Georgia Evans

Looking for the best places to stay in the gorgeous coastal city of Santa Barbara? Well, you're in the right place. Enjoy long, sunny days lazing by a pool in the warmth of the sun's rays, or out exploring the bustling cultural scene this seaside city has to offer. The Mediterranean vibes of the city will have you thinking you're far away in Italy or Spain but without the hours onboard a flight. From unique airstream stays to romantic beachfront getaways and trendy downtown apartments, we've got you covered for every kind of vacation. Have a look at our top picks of the best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara and book a Cali vacay to remember. Pass us a cocktail. Updated April 2024: If like us you can't quite get enough of Santa Barbara's stunning coastline but have yet to experience its wine country you'll love this rustic home set on a ranch, or for the hiking trails there's this boho chic cottage stay.  Here's more Santa Barbara inspiration:🍔 Eat at the best Restaurants in Santa Barbara🏖️ Book fun things to do in Santa Barbara😴 Discover luxury hotels in Santa Barbara Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Toronto is Canada's largest municipality and is often lovingly referred to as 'The6ix' for this reason. And because of Drake, of course. Other charming nicknames like Hogtown, Little York and Queen City really give you a taste of the native sense of humour here. Torontonians will welcome you with banter, and happily give you the low-down on what's good in their city. The CN Tower, Kensington Market, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, and so much more are must-sees during your visit. After a busy day of exploring and meeting new people, you want to go back to somewhere that feels like home. Whether it's a sky-high apartment decked out in modern furnishings or a welcoming urban cottage with vintage decor, these Airbnbs in Toronto are full of character. Have a scroll through them all here.  Looking for more inspiration? 📸 The best things to do in Toronto🦀 Amazing Toronto restaurants🍸 The best bars in Toronto Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, it’s our mission to help you make your trip as smooth sailing as possible. For this, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you all the best stays whatever your budget. You might come across the odd affiliate link but rest assured, they have no influence on our editorial content – we pinky swear. For more info, see our affiliate guidelines.

Las Vegas. Sin City. The Entertainment/Marriage/Gambling/Neon Capital of the World. Whatever you know it as, this is a city that never sleeps; that always has something to do and somewhere to be. But what about downtime? You know, those hours of the day where you don't feel like hitting the casinos, exploring the sights, or trekking through the desert. That's when you really need a pool. In a city that feels like it's going a mile a minute, having your own place for a swim is like having a little slice of paradise, whether you're the kind of tourist that's looking for bright lights and big shows or the one who wants to see the idyllic desert scenery and surrounding natural wonders. Check out our top picks of Airbnbs in Vegas that act as a sanctuary between adventures.  RECOMMENDED: The best Las Vegas hotelsThe best Airbnbs in Las Vegas Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Want a taste of the good life? And by good, we mean living in a luxurious home or apartment for a few days. Live like the rich and famous and treat yourself to the ultimate vacation in Atlanta, living in a truly opulent Airbnb. Whether you're looking for something with a pool, movie theater, or impressive views of the city, there's an Airbnb to match.   Walk around one of these luxurious Airbnbs in a silk gown and dripped in finery, Atlanta will never know what hit it. Luckily for you, we've found some incredibly luxe Airbnbs across the most exclusive zip codes in town to help you live out your rich fantasy. So when you're not playing in your games room or napping in a king-size bed, you've got plenty on your doorstep to see and do. Have a scroll through and become the VIP you already know you should be. RECOMMENDED:🏊‍♂️ Take a look at the best Atlanta Airbnbs with pools🏨 Enjoy a stay at the best hotels in Atlanta🛏 Check out Atlanta's best Airbnb rentals🌳 The best treehouse Airbnbs in Atlanta Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Atlanta is one of the most exciting places to say in Georgia, and that's not just because it's the capital. The birthplace of memorable musical movements, Coca-Cola, and the world's largest drive-in restaurant, it's really got its own vibe going on. But what makes this place so unique? That's got to be the lush urban tree canopy, which gives Atlanta the nickname of the City in a Forest. Yeah, it's pretty woody here. Of course, you've got to make the most of the greenery while you visit. And there's no better way to be at one with nature than by renting your very own treehouse. From whimsical escapes toting hammocks and rope bridges to sleek loft-like structures coated in glass from top to toe, these are some of the most sought-after Airbnbs to stay in right now. Ready to book yourself in for a treetop stay you'll never forget? Let's go. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in AtlantaThe best things to do in AtlantaThe best Atlanta Airbnbs with poolsThe best Airbnb cabins in Atlanta Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Choosing the best Santa Barbara hotel isn't the easiest thing. After all, there are so many options, each with a different vibe and aesthetic. Do you want to hang by the beach or opt for a hidden gem nestled up in the hills? Sleep beside the nightlife or doze without a party in sight? Is a pool non-negotiable? And what about entertainment for the kids? Surely you want to be right by the city’s best attractions (don't miss Old Mission Santa Barbara!), tastiest restaurants, and top wineries? See, there's a lot to consider. This central coast hot spot attracts tourists year-round, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s all year long, and an easily accessible location just 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Naturally, that means there's a hotel to cater for all preferences and budgets, but whatever yours are, you can bet we've got a spot for you. We’ve scrolled through Santa Barbara's many hotels and whittled them down to the cream of the crop. All you have to do is pick the right place for your perfect stay. Updated for July 2024: To ensure you're in the know about the coolest properties in Santa Babara, we regularly update this list, and this time we've added a couple of newbies both, no more than a five-minute walk from room to sandy shores, and one offering an outdoor pool and spa. Bikini mode: on. 🎭 The best things to do in Santa Barbara🛏 The best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our

