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11th March 2010
A free weekly ezine featuring the best events in London

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Illustration by Julie Khan

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

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Knock2Bag

18th February 2009
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Gang Gang Dance

26th February 2009
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Planatacia x Abstractica

27th February 2009
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Scenario

7th March 2009
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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
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:
9.30pm
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 + 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
 

Alternative Press Fair

Roll up, roll up! Gather all ye fans of comics, zines and off-key literature, for the annual Alternative Press Fair is convened once again at the St Aloysius Social Club in King's Cross. Spoonfed is a big fan of this stuff, having done a few comics in our youth and still harbouring long term ambitions to go back to the drawing board. This is a ... read on

where:
St Aloysius Social Club
20 Phoenix Road
NW1 1TA
when:
12pm - late
what:
Drawing, Design, Printing
cost:
Free

Monday 2nd

Muarena Helena

An inventive bunch of kids from Hackney, Muarena Helena make a weird and wonderful sounding dream pop stew, that is somewhere between Ariel's Pink Graffiti, The Arcade Fire and Lou Reed.

Playing the Bull and Gate tonight, we'd recommend checking this lot out, they really are a bit of a hidden gem. read on

where:
Bull and Gate
389 Kentish Town Road
NW5 2TJ
who:
Muarena Helena, Working Girls, James Berrynman
when:
7pm
what:
Indie, Pop
cost:
£5
 

Michael McIntyre

Top observational comic and TV panel show guest Michael McIntyre tests out some new material ahead of his forthcoming TV show and UK tour. For a 'work in progress' night tickets are more expensive than usual at £12 but the price reflects just how popular this guy is, his anecdotes and observations on society's quirks are always spot on and he n... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE
who:
Michael McIntyre
when:
9.45pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£12

Tuesday 3rd

Untitled

A brand new play by Lena Farugia transports the audience to 1980s Paris, where we meet a dotty old woman living in a medicated haze, who is being closely guarded by her carers and appears to believe her dead husband is still with her. Turns out, she's Wallis Simpson, the untitled divorcee whose love affair and subsequent marriage to Edward VIII precipi... read on

where:
Finborough Theatre
Finborough Arms
SW10 9ED
when:
7.30pm
what:
Tragedy
cost:
£13, £9 Concessions
 

Comedy Camp

Comedy Camp hosts some of the funniest people ever to lift up a microphone and talk into it, and that includes the Duke of Edinburgh, George Bush, and the Iraqi information minister during the Gulf war. Held in the recently refurbished Barcode every Tuesday, it is a gay and straight-friendly club that has seen Jeff Innocent, Graham Norton, Scott Ca... read on

where:
Barcode
3-4 Archer Street
W1D 7AP
who:
Jo Caulfield, Sarah Millican, Simon Happily
+ more
when:
8.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £8 to £10

Wednesday 4th

This is Music

This is Music returns to the Old Blue Last for a free night of punk, pop and general rowdiness. Headlining are the amazing You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons: a prog/punk act from Portsmouth who sound like King Crimson crossed with early Trail of the Dead. Also on the bill are art/noise terrorists Human Hair who are Henry from Lovv... read on

where:
Old Blue Last
39 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3ES
who:
You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons + more
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
Free
 

Damascus

David Greig's latest play was a critical hit at last year's Edinburgh fringe and is one of three plays he has penned in the past 18 months. This is a subtle thriller about an Englishman out of his depth in the Middle East, which uses gentle humour and slow-building rapport rather than sudden shocks or radical plot twists. Paul is in Syria to do a... read on

where:
Tricycle Theatre
269 Kilburn High Road
NW6 7JR
when:
8pm
what:
Melodrama
cost:
£15

Thursday 5th

Scarlett Hooft Graafland

Wow! Some of these images are simply stunning. Crisp, cold and elegantly composed, Scarlett Hooft Graafland's recent photographic series is truly beautiful. The Dutch artist spent four months living in Ingoolik in remote northern Canada and the results are on display this month at Michael Hoppen Gallery. As well as looking fantastic, these image... read on

where:
Michael Hoppen Gallery
3 Jubilee Place
SW3 3TD
who:
Scarlett Hooft Graafland
when:
12am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Photography
cost:
Free
 

Girls With Guns

Just when you're thinking there aren't enough female-heavy comedy nights out there, along comes one with a kick-ass name. Girls With Guns (that's right, big comedy guns!) is a new monthly night held in The Phoenix which aims to flip a regular bill on its head by having predominantly female line-ups. As well as one token male slot, the nights will fe... read on

where:
The Phoenix
37 Cavendish Square
W1G 0PP
who:
Holly Walsh, Roisin Conaty, Tiffany Stevenson
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £6 to £8
 

