6th February 2012

gigs clubbing art comedy theatre blog competitions

Illustration by Julie Khan

Old Pop in an Oak

At Spoonfed we like to educate our readers from time to time with little titbits of obscure (and largely pointless) information. So this week we’re reminding everybody that May 29th is Oak Apple Day. Oak Apple Day was (and still is in our offices at least) a day set aside to celebrate the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. So out went boring old Oliver Cromwell, and in came long curly hair, sex scandals and the ever-hilarious Earl of Rochester.

The day is named after the oak apple, an oak leaf mutated by the larvae of certain kinds of gall wasps so that it looks a bit like an apple. Apparently people used to wear them round their necks on May 29th – we’re sure old Charlie would have been delighted.

But back to matters at hand, and it’s a big week in South London: there's some experimental indie, a club night with a punning title and even a spot of Foucault-influenced art stuff. Splendid.

Friday 22nd

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

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

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.

Saturday 23rd

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.

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

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

Sunday 24th

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

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

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

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

Monday 25th

War weary heroes return triumphant to their home only to find their women have grown hard and cynical. A new battle commences, presided over by two brilliant, sharp-tongued friends who consider themselves above love.

Much Ado... is a cynical romance, with the Bard at his wise-cracking, incisive best, and perfectly suited to outdoor performance. A perfect dose of summer magic and suitable for Shakespeare purists and young fans alike, this show is sure to delight.

The baby brother of the enormous showcase Sketchatron, the Nano is a development platform for sketch and narrative comedians working on new material, performing exclusive extended sets.

This month, for the first time in Sketchatron history, the line-up features all musical acts: multi-award winning, all-singing troupe Pappy's Fun Club, deadpan duo Ginger

Tuesday 26th

An elliptical, experimental indie pop act, Cryptacize bring angelic 1960s female vocals into messy, enchanting psychedelic pop that is surprisingly accessible given that they count former Deerhoof guitarist Chris Cohen and playful sound artist Nedelle Torrisi as members.

Irresistable, charming and hideously fun - you have to see this.

Last year's if.comedy 'Best Newcomer' winner, Geordie lass Sarah Millican presents some new material as she prepares for her 2009 Edinburgh show.

Millican's last show Sarah Millican's Not Nice, based on her recent divorce, was full of warm, witty and filthy anecdotes. Although little has been said about the content of the new show, it went down well at the Leicester Comedy Festival in March - a good indication of Fringe success.

Wednesday 27th

In his History of Sexuality, Michel Foucault wrote that:

"Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attributes to a complex strategical situation in a particular society."

Interesting huh? Well, this May and June Cafe Gallery Projects is hosting an exhibition that seeks to explore the nature, implications, excercise and limits of power and resistance to it.

Anyone find that modern productions of Shakespeare can just be so dreadfully po-faced? There's humour there people - it's not all doom-and-gloom soliloquising, you know.

Well, thankfully, some people are trying to inject the fun back into the Bard. Step forward The Pantaloons, who incorporate live music, audience participation and some silly hats into their dynamic performances.

This May they're doing Romeo & Juliet at The Scoop - it's free and it looks like being a cracker!

In 2003 Bridget Christie began doing open spots on the comedy circuit and worked on the diary column of the Daily Mail. Whilst there, she was strangled by Gene Wilder, fed a fish by Peter Stringfellow, mistaken for someone else by Mel Brooks, hated by David Dimbleby, ignored by Cherie Blair and patronised by Jenny Eclair.

This affectionate exposé of a showbiz gossip column is sure to delight both Daily Mail readers and decent people too. As well as hearing all about celebs which we all love, let's admit it (See how Alan Yentob fell off a chair! Hear what Liam Gallagher said at the premiere of Shrek 2!), it is also a warm and interesting account of a provincial Gloucester girl, with no real qualifications, adrift in the sophisticated world of wealth and fame.

Thursday 28th

Another chance to see this incredible one-hour masterpiece of contortion, escapism and dance. Pierre Rigal is the visionary choreographer and performance artist behind last year's Érection, described by La Nacion as 'an incredible experience'. His London debut combines escapology, contortion, dance and physical theatre, all beautifully staged within a small grey box which shrinks throughout the piece.