A lot has been made of the decline of our LGBTQ+ venues in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. Whether you attribute it to the emergence of online dating, or to coronavirus restrictions, ever-rising rents and a cost of living crisis, it’s an unavoidable fact that the UK has lost a startling number of queer spaces in the last decade or so – including more than half of London’s LGBTQ+ venues between 2006 and 2022. But while queer communities around the country are keenly aware of the precarity of our brick-and-mortar spaces, if queer history can teach us anything, it’s that hardship and struggle can inspire creativity and evolution. For every storied gay bar that calls last orders, up pops a cosy new cafe, a community-owned cinema or a boundary–pushing fringe theatre.  So, as Pride month draws to a close, we asked 19 queer icons – including actors, musicians, comedians, chefs and drag queens – to hand-pick their favourite LGBTQ+ venue in the country. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a hell of a lot of these turned out to be in the capital (one east London venue was chosen no less than five times). Some of them might not even call themselves queer – take Nadine Noor’s pick, Colour Factory in Hackney, or David Cumming’s Choice, the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle – but all of them serve as proof that the UK is still home to any number of brilliant, vibrant, creative queer spaces ready to welcome you with open arms. You just need to know where to look.  From basement nightclubs to

So you've booked that ticket to San Francisco, lined up all the best restaurants to dine at, and have plans to visit every museum in town. All you need is the perfect place to stay. You could reserve a room at one of San Francisco's best hotels, but for something a little homier, consider staying at one of these amazing Airbnb San Francisco homes. And don't worry, we've made sure that the recent changes in regulations for short-term rentals in San Francisco won't affect your stay with our cherry-picked list of the very best properties registered via the City of San Francisco. From a garden oasis to a geodesic dome to a luxurious artist's retreat, these Airbnb options are the perfect way to experience SF in style.  RECOMMENDED:🍻Check out the best things to do in SF🏨Stay at one of San Fran's best hotels Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Fresh flowers are such a versatile gift. From graduations to housewarmings to baby showers to a ‘congrats’ on their new job, they’re great for marking every occasion. So why not put a little extra effort in and swap the ones down at your local Co-op for a bespoke floral bouquet delivered straight to their door? That does sound appealing. And it is. Nothing says 'I love you' like surprising them with a gorgeous hand-delivered bunch even if the postman sees them in PJs. Order a bountiful bouquet that makes the most of the season's blooms and has the added bonus of coming from an online florist who will make your life as easy as a few clicks (and some credit card details). These are the best flower delivery services in Manchester. Bloom away! This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Tell your bestie, other half, neighbour, mother – whoever – you love them by surprising them with flowers delivered straight to their door. Whether for a special occasion, like say, the fast-approaching Mothering Sunday, or just because you're feeling nice, a lovely bunch of blooms will make their day. But we know that sometimes life gets in the way, so if you've left things to the last minute – don't panic, there is still time to save the day. All these wonderful London-based florists do same-day delivery, so you can go to sleep knowing it's all taken care of and look like you had this under control the whole time. RECOMMENDED: 💐Check out the best online flower delivery in London🍏 Busy work week? Get your fruit and veg delivered 🍫Visit the best chocolate shops in London How do we know it's the best of the best? Our lists are expertly curated by our local experts far and wide to offer you the lowdown on the best delivery services in London. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Welp, June was a heavy one. Whether you’re suffering from post-Glasto blues or a withdrawal from Swiftomania (don’t worry, she’s back again next month), you seem like you need a little hair of the dog. And by that we mean, a lovely dose of live music . July is actually buzzing with fun stuff to do, whether you fancy seeing the big boys of pop music at BST or launching yourself into the moshpit at Wireless. And on a smaller scale, you’ve got crooning indie starlets, soothing folk sounds and some seriously cool party grooves to immerse yourself in. So embody a little Tay Swizzle and ‘shake it off’. Damn, can’t believe I just said that. RECOMMENDED:  🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend 🎨 The 10 best art exhibitions in London 🎭 The best new theatre shows in London   For a night of music for a good cause Sudanese-Canadian artist Mustafa, formerly known as Mustafa the Poet, is hosting a second edition of Artists For Aid – a night dedicated to War Child UK's efforts in Gaza and Sudan. Featuring Bint Mbareh, Blood Orange, Clairo, Daniel Caesar, Earl Sweatshirt, King Krule, Nicolás Jaar, Ramy Youssef, Safia Elhillo and Yasiin Bey, alongside surprise guests, this is sure to be a moving event thats filled with special performances. Troxy, E1 0HX. Thur Jul 4, 7pm. From £80.  For effortlessly cool dance music Photograph: dh2 DH2: Kelly Lee Owens, George Daniel  ICYMI, London-based record label Dirty Hit (you know, the guys behind The 1975 and Beabadoobee) have branched ou

