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4th September 2010
A free weekly ezine featuring the best events in London

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Cultural Quality Control: a free, weekly ezine featuring the best gigs, theatre,art, clubbing and comedy in London.

Upcoming

New Players Comedy Sundae

8th February 2009
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Lot49

14th February 2009
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Late of the Pier

17th February 2009
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The Russian Linesman

18th February 2009
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Friday 16th

Not Waving But Drowning

Three new works by Alastair Mackie ensure 2009 gets off to a good start at the David Roberts Art Foundation.

There's a piece incorporating a '30s taxidermy display case, a wooden loom that weaves mouse hair, and a dolls' house made out of the wood pulp from 262 abandoned wasp nests. Sounds intriguing. read on

where:
David Roberts Art Foundation
111 Great Titchfield Street
W1W 6RY
who:
Alastair Mackie
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Sculpture
cost:
Free
 

French Revolution IX

The place to be right now is France! Musically it is spawning the very best of the new up-and-coming punk, rock, indie, dance and new wave bands and DJs. Combined, these artists are rapidly engendering an exciting and innovative music scene. Tonight's headliners are Poni Hoax, five French music nerds who party like only French music nerds can: a read on

where:
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
E1 6RU
who:
Nelson, Poni Hoax + more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Electro
cost:
Free
 

Udio

The eclectic Udio night returns with an extra special January edition. Tonight the one and only Greg Wilson - encyclopedia discoteca - headlines. The Udio policy is to book names on their musical merit rather than household ubiquity - a method that has proved a storming success so far. Expect a cosmic mix of disco, funk, techno, hip-hop and more read on

where:
Gramaphone
60-62 Commercial Street
E1 6LT
who:
Greg Wilson, Earfworm Jim
when:
10pm - 3.30am
what:
Disco, Hip Hop, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£7

Saturday 17th

New Act of the Year

Since it first began in 1981, the annual Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition has been widely recognised as one of the best out there for discovering new comedy.  Some of the nation's finest and wittiest have been in the finals of this competition including Russell Brand, Joe Wilkinson, David Baddiel, Matt Lucas, Alan Davies, Ardal O'H read on

where:
Hackney Empire
291 Mare Street
E8 1EJ
who:
Arthur Smith, Craig Murray, Moonfish Rhumba + more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£13
 

Ice Cold Lovers

Schtumm - Brighton's legendary warehouse party - have been spreading the love London's way every third Saturday down at the high church of electro mash-up-chaos that is 333. Tonight promoter Neal Lewis spins his italo-electro goodness, plus Pete Herbert (Reverso 68) gives you a Balearic bubble bath and Rekids' Toby Tobias shuffles his cosmic funk. ... read on

where:
333
333 Old Street
EC1V 9LE
who:
Pete Herbert, Toby Tobias, Klose One + more
when:
10pm - 4am
what:
Electro, Disco
cost:
From £5 to £11
 

Bugged Out!

Bugged Out! is one of those parties that's maintained its stupendously good reputation over the 12 years its been running. Their formula is simple. Book the very best. Always a couple of steps ahead of the game, they've got a knack for booking people just before they explode: Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk are just a two of the acts who played B read on

where:
The End
18 West Central Street
WC1A 1JJ
who:
Justice, Erol Alkan, Severino + more
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal, Disco, Electro
cost:
£18

Sunday 18th

Transporter

A large-scale video installation this month in the basement project space at V22. Yael Schmidt presents multiple projections, each one displaying figures in a variety of - usually private - activities: sleeping, thinking, bathing. A Taylor Wood or Emin-esque exploration of the often uneasy relationship between the public and the private, this is ... read on

where:
V22
10-16 Ashwin Street
E8 3DL
who:
Yael Schmidt
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Video, Installation
cost:
Free
 

Captain Oates' Left Sock

A first London revival for nearly forty years of John Antrobus' therapy comedy. Originally staged at the Royal Court in 1969 (and starring Stephen Rea) this savagely funny but ultimately compassionate piece is surprisingly modern in its attitude. While therapy, patients and therapists are all satirised, the play supports the idea of healing th read on

where:
Finborough Theatre
Finborough Arms
SW10 9ED
when:
3pm
what:
Comedy
cost:
£13, £9 Concessions

