Updated August 31, 2016

As Summer Sixteen is almost at a close, the festival season continues. Aside from the atmosphere, sunshine and shimmering bodies, the best part about festivals are the new artists you discover. You might be dragged along by a friend in the know, or quite literally stumble across them as you wander, but either way, it’s inevitable that you will return with a new favorite act.

This year a few of the UK’s finest MCs and producers are making their way State-side. Swindle is touring in September (funky-grime producer), Lady Leshurr will be in NYC in October, whilst Stormzy embarks on his first North American tour, covering both coasts and Toronto.

SWINDLE: https://www.songkick.com/artists/521684-swindle

8TH SEPTEMBER: GRASSHOPPER UNDERGROUND, FERNDALE, MI

9TH SEPTEMBER: SLAKE, NEW YORK, NY

13TH SEPTEMBER: CERVANTES’ OTHER SIDE, DENVER, CO

14 SEPTEMBER: MOTIV, SANTA CRUZ, CA

15TH SEPTEMBER: THE ECHO, LOS ANGELES, CA

17TH SEPTEMBER: BLOOM NIGHTCLUB, NELSON, BC

https://soundcloud.com/swindleuk

LADY LESHURR: https://www.songkick.com/artists/3356691-lady-leshurr

1ST OCTOBER – ROOTS PICNIC, BRYANT PARK, NY

https://soundcloud.com/ladyleshurr

STORMZY: https://www.songkick.com/artists/8339588-stormzy

14TH OCOTBER: EL REY THEATRE, LOS ANGELES, CA
15th-16th OCTOBER: TREASURE ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
18TH OCTOBER: WONDER BALLROOM, PORTLAND, OR

20TH OCTOBER: THE CROCODILE, SEATTLE, WA
22ND OCTOBER: DANFORTH MUSIC HALL, TORONTO, ON

24TH OCTOBER: MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN, NY

25TH OCTOBER: THE BOWERY BALLROOM, NEW YORK, NY

27th OCTOBER: THE MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS, CAMBRIDGE, MA

28th OCTOBER: ROCK & ROLL HOTEL, WASHINGTON, DC

29th OCTOBER: UNION TRANSFER, PHILADELPHIA, PA

12th-13th NOVEMBER: CAMP FLOG GNAW CARNIVAL 2016, EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES, CA

https://www.youtube.com/user/StormzyTV

Maybe we’ve hooked your interest but you’re not sure what to expect? Don’t be embarrassed, just know that at UHH, we’re all about bringing you the best possible live music experiences. If you’ve seen Travi$ Scott or the likes perform, you might have been in a mosh pit or two. But experiencing grime live takes guts, energy and trainers you don’t mind losing. N.B. This advice especially applies to a Stormzy gig…

• Clothes

Wear anything you like, just don’t actually like it too much. A black tee and jeans should do it, with a pair of trainers you wouldn’t mind chucking the next day. And girls – no earrings, necklaces or loose hair. Just keep it low key, this is no place for a crisp white shirt.

• Pre-game

Once you’re in the midst of it, you won’t be able to take a quick trip to the bar for a gin and juice. Whatever your drink of choice, just make sure it gives you energy – this is no place for feeling bloated or lethargic. It’s equally important to not overdo it; you need to be in control of your body otherwise everyone around you will control it for you.

• Warm-up act

Inevitably there will be a warm-up act of some kind. Use it. Get that body loose and those knees ready to jump a hella lot. Get to know the people around you because you’ll be getting intimate with their armpits and elbows later.

• The Headliner

To be honest, anything we write here should exit your mind when the headliner performs. If it doesn’t, you’re not giving yourself up to grime. But just in case you dedicate it to memory, the only thing to remember is to go with it. Let yourself get lost in the lyricism, the heavy beats and the crowd. Feed off the artist’s energy; they will be giving a raw and relentless performance that deserves your full attention. Put your phone away, no video or photo will do it justice. Most importantly, getting involved in the most pit is central to the full grime experience – you wouldn’t have really done the whole thing without it.

• The Aftermath

Wake up. Throw out trainers. Find the next time you get to feel like that again.

We’ll keep you updated with any more grime acts performing in the US, so don’t worry if you can’t make it to these shows – there most certainly will be more.

AUGUST 1, 2016

(Photo above) Stormzy in BK. Photo: Nicole Fara Silver, Live Nation TV

As Summer Sixteen is well underway, so is the festival season. Aside from the atmosphere, sunshine and shimmering bodies, the best part about festivals are the new artists you discover. You might be dragged along by a friend in the know, or quite literally stumble across them as you wander, but either way, it’s inevitable that you will return with a new favorite act.

This year a few of the UK’s finest MCs are making their way State-side. Lady Leshurr and Stormzy will be here in October, whilst Little Simz is performing this week on her own tour, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons:

LITTLE SIMZ: 1st AUGUST - MAJESTIC VENTURA THEATER, VENTURA, CA

• 2nd AUGUST – LIVEWIRE, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
• 3RD AUGUST – HOUSE OF BLUES, SAN DIEGO, CA (WITH ANDERSON PAAK AND POMO)

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LADY LESHURR: 1ST OCTOBER – ROOTS PICNIC, NYC

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STORMZY: 15th-16th OCTOBER, TREASURE ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Maybe we’ve hooked your interest but you’re not sure what to expect? Don’t be embarrassed, just know that at UHH, we’re all about bringing you the best possible live music experiences. If you’ve seen Travi$ Scott or the likes perform, you might have been in a mosh pit or two. But experiencing grime live takes guts, energy and trainers you don’t mind losing. N.B. This advice especially applies to a Stormzy gig…

Clothes

Wear anything you like, just don’t actually like it too much. A black tee and jeans should do it, with a pair of trainers you wouldn’t mind chucking the next day. And girls – no earrings, necklaces or loose hair. Just keep it low key, this is no place for a crisp white shirt.

Pre-game

Once you’re in the midst of it, you won’t be able to take a quick trip to the bar for a gin and juice. Whatever your drink of choice, just make sure it gives you energy – this is no place for feeling bloated or lethargic. It’s equally important to not overdo it; you need to be in control of your body otherwise everyone around you will control it for you.

Warm-up act

Inevitably there will be a warm-up act of some kind. Use it. Get that body loose and those knees ready to jump a hella lot. Get to know the people around you because you’ll be getting intimate with their armpits and elbows later.

The Headliner

To be honest, anything we write here should exit your mind when the headliner performs. If it doesn’t, you’re not giving yourself up to grime. But just in case you dedicate it to memory, the only thing to remember is to go with it. Let yourself get lost in the lyricism, the heavy beats and the crowd. Feed off the artist’s energy; they will be giving a raw and relentless performance that deserves your full attention. Put your phone away, no video or photo will do it justice. Most importantly, getting involved in the most pit is central to the full grime experience – you wouldn’t have really done the whole thing without it.

The Aftermath

Wake up. Throw out trainers. Find the next time you get to feel like that again.

We’ll keep you updated with any more grime acts performing in the US, so don’t worry if you can’t make it to these shows – there most certainly will be more.