London summer is well and truly in swing with people seshing across the capital from sunny canal-side venues in Hackney Wick by day to the sweaty underground dance floors of Fabric by night. If you’re after the creme de la creme of raves this upcoming month, you’re in the right place, we’re not about wasting your time or money, so we’ve spent ours scouting out every event worth attending this upcoming month to make sure we’re ONLY recommending raves you’ll rate…
The Ton Of Bricks – Thursday 4th July
With my full chest FUCK THE TORIES and what better way to celebrate booting out a fascist, homophobic, transphobic (and everything else that’s wrong with the world) party out of power than with a drag? Expect queer music and a crowd that’ll make the world feel right for a little while.
Hootananny Brixton – Friday 5th July
After finding Swimming Paul at the start of this year and have been GAGGING to see the American producer live for the last six months. His mix of melodic electronic and fragmented synths is good enough to give Fred Again a run for his money and will have London DJs shaking with what’ll no doubt be a banging debut show.
Pretty Girl: 4 Fridays at Phonox
Phonox – Friday 5th & 19th July
As far as London rave venues go, Phonox is right on top with a Berlin-esque vibe to the space and face melting speakers, the immersive club can make a six hour set feel like 30 minutes leaving you wanting more and with sim0ne and Prospa both on the lineup for July, I’ll be spending a couple nights south of the river in Brixton.
Lukas Wigflex (All night long)
Lion & Lamb – Saturday 6th July
If you’re into experimental music that sounds like a mix between the start of an artistic 90s sci-fi movie and a frog reverberating beats underwater you’ll wanna catch Lukas Wigflex’s set at the Lion and Lamb, on from 7pm it’s a sick setting for a few warm up drinks if you’re heading elsewhere but for anyone who likes their tunes trippy, you’ll wanna stick around.
Horse Meat Disco – The Legendary Sunday Night Discotheque
Eagle London – Sunday 7th July
If you’re a regular reader of this roundup, you’ll have seen Horse Meat Disco featured a few times. The duo never fails to steal the show at festivals and there’s no high like losing a few hours to their electrified throwbacks under a disco ball. While the Eagle doesn’t exactly mirror the setting of a sparkling tent, these events make for a solid substitution.
Secret Location (Boat) – Saturday 13th July
Did someone say boat party? *side eyes with extreme interest*. Full disclosure, I’ve been living in London almost seven years, and am yet to venture onto a floating vessel, this summer is the time to make it happen and if any tunes are gonna tempt me onto London’s waterways it’s some Sticky Plastic wobblers.
Groovy Juice presents: Jacinta
The Castle – Friday 19th July
New underground event collective Groove Juice caught my eye a couple months back, with a residency at Bloop London Radio and securing Jacinta (who’s supported artists the likes of Dr Banana, Lukas Wigflex & Chaos in the CBD) as headliner for their latest event, something tells me we’ll be seeing this lot debut in major London venues soon (and maybe even a festival or two…).
Flash in the Pan: Papa Nugs, Itoa, Dual Monitor, Carbon Copy
Venue MOT – Friday 19th July
After listening to ‘Nug Nation’ an embarrassing number of times this month, it’s only right that I put you on to his upcoming set at venue MOT alongside other artists who’ll be dropping everything from garage, electro and trance to jungle for anyone wanting to mix things up a bit.
Ben UFO Shoreditch Street Party
Clifton Street – Saturday 20th July
Summer ain’t complete without a street party and with Ben UFO ready to get behind the decks in a Krankbrother first, this four hour set from a DJ/Producer deeply rooted in UK rave culture, couldn’t be in a more prime location for his mix of drum and bass, tech-house and the occasional blend of dubstep than East London.
Job Jobse presents Strangelove – Day & Night
The Cause – Saturday 20th July
The Cause and Job Jobse combined was enough to peak my interest, but after spotting Angel D’Lite who delivered an insane set at Gala and has been playing on rotation in my room this month, this event went from being a “oooo” to a “must f*cking do”.
No90 presents: Undrground London
No90 Hackney Wick – Saturday 20th July
The music at bar ’90 is unmatched, it’s where I’ve found artists like Scarlett O’Malley and on my birthday, back in May, the DJ collective Undrground London who dropped a set so good it was frankly ungodly. Left gagging for more I scouted their socials in hope of blessing my ears with a mix, song or set lurking somewhere on the internet but found f*ck all, so you’ll find me with my ear pressed up to the speakers in the mushy room from 7PM onwards.
CAYA by fabric: Ninkasi presents – Phone Traxxx (All Night Long)
Fabric London – Sunday 21st July
If you’re yet to experience Phone Traxxx on a darkened dance floor in a city somewhere, there’s no place better to experience their sets of glitchy bouncing bops than Fabric. (Before 12am tickets are currently free for anyone fancying a Sunday night motive).
The Glove That Fits – Sunday 21st July
After witnessing Voigtmann’s frankly legendary set at Gottwood this year, I plan to be front of the decks for his upcoming event at Lion and Lamb for a night of vibrating bass, deep vocals and a vibe that mirrors two lovers of funk having freaky sex, you’ll wanna settle in and experience his set from start to finish.
EartH – Wednesday 24th July
It seems weird recommending an event for a Wednesday but after experiencing some truly immense soundscape events at EartH outside of typical electronic music, this one caught my eye and with Daniel Avery (an artist constantly on my rotation and master of ambient beats) lined up to play, I’ll be treating myself to some meditation in what I reckon will be an immersive, mind expanding setting.
SKSKSKS w/ Mechatok, MssingNo, Dark0, SPINEE, Glimji + more
Corsica Studios – Friday 26th July
I’ve been vibing with a few of Glimji’s tunes recently after discovering the underground DJ/Producer on Insta, after clocking his upcoming set at Corsica Studios I’m intrigued to see what the event is saying and with some sick cover art and a venue always worth visiting, it could be a hidden gem for July.