Monday 19th

2009 Gala Comedy Night

Comedy Store nights are not the cheapest in the world but they are always a safe bet and for £18 this will be well worth it - loads of excellent comics and all for a good cause too. Political comedian Kevin Day and legendary grouch Arthur Smith are hosting the night, plus there will be stand-up sets from other leading comics like Terry Alderton, M... read on

where:
Comedy Store
1a Oxendon Street
SW1Y 4EE
who:
Sean Lock, Arthur Smith, Russell Howard
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£18
 

Still Flyin'

Phew! Just when we were thinking that January was going to be all miserable singer-songwriters and indie bands, this Californian ray of sunshine has landed to cheer us up with their incredibly infectious reggae pop. Sounding like a combination of Architecture in Helsinki and the Polyphonic Spree, Still Flyin' are possibly the happiest band eve... read on

where:
Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
2 Hoxton Square
N1 6NU
who:
Still Flyin', We Have Band, Stricken City
when:
8pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£6

Tuesday 20th

Schaal & Braunohler

If you've seen the comedy series Flight of the Conchords (and if you haven't you really should - it's amazing) you will recognise Kristen Schaal as the creepy obsessed fan Mel. Here she teams up with Kurt Braunohler to perform their Fringe hit play Double Down Hearts.  This show was nominated for the if.comedy award and combines scenes from their w... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE
who:
Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler
when:
9.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £10 to £17.50
 

Videopia

Videopia is a music and movie night which basically nicks the idea from Be Kind Rewind. They will screen any 'sweded' Hollywood movies submitted by folks who feel inclined. The basic idea is a 5 minute version of a famous film - inspired. On the night they'll be remaking the '80s classic Back To The Future live and will be seizing unassuming clubb... read on

where:
Notting Hill Arts Club
21 Notting Hill Gate
W11 3JQ
who:
Nic Nell, Django Django, The Woolworths
+ more
when:
6pm - 2am
what:
Indie, Hip Hop, Electro
cost:
£5

Wednesday 21st

It's The Economy Stupid!

For four dates over the next two months, comedian and activist Mark Thomas will attempt to answer some of the more pressing questions about the state we are in. Is Britain the new Iceland? If we own a couple of banks can we lend ourselves money and use their phones to call Australia? And what is a 'derivative' and is it possible to use the word wi... read on

where:
Hen and Chickens Theatre
109 St Paul's Road
N1 2NA
who:
Mark Thomas
when:
9.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£8
 

The Pan I Am

Been wondering what Edward Larrikin has been up to since Larrikin Love split up? Well since July 2007 he's been working on a new solo project called The Pan I Am, a typically weird sound clash of art rock, minimal drone, and whispered vocals. Playing the Victorian splendour of Hoxton Hall tonight alongside arty electronica act Stereo Art, we reco... read on

where:
Hoxton Hall
130 Hoxton Street
N1 6SH
who:
The Pan I Am, Stereo Art
when:
7pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£8

Thursday 22nd

Be Near Me

How timely can you get? Just as Pope Benedict XVI issues a statement against homosexuality in the Catholic Church, simultaneously proving himself as dotty and out of touch as every previous incumbent and rubbing up about a quarter of his staff the wrong way, the Donmar comes out with a sharp, touching story about a priest who's been gay for thirty ... read on

where:
Donmar Warehouse
41 Earlham Street
WC2H 9LX
who:

when:
7.30pm
what:
Tragedy, Melodrama
cost:
From £15 to £29
 

Gum Takes Tooth

Sounding like a cosmic space-battle between XBXRX and a copy Duck Hunt on the NES, insano noise act Gum Takes Tooth are mental, but in a kid-with-too-much sugar sort of way. Tonight they're at Barden's, heading up a pretty amazing line up of similarly weird and wonderful thrash acts. The guys you need to make sure you check out are Dethscalator - t... read on

where:
Barden's Boudoir
38-44 Stoke Newington Road
N16 7XJ
who:
Gum Takes Tooth, Dethscalator, Scul Hazzards
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£3

