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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

Everybody Frieze!

Yes, it’s here again. The distended corporate megalith that is Frieze Art Fair plonks its bad self down in Regent’s Park for a whole week of free Pommery, anxious back-slapping and mega-bucks art sales. The world’s most influential curators, critics and eccentric billionaires are descending upon our fair city, threatening to crush us all under the great tasselled loafer of wealth. ‘Get out my way paupers, I’ve got art to see!’

On the plus side, there are all manner of great art shows going on – aside from Frieze and Zoo, there’s new daubs from YBA cow-pickler Damien Hirst, the cream of Russian contemporary art on display in West London, the last ever Free Art Fair, and a cool-sounding collaborative art-fest in a massive Hackney warehouse. Plus those weirdos at auto-italia are hosting a bestial séance in the name of art! Baffling, but brilliant.

Spoonfed’s Arts Editor will be tweeting live from all of these events and more. Follow him at twitter.com/tomjeffreys.

Upcoming

Rabid Festival

7th November 2009
More info >>

Deep Purple

14th November 2009
More info >>

Red

3rd December 2009
More info >>

Greg Davies

12th December 2009
More info >>

Friday 9th

Grayson Perry - The Walthamstow Tapestry

New work by maverick potter and occasional trannie Grayson Perry goes on show this autumn at Victoria Miro. The Walthamstow Tapestry incorporates Perry's trademark blend of high and low culture - arcane historical references vie for attention with smatterings of pop-tastic ephemera. Perry is a great craftsman and a unique voice in contemporary art read on

where:
Victoria Miro
16 Wharf Road
N1 7RW
who:
Grayson Perry
when:
10am - 6pm
what:
Art, Craft
cost:
Free
 

New Sensations 2009

Channel 4 and The Saatchi Gallery first hooked up in 2007 to present New Sensations, an award for exciting award for fresh BA or MA graduates. This year, the panel (comprising artist Gavin Turk, Hawyard Gallery director Ralph Rugoff, critic Louisa Buck and gallery owner Alison Jacques) have narrowed it down to a shortlist of four artists read on

where:
Rochelle School
Arnold Circus
E2 7ES

who:
Oliver Beer, Andreas Blank
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

The Great Extension

Hassan is a wealthy second generation Turk in the London suburbs, who wakes up one day after another night of women and wine only to find that something has happened that could turn his world upside down. The Great Extension is a comic perception of urban Britain, focusing on Islamic fundamentalism and  tackling issues of multiculturalism, racism read on

where:
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Gerry Raffles Square
E15 1BN

when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £8 to £20
 

We Fear Silence present Chew the Fat! 12th Birthday

Chew The Fat turn 12 tonight with a spring in their step and a belly full of bass. Their commitment to supporting new producers (A1bassline and Raffertie to name a couple of their more rinsing guests) has endeared them even more to us here at Spoonfed. And tonights line up looks appropriately brilliant. Headed up by Herve and Trevor Loveys' read on

where:
Arches
53 Southwark Street
SE1 1TE

who:
Herve, Trevor Loveys
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Drum & Bass, House, Electro
cost:
£13, £10 Concessions

Saturday 10th

Ian Davenport

Ian Davenport is clearly fascinated not only by the colour of paint but also by its physical properties. His huge multi-coloured works are created by letting the paint run down the canvas. These works examine the balance between the the natural world's tendency towards the random and the artist's desire for control. Whilst the process of creating read on

where:
Waddington Galleries
11 Cork Street
W1S 3LT
who:
Ian Davenport
when:
10am - 1.30pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Lot49 presents Lee Coombs' Album Launch Party

Tech-funk impresarios Lot49 throw down another serious line-up for their first party at East London rave den Hub Club. Tonight is the first in a series of parties at underground London venues as they take their multifarious musical maneuvers on a tour of the capital. Giving the 17k Turbo Sound rig a run for its money will be acid house pioneer read on

where:
Hub Club
2 Goulston Street
E1 7TP

who:
Kid Blue, Meat Katie
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Electro, Breaks, Techno/Minimal
cost:
From £8 to £12
 

murmur presents No Fit State

No Fit State number two features the talents of Wolf and Lamb - the NYC based label who've been heralded among the saviours of the stagnant house scene. Gadi and Zev - the production duo behind the label, headline tonight, with murmur label boss Geddes playing a more experimental set. Mic Newman - new kid on the Get Physical block - completes the read on

where:
Bar A Bar
135 Stoke Newington High Street
N16 8BT

who:
Geddes, Wolf and Lamb
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10
 

