So we’re slowly getting there. This week will see the end to that oh so cruel phenomenon known as Dry January, the nights are slowly but surely drawing out and once we get the chilly month of February in the rearview mirror Spring is but an eye blink away.
Sort of, we can dream, right? Anyway, as you well know we’re always happy to do the legwork so you don’t have to in finding the latest events, music, movies and more, to provide some welcome respite from Winter. Here’s The Weekly EDIT.
Shape Wellness Week (till 31st)
There are multiple free events for mind and body in London’s Flat iron square this week.
With fitness classes, yoga, martial arts workshops, health talks, and more vegan food than you can shake an avocado at. We feel healthier just writing about it.
Places are limited, so don’t forget to book.
Virtual Reality in Glasgow (various)
Love trampolines? Love virtual reality? Well, you need to get to Glasgow pronto.
Apart from boasting the biggest trampoline area in the world at 63,000sq ft, Flipout has an adult parkour area and Ninja obstacle course but most recently it’s become a VR arcade.
From £10 you can explore different worlds with 15 games and virtual experiences to choose from, including a walk the plank simulation, which sees users walk the plank hundreds of feet in the air at the top of a skyscraper, as well as games under oceans and in outer space.
Bill Viola / Michelangelo (till 31st March)
In what’s likely to be a fascinating if not controversial pairing, the new exhibition at The Royal Academy in Mayfair is showing a group of late drawings by Michelangelo alongside video installations by the video artist Bill Viola.
Fourteen of Michelangelo’s drawings are set against 12 of Viola’s video works. There’s also Michelangelo’s only marble sculpture in the UK to view.
The exhibition looks to ‘explore the affinities’ between the artists, and is ‘conceived as an immersive journey through the cycle of life’.
London Remixed Festival (1st – 2nd Feb)
On Friday and Saturday London, Remixed Festival takes place at Rich Mix, Shoreditch in London’s East End. It features music on 4 stages, showcasing the best in Latin Grooves.
Afro beats, Tropical Bass, Vintage-Remix, Desert Remix, Balkan Beats, Urban Roots, Acoustic Soundclash and what everyone really wants the Brass Band Remix.
Acts announced so far include Henge, Animanz, Rum Buffalo, Gypsies Of Bohemia, Nazin Ziryab, Onipa, Malphino and more.
Pinter at the Pinter: A Slight Ache & The Dumb Waiter (31st Jan – 23rd Feb)
The Pinter at The Pinter season culminates with two short comedic plays from the late British playwright.
The Dumb Waiter sees two hitmen wearily await their next target in a derelict building and A Slight Ache follows a couple’s evening as it goes from sedate to mayhem when a mysterious figure enters their country home.
Martin Freeman and Danny Dyer (who recently dedicated his NTA award to Pinter) star.
Gigs
Massive Attack (various, till 3rd March)
After their seminal album Mezzanine received a special edition re-release last year, the Bristol electronic band are off on tour to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the release of their LP, which featured classic tracks like ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Angel’.
They play Glasgow today (28th), before moving onto Manchester the day after. It’s also been announced that documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis has created the visuals for the show. Not one to be missed.
In Cider Festival (1st – 3rd Feb)
With weather like this, you’ll want to be listening to any live music under suitable cover.
This fest organised by West Country music promoters Fuelled By Cider at Pontin Sands Bay is fully indoors and features a host of interesting acts such as Ferocious Dog, Skinny Lister and Beans On Toast.
Just watch out for those Pontins Bluecoats who might try and rope you into some ‘fun’ games.
Eats & Drinks
Vegan Nights 2019 (31st)
In what’s previously been described as the Glastonbury of plant food, this Thursday at 93 Feet East in Brick Lane sees the return of Vegan Nights.
There will be 40 insanely good food vendors, dealing out the best in plant-based snackery, along with DJs, live acts and the tantalising promise of ‘warm vibes’.
Added to that some inspiring conversations from some of the main players in the plant powered movement and you’re onto a winner.
Catford Food Market (29th)
Experience South East London’s newest urban food space on Tuesday.
