About Contact
10th March 2010
A free weekly ezine featuring the best events in London

Subscribe to CQC


Hot links

Popular tags

Illustration by Julie Khan

Open wide

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

Upcoming

The Headmaster's Son

17th February 2009
More info >>

Judas Priest

21st February 2009
More info >>

Picasso: Challenging the Past

25th February 2009
More info >>

Saved

28th February 2009
More info >>

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 ap... read on

where:
Laure Genillard
2 Hanway Place
W1T 1HB
who:
William Furlong
when:
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
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, ... 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:
Medussa
302-404 Barrington Road
SW9 7JJ
who:
Pogo DJs, Dave Minns, 2 Bit Thugs + more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Electro, Techno/Minimal, Breaks, Dubstep
cost:
£8, £6 before 11pm

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 effect... 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:
Mike Wozniak, We Are Klang + more
when:
8.30pm
what:
Stand Up, Fringe
cost:
£5, £3 Concessions

Monday 26th

Loney, Dear

Loney, Dear hits all the right buttons with his beautifully crafted songs about love and despair and everyday anxiety. A one man band with nine members, Loney, Dear is the alter ego of multi-instrumentalist and DIY expert Emil Svanngen. The beautiful acoustics of St Giles will provide the perfect environment for Emil’s unique voice and personal ... read on

where:
St Giles in the Fields
60 St Giles High Street
WC2H 8LG
who:
Loney, Dear
when:
7pm
what:
Indie, Pop
cost:
£12
 

The Factory's Round 1

From The Factory, the innovative underground theatre troupe who brought us an incredible free-form Hamlet in 2008 (interview here) comes a brand new theatrical experiment pitching 16 writers, a gaggle of actors, a band and you, the audience into the creative mix to create a series of 10-minute plays. So far, sounds like a thespian rap battle with... read on

where:
Electricity Showroom
39a Hoxton Square
N1 6NY
who:

when:
7.30pm
what:
Youth, Performance Art
cost:
£10

Tuesday 27th

The Dice House

Based on the famous Luke Rhinehart novel The Dice Man, The Dice House, a comic play about patients surrendering their decision-making process to the roll of a die, comes to the Hen and Chickens Theatre for a two-week run. It was a sell-out hit during its West End run five years ago so this is a good chance to see it again in a small venue.  It's ... read on

where:
Hen and Chickens Theatre
109 St Paul's Road
N1 2NA
who:

when:
7pm
what:
Comedy
cost:
£11, £9 Concessions
 

Crystal Antlers

A slightly crazed bend of soul, psychedelia and Mars Volta style sonic experimentation, Long Beach's Crystal Antlers are a band whose music grabs you by the throat, shakes you really hard and leaves you wanting a sit down and a cup of tea to figure it all out. Tonight they're bringing the noise to the cowboy-esque décor of the Borderline, which w... read on

where:
The Borderline
Orange Yard
W1D 4JB

who:
Crystal Antlers, Banjo or Freakout
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£7

Wednesday 28th

Rummage

What's going on at Cafe Gallery Projects this month? God only knows, but at least it sounds like fun. The exhibition is called Rummage and features work across installation, video, sculpture, painting, performance, drawing and photography, by a whole host of contemporary artists including Charlie Fox and Sarah Reilly. There's something called U... read on

where:
Cafe Gallery Projects
Southwark Park
SE16 2UA
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Installation, Performance Art
cost:
Free
 

A View From The Bridge

Three Hollywood stars take to the stage at the Duke of York's for this revival of one of Arthur Miller's most famous plays. Wouldn't you know, it's also tremendously controversial and sexually charged, concerned as it is with the growing lust of a tough dock worker for an orphan who has been entrusted into the care of his wife. The incestuous th... read on

where:
Duke of York's Theatre
St Martin's Lane
WC2N 4BG

who:

when:
2.30pm
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £33 to £53
 

Friendship

With LA hogging the whole art-rock scene for the last 9 months, it seems right that British bands are finally getting a look in. A duo of beardy London kids, Friendship use the magic of loop peddles, drumkits and other such technical wizardry to sound like a more fun and chirpier version of Death From Above 1979. Tonight they're at 229 in the co... read on

where:
229 The Venue
229 Great Portland Street
W1W 5PN
who:
Friendship, Kids Love Lies
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£6

Thursday 29th

Hotel Medea

Forming the centre-piece of the Arcola's Brazilian season is this all-night trilogy based on the Medea myth and featuring nudity, graphic sex and violence, and custom soundscapes by DJ Dolores. Very Hoxton. Harrowing, trippy passages combine with comedy and passionate love in a heart-stopping mini-series. Roll up a little before midnight and lea... read on

where:
Arcola Theatre
27 Arcola Street
E8 2DJ
when:
11.45pm - 5.30am
what:
Melodrama
cost:
£23, £18 Concessions
 