It's a bit surprising, isn't it? Pools tucked away in UK Airbnb listings. Who would've guessed? But, despite our unpredictable weather, there are actually Airbnbs that offer a poolside escape right here on home soil. If you're looking for a UK staycation, these Airbnbs make a fantastic alternative to the usual run-of-the-mill hotels popping up everywhere. And if you're lucky enough to snag some sunny days, they can give you that tropical getaway feel without the hefty plane fare. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? To help those planning a British vacation, we've curated the top UK Airbnbs with private pools. From beach houses in Cornwall to charming barns in Wales, these spots are ready and waiting to amaze. Let's just hope the weather plays nice… RECOMMENDED: 🚗 The best road trips in the UK 🏖️ The most stunning hidden beaches in the UK 🌳 Amazing treehouses in the UK you can actually stay in Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Almost all the greats have concert films. Madonna. Talking Heads. Hell, even ABBA. However, it feels like, since the release of Beyonce’s Homecoming in 2019, a new wave of confessional concert films has hit cinemas and streamers. Audiences are invited into the previously gatekept, ‘intimate’ parts of an artist's life and witness them, supposedly, in their rawest form. But in an age where every pop star, from Taylor Swift to Machine Gun Kelly, has one, how can you stand out? Long Live Montero cuts through some of that the noise. Montero Lamar Hill, aka Lil Nas X, has has successfully transitioned from being the ‘Old Town Road’ cowboy and perpetual shitposter to a legitimate pop star in the past couple of years, and his critically acclaimed debut tour ‘Long Live Montero’ is the embodiment of this. With that in mind, you would hope that Carlos López Estrada (Billie Eilish: When the Party’s Over) and his co-director Zac Manuel would dig into what went into the process of transitioning Montero’s musical talents into genuine, offline connections.  ‘I want to go places no one has ever been,’ he says in the film’s opening moments. And it’s clear he has that star power. He’s a magnetic screen presence, and his cheeky, childlike sense of humour (which made him famous online) makes him instantly likeable.  Then there’s the music. His collaboration with Jack Harlow, ‘INDUSTRY BABY’, is a straight-up banger. And you can’t ignore the wild pairing of sexually suggestive lyricism and graphic

Wide Awake bills itself as a ‘musical melting pot’ and ‘counter cultural celebration’, offering up leftfield indie, post-punk, electronica, techno and much, much more. This year the festival takes place on May 25 and the headliners are psychedelic Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Scottish pop trio Young Fathers and legendary shoegazers Slowdive. Further down the line-up, 2024 is set to be Wide Awake’s biggest year yet. Squid, Sevdaliza, The Dare, Ben UFO, Alice Glass, yeule, Special Interest, Lynks, Hannah Diamond, Dry Cleaning and Johnny Jewel are just some of the names on the bill.  Your ultimate guide to Wide Awake 2024.

Perched right on the Eastern Esplanade – yes, like The Libertines' 2024 album – The Albion Rooms is a striking townhouse hotel made up of dark wooden furnishings, neon light installations and rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia.  Opened in 2020 by The Libertines (Carl Barât, Peter Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell) to be a meeting place for the band, it’s a sleek spot for indie fans to rest their head by the seaside, sip on the signature ‘defying gravity’ cocktails in the underground Wasteland bar, and maybe make a couple of tunes in the dedicated recording studio. There are just seven rooms, which makes The Albion Rooms feel intimate yet exclusive. The William Blake is very much decorated in Barât's black-and-gold rockstar style, while the Emily Dickinson, designed by Doherty, supposedly houses the bath that Jim Morrison died in. While you don’t have to be a fan to book a room here, longtime followers of the Libs will be starstruck by Peter’s artwork and the original print of the self-titled album hanging above the pub door. You might even catch one of them checking in from time to time. Neighbourhood Overlooking Walpole Bay, The Albion Rooms is a 14-minute walk from the beloved local spot, Shell Grotto and Palm Bay Beach. Margate train station is a mile away. For those looking to recreate an iconic Doherty moment, you’ve got The Dalby Cafe around the corner, where you can take on the mega breakfast challenge (Google it, you won't be disappointed).  Nearby Cliffs: An inviting loc

