2nd – 27th: London Hughes: Superstar (It’s Just Nobody’s Realised It) (Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
London Hughes – cover star of Pride’s Black Girl Magic Issue in March – makes her Fringe Festival debut this August, and she’s set to do so with a bang! With fantastically witty lines delivered with high energy and a whole lotta honesty, we’re sure London won’t be an unrealised superstar for much longer.
From £10.50, tickets.edfringe.com
5th: Reggaeoke (London, Southbank Centre)
Is there a budding Tanya Stephens inside you? Are you a Dawn Penn at heart? Or if you and Lady Saw are soul sisters, you’ll soon get the chance to prove it! Just grab the mic, pick a song and become the reggae/soca/dancehall star you’re meant to be – with backing from a live band and all.
Free, southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on
11th: Ziggy Marley (London, O2 Arena)
Tying in with Jamaican Independence Day on Sunday 6th, the O2 is home to Jamaica House from the 5th to the 13th of this month – nightly shows from some of the island’s greatest musical exports. Don’t miss Ziggy’s set on the 11th!
From £10, axs.com
19th: Tony Matterhorn (Bristol)
Author of perhaps the most recognisable bashment tracks of the Noughties, Dutty Wine artist Tony Matterhorn performs at Bristol’s O2 Academy this month. Warm up accordingly before this one – we predict you’ll be dancing all night long…
From £10, ticketmaster.co.uk
25th, 26th & 27th: Livewire Festival (Blackpool)
Following on from their impressive Glastonbury set in June, The Jacksons headline this nostalgic fest of musical favourites on Friday 25th, with the jams of the Hit Factory on the 26th and the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (yes, THE Will Smith) rounding things off on Sunday, it’s one not to be missed.
From £30, www.axs.com
27th: Boy Better Know Takeover (London, O2 Arena)
For one day only, JME, Skepta and friends will put on a festival of their own making – featuring 5-A-Side football tournaments, BMXing, roller disco, gaming events as well as music across 6 stages from J Hus, ASAP Rocky and Tim Westwood to name but a few.
From £42.75, www.axs.com
27th & 28th: Notting Hill Carnival (London)
What would the August bank holiday be without the carnival? Once again, the largest street celebration in Europe descends upon Ladbroke Grove, Portobello Road et al, attracting folks ready to whine their way along the parade route – and will surely inject some much needed positivity into the West London community. Comfortable shoes, whistles and Caribbean flags are a must!
Free.
30th: Vince Staples (London, o2 Kentish Town)
California-born rapper Vince Staples released his second album, Big Fish Theory, back in June – with an overwhelmingly positive response for his electro-rap themed work, it’s only a matter of time before he’ll be playing in venues much larger.
