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.

Friday 15th

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

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 - the bar in the old Tea Building.

Seeing and being seen is the game, as the assembled drag artistes and fashion kids compete for most outrageous/bizarre outfit. DJs spin the electro and pop remixes, with special guests and exclusive performances providing further highlights.

Saturday 16th

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

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.

Sunday 17th

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.

Monday 18th

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.

Tuesday 19th

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 real reason Ali and Nada can't be together.

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 with no charge to the public, to the performers or to the venue owners so it truly is a free comedy experience.

They're hoping to grow further and carry on bringing free shows to Edinburgh in August so this is a perfect gig to see some quality comedy and support a worthy, not-for-profit festival.

Wednesday 20th

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!'

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 having been an Allied soldier at the liberation of Auschwitz.

Conflicted is an understatement. Are the challenges facing this inter-religious love insurmountable or is there a path to reconciliation?

Thursday 21st

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 are explored in intriguing fashion.

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 of a wife."

Currently supporting Ricky Gervais on his new tour, Francis is simultaneously touring the UK himself at the moment with Tour de Francis. Give the man a hand for stamina! You can catch him in the artsdepot this evening as his tour swoops into town for one night only.

This event was scheduled in November but due to it's popularity it has been moved from the studio to the Pentland Theatre,now on the 21st January.

Friday 22nd

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 films from the last 6 months lined up and and live comedy from: BBC6's Adam Buxton (The Adam and Joe Show), respected comedy writer Graham Linehan (Father Ted, Black Books, The IT Crowd, Big Train) and rapper-turned-comic Doc Brown.

Read Emma's review of Popcorn Comedy.

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 challenge you to take your most cynical mate to one of his gigs and see if he's not won over by the end.

Tonight Withered Hand brings his reflective observations and acoustic guitar for a headline set tonight at the Wilmington, with Sweet Baboo and and up-and-coming Californian folk-popsters Lofty Heights in support.

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, Herve, Sinden and techy merchants Noisia.

Saturday 23rd

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 sprinkled with a dash of Tom Hunter magic.

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.

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 residents Francesco poggi and Fabiano Binaglia plus Alfredo Ramos.

A special soiree for Heroes!

Sunday 24th

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.

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 that come our way and the chances we never take. A thought provoking play that will resonate with every generation.