Colombo in September: six nights worth booking

September is the busiest month Colombo has had in a while, and it front-loads. The first Saturday alone has two large shows on opposite sides of the city, which means traffic on Sri Jayawardenepura Mawatha and around Green Path from late afternoon. Book early and leave earlier than feels necessary.

Saturday 5 September carries the weight. The Beheth Concert takes over the Lotus Tower from the morning, and YUGATHRA plays Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksha Theatre the same evening. Two very different crowds, one Saturday. If you are choosing, the Nelum Pokuna show is the one that will not repeat.

A week later, on Saturday 12 September, වරෙන් හීන් සැරේ is at the Lionel Wendt. The Wendt seats fewer people than it looks like it should, and its shows sell out through word of mouth rather than advertising, so treat an unsold seat on the Monday before as unusual rather than as availability.

Saturday 19 September belongs to Port City, where Guy J plays all night. Port City events run late and the site is exposed, so bring less than you think you need and plan how you are getting home before you go.

The following evening, Sunday 20 September, the Gustav Mahler Orchestra of Colombo performs Beethoven's Eighth at the Lionel Wendt at 7pm. The Eighth is the short, funny one — under half an hour, and the least ceremonial of the nine. It is a good first classical concert if you have been meaning to go to one.

The month closes on Sunday 27 September with the Mega Shopping Festival at Hotel Sapphire from 10am.

A note on timings: listings for Colombo events move, and start times published weeks out are frequently corrected in the last few days. Every event above is on our events page with its source listing — check that listing on the day rather than trusting a screenshot from a fortnight ago.