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

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Illustration by Julie Khan

Festivalisationism

So June has arrived, the sun is out (or at least it was) and we at Spoonfed are indulging our obsession for ice-cream. Thoughts naturally are turning towards the summer, and more specifically what festivals we can blag ourselves free tickets to. In the past few years the whole festival thing has multiplied exponentially – so much so that, now, it can be tough to work out which ones to go to, when and where. Well luckily for you, we’ve drawn up two helpful little festival calendars: there’s our guide to London Summer Festivals and UK Summer Festivals. So check ‘em out!

More immediately, we’ve got loads of cool stuff coming up over the next week. There’s a Red Bull party at Cargo, comedy to raise money for the UK’s vulnerable children, the loudest band ever (possibly) and an art car boot fair in the Old Truman Brewery. Where can you find out about all of this? Why just scroll down of course.

Upcoming

Noisettes

23rd June 2009
More info >>

Bear Hunt

8th July 2009
More info >>

When You're A Boy

17th July 2009
More info >>

Rhys Darby

29th July 2009
More info >>

Friday 5th

Damien Poulain - Totem 49

This sounds pretty cool. This June/July Kemistry Gallery is taken over by 49 hand-painted totems made from reclaimed wood.

These pieces - the work of designer Damien Poulain - are inspired by ancient sculptures and religious symbolism, but they also constitute a response to the contemporary fetishisation of the so-called 'iconic'. read on

where:
Kemistry Gallery
43 Charlotte Road
EC2A 3PD
who:
Damien Poulain
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Art, Design, Sculpture
cost:
Free
 

A Ritual for Elephant & Castle

Elephant & Castle is changing. Like much of the rest of London, the old and 'unsightly' is gradually being swept away to be replaced by gleaming temples to modernity. Whether gentrification is something to be celebrated or resisted is a moot point (and certainly not one to be tackled here in an event listing) but it is something that seems read on

where:
Coronet
28 New Kent Road
SE1 6TJ

who:
Marcus Coates, Chrome Hoof
+ more
when:
7pm - midnight
what:
Performance Art, Electronica, Folk
cost:
£6
 

Criminal Damage

For all their GG Allens, Derby Cashs and Joey Ramones, The Americans still hold a candle for good old British punk rock with its social conscience, bovver boots, leather trousers and catchy, melodic rabble-rousers. Criminal Damage are one such bunch, and this 4 piece hailing from Portland, Oregon is a sneering reminder of late-'70s oi! like read on

where:
The Grosvenor
17 Sidney Road
SW9 0TP

who:
Criminal Damage
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£5
 

J-Dilla Album Launch

Almost everyone is familiar with the story of musical legend J-Dilla (Jay Dee/James Yancey). Prolific collaborator and inspiring producer, he worked with everyone from Eryka Badu to Janet Jackson via De La Soul. He tragically passed away aged 32 due to Lupus-related complications in 2006. The Doctor's Orders are the cats behind the annual 'J-Dilla read on

where:
Herbal
12-14 Kingsland Road
E2 8DA

who:
Blackbeard, Jazz T
+ more
when:
9pm - 3am
what:
Hip Hop, Funk/Soul
cost:
From £7 to £10

Saturday 6th

Kate's Cafe

Amazing! They said knitting was making a comeback, but that was mainly just journalistic puff pieces lazily relating to the credit crunch. But now it's hitting the world of fine art. May saw Sally Spinks present a pile of knitted cigarette butts at Tenderpixel Gallery and now, in June, the Charlotte Street branch of Rebecca Hossack Gallery is read on

where:
Rebecca Hossack
28 Charlotte Street
W1T 2JS
who:
Kate Jenkins
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Art, Craft, Design
cost:
Free
 

Slump City

Recession, the Olympics, and the future of East London: these are the main subjects up for discussion in Slump City, an exhibition featuring work by three local (and brilliant) artists. If you haven't heard of Laura Oldfield Ford by now then you must have been living under a rock for the past few years. She produces dystopian paintings and read on

where:
SPACE
129-131 Mare Street
E8 3RH

who:
Laura Oldfield Ford, Tessa Farmer
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Sculpture, Drawing, Video
cost:
Free
 

Just the Tonic

Tonight one of the greatest working stand-ups on the UK circuit, John Gordillo will be headlining the show with some new material, supported by the sharp and witty Simon Evans, the jollier Tiernan Douieb and BBC6 presenter Jon Richardson.
read on

where:
Leicester Square Theatre
Leicester Square
WC2H 7BP

who:
John Gordillo, Simon  Evans
+ more
when:
10pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£3
 

