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11th March 2010
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Illustration by Julie Khan

In Bloom

Gardening is one of the great barometers of civilisation. It was in the garden, not the field nor the forest, that Adam and Eve first entered the world. When his wife was sick, Nebuchadnezzar commissioned not some massive statue, house or portrait, but The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Marvell found solace from The Civil War in The Garden; Capability Brown shaped the attitudes of a nation with his gardens; and this May, the Chelsea Flower Show proves once again that nothing unites provincial yokels with well-heeled aristos better than a prize chrysanthemum.

If flowers aren’t really your thing though, then fret ye not! There’s loads of other cool stuff next week: like art in a shopping centre, an Ethel Merman impersonator, the Stag and Dagger Festival, and a new club night guaranteed to cause a stirring in the pants of even the coolest cats. Amazing!

Upcoming

The Gossip

28th May 2009
More info >>

Jimeoin

8th June 2009
More info >>

The King and I

12th June 2009
More info >>

Walking in my Mind

23rd June 2009
More info >>

Friday 15th

The Observer

Richard Eyre returns to the National to direct this hard-hitting political potboiler by Matt Charman. The topic couldn't possibly be more of-the-moment as the play follows a UN observer overseeing and preparing to discredit an African election. To her mind, the whole process has been irrevocably corrupted but many of the liberal, idealist people read on

where:
National Theatre
South Bank
SE1 8XZ
when:
Times vary
what:
Thriller, Tragedy
cost:
From £10 to £31
 

The Hundred in Hands

If you've ever taken a meander over to the New Releases section of our website, you'll probably know that we're quite hard to please when it comes to reviewing dance-punk bands, and we're usually even harsher when it comes to ones from New York. Would you blame us? After The Rapture, it's all been a bit crap, right? Or at least that's what we read on

where:
Barfly
49 Chalk Farm Road
NW1 8AN
who:
The Hundred in the Hands, Beast
when:
7pm
what:
Punk, Electro
cost:
£6
 

Border Community

Innovative breakthrough bedroom DJ James Holden leads a charge through uncharted musical territory with his Border Community label. Celebrating Nathan Fake's new album 'Hard Islands', Border Community and Allez-Allez take over Corsica Studios tonight for a night of cutting edge party mayhem. Lord of the Hard Islands Nathan Fake takes on headline read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB

who:
James Holden, Nathan Fake
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Electro, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£15, £10 Concessions

Saturday 16th

The Go Game

Ooh this sounds fun! An afternoon of fun and games carried out around central London - there's superheroes, secret agents and strange clues all to be encountered by teams taking part in a series of missions. Founded in San Francisco in 2001, The Go Game utilises snazzy mobile-phone technology to help you interact with your pals and our fair cap... read on

where:
Cosmo Bar
50-54 Clerkenwell Road
EC1M 5PS

when:
12.30pm
what:
Tournament
cost:
£4
 

Rambert Dance and Orchestra London Musici

Rambert Dance and their incredibly versatile musical partners Orchestra London Musici combine to stage a double bill of new works.

Christopher Bruce's new piece is set to music by Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma while Itzik Galili's A Linha Curva is a joyous fusion of Israeli and samba influences.
read on

where:
Sadler's Wells
Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4TN

when:
7.30pm
what:
Dance
cost:
From £10 to £38
 

Friends & Family

Ahh, Friends and Family - the excellent longstanding showcase straight from the bleeding heart of bass culture; specialists in the music staples that are hip hop, funk, soul and jazz. F & F is organised by Fat City Recordings - a label which originated in Manchester as a record shop. The guests they attract are always stellar. Tonight it's read on

where:
Cargo
83 Rivington Street
EC2A 3AY
who:
DJ Kaos, Daedelus
when:
8pm - 3am
what:
Dubstep, Hip Hop, Reggae
cost:
From £6 to £12

Sunday 17th

Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Final

Tonight is the big live final for Laughing Horse's New Act of the Year comedy competition held in the Dogstar pub in Brixton. From a whopping 750 acts who entered heats in January, now only 13 remain. The line-up includes ace female sketch group Lady Garden and Fergus Craig from duo Colin and Fergus. Can he add another victory to his read on

where:
Dogstar
389 Coldharbour Lane
SW9 8LQ
who:
Fergus Craig, Ivor Dembina
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£7
 

tick... tick... BOOM!

