MIKE

MIKE plays the Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Thursday 3 September, with doors opening at 19:00. He's a US rapper who first made his mark in New York City's underground hip-hop circles as part of the sLUms collective. Since then, he's become known for a calm delivery and measured questioning that carry a quiet wisdom — he's often described as a quintessential old soul.

Much of the talk around him lately centres on POMPEII // UTILITY, the collaborative album he recorded with rapper and friend Earl Sweatshirt. It's a long one, 33 tracks produced by the post-pandemic supercollective SURF GANG, and it took several years to come together. The project draws on their early collaborations, the stages they've shared, and a mutual admiration that goes back a fair way. It takes its title and conceptual framework from the eruption of Pompeii, with themes of building and destruction running through it. The whole thing got moving when SURF GANG's Harrison sent over beats that both artists recorded over a month or two.

It's a night for ages 14 and over, and under-16s have to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £35, with Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival members saving £2. Doors open at 19:00, and the show starts at 19:00 too, so you'll want to be in your seat on time.