Flying the Flag

Saturday 26th June is Armed Forces Day. Now, whatever one's thoughts on the continued spending of billions on 'Defence' at a time of massive cuts elsewhere, there's no question that 'our lads' deserve our respect. And who doesn't love a bit of Union Jack bunting??

Anyway in other news, Frank Sidebottom has been saved from a pauper's funeral thanks to donations from friends and fans. Meanwhile, another comic, the frightfully naughty Jack Whitehall got caught sniffing bad things, and Shazia Mirza told us what it was like to teach Dizzee Rascal science.

It's also the 110th anniversary of the Wallace Collection, and we interviewed Jack from Friendly Fires, who is indeed very friendly it turns out.

Thursday 24th

SALON (LONDON) returns this year with a really rather smashing idea. Director Crystal Bennes bought a work from last year's RCA Secret (you know, that exhibition where you can buy artists' postcards but you don't know who they're by) and then challenged the artist she 'chose' to come up with a solo show. The artist selected turned out not to be

Do you ever find that East London conceptual shenanigans can get a tad wearing? Ever find yourself hankering after some serious Renaissance portraiture? Well if so, then might we suggest you pay a wee visit to Weiss Gallery on Jermyn Street? This June and July the gallery is celebrating its 25th birthday with an exhibition of some of the finest

When we interviewed Austin’s Strange Boys last year we couldn’t shake the feeling that, while they’re undoubtedly awesome, they were kind of just another bunch of guys doing that southern-style garage rock thing. Luckily, in the intervening period they’ve picked up former Mika Miko singer/saxophionist Jenna E Thornhill deWitt, who has

Friday 25th

Ever fancied yourself as a bit of an art thief? Would you be daring and brave like Sean Connery in Entrapment? Or suave and slick like Steve McQueen/Piers Brosnan in Thomas Crown Affair? Well now, at last, the peeps at the Future Gallery are giving you the chance to find out. One Friday this June they're letting people try to sneak into the

The Builder's Association, the critically acclaimed theatre company from New York are bringing their multimedia theatre show to London for a short run as part of London International Festival of Theatre. The stage is extended around the globe in this exploration of technology and the ways it brings us closer together and sets us further apart.

Brooklyn glitch-cum-reggae-cum-rock titans Dirty Projectors play a special one-off show at the Barbican this evening.

The critically acclaimed four-piece, who will be backed by contemporary ensemble Alarm Will Sound, will perform their 2005 album 'The Getty Address' in full, making this a must for fans of the chirpy scene-setters.

Saturday 26th

Brosmind Studios create their own wonderful take on China's Terracotta Army with a troop of ceramic soldiers lined up present and correct at Kemistry Gallery this summer. Each soldier belonging to one of several Brosmind Army platoons has a unique identification tag, tattoo and face. First up, the fifty strong Los Canotiers (the boater hat

Buzzin' Fly step up to Cable for a two-room midsummer affair with a line-up breathing life into their trademark emotive house sound plus some deep Swiss techno, Norwegian balearic disco and Parisian electro-pop. Special guest Ripperton is a cornerstone of deep techno and joins head honcho Ben Watt and longtime sideman Chris Woodward in the main

Sunday 27th

Richard Herring returns to the Lyric to host another season of quality comedy, with the usual combination of stellar line-ups including TV comics, Edinburgh Award winners and rising stars. Tonight's incredible line-up will feature a rare appearance by Peter Serofinowicz (Spaced, The Peter Serafinowicz Show, Shaun of the Dead), celebrated raconteur

This annual festival of theatre is always brilliantly varied, vibrant and free!

This year the theme is "Earth" which has spurred the production of a mass of surreal, outdoor performances full of colour and music.

The Garden from disabled-led theatre company Graeae is well worth the experience.

Monday 28th

This year's Serpentine Sessions get under way tonight with an unusually psychedelic, but predictably amazing line-up.

Headlined by hazy-eyed experimental indie types Grizzly Bear and featuring performances from similarly minded folksters Efterklang and Here We Go Magic, this is one of the best line-ups we've seen all year.

Wednesday 30th

This work in progress by Nick Payne, and directed by Natalie Ibu follows Jimmy, a chef who thinks it's 1995.

Whilst his psychiatrist Burroughs diagnoses his condition, his wife and children become increasingly desperate in their efforts to get Jimmy to remember. A funny, touching story about family, identity and memory.

Thursday 1st

Together We Can on Water is a DIY promotion that provides the opportunity for international bands to play in London bringing their music to a new audience.

Tonight's show is no different with hotly tipped Canadian band Elephant Stone headlining the event. The band is the brain child of Rishi Dhir, founder of The High Dials and often collaborator with the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Elephant Stone brings a dreamy psychedelic tone to a classic britpop sound which creates an impressive power pop style.

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 line-up includes recent Musical Comedy Award winners Abandoman and the inventive Terry Alderton.

Friday 2nd

What with email, Twitter, Facebook and all manner of other computer communication things rather taking over the world, the future looks a little bleak for the humble letter.

Why bother sending a letter or postcard to one person when you could write on someone's wall and let everyone read how bloody great your holiday is?

Well, to launch Posted - a new arts venue in Hackney - a whole host of the capital's most consistently interesting contemporary artists are participating in a show that explores the (sad?) decline of the printed/posted word.

A slice of archetypal '50s Americana at the Old Truman Brewery for two nights this July.

Literary gadabout Damian Barr has teamed up with Volvo to create Starlite - two evenings of retro-tastic, old time good time glamourama.

It's basically an urban drive-in cinema. Sit in a nice wee Volvo (they're all provided), order popcorn and a cocktail or two, sit back and enjoy the show. Friday night sees a spot of Dirty Dancing whilst on Saturday it's time for Grease.

It's electrifying!

Playing a special show alongside Parisian visual artist Jamie Harley, ethereal Canadian folktronica duo Memoryhouse are visiting The Social tonight.

A strange but crazily brilliant blend of synthetic drums, moaning keys and woozy reverb-laden guitars, held together by haunting vocals that echo through the haze like whispers through a forest, this band really needs to be seen to be believed.

Saturday 3rd

Amazing! 2009 saw fashion designer/knitting supremo Kate Jenkins filling Rebecca Hossack Gallery with all manner of wonderfully detailed crocheted café delicacies: like sardines on toast, a Full English, pizza and a jar of anchovies. Even ketchup and a pot of 'stitchberry' jam!

Now, this July, she's upping her game. Come Dine with Kate sees champagne, caviar and a host of upmarket crocheted goodies. We particularly like the Rabbit Pie [pictured].

Jonathan Delafield Cook does exquisite charcoal drawings of a variety of different objects - cows and flowers among them,. But for this solo show at Houldsworth, he's turned his attention to birds, and with stunning results.

Arrangements of feathers, nests and trees full of birds are depicted with a staggering attention to detail and an odd sense of celebratory melancholy.

Phonica invite Versatile's I:Cube, Instra:mental and Dexter to Corsica studios for a night of deep debauched noise-making. Dexter, the legendary Dutch techno fiend will be performing a live set so brace yourselves for the most cutting edge beats to hit the London streets for donkey's years.

Phonica always deliver the goods.

Sunday 4th

Three-time Emmy Award nominated Rob Schneider is an American comedy institution. He was a regular on Saturday Night Live and has starred in numerous feature films, most memorably Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. For two nights only at the Southbank's Udderbelly Festival, Schneider will bring his internationally-renowned brand of comedy to our shores.