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7th September 2010
A free weekly ezine featuring the best events in London

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Illustration by Julie Khan

Swoop de Grâce

So the folks at Climate Camp decided upon Blackheath as the place upon which to swoop in order to show the world that they’re not happy with the government’s environmental policies. Whatever one’s allegiance in this particular debate, there’s no doubt that they chose a good place for it. Historically good that is: we doubt the local residents are that delighted.

Blackheath was the rallying point, in 1381, for the Peasants Revolt – led by Wat Tyler, John Ball and Jack Straw (no, not that one). Of course, it was a dismal failure with Tyler getting stroppy and then stabbed in the neck by William Walworth, the Lord Mayor of London. One assumes Climate Camp will be an altogether more peaceful affair.

In other news, this weekend is Carnival, of course. Why not follow Spoonfed’s myriad Carnival updates on Twitter? #nhc09

Upcoming

Janeane Garofalo

25th September 2009
More info >>

Simian Mobile Disco

2nd October 2009
More info >>

Annie Get Your Gun

3rd October 2009
More info >>

Damien Hirst

14th October 2009
More info >>

Friday 28th

'Portrait (for a screenplay) of Beth Harmon' - From the novel 'The Queen's Gambit' by Walter Tevis

And, by unanimous decision, the prize for most unwieldy exhibition title of 2009 goes to this bizarre-sounding Sean Edwards project at Limoncello. 'Portrait (for a screenplay) of Beth Harmon' - From the novel 'The Queen's Gambit' by Walter Tevis is a long-running project that features work by artists invited to take part by Edwards. The whole read on

where:
Limoncello
15a Cremer Street
E2 8HD
who:
Sean Edwards
+ more
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Art, Gallery
cost:
Free
 

Swanton Bombs

A conceptual indie duo from London, by way of Essex, Swanton Bombs have been turning heads all summer by disseminating pounding riffs and tongue-in-cheek lyricism throughout the UK.

Sounding a bit like those weird songs on a Blur album, they're cute without ever crossing over into hopelessly twee territory, and could just be our new favourite band. read on

where:
Old Blue Last
39 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3ES

who:
Swanton Bombs
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Indie
cost:
Free

Saturday 29th

The Toy Hearts

Since the release of their first album, 'If The Blues Comes Calling' in 2006, Birmingham-based bluegrass and swing outfit, The Toy Hearts, have gained an enviable reputation as one of the UK's hottest country acts. Taking influences from old US family outfits like The Carter Family, they're a dazzling array of bold harmonies, original songwriting read on

where:
Green Note
106 Parkway
NW1 7AN
who:
The Toy Hearts
when:
6.30pm
what:
Country
cost:
£6
 

A New World

Trevor Griffiths' new play brings to life the radical author Thomas Paine, author of The Rights of Man and original inventor of the minimum wage, against a backdrop of ferment and revolution across Europe and the world. Paine was an English Radical born in 1737 who lived through times of massive change, when old shackles were cast off and freedom read on

where:
Globe Theatre
New Globe Walk
SE1 9DR

when:
7.30pm
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £5 to £33
 

Slutty Fringe Re-Launch Party

Slutty Fringe is a blog. A music blog which mixes upfront club tracks with blistering copy. They turn three years old tonight (an age in blog terms) as well as celebrating the revamp of their site. They've bagged Trevor Jackson to spin some of his magic, plus Grovesnor with the full six piece band and I Haunt Wizards playing live. The indomitable read on

where:
Cargo
83 Rivington Street
EC2A 3AY

who:
John Power, Trevor Jackson
+ more
when:
7pm - 3am
what:
Funk/Soul, Disco, Electro, House
cost:
Free

Sunday 30th

The Trap 2009 Comeback Special

After three quiet years off the live circuit, Edinburgh Fringe favourites 'The Trap' return with a brand new sketch show. Comprising of Jeremy Limb, Paul Litchfield and Dan Mersh, the trio were renowned for their Bad Play show series - a parody of student theatre using innovative multimedia and ludicrous props like glass bagpipes and tandem bikes read on

where:
Etcetera Theatre
265 Camden High Street
NW1 7BU
who:
The Cakes
when:
7.30pm
what:
Sketches
cost:
£8
 

Get Loaded in the Park Official After-Party

Established indie-dance troupe Simian Mobile Disco join the hotly-tipped Bloody Beetroots to headline an official after-party for South London's iconic electronic summer day festival at Clapham Common, Get Loaded In the Park. In Room 1 Wetyourself residents Peter Pixzel & Co. provide solid support for the Simian boys with crackin' electro read on

where:
Fabric
67-77a Charterhouse Street
EC1M 6HJ

who:
Simian Mobile Disco
+ more
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
House, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
From £5 to £10
 

