Must-see concerts in London, Christmas 2013

It sure is the season to be jolly as the festive period gets into full swing over the next two weeks. London will play host to a few live concerts along the way that will definitely help you get in the festive groove. Here is an array of what the city has to offer:

The Pogues at Brixton Academy 

The Pogues will be closing their UK farewell tour at the O2 Academy in Brixton on the 20^th and 21^st December. The Irish punk-cum-folk band are the perfect antidote to the sentiments that Christmas can well up. Their very own Fairy Tale of New York is undoubtedly a Christmas classic; an appropriate song for the joyful yet drunken sentimental state that one can find oneself in by the end of the night, near the end of the year. No wonder it is widely considered Britain’s favourite Christmas song. Shane MacGowan is always the entertainer, and this last farewell should make for a very special evening.

Brixton Academy 20^th/21^st December. For further information visit here.

Crisis Presents at Eventim Apollo

Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, will be putting on a concert on 20^th December. The headline acts will be Bastille and Jake Bugg, supported by whole host of other very talented British artists, such as the likes of AlunaGeorge, one of the breakthrough acts of 2013. With the number of people registered as homeless across the UK on the rise, the proceeds from this event shall surely help alleviate this growing concern, while also being a welcome treat for you this Christmas.

Eventim Apollo 20^th December. For further information visit here.

JLS at the O2

One would have thought that the JLS money making machine would just keep on churning out the dollar, but for some reason or another, the boys have decided to call it a day. Maybe it’s the stress of the success coupled with their workload over the past five years since they rose to fame as the X-Factor runners-up back in 2008, having produced hit album after hit album year after year. Whatever the reason, JLS will be saying goodbye to their fans for the last time at the O2 this December.

The O2 21^st/22^nd December. For further information visit here.

Calvin Harris at Earls Court

The man from Dumfries hasn’t done too badly over the past couple of years. This year has been an especially fruitful one for Harris, grossing an estimated £28 million, so expect him to be in celebratory mood for this occasion. Equipped with his trademark sound that mashes-up funky electronic riffs and catchy euphoric hooks, Harris has a knack for producing chart toppers. He will be joined by his partner in crime Tiesto, so if you want to get tickets to this one best be quick about it.

Earls Court 20^th December. For further information visit here.

Thoralf Karlsen