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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

Train Freeze

Ice + rain + snow + wind + TfL = completely rubbish. And yet still London has so much to offer us.

For those in search of a laugh or two amidst all this horrible weather, funny fellow and king of awkwardness Ricky Gervais has announced a string of London dates for 2010, and Emma chats to the Canadian support act, Stewart Francis. At the same time, the news that a Facebook group has saved a historic music pub from gastrofication should be enough to bring warmth to even the coldest hearts.

Christmas in Theatreland has seen record ticket sales for West End musicals, something that will no doubt continue thanks to the opening of the bright pink, diamanté-encrusted whirlwind that is Legally Blonde, The Musical.

Meanwhile, in the world of art, we lift the lid on the future of street art, demonstrating that there's more to urban art than Banksy. Plus, Artfeelers personally guided art tours are helping new people to discover the East London contemporary art scene. Marvellous.

Upcoming

Decked Out

5th February 2010
More info >>

Judi Dench!

9th February 2010
More info >>

Billy Childish

17th February 2010
More info >>

Depeche Mode

20th February 2010
More info >>

Friday 15th

South Tower Social

The wonderfully named Old Mayfair Carpet Gallery opens this January with an exhibition of work across a range of media by a host of local South London artists and arts organisations. Alongside a group installation of the three gallery co-owners - Chris Land, Eden Mitsenmacher and Patrick Staff - is a packed programme of performances, film read on

where:
Old Mayfair Carpet Gallery
301-303 Borough High Street
SE1 6JG
who:
Chris Land, Patrick Staff
+ more
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

Circus

London swings again, this time both ways. Circus is a London institution. It's early days in the Soho Revue Bar established Jodie Harsh's anything-goes, cross-dressing showdown as a one of a kind club night. More spectacle than anything - with the clientelle providing the colour and high-jinks. They've returned as a monthly - tonight at Concrete ... read on

where:
Concrete
56 Shoreditch High Street
E1 6JJ

who:
Jodie Harsh, Scottee
+ more
when:
10pm
what:
Electro, Pop
cost:
£10

Saturday 16th

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

The Playground kick off 2010 and the new decade with a night showcasing a few acts bound to become prominent in the next few years, not least Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, a band that is dedicated to making you smile and moving your feet courtesy of boisterous breaks and ear-shattering bass. Also worth checking out are Citadels who are read on

where:
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
E1 6RU
who:
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Indie, Electro
cost:
£7
 

A Bunch of Cuts

Innovative DnB/dubstep/future garage producer D-Bridge fronts this edition of A Bunch of Cuts, which sees the eclectic breaks night shift from The Arches to nearby Cable, and to a Saturday instead of a Friday.

Expect the beats to throw you off balance and the basslines to grip you from within - this night is not for the faint-hearted.
read on

where:
Cable
33a Bermondsey Street
SE1 2EG

who:
Fabio, D-Bridge
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Breaks, House, Funk/Soul
cost:
£13

Sunday 17th

Lulu & the Lampshades

Self-effacing folk troupe Lulu and the Lampshades are a band that should be put on government posters warning of the dangers of too much sugar and E numbers.

A bunch of hopelessly enthusiastic indie pop kids, they bash improvised instruments and make songs about cycling. In short, they're basically soundtracking fun. read on

where:
The Luminaire
311 Kilburn High Road
NW6 7JR
who:
Lulu & the Lampshades
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Folk
cost:
£7

Monday 18th

Men

Brooklyn-based band/performance collective Men aren't like your usual indie/electro band.

No, rather than just making pretty jams you can dance to, they focus on the radical potential of dance, and make booty-shaking tunes that speak of issues as diverse as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties.
read on

where:
Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
2 Hoxton Square
N1 6NU

who:
Men
when:
8pm
what:
Indie, Electro
cost:
£9

Tuesday 19th

I am Yusuf and this is My Brother

Ali and Nada can never marry becasue Nada's father thinks Ali's brother, Yusuf, is 'odd'. More than a family saga, this play is set in 1948 when Palestine is still a British mandate and 'the catastrophe' is on it's way. When it strikes, the UN votes and Palestine is up for grabs. Villagers become refugees and secrets are revealed including the ... read on

where:
Young Vic
66 The Cut
SE1 8LZ
when:
7.30pm
what:
Romance, Tragedy
cost:
From £10 to £22.50
 

Free Fringe Benefit

To help support Peter Buckley Hill's Free Fringe, some of the best stand-ups on the UK circuit are performing in this special benefit show tonight. Peter Buckley Hill, or PBH, is known to be something of a legend in comedy circles due to his contribution in founding the Free Fringe in 1996. This Edinburgh Festival institution puts on comedy gigs ... read on

where:
Bloomsbury Theatre
15 Gordon Street
WC1H 0AH

who:
Robin Ince, Stewart Lee
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£20

Wednesday 20th

Dethscalator

Stoke Newington may be the last place that comes to mind when you think of sludge metal, but turn over enough stones and you'll find Dethscalator - one of the scuzziest of the lot!

