As much as we may love London, even the most hardy, concrete-loving, city dwellers have to admit, you need a break from the big smoke occasionally. So why not make a date in the diary to take a trip to one of the Channel Islands for a cream tea and a good helping of world-class photography?
Jean Christophe Godet started the Guernsey Photography festival only a year ago, and it was such a success that they are back at it again. This year the festival theme is Identity and all the immediate photographer heavyweights that spring to mind are going to be there; Martin Parr, Richard Billingham, Samuel Fosso (pictured), and Tony Ray-Jones are amongst the many taking part. In total, there will be around 20 exhibitions and over 30 recreational and educational events. Also, the exhibitions won’t be confined to just a white space but will be found in various locations around the town. They’re all free and open to everyone which only adds to the countryside, community feel that you could only get outside the capital. Could this be proof that London doesn’t hold the monopoly on cultural events in the UK? I guess we’ll have to go to find out! (Words: Laura Thornley)
Visit www.guernseyphotographyfestival.com for more info.
• What's it all about?
• * Somewhere You Should Go
• * Something You Should See
• * Something You Should Do
• * Somewhere You Should Eat
• Sign up for the TCé Picks newsletter
• Join the Culture Club!
• Go back to main website
• Ask me anything
• Submit your photos! What to do in London - The Cultural Exposé
If you go down to the Old Truman Brewery, look out! Not for roaming chickens (ha ha! that’d be hilarious…), but a showcase of new British art and design talent. It wont cost you a penny, it’s in its eleventh year and it’s only the UK’s bloody largest to date!
Free Range gives us eight whole weeks of fashion and design, graphics, photography, art, interiors and moving and still image – each get their own week, mmm hmm, in that order too.
The moving image exhibition is a newcomer to the visually imaginative line-up and the fashion and design category returns after its flourishing debut last year. ‘New Blood’ also sees the collaboration between Free Range and D&AD to present the annual showcase of the best art grads.
Hosted in East London’s innovative creative district, Free Range attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2010 and they’re likely to top that this year; so let’s welcome summer, grab ourselves a bagel and something chilled from Brick Lane and catch the bonanza between May 31st to July 25th. (Words: Syriah Bailey)
For more info, visit www.free-range.org.uk.
The early onset of summer has us all running frantically to the supermarket to buy large quantities of red meat and disposable BBQs, lathering on the sun tan lotion like crazies in the park and in general, wondering how best and most creatively to utilise the amazing weather before it’s pulled like a rug from under our feet.
When I lived in Sydney, a popular social activity (apart from ‘sunbaking’ on the beach and surfing some gnarly waves of course!) was going to the open air cinema in Centennial Park. Now, some enterprising sparks by the name of ‘Pop Up Screens’ are bringing the concept to London for the May bank holiday weekend. For just £7 a screening (or £18 for the whole weekend), you will be able to watch cult movies Anchorman (pictured), The Big Lebowski and Ghostbusters (!) on a big screen while enjoying an exotic meat burger (options include Wildebeest and Springbok) and an alcoholic beverage in the lovely Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith. All sounds very pleasant to me: grab that picnic basket and let’s roll! (Words: Aoife Moriarty)
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.popupscreens.co.uk.
It pleases me to say that the remainder of this spring will be an international one. No one’s boarding a plane, but you’ll be happy to know the chance to experience a piece of Africa is within reach.
London via Lagos is a festival of British-Nigerian contemporary plays, presented by the Oval House Theatre and playwrights Arinze Kene and Lydia Adetunji will be offering stories of diaspora to give people the chance to see through the eyes of a Londoner in Nigeria, or a Nigerian in London, and gain an understanding of the two cultures meshed into one.
Whether it’s the troubles of a man caught in the middle of conflict in Lydia Adetunji’s Fixer or the transitions made in the process of growing up in Arinze Kene’s Baby Jesus, you’re bound to be entertained and learn a thing or two - so no doubt, a must-see. (Words: Yusuf Orekan)
For more details and tickets go to www.ovalhouse.com
It is fair to say the documentary genre has had a nip and tuck in recent years and is creating films that are shaking the whole industry (not just its own corner). This year’s LIDF programme is proof of this; first and foremost, the directing star of the show has to be the mighty Scorsese, who is dipping his toe into the documentary pool once again, this time with his personal profile of Elia Kazan. It is amongst the many docs this year that are being clumped into ‘A Portrait of…’ category. There is also a fascinating look at the notorious playboy Hugh Hefner, who, believe it or not is quite the activist (I suspect some feminists may be in the ‘not’ contingency). Other thematic threads making an appearance are the “The Arab World – Life & Optimism”, “Grandma, A Thousand Times” (pictured), “Privacy & Press Freedom” and “Australia”.
