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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

Welcome to Earth.

Independence Day. So apparently it’s not just one of the best movies ever, but also some kind of national holiday across the big pond in the good old US of A. This Saturday is the Fourth of July, and all those excitable Americanos will be a-whoopin’ and a-holerin’ in celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Yee-ha!

We at Spoonfed are doing our bit to celebrate by compiling an Independence Day-themed Spotify playlist. Morrissey, Kim Wilde, Green Day, Neil Young, LCD Soundsystem and, of course, The Boss... Awesome!

Back in London, and next week’s a belter, with weird science, art about crime, cardigans, comedy and Ed Banger’s mouth-watering birthday bash. So scroll on down...

Upcoming

Hackney Wicked

31st July 2009
More info >>

Field Day

1st August 2009
More info >>

Rhod Gilbert

1st August 2009
More info >>

Enron

17th September 2009
More info >>

Friday 3rd

Surface - Image - Event

Painting? In Hoxton? It'll never catch on. Well perhaps it will. With people beginning to tire of one-joke conceptualism, Standpoint Gallery presents an exhibition of painting, featuring work by five contemporary artists. What links them all together is what the PR spiel terms 'emergent figuration'. In short, this means that the prime focus of read on

where:
Standpoint
45 Coronet Street
N1 6HD
who:
Fiona Murray, Ilona Szalay
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

The Doctor's Orders 4th Birthday Party

To celebrate four years of dosing the capital with the finest hip hop, The Doctor's Orders are hosting a series of events throughout July. Alongside their regular club nights there'll be live shows, free parties and even a pub quiz. Tonight their party at Herbal meshes some of the top names from their wish list (DJ Vadim anyone?) with some new read on

where:
Herbal
12-14 Kingsland Road
E2 8DA

who:
DJ Vadim, Spin Doctor
+ more
when:
9pm - 3am
what:
Hip Hop
cost:
£10
 

Them 1st Birthday Special

Them celebrate one whole year of serving London with cutting edge electronica, pure bass weight and giant beat-addicted creatures from the deep. Yet another smashing line-up is in place to absolutely destroy Corsica Studios, with Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! hosting Room Two. Them are in control in the main room, with Mad Decent upstart Mumdance in to spin his read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SE17 1LB

who:
Mumdance, Boxcutter
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Electro, Dubstep, Hip Hop
cost:
£9

Saturday 4th

Wireless 2009

Iconic house and beats specialists Basement Jaxx headline the first day of the newly re-branded Wireless Festival.

Also topping an action packed bill are hip-hop acts The Streets and Dizzee Rascal as well as sets from electro/dance superstars Frankmusik and Digitalism. read on

where:
Hyde Park
W2 2UH
who:
Basement Jaxx, Digitalism, Dizzee Rascal
+ more
when:
1pm - midnight
what:
Dance Music
cost:
£45, £80 Weekend Ticket
 

The Importance of Being Earnest

What better way to while away a summer evening than with a top notch alfresco performance of this Oscar Wilde classic in a grassy corner of Regent's Park? This vintage piece of Wilde is a classic drawing room farce of tangled love lives and mistaken identities... but distinguished with his trademark satirical slant and a seemingly unceasing read on

where:
Open Air Theatre
Regent's Park
NW1 4NR

when:
8pm
what:
Classic, Comedy
cost:
From £10 to £42
 

Snap, Crackle and Pop

Wow. Christian Martin from the Dirtybird stable (which he co-runs) is flying in from San Fran to play this intimate little gig.

Justin Martin's brother, one half of their sick production duo aptly named The Martin Brothers and DJ of absolute brilliance.

This will be incredibly good, and unbelievably it's only £3. Well done Snap, Crackle and Pop. read on

where:
Horse & Groom
26 Curtain Road
EC2A 3NZ

who:
Jac the Disco, Christian Martin
+ more
when:
10pm - 4am
what:
Disco, Electro, House
cost:
£5, £3 Before 11pm
 

Stars and Stripes Spectacular

A tongue in cheek celebration of American Independence Day featuring Alabama 3's acoustic show, a DJ set from Nashville upon Thames and Theodora goes Wild (Shellac Sisters) hits the tables too. There's American themed cabaret, the statue of liberty as you've never seen her before and other extravagant examples of American iconoclasm. It's fancy ... read on

where:
Last Days of Decadence
145 Shoreditch High Street
E1 6JE

who:
Chrys Columbine, Andy Williamson Buzztet
+ more
when:
8pm - 2.30am
what:
Country
cost:
Free

Sunday 5th

Workshop Missoni

Missoni have come a long way from their origins as producers of jersey tracksuits in the 1940s to become one of the most instantly recognisable fashion brands in the world. Known for bold zig-zag patterning and subtle use of tone and texture, Missoni is still very much a family-orientated operation. This year it's fifty years since the company's read on

where:
Estorick Collection
39a Canonbury Square
N1 2AN
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Fashion, History
cost:
Free
 