Notting Hill Carnival

Everybody loves Notting Hill Carnival, the two-day street party in West London celebrating Caribbean culture and offering the chance to dance in the streets to a variety of different sounds, from laid back reggae and dub to funk, soul, house, bassline, grime, dubstep, drum n bass and hip hop. The predominant sound is Soca, and Calypso from the read on

where:
Notting Hill
when:
10am - 7pm
what:
Festival
cost:
Free
 

Bank Holiday All-Day Blow Out

More than a viable alternative to Carnival, the Old Queen's Head's Bank Holiday blow-outs are the stuff of legend. 12 hours of the freshest and best music from a discerning selection of bands and DJs, with two floors of drinking and dancing mayhem. We always love this pub but it really comes alive when there's no school on a Monday. For a North L... read on

where:
Old Queen's Head
44 Essex Road
N1 8LN

who:
Does It Offend You Yeah? The Rakes
+ more
when:
3pm - 3am
what:
Indie, Electro, Rock
cost:
£4

Monday 31st

S.L.A.C.K. Soundsystem

One of the best-looking parties surrounding the Carnival this year is S.L.A.C.K's bash at the Metropolitan. Even though it's not a late one, the line-up featuring Shy FX and Annie Mac means breaks in your face and dancehall sounds to keep your grin plastered on until just in time for the last tube. The Metropolitan is a quality boozer just a few ... read on

where:
The Metropolitan
60 Great Western Road
W11 1AB
who:
Annie Mac, Shy FX
+ more
when:
2pm - 11.30pm
what:
Dubstep, Breaks, Dancehall
cost:
From £10 to £15
 

Major Lazer

Spoonfed is pretty excited about this little kernel of loveliness. Major Lazer Soundsystem puts on an almighty spread of Diplo, Switch, Buraka Som Sistema's J-Wow and scores more of cutting edge DJs. Expect the finest electro, disco, techno and global sounds. Not only that, but there will be a complimetary BBQ, free drinks on offer AND it's free ... read on

where:
Under the Westway
Acklam Road
W10 5JJ

who:
Toddla T, Diplo
+ more
when:
12pm - 7pm
what:
Electro, Disco, Funk/Soul
cost:
£12

Tuesday 1st

Katrina

An extraordinary piece of documentary theatre by Jonathan Holmes, telling the story of Hurricane Katrina, and the millions of New Orleans citizens left stranded by their government in the aftermath. The shockingly slow reaction of the Bush government, when citizens had to fend for themselves for up to a week, was one of the low-points of modern Ame... read on

where:
Bargehouse
Oxo Tower Wharf
Bargehouse Street
SE1 9PH
when:
8pm
what:
Performance Art
cost:
£17
 

Cherbourg

London four-piece Cherbourg have been making smart tongues wag and young hearts flutter in the capital for a few months now and have been rewarded with a show at the ICA.Known as much for their virtuosity as for their soaring pop edged melodies, dynamic compositions and glorious four part vocal harmonies, they're definitely worth checking out if yo... read on

where:
ICA
The Mall
SW1Y 5AH

who:
Cherbourg + more
when:
8pm
what:
Folk, Indie
cost:
£8.50

Wednesday 2nd

Jane Austen's Guide to Pornography

There's a bit of a vogue for fusions at the moment what with Zombie Dickens and all that, but this saucy show at Theatre503 has been around for a few years. It's a sharp, salacious example of genre-splicing. 21st Century writer Bret, master of all things crude and downright filthy battles it out with the queen of all things proper, Jane Austen, in ... read on

where:
Theatre 503
503 Battersea Park Road
SW11 3BW
when:
Times vary
what:
Comedy
cost:
£10
 

Mikelangelo and The Black Sea Gentlemen

The Black Sea Gentlemen have come a long way since they exploded onto the British comedy circuit in 2006, earning themselves a stack of 5 star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe. They have been travelling the globe, packing out theatres from Budapest to the Sydney Opera House and ringmaster Mikelangelo has toured the world as part of the Olivier-... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE

who:

when:
10pm
what:
Comedy
cost:
From £15 to £17.50

Thursday 3rd

Canary Wharf Film Festival

The wonderful Canary Wharf Film Festival returns this September for the third time, bringing with it a host of the most exciting short films produced within the UK and around the world. There’s award-winning shorts from major festivals like Cannes and Sundance, a focus on Serbian cinema, all manner of other films, the Big Film Quiz, a photogr... read on

where:
Canary Wharf
when:
Times vary
what:
Film
cost:
Prices vary
 

Heringa / Van Kalsbeek

Having seen some of their weird mixed media sculptures sitting about in one of the back rooms at Vegas Gallery we can vouch for the fact that the work of Dutch art duo Heringa / Van Kalsbeek is absolutely stunning. Well now the gallery presents their first UK solo show - these weird, dark, magical works really are incredible, so go and check i... read on

where:
Vegas Gallery
64-66 Redchurch Street
E2 7DP

who:
Heringa / Van Kalsbeek
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Sculpture
cost:
Free
 

Tea Potty?