The LIDF may not start until 13th May but with tickets available from now and a killer line up, it’s important the word is out. The festival will take place at various venues across London including Rich Mix, The Tricycle and Curzon Soho as well as smaller more intimates like the Roxy Cinema Bar and the Horse Hospital. (Words: Laura Thornley)
Visit www.lidf.co.uk for more info.
What would be worth £10 and ten hours of your day on a bank holiday weekend? A Simpsons DVD box set? Maybe on another day, but as for the 29th of May, a nice day in Shoreditch filled with urban vibes including that of music, art, film and much more sounds just about right.
Streetfest is back next month - and the festival dedicates an entire day to real raw urban culture, opening eyes to amazing sights and giving ears amazing sounds. This year proves no different as the event shall literally be jam-packed with entertainment as well as crowd participation. You’ll see it all, from Hip-Hop dancers and BMX stunts to wicked awesome DJing and a live art battle! Did he say live art battle? Yep, picture the last battle from 8 Mile and replace the raps and mics with black paint and white walls.
A huge array of stars shall be on show including sport talent Lovenskate, DJs Thristian bPm and Marcus Nasty, graffiti writer Inkie and UK music scene duo The Nextmen. It’ll be an epic experience, so make sure you’re a part of it. (Words: Yusuf Orekan, Photo: Yoshitaka Kono)
For tickets and more details go to www.streetfest.net
You may not know this but Perrier has quite a history – it was first bottled by Louis Eugene Perrier (a doctor, no less) from a spring in Southern France at the turn of the century. It was believed to have health benefits coming straight from the earth in its fizzy state. Although French, it became the first mineral water to be given the title ‘By Appointment of His Majesty the King of England’ and began a journey through the British Empire as an accompaniment to Gin, Whiskey (or whatever those colonial types were drinking to help them sleep at night).
Ok, so enough with the door-to-door mineral water selling salesman spiel, I will get to the point. Perrier is launching a series of events this summer to enlighten attendees on its history and crucial part in the cocktail world. Thematically, the events will move through the decades, with the style of tipple and party hosts reflecting this (expect some sort of performance to go on). If you’re dubious about the consumerist, brand-tastic storytelling spin of these events (you’re not the only one!) fear not; the cocktails on offer will be made by some of the best shakers in the business and will be sensational (believe me, I have tried them)- you may even get to try one by mixologist Laurent Greco, who specialises in all sorts of Heston Blumenthal-esque liquid pleasures – think dry ice, melting candy floss and unpronounceable, but perfectly safe, chemicals. (Words: Laura Thornley)
For future dates, check their Facebook page.
Here at TCé we’ve noticed that recently, it’s been impossible to avoid ‘news’ about the upcoming Royal Wedding. Everywhere you look, there they are: yet more stories about Kate’s ‘low key’ hen night, familial spats and - this is key! - whether or not Victoria Beckham will be designing Miss Middleton’s honeymoon wardrobe.
But rather than get our knickers in a twist, we may as well embrace it and go with the flow - it’s all a bit of fun, right? (cue a chorus of a disgruntled members of the public shouting: “What do you mean I’m paying for it?!”)
In a good-natured nod to the event, the V&A Museum will be hosting a Victorian street party on the 29th as part of their monthly ‘Friday Late’ series. Activities will include: a scrapbook-making workshop, posing for wedding photos, sing-along songs and eating copious amounts of trifle. Bridesmaid dresses optional but welcome. Sounds jolly spiffing to me! Fetch my tiara dears, my public awaits…(Words: Aoife Moriarty)
For more information, go to the V&A website.
‘I can’t speak French, so I’ll let the funky music do the talkin’…’, so sang the lovely ladies of Girls Aloud. As someone who studied German at school (I know, unfortunate), these are my sentiments exactly when listening to the slick rhythms of French hip-hop star, MC Solaar.
The Senegalese rapper has an incomparable flow, and his talent has proven over the last twenty years to defy all language barriers. Just think of Carrie Bradshaw running frantically around the streets of Paris in a bit of green net to ‘La Belle et le Bad Boy’ in Sex and the City’s final episode, or his feature spot in Missy Elliott’s R&B classic ‘All N My Grill’: ‘Zeehg zag, zeehg zahg…’ (Rapping just sounds so much sexier in French, doesn’t it?!)
The legend himself comes to Camden’s Jazz Café for two nights this month. Hip-hop fans are strongly advised not to miss out on a chance to see a rapper who - after seven studio albums - is still one of the best at his craft. ‘Enchanté de faire votre connaissance, Monsieur Solaar! (Words: Aoife Moriarty)
For more information and to book tickets, visit the Jazz Café’s website.
