Courtney Marie Andrews at Islington Assembly Hall

Courtney Marie Andrews

Brown Horse

Islington Assembly Hall, 26 February 2026

I was back yet again to the lovely Islington Assembly Hall to see the even more lovely Courtney Marie Andrews for fourth show in just four months, but this time for a full band show that was equally dreamy and sublime. It really feels like Andrews just keeps getting better and better.

Jeff Tweedy at Islington Assembly Hall

Jeff Tweedy

Macie Stewart

Islington Assembly Hall, 20 February 2026

What an amazing evening seeing Jeff Tweedy tonight with a youthful band that features his two sons and their friends and showcased his last solo album, the fabulous Twilight Override. Honestly still on a huge high from this one and it's made me remember just why I have always loved Tweedy's music so much!

TV On The Radio at Islington Assembly Hall

Islington Assembly Hall, 10 December 2024

My last gig of the year! And it was a good one too, as I got to see the recently reunited TV On The Radio on the first night of their three night (sold out) run at Islington Assembly Hall and what a return it was!

Evan Dando at Islington Assembly Hall

Evan Dando

Juanita Stein

Ella Raphael

Islington Assembly Hall, 30 October 2024

I've always thought that Evan Dando was one of the forgotten and underrated songwriters of the 1990s, perhaps because of his heartthrob status and slightly airheaded, hippy persona, it feels like he hasn't been regarded with as much respect as his music warrants. Judging by the love for him and his music tonight, obviously a lot of people feel the same way, and it was rather lovely to see.

Kathleen Edwards at Islington Assembly Hall

Craig Finn

Kathleen Edwards

Islington Assembly Hall, 12 September 2024

I know Craig Finn was the headliner here but for me it was all about seeing Kathleen Edwards again, back in the UK for the first time in 12 years! It was fantastic to finally see her after so long, I only wish her set had been longer. 

Liz Phair at Islington Assembly Hall

Liz Phair

Annabel Allum

Islington Assembly Hall, 4 June 2019

I was such a music snob back in my youth and missed out on so many great bands because I foolishly sneered at them. But there were definitely a few albums that transcended any kind of snobbery: Nevermind was certainly one and Liz Phair's Exile In Guyville was without a doubt another. It was just a record that pretty much every fan of alternative music owned and agreed upon: it was, and still is, cool stuff.

Matthew Sweet at Islington Assembly Hall

Matthew Sweet
Bryde
Islington Assembly Hall, 18 December 2018

Matthew Sweet hasn't played in the UK for 21 years! Well, according to a member of the audience anyway but Sweet himself seems to agree. He certainly hasn't played a solo gig here for a long, long time. That said, I did see him live before without realising it, as part of the short-lived supergroup The Thorns (formed with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins) when they were supporting The Jayhawks in 2003. At the time I didn't know who they were so I certainly didn't appreciate who I was seeing. Thankfully, 15 years later Sweet is finally back to treat us with some power pop gems.

Phoebe Bridgers at Islington Assembly Hall

Phoebe Bridgers
Harrison Whitford
Islington Assembly Hall, 23 May 2018

On the cover of Phoebe Bridgers' debut album, Stranger In The Alps, a young Bridgers in her grandfather's yard is blanked out with white paint and made to look like a ghost - the white-sheeted kind - while her grandparents' dog looks on in the background. Funnily enough that slightly faded photo is a beautiful representation of her music. It sounds almost sepia-tinted and filled with old haunting remembrances: memories made ghostly as if they were painted white with sadness and regret.

Big Thief at Islington Assembly Hall

Big Thief
Katie Von Schleicher
Islington Assembly Hall, 10 November 2016

I wish I had discovered Big Thief when their debut album, Masterpiece, was released last year and had caught them in a slightly smaller venue (not that the Islington Assembly Hall is big - it's around 800 capacity) because I have a feeling their quietly intense music would be absolutely amazing in a more intimate atmosphere. That said this was still a spellbinding show and showcased what a fantastic singer and guitarist frontwoman Adrianne Lenker really is.