An international line up of singer/songwriters gather at the Bethnal Green Working Men's to battle for the the highest accolade a troubadour can attain - to be the owner of the saddest song in the world.

Using just one song they will be trying to coax uncontrollable blubbing with tales of unrequited love, heartbreak, alcoholism and general misfortune.

Friday 29th

Four years since her last solo show at the gallery, YBA enfant-terrible Tracey Emin returns to White Cube with an exhibition of drawings.

Coinciding with the launch of her book One Thousand Drawings this exhibition includes an animation of a woman masturbating and is probably likely to cause at least a it of a media splash.

WeAreLive return to Scala with this simply astonishing line up.

Bringing the raw energy straight back to the dance floor via the wealth of incredible live acts and DJs playing tonight, Tweak & Bleep and FarmFestival present a tableau of the finest tweaked up electro-tech, bleeped out breaks, upfront discoteque and turbo-charged greatness for your skanking pleasure.

Brighton duo Evil Nine will be making it rain chaos with their wanton disregard for genre-rules, Prodigy tour band Noise Control will be showing you how it's done, electronic funksters Transformers will be riding the new wave disco interface and Morgan Quaintance's latest venture Plugs bring the indie-electro pop.

Z Shed lay their heavily loaded cards on the table and challenge you to a dance off.

Supplying the bassy magic tonight is Kid 606's latest signing Bruce Stallion. He takes the spirit of 90s hardcore, Amiga music, hip hop and dubstep, adds a splash of tequila, a tonne or two of bass and dashes it right in your face.

He's joined by absolute laser-bass badman Your Niece. Turbo crunk mashed heavily with glitchy cuts, DnB, bassline, electro and upfront rave. He makes entire rooms explode with his beat arsenal.

Three promoters unite to give you Balance - the brand new night at spanking new venue Cable in London Bridge.

Wang, Base and Split between them have three decades of experience throwing underground parties. For their debut they bring together some of the most innovative artists in house, techno and electro.

Detroit pioneers Aux 88 are jetting in for an exclusive live show, acid house legend A Guy Called Gerald is in to spin plus Luke Slater making a rare appearance.

Saturday 30th

What? Is dance punk not over already? Well, if it is, nobody told New Zealand: those guys seem to be pumping it out like the Klaxons never happened.

Bang! Bang! Eche! are the latest bunch to find themselves washed up on our shores, and their synth-driven angular groove fest will have even the hardest hearts throwing shapes in no time.

Seemingly riding a high-wire between mind-bending jams and ultra heavy, grinding sludge, Finland's Fleshpress are definitely not for those amongst us who still watch the Disney Channel on a regular basis.

Uncompromising, twisted and unashamably hostile, they'll be laying waste to the Grosvenor tonight.

The Noisy Neighbours crew touch down at the Lightbox with their biggest line up yet.

This underground techno night has been going from strength to strength and tonight they welcome back Cesare vs Disorder to slay you with his low slung beats. Frankfurt's Gregor Tresher (Cocoon) drops by to mezmerize with his acclaimed take on techno and Kindlich performs a special birthday set.

Read out review of Don't Techno Sh!t here.

Sunday 31st

Free Range is a huge exhibition dedicated to the cream of the UK's graduate art and design talent. With works by over 3000 graduates from 40 art colleges across the country this is one of the best opportunities to see and buy cutting edge new work.

The only slight drawback is that, with the exhibition taking up 400,000 square foot, it might all become a little overwhelming if you try to take it all in at once. Probably best to pay several visits then

An awesome family spectacular in a specially designed space, the Neverland Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, this production of the JM Barrie classic uses state-of-the-art effects to transport the audience to the magical kingdom of the boy who never grew up.

Follow the Darling family on an adventure of a lifetime as they befriend the magical Peter Pan and his friends and battle the dastardly Captain Hook. The special auditorium holds 1,100 spectators and ingenious CGI effects make crocodiles, pirate armies and flying sequences come alive.