, 2025