Jonathan Larson's poignant autobiographical musical about a 30 year old man about to celebrate his birthday and unsure whether he should be a musical composer, enjoys a brief run in the West End. Larson performed this as a solo show around New York and it was at least a minor fringe hit, restoring some of his faith. We now know of course that he read on

where:
Duchess Theatre
Catherine Street
WC2B 5LA

when:
8pm
what:
Musicals
cost:

Monday 18th

Carrie's War

Based on Nina Bawden's stunning children's book about two evacuees and their adventures during the Second World War, this play by Emma Reeves has been around for a while. Now it finally gets a run out in the West End.

Sensitively adapted and with surprising, superb turns by the young cast, this is children's theatre that adults will enjoy.
read on

where:
Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
W1D 6AB
when:
7.30pm
what:
Melodrama, Family
cost:
From £10 to £45
 

Jack Whitehall - Work in Progress

'Jack's always wanted to be a real man, like the ones in the audience at Top Gear, but unfortunately he likes Smirnoff Ice and looks wrong with his shirt off.' This is the debut stand-up show for the star of Channel 4's BB's Big Mouth, Jack Whitehall and frankly we can't wait to see it. Wasted on the mind-numbing programme that Russell Brand made ... read on

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

who:
Jack Whitehall
when:
9.30
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£7

Tuesday 19th

Love Bites

A night of brand new one act plays, based around the theme of love and ranging from comedy to melodrama.

Making ideal use of this cool fringe location, the action of each specifically commissioned play takes place in a hotel room.

Smart, edgy new theatre in this hip venue. How about coffee on the South Bank after? read on

where:
The Calder Bookshop
Southbank
SE1 8LF
when:
7.45pm
what:
Comedy, Melodrama
cost:
£9, £7 Concessions
 

White Heat - Blank Dogs

Blank Dogs are an 80s-influenced, doomy, synth band who only require an optional donation if you wish to download their music from their genuinely educational and regularly updated blog.
read on

where:
Madame Jojo's
8-10 Brewer Street
W1F 0SP

who:
Blank Dogs, Wetdog, Girls
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£6

Wednesday 20th

Notting Good Taste

Notting Good Taste serves up some the best comedy acts around from poets to musicians, TV stars, award-winners and circuit favourites. Tonight Phill Jupitus from Never Mind The Buzzcocks will be headlining supported by stand-up poet and recumbent rocker Elvis McGonagall, Scottish comedian and actor Alan Francis, plus there will be some hilarious blueg... read on

where:
20th Century Theatre
291 Westbourne Grove
W11 2QA
who:
Phill Jupitus, Stillhouse Orchestra
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£15
 

The Soft Pack

Formerly known as The Muslims, these US garage rockers may have changed their name to something less controversial (sort of) but you couldn't accuse them of selling out.

Spewing out break-neck garage rock with reckless abandon, they are one of the funnest bands we've seen in a long, long time. read on

where:
100 Club
100 Oxford Street
W1D 1LL

who:
The Soft Pack
when:
7.30pm
what:
Rock
cost:
£8

Thursday 21st

Micky Flanagan

Nominated for the if.comedy award for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe, this is Flanagan's first full-length show. It takes you on a one-hour journey through the ups and downs of his life from his working-class roots as a Billingsgate fish-porter to a more bourgeois set up as a successful stand-up leading a life filled with dinner pa... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE
who:
Micky Flanagan
when:
9.45pm
what:
Stand Up, Fringe
cost:
From £10 to £15
 

Stag and Dagger

As anyone who witnessed Jay Reatard tear the Old Blue Last in two last year will readily testify, Stag and Dagger is a magical night where the venues of the East End are turned into a wonderland of garage punk bands, basement parties, cheap booze and good vibes. read on

where:
Across East London
who:
Mika Miko, Ex Lovers, Lovefoxx
+ more
when:
Times vary
what:
Indie, Rock, Electro
cost:
£17

Friday 22nd

Frontiers by Off Modern

Many ideologies have at root sought world domination - Christianity, capitalism, democracy... - and so far, thankfully, all have failed. in the wake of all this, a new emphasis on the importance of locality is currently emerging in London, and elsewhere. But this is not just about food provenance and designer gastro nonsense, this is also about comm... read on

where:
The Elephant Rooms
Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
SE1 6TE
who:
Sam Craven, Will Jarvis
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Art, Video, Painting
cost:
Free
 