Bugged Out 15th Birthday

Spoonfed are very excited about tonight, as Bugged Out returns to celebrate its 15th (!!!) birthday with a masterclass in the very best DJ music across two neighbouring venues, Lightbox and Fire. Heading up the electro marathon will be Erol Alkan and the Ed Banger crew, whilst Dan Beaumont of Disco Bloodbath brings some East London disco to read on

where:
Fire
South Lambeth Road
SW8 1UQ

who:
Busy P, Erol Alkan
+ more
when:
10pm - 7am
what:
Disco, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£18

Sunday 11th

Alison's House

Based on the life and work of American poet Emily Dickinson, Alison's House re-examines the circumstances around the discovery of her poetry, through the character of Alison Stanhope. 18 years after her death Alison's old house is put on the market, but still holding her secrets, how far are Alison's family obliged to protect the past?
read on

where:
Orange Tree Theatre
1 Clarence Street
TW9 2SA
when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £9 to £14
 

Mudhoney

When Seattle spawned five piece alt-rock outfit Mudhoney, little did they know that 30 years later they would still be tearing up stages across the world with their guitar driven noise bombs. Steering clear of the mainstream, they prefer to set the trends instead of following them. As soon as grunge hit the big time, Mudhoney decided it was read on

where:
KOKO
1a Camden High Street
NW1 7JE

who:
Mudhoney, The Heads
when:
7pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£15

Monday 12th

Free Art Fair

Jasper Joffe set up the brilliant Free Art Fair back in 2007 to counter the growing dominance of market-based economics in the contemporary art world. Coinciding with the bloated back-slapping monster that is Frieze, The Free Art Fair gives art back to the people. For free! Register, turn up and with a bit of luck you'll get to take home a work by ... read on

where:
The Barbican
Silk Street
EC2Y 8DS
who:
Jasper Joffe, Harry Pye, Cathy Lomax
+ more
when:
9am - 10pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

Richard Herring - As It Occurs To Me

A new weekly internet stand up and sketch show written and performed by top stand-up comedian and star of BBC2's Fist of Fun, Richard Herring. Each week, all the material (untested and uncensored) is generated from topical events and news from planet Herring. Download for free from iTunes or go and be part of the live audience every Monday night from... read on

where:
Leicester Square Theatre
Leicester Square
WC2H 7BP

who:
Richard Herring
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up, Sketches
cost:
£10

Tuesday 13th

Walead Beshty

London-born contemporary artist Walead Beshty produces work on photographic paper that is, at its best, frequently staggeringly beautiful. His mastery of colour is pure and utterly mesmeric.

Beshty has a solo show this winter at Thomas Dane - we suggest you check it out. read on

where:
Thomas Dane
11 Suke St St James
SW1Y 6BN
who:
Walead Beshty
when:
11am - 4pm
what:
Photography
cost:
Free
 

Raoul

Crying Out Loud theatre company presents breathtaking acrobat James Thierree, whose shows combine circus dexterity with magic, poetry and visual comedy to create incredible theatrical events. His latest, Raoul, is a hot ticket for the autumn. Raoul tells the story of a young man travelling through alternate utopian fantasies in which appearances... read on

where:
Barbican Main Theatre
Silk Street
EC2Y 8BQ

when:
7.45pm
what:
Dance
cost:
From £10 to £35

Wednesday 14th

JT Projects 09

A two-week long collaboratively organised art-fest at James Taylor Gallery in Hackney. They've invited six local arts organisations to take part in the fun, so there's separate exhibitions presented by The Centre of the Universe, Fieldgate Gallery, Five Years, Katie Guggenheim, Supine Studios, Transition Gallery and the hosts themselves, James T... read on

where:
James Taylor Gallery
Collent Street
E9 6SQ
who:
Katie Guggenheim, Fieldgate, Transition
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

Willy Mason

A country singer reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, Willy Mason is an artist with real pedigree. Born and raised in Martha's Vineyard, he has combined his parents' love of gentle American folk with a political and social conscience picked up from an adolescence spent listening to Rage Against The Machine and Nirvana. Tonight he plays an int... read on

where:
St Giles in the Fields
60 St Giles High Street
WC2H 8LG

who:
Willy Mason
when:
7pm
what:
Folk
cost:
£13
 

The Federals

The Federals bring their garage rock to the Proud Galleries tonight. Though they may look like indie kids, their rock n roll attitudes prove that nothing could be further from the truth.