Between 10-4pm you’ll be able to taste food from some of the regions top street food creators, whether some Caribbean fayre from Jerk Off BBQ, North East Indian delights from Raastawala, or Italian inspired sourdough pizza from Van Dough, there’s a taste for everyone.
There will also be other market goodness like fresh cakes, bread and fresh hand-crafted pasta, along with custom beverages including Catford Cream Soda and Catford Cola as well as Tom Cat Six gin and Catford Pride Pale Ale. Sounds like a feast right.
App of the Week
Super Fowlst (Android, ios, Free)
The world has been overrun by demons and there’s only one chicken that can stop them. How? By smashing into them head-first. Why? We’re not sure.
Super Fowlst is an action game where your trusty bird has to dodge bullets, squish monsters and grab loot. There are sprawling stages to conquer, huge bosses to defeat, and all manner of gadgets and gizmos to interact with.
And best of all this great little app is free. The graphics feel very SNES, it’s fast-paced, addictive and very fun, all in all egg-ceptional.
Song of the Week
Adrianne Lenker – Blue and Red Horses
Adrianne Lenker is best known as the singer for folk-rock group Bir Thief, here she’s on a solo tip, bringing with her that dreamy emotion-filled voice.
This single Blue and Red Horses of her record abysskiss released last year is like a beautiful nursery rhyme or lullaby that could rock you to sleep or send you to a magical place. Manna for the ears.
New Music
Beirut – Gallipoli
Beirut, driven by enigmatic frontman Zach Condon has been making great records for 13 years.
Gallipoli their fifth offering returns to the brass chorus’ the band are known for and is all the better for it, with this record showing off the very best of Beirut.
Condon wrote on the bands’ website that he “wanted every creek and groan of the instruments, every detuned note, every amp buzz and technical malfunction to be left in the cracks of the songs”. He got his wish. Check out the title track Gallipoli below.
The Specials – Encore
One of the most influential bands of all time, The Specials, are back with their first new music for 37 long years.
In the year that marks their 40th anniversary as a group, they’re releasing the ten track album Encore, produced by Specials founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter alongside Danish musician/producer Torp Larsen.
They may have been out of the game for a while, but it seems they haven’t lost a step. Check out the first single of the record ‘Vote For Me’ below.
New TV
Velvet Buzzsaw (Netflix, Friday)
Jake Gyllenhaal reunites with the director of the brilliant Nightcrawler, for this satirical thriller based in the LA art world.
This time Jake plays a gallery owner who procures some work from a mysterious artist for a show.
Things start to turn very spooky when it seems the art can come to life and wreak chaos and death upon the lives of their buyers. With a great cast including Toni Collette, John Malkovich and Rene Russo this isn’t to be missed.
New Films
Escape Room
Looking like a mash-up of brilliant 90s sci-fi horror Cube, the Saw pictures and one of those trendy adventure games your office boss sends you on as a team building exercise.
This micro-budget horror sees four friends trapped in an escape room with the clock ticking as they try to find the clues leading to different rooms or face the grave consequences.
Green Book
If you can imagine Driving Miss Daisy with the roles reversed your somewhere near what you’ll be getting with this entertaining drama.
It’s about an Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx (Viggo Mortensen) hired to chauffeur a virtuoso Black pianist (Mahershala Ali), on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South.
Navigating the journey means relying on “The Green Book”, a pamphlet published that listed places where black people wouldn’t be turned away or made to feel uncomfortable.
It’s a surprisingly feel-good film that benefits greatly from two stellar central performances.
Competition Time
WIN one of two pairs of AfterShokz Trekz Titanium Headphones worth £99.95 each.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this great prize is head over to The MALESTROM HQ Facebook page, ‘LIKE’ us and ‘SHARE’ this competition post.
AfterShokz’s wired and wireless sports headphones offer a comfortable, healthy and safe way of listening to music. Unlike conventional headphones and earbuds, these bone conduction headsets transmit audio waves to the inner ears through the skull, bypassing the eardrums completely.
Specifically designed to use whilst exercising, these lightweight headphones are sweat proof, secure and offer a crystal clear audio experience whilst allowing individuals to stay aware of traffic and ambient sounds around them.
Full Ts&Cs here: https://bit.ly/2sL00bP
Best of luck!
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