Twelfth Flight

Today is a day that many of you will have been excitedly anticipating for months. Yes, today is the Glorious Twelfth, the start of the grouse shooting season. So don your tweeds, load your shotgun, and stride forth into the moorlands. For even if you disagree with the idea of shooting things, you can't argue with the fact that grouse just tastes delicious.

Anyway, back to London and Mark Ronson is coming to town, as is legendary Leeds-based house label, 2020. Those in need of a laugh will be pleased to know that Gap Yah has been remixed (true story), and we've interviewed Tom Oldham, a man with, probably, the best job in the world.

On a more sombre note, today sees the opening of a replica Death Row cell in St Martin-in-the-Fields. It's to raise awareness of a British grandmother who – despite maintaining that she was framed – is currently facing imminent execution in a Texas jail.

Thursday 12th

Faris Badwan - he of bizarrely barneted, band-legged music-making types, The Horrors - is having a wee exhibition at The Book Club this August. But before you scoff at yet another 'celebrity' turning their hand to art (yes, we're looking at you, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Vaughan, Pete Doherty...) Badwan is actually an artist. He went to St

An exhibition of work by three quite brilliant - and very different - contemporary photographers keeps the Cork Street branch of Flowers occupied during the art world's traditional summer break. We particularly like Edward Burtynsky's exquisitely detailed and exactly rendered images of humanity's interaction with nature and Robert Polidori's

Friday 13th

Well, this sounds totally brilliant. Record label and promoter Upset the Rhythm has joined forces with Peckham art space Auto Italia to present a weekend of live music and arty goings on.

Tonight the fest kicks off with sets from much-loved popcore merchants Male Bonding and awesome tough-guy garage rockers from Lovvers.

Whip-smart, razor-sharp and not afraid to darn well speak his mind, Perrier winner Scott Capurro is not a comic for the faint-hearted. As part of this year's Camden Fringe, Capurro presents his brand-new show Scott Capurro Opens Up, unleashing his caustic humour on tales of meeting Nelson Mandela and other highlights of his illustrious and

Saturday 14th

In its 15 years in the game Ralph Lawson's label 2020 vision has gone from strength to strength, and tonight they pull it out of the bag again. The 12 hour party includes a rare live set from 2020 Soundsystem and a host of quality live and DJ acts throughout the day and night. With only 800 tickets and the early birds gone already you better

An extra-special edition of The Playground sees undead French electro producer Kavinsky, aka Vincent Belorgay, drop by KOKO tonight.

Kavinsky is the cartoon character who adorns Teddy Boy and 1986, Belorgay's first two EPs. The story goes that Kavinsky died in a car crash in 1996 but reappeared as a zombie in 2006 to make music.

While hopefully no zombies will be gracing Koko tonight Kavinsky's human representative and his superb blend of 80s proto-dance and French house will do. Ranked up there with Mr Ozio, Justice and SebsatiAn, this is one not to be missed.

Sunday 15th

This urban American re-imagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize. In the Blood follows Hester La Negrita, mother to five children from five different fathers, as she makes a home beneath a bridge on the streets of New York. Driven by her need to provide a better future for her family, she bargains

Monday 16th

Crispin Flintoff looked set for academic success and a conventional middle-class career until he fell in love with Dancehall Reggae music in 1988. Over 20 years later, Crispin describes how Ragga brought him out of his shell, but also lost him the respect of his peers.

Tuesday 17th

In the annals of psychedelic bands, none come bigger, weirder or as atmospheric as Sleepy Sun.

Sounding like Black Sabbtah meeting Wooden Shijps, they make music that's wooden, earthy, stratospheric, and swinging all at the same time.

Wednesday 18th

Three sisters return to their seaside hometown of Sorrento. Meg has been living in England for a decade and is preceded by the success of her book, a fictional account of expatriation dealing with identity and our perception of home.

Her sisters and father have a bit of a bone to pick over the so-called 'fictional' elements of the book and Sorrento finds itself in quite a stir.

Thursday 19th

A heady collision of people, drama, decadence and social breakdown pervade this fast-paced look at a fearful future and the excesses of the present.

Three sisters meander through their dislocated lives while their dysfunctional father predicts global catastrophe.

FWD returns to Thursdays and to Plastic People after its refit.

This legendary night has been one of the major showcases for the emerging dubstep scene over the last ten years.

Still hosting big dubstep names it now often has UK funky DJs on the line-up and always has its fingers on the underground scene.

Friday 20th

Contemporary photographer Toby Smith takes some of the most eerily beautiful images you could imagine - nuanced views of industrial structures (mines, tunnels, piers, turbines) bathed in rich cold phosphorescent light.

This August he has a solo show at Printspace which features a selection of works from The Renewables Project - there's something of Edward Burtynsky in the combination of environmental awareness and powerfully seductive aesthetic.

Saturday 21st

Tate Britain's annual day of arty/music fun times returns this August with a whole host of entertainment for your delectation.

A live performance from Ebony Bones and sets from Ramadanman, Dollop DJs and the Rinse FM Academy respond to Fiona Banner's colossal hanging jet sculptural installation, while the day also sees loads of other interactive arty fun times to sink your teeth into.

Look out for whatever The Girls are up to - they're always awesome.

Ah thrash metal. Has there ever been a genre more suited to suburban teenagers and their double garages? Back in the '80s there wasn't and Sabbat was the closest Britain's ever came to producing a Metallica of our own.

Emerging in 1985 to critical acclaim from both Kerrang! and White Dwarf magazine (honestly), the band stormed through the late 80s with two killer albums, before inexplicably self destructing through bitter infighting, a strange attempt to go in a more folky direction and the simple fact that the band was stone broke.

Still you can't keep a good metal band down, and ever since 2001 Sabbat has reformed with varying degrees of success. Tonight they play the Underworld, giving you a chance to see them in their full speed metal fury, and imagine things that might have been.

Shogun boss Friction and the juicy selection of his main artists fill room one with some high quality 175 bpm broken beats.

The line up in the bar will make you want to stand in the connecting doorway to try and sample both sound systems. Instra:mental heads it up with jungle legend Kenny Ken in support.

Massive.

Sunday 22nd

Senseless Records bring the BASS to Cafe 1001 with a two room, all day Karnival.

The line-up is stunning; from Planet Mu's Slugabed to a bass set from techno legend Billy Nasty via glitch hop badboys Beat3 and label boss DeVille.

A day of innovative, heavy bass music and all for free.