what’s on – The Cultural Exposé

Somewhere you should go… Mo’ Better Blues at Rio Cinema

Matilda — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 09:15:02 +0000

In the year that the legendary African-American filmmaker Spike Lee turns 60, it’s hard to not appreciate the cultural relevance of his work – whether it tackles the politics of race or explores the beauty of artforms like jazz in Mo’ Better Blues. Most people agree MBB isn’t Spike’s best film, especially as it followed the ground-breaking Do The Right Thing. But it’s still worth a watch – and Sunday’s 3pm screening at the Rio Cinema in Dalston will feature an exclusive performance from a saxophonist who will play alongside the film’s score.

It’s all part of the Spike is 60 film festival which kicks off with Mo Better Blues (a day before Spike’s actual birthday on the 20th) then runs across the year before wrapping up with a screening of Chiraq in November. Find out more about Sunday’s event and the festival here.

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What we’ve been up to… Thriller Live at Lyric Theatre

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:50:43 +0000

If Michael Jackson was still alive, he would have recently celebrated his 55th birthday. It’s an age which would’ve easily been acceptable for retirement given his riches, achievements and line of work (although the late James Brown thought otherwise, still pulling out the odd shuffle and shimmy up until his 73rd birthday, bless him). Yet, despite Jackson’s ambitions with the 2009 This Is It tour passing away that same year, many would agree that his best years would always remain in an era where the brilliance of the music preceded the fancy footwork, as iconic as it would later become. It’s a point made in Thriller Live, a fun, feel-good two and a half show that celebrates the King of Pop’s music and legacy, with the help of rotating singers/hosts, dancers, a kid (playing lil’ Michael of course) and a pretty convincing impersonator in singer David Jordan. Though the rest of the leads are a bit hit and miss at times (with the exception of the sensational Miranda Wilford and Britt Quinton), the dancers never skip a beat, pulling off amazing displays to bring to life hits like ABC, Shake Your Body, Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough and Can You Feel It in Act 1.

In Act 2, the crowd are treated to a mix of songs from Bad, Dangerous and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 – with Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean being the undeniable highlights of the section – but the Thriller performance makes its mark, with zombies running through the audience and that legendary dance executed to perfection. The show doesn’t end here, however, and there’s an extra performance of Bad and Black or White before a sensational reprise of Smooth Criminal and Thriller wrap up what’s not only been an amazing sing and dance-a-long, but the sort of heartfelt tribute that Michael Jackson himself would have been proud of – especially as it’s his music that does all the work. One for the weekend.

For more info, visit: www.thrillerlive.com

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – September 2013

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 10:00:23 +0000

It’s the back to work/school/life month in London, which means new beginnings – and possibly a good time to get into some new experiences. So let Silent Cinema get you into mood for fashion, tuck into your dinner by candelight at Butler’s Wharf or cheer on a bunch of runners and be inspired at this year’s Run to the Beat half marathon…

Arts & Culture

Exhibitions on Film: Jiro Dreams of Sushi at Somerset House, September 5th – To mark the elBulli: Ferran Adrià and The Art of Food exhibit, the Gourmand will be hosting a final screening of food-related docs, this time resurrecting the charming Jiro Dreams of Sushi. The 2011 film follows the life of a 85-year-old sushi master who runs an internationally-renowned, Michelin-starred restaurant in a Tokyo subway station.

Alternative

Run to the Beat, September 8th – Described as the capital’s “music half-marathon”, a selection of DJs and a headline act will be dotted along the 13.1 mile course which starts and finishes at Greenwich Park. So head over to cheer on your fellow Londoners and shake a leg!

Music

The Do-Over, September 8th – With the help of partystarters Boglewaltz, Adidas Originals has been these throwing these free US style block parties in the capital for the last couple of years (click here to see the 2011 edition). They’re back again for those who register quick enough to get on the guestlist, so with past surprise guests like Questlove, Little Brother’s Phonte and Damian Marley, you might not want to miss this…

Eat & Drink

Butler’s Wharf Blackout and Blackout Banquet, September 6th-15th – As part of this year’s Mayor’s Thames Festival, four riverside restaurants at the Wharf will be flicking their switches from 8:30pm so you can enjoy dining in the dark (or at least at candlelight). There will also be a pop-up banquet table serving a rotating menu of dishes from the Le Pont de La Tour, Cantina del Ponte, Blueprint Café and Butler’s Wharf Chophouse.

Cinema

Fashion Film Festival, September 15-17 – Silent Cinema are turning their head(phones) to London Fashion Week this month with an inspired mini-fest in St Martin’s Courtyard. For three nights, they’ll be screening Zoolander, Grey Gardens and The September Issue and it won’t cost you a cent.