Josh Howie

An ex-public schoolboy, raised as a Buddhist who then trained as a Rabbi before being kicked off the programme for being caught with a naked (non-Jewish) girl, Josh Howie performs his 2008 Fringe show at the Soho Theatre this weekend.  An elegantly put together set, Howie takes the audience through his bizarre upbringing and religious journeys ... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE
who:
Josh Howie
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £10 to £12

Friday 30th

Break The Habit

West London dubstep crew Antisocial Entertainment present Break The Habit: a night of soulful, experimental dubstep and hip hop. The trio behind tonight are producers Quest and Silkie plus Rinse FM DJ Henry G. All have gained a reputation for pushing dubstep in new directions and showcasing the deep, the different, the special. Tonight is a chance... read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB
who:
Bullion, Quest, Silkie
+ more
when:
10.30pm - 5am
what:
Dubstep, Hip Hop
cost:
£8
 

Dinosaur Pile Up

An excellent indie rock band that sounds not unlike a stripped down version of Pulled Apart by Horses, Dinosaur Pile Up is the lo-fi indie project of Mother Vulpine's Matt Bigland, who is based up in the indie pop capital of Leeds. Tonight see them bring their own particular brand of poppy fun to Club NME tonight, meaning that you finally have an e... read on

where:
KOKO
1a Camden High Street
NW1 7JE
who:
Dinosaur Pile Up
when:
9.30
what:
Indie
cost:
£5
 

Don't Techno Sh!t

It's techno, obviously, from the Noisy Neighbours crew. They come storming into 2009 with a twelve hour party (cripes), with none other than Kompakt's Maxime Dangles leading the pack and setting the pace. Birmingham's first lady of techno Rebekah (Criminal Records) is also playing - plus all your favourite DTS residents: Chris Stanford (Lost So... read on

where:
Bar 54
54 Commercial Street
E1 6LT
who:
Chris Stanford, Chrissy Maranello, Rebekah
+ more
when:
11pm - 11am
what:
Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10

Saturday 31st

Live at the Chapel

Live At The Chapel has been running on the first Saturday of the month since June 2007 when Simon Amstell, Russell Howard, Simon Munnery, and Steven K Amos put on a stonkingly good performance for its debut. The night is all about quality control, taking the best acts most comedy clubs have over the course of a year and putting them all togethe... read on

where:
Union Chapel
Compton Avenue
N1 2XD
who:
Arthur Smith, Pete Firman, Isy Suttie
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£15
 

Throats

There are some bands you watch. There are some bands you dance to, and there are bands like Throats that you hide from. Making a noise that sounds like you're watching Converge in crazy, messed up nightmare, these guys will seriously freak you out. Tonight they're playing a Holy Roar-sponsored show at the Old Blue Last alongside label-mates Bront... read on

where:
Old Blue Last
39 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3ES

who:
Throats, Brontide, Holy State
when:
8pm
what:
Punk, Metal
cost:
Free
 

Retro Sonics Launch Party

Brand new bi-monthly brought to you by Kid Fiesta of Bloom Fest fame. His aim is to fill the old skool house gap in the London club scene - he's already bagged some classic house pioneers from back in the day (including 808 State, Graeme Park and Altern8) as well as persuading two house legends to get involved: Terry Farley and Steve Proctor. The ... read on

where:
Rhythm Factory
16-18 Whitechapel Road
E1 1EW
who:
Kid Fiesta, Terry Farley, Steve Proctor
+ more
when:
11pm - 6am
what:
House
cost:
£8

Sunday 1st

Thomas Hylander

'In the end, there can be only one!' Oh wait, sorry, that's a different Highlander. The one we're talking about here is contemporary artist Thomas Hylander and he's exhibiting his muted semi-abstract paintings at Vilma Gold this month. His work is solemn and potentially a little dreary, but there's so much going on in terms of texture that these p... read on

where:
Vilma Gold
6 Minerva Street
E2 9EH
who:
Thomas Hylander
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Painting
cost:
Free
 

Bring Your Parents' Records

You've rifled through your folks' ancient stack of vinyl and picked out the choice numbers. Your next step is to drag the whole lot down to Bar Vinyl every first Sunday of the month to give them an airing and see if they still make people dance.

A winning concoction of raffles, free snacks, buckaroo and a hearty reliving of the glory days.  read on

where:
Bar Vinyl
6 Inverness Street
NW1 7HJ
when:
3pm
what:
Rock & Roll, Pop, Funk/Soul
cost:
Free
Previous issues: