Another packed week of happenings across the UK this second week in July. There’s festivals of the film variety and a multitude of music ones. Plenty of free ways to see some mind blowing artwork and if you fancy something more relaxing we’ve got the best options from the big screen and indeed small ones for your viewing pleasure. Here’s the Weekly EDIT.
Sweet Harmony: Rave | Today (12th – September 14th)
It’s a rave up at the Saatchi Gallery as they present a retrospective on dance culture, ‘Sweet Harmony I Rave Today’, 30 years after the 1989 Second Summer of Love, the last youth revolution. The exhibition will be an immersive walk-through through of the acid house scene of the late 80s and early 90s showcasing works via room installations from the lenses of Dave Swindells, Vinca Peterson, Ewen Spencer and others.
Brighton Rocks Film Festival (RIALTO, 12th – 13th)
The second outing for the annual film festival Brighton Rocks embraces a new format, combining screenings and talks by filmmakers with audio-visual installations, live music performances and more. RIALTO is a former Gothic Chapel in the heart of Brighton that is now a bohemian and stylish theatre. The venue boasts a screening space with 90 seats, beautiful art deco bar and a labyrinth of corridors, making it the perfect forum for indie and underground filmmakers to share experiences and get their creative juices flowing.
Frieze Sculpture Park (Regent’s Park, till October 6th)
Every October, Regent’s Park hosts Frieze London art fair, but before the big event the park is filled with sculptures for the public to enjoy for free. Works from 23 contemporary and modern artists including Tracy Emin will be on show till October 6th in what is the largest outdoor exhibition in London.
BST Hyde Park (Hyde Park, 8th – 11th)
Sandwiched between the two big weekends of music there’s a whole host of free events including taking place this week featuring everything from music performances on the Barclaycard Stage, film screenings like classic 80s nostalgia from Back to the Future on this Wednesday, uninterrupted Wimbledon coverage, street food markets, craft beer showcases, circus performances and workshops and tons more. Worth checking out.
Summer Streets (Regent Street, 14th – September 15th)
The shopping haven of Regent Street goes traffic-free for four Sundays between now and September. Instead of dodging black cabs you can relax and enjoy live entertainment, games and food and drink stalls, danger-free, right in the middle of the road. With it being 200 years since the road was named, Museum of London experts will be on hand to give some history lessons about this chic old street. TUrn up from 12pm-6pm.
Olafur Eliasson (Tate Modern, 11th – January 5th 2020)
Those that saw Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s ‘The Weather Project’ in the Tate’s Turbine Hall many years ago that essentially brought a massive sun indoors will understand why there’s been much anticipation for his new show here. ‘In Real Life’ boasts captivating installations exploring complex geometry, motion patterns, and color theory across several new works. One of the standout pieces is an interactive work that displays visitors forms in interesting and very colourful ways.
Gigs
Lovebox (Gunnersbury Park, 12th – 13th)
Lovebox is the best fest to see the finest rap and hip hop acts going. Last years move to Gunnersbury Park hasn’t harmed this most urban of two-day fests, off the back of Wu-Tang Clan headlining last year, this time they have Beyonce’s little sis Solange backed by renowned rapper Chance as well as Slowthai and Lizzo.
Hidden Herd Festival (Brighton, 13th)
A massive one-day new music event with 14 acts, two stages and no clashes at Brighton’s Patterns on Saturday 13th July. The focus is well and truly on emerging indie talent, as some of the most gifted and exciting new bands going, such as Kawala (pictured) converge for a celebration of superb sonic things to come.
TRNSMT Festival (Glasgow Green, 12th -14th)
Featuring the likes of Stormzy, Bastille, Richard Ashcroft and Sam Fender to name but a few, Glasgow’s famously raucous crowd will revel in a weekend of top quality music, at a festival that’s gained an award-winning reputation. Taking on the baton from the now defunct T In The Park, this is the go-to festival in Scotland.