Maiden Voyage is back for 2024, this time in a brand new home of Burgess Park. And it's now moved to September, meaning you'll get to wrap up your festival season with the likes of Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist Arca, rising R&B talent Erika De Casier, former Time Out cover star Jayda G, Australian producer Mall Grab and many more.  This year also features new stage hosts including London Queer club Adonis and Berlin-based collective Live From Earth. Curating this year’s main stage will be PXSSY PALACE, while Sunday party UNFOLD are returning to elevate their sound and stage production for the festival's new south London home. 

  You have a nagging problem in your life, who are you turning to? Your friends? Your therapist? What about your favourite agony aunt? Ultimately, the concept is flawed because it’s impossible to expect some celebrity journalist to sort your life out. Getting a clown to do it makes just as much sense, really.  Julia Masli’s widely acclaimed live agony aunt show was a runaway hit at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. On its opening night at Soho Theatre, the Estonian comedian comes out in a kind of deconstructed pantomime gown, bowling shoes and on her left arm, a full-sized mannequin leg with a microphone at the end. Beaming a light from the bike helmet on her head like a kind of ‘X-Files’ alien, she approaches audience members with laser-focus, asking, ‘Problem?’. The idea behind this wonderfully odd setup is that a problem shared is a problem halved.  A clown by trade, Masli’s 2022 show ‘Choosh’ traced a migrant’s journey from Eastern Europe to the US through Chaplin-style slapstick. This nonsensical humour underpins her style of stunt comedy, yet you can’t escape the sense of real earnestness coming from our hipster host. She plays the part of an innocent, otherworldly naif with aplomb.  The show is part-meditation (our host enters to the slow voiceover of ‘ha, ha, ha,’), part-group therapy session. And the direction of it is completely determined by the audience. Tonight, the issues range from the mundane ‘my dog barks at foxes’ to the all too relatable ‘my boss is shit’

Wide Awake bills itself as a ‘musical melting pot’, offering up leftfield indie, post-punk, electronica, techno and more. This year you've got psychedelic Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard headlining, alongside Young Fathers, Slowdive, The Dare, Ben UFO and Alice Glass among other indie stalwarts. There is no doubt it'll leave crowds surprised as it celebrates artists that defy traditional genre boundaries.

If you love nothing better than the idea of grooving to reggae, Afrobeats and dancehall in the sun, this is the festival for you. City Splash is once again taking over Brockwell Park to celebrate the impact of Caribbean and African culture in the UK and beyond – giving you a chance to dance, connect over music and have a bloody good time. This year's line-up includes Capleton, Beenie Man, Shenseea, Busy Signal and Queen Omega.   Find more London music festivals.

Autumn has truly been the Marina Abramović season in London. The legendary performance artist has already completed a full takeover of the Southbank Centre, has an ongoing retrospective at the RA, and is now completing the trifecta with a pivot to opera in ‘7 Deaths of Maria Callas’.  Why’s she done this? Well, Callas had long been a fascination for Abramović. The opera singer’s life was never quite separated from her performances (perhaps there’s a parallel there); she became a superstar in her scene, had a public affair with Aristotle Onassis and eventually died alone in her Paris flat in 1977. But Abramović also believes she ‘died’ onstage dozens of times. So it’s only right that she’s immortalised here, through ‘La Traviata’, ‘Tosca’, ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘Carmen’, ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ and ‘Norma’ – all performed like a greatest hits medley.  Combining art and live music, '7 Deaths of Maria Callas' is a hipster opera. A cool spin on an intimating genre. It feels like a good entryway for first-timers like myself who may only be a little familiar with the music. I very much fitted in with the Central Saint Martin-types speculating what ‘the mother of performance art’ had up her sleeve.  I couldn’t help but notice ENO’s fervent attempt to reach out to a younger audience. Posters advertise free tickets for those under 21 (you can sit anywhere! Even the front!) and hefty discounts for under-35s. The merch stand is flogging black T-shirts embellished with glittering gold ‘Choos

