Here is a rundown of some of the biggest sapphic artists we know you’re dying to see live
BY ELLA PORTEOUS, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
LGBTQIA women and non-binary people are taking over the UK music scene in the latter half of 2023, and we couldn’t be more excited. Concerts can provide such a magical safe place for the LGBTQIA community to let loose and belt out their favourite queer songs. Lots of amazing stars of the sapphic music scene have released albums this year and there are so many we are anxiously waiting to announce a UK tour (Joy Oladokun, Janelle Monáe, we’re looking at you). For now, here are some of the biggest sapphic music artists that will be touring later this year.
Fletcher
Up first we have Fletcher, who sold out her North American tour last autumn. We aren’t surprised, the album is a banger, and the set design looked stunning. We don’t currently know who is going to open for her, but Chappel Roan and VÉRITÉ joined her on the US tour, so we know it’s going to be someone very cool. The UK will finish the European leg of the Girl of My Dreams tour, starting at the Eventim Apollo in London on 1 November and finishing at the Manchester Academy on 9 November. You know we’ll be there belting out girls girls girls.
Boygenius
The boys are coming to the UK! After the release of The Record in March, boygenius headlined Coachella and embarked on their North American tour, which is taking them across 25 cities in the US and Canada. They will start their mini UK tour at Gunnersbury Park in London on 20 August, and this won’t be one to miss. They are bringing along the LGBTQIA icons MUNA and Ethal Cain as their UK special guests and we couldn’t be more excited. Will the UK get to witness boygenius sing Silk Chiffon with MUNA? We desperately hope so.
The Aces
Following their album release gig at The Camden Assembly in London last month, The Aces will be returning to the UK for their I’ve Loved You For So Long tour in August. They will be here for five nights, starting at the Whelans in Dublin, Ireland on 22 August, and ending at The Globe in Cardiff on 29 August. The album is LGBTQIA indie-rock perfection, exploring what it’s like to grow up gay in a small suburban town. If you haven’t given the album a listen yet, you need to.
The Japanese House
The Japanese House released their sophomore album at the end of last month, and the dreamy indie pop vibes have been the perfect companion on these cloudy summer days. This album is truly for the sapphics; from a collaboration with MUNA on Morning Pages to Boyhood and its exploration of queerness. Their headline tour arrives at the SWG3 in Glasgow on 12 October, ending at CHALK in Brighton on 24 October. After giving a sneak peek of the tour during their Finsbury Park set at the beginning of the month, we know it’s going to be magical.
Reneé Rapp
We are finishing up the list with our favourite singer from The Sex Lives Of College Girls. Although Reneé isn’t coming until the beginning of next year, we wanted to include her on the list because we cannot wait for the release of her debut album next month. Earlier this year she embarked on her first-ever tour, bringing her to the UK for just one night at the O2 Forum Kentish Town which she sold out within minutes. The Snow Hard Feelings tour begins in the UK on 23 February 2024 at the Apollo in Manchester and will take her to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and Dublin, Ireland.
We can’t wait for all the content these tours will bring, and if you’re going to any, we hope you have the best queer time!
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