British Airways ARC Announces Opening Line-Up For New London Venue With Self Esteem Kicking Things Off

A brand-new chapter in London’s live music scene is set to begin this summer as British Airways ARC unveils its first wave of performers ahead of its official opening on 16th June.

Self Esteem @ Hammersmith Apollo

Self Esteem @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Located within the redeveloped Olympia London complex, the 3,800-capacity venue marks the first purpose-built space of its size to open in the capital in over a decade. Designed with a focus on both artist performance and audience experience, the venue promises cutting-edge sound and production within a wider cultural destination that blends music, dining and nightlife.

British Airways ARC

British Airways ARC (Dematerial Venues)

Leading the inaugural line-up is Self Esteem, who will perform two nights at the venue, including its opening show on 16th June. The performances follow a landmark few years for the artist, who has continued to establish herself as one of the UK’s most distinctive and compelling voices.

Joining the opening run are McFly, bringing their anthemic pop-rock catalogue to the new stage, and Zac Brown Band, whose genre-blending sound has earned them global acclaim.

Further into the year, the venue will host global R&B star Khalid, while a special collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival will see Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves present a tribute to jazz icon John Coltrane, marking the centenary of his birth.

The launch of British Airways ARC forms part of a wider £1.3 billion transformation of Olympia, which will also include a new theatre, hotels, restaurants and public spaces, positioning the area as a major cultural hub in the capital.

With a legacy that includes performances from artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, The Cure and The Chemical Brothers, the Olympia site has long been a cornerstone of London’s live music history. The opening of British Airways ARC aims to build on that heritage while ushering in a new era for mid-sized live events in the city.

Olympia

Olympia (Courtesy Of Olympia)

Tickets for the first shows go on sale from 27th March, with pre-sales available earlier in the week.

Opening shows at British Airways ARC:

JUNE
16th – Self Esteem (Opening Night)
17th – Self Esteem
18th – McFly
25th – Zac Brown Band

OCTOBER
24th Oct – Khalid

NOVEMBER
21st Nov – Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane

Self Esteem Brings Pop Mastery To Hammersmith

Metallica Double Up For A No Repeat Weekend At London Stadium

It’s the first weekend in July and The Metal has taken over Westfield Stratford. Friday evening shoppers mingle with sweaty black clad rockers, because Metallica have brought their No Repeat Weekend M72 tour to this corner of East London. Now into it’s fourth year, the final weekend of this tour will see the metal giants play two completely different sets over Friday and Sunday night at London Stadium — an immense treat for the diehards, and introducing some deeper cuts for the casuals, providing something for everyone.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Builds On Breakthrough Success With Intimate New Single ‘Track Team’

Rising singer-songwriter Sydney Rose has returned with her latest single, Track Team, continuing the remarkable momentum that has transformed the Georgia-born, Nashville-based artist into one of alternative pop’s fastest-rising new voices.

Duran Duran @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Sienna Lorraine Gray)

Duran Duran Crown A Sun-Soaked Day Of Pop Royalty At BST Hyde Park 2026

It was yet another warm, sunny London day, the start of the country’s next heatwave, as thousands descended on Hyde Park for the final day of the second BST Hyde Park weekend of 2026. There was another event looming over the evening too: England’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with Mexico, kicking off at the decidedly unsociable hour of 1am. Football could wait though. Sunday belonged to disco legends, glam-pop icons and one of Britain’s most enduring bands as Duran Duran headlined a day that effortlessly balanced nostalgia with timeless musicianship.

The Script Celebrate Friendship And Forgiveness On New Single ‘The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall’

The Script have shared the latest preview of their forthcoming album The User’s Guide To Being Human with the release of the uplifting new single The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall. Arriving ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated new album on 14th August, the track follows the anthemic lead single Man In The Arena and continues to showcase a record that promises to balance heartfelt storytelling with the arena-sized choruses that have become synonymous with The Script throughout their career.

Ferris & Sylvester Share Heartfelt New Single ‘Tiny Little Love’ Ahead Of New Album ‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’

British Americana duo Ferris & Sylvester have unveiled their deeply moving new single Tiny Little Love, the latest preview of their forthcoming album It’s A Joy To Be Alive, due for release on 14th August.

J KEYS Turns Up The Heat With Infectious New Dance Anthem ‘Red Flag’

Essex artist, producer and DJ J KEYS continues his upward trajectory with the release of his latest single, Red Flag, a high-energy club anthem that blends underground house influences with irresistible pop appeal.

Willie J Healey Announces New EP ‘143’ And Shares Warm-Hearted New Single ‘Ditch’

Oxford songwriter Willie J Healey has announced the release of his new EP 143, arriving on 4th September, alongside the release of its effortlessly charming lead single Ditch. The five-track collection follows the success of 2023’s acclaimed Bunny and arrives ahead of a run of UK festival appearances and intimate headline dates this autumn, further cementing Healey’s reputation as one of Britain’s most distinctive and quietly brilliant songwriters.

TV Priest Return With Ambitious New Album ‘Cartoons’ And Share Stirring Single ‘Love Song (A Good Kind Of Weapon)’

London post-punk innovators TV Priest have announced their long-awaited third studio album, Cartoons, due for release on 6th November. Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled the record’s lead single, Love Song (A Good Kind Of Weapon), a striking and unexpectedly tender statement that signals a bold new direction for one of Britain’s most adventurous alternative bands.