Bristol is a lovely city: charming, artsy and buzzing with activity. Sometimes, though, you just need a little R&R. Aztec Hotel & Spa is the kind of place that’s fit for both locals and tourists thanks to its convenient location close to the city. Found about ten minutes from Bristol Parkway in a pretty bog-standard hotel – located in what appears to be a business park – the spa itself is anything but ordinary. With fluffy comfortable seating, a self-service bar and rows of private lounge chairs for mani-pedis, the newly opened Relax Lounge looks like it could be Kim Kardashian’s house. A soft, floral aroma wafted through the space: bliss. Fresh juices, ice cold water and bottles of fizz were all available, alongside light snacks (which I decided to skip, following a hefty full English in the hotel restaurant). The fitness facilities were of just as high a standard: there’s a large pool, which means you can get a few laps in pre or post glow-up, alongside a fully equipped gym if you want to build on your muscles ahead of a massage. There’s also the option to hop in the sauna or steam room whenever you feel like it.  I was booked in for the ‘Ultimate Glow’. It’s the full works: back, face and scalp, including a massage and facial. I can vouch that it was an hour and a half of pure relaxation: the massage pressure was just right, the skin treatments smelt amazing and I left feeling like a glowing goddess. I was also given a guide to what products were used as well as recommend

Set in a Grade II-listed former telephone exchange on High Holborn, The Hoxton channels its heritage into a vintage-meets-modern aesthetic. The metropolitan rooms feature warm interiors with touches of leather and dark wooden furniture, the bathrooms come decked out in black and white tiles with large waterfall-head showers, and the large lit-up mirrors encourage a new age of Instagrammers to show off their digs.  Yes, it’s a little hipster, but it’s charming. The hotel has clearly put a lot of thought into the guest experience, with Roberts radio clocks championing form and fashion, stylish Blank toiletries in the bathroom and Hoxton-branded mugs, maps and pens adding a homely feel. There’s even the opportunity to fill your mini-bar fridge with snacks at supermarket prices, so no eye-watering bills at check-out.  While there are plenty of great places to eat around the hotel, its onsite restaurant is a must for at least one night. Headed up by Chris Gillard (ex-St John chef), it champions the best of British cuisine alongside an expertly paired wine list in a bistro-style setting. You can also choose to head here for brunch or hang a dedicated ‘little breakfast’ bag on your door for £4 and have it filled up overnight.  Neighbourhood A shopaholic’s haven, the Hoxton sits right on the edge of one of London’s busiest shopping districts, with Covent Garden, Soho and Oxford Street all nearby, and it’s just a minute from Holborn tube station. Up the road, you’ll find Theatreland a

Being one of 11, yes, 11 productions of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol’, at least ‘Ghosted’ is self-aware enough to subtitle itself as ‘Another F***ing Christmas Carol’. Created by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper – formerly responsible for the cult gay pantomimes at Above the Stag Theatre – this shameless retelling is brought into the modern age by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper at The Other Palace’s Studio.  As expected, this adults-only version of the story is a lot. Scrooge is a cruel, borderline homophobic, letting agent and housing manager in modern-day London. She’s on a crusade to make everyone’s lives miserable, fucking over her nephew – the show’s Tiny Tim character – in the process, before being visited on Christmas Eve by three spirits. The twist is, they’re all queer, so they mercilessly read her and drop in the occasional joke about fisting other ghosts – which I don’t remember from the original text.  It’s a riot at points, with only four actors (Natalie Boakye, Christopher Lane, Liam McHugh and Nikki Biddington) juggling the roles of countless characters. Thus encouraging gags about them all ‘mucking in’ or pointing out how Scrooge's house looked similar to her office. Moments of self-deprecating humour such as this got a rapturous response. As did Lane’s trio of ghosts, all of whom had a loveable, hammy chaos to them.  It reminded me very much of the kind of ‘Drag Race’ humour that basic sorts like myself enjoy, with jokes about how the Ghost of Christmas p

There are a few things guaranteed when you see Taylor Swift. You'll get Superbowl-scale dance numbers, friendship bracelets swapped between groups of screaming teens, and surprise songs that send the crowd into overdrive. Now, I'm not your typical Taylor fan, I barely knew my 'Back to December' from my 'Cruel Summer', but this Friday, she pulled out some pretty incredible moments. On the first night of her, quite frankly, historic takeover of Wembley Stadium on Friday June 21, the American superstar played a whopping three-and-a-half-hour set to a sea of fans and celebs (Prince William, Kier Starmer, Jonathan Van Ness all in attendance). Here's just a few stand-out moments.  1. 'Why don't you just bog off' went hard  WHY DON’T YOU JUST BOG OFF📸 @cagedmecrazy pic.twitter.com/SCbyjYnbMr — The Eras Tour UK & Ireland (@TheErasTourUK) June 21, 2024 2. The orange outfit was actually a slay @nas.archives THE SURPRISE SONG MASHUP FROM LONDON - FULL #taylorswift #theerastour #surprisesong #marron #theblackdog #thetorturedpoetsdepartment #taylorswiftlondon ♬ original sound - NAS 3. She premiered 'The Black Dog' live, and did a mash-up of 'Come Back...Be Here' and 'Maroon' as her surprise songs @varietymagazine Taylor Swift performs a mash-up of "Come Back...Be Here" and "Maroon" during her Wembley show. ♬ original sound - Variety 4. She shouted out Travis and we couldn't be mo

