6th February 2012

gigs clubbing art comedy theatre blog competitions

Illustration by Julie Khan

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At Spoonfed, we're always trying to bring you the newest and coolest things. And occasionally we do cool things ourselves, like launching a specialist Clubbing page.

And what timing! Sunday is the birthday of the late, great J-Dilla and we've put on a bit of a special tribute. Looking ahead to festival season and Bloc have just announced a belting line-up that includes Skream, Roots Manuva, Nathan Fake and Salt N Pepa. But Bestival have risen to the challenge by booking major names like Dizzee Rascal, LCD Soundsystem and Simian Mobile Disco.

In other news, anyone looking for cheap/stupid Valentine's Day Ideas could do worse than read Dom's ode to Josh Hartnett. Plus we've got a cracking interview with comedian Tim Key, as well as a host of amazing competitions. Win tickets to the Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs Live or the Literary Death Match? Why, thank you very much.

Oh, and Jeremy has a chat with Joe Mangel from Neighbours. Bonza!

Friday 5th

The ever-innovative Giacomo Brunelli takes nature photography to a whole new level with his recent series of images that capture animals on patrol in their native London streets. The sometimes savage, eerie quality to his photographs, shot on black and white film with an old 35mm camera, intrusively depicts the instinctive ways animals

Liverpudlian stand-up John Bishop brings his latest, Eddie Award nominated show to North Finchley's artsdepot tonight. Bishop is now the same age as Elvis was when he died (hence the title). This fact has led him to reconsider the way he lives his life, since giving up his job in marketing to follow his dream of being a comedian. A married

Decked Out are the DJ agency which launched in 2000 as an offshoot of the infamous Bugged Out - and tonight is their 10th anniversary as well as being one of the most exciting club nights to rear its head in 2010. The DJs will be playing special sets: Justice's Xavier is playing with Erol Alkan, Busy P is playing a French touch set, Crookers are

Saturday 6th

A grouping of three London youths signed to über dance label Kitsune, Chew Lips have been hailed as the saviours of 8-bit drone disco/synth pop.

If your wondering what that's like, then try to imagine Gang Gang Dance fronted by Karen O doing a Debbie Harry impression. Yeah, it's as awesome as it sounds.

Character comedian Adam Riches brings his hilarious Rogue Males show to the Soho Theatre. An examination of the essence of chap, the show features a new line up of characters including Lottery Voice Guy, disgraced court minstrel The Lone Dueller, Hernan the angry Latino waiter and Ian Dustry, the Busiest Most Powerful Entertainment Agent in the

Sunday 7th

Anyone ever been to the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford? Man, it's cool. Set up in 1884 by the wonderfully named General Augustus Pitt Rivers, the museum houses his weird and wonderful collection of bits and bobs he found on his travels round the world. Stuff like Hawaiian feather cloaks, early japanese Noh masks, and - the best of the lot, we

Punsmith Tim Vine returns with a new show, Joke-amotive. Train gags aside, expect more razor-sharp one-liners, first class punnery and pinpoint comic timing. If such one-liners as: "I was reading this book, 'The History of Glue'. I couldn't put it down." and "Exit signs. They're on the way out, aren't they?" make you guffaw like

Monday 8th

An exhibition of fashion-tastic photography at the Liberty exhibition space this February and March.

Curated by the ever-innovative people over at Spring Projects, this show features work that twitches between high-end glam and something more than a little LA-style trashy. Look out in particular for Alice Hawkins' deceptively complex images.

Tuesday 9th

Probably the best-named band ever? Well certainly in the top few anyway. But it's not just a great name; British Sea Power are completely awesome. Obsessed with cycling, nature and obscure bits of twentieth century history, British Sea Power play murky atmospheric rock, pleasantly leavened with a nice slice of wit.

Their live shows are amazing too - frequently featuring a stage covered in leaves and a veritable host of stuffed animals.

This is the show that won comic poet Tim Key the main Edinburgh Comedy Award last year - one of the highest accolades a comedian can receive in the UK.

On the back of his 2008 show The Slut In The Hut he published his first book (25 Poems, 3 Recipes and 32 Other Suggestions) and became resident poet on Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe and Newswipe. Now he's back with The Slutcracker: a meatier show combining poetry with experimental films, high-drama, yelling and music.

Key's act, combining very short poems with a comical, uptight stage persona is uniquely hilarious. It's no good us trying to explain why - you just have to see it for yourself.

Read Emma's review of Tim Key at The Invisible Dot Club

Wednesday 10th

Ah, the salon. 17th and 18th Century Frenchies nibbling on croissants, powdering their wigs and patting eachother on the back for various witty bon mots: “Ah oui, bien sur, mon ami, cette guillotine c'est super-chic. I can't say I feel the same way about all those Sans-culottes though – I mean, what's so bad about pantaloons?” “Oh yes, very good Maximilien, très drôle, très drôle indeed.”

