Flower Power

Well this sounds like an odd one. Who could be behind it? Why, it's contemporary curator Katie Guggenheim. We might have known...

Seven artists have selected seven films to be screened over the course of a week at Martin Creed's old flat on Brick Lane.

And the twist? Each film is screened with the visuals and the audio soundtrack in two separate rooms. An unusual experience certainly, and probably pretty cool too.

Forming from the break up of Mike Patton's first band, Faith No More, Fantômas pioneered in almost every way possible, from making cartoon music to producing one epic seventy minute noise rock track.

The band are at the Astoria tonight to run through their awesome album 'The Director's Cut', whose mix of experimental rock and film music broke new ground when it was released 7 years ago.

Canadian 4-piece Ten Kens take a break from supporting A Place To Bury Strangers for this show at the Metro Club.

Following in the footsteps of Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, Ten Kens are a foursome without a single Ken among them, whose self-titled début is heavy psych-rock for those of a crepuscular calling.

One man shows are nearly always good. There's something about getting up on stage alone that discourages people with crap material. However, of the various talents to have lit up the London scene over the years, only R. M. Lloyd Parry is genuinely terrifying.

It's not that he's a threatening man. Far from it, he's a charming, academic presence with an infectious enthusiasm for the otherworldly, ghosts and literature. But the chilling tales he tells, and his apparent onstage possession by the writer M R James, will send genuine shivers down your spine. There's also humour aplenty as he uses hankies to represent ghouls, but the laughter only draws you tighter into the story.

This production features two stories by James, Oh, Whistle and I'll Come To You, My Lad, and is definitely recommended for anyone who relishes tales of the unexpected.

Who could resist this sentence? 'A caricature sausage is captured in the ecstatic death-throes of its ritual sacrifice'. Weird, huh?

Well it comes from the press spiel for Nicky Deeley's latest show at Seventeen Gallery. Sounds strange, and her work is strange, but it's also beautiful, fascinating and must take bloody ages!

She makes odd-looking sculptures of dead animals - creatures composed of varying degrees of imagination and reality. From these decomposing bodies sprouts unusual multi-coloured foliage. A whole manner of materials are incorporated, including plaster, fabric, aluminium, vinyl, steel, flock, rubber, wood and enamel.

Genuinely amazing work.

Join 'Sheffield's finest comedy synthesizer-player and twaddle-talker' in a celebration of all things strange and mythological, which may well include Father Christmas himself.

Expect a clutch of hilarious new songs performed on John's Yamaha organ, as well as the classics - Pigeons in Flight, I Can't Go Back to Savoury Now, Eggs and Gammon and Two Margarines.

Plus... a sneak preview of John's new feature film, Southern Softies.

Philip Pullman is an extraordinary writer because although he pitches his stories at children, he gives them credit for a great deal of intelligence, and for imaginative powers beyond those of boring old adults. For this reason a show like this is a real treat for parents to take their kids to, as it not only entertains, but positively expands your mind. Plus, the kids will absolutely love it.

While Jacktakes cover from a rainstorm, he sees a scarecrow hit by lightning and suddenly brought to life. the two team up for a series of hilarious and parilous adventures, with plenty of brialliant songs and comic set pieces along the way.

One of the best and brightest Christmas shows in London this season.

Adrian Berry, who wrote and directed 2006's acclaimed Beauty and the Beast at Jackson's Lane, returns with another slice of alternative Christmas magic. His take on the festive Dickens classic is sure to surprise and delight in equal measure.

Jackson's Lane has a proud history of innovation and physical theatre, and these Christmas shows, while suitable for all the family, are never conventional. Blending live action, music, puppetry and multimedia effects, this show updates the Dickensian story and casts Ebenezer Scrooge as a time traveling anti-hero in modern day norf London.

Unconventional, exciting and funny, these Jacko pantos are a treat for family outings if your kids can cope with the unexpected, and you don't feel like a traditional Christmas show.

The lush soundscapes of Nightmares On Wax (appropriately titled Smoker's Delight) filled every stoner's bedroom back in the day.

Nightmares On Wax is George Evelyn - otherwise known as DJ EASE (Electronic Sample Expert). His early dark trip hop and electronica was always embedded with latent soul but it took the addition of a band to draw it out.

Tonight they play live with the whole shebbang, showcasing material from their latest project - which was inspired (and recorded) on an overland trip from the UK to Ibiza.

Ray Peacock (a character from Ian Boldsworth) is joined by his friends Ed Gamble and Raji James in a live performance of their usual home broadcast. They talk, fight, argue, and occasionally take their clothes off.

This charts a similar course taken by other successful podcasters Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand, with the Karl Pilkington/Trevor Lock role as the target of abuse taken on by ex-Eastender Raji. James is regularly referred to as 'Raji James, who ruined EastEnders' referring to his stint on the soap, cut short when he and the rest of his characters family left the square all at the same time.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is the special guest at Ghost School tonight, and in celebration they've managed to cobble together an incredible transatlantic line-up.