Arts & Culture

Under Her Skin at Atomica Gallery, Hackney Downs Studios, September 12-30th – This group show marks the first anniversary of Things&Ink magazine with an exhibition of the work of 12 female tattoo artists who’ve appeared in magazine. The launch party takes place on September 12th – and there will be free cocktails!

Best bits from last month

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – August 2013

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:54:44 +0000

August is the time when most people have zipped off on their annual hols, leaving the rest of us Londoners to relish in the last hoorahs to summer – so here’s to a month of good eating, dancing, cycling (!) and whatever else floats your boat…

Alternative

RideLondon 100, August 3-4 – Thousands of amateur cyclists will be taking over the capital in this brand new festival that Boris Johnson is calling the “London Marathon on wheels”. Wow. Starting at the Olympic Park, riders will go through the capital and onto the countryside in Surrey before finishing up in Central London.

Arts & Culture

Africa Centre Summer Festival, August 3-4 – Come along to these free all-dayers in Covent Garden to enjoy some of the finest African fashion, arts and music, including singer-songwriter Nneka (pictured above).

Arts & Culture

ZooNation’s Groove On Down the Road at Southbank Centre, August 10 – September 1 – The latest from the Festival of Neighbourhood sees one of London’s favourite hip-hop dance companies re-work The Wiz – so expect a great show with good tunes to match!

Eat & Drink

FEAST x Foodies Festival , August 16-18th – Are we shouting about FEAST again? Yep – ’cause good eatin’ should never be ignored, so head south this month as the fest sets up camp in Battersea Park to collaborate with the Foodies Festival. There will also be live music, a chef’s area and a foodie’s farm to make it one heck of a food-filled weekend.

Arts & Culture

Notting Hill Carnival, August 25-26 -Iit’s an earlier bank holiday this month, which means we’ll be busting moves, sipping rum, marveling at colourful costumes and wolfing down jerk chicken at this annual lively affair before you know it.

Cinema

Portobello Film Festival, August 28 – September 15 – Watch a collection of exciting shorts, doc and animations from some of the most daring – and independent – filmmakers around who’ve made the PFF what it is since 1996. Along with plenty of talks and workshops, flicks will be shown in venues such as Westbourne Studios and the Portobello Pop Up Cinema under the Westway.

Best bits from last month

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – June 2013

Nori Bell-Bhuiyan — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:00:49 +0000

Arts & Culture

Spring Loaded – James Cousins + Robert Clark + James Wilton at the Place, June 5th – Set to be an amazing night of performance, this triple-billed show from three of the most innovative contemporary dance artists will examine powerful human themes of fear, fate and love.

Eat & Drink

The Paradise School of Grub, June 6-25th – If you’ve been telling yourself for years that you really ‘will learn to cook’, then now’s the time to do it, as gastropub Paradise launches their summer school of cooking classes hosted by the exciting new chefs of British cuisine.

Alternative

Sonic Celluloid presents… a Daft Punk double bill at The Roxy Bar and Screen, June 7th – Electronic music duo Daft Punk make their film debut with the energetic double billing of Electrorama (a robot road trip set in the Californian desert) and Interstella 5555 (an intergalactic anime soundtracked to Daft Punk’s album Discovery). Get set for a night unlike any other… with great music.

Arts & Culture

Sadler’s Sampled, June 22nd – July 7th – “Free your mind and dance will follow” is the tagline of Sadler’s Sampled, a two-week dance festival with everything from hip-hop and contemporary dance to ballet and tango – and that’s just on one day!

Arts & Culture

Falling Up by Mimre at Jackson’s Lane – June 19th – All-female theatre company Mimre’s Falling Up is a dynamic promenade performance that combines theatre, dance and acrobatics and tell the stories of four different women and what makes them who they are.

Cinema

British Animation Film Festival at Rich Mix, June 23rd – Setting out to celebrate everything animated, this one-day festival dedicated to sharing the best of British and international animated films will contain every kind of animation, from hand-drawn shorts to 3D animation, and subject matter that varies from funny, to melancholy to just plain bizarre!

Best bits from last month

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – May 2013

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:53 +0000

From the 10th anniversary of a hip-hop theatre institution to a night dedicated to the late great Fela Kuti (and a few festivals and new films all in between), May is looking pre-tty lively, if we do say so ourselves – so go forth and enjoy people…

Cinema

Gimme The Loot – May 3rd sees the long-awaited UK cinema release of a American graffiti flick/love story that won the Grand Jury prize at SXSW and featured at Cannes last year.