An innovative comedy night held every month where a top circuit act will be joined by some of the best up-and-coming comedians on the circuit as they attempt to recreate their first gig, sifting through their embarrassing clunkers and non-starters in order to find their forgotten gems.

This is a rare opportunity to see experienced acts perform original set lists, not to mention a genuine first timer's gig.

Thursday 11th

A coup for the Rose, who've landed this production by Peter Hall of the Shakespeare classic, which will star England's number one actress Dame Judi Dench (Mrs Brown, Bond films etc).

In a neat twist, it was an RSC production of the same show, where Dame Judi made her first breakthrough, playing the very same role, the Fairy Titania. And she got naked for the film version.

There are no rules about how old a fairy can be and luvvies have been all a-dither with excitement about Judi and what she will bring to the role. Hopefully not nudity, though.

This is pretty exciting! Playwright David Greig's play with music, Midsummer, was a huge hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and transfers to Soho Theatre this January.

His latest piece, a sequel to Macbeth, is about setting right a ravaged land and its discontented people. An English army storm Scotland, kill Macbeth and usurp his throne. The responsibility of calming the nation, and his own inexperienced guerilla army, as well as grasping the alien customs falls on the new King, who's also falling for the old queen.

This is the story of one man's attempt to restore peace.

Friday 12th

In an attempt to return order to the out-of-control horny Vienna, Vincentio the Duke appoints the hard-ass Angelo to tell the people what's what.

Angelo ends up condemning the brother of a nun who pleads for her brother's life. What follows is a number of sexual confessions, blackmail and political intrigue.

Shoreditch's favourite surftastic garage rockers French Kissing headline the Stag's Head this evening, showcasing a well-honed sound which owes as much to the sun-kissed shuffle of the Beach Boys as it does to Phil Spector's 60s doo-wop hit factory.

The band's stock is steadily rising, with recent single 'Oh Suzanne' being featured on the Vice Magazine playlist, so keep both eyes out for them in 2010.

Expect plenty of French Kissing on and off stage tonight, as this show kicks of the Valentine's weekend in style.

Three promoters unite at Cable tonight - all of whom like a good dose of bass with their crunchy nut. This line-up is so filthy, you'll probably need a wet wipe.

Chew The Fat! need no introduction. They're leaning more towards the bassline, fidget and electro side of things these days - and we like it. Tonight their seriously good resident Foamo is joined by Alex Metric. For out-and-out beat muscle, these two are packing.

Dirty Canvas - proponents of grime, dubstep, hip hop and general bass heaviness - are on board too, bringing the dubstep tip via Plastician and Geeneus.

Room two is presided over by the brilliant Z Shed crew. They welcome chaos merchant Mumdance, bassline badman Raffertie and glitchy, ghetto disgrace Your Niece.

The latest addition to Stokey is the Superdisco - the free party which features a bumper crop of DJs and an upfront music policy.

Tonight, for their first party of 2010 they welcome Disco Ferox DJs for some cosmic disco joy, T-Bass Robot (Sao Paulo export and groovy, melodic house lover) and the gentleman bloggers Slutty Fringe.

Expect space disco, synth pop, house, electro and a lot of dancing. The best things in life are free.

Saturday 13th

From the voluminous works of Lope DeVega, often referred to as the Spanish Bard, this is essentially love and lust in a mental asylum.

Floriano is fleeing a warrant for his arrest and Erifila has just about escaped a forced marriage. They meet, she's in her undies, they fall in love, they get carted off to a nut house.

The antics of a mental institution in 16th century Spain are utterly farcical and high-spirited. Expect all the women to love Floriano and all the men to lust after Erifila.

So it's the day before Valentine's Day, you can either take your missus out for Italian food where you can stare into each others eyes until you both pick the same piece of spaghetti and kiss oh so absent-mindedly.

Or you could take them to the O2 Academy where Lamb of God will melt their face off. Hmm tough choice.

Musiq Concrete return with a follow up offering of nocturnal enlightenment.

Fronting tonight's edition is Get Physical favourite Thomas Schumacher. He's joined by rerub master Simon Baker and Greek God Alex Celler in room one.

Room two is the experimental showcase with Cagedbaby and the simply excellent Justin Robertson. His mixes take in everything from his trademark ravey acid techno and electro house to reggae, northern soul and pop. House maestro David Bevan closes the deal.

Sunday 14th

Sadler's Wells annual Flamenco Festival is now a calendar event, offering a fortnight of spectacular, fiery dance showcases. Shows include Nuevo Ballet Español, Eva Yerbabuena, Rafaela Carrasco, Maria Pagés and Gala Flamenca.