For almost two decades, the Speakers Corner Quartet have been active in London’s live music scene, collaborating with legends like Sampha, Kae Tempest, Tirzah and Shabaka Hutchings. What started off as a house band at south London music venue Brixton Jamm is now a four-piece powerhouse of Biscuit on flute, Kwake Bass on drums and percussion, Raven Bush on violin, and Peter Bennie on bass. In 2023, the group released their long-awaited debut album Further Out Than The Edge to critical acclaim, and this year scooped up the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, for their collaboration with Tempest on ‘Geronimo Blues’. Taking inspiration from hip-hop heavyweights like MF DOOM and J Dilla, innovative electronic artists such as Aphex Twin and composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Coltrane, the group have been praised for their lush musical textures that heighten the performances of their collaborators.So it makes sense that the legendary Chaka Khan would choose such an exciting and important collective to be a part of her 2024 Meltdown. The band has spent a whole year preparing a brand new show alongside the 35-piece Guildhall Session Orchestra for the festival, and are promising some thrilling new compositions and orchestral reworks from their debut album, as well as appearances from a few of their famous friends. In anticipation of their big night on Monday June 17, we caught up with flautist and band leader Biscuit ahead of the event, to shine a light on some o

The moment you step off the train and see a band name-emblazoned footie shirt, you know Margate is Libertines territory. Fans of the rockers will be well aware of the band’s hotel, The Albion Rooms, which is on the seafront street they’ve named their new album (‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ – out now) after. Current Margate-dweller Carl Barât and ex-Margater Pete Doherty’s band are just as much a part of the arty seaside town’s DNA as arcade games, salt and vinegar chips and aggressively oversized seagulls.  When explaining his decision to move to Margate, Barât tells us, ‘Margate had artistic heritage, and it was cheap, and there was the sort of arty exodus from London, and it was cheap, and there was the sea… and it was cheap.’ He adds, ‘I've given so much of my life to London and London's given me so much of my life that I wanted to try somewhere new.’ So who better to take Time Out through the finest Margate has to offer? Here the legendary indie singer-songwriter picks out his favourite spots, from that viral caff where Doherty demolished an olympic-sized breakfast to the underground dive bar Barât and his partner restored to its former grimy glory.  Eat  The Dalby Cafe The best place to eat in Margate is The Dalby Cafe. It’s that one where Pete actually won a free breakfast by doing the all-you-can-eat challenge in 20 minutes or something. I have a feeling that he might’ve been feeding his dog under the table. But anyway, it’s the highest quality classic British

It’s the biggest night of the year for British music. And where else (apart from maybe Chiltern Firehouse) are you going to see Dua Lipa, Kylie and Roman Kemp all dressed up to the nines in one place? Like the Grammy’s earlier in February, women are the champions of this year’s Brits; former Time Out cover star and famous Londoner Raye was named songwriter of the year earlier this week, and broke records as the musician to receive the most Brit nominations in a single year. We also got to see the UK’s unofficial royals Stormzy and Maya Jama on the red carpet together, and a Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding reunion, which proves once and for all that we are, actually, back in 2014. It’s enough to make us rock platform trainers and cover ourselves in Dream Matte Mousse. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Brits without plenty of weird things going on too. This was the stage from which Madonna fell not once but twice in one performance, where Geri Halliwell rocked her Union Jack dress for the very first time, and where Jarvis Cocker mooned the whole country during Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’. So let’s see how this year’s awards stack up, shall we? Surprising things that happened at Brit Awards 2024 1. Lady Di rising from the dead  Obsessed with Mother Diane reading her script off the back of that board #BRITs #BritAwards pic.twitter.com/6g5jmaB1fj — Alex (@alexr_241) March 2, 2024 2. Dua Lipa defying gravity  how is Dua Lipa making peo

It’s the start of the new year. Crimbo bingeing means your house is overflowing with empty Rennie packets and unopened bottles of Baileys. And now, you’re ready to kick-start your 2024 as a transformed person, with a long list of resolutions that you absolutely definitely will not break. Like you, London is gearing itself up for another year of bloody good events. Just look at the festival line-ups that have been dropping. Instead of doomscrolling through in and out lists (in: snogging on the dancefloor, wearing capris to the club, Ke$ha; out: Lost Marys as accessories, Bluetooth wireless headphones, Taylor Swift) have a looksie at what our venues have on this month. From fabulous pop to post-punk-blasting fundraisers, there’s something for all tastes.   🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend 🎨 The 10 best art exhibitions in London 🎭 The best new theatre shows in London  For gigging for a good cause  EYOE fundraiser  Gig promoter and record label Eat Your Own Ears is once again hosting their annual ‘Recommends’ series this January, showcasing a plethora of new artists that it backs to be big in 2024. Taking place at Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms, it’ll not only help to you broaden your Spotify playlists but also help raise money and awareness for two great charities: food poverty charity Hackney Foodbank, and Help Musicians, which supports music creators in times of crisis and provides career opportunities. We recommend checking out Talia Goddess, Reuben’s Daughters