Darren Johnston - Underdrome

Underdrome is an all-new multimedia experience designed and choreographed by Darren Johnstone, the Roundhouse's artist-in-residence. Set to the music of Warp stalwarts Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Autechre, Leila, Harmonic 33 and a clutch of new artists including Vladislav Delay, Murcof and Seaming, the night promises to be a sonic, visual delight. ... read on

where:
The Roundhouse
110a Chalk Farm Road
NW1 8EH

when:
8pm
what:
Dance
cost:
£20, £18 Concessions
 

Plex Bank Holiday Bash

We love Plex because they book off-centre, subversive artists who do something different and don't tow any kind of line.

They don't mold themselves to please a crowd, and - in this line up at least - much of the material will be absolutely rinsing.

I can't think of many better places to dance away the bank holiday. read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB

who:
Jerome Hill, Kanji Kinetic
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
Techno/Minimal, Electro
cost:
£12

Saturday 23rd

Vieux Farka Toure

Vieux Farka Touré is a Malian singer and guitarist, and son of one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians Ali Farka Touré.

Tonight he's at the Jazz Cafe to kick off four days of African music with his incredible blend of Saharan blues and Malian folk. read on

where:
Jazz Cafe
5 Parkway
NW1 7PG
who:
Vieux Farka Toure
when:
7pm
what:
World
cost:
£18
 

Among Friends

April De Angelis' new comedy is a pitch dark social satire about a quartet of yuppies sitting down to a posh takeaway in a gated community. Suddenly, the security system fails and the delivery boy marches right in to their flat and makes himself at home. Paranoia, middle-class angst and straightforward fear rub shoulders in this acerbic comedy... read on

where:
Hampstead Theatre
Swiss Cottage Centre
NW3 3EX

when:
7.30pm
what:
Comedy
cost:
£15
 

Join the Dots

Join The Dots Number One tonight - and they kick off their series of parties with a line-up guaranteed to cause a stirring in the pants of even the coolest cats. Mr James Lavelle (UNKLE) needs no introduction. A seminal DJ and producer who united diverse artists from far and wide on his self-named debut album. As a DJ he's eclectic and excellent, m... read on

where:
Jamm
261 Brixton Road
SW9 6LH

who:
James lavelle, Ralph Lawson
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Electro, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10

Sunday 24th

Something about Techno

Strange Worlds and Mau Mau join forces to bring you Something About Techno - the first of their summer parties. In room one the devotion is to techno. Room two delves in to the glittery underworld of italo disco and house. Glitchy, tech-electronica outfit 65D Mavericks will be performing a live set, plus Universal Vibes' deep techno specialist Pad... read on

where:
Under the Westway
Acklam Road
W10 5JJ

who:
Paddy Freeform, Mr Shiver
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Disco, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10
 

Warm

Warm blow out the candles on their 10th birthday cake with a bank holiday special. They started off as a mid-week student bash in Bournemouth and have blossomed into a DJ agency and seminal night in London. Headlining tonight's shenanigans are DFA stalwarts Mock n Toof, Jacques Renault jetting in from NYC plus Running Back head honcho Gerd Janson a... read on

where:
Queen of Hoxton
1 Curtain Road
EC2A 3JX

who:
Ali Tillett, Skull Juice
+ more
when:
6pm
what:
House, Disco
cost:
£7
 

Merman at the Jermyn

Big lunged Broadway belter Ethel Merman would have been 100 this year* were she still alive. But, alas, she ain't. Or so we thought... Joyous Pie Productions present a kind of Merman tribute show at the Jermyn Street Theatre tonight that promises to bring the old girl back to life. Starring Dominic Mattos as the irrepressible Merman, and with the supre... read on

where:
Jermyn Street Theatre
16b Jermyn Street
SW1Y 6ST

when:
8pm
what:
Musicals, Comedy
cost:
£14, £12 Concessions
 

mulletover - summer close-down

mulletover peak at their summer finale tonight - before a break till October while they plan their assault on Glade and The Garden Festival in Croatia. Making their mulletover debuts are Robert Dietz - one of the main faces behind the Cecille label, Steve Bug favourite Burnski and Anthea - Phonica Records newest star. Joining these techno cats is... read on

where:
Secret Location
who:
Robert Dietz, Burnski, Geddes
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Techno/Minimal, House
cost:
From £8 to £15
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