Ripping up the stage with their guitar driven rock, expect a chaotic night of musical mayhem. read on

where:
Proud Camden
Chalk Farm Road
NW1 8AH

who:
The Federals, The Rifles
when:
7.30pm
what:
Rock
cost:
£7

Thursday 15th

Kandinsky Prize in London

Founded by Shalva Breus, editor of ArtChronika Magazine, the Kandinsky Prize is today probably the most important contemporary art prize in Russia. This winter work by the short-listed artists is on display at the wonderful Louise T Blouin Institute in Notting Hill. There's work across a range of different media - painting, photography, sculpture ... read on

where:
Louise T Blouin Institute
3 Olaf Street
W11 4BE
when:
10am - 9pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

Cobra Killer, Drum Eyes, Angie Reed

Managing to sound like Peaches, DAF and the Refused all at the same time, Cobra Killer are two well-dressed ladies who grew out of the digital hardcore scene of late '90s Berlin, thanks mainly to the support of Alec Empire (who has always been like the Charles Manson of German punk) and their playful live shows that are a stark contrast to the revoluti... read on

where:
The Lexington
96-98 Pentonville Road
N1 9JB


who:
Cobra Killer, Drum Eyes
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Electronica
cost:
£9
 

A Night With...

The first lady of M_Nus and label mate Heartthrob touch down at T Bar for a rare, intimate, free session of minimal tech, house and twisted electronica.
read on

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

who:
Magda, Heartthrob
when:
9pm - 3am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
Free

Friday 16th

Tom Basden

Talented musician, if.comedy 'Best Newcomer' 2007 and BAFTA nominee, Tom Basden performs his Edinburgh show Now That's What I Call Music Based Comedy at the Soho Theatre this weekend.

Expect lots of funny songs, ideas and visual gags ('Obamas in Pyjamas' is a highlight) from this talented young comic. read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE
who:
Tom Basden
when:
8pm
what:
Music
cost:
£8
 

Maxi Priest

Maxi Priest is a renowned performer and remains the only UK reggae artist to have reached number one in the US. His music is often nearer to R&B and pop, but he has gained international acclaim over a career spanning 21 years. If you love reggae, soul, lovers rock, gospel, and R&B then this is the concert for you. The UK's 'King of Lovers... read on

where:
Royal Festival Hall
Belvedere Road
SE1 8XX

who:
Maxi Priest
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Reggae
cost:
£15
 

Trouble Vision 1st Birthday

On September 19th 2008, Corsica Studios threw open their doors to the first ever Trouble Vision party. Since then the night has got bigger and better, month on month, tirelessly keeping pace with dance music's breathless evolution. Tonight Trouble Vision celebrate their 1st birthday with grimey bass monster Plastician, good times jungle heavyw... read on

where:
Corsica Studios
Farrell Court
SSE17 1LB

who:
Shy FX, Hannah Holland
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
House, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£12

Saturday 17th

Better Place Portraiture / Fantasmagora

Gosh those folks down at auto-italia are busy little bees this October. They're hosting five seperate events in just four days at their massive old car showroom in Peckham. Hectic! Well this Saturday they're playing host to a bestial séance. Yes really, and it's courtesy of Better Place Portraiture (aka Darren Banks and Flora Whiteley). Visitors ... read on

where:
auto-italia
1 Glengall Road
SE15 6NJ

who:
Darren Banks, Flora Whiteley
when:
10pm
what:
Performance Art
cost:
Free
 

Fabric 10th Birthday Weekend

Wow. To celebrate the most notorious and well loved club in London turning 10, they have conjured a line up that dreams are made of. Sentimental, vital, historical; the collected DJs represent the rise of one of the most respected venues in clubbing history. Villalobos, Steve Bug, Andrew Weatherall, Bill Brewster; the prospect is both mouth-waterin... read on

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

who:
Andrew Weatherall, Richard Villalobos
+ more
when:
11pm - 5am
what:
Techno/Minimal, Electro, House
cost:
£25

Sunday 18th

Damien Hirst - The Blue Paintings

After making his name putting cows in alcohol, coating skulls with diamonds and employing staff to undertake the oh-so-challenging task of putting spots onto canvases, Damien Hirst has decided to produce some real paintings, with a brush and everything! And, check this out, he's actuallly done them himself. Intriguingly he's shunned the whole ... read on

where:
Wallace Collection
Hertford House
W1U 3BN
who:
Damien Hirst
when:
10am - 5pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

The Tony Law Show

As seen on Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle, Tony Law, winner of the Comedians' Choice award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival hits the roads of Britain for his first national tour. Expect surreal yarns and playful imagery from this talented Canadian stand-up. Note: 'Airline Style' Pricing - the earlier you book the cheaper the tickets. Fr... read on

where:
Southwark Playhouse
Shipwright Yard
SE1 2TF

who:
Tony Law
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £8 to £18
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