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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

Mum's the Word

Mother's Day! Last year we wrote at length about the position of the apostrophe. Funny, maybe, but not massively helpful. This year, we've compiled a whole section that'll help you show your love and gratitude to Mumsy.

Excitingly, we've also launched a brand new arts section. There's no better place to find out the best exhibitions in London – we've currently got the latest news, the most insightful reviews and, rather entertainingly, a nice wee chat with Grayson Perry, resplendent as a Victorian matriarch.

As if that weren't enough, London's cranking up the gears for festival season. Already! M.I.A, Simian Mobile Disco, and These New Puritans are all gracing our fair capital this summer. It's gonna be a bally belter.

Lastly, on the horizon is good old St Patrick's Day, which means more than just Guinness hats and green wigs. Our guide gives you some fascinating history, costume ideas, the best events, and helps you find the best Irish pubs in London. Mmmm pubs.


Upcoming

Channel 4 Gala

30th March 2010
More info >>

Eurydice

29th April 2010
More info >>

Magnificent Maps

30th April 2010
More info >>

Wolf Parade

18th May 2010
More info >>

Thursday 11th

Affordable Art Fair

The Spring edition of the Affordable Art Fair hits Battersea Park this week with the usual range of art across all media on sale for between £50 and £3,000. There's a good combination of established names and emerging talent. As ever, this is a great place for collectors (from entry-level to experienced) and for any fan of art whatever you read on

where:
Battersea Park
SW11 4NJ
who:

when:
Times vary
what:
Art, Fair
cost:
From £8 to £25
 

Shai Hulud

Hardcore superstars Shai Hulud headline the Purple Turtle in Camden tonight. The Florida band are now into their 15th year, and are seen as pioneers of the 'metalcore' genre which fused elements of hardcore punk and trash metal in one giant cacophony of eardrum-splitting noise. Join them tonight for a rare London date.
read on

where:
Purple Turtle
61-65 Crowndale Road
NW1 1TN
who:
Shai Hulud
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Metal, Punk
cost:
£8

Friday 12th

Together Relaunch Party

The mighty Together disapeared when Turnmills saw the wrong side of the wreckers ball. But now, praise be, the genre-blending effervescent party is back with a bang! They throw the first in a series of sixteen parties at the Coronet. Tonight, Mylo, Sub Focus and Zombie Nation fly their respective flags. Plus Durrr head honcho Rory Phillips read on

where:
Coronet
28 New Kent Road
SE1 6TJ
who:
Mylo, Rory Phillips
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Drum & Bass, House, Electro
cost:
£10
 

Claude von Stroke

The Hyp! Hyp! Hyp! crew have pulled off a real coup. The legend that is Claude Von Stroke will be in session spinning out his best selection of bleeps and beats for a loving crowd. Strong support comes from label mate Julio Bashmore, Mumdance, Scratcha DVA and the Hyponik squad. read on

where:
Plan B
418 Brixton Road
SW9 7AY
who:
Mumdance, Rich Reason
+ more
when:
10pm - 5am
what:
Techno/Minimal, House
cost:
£7

Saturday 13th

Lucky Dragons

A frankly bizarre combination of weird instruments, percussion, found sound and audience participation, Lucky Dragon are somewhere between an art-house noise project and a play date for people who really like Gang Gang Dance. Playing not one but two shows/installations today at Auto-italia, it promises to be the most fun you've had with a loop read on

where:
auto-italia
1 Glengall Road
SE15 6NJ
who:
Sumi Ink Club, Lucky Dragons
when:
3pm - 11pm
what:
Indie, Electronica
cost:
£5
 

Sutra

Created by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with the Shaolin Monks and performed in a set designed by sculptor Anthony Gormley, Sutra is a brand new piece of dance embodying the grace and power of kung fu. read on

where:
Sadler's Wells
Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4TNt
when:
Times vary
what:
Dance
cost:
From £10 to £35

Sunday 14th

Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair

The hugely popular Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair returns to town for its second outing this year. There's 40 exhibitors from the UK and Europe selling a range of jewellery, handbags, textiles, shoes, clothes, and hats from the 1800s to 1980s. The event, which attracted over 3000 shoppers in total last year, has a unique emphasis on the read on

where:
Old Finsbury Town Hall
Roseberry Avenue
EC1R 4RP
when:
11am - 4.30pm
what:
Vintage Fashion
cost:
£4

Monday 15th

Hedda Gabler

Ibsen's classic follows the head-strong Hedda, as she desperately attempts escape her boring marriage and save her husbands career. 

Playing a ruthless but kind heroine well ahead of her time and ever so slightly unstable, Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice, Fracture) will no doubt set the stage alight in this fast-paced adventure.  read on

where:
Richmond Theatre
The Green
TW9 1QJ
who:
Rosamund Pike
when:
Times vary
what:
Classic
cost:
From £19.50 to £30.50

Tuesday 16th

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

Joining forces with the avant-garde Get Down Stay Down, soloist Thao delivers an experimental blend of folk and rock.