The Fix presents... Edinburgh Previews

For Edinburgh preview season, the esteemed Fix comedy mag is holding a series of double bills with some of their favourite acts performing every Sunday evening. If you like weird or alternative comedy, you are in for a treat tonight. Hilarious character act Brian Gittins will be performing his new show Brian Gittins: Roadside Cafe Owner, full of read on

where:
Wilmington Arms
69 Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4RL

who:
Brian Gittins, Tim Key
+ more
when:
6pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£6

Monday 6th

What Is Crime?

Art with a strong, clear political agenda can go one of two ways -  either the communicative power of art is employed for important ends, or the singularity of the message overpowers art's wonderful tendency towards ambiguity. This depends on the artist in question, the work, and the experience of the viewer. This summer, 198 Gallery presents ... read on

where:
198 Gallery
198 Railton Road
SE24 0JT
who:
Ken Loach, Tom Hunter
+ more
when:
11am - 5pm
what:
Video, Photography
cost:
Free
 

Chortle Fast Fringe

Going to the Fringe and don't know whose show to go book? Want to go to a London preview but stuck for choice? Embarrassingly bad attention span? This event could be the answer to your problems. 28 acts that are taking their shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will each be performing 3 minute samples of their new shows at this huge showcase in Leic... read on

where:
Leicester Square Theatre
Leicester Square
WC2H 7BP

who:
Stephen K Amos, Brendon Burns
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£13, £10 Concessions
 

Why?

OK, so we use the phrase genre-bending a lot round here - but when we're talking about Why? we really mean it - these guys are a pigeon-holer's worst nightmare. Sounding like an amalgamation of Liars, poetry, too much coffee and underground hip hop, to try to put them neatly into a box is enough to bring on a migraine of epic proportions. Tonight the... read on

where:
The Garage
22 Highbury Corner
N5 1RD

who:
Why?, Munch Munch
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Rock, Folk, Indie
cost:
£13

Tuesday 7th

Tjalf Sparnaay

Somebody (who could it have been?) once described photorealism as a 'fascinatingly pointless genre' and to some extent this is backed up by the works of Tjalf Sparnaay, who has a solo show at Plus One Gallery this July. Sparnaay paints boring everyday things - a half-empty bottle of ketchup, a fried egg, some leaves, or a shrink-wrapped chicken ... read on

where:
Plus One Gallery
91 Pimlico Road
SW1W 8PH
who:
Tjalf Sparnaay
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Punch Tavern Comedy

Held in Fleet Street's old school pub The Punch Tavern, this club gets some of the best up-and-coming acts and established stand-ups on the circuit behind the microphone. Tonight is an Edinburgh preview special with smart stand-up Robin Ince performing his new show Robin Ince versus The Moral Majority full of angry tirades and quiet musings (but mos... read on

where:
Punch Tavern
99 Fleet Street
EC4Y 1DE

who:
Pappy's Fun Club, Robin Ince
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£7, £5 Concessions
 

Dexy

Rough-housing country punk Dexy has a guitar, a message and a belly full of fire at The Bush Hall tonight. Make sure to watch out for Scandinavian singer-songwriter Awsa who will be performing her melodic, soulful pop in support. Awsa used to be a backing singer for Nick Cave, but after he asked her to 'tone it down in the background' she decide... read on

where:
Bush Hall
310 Uxbridge Road
W12 7LJ

who:
Dexy, Awsa
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Folk, Country
cost:
£6

Wednesday 8th

Death of Long Pig

Long Pig, or Pakeha, is a Polynesian word for white man. Nigel Planer's latest play is about two very talented white men facing death on different Pacific Islands: writer Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa and painter Paul Gaugin on Tahiti. The play takes contrasting attitudes to death and uses them as a starting point for a morbid meditation of it... read on

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

Ward and White's Karaoke Circus

This unique, cult karaoke show has now transferred to the bigger venue of the 100 Club to cope with demand. It features a regular house band made up of comedians Danielle Ward on bass (Mock the Week, Newswipe), Martin White on accordion and piano and David Reed from The Penny Dreadfuls on drums. Tonight has an extra-good line-up of guest comedians performi... read on

where:
100 Club
100 Oxford Street
W1D 1LL

who:
Isy Suttie, Miles Jupp
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Music
cost:
£9

Thursday 9th

Bassline: London

This July, the car park at the otherwise sleepy Barbican comes alive to the sound of deep, bone-shaking bass as part of theatrical artist Graeme Miller's vast, confusing but entirely pleasurable installation. Part multimedia installation, part free-form classical recital, and part trippy urban stunt, Bassline: London is the only place to head for... read on

where:
The Barbican
Silk Street
EC2Y 8DS
who:
Graeme Miller
when:
11am - 10pm
what:
Performance Art
cost:
Free
 

Thee Vicars

Deliberately scuzzy, garage punk band Thee Vicars sound a bit like The Sex Pistols might sound if they played '60s rock in the vein of The Kinks or The Sonics.

