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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

Adventure. Cupcakes. Party.

Yes, Valentine's Day! And that means that every newspaper and magazine is swathing themselves in pink and suggesting you spend all your money on heart-shaped chocolates and the like. But not us! Well, maybe a bit. For those of you short of cash and still not sure what to do for the big day, check out our Valentine's Day Ideas (which includes bus rides, launderettes and Josh Hartnett). And for those who like cupcakes, we've got soap cupcakes, knitted cupcakes and even real cupcakes. Mmmm cupcakes.

In other news, is it the end of free music streaming? Warner Music are planning to pull out of Spotify and Last.fm. Meanwhile, The Arts Gallery in central London is to be bulldozed to make way for Crossrail, but, more cheerfully, MGMT have announced details of their new album, and the consistently splendid Chemical Brothers are returning to London in May.

Plus, we have an exclusive insight into the Autumn/Winter 10 collection of one of the world's hottest young designers: Erdem.

Oh, and lastly, this Friday and Saturday sees the cool Italian folk at Alfa Romeo take over Brick Lane in what we're billing as an Interactive Adventure Party! Mainly because that just sounds cool...

Upcoming

Ed Banger Party

5th March 2010
More info >>

Russell Kane

9th March 2010
More info >>

Hair

1st April 2010
More info >>

Whitney Houston

25th April 2010
More info >>

Thursday 11th

A Midsummer Night's Dream

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 read on

where:
Rose Theatre
24-26 Kingston High Street
KT1 1HL
who:
Dame Judi Dench
when:
Times vary
what:
Classic, Comedy
cost:
From £8 to £40
 

Dunsinane

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 read on

where:
Hampstead Theatre
Swiss Cottage Centre
NW3 3EX
when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £15 to £25

Friday 12th

Alfa MultiAir Launch

This could not sound cooler! Remember the legendary arcade game Space Invaders? Hell yeah you do. This weekend Alfa Romeo is launching the MiTo Multiair by beaming a projection of Space invaders across London buildings and allowing members of the public to play it using a 42"  touch screen and lasers shooting out of the MiTo headlights. read on

where:
Old Truman Brewery
Brick Lane
E1 6QL
when:
4pm - 10pm
what:
Interactive Adventure Party
cost:
Free
 

French Kissing

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 read on

where:
Stag's Head
55 Orsman Road
N1 5RA
who:
French Kissing
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Rock
cost:
Free
 

Superdisco Free Party

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 read on

where:
Gold Bar
125 Stoke Newington Church Street
N16 0UH

who:
Slutty Fringe
+ more
when:
8pm - 2am
what:
Disco, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
Free
 

Chew The Fat! Meets Dirty Canvas

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 read on

where:
Cable
33a Bermondsey Street
SE1 2EG
who:
Your Niece, Mumdance
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Electro, House, Dubstep
cost:
£13

Saturday 13th

Madness in Valencia

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 menta read on

where:
Trafalgar Studios
14 Whitehall
SW1A 2DY
when:
Times vary
what:
Comedy
cost:
From £17.50 to £22.50
 

Lamb of God

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. read on

where:
O2 Academy Brixton
211 Stockwell Road
SW9 9SL

who:
Lamb of God
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Metal
cost:
£17.50
 

Musiq Concrete

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 read on

where:
Lightbox
6a South Lambeth Place
SW8 1SP
who:
Alex Celler, CagedBaby
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
From £8 to £12

Sunday 14th

Flamenco Festival London 2010

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.
read on

where:
Sadler's Wells
Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4TN
when:
Times vary
what:
Dance
cost:
From £10 to £38

Monday 15th

My Wonderful Day

A new piece from Alan Ayckbourn, My Wonderful Day is his 73rd play. Told from the point of view of nine-year-old Winnie, who has been set the task of writing an essay about a good day, she sets about documenting the bizarre behaviour of the adults in her odd household. No one notices the kid in the corner with the day off from school as she jots ... read on

where:
Richmond Theatre
The Green
TW9 1QJ
when:
Times vary
what:
Comedy
cost:
From £18 to £26
 

Tune Yards

The singular music project of New England Native Merril Garbus, Tune-Yards combines bold pop sensibilities with a staunch D.I.Y aesthetic to create music that is somewhere between M.I.A and The Raincoats.
read on

where:
Cargo
83 Rivington Street
EC2A 3AY

who:
Tune Yards
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£7.50

Tuesday 16th

Videopia

Man, we love Topgun but we don't understand why everyone calls it a chick flick. It has to be the singularly most amazing guy movie ever conceived by the minds of mortal men - after all when can fighter jets, motorbikes, mirror shades, flight suits, hi-five, homo-erotic oneliners, aircraft carriers, people spilling hot coffee in a comedy way, and... read on

where:
Notting Hill Arts Club
21 Notting Hill Gate
W11 3JQ
who:
Black Hellcock
+ more
when:
7pm - 2am
what:
Rock
cost:
£5