Nature Or Nurture

Brand new monthly to the Russian Bar, Nature Or Nurture aims to provide the good people of London with a top-notch, mid-week shindig featuring cutting edge DJs and producers and all for under a fiver. Room One is house: deep, tech, soul. Room Two: disco based. This month it's the remarkable Terry Francis (Fabric resident), Gamal Kabar (Poker Flat) a... read on

where:
A10 Russian Bar
267 Kingsland Road
E2 8AS
who:
Terry Francis, Gamal Kabar, The Pusha Mann
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal, Disco
cost:
£4

Friday 6th

It's A Wonderful Life

Wouldn't it be great if people would stop trying to contextualise everything? Yes the economy's in a right old state, but we don't have to talk about it all the time. The best way to overcome a problem is to ignore it, right? Nadine Feinson opined that a shift in emphasis towards the personal would mark art in 2009 and certainly this - Alex Echo's s... read on

where:
VINEspace
25a Vyner Street
E2 9DG
who:
Alex Echo
when:
12am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Painting, Sculpture
cost:
Free
 

Chew the Fat!

The iconic Chew The Fat! returns to Corsica Studios with a line-up that defines their sound.

Booty-basslines galore.

They welcome up-and-coming producer Fake Blood, the simply excellent Trevor Loveys and next generation four to the floor producer Foamo.
read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB
who:
Trevor Loveys, Foamo, Fake Blood
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Break, Techno/Minimal, Electro, House
cost:
£12
 

Nowhere to Run Club

Naming your self after a Wire song is always a good way to make people take notice, but following it with jerk post punk that sounds like Gang of Four rocking out with Cabaret Voltaire is how to make your band the coolest in London. Basically Ex Lion Tamers have done just that, and if you don't believe us, then you can see for yourself down at The Vic... read on

where:
The Victoria
110 Grove Road
E3 5TH
who:
 Ex Lion Tamers, Trainspotters, Pevin Kinel
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Indie, Punk
cost:
£4
 

Them

Them land at Whitechapel rave central the Rhythm Factory for a gigantic February edition. This is the Brighton-based party starters third London touchdown and they've got the biggest line up to date. Ghetto house and bassline pioneer Baobinga brings the ghetto bass, Mumdance mashes up garage, bassline, funky, grime, electro, fidget, dubstep, hou... read on

where:
Rhythm Factory
16-18 Whitechapel Road
E1 1EW
who:
Ebola, Baobinga, Vex'd
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Breaks, Dubstep, Drum & Bass
cost:
£9, £7 before midnight

Saturday 7th

Trentemoller

Danish DJ and producer Trentemoller has become one of the biggest names in electronic music over the last few years, with several critically acclaimed releases including his awesome debut album The Last Resort. Having performed with a live band on recent tours, he is now going back to basics with what should be a banging DJ set of minimal techno. Ano... read on

where:
Matter
Peninsula Square
SE10 0DY
who:
Trentemoller, Yousef, Shlomi Aber
+ more
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
Techno/Minimal, House, Electronica
cost:
£15
 

Maybe a Herm

Did you know that the term hermaphrodite comes from the Greek myth of Hermaphroditus? He was turned into an androgynous being after rejecting the advances of the nymph Salmacis. At her wish, the gods blended their two bodies into one. Hermaphroditus' parents were Hermes and Aphrodite, and so the hermaphrodite is male and female by both biology and etym... read on

where:
IMT
210 Cambridge Heath Road
E2 9NQ
who:
Maria von Kohler
when:
12am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery, Installation
cost:
Free
 

Plex

Plex return with their first party of the year with an exclusive performance by the illusive and mysterious Dopplereffekt. They're a Detroit techno outfit who have never given an interview and very rarely perform live. Thought to be composed of four individuals, the members hide behind German pseudonyms. Their music is heavily influenced by Kraf... read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB
who:
Dopplereffekt, µ-Ziq + more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Techno/Minimal, Electronica
cost:
£16

Sunday 8th

Swedish Fashion

Ah look, zee Svedes are coming to London, wiz zer trëndy designer clözing and zer flowing blonde hairs. How åbsolutely super! Since the mid '90s Sweden has emerged as something of a hotbed of contemporary fashion, with a swathe of young avant-garde designers displaying a relaxed calm elegance mixed with a more experimental edge. Designers like... read on

where:
Fashion and Textile Museum
83 Bermondsey Street
SE1 3XF
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Museum, Fashion, Design
cost:
£5, £3 Concessions
 

Tough Love Records

Lo-fi punk chicks Pens headline a show at the Old Blue Last. We've seen these ladies at various points over the last 6 months, and they rock out in a super fun if chaotic, we-look-like-we-don't-know-what-we're-doing way.

Support comes in the form of  Manor House based dance-punks Male Bonding and Dalston noise merchants Teeth. read on

where:
Old Blue Last
39 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3ES
who:
Pens, Male Bonding, Teeth
when:
7pm
what:
Punk
cost:
Free
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