Friday 23rd

William Furlong

Four sound frames and four graphic works are all that make up this intriguingly sparse exhibition at Laure Genillard. The artist responsible is William Furlong and he's been working in sound - specifically, the recorded voice - since the early '70s. For this exhibition, entitled 'Possibility and Impossibility of Fixed Meaning', Furlong presents appare... read on

where:
Laure Genillard
2 Hanway Place
W1T 1HB
who:
William Furlong
when:
2pm - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Installation
cost:
Free
 

Spring Awakening

Another coup for the Lyric as they secure the UK premiere of this unlikely Broadway smash about adolescent boys in a German boarding school. And we do mean unlikely. There's a singularity of vision about this show, which takes a scandalous 19th century play about wanking, taking drugs and trying to have sex with everybody, and gives it a rock n... read on

where:
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
King Street
W6 0QL
who:

when:
7.30pm
what:
Musicals
cost:
From £10 to £30
 

Mixed Meat Grill Special

Tempting you to attend by talking about grilled meats may seem like a pretty transparent attempt. But when you consider that lightning fingered turntable alchemist Mr Thing is playing at the Super January Mixed Meat Grill Special, plus wonderful Tru Thoughts producer T M Juke, then the grilled meat kind of pales into insignificance. To clarify, ther... read on

where:
333
333 Old Street
EC1V 9LE
who:
Mr Thing, Session
+ more
when:
10pm - 4am
what:
Hip Hop, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10, £5 before 11pm

Saturday 24th

Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra

Taking leave from Robin Ince's fantastic 'Nine Lessons and Carols' show at the Apollo last month, the Fix Magazine have recruited Tim Minchin and Martin White's Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra for their musical comedy gig coming up at the 100 Club. Last year's if.comedy nominees Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler will also be there performing their... read on

where:
100 Club
100 Oxford Street
W1D 1LL
who:
Tim Minchin, Brian Gittins
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Music
cost:
£12
 

Fox Cubs

Being tipped for the top by pretty much everybody across the music industry, the Fox Cubs are noisecore party boys par excellence. Last year alone they were hand-picked by Steve Lamacq to headline his stage at the Camden Crawl, they played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, played the Electric Proms, were made one of ... read on

where:
The Lexington
66-68 Pentonvillle Road
N1 9HS
who:
Fox Cubs, Phantom, The New Devices
when:
8pm
what:
Indie
cost:
From £3 to £6
 

Your Mum

Your Mum brings the beats and basslines back to Brixton with an all-encompassing line-up that spans many a filthy pigeon-hole. One thing unites these artists: BASS. Be it dirty, cheeky, wobbly or fidgety, these guys dish it out in spades. First up is the glitchy, crunky 2 Bit Thugs with their trademark 'gangster house'. Milena brings her eclectic... read on

where:
The Brixton Telegraph
228 Brixton Hill
SW2 1HE
who:
Pogo DJs, Dave Minns, 2 Bit Thugs
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Electro, House, Techno/Minimal, Breaks, Dubstep
cost:
£8, £6 before 11

Sunday 25th

Full Stop

And now it comes to a Full Stop. This strange multi-part project, exploring notions of the sequential and ideas about causality climaxes today. And today it finally receives its title. This four-part exhibition kicked off in December with some drawings displayed on a wooden support and accompanied by a Bedini machine, some kind of mid-'90s effects enh... read on

where:
FormContent
51-63 Ridley Road
E8 2NP
who:
Steven Claydon, Nick Laessing
+ more
when:
12am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Performance Art, Installation
cost:
Free
 

Sunday Special

Even if you're not local, the Sunday Special is worth travelling down to Greenwich for. A brilliant music, cabaret and comedy night with a cult following, it attracts some top drawer comedians and has a more laid-back feel than the Friday and Saturday gigs.  There is a also a house jazz band and a 'lucky dip' open spot for anyone wanting to try t... read on

where:
Up The Creek
302 Creek Road
SE10 9SW
who:
Andrew Maxwell, Mike Wozniak, We Are Klang
+ more
when:
8.30pm
what:
Stand Up, Fringe
cost:
£5, £3 Concessions
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