The London Christmas Covers Party 2026

Fri 6 NovDoors 19:00

Firestations + Dominie Hooper

The Waiting Room · London

Divine Schism are stoked to be hosting Firestations in London as they celebrate new album ‘International Dust’ (out 16 October, Lost Map Records). For this record, the London band have returned to full five-piece band format after a journey into more stripped back alt-folk territory on last year’s ‘Many White Horses', and offer up an eclectic mix of art-pop, alt-country and hypnotic cyclical numbers. The nine tracks were shaped collectively by the whole band through various twists and turns at rehearsal sessions during 2024, and recorded live in the room at Otterhead Studios in early 2025 (engineered by Ellis Powell-Bevan and Oscar Ball), before being mixed and mastered by James Trevascus (Invada, Portishead, PJ Harvey, Young Fathers). This longer gestation period, combined with having someone outside the band on production duties, has resulted in a more expansive and immersive listen, with room for everything to find its place. “Melancholy tempered by shimmering shoegaze stylings... a wistful delight.” Electronic Sound "As the drums and guitars click into sync amid the wash of layered vocals, they sound even beefier than before, like The Twilight Sad’s more thoughtfu...

Gigs

Sun 15 NovDoors 19:00

Arborist

The Waiting Room · London

A very special evening with Arborist, in support of his latest album Looking For Love. Belfast native Mark McCambridge played his first show as Arborist supporting James Yorkston. A solo tour followed, and impressive performances led to notable support slots alongside Low, Cat Power, Echo & The Bunnymen and Guy Garvey. Arborist's debut single, the Americana-tinged "Twisted Arrow," caught the attention of the critics with an astonishing duet with Kim Deal of The Breeders. The debut album Home Burial (2016) and its follow-up, A Northern View, both received glowing praise, from The Guardian ("instant classic" ★★★★) to MOJO ("devastatingly bleak… upliftingly beautiful" ★★★★) to Uncut (8/10), with BBC 6 Music play from Cerys Matthews, Cillian Murphy, Lauren Laverne, Radcliffe and Maconie and Gideon Coe — and Steve Lamacq calling single "Taxi" "one of those records that makes you immediately stop what you're doing." He went on to even greater success with the 2023 Northern Irish Music Prize winning third LP, An Endless Sequence of Dead Zeroes, which was recorded at SpaceBomb Studios in Virginia with musician and producer Matthew E White. For his fourth LP, Looking For...

Gigs

Sat 21 NovDoors 20:00

The Raven's Nest Presents: This Eternal Decay Live in London

The Waiting Room · London

Update (27 Sept 2026) Social Youth Cult have announced that they are no longer a band. Sadly, they will not be playing on the Sat 21st Nov at the Waiting Room. The Raven's Nest and the other bans will be attending as planned. The Raven's Nest Presents: This Eternal Decay Live in London Darkwave | Goth | Dark 80s | EBM Get ready to plunge into the shadows. The Raven's Nest returns on Saturday 21st November 2026 for an unforgettable night of post-punk, darkwave, and electronic melancholy at one of London’s finest underground spots—The Waiting Room. THIS ETERNAL DECAY Hailing from Rome, Italy, this darkwave powerhouse combines harsh synth textures, driving basslines, and melancholic melodies. Expect a mesmerizing, high-energy performance featuring tracks from their acclaimed discography. https://thiseternaldecayband.bandcamp.com/ HURTSFALL Melding rich, gothic melancholia with danceable synthwave rhythms and theatrical vocal delivery, they weave an unforgettable, immersive atmospheric live https://hurtsfall.bandcamp.com/ NOTHING NEW Opening the night with Nothing New with minimal wave and synthpop, with some elements of EBM. Music that wasn't trying to be anything new, but that yo...

Gigs

Sat 30 Jan 2027Doors 19:00

THE GENTLE SPRING - 'Northernhay' album launch

The Waiting Room · London

The Gentle Spring play songs from their new album 'Northernhay'. Copies of the LP and CD will be on sale. Special guests The Would-be-goods 2 play songs from their stellar past and from their recent album 'Tears Before Bedtime'.

Gigs

Sat 12 DecDoors 12:00

Funky Dory Soul Brunch

Soul Mama Islington · London

The most soulful brunch in town. Serving up soul, R&B and party classics, alongside a mouth-watering Caribbean and South African menu.

Gigs

Sat 12 DecDoors 13:30

Katie Spencer & Henry Parker (Matinée Show)

Green Note · London

Two leading lights of the modern day folk-guitar scene take their annual mid-winter concert on the road; an intimate solo set from each musician precedes a rare and joyous moment of collaboration to guide us gently into the festive season. Katie Spencer has become renowned across the UK, for her acute personal songwriting, performed with a signature deep vibrato vocal and a crystal-clear guitar style. She draws influence from Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill and Michael Chapman yet makes the music inimitably her own. Her latest album What Love Is, released in Autumn 2025 was met with critical acclaim, landing at #12 in the Official Folk Charts and achieved glowing praise in the nation's music press, described as “a master-class of inspired and beautifully-sounding craftsmanship” by KLOF Magazine. “Her articulate picking, with suggestions of folk and jazz, frames intelligently written songs and is the backbone to her music” Guitarist Magazine Henry Parker’s intricate folk guitar playing leans heavily into the open-tuned stylings of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake, whilst his own original songwriting dwells on themes of folklore, landscape and the environment. His 2026 release, The Dar...

GigsFolkBlues

Sat 12 DecDoors 14:00

Tony Mortimer's 90s Christmas

The Fox and Firkin · London

GigsPop

Sat 12 DecDoors 15:30

Comedy Brunch at Vauxhall Comedy

The Garden Vauxhall · London

South London's Top Comedy Club

Gigs