It’s that time of year, when London throngs with tourists photographing festive light displays, the pubs overflow with office parties (try not to be sick in front of your boss, lads) and the streets fill with the sound of discordant carolers. Instead of putting yourself through the misery of nativities and pantos starring 2012 ‘X-Factor’ rejects, spend your money on something that’ll bring you whatever the heck ‘festive cheer’ might be. This December, you can indulge in noughties smash hits, hypnotic hyperpop and radical punk – with a smattering of indie Christmas partying thrown in for good measure. Not a bloody choir in sight.  For noughties pop perfection   Photograph: False Idols Sugababes at False Idols We saw them filling out a stage at Glasto and selling out the O2 in quick succession. After a massive summer reunion, Sugababes–the original trio–are bringing pop music back around. Yes, you will hear ‘Overload’ and ‘Caught Up In The Middle’, but they’ll also perform new stuff and come as part of a line-up that includes Shygirl, Eliza Rose and Ross From Friends. Taking place in the indecently large Drumsheds, it’ll attract a young crowd of Buffalo boots and leg warmer-wearing kids alongside the OG fans. Drumsheds, N18 3HF. Sat Dec 2, 12pm. From £33.50. Sophie Ellis Bextor She’s a hitmaker, what can we say? ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, ‘Groovejet’, ‘Take Me Home’. All of them go off. Of course, we saw Sophie Ellis Bextor bring pure joy to the masses during lockdown with h

Thurston Moore’s early music may seem synonymous with 1980s New York punk rock, but he’s been a Londoner for well over a decade. Having previously lived in Stoke Newington, the 65-year-old has moved south of the city (the exact location he keeps vague), where between making solo albums and running his record label, Ecstatic Peace, he’s embraced London’s improvised live music scene. Fitting perhaps, given the DIY nature of his work as Sonic Youth’s frontman. The band’s abrasive, free-natured sound often paired rapid guitar riffs with droning basslines and slowly clattering drums that always felt very in the moment. His new book ‘Sonic Life’ is, as he says, ‘All the musical inspirations I have from all the different ephemera, books and recordings that defined my growing years. ‘Then the advent of Sonic Youth and how we moved through the course of the 80s and 90s.’ To tie in with the launch of his new book, the musician spoke to us about his favourite London music venue, IKLECTIK, an independent space that champions new, free-form music. With the threats of closure ahead of planned redevelopment, Moore is keen to highlight the importance of this personal sacred space.  ‘IKLECTIK is found underneath the Waterloo Bridge in Old Paradise Yard. It’s been there only nine years, so right after I relocated here. I was living in Stoke Newington at the time, very close to Cafe OTO, which is sort of the critical listening room for experimental music. But I started hearing about this new pl

Autumn is in full swing. The city is a sea of Moon Boots, fisherman hats and Northie puffers. But you know what? November in London is about more than just surviving the cold. You’ve got Bonfire Night (an excuse to unleash your primal urges on watching things burn and blow up), the beginnings of our obsession with Christmas and a whole bunch of exciting gigs at your disposal. In fact, the capital's live music scene is busier than ever this month. Just look at how long this list is! We’re giving you old-school punk from Sleater Kinney, sexy club anthems from rising star Babymorocco and the return of British/American rap sensation 21 Savage, alongside heaps more to get excited about. Have a scroll through and see why November in London is elite, actually.  RECOMMENDED: 🥂 The best things to do in London this weekend 🎨 The 10 best art exhibitions in London 🎭 The best new theatre shows in London  For when you wanna get loud  Meet Me @ the Altar  Olivia Rodrigo is selling out arenas, Blink 182 has made a mighty comeback and Paramore absolutely smashed a global tour. Pop punk is back, baby. And it’s a trend that’s simply not stopping. Meet Me @ the Altar is an American three-piece, endorsed by legends of the scene, such as Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years. Catch them as they take over the notorious Camden’s Underworld for a night of powerful pop-punk bangers with a Gen Z twist. Listen to ‘Say It (To My Face)’ for a taste.  The Underworld, NW1 9D