Ditch It All

Ditch It All make their debut at 93 Feet East after a load of massive parties at 333. Tonight they present three live bands: corrupting popsters Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, all female five piece Royal Treatment Plant and French-Soler. In the bar DJ Darkorse and Electric Junkies join Thick As Thieves and Jac The Disco to provide a pumped up mix of read on

where:
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
E1 6RU

who:
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, French-Soler
+ more
when:
10pm - 4am
what:
Electro, Indie, Disco
cost:
£10, £5 Before midnight

Sunday 7th

HummusFest

OMFG. HummusFest! Hummus - probably the greatest foodstuff in the world? Picnics would be nothing without the delicious chickpea dip, and falafel would simply be a dry and pointless ball of blanditude. Now in its second year, HummusFest is a celebration of all things hummus (well, kind of). Basically you turn up, make some hummus and try to read on

where:
Jewish Community Centre
6 Park End
NW3 2SE
when:
3.30pm - 5pm
what:
Tournament
cost:
From £6 to £8
 

Kubicle

Kubicle - the notoriously great little after-party which, to converts, is more of an extended techno family - has been spreading its wings of late. The Toilet - traditionally their Sunday morning home - will host their parties on a more sporadic basis thanks to this new monthly residency at the T Bar, a recreated Toilet at Glastonbury, an read on

where:
T Bar
32-38 Dukes Place
EC3A 7LP

who:
Clive Henry, Hector
+ more
when:
6pm - 2am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
Free

Monday 8th

Not the Royal Academy

Major art institutions get so inundated by artists sending them work that they often have to refuse much of it. Famously, the Tate refused 175 Stuckist paintings back in 2005, something that Charles Thomson in particular seems never to have gotten over. Sometimes work is refused because it is rubbish, sometimes because it doesn't fit in with the ideolo... read on

where:
Llewellyn Alexander
124-126 The Cut
SE1 8LN
when:
10am - 7.30pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Benefit for Kids Company

Following the success of last year's sell-out show, Kids Company present another stellar comedy line-up to raise money for vulnerable children in the UK. Hyperactive Adam Bloom will be the host, bringing on stage one of the most experienced stand-ups in the business, John Moloney, famous TV impressionist Alistair McGowan, legendary Irish funnym... read on

where:
Comedy Store
1a Oxendon Street
SW1Y 4EE
who:
Ed Byrne, Alistair McGowan
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£20

Tuesday 9th

Stricken City

Getting to the top of the indie tree is pretty hard these days. Thanks to the endless columns of guitar-toting stick men and warbling poetic waifs, you have to be a bit special to catch the eyes of the legion of floppy haired NME readers out there. With this in mind, it would seem like Stricken City are already riding the fast elevator to the top... read on

where:
The Social West End
5 Little Portland Street
W1W 7JD
who:
Stricken City
+ more
when:
6pm
what:
Indie, Pop
cost:
£5
 

Rent

Jonathan Larson's radical drama of friendship, sexuality and AIDs in '80s New York, returns to the stage in this faithful revival at the Broadway. Famously inspired by Puccini's classic La Boheme but shot through with modernity, wit and pathos, the original Rent won a Pulitzer prize and an army of fans are sure to turn up for this faithful reproduc... read on

where:
Pleasance Theatre
41 Carpenter's Mews
N7 9DP

when:
7.30pm
what:
Musicals
cost:
£12.50, £10 Concessions

Wednesday 10th

Knock2Bag - Notting Hill

A highly successful comedy club in Shepherd's Bush, Knock2Bag now has a new night in Notting Hill's iconic Tabernacle building. Tonight's show is a guaranteed cracker with an incredible line-up of top comedians on the London circuit, from if.comedy winners like Brendon Burns, Andrew Lawrence and Phil Nichol to the legendary Stewart Lee (of recent... read on

where:
The Tabernacle
Powis Square
W11 2AY
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£10
 

Caroline Weeks

Stepping out from under the shadow of Bat For Lashes, where she learnt her trade as one of Natasha Khan's backing musicians, accomplished singer/songwriter Caroline Weeks plays the Slaughtered Lamb tonight.