Music

Saluting The Black President: Fela Kuti May 17th – To mark a new release of the Afrobeat legend’s entire back catalogue comes a unique concert featuring some of Fela’s contemporaries (like Tony Allen) and the new-gen of artists influenced by him, including Ty, Blak Twang and the Noisette’s Shingai Shoniwa.

Art & Culture

Breakin’ Convention 2013, May 4-6th -10 years in existence, Breakin Convention continues to be a celebration of Hip Hop dance – the groups showing this year will be from around the globe including, Korea, France, Spain, and USA – and for the first time the festival will have a UK only night, showcasing the latest in UK urban dance style.

Alternative

Spin London, May 3rd-5th – Spin London is the world’s first urban focused bicycle show and festival, featuring talks, music, installations, demonstrations, films, food, static cycle racing (!!) and an opportunity to feast your eyes on some of the leading fashion brands in the world of two-wheeled transport.

Music

Field Day festival at Victoria Park, May 25th – Field Day is all about hip, electronica music with an ear-poppingly good line up, so get ready to get lost in the crowds, have a sweaty dance off in a packed tent and glory in the fact that all of East London will be there.

Art & Culture

Art of the Moment Festival, May 11-12 – This new festival is all about celebrating innovation in music and art and will feature a whole host of workshops, interactive installations, live cinema and a few other experimental surprises that might just blow your mind.

Best bits from last month

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – April 2013

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:39 +0000

The fourth month of 2013 promises aplenty in the way of festivals, parties, exhibitions and food glorious food – so forgive us if we’re feeling a little giddy about what we’ll be getting up to this April…

Cinema

Bird’s Eye View Film Festival: Celebrating Arab Women Filmmakers, April 3-10th – This year’s BEV will be honouring the work of women in the Arab world, offering insightful docs, film shorts, Q&As, live music and a special Fashion Loves Films programme, offering a host of parties and galas.

Art & Culture

Gaia: A Show of Hands at Nelly Duff, April 11th – One of the most thought-provoking street artists of our time will be presenting his first UK exhibition for one week only. The New York-born, Baltimore-based artist has built an international rep for his street murals, and this show will demonstrate his continuous fascination with hands through his unique style.

Eat & Drink

Dante Fried Chicken at Death by Burrito April 11-14th – We happily chowed down at Mr Dante’s finger-lickin’ pop-up last year so pleased to hear he’s back on our shores, this time with a cookbook and an exhibition. He’ll also be joining forces with Death by Burrito for a guest chef residency, where he’ll be serving up an exclusive dinner menu and all day brunch on April 14th, to mark the final day of the show.

Nightlife

The Doctor’s Orders Presents The Doctor’s Orders 250 Featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Nextmen And Rich Medina At Scala, April 13th – To mark their 250th event, the Doctor’s Orders guys are going all out to bring together some of the most celebrated DJs in hip-hop – and this is one party that won’t stop until the sun comes up.

Art & Culture

Pick Me Up 2013: Graphic Arts Festival at Somerset House, April 18-28th – Feast your eyes on an incredible array of illustrations and designs at this 11-day celebration of all things graphic. Highlights include workshops, creative forums and lively events every evening.

Eat & Drink

The Lab at Tobacco Docks, April 25-27th – The creators of the Taste of London fest are debuting a new experimental foodie weekend, featuring some of the most innovative chefs from around the world and masterclasses in experiencing food like never before.

Best bits from last month

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Something You Should See… John Skoog at Pilar Corrias

Florence Ritter — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:32:04 +0000

Anyone hooked by television thrillers Forbrydelsen and The Bridge will know already what an eerie and unsettling backdrop rural Scandinavia can provide. Extract the scenery from the drama, isolate the overriding sense of uneasy trepidation it initiates and distil this into concentrated form, and you have the films of John Skoog. Fitzrovia gallery Pilar Corrias are noew exhibiting two brand new films by the young Swedish artist: Sent på Jorden and Förår. They are arresting and beautiful works that herald the beginning of a promising career for the artist who has not yet hit his thirties.

Sent på Jorden (Late on Earth) has been described as Skoog’s first ‘documentary’ film, but it defies this categorisation in its conventional sense. Rather than presenting us with a particular story, narrative or event, the artist documents an atmosphere. The place: the small agricultural town Kvidinge, Sweden, where the artist spent his childhood years. The hour: that specific time of day when the sun sets and a part of the world is bathed in the otherworldly light of dusk.