Ever looked at a music festival line-up and realise, with abject horror, how desperately out of touch you are? Several of Time Out London’s editorial team felt like that when Pitchfork released the line-up for its London festival, which is taking over some of the capital’s best-loved music venues this week for its third edition.  Among big hitters like the Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, riot grl legends Sleater-Kinney and dance music protégé Yaeji are a frankly concerning number of head-scratchers, even for us NTS-listening, ‘Crack’ magazine-reading Cafe Oto regulars.  Luckily for you, we’ve spent the last few weeks swotting up on the lesser-known artists appearing on the eclectic bill, so that we can tell you who is worth buying a ticket for. Here are some of our favourite up-and-comers to look out for.  Balming Tiger Who are they?: Balming Tiger are a South Korean multi-national alternative K-pop collective consisting of rapper Omega Sapien, DJ Abyssm director San Yawn, music video directors Jan'Qui and Leesuho, singer-songwriters Sogumm, Wnjn, Mudd the Student, and editor Henson. The hip-hop single ‘Sexy Nukim’ with BTS’s RM is a good entry point. For fans of: BTS, NewJeans, So!YoON. Village Underground. Wed Nov 8.  CHAI Who are they?: A sugary sweet experimental pop group blending elements of Tom Tom Club, Basement Jaxx and CSS to create punchy anthems inspired by female empowerment and redefining ‘kawaii’ culture.  For fans of: Confidence Man, Kero

Duran Duran started their careers in Birmingham more than 40 years ago. Since then, the band have sold over 100 million records, achieved 30 Top 40 UK singles (‘Rio’, ‘Girls on Film’, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’: you know them) and, in 2022, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In the build-up to their 16th album, ‘Danse Macabre’ – a collection of covers and new songs exploring the band’s darker melodies – drummer Roger Taylor tells us why performing in their native Birmingham this year was a symbolic return for the group.  ‘I’ve got really special memories of the night we played at Utilita Arena back in May. We felt so much love from the audience and it was a real homecoming show. It’s an arena but it doesn’t feel cold, it feels quite intimate. The location is really beautiful because it’s in the area where all the canals in the town meet, so it feels like you’re really in the centre of Birmingham.  ‘That was also our neighbourhood when we were growing up. We’d play ‘Rum Runner’ in the early eighties to 100 people, so to go back there more than 40 years later, playing to 10,000 or 12,000 people, it really was quite a moment. We can be playing New York’s Madison Square Garden or the Hollywood Bowl in LA, but Birmingham is always the most important show ‘The roar when we walked out to the crowd is a particular standout memory: we started the show [like we were] coming in from space via screen footage, on this kind of spaceship which landed at the back of the arena.

‘I probably wouldn’t be making music if I hadn’t moved to Nottingham,’ says Yazmin Lacey, between playing festival slots. ‘When I was living in London, I was around a lot of creative people. But you know, it’s so intense and fast paced and saturated, that I think if you’re like me and come into music late, you don’t have the space to just try things out.’  Born and raised in east London, Lacey would occasionally sing in her church choir, but had never considered music as a career. When she left the capital for Nottingham (a night out in the city inspired her to make the move), she found herself surrounded by artists and musicians, as well as a producer ex-boyfriend who convinced her to start recording. This led to her playing shows around her adopted hometown – where she stayed for 11 years – and to Lacey eventually being picked up by Gilles Peterson’s Future Bubbler series, a compilation focusing on unsigned, up-and-coming artists.  Her critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Voice Notes’ came out earlier this year, which she’s been performing at festivals across the country. Here, Lacey takes us through her favourite places in Nottingham, from a Japanese fusion restaurant to a pub with underground caves.  Eat  ‘Kushi-ya used to be a vegan cafe back in the day. It’s actually where I had my first gig: it was really small, you could probably fit about 30 people in there, and it was bloody dreadful. I remember thinking, ‘‘who intentionally stands in front of a room full of people lik

Festival season is well and truly here. You’ve bought your tickets, you know your headliners and you’ve sorted out some kind of ironic costume (most likely a onesie) for the last night of music. But instead of just lazing around a campsite, accruing various stages of sunburn and listening to your neighbour’s non-stop – and quite frankly, terrible – playlist of heavy drum ‘n’ bass, get yourself up and dance to these acts. Because you never know, they might just be the next big thing. These musicians have at least three major festivals booked for summer, have already garnered cult-like status and are definitely set to impress. And really, is there anything better than bragging, ‘I saw them before they got big’? We think not.  1. CMAT  Photograph: Sarah Doyle Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, aka CMAT, is an Irish singer-songwriter who channels the essence of Nashville into her tongue-in-cheek country-pop tunes. Her tacky glam aesthetic is a fun contrast to the seriousness of her songwriting, with lyrics that are mournful, accessible and emotionally literate in a way that’s ever so charming. Also, if you wanted an excuse to pack one of those pink cowboy hats with a plastic crown, this could be as good as you’re going to get. Yee-haw. Key track: ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!’ Where to see them: South Facing, Isle of Wight, Bluedot 2. High Vis  Photograph: James Edson If there’s one word to describe High Vis, it would be hardcore: like Turnstile, PiL and Stone Roses all whizzed up in