The Vivian Girls hail from NYC and make Lo-Fi retro pop seem like the most amazing made up musical genre ever. Chew Lips on the other hand have just signed to One Little Indian and sound like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs crossed with The Faint.

Gouranga are 3 years into the game of throwing delicious parties in both Leeds and London. Tonight they have stepped up their game by combining chief wrong 'un Mr NastyDirty Tim Sheridan and London's latest and most exciting venue - the Lightbox in Vauxhall.

The Lightbox walls are coated in tens of thousands of LEDs. The effect is as if you are dancing inside a glittering diamond, or surrounded by stars.

Expect swerving minimal, star-spangled debauchery, techno, breaks, electro house and Veryverywrongindeed's renegade acid house spirit in spades.

It's Christmas time at decima! (As indeed it is elsewhere across London.)

To celebrate the gallery is putting on a nativity play, which, knowing them, is likely to be a singularly unusual affair. Expect the decima dogs to be out in force.

In addition, they're holding a Christmas editions art fair, selling all manner of art and books by a host of talent from Wick and elsewhere.

A great opportunity to pick up works by the likes of Gavin Turk, Gilbert & George, Stephen Gill and others: perfect gifts for that arty friend of yours...

A discerning knees up for lovers of intelligent house music, modern soul and disco at the surreal, inviting Visions Video Bar. This is a new residency and each of their parties has a corking line-up and a license to 6am.

Expect best-quality house music, niche, bassline, deep disco and as the night wears on, plenty of progressive sounds for that nice 'where am I again?' buzz.

Tonight Discolexia creators Steven Tripp and Tubbs (otherwise known as Atlantic Conveyor) headline, with Japanese producer Free disco flying the flag for Electric Minds.

Soundcrash lead by example yet again. Virus Syndicate are one of the stars of Mike Paradinas' imprint Planet Mu. They deal in a fusion of hip hop, dubstep and electronica.

And fortunately hip hop grandmaster DJ Vadim is fully recoverd from his cancer op and back in the ring as it were.

Anchorsong returns to Soundcrash tonight - the Japanese creator of beautiful phonic soundscapes.

Oh My Days. Frantic and Twist throw their last party ever at the wonderful haven of dance in East Central Street.

Yep, this really is the last ever hard dance event at The End, and to make sure it's absolutely unforgettable, Frantic and Twist have gathered their residents to sling everything at the dancefloor on one of the finest set ups London has ever seen.

It's a feast of beats and will sell out like hot cross buns so get those tickets ASAP!

Cal McCrystal, longtime Mighty Boosh and Sacha Baron Cohen collaborator, directs a surreal festive offering about a love affair between a man and his bird, with a huge cast of Islington comedy favourites.

Downright peculiar shows are a Christmas staple at this well-loved pub theatre. Experiences may vary but it's a beautiful spot for a drink, and laughter is infectious.

It's not in 93 Feet East's nature to have a quiet New Years Eve and in time honoured tradition they're having a typically mind destroying party to celebrate our entry into 2008.

With DJ sets from Friendly Fires and ex-Specials singer Terry Hall, this is going to be incredible.

Viva Circo Loco! Since moving to The End they have been responsible for some of the most loco parties this side of the White Isle.

And after a solid week of last of's, with every promoter ever to be graced by The End coming out of the woodwork to throw their final bash, it is only right to save the best till last.

Circo Loco's last ever party at The End, on the first day of the new year. That is going to go skyhigh.

Most of the finest DJs ever to have played Circo Loco will be there tonight.

You really should go.

It's big AND it's clever. Fables, facts and funnies about our favourite four-letter friends.

This show went down incredibly well at Edinburgh this year and won the 'Three Weeks Editors' Award' for Top 10 Edinburgh Fringe Experiences.

Ever found yourself wondering about the evolution of the writing desk in twentieth century design? Yeah, us too. But no more, because, for their first exhibition of 2009, Sebastian + Barquet are holding an exhibition that explains it all.

There's designs from 1940 to 1985 by, among others, Jean Prouvé and George Nakashima. 8 Desks huh? That sure is a lot of desks.

A brutal thriller from the moments when Stalin's leadership of the Soviet Union descended into the Great Terror. Adapted by Peter Flannery from a screenplay by Nikita Mikhalkov and Rustam Ibragimbekov, this is a story of vindictive blackmail to make the blood run cold.

Colonel Kotov, a decorated revolutionary hero, is on holiday with his family when his wife's former lover appears, hellbent on destructive revenge. He has wormed his way into Party confidence and proposes a diabolical deal. The Colonel must confess to treachery against Stalin in order to save the lives of his family.