The Cultural Agenda: July EditBy Alicia Grimshaw
It’s July, and that means one thing: summer events are at an all-time high. We’re talking about outdoor food festivals, sober raves, and plenty of musical events. Here’s a roundup of the best events taking place in London over the next month. Get your diaries out, people:
Cultural Agenda: Music
1. For Various Music Events: Barbican
What: Barbican plays host to a whole medley of musical events throughout July. The Bella Union 20th anniversary shows is a series of gigs celebrating one of the most successful British independent record labels on their, you guessed it, 20th birthday.
Why: On the 13th July, off-kilter US songwriter Ezra Furman and friends present an evening of vicious songs, bold experiments and bizarre epiphanies. And on the 14th July, Mercury Rev realise the symphonic potential of their widescreen Psych Pop alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia. Constantly pushing the boundaries of what rock music can be, Mercury Rev have always experimented with grand and enveloping arrangements. Here, lush strings meld with Jonathan Donohue’s reedy melodicism as they rework highlights from their restlessly creative career, from early grungey work, to the dreamy euphoric sound of Deserter’s Songs, through to the sweeping chamber Pop of recent years.
Price: Tickets here
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
2. For Musical Feels: The Multi Story Orchestra
What: The Multi-Story Orchestra returns as part of the 2017 summer programme to Bold Tendencies Car Park, Peckham. On July 6th, singers from John Donne and Kender Primary Schools join forces with The Multi-Story Orchestra and conductor Christopher Stark for the premiere performance of their new work In Colour.
Why: This new work has been specially written by the singers in collaboration with Penny Debruslais, Abimaro Gunnell, Raph Clarkson and Kate Whitley. The piece is inspired by the Bold Tendencies commission ‘Hi Boo I Love You’ by Simon Whybray and their My Museum exploration of how people are impacted physically and emotionally by the colour around them.
Price: Tickets here
Where: Bold Tendencies Car Park, Peckham, London
3. For a Club Night Banger: Last Days of Shoreditch
What: Last Days of Shoreditch Riviera has arrived in the heart of east London with a sensational summer programme of beats, bars and beach life. One for your diary: Artwork is bringing epic Art’s House Club night to The Last Days of Shoreditch on 8th and 22nd July.
Why: Endless events are planned for Last Days of Shoreditch Riviera in July including Artwork’s House Club, and a Friday soundclash with surprise guests. Like always, Artwork will be inviting some very special friends and DJs to help soundtrack your summer. Previous Art’s House guests have included Derrick May, Skream, Eats Everything, Simian Mobile Disco, Paranoid London and more.
Price: Tickets here
Where: 288-299 Old Street, London EC1V 9DP
Cultural Agenda: Cinema
4. For Flicks and Beer: Brooklyn Brewery x The Prince Charles Cinema
What: Brooklyn Brewery and The Prince Charles Cinema present: BROOKLYN NIGHTS. A monthly celebration of American cinema, served with an iced cold beer.
Why: Launching on 4th July in time for the all-American celebrations, Brooklyn Nights will be a monthly celebration of American cinema – giving guests the chance to kick back and relax with a complimentary ice-cold Brooklyn Brewery beer in hand, whilst watching a classic American flick. First up it’s Stephen Spielberg’s classic monster-movie, JAWS, which will be paired with Brooklyn Brewery’s seasonal brew, Summer Ale – a refreshing and flavourful pale ale.
Price: Tickets here.
Where: 7 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BY
Cultural Agenda: Events
5. For a Sober Rave: Morning Gloryville
What: On Wednesday 12th July, pioneers of the sober rave movement, Morning Gloryville, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of 1967’s Summer of Love with the ultimate wake up call in collaboration with Colours of Love festival. Taking place from 6.30am to 10.30am, this vibrant morning rave will invite hundreds of Londoners to dance the dawn away in what’s set to be one of the most amorous raves to date.
Why: This particular party aims to celebrate all aspects of The Summer of Love; the social phenomenon and revolution that occurred during the summer of 1967, in San Francisco and beyond. Everybody is welcome at this inclusive and empowering event, with Colours of Love being ideal collaborators as they bring their diversity and positive energy to the festivities. Early risers are invited to throw on their most colourful items of clothing and unite for this global social and fitness phenomenon.
Where: Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, London, SE1 6DP
6. For Raucous Bingo: Bongo Bingo
What: Bongo’s Bingo have announced their summer dates in London: Friday (14th July) and Friday (18th August) at The Clapham Grand. The mayhem continues to take the UK by storm, as well as expanding across Europe and beyond; Bongo’s Bingo already has a sold-out residency in Dubai, and has just launched in Ibiza.
