6th February 2012

gigs clubbing art comedy theatre blog competitions

Illustration by Julie Khan

A Bad Romance?

Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp??? Oh. My. God. Yes, as you may already have heard, the two have formed a supergroup for a one-off charity gig in the London Eye this Sunday. They've got a host of unlikely celebrity types together to raise a bit of money for good causes. But there are only 22 tickets available so hurry, hurry, hurry.

In other news, it's also Easter this weekend, and we've got an awesome Easter special with all sorts of fun events and egg-related whimsy.

We've also got interviews with catty comic Scott Capurro and the oddly named Boothby Graffoe to celebrate the launch of our brand new comedy section. Like laughing? This is the place to go, as our comedy experts look ahead to the best new material gigs in April, as well as keeping you up to date with all the best events, news and reviews.

Oh, and the Libertines have reformed.

Thursday 1st

The Fix club presents a one-off evening of quirky comedy at Leicester Square Theatre tonight to celebrate April Fool's Day. On the bill is surrealist songwriter Boothby Graffoe, excellent comedy actor Kevin Eldon (Big Train, Brass Eye), bonkers improv genius Phil Kay and a secret special guest. It's a rare chance to catch some of the circuit's

A clash of the electro-driven titans lands at The Macbeth tonight as The Count and Sinden's Mega Mega Mega team up with Andy George and Jaymo's Moda massive. Add DJ Zinc to the mix - the guy who has rebranded himself from drum 'n' bass king to bassline badman - and remember that it's Easter so you're obligated to throw caution to the wind. This

Friday 2nd

Selfridges Ultralounge + The Photographers' Gallery = innovative creatuve fun-times. That's the equation Spoonfed have come up with, and we totally rock at maths. For those of you not so up on your Calculus and all that, art duo The Girls (comprising Andrea Blood and Zoe Sinclair) are creating a kind of photo-story magazine that incorporates

Razor-sharp as ever, punk outfit Goldblade continue their inexhaustible touring cycle, stopping off at The Borderline this month.

The more astute amongst you may recognise frontman John Robb, who, when not touring with the 'blade, can generally be found as a talking head on irritating BBC 2 nostalgia programs, waffling on about how bands from the North-West are genetically better than anyone else.

Luckily, four chords and a belly full of bile are something of a speciality, making this lot a must-see live act.

Saturday 3rd

Professional festival mentalists and funsters de jour Bearded Kitten create games and well organised chaos at events, festivals and parties.They have teamed up with Go Game - the team building adventure game specialists - to create the ultimate Easter egg hunt for adults.Teams of 3-8 will compete to solve puzzles, demonstrate their creativity and

Billed as The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, this production seems to have that ultra-hopeful vibe coming from The States and travelling across the pond back in November 2008 when Obama was making his way to office and the world was set to change. It's been around in one form or another since the 1960's when it captured the sexual,

Sunday 4th

Their all-dayers have become infamous and the Old Queen's Head pull it out of the bag again for their Easter Sunday party.

The awesome and highly renowned Adam Freeland will be unleashing his breaks, bleeps and DnB shizznizz all over the well-pleased crowd.

He's joined by 2-step man of the moment MJ Cole, Martelo, Greenmoney, Joe Ransom and CSY. They open up at midday so get in there quick to make the most of this 15 hour stompathon.

You Are We turn one tonight with a big Easter bash which also happens to be delightfully free.

They welcome Session Victim - the production duo from Germany who dish a range of styles from disco to Detroit. They make their UK debut with upfront Scottish duo Sandeman and Mr Dickie and Playset.

Easter Sunday means Monday off - so seize this rare opportunity for an all-nighter and party like you know you want to. Yasmin has been dubbed the female Tim Westwood. A rudegirl with excessive talents, she spins hip hop, RnB and other upfront flavours alongside DJ Motive, Kish Kash, Acyde and other hip hoppers. Dress to sweat. Happy Easter!

Monday 5th

This looks brilliant.

A look at what David Cameron's first day in office might look like. He's got to appoint his first Cabinet, lay out his agenda to pompous civil servants, resolve a feud between the two most powerful men in the world, deal with a terrorist attack and get advice from the real brains of the operation - good ol' Sam Cam.

