Kelis
It’s never too late to appreciate the debut smash by Kelis, Kaleidoscope, certified gold in the UK soon after its release in late 1999. Now the American singer has produced a 20th-anniversary issue, touring Europe to promote it and give hits Milkshake, Trick Me and others another airing.
Akvarium Klub. Tuesday, 3 March. Tickets here.
Papa Roach
Formed in Vacaville, California, Papa Roach have been bashing out their own brand of nu metal for the best part of 30 years, globetrotting and treading the boards. Now a classic four-piece fronted by band founder Jacoby Shaddix, PR are touring Europe and the States, promoting latest album Who Do You Trust? Support is provided by LA rap/rock band, Hollywood Undead.
Papp László Sportaréna. Wednesday, 4 March. Tickets here.
Carlos Santana
The Woodstock veteran, now seventy-something, claims to ‘feel like a 20 year old on stage’ when playing with his current band, featuring spouse Cindy Blackman Santana on drums. Such spirit and longevity, which also generated the acclaimed Africa Speaks album in 2019, allow the Latin legend to tour the furthest points of Europe this spring, from Dublin to Helsinki. ‘Miraculous 2020’ also celebrates the anniversary of two seminal Santana LPs, Supernatural and Abraxas.
Papp László Sportaréna. Thursday, 19 March. Tickets here.
Sebadoh
For Budapest’s indie fans, 21 March is a red-letter day, as Sebadoh, featuring the fabulously low-fi bass of Lou Barlow, come to Budapest for the first time. Revered in the early 1990s, Sebadoh went through all kinds of mutations before falling apart, then staging a reunion tour in 2008. A ninth studio album, Act Surprised, was released in 2019.
Akvarium Klub. Saturday, 21 March. Tickets here
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James Blunt
Hard to believe, but it’s 15 years since You’re Beautiful was seeping out of every radio station in Europe. By now, this former NATO peacekeeper is on his sixth studio album, Once Upon a Mind, which is brings him to Budapest, by way of three dozen other cities, on April Fool’s Day. Expect the old hits, 1973, Goodbye My Lover, Bonfire Heart…
Papp László Sportaréna. Wednesday, 1 April. Tickets here.
The Mission
The Mission won over Hungarian fans with their first concert in Budapest in the 1990s, not a bright item of clothing in the house. Goths young and old can now relive the grand old days of dark wave when this combo from Leeds return to give two shows on consecutive nights at the Dürer Kert. Diehard fans will want to see both nights, the first covering songs from odd-numbered albums, the second, even. After all this time, it must be said, who’s counting?
Dürer Kert. Thursday-Friday, 2-3 April. Tickets here.
Meute
A techno marching band? Well, they are from Hamburg after all… Meute translate electronica classics into the oompah sounds of the tuba, sax, drums and xylophone. As a party soundtrack, it can’t be beat. After 2017’s acclaimed debut Tumult, Meute have just released Puls, now being showcased to dancing crowds around Europe.
Akvárium Klub. Sunday, 19 April. Tickets here
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Tricky
Bristol’s troubled trip-hop guru Tricky returns to Budapest after summoning old demons during his Berlin sojourn to produce top-quality 13th studio album ununiform. Featuring vocals by his early muse Martina Topley-Bird, the work echoes the murky claustrophobia that shot Tricky to fame in the mid 1990s. Tricky is an artist who has been consistently following his own path, independently of trends or fashion, in a universe that’s always his own. Don’t miss.
A38 Ship. Sunday, 26 April. Tickets here.
The Subways
Thrashy UK three-piece The Subways have spent 15 years trying to recapture the magic of smash debut album Young For Eternity, which they are now playing in full, Rock & Roll Queen, Oh Yeah, 1am and all. There’s a major UK and European tour to promote an anniversary edition of their seminal work, allowing younger audiences to pick up on what they missed out on circa 2005.
Dürer Kert. Thursday, 28 May. Tickets here.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
With critics falling over themselves to praise recent release Ghosteen, now is a very good time to see Aussie music legend Nick Cave, who’s bringing his Bad Seeds to Budapest yet one more time. Rock and big stadiums are often unsatisfactory bedfellows, yet such is the intensity and passion of Cave’s extremely personal material that a memorable musical experience should be all but guaranteed.
Papp László Sportaréna. Tuesday, 2 June. Tickets here.