Eats & Drinks
The Great British Food Festival (Chiswick House, 12th – 14th)
The finest culinary experts from this country will be on hand at the lovely walled garden area at Chiswick House showing off their talents and wares. Here you can find artisan producers, hot food and delicious drinks, chef demos, Men v Food Challenges, foraging walks, Gin-Offs, Cheese-offs, Cake Off, live music. After all that you really will need a drink.
Sussex Gin Fest (Borde Hill Gardens, Haywards Heath, 13th)
After debuting in Brighton last year the Sussex Gin Fest returns in a much bigger location, boasting the very best of bespoke, small batch, artisan gins that the area’s become known for. The event will feature bars from local distilleries, including Brighton Gin, Tom Cat & Harley House, and there will be experts on hand showcasing everything there is to know about Sussex gin, from production and tasting methods to fabulous cocktails and refreshing coolers.
The Kurupt FM Podkast (Audible, Out Now)
The crew from comedy show People Just Do Nothing, Chabuddy G, MC Grindah, DJ Steves and DJ Beats here show off their podcasting skills as they trace the evolution of music. This six-part Audible cast (so not free) also sees the crew get deep as they talk about relationships, survival and supernatural experiences.
New Music
Africa Express – EGOLI (Africa Express Records, 12th)
Damon Albarn’s long running musical project that brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to offer a new perspective on Africa and its music, returns with a unique new record showcasing South African talent. Collaboration is the key here with genres and great frontiers of music traversed like a Springbok leaping across the African plains. Artists include South African duo Radio 123, and talented singer and rapper Moonchild Sanelly, along with more familiar homegrown artists like Gruff Rhys. Listen to the brilliant single Johannesburg featuring his whispered vocals.
New TV
Blown Away (Netflix, 12th)
We’ve seen painting, we’ve seen pottery, and now scraping the craft barrel, this new Netflix reality TV show is turning the spotlight on gifted glass blowers. Yes, here ten master artists turn up the heat in glassblowing sculpture challenges for the chance to win $60,000 in prizes and the title of champion. Smashing fun all around.
8 Days: To the Moon and Back (BBC 2, 10th)
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Appollo 11 mission when man set foot on the lunar surface for the very first time (unless your in the school of thought that Stanley Kubrick faked the whole thing), this dramatised documentary tells the story through declassified cockpit audio tapes, cutting-edge digital effects and recreations of key moments.
New Movies
The Dead Don’t Die (Cinemas, 12th)
Jim Jarmusch directs this hipster zombie comedy, starring Bill Murray and Adam Driver as cops in a sleepy American town called Centerville, who encounter a zombie apocalypse where the dead rise from their graves due to a global imbalance caused by polar fracking. Watch out for a brilliant cameo by Iggy Pop who plays a coffee obsessed zombie.
Annabelle Comes Home (Cinemas, 10th)
What sounds on the surface like a fluffy kids film is in fact a rather more traumatising experience in the latest of the movies from the Conjuring Universe. Haunted doll Annabelle returns, this time round demonologists Ed and Lorraine (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) make the inexplicable decision to bring the demon doll back to their home and lock her in a glass case. Bount to end well that.
Freedom Fields Screening (The Lexi Cinema, Kensal Green, 9th)
Women’s football team Goal Diggers FC have put together this charity festival aimed at getting women involved in or playing football. The festival closing event in West London is a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary feature film Freedom Fields followed by a Q&A with director Naziha Arebi. The film, shot over five years, follows three women and their football team in post-revolution Libya, as the country descends into civil war.
Competition Time
WIN a Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam!
We’ve teamed up again with our friends over at Nextbase UK to offer one of their new top of the range Dash Cams.
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For the chance of winning this great prize simply heat to The MALESTROM on Facebook and ‘FOLLOW’ & ‘LIKE’ our competition Post. Those who still haven’t followed cannot be entered into the comp.
For more information, please visit: www.nextbase.com
Best of luck!
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