Margo Price at Islington Assembly Hall

 

Margo Price
Jeremy Ivey
Islington Assembly Hall, 19 January 2017

Margo Price is such a country queen. It actually boggles my mind that she missed out on a nomination at the CMAs for her debut album Midwest Farmer's Daughter, which I think was easily one of last year's best albums of any genre. Clearly plenty in London agree because tonight's show is sold out and nicely, quite diverse too.

Sturgill Simpson at Islington Assembly Hall

Sturgill Simpson

Joe Pug

Islington Assembly Hall, 20 August 2015

At one point during his opening set tonight, singer-songwriter Joe Pug tells us that he wrote his next song in his angsty early 20s when he says most guys are at the most brooding. The following song though, a sad acoustic number, doesn't sound hugely different to the rest of his set. Pug is clearly a talented, amicable guy who appears to be as much influenced by Bob Dylan as Hank Williams and with his sweet and funny banter in between songs its hard not to like him. He certainly goes down a treat with the country-loving crowd in the Islington Assembly Hall tonight, a fact that rather endearingly even seems to surprise him, as he tries out a few quieter numbers due to how little chatter during his set there was, which is high praise indeed with picky London crowds these days.

Natalie Prass at Islington Assembly Hall

Natalie Prass
Chanele McGuinness
Islington Assembly Hall, 24 June 2015

One of the best albums of the year so far has to be Natalie Prass's self-titled debut, which is a glorious mixure of classic blue-eyed soul and 70s West Coast singer-songwriter fare. But other than Prass's sweet and delicate voice, the lady herself, who apparently hails from Virginia but is now based in Nashville, was something of a mystery to me. But crazily enough I had actually seen her live before, just didn't know it. It turns out that Prass was the keyboardist in Jenny Lewis' band and played this very same venue last year and she shakes her head as she tells us this, as if she can't quite believe it herself.

Throwing Muses at Islington Assembly Hall

Throwing Muses
Tanya Donelly
Islington Assembly Hall, 26 September 2014

I first saw Throwing Muses live in the mid 90s, long after original member Tanya Donelly had left. By then Donelly had her own band in Belly, who were actually far more successful, albeit for a shorter run, than the Muses had ever been. Tanya and her stepsister - Muses head honcho Kristin Hersh - at that point didn't seem that close any more and it seemed something of a hopeless dream to ever see them ever play together again. So when I saw that Throwing Muses were coming to London in support of their first album in 10 years, Purgatory/Paradise, and the special guest was none other than Tanya Donelly herself, I couldn't miss the possibility of seeing them finally share a stage again and playing all those old Muses songs I had been too young to hear live the first time around.

Jenny Lewis at Islington Assembly Hall

Jenny Lewis

Alessi's Ark

Islington Assembly Hall, 5 September 2014

I've seen Alessi's Ark so many times but always in small venues, so it's strange to see her on a relatively big stage playing support to Jenny Lewis tonight. Dressed in a striking embroidered green silk outfit, she seems to have finally settled on a two-piece backing band, who I last saw her play with last year, and they sound well-rehearsed and comfortable with each other. Alessi's had bigger bands in the past but I've always felt they overwhelmed her but playing as part of a trio suits her sound perfectly.

First Aid Kit at Islington Assembly Hall

First Aid Kit
Jo Rose
Islington Assembly Hall, 15 May 2014

With their third album, Stay Gold, due in less than a month it was a truly lovely surprise when First Aid Kit announced a smallish gig at the Islington Assembly Hall. Not surprisingly, given they are big enough to announce a date at the Royal Albert Hall in September since, it sold out pretty much straight away but lucky for me I managed to get one of the coveted tickets for the show. I had never been to Islington Assembly Hall before but it's actually one of the nicer venues I've been to in a while, just up the road from my current favourite, the Union Chapel, With a small standing area in front of the stage and a seated balcony, it's probably between the size of the much missed Astoria and the Scala in King's Cross, but the look of Bush Hall. Unlike some of the recent venues I've visited for the first time recently, this is one of the few that I'm keen to return to.