Sounding like an unholy pairing of Black Sabbath and Big Business they make music that Chaos Vs Cosmos described as "wuuurwuuurwuuuur CLANG! - Aaaaaaaaaagh!'
read on

where:
The Windmill
Blenheim
SW2 5BZ
who:
Dethscalator + more
when:
7pm
what:
Metal
cost:
£5
 

Unveiling Hagar

Max is a widower. Depressed after the death of his wife Lisa and at war with his unsympathetic sister-in law, he manages somehow to fall in love. And he falls hard. After what feels like a lifetime of self-denial Max finds Layla, a Palestinian devoted to the liberation of her country. A slight problem for Max there, him being Jewish and his father h... read on

where:
New End Theatre
27 New End
NW3 1JD

when:
9.15pm
what:
Romance
cost:
£15, £12 Concessions

Thursday 21st

Ralph Dorey and Jonathan Lewis

An unlikely-seeming collaborative exhibition launches the 2010 programme at Schwartz Gallery. Jonathan Lewis does inkjet prints of luxury fashion stores whilst Ralph Dorey produces conceptually complex sculptural installations. And yet, together their work has an unexpected power - notions of the outsider and the relationship with the ritualistic... read on

where:
Schwartz Gallery
92 White Post Lane
E9 5EN
who:
Jonathan Lewis, Ralph Dorey
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Printing, Installation
cost:
Free
 

Stewart Francis

Canadian comic Stewart Francis is one of the best craftsmen in the business when it comes to one-liners. He has his own inimitable style with deadpan jokes that are so cleverly constructed you barely have time to stop laughing before the next one hits you. "My girlfriend says I'm afraid of commitment. Well she's not really my girlfriend. More... read on

where:
artsdepot
5 Nether Street
N12 0GA

who:
Stewart Francis
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£15, £13 Concessions

Friday 22nd

Popcorn Comedy

Comedians are often making or starring in loads of short films but don't often have a platform to show them off apart from T'Internet. Popcorn Comedy is a fantastic new monthly club mixing live comedy from some of the best on the circuit with the funniest videos found online. This month's gig looks particularly exciting with a pick of the best f... read on

where:
The Tabernacle
Powis Square
W11 2AY
who:
Adam Buxton
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up, Sketches
cost:
£10
 

Withered Hand

Known for a dreamy, ethereal sound, Scottish folk act and one-time King Creosote collaborator, Withered Hand definitely isn't your normal singer songwriter. Influenced as much by Pavement as Belle and Sebastian, his songs are dry-humoured lessons in self deprecation, laced with witty-one liners and easy charm. In fact, he's so likeable, we chal... read on

where:
Wilmington Arms
69 Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4RL

who:
Withered Hand
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Folk
cost:
£7
 

Earstorm

Tonight is the first in a series of shows curated by Pendulum. Their taste is excellent. The Glitch Mob are the West Coast glitch hop pioneers who have quickly conquered California and are systematically bringing the heavy West Coast sound further afield. Their massive beats will absolutely destroy Matter tonight. They're joined by Zane Lowe, ... read on

where:
Matter
Peninsular Square
SE10 0DY

who:
The Glitch Mob, Zane Lowe
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Breaks, Drum & Bass, Electro
cost:
£15

Saturday 23rd

Nicholas Middleton - Black and White Paintings

Who doesn't love a healthy dose of photorealism every now and again? Nicholas Middleton works directly from photographs to produce stunning black and white oil paintings that vary in terms of composition from casual moment-capturing snaps to more staged tableaux. The resulting works have something of Stephen Gill's highly attentive realism sprink... read on

where:
ARCH
15 Resolution Way
SE8 4NT
who:
Nicholas Middleton
when:
10am - 5pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Cosmographia

Splendidly occultish weirdness at Transition Gallery this January and February.

Steve Richards and Rachel Cattle present a new video work inspired by all manner of obscure symbolism, arcane tracts, and other esoteric bits and bobs.

The whole oddball occult thing is pretty big right now, and this kind of exhibition is one of the reasons why. read on

where:
Transition Gallery
8 Andrews Road
E8 4QN

who:
Steve Richards, Alex Cattle
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Video Art
cost:
Free
 

A Night for Heroes

Three promoters team up to bring you A Night For Heroes. In the basement, Concepto - a new venture by the man behind Liason Harry Hammond - will be rocking things. They have Lee Rands, Dan Farserelli and Michael Wells pulling the punches for them. Soulful House East (SHE) return to Egg with Funky Soldiers flying the flag and Meganite bring resi... read on

where:
Egg
Vale Royal
N7 9AP

who:
Francesco Poggi
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£12

Sunday 24th

Happy Huw Year

Radio 1 new music DJ Huw Stephens hand picks the bands on show tonight at the Lock Tavern. Highlights include up and coming Sunderland indie-poppers Frankie and the Heartstrings.
read on

where:
Lock Tavern
35 Chalk Farm Road
NW1 8AJ
who:
Swanton Bombs
+ more
when:
3pm - 11pm
what:
Indie
cost:
Free
 

Doorway - kapi araligi

How many open doors do we walk away from? How many doors do we open for ourselves? How many do we walk through? It goes on but essentially the door is one heck of a metaphor in this one act play in both English and Turkish. Ala-Turka, the Arcola's Turkish theatre group, wants to show you what's behind few doors. An exploration of the opportunities ... read on

where:
Arcola Theatre
27 Arcola Street
E8 2DJ

when:
6pm
what:
Melodrama
cost:
£5
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