Not a totally outlandish concept of course, which is why Thee Vicars pull off such a feat so well. read on

where:
Buffalo Bar
259 Upper Street
N1 1RU

who:
Thee Vicars, Speak and The Spells
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£5

Friday 10th

Quacks and Cures

A free late night of fun at the Wellcome Collection this Friday. All sorts of weird and wonderful performances, interactive displays, activities and discussions looking at the strange attitudes that people have had to medicine over the last few centuries. Whilst it's easy to mock the science of the past, it's always worth remembering the words of T... read on

where:
Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Road
NW1 2BE
when:
7pm
what:
Science, Performance Art
cost:
Free
 

Jerusalem

Jez Butterworth is in the front rank of English playwrights. His latest is a Shameless-esque romp through a day in the life of a waster as he is pursued by his children, by council eviction officers, by angry drug dealers and greedy, druggy mates. It's St George's Day and the fair is in town. But where is Johnny? A twisted satirical view of Engla... read on

where:
Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square
SW1W 8AS

when:
7.30pm
what:
Melodrama, Comedy
cost:
From £10 to £25
 

Ed Banger Records 6(1/2) Birthday!

Ed Banger are absolutely great. The French electro label boast a wealth of brilliant DJs and producers; from the awesome SebastiAn to the iconic Justice. Tonight's going to be one of the parties of the year in my book. Feadz, SebastiAn, Krazy Baldhead, Mehdi, So Me and Busy P himself - who is rumoured to have 'something special brewing for this ... read on

where:
Coronet
28 New Kent Road
SE1 6TJ

who:
SebastiAn, DJ Mehdi, Busy P
+ more
when:
9pm - 5am
what:
House, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£13

Saturday 11th

Belly Laughs Live

After ten years of programming other people's comedy shows, the Underbelly launches its very own night, promising laughs galore and the cream of the worlds top stand-up comedians. Featuring special TV guests, Irish funnyman Andrew Maxwell and the wonderfully unpredictable Terry Alderton, Belly Laughs will be showing for two nights only at the Southb... read on

where:
Udderbelly
South Bank
SE1 8XX
who:
Andrew Maxwell, Terry Alderton
+ more
when:
10.45pm
what:
Stand Up, Improv
cost:
£10
 

Lot49 v Superfilth!!! Summer Spectacular

Lot49 - the forward thinking tech funk pioneers headed up by Meat Katie and Dylan Rhymes join forces with East London party-starters Superfilth!!! to literally rock the boat. Brightonites and utter dancefloor destroyers Evil Nine will be pushing the Dutch Master's 8K rig to its very limits alongside Lot49 resident Kid Blue, plus Superfilth's f... read on

where:
Dutch Master
Bridge Swan Lane
EC4R 3TN

who:
Kid Blue, Meat Katie
+ more
when:
8pm - 1am
what:
Breaks, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£25
 

Showtime present La Vie En Rose

Tonight is Egg's annual French party - honouring Bastille Day on the 14th. They always get storming French line-ups and this year is no exception, with DJ Gregory (Defected) headlining the terrace. He's had a long history in the business of house music, taking inspiration from NYC and Paris dancefloors and earning himself the award for Most Innov... read on

where:
Egg
Vale Royal
N7 9AP

who:
Mr Dickie, DJ Gregory
+ more
when:
9pm - 1am
what:
Techno/Minimal, House
cost:
£15, £12 Concessions

Sunday 12th

CABIN/ET

'Ambition. That can be a virtue when it drives us so excel.' Thus spoke Commodus, as played by Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator, quite probably the greatest film of all time. What has this got to do with a simple listing for an art exhibition? Well, it's all to do with CABIN/ET at ROOM gallery (the capitals are deliberate - we're not just doing a pointl... read on

where:
ROOM
31 Waterson Street
E2 8HT
who:
Tom Wolseley
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Installation
cost:
Free
 

Army of Flying Robots

To be honest, we're not sure if this is going ahead as last we heard Army Of Flying Robots had split up, but if this turns out to be real then we're down there with bells on. Basically, our love of these guys comes from watching them destroy house parties in Nottingham. Seriously there's nothing quite like watching some bearded tough guys play r... read on

where:
The Grosvenor
17 Sidney Road
SW9 0TP

who:
Army of Flying Robots
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Punk
cost:
£5
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