Wednesday 17th

Disconnect

A world that affects us everyday and yet remains a million miles away is that of the Indian call centre. Acclaimed playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar brings into sharp focus the India's young intelligentsia, the graduates who work diligently at soul-destroying call centre jobs. Abandoning themselves to take on new names and back-stories so we can comp... read on

where:
Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square
SW1W 8AS
when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama
cost:
From £10 to £15
 

Andy Zaltzman

Andy Zaltzman has firmly established himself in the vanguard of British stand-up with his unique brand of political comedy. Swiftly moving from one theme to the next with an articulate and intelligent stream of funny logic, he has the ability to make you listen as well as laugh. He performs at the BAC's N20 comedy festival tonight, confronting the big... read on

where:
Battersea Arts Centre
Old Town Hall
SW11 5TN

who:
Andy Zaltzman
when:
9pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£10, £6 Concessions

Thursday 18th

Ron Arad - Restless

A first major exhibition in the UK looking at the diverse oeuvre of contemporary artist, designer and architect Ron Arad. With over 120 works - from the early readymades to the technologically complex pieces of recent years as well as architectural designs, mass-produced items, and a new installation - this is a comprehensive survey of one of contempo... read on

where:
Barbican
Silk Street
EC2Y 8DS
who:
Ron Arad
when:
11am - 10pm
what:
Sculpture, Installation
cost:
£10, £8 Concessions
 

Isy Suttie

2008 'Best Female Newcomer' Isy Suttie (you might recognise as Peep Show's IT geek Dobby) revisits the wondrous world of shelf-stackers and checkout girls in her critically acclaimed show Love Lost in The British Retail Industry at the BAC's comedy festival tonight.

Songs, stories and character comedy.
read on

where:
Battersea Arts Centre
Old Town Hall
SW11 5TN

who:
Isy Suttie
when:
8pm
what:
Stand Up, Sketches
cost:
£12, £7 Concessions

Friday 19th

Peeping Tom

Keith Coventry curates the second exhibition at Vegas Gallery's new Vyner Street space.

There's work on show by a massive range of big name artists - including Tracey Emin, Gavin Turk, Sebastian Horsley, Keith Tyson and Jeremy Deller - in order to explore the notion of voyeurism.
read on

where:
Vegas Gallery
45 Vyner Street
E2 9DQ
who:
Tracey Emin, Sebastian Horsley
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Art
cost:
Free
 

Fear Factory

Formed over 20 years ago and still going strong, Fear Factory have been one of the most influential acts on the metal scene from the mid-'90s onwards. Despite a bit of in-band bickering that led to founding member and guitarist Dino Cazares leaving the band for a few years, the original line-up is now reconciled. Tonight they take to the stage ... read on

where:
Electric Ballroom
184 Camden High Street
NW1 8QP

who:
Fear Factory
when:
6pm
what:
Metal
cost:
£16.50

Saturday 20th

Hold on to Your Dreams - A Tribute to Arthur Russell

Tonight Tim Lawrence reads from his book Hold On to Your Dreams, a biography of composer, musician and singer Arthur Russell, accompanied by composer Jo Thomas. After the reading comes the UK debut set from Arthur's Landing, a band comprised of friends and fans of Arthur Russell, plus very special support. Tonight builds on the remarkable recognit... read on

where:
ICA
The Mall
SW1Y 5AH
who:
Tim Lawrence, Jo Thomas
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Folk
cost:
£14
 

East Village 2nd Birthday Party

Happy birthday East Village! Tonight, be prepared for a celebration of two years of quality clubbing. You know this is going to be big.

The lucky party-goers can look forward to very special guest DJ and producer Quentin Harris, who will be playing a 4 hour set, taking the crowd on a journey through all house bases old and new.
read on

where:
East Village
89 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3HX

who:
Quentin Harris
+ more
when:
9pm - 4.30am
what:
Electro, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
From £7.50 to £10
 

Ears have Eyes

Ears Have Eyes is headed up by three passionate DJs who've been chucking brilliant underground parties in the heart of London's East End for over a year. Their always excellent guests are supplemented by the first rate residents. Musically, they cut a stealthy line through funk, disco, house and techno; interspersed with film soundtracks and spec... read on

where:
Sosho
2 Tabernacle Street
EC2A 4LU

who:
Leif, Robochop
+ more
when:
Midnight - 6am
what:
Disco, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£5

Sunday 21st

Sunday Special

Tonight at Up The Creek, one of the circuit's leading stand-ups Reginald D Hunter headlines the Sunday Special, joined by the darkly brilliant Magnus Betner (a legend in Sweden - go see him) and skilled compere Dan Atkinson.

There is a also a house jazz band and a 'lucky dip' open spot for anyone wanting to try their luck at stand-up. read on

where:
Up the Creek
302 Creek Road
SE10 9SW
who:
Reginald D Hunter
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£6
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