Sent på Jorden was shot over ten days, a few weeks after midsummer. Skoog and his producers used these days to plan meticulously what they hoped to capture in the half-hour-long window of the perfect light conditions each evening. The results are extraordinary. In a series of thirteen scenes we watch various figures prepare for nightfall as the day winds down: a high-cheekboned girl with black eyes makes her way home through tall grasses; strawberry pickers with expert hands work against the approaching darkness to gather the final fruit of the evening; a group of children play a last silent game of football before the inevitable call to come inside. Förår (Driver) delves deeper into the psyche of one of these characters. It is a portrait of boredom, solitude and the subconscious, with an inconclusive ending that will leave you decidedly uneasy.

Short-film buffs can marvel at the films’ perfect pacing and Skoog’s careful treatment of light; aesthetes will be blown away by the violet-yellow palette of the landscapes; thrill-seekers will be held captive by the inexplicit sense of threat running throughout. Stop, sit and watch Skoog’s two films at Pilar Corrias and be transported to Kvidinge. They offer an aesthetic feast, but you may feel more than a little weird afterwards. (Words: Florence Ritter)

John Skoog at Pilar Corrias runs until 2nd February 2013. Click HERE for more info.

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Something you should see… Anish Kapoor at the Lisson Gallery

Eri Otite — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:00:51 +0000

Anish Kapoor returns to the familiar environs of London’s Lisson Gallery with a major exhibition of new works. Recognised as one of the most influential sculptors of his generation, the solo show takes over both spaces of the gallery – and being Anish Kapoor, the backyard too. The Turner Prize winner’s engagement with colour, volume, scale and form over the decades has produced works of real invention – from powdered pigment mounds to gigantic steel installations. This spirit of ingenuity continues with organic-like-pieces created from mud, cement and metallic pigment and new concrete sculptures.

Born in India, Kapoor established himself as an artist during the 1980s, with his seminal 1000 Names series. In these works, groups of indefinable structures were completely covered in the loose powder of bright coloured pigments. Kapoor’s investigation into colour in his earlier pigmented pieces serve as the reference point for the dome forms that appear in the exhibition. Other works featured in this month long show include a room specially constructed to induce ‘unease’ and a physically imposing steel sculpture located in the sculpture yard. There is much to see art-wise in the capital at the moment and Kapoor has already made his presence felt. Responsible for the most recent addition to the capital’s architectural landscape – the Orbit tower – it’s timely that his work should catch our attention again. (Words: Eri Otite)

Anish Kapoor is showing at the Lisson Gallery, Bell Street, NW1 5DA until November 10. For more info, visit www.lissongallery.com

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TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – October 2012

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:41 +0000

To think we’ve got only two months before the end of the year (!) – well at least things on the arts and cultural front aren’t dying down yet, with festivals galore making their way to town for your social pleasure and a few unique events (one featuring chocolate!)…

Special Event

Photomonth 2012, October 1st – November 20th – If you’ve got a camera or even a vague interest in photography, head down to this annual fest held around East London which not only offers over 150 exhibitions in galleries and venues, but the chance to participate in walks and workshops.

Cinema

Bicycle Film Festival, October 5th to 7th – Festival founder and dedicated cyclist Brendt Barbur started the BFF in 2001 following an accident in New York City while riding his bike – but 11 years on, it continues to be a positive celebration of the bicycle and its cultural relevance through music, art and film.

Arts & Culture

Siobhan Davis Studios Animated Environments Series: Steven Pippin, October 6 – November 24 – Siobhan Davies Studios hosts the final part in their Animated Environments series, this time with acclaimed artist Steven Pippin. Wonder what the last thing a camera sees before it is shot through the lens with a bullet? Best head down to the dance studios to find out where this strange human musing takes the audience.

Eat & Drink

Choctails at The Botanist, National Chocolate Week, October 8th to 14th – To mark National Chocolate Week, The Botanist bar on Sloane Square has teamed up with Hotel Chocolat to produce a limited edition range of hot chocolates and cocktails. Flavours include The Ultimate Hotel Chocolat, Chocolate Orange Melt, Nutty Divine and Naughty but Spice.

Music

The House of St Barnabas presents The Autumn Culture Series with Gilles Peterson, Andrew Weatherall, Rob da Bank, from October 16th – If you are feeling a bit charitable this autumn but don’t want to encourage those pesky chuggers, then this next recommendation could be right up your street. The Grade one listed House of St Barnabas have enlisted the help of DJ aficionados Giles Peterson, Andrew Weatherall and Rob da Bank to host a series of nights in their amazing premises. Charity plus dancing (to great music) – minus getting a restraining order on a street fundraisers – equals perfect.

Theatre

Jonzi D: Lyrical Fearta at Lilian Baylis Studio, October 18th to 27th – The legendary hip-hopper will be reviving some of his best known works and premiering The Letter – his first solo piece in 17 years. He’ll also be joined by acclaimed musician Soweto Kinch.

Best bits from last month

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