Experimental music fanatics will revel in this fearlessly ambitious performance. read on

where:
The Borderline
Orange Yard
W1D 4JB
who:
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
when:
7pm
what:
Rock, Folk
cost:
£7
 

Mrs Warren's Profession

Young, successful Vivie has the world at her feet, a Cambridge education under her belt, and her sights set on a career in Law, but how did her mysterious mother pay for it all? Keeping family secrets is one thing, but keeping secrets from the family well that's just setting yourself up. A mother and daughter from different worlds collide but lov... read on

where:
Comedy Theatre
Panton Street
SW1Y 4DN

when:
Times vary
what:
Melodrama, Comedy
cost:
From £20 to £60

Wednesday 17th

Rum Shebeen

Rum Shebeen sounds faintly like it should be something disgusting that you should avoid drinking at all costs.

In this instance though, it's a salsa punk-gypsy band who are playing the Windmill in Brixton. And jolly good they are too. read on

where:
The Windmill
Blenheim Gardens
SW2 5BZ
who:
Rum Shebeen
+ more
when:
8pm
what:
Indie, World
cost:
£5
 

Union presents Faithless Soundsystem Live

Union throw massive student parties at Fabric. Tonight it's the Faithless Soundsystem, DnB heavyweight Sub Focus and the awesome Glitch hop trio Beat3.

These cats have brought the West Coast Californian sound to London dancefloors - expect their bass do real damage through the Fabric rig.
read on

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

who:
Faithless, Beat3
+ more
when:
9pm - 4am
what:
Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Electro
cost:
£12

Thursday 18th

Andrew Rafferty - Passion

Roland Barthes equated photography with death, and, viewing Andrew Rafferty's work, it's not hard to see why. His are images throughout many of which the spectre of death looms large, and yet viewing Rafferty's work is not a miserable experience. There is hope here, and humour. This March and April sees his 'Passion' series on display in the Crypt Ga... read on

where:
The Crypt
St Pancras Church
NW1 2BA
who:
Andrew Rafferty
when:
12.30pm - 6pm
what:
Photography
cost:
Free
 

Funism

Funism? Literally the best sounding ism we've ever heard.  Combined with "a side order of Stuckism", it sounds like a recipe for the a really rather delicious repast. Or, more accurately in this case, a rather wonderful exhibition. Stuckists Ella Guru and Chris Yates are involved, as well as ex-Stuckist Sexton Ming, so expect a broad sele... read on

where:
The Gallery at Willesden Green
95 High Road
NW10 2SF

who:
Ella Guru, Sexton Ming
+ more
when:
2pm - 6pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free

Friday 19th

Gavin Nolan - A King's Gambit Accepted

Charlie Smith London makes way for an exhibition of Gavin Nolan's brutally perverse, nighmarish portraits. Typically darkly figurative with an accompanying torrid of drips and splodges, A King's Gambit Accepted concentrates predominantly on historical figures, particularly those who have committed suicide. Nolan's interest in power-wielding and perso... read on

where:
Charlie Smith London
336 Old Street
EC1V 9DR
who:
Gavin Nolan
when:
11pm - 6pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Blavatsky's Tower

In a smothering attempt to protect his family from being tainted by the folks below his top spot on a monsterous tower block, Hector Blavatsky rules with a loving iron fist. But Hector won't be with us for long and his family are no longer retreating from the outside world. Their curiosity is further sparked when an outsider enters their miniature uni... read on

where:
Brockley Jack
410 Brockley Road
SE4 2DH

when:
7.45pm
what:
Melodrama
cost:
£12, £9

Saturday 20th

Quilts 1700-2010

Like quilts? Then holy lord, you're in for one hell of a treat, as the V&A presents its first exhibition dedicated entirely to British quilts. With quilts on show ranging from as far back as 1700 right up to modern day examples by the likes of Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin, this is the textile exhibition of the year. The media are already all ... read on

where:
V&A
Cromwell Road
SW7 2RL
who:
Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry
+ more
when:
10pm - 5.45pm
what:
Textiles, Art, CraftF
cost:
From £6 to £10
 

Bestival - Back to the Future

Bestival return with their annual warm-up at Koko. Tonight, you can dress in any of the many themes that have occured at festivals gone by. For refernce thse are Cowboys and Indians, Under The Sea, Circus, Pirates, and Outer Space. There's also be burlesque, weddings at the Big Love Inflatable Church, games from Lost and Found and tunes from a w... read on

where:
KOKO
1a Camden High Street
NW1 7JE

who:
Rob da Bank
+ more
when:
9pm - 3am
what:
Indie, Funk, Jazz
cost:
£15

Sunday 21st

Nick Mohammed - Work in Progress

Acclaimed character comedian Nick Mohammed gives a sneak preview of his new Edinburgh show at the Hen and Chickens tonight.

Mohammed has previously appeared in ensemble BBC comedies Reggie Perrin and Horne & Corden, as well as starring in his own show for BBC Radio Four, Quarters. read on

where:
Hen & Chickens
109 St Paul's Road
N1 2NA
who:
Nick Mohammed
when:
7.30pm
what:
Stand Up, Sketches
cost:
£6
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