Tuesday 6th

Hot on the heels of his sell-out Soho Theatre shows, character comedian Adam Riches returns to the Lowdown to present a new monthly night featuring some of the best names in sketch comedy.

Special guests include up and coming sketch troupe Cardinal Burns and hilarious character comedienne Pippa Evans.

Written by the award winning actor Laurence Fishburne, this tale of urban crime sees Mike and Billy on the run with 3kgs of smack and blood on their hands already.

When Mike calls an old friend for help, loylaties are tested, stories are swapped and choices are made. Will their bleak criminal lives last forever?

Oh, and all this happens on Halloween so cue a few bizarrely dressed extras.

Wednesday 7th

A special night for classic hip hop fans, as Wu Tang star Method Man takes to the stage for a live performance at Matter. Breaking through with the debut Wu Tang record in 1993, he released his first solo LP just a year later to great acclaim.

He is also known for his collaborations with Redman, including the seminal 1999 album 'Blackout!'.

Er, well this looks totally amazing. After the success of their genre-straddling performance extravaganza at 2009's Glastonbury, the super-creative folks at Trash City come to Camden's Roundhouse for four nights this April.

Fusing a kind of cityscape straight outta Gotham City or Bladerunner or something, with weirdo Robot Wars-style vehicles and fire-breathing anamatronic machines, this is an avant-garde theatre/art/music thrill-fest, of the kind you won't have ever seen before.

Mental, yes. But undeniably exciting.

Thursday 8th

Run by Off The Kerb Productions (one of the leading comedy agencies in the UK), it's no wonder Laughing Boy books some of the best comedians on the circuit to perform at their gigs.

Now it's expanded to Notting Hill, with a monthly gig in the cosy Elgin pub on Ladbroke Grove. Tonight's show sees the Edinburgh 'Best Newcomer' nominee 2009 Kevin Bridges joined by feel-good stand-up Mark Olver, hilarious toff Will Smith and a secret special guest.

Friday 9th

"Travelling by submarine is statistically proven to be safer than flying. We know this because there are more planes in the sea than submarines in the sky."

A genuine Royal Navy veteran who joined the service at 16 tells his story of life on a submarine from emergency escape training to dive-bombing sharks. Storming the Edinburgh Fringe last year and winning a Three Weeks Editors Award in the process, this is a poignant, funny and thoroughly absorbing tale from a gifted raconteur.

Goth eyed four-piece Queen Adreena were one of rock's bright lights in the early noughties, before abruptly splitting in 2005 - a move which left literally hundreds devastated. Still, fear not: they're back! Tonight they reunite headline the Relentless Garage.

After nearly five full moons, THEM is back. The clubnight with more bounce to the ounce than most packs a bassy punch squarely in the muzzle. No messing.

This is one of their most interesting rostas to date. With Jamie Vex'd debuting his new Kuedo sound, Boxcutter's Brand New Live Bass guitar show, the official EP launch of Planet Mu signing Rudi Zygadlo and much, much more.

You have to be there to know.

Saturday 10th

Contemporary artist Shane Bradford produces paintings, sculptures and amazing painted book object/sculptures. He takes an old paperback (say, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World) and paints over the cover, adding stalactite-like drips to each one.

Bradford's work is engrossing in terms both of process and complex end result and a selection of his finest pieces are on show this April and May at England & Co.

Creating a revolutionary realm of superb music, modern art and interactive theatre, The Game boasts an international roster of the finest names in the international alternative scene.

With cutting-edge performances and prizes to be won, this unique event looks set to prove one of 2010's most innovative and exciting new events.

London collective Feeding Time and label Werk Discs set off the party with a line up of legends and live acts. Combining to create a genre mashing night of all things electronic, from hip hop, to future garage, to house, this night is the one you don't want to miss.

Sunday 11th

One of the most successful exponents of electro-pop, Ultravox are often seen as one of the pioneers of new romanticism even though they pre- and post date the movement by several years.

Avant-garde with a real sense of fun and irony, they are a perfect example of what synth-pop used to be about.