Why: From starting in Liverpool originally, it is fast becoming a true phenomenon, one which has already re-shaped how people enjoy themselves and perhaps most importantly bringing back a sense of unadulterated fun and escapism to going out. The shows take place across the UK which continue to sell out in advance, with a vibrant mix of players flocking in from far wide for the riotous reinvention of a particularly unique fond British pastime, perhaps a little staid around the edges.
Price: Tickets and info here
Where: Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TT
7. For a Saturday Night Banger: Regression Sessions at Ministry of Sound
What: For the first time ever, Regression Sessions will be taking over the famous Ministry Of Sound. Earth has descended into chaos. Prepare to be taken into the heart of The Red Light Apocalypse, where people are gathering in their thousands to throw the final party on Earth before the end of the world.
Why: Regression Sessions’ aim is return partygoers to an earlier stage in the psyche when everything was simple and fun was easy. On Saturday (8th July), they promise to offer regressive experiences from bouncy castles and ball pits and plasticine therapy, to surrealist giant knitting and student art exhibitions. Programme this madness with constant bangers from house, garage, hip hop, drum & bass, soul and disco.
Price: Tickets here
Where: 103 Gaunt St, London SE1 6DP
Cultural Agenda: Food
8. For a Festival of Nostalgic Greatness: KERB
What: KERB are back on Granary Square with their free second weekender of the summer, to celebrate all that stuff that’s so wrong, it’s so right. Taking place from Friday (21st) – Saturday (22nd July), KERB’s Noshville is a chance to all get together and indulge in a delicious cacophony of good ol’ nosh-talgia under the sky
Why: Forget the trends; go soggy-chips not hip, bottoms-up that butterscotch Angel Delight and chow down on your chicken dippers with pride. They’ve chosen 13 KERBanists to conjure up their best ‘show-stopper’ guilty pleasure dishes, and sling them out to lucky Londoners for two days straight. Oh, and there’ll be a live TV ‘Dream Themes’ cover band, Old School DJ’s, 80’s Jane Fonda aerobics, KERB’s guiltiest pleasure cocktails, bingo and lucky dip to add to the hot fuzzy plunge pool of sins.
Price: Entry free.
Where: Granary Square, Kings Cross, London N1C
What: Following the breakthrough concept of Krug Island in 2016, Krug is transporting its unique festival to the grand English wilderness. Krug announces Argentinian culinary sybarite, Francis Mallmann, will headline an evening of theatrical, open fire cooking in his first ever solo UK consumer event; Krug Festival – Into The Wild. The evening of Saturday (29th July) will be accompanied by music performances curated by Mahogany and unified by Krug Champagne, taking guests on an unforgettable journey of discovery.
Why: Krug Festival – Into The Wild will draw guests to the freedom of the countryside and the alluring setting of The Grange, an 18th century heritage site in the county of Hampshire. Each area of the event will envelop guests in an incredible visual and culinary experience with the menu crafted and cooked by Francis Mallmann. From the remote region of Patagonia, Mallman is best known for his dramatic open-fire-style cooking. Using sand pits, trenches and home-made dome-shaped frames, Mallmann and his team will smoke, roast and char the menu across the three sites on The Grange – pairing each dish with a champagne from the Krug portfolio, including Rosé, Grande Cuvée and Vintage 2002.
Price: Tickets here.
Where: Hampshire
10. For a Food Festival: Foodstock LDN
What: Taking place on Saturday (15th) and Sunday (16th July), Foodstock LDN is the food festival that has something for everyone; street food, farmers’ market, local craft beer, live music, entertainment for the kiddies, workshops for the adults, and a large outdoor screen to watch the Wimbledon finals.
Why: The gourmet area is an exciting addition to Foodstock LDN 2017. Lucky Pierre’s pop-up restaurant will show off what they can do with the best of July’s produce. Their five course set menu includes dishes like heritage potato risotto with artichoke, orange and herbs and miso aubergine, charred onions with chicory. Newcomers Mondo Brewing Company and returning favourites Sambrook’s Brewery are both based a stone’s throw away from Battersea Park. With multiple bars at the festival you will be spoilt for choice, from cocktails to cider slush; Foodstock LDN has the best in the business.
Price: Tickets here
Where: Battersea Park, British Genius Site, SW8 4NW