A self-taught musician, she weaves fragile yet powerful songs that take a sidewards glance at the traditional English folk format. read on

where:
Slaughtered Lamb
34-35 Great Sutton Street
EC1V 0DX

who:
Caroline Weeks, Joni Davis
+ more
when:
7.45pm
what:
Folk, Pop
cost:
£6

Thursday 11th

Lovvers

It's been a while since London last saw Lovvers, what with touring and recording in the US-of-A, unless you were at the Yeah Yeah Yeah's gig last month, you'd have to be living next to their practice space in sunny Nottingham to have seen hide or hair of them for almost 6 months. What you always get with Lovvers is a pretty kick-arse live show, al... read on

where:
The Stags Head
55 Orsman Road
N1 5RA

who:
Lovvers, Male Bonding
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
Free
 

Broad Casting

Red Bull Music Academy join forces with Karen P's Broad Casting again tonight with a unique collaboration between Stones Throw's James Pants and Latin soul legend Joe Bataan. Peanut Butterwolf's Stones Throw is one of the most highly reputed hip hop labels across the water. James Pants is a multi-instrumentalist whose diverse sets cross '80s sou... read on

where:
Cargo
83 Rivington Street
EC2A 3AY

who:
James Pants, Joe Bataan
+ more
when:
7pm - 1am
what:
Hip Hop, Latin, Soul
cost:
£9

Friday 12th

The King and I

Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic about a British governess who ends up capturing the heart of a Siamese king comes to the Albert Hall for a short run this June. A lavish production directed 'in the round' by Jeremy Sams, this production has a stellar team behind it and features well loved British vocalist Maria Friedman as Anna, and Daniel Da... read on

where:
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore
SW7 2AP
when:
7.30pm
what:
Musicals, Classic
cost:
From £20 to £65
 

Le Tetsuo

The product of art school and sweaty drunken rehearsals, Le Tetsuo have survived broken amplifiers and shows in peoples living rooms to become one of the loudest bands ever. Serving up their off-kilter shouty-shouty thrash pop to the people of Kilburn tonight, this is one of those free shows that make London great. read on

where:
Power's Acoustic Room
332 Kilburn High Road
NW6 2QN

who:
Le Tetsuo
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Indie
cost:
Free
 

Utah Saints present Sugarbeat

Utah Saints' massive night Sugarbeat continues with their third party of the year, tonight presenting none other than electronic mastermind duo Hybrid.

They're joined by Toolroom's first lady Toni Jarvis and Bombstrikes Records Mooqee.

Added to the line up tonight are Supatronix residents Jurassik and Miss Max.

Breaks in your face. read on

where:
Jamm
261 Brixton Road
SW9 6LH

who:
Utah Saints, Hybrid
+ more
when:
9pm - 4am
what:
House, Electro, Techno/Minimal, Breaks
cost:
From £8 to £10

Saturday 13th

Open Sailing Open Day

Anyone see that Kevin Costner film Waterworld? It got totally panned, but secretly, we know you loved it. It's possible that this is in some way relevant to the listing of this event, but it's hard to know for sure. 13th June sees an open day at Area 10 in Peckham. There's speakers, activites and displays all designed to explain the concept of... read on

where:
Area 10
Peckham Hill Street
SE15 5JT
when:
1pm - 8pm
what:
Art, Science, Family
cost:
Free
 

Rich Hall is Otis Lee Crenshaw

Perrier and Emmy Award-winning grouch Rich Hall will be performing a week long stint at the Soho this June as both himself and white trash alter ego Otis Lee Crenshaw (who breaks out of jail for the second half of the show). Since Hall started performing his routine as the country music singing, redneck jailbird from Tennessee in 1998, he's been cha... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE

who:
Rich Hall
when:
9.45pm
what:
Stand Up, Music
cost:
From £10 to £18
 

Night Music - Trentemoller and Moby

Trentemoller returns tonight, bringing his pal Moby with him to play an exclusive DJ set. Both artists have new albums on the way, Trentemoller has 'Harbour Boat Trips 01 - Copenhagen' on its way and Moby's fifth album 'Wait For Me' is due out in June. Yousef joins them, also on the brink of an album release - his debut artist album 'A Collection... read on

where:
Matter
Peninsular Square
SE10 0DY

who:
Trentemoller, Moby, Yousef
+ more
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
House, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
From £8 to £10

Sunday 14th

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair

The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair returns to the Old Truman Brewery this June for the fifth installment of this art fair extravaganza.

All manner of contemporary artists are involved - from old-timers like Gavin Turk, Sir Peter Blake and Bob & Roberta Smith to first-time 'booters' Natasha Law and Donald Urquhart.
read on

where:
Old Truman Brewery
Brick Lane
E1 6QL
who:
Peter Blake, Gavin Turk, Stuart Semple
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Art, Design
cost:
£3
 

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band

The Royal Festival Hall plays host to the first ever UK appearance from this conceptual supergroup formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 before the dissolution of The Beatles as Ornette Coleman's Meltdown Festival gets under way. In this one-off performance Yoko Ono appears with Sean Lennon, Chimera Music artists Charlotte Muhl, Yuko Araki, S... read on

where:
Royal Festival Hall
Belvedere Road
SE1 8XX

who:
Yoko Ono, Mark Ronson
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Rock
cost:
From £20 to £25
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