'Ooh nice cuppa tea, Alan Bennett, eeeeh, woollen jumper. Eeeh not in my day, lad. Oooh no. Know what I mean?' 'No idea I'm afraid old thing. What?' Yes! It's tea time! Well, at Spoonfed it's always tea time. And so it is too at SDC Gallery (well for two months this autumn that is). There's lots of tea sets and a variety of accoutrements produced ... read on

where:
SDC Gallery
24 Rivington Street
EC2A 3DA

when:
12pm - 5pm
what:
Art, Craft, Design
cost:
Free

Friday 4th

Pestival

Stripes: check. Stings: check. Ability to produce honey: check. Yup, there can be no doubt about it, bees totally frickin' rule. And it looks like those lovely folks at the South Bank Centre agree too. The first weekend of September sees a load of venues round the area taken over by a swarm of different insects (with bees featuring rather stro... read on

where:
Various Venues
South Bank
SE1
who:
Bob and Roberta Smith, Robin Ince, Tessa Farmer
+ more
when:
10am
what:
Festival
cost:
Free
 

Offset Festival

Set in Hainault Forest, a beautiful woodland area just outside London, Offset Festival is quite a change from your usual mudfest. With over 150 artists playing over 7 stages, there's something here to satisfy everyone. They get some pretty big headliners as well; last year saw Wire and Gang Of Four rocking the main stage. Unbelievably this year is loo... read on

where:
Hainault Forest
who:
The Slits, The Horrors
+ more
when:
12pm - late
what:
Festival
cost:
From £27.99
 

Shawshank Redemption

Many, many people would name the movie based on Stephen King's novella, The Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, as their favourite film of all time. It's so great, it even breaks down the  resistance of hardened Spoonfed cynics. You have to love it. Produced by Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, the stage version is by all acco... read on

where:
Wyndhams Theatre
Charing Cross Road
WC2H 0DA

when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £10 to £50

Saturday 5th

Live at the Chapel

Live At The Chapel has been running for nearly two years and it still manages to produce top class bills every month. Tonight's line-up consists of the bumbling charms of comedy whirlwind Mark Watson, the eccentric and spontaneous Phil Kay, if.comedy nominee and character comedian Pippa Evans and the lovable and laconic Alun Cochrane. There will... read on

where:
Union Chapel
Compton Avenue
N1 2XD
who:
Mark Watson, Phil Kay
+ more
when:
7.45pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£15
 

Alpha-Ville 09

Alpha-Ville is the first in a series of audiovisual events. They mesh electronic music, digital media, visual treats and short film.

Within the plush environs of Bloomsbury's Horse Hospital, the debut looks subversive and interesting, straying from the predictable clubnight formula and importing cutting edge European talent to the heart of London.
read on

where:
Horse Hospital
30 Colonnade
WC1N 1JD

who:
Testphase, Arbol
+ more
when:
8pm - 11.30pm
what:
Electronica
cost:
£7
 

Glue

Glue returns after a storming launch party, dishing up a caustic bumper crop of electro, breaks, house and all breeds of rave. Heading up this edition are excellent bass-face buccaneers and Z Shed residents the Pirate Soundsystem. Fidget, bassline, grime, breaks and dubstep in one handy package. Hot on their heels is Mr No Hands - resident of Ali... read on

where:
Horse & Groom
26 Curtain Road
EC2A 3NZ

who:
Apply the Breaks, Mr No Hands
+ more
when:
9pm - 4am
what:
Electro, House, Breaks
cost:
£5

Sunday 6th

Fol Chen

You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Presence' album? Fol Chen sound like that.

Well with a bit more Amun Dull and Pere Ubu thrown in, but you get the picture. Anyway, tonight the LA dance punks make a triumphant return to The Windmill, and it should get really messy. read on

where:
The Windmill
Blenheim Gardens
SW2 5BZ
who:
Fol Chen, Blanco
when:
7pm
what:
Electro, Indie
cost:
£5
 

Doug Stanhope

Stanhope is a raging, no-holds-barred stand-up and is probably the closest thing you will see to Bill Hicks working in comedy today. He himself describes his act as 'fetish'; a kind of comedy that's been beaten until it's both black and blue. It's wrong, it's sick, but you're getting a kick out of it at the same time. He managed to trigger a mass... read on

where:
Leicester Square Theatre
Leicester Square
WC2H 7BP

who:
Doug Stanhope
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£20
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