Top Music Picks for Autumn 2024

Pop, rap, folk, jazz and more

Andrew Tuttle and Michael Chapman

After Yorkshire guitarist Michael Chapman died in September 2021, his partner Andru found solace in the music of Brisbane banjo player Andrew Tuttle. The pair eventually met in Australia and Andru left Tuttle with some of Chapman’s final recordings, some of which Tuttle reworked. The result is Another Tide, Another Fish, an unusual collaboration of evocative, ambient marvels. Fans of William Tyler’s cosmic Americana will find a lot to love. Released 30 August.

Nala Sinephro

When the Belgian-Caribbean harp player released her debut album Space 1.8 for Warp in September 2021, it quickly became a balm during the uncertain times of the pandemic. Her return with Endlessness offers another transcendent and contemplative suite, featuring performances from Nubya Garcia, Sheila Maurice-Grey, and the 21-strong string ensemble Orchestrate. Released 6 September.

Wendy Eisenberg

The Brooklyn guitarist, known for being part of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet, has been quietly building a catalog of exploratory songwriting. Their new album Viewfinder is inspired by getting laser eye surgery after a lifetime of eye pain and coming to terms with newfound clarity. Released 13 September.

Sophie

When Scottish producer Sophie died in a tragic accident in 2021, she left behind “literally hundreds” of tracks, according to her brother and collaborator Ben Long. Details are scarce about her first posthumous self-titled album, completed by Long, but early previews featuring acts like Kim Petras suggest a pop-oriented direction. Released 27 September.

Alan Sparhawk

White Roses, My God is Sparhawk’s first solo album since the death of his wife and Low bandmate Mimi Parker. The album deviates from the band’s usual hymnals and staticky distortion, featuring vocoder-heavy vocals and production influenced by Neil Young’s Trans, Prince’s Camille, and Kim Gordon’s latter-day embrace of trap. Released 27 September.

Chat Pile

Oklahoma City noise-rockers Chat Pile made a striking debut with 2022’s God’s Country. Their follow-up, Cool World, is even more diverse and tuneful, expanding their thematic range to confront an entire planet’s worth of horrors. Released 11 October.

MC5

The revolutionary 1960s rock band MC5 are set to release their long-awaited third album Heavy Lifting, inspired by recent threats to American democracy. Tragically, the surviving members Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson passed away before its release. Released 18 October.

Kelly Lee Owens

The Welsh producer’s fourth album Dreamstate is her most euphoric and extroverted to date. Collaborators include George Daniel of the 1975, Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers, and Bicep. Released 18 October.

Lauryn Hill & Fugees

This all-star tour features Lauryn Hill and includes her son YG Marley. Despite initial setbacks, the talent and cross-genre fluidity of Hill and Fugees make this a not-to-be-missed event. Three-date UK tour begins 9 October at Cardiff Utilita Arena.

Snõõper

This Nashville punk rock quintet, known for their papier-mache stage props, are regarded as one of the best live bands in the US. They address the banalities of corporate existence with high energy. Six-date UK tour begins 2 September at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson’s Together Again tour aims to cement her claim as one of the greats. The tour features 39 songs spanning genres like pop, hip-hop, house, and ballads. Four-date UK tour begins 27 September at Birmingham Utilita Arena.

No Bounds festival

The Sheffield experimental festival returns, featuring an exhibition by Mark Fell and a rare lecture by 90-year-old FM synthesis pioneer John Chowning. Musical highlights include Rian Treanor and the Tara Clerkin Trio. 11-13 October, various Sheffield venues.

Bob Dylan

At 83, Bob Dylan remains a must-see performer. His tour focuses on material from his late-period masterpiece Rough and Rowdy Ways, but recent US dates have also included classics like Highway 61 Revisited. 10-date UK tour begins 1 November at Bournemouth International Centre.

Charli XCX

Charli XCX’s seventh album, Brat, has dominated the summer. This highly anticipated tour for the album promises to captivate audiences. Four-date UK tour begins 27 November at Co-Op Live, Manchester.

Playboi Carti

Atlanta MC Playboi Carti’s highly anticipated third album is still untitled. Known for his jazz-like, improvisatory flows and powerful bass, the album is eagerly awaited by his vast young fanbase. Release date TBC.

Classical music and opera

Albert Herring

Scottish Opera unveils its chamber staging of Britten’s comedy at the Lammermuir festival, updating it to the 1990s. William Cole conducts, Glen Cunningham stars as Albert, and Susan Bullock as Lady Billows. Corn Exchange, Haddington, 5 and 6 September; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 18 and 22 October; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 13 November.

Eugene Onegin

The Royal Opera and Ballet presents its first new production of the season, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Directed by Ted Huffman and conducted by Henrik Nánási, Gordon Bintner stars as Onegin, and Kristina Mkhitaryan as Tatyana. Royal Opera House, London, 24 September -14 October.

Kahchun Wong

Kahchun Wong begins his tenure as the Hallé Orchestra’s chief conductor with a Britten and Mahler program. The concert includes a new suite from Britten’s ballet The Prince of the Pagodas and Mahler’s First Symphony. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 26 September.

Actaeon and Pygmalion

A concert performance of French baroque operas Actaeon by Charpentier and Pygmalion by Rameau. Laurence Cummings conducts the Academy of Ancient Music, with sopranos Anna Dennis and Rachel Redmond, and mezzo Katie Bray. Milton Court, London, 9 October.

Yuja Wang and Vikingur Ólafsson

Two of today’s top classical pianists, Yuja Wang and Vikingur Ólafsson, perform a program for two pianos, featuring Schubert’s F minor Fantasia and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. Royal Festival Hall, London, 1 November.

Secret Kiss

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group presents the first performance of the English version of Péter Eötvös’ monodrama Secret Kiss. Narrated by Meg Kubota. Wigmore Hall, London, 26 November; CBSO Centre, Birmingham, 27 November.

Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place

Leonard Bernstein’s one-act operas Trouble in Tahiti and its sequel A Quiet Place are staged together. Conducted by Nicholas Chalmers, the cast includes Henry Neill and Wallis Giunta as the young Sam and Dinah, and Grant Doyle as the older Sam. Linbury Theatre, London, 10-24 October.

Mark Wigglesworth

Mark Wigglesworth debuts as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s chief conductor with a performance of Walton’s First Symphony, prefaced by Wagner’s Mastersingers prelude and Ravel’s Concerto for Piano Left Hand, featuring soloist Nicholas McCarthy. Lighthouse, Poole, 20 November; Beacon, Bristol, 21 November.

Huddersfield contemporary music festival

Britain’s leading new-music festival features composer-in-residence Lina Lapelytė, the Arditti Quartet’s 50th anniversary celebration, and UK premieres of works by Anna Cleare, Okkyung Lee, and Enno Poppe. Various venues, Huddersfield, 15-24 November.

From the Canyons to the Stars

Ludovic Morlot conducts a rare performance of Messiaen’s masterpiece From the Canyons to the Stars, featuring Steven Osborne on piano and Martin Owen on horn. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 12 December.

Source: Various