Scout London 0003

0003

FREE EVERY TUESDAY MAY 01>07 2012

ART & CULTURE • COMEDY • FILM • FOOD & DRINK • LGBT • MUSIC • SHOPPING • SPORT & FITNESS • THEATRE

CAMDEN C ALLING

Jason Statham | Bauhaus London | Jo Brand | Cycling tours

P r o f e s s i o n a l Te n n i s P l a y e r Kei NISHIKORI

THE POLO SHIRT PERFECTED While retaining we’ve buttoned details such as more than 150

the polo shirt’s classic nature and refined style, we are constantly updating it to perfection. This year, it up again by improving the fabrics, tweaking the shape one millimetre at a time, and refining the button and stitch colours. We also have a wide array of variations ready to match your style, with colours and patterns available in the men's lineup. Enjoy a new comfort in this classic style.

Men's and women's polos, now

£12.90 *

* Limited offer available on selected items, please see in store for further details.

Regulars

COVER: MONTAGE FEATURING PHOTOS BY lsbardel / timcowlishaw / bortescristian / Julie70 / Shht! / davepatten / idiotequephotography / id-iom / Karen Roe / palm z / kentishtowner.co.uk / BIG PICTURE: © Lucie Jansch

5 Scouted The Big Ten, Secret Cash Machines, Last Chance London, #loveScout and more

Cover Story 8 Cam on over Camden is fighting back for the crown of London’s coolest area

7 Talent Scout Noel Falkner, owner of the Comedy Cafe and Bedroom Bar guides us through his favourite London haunts 13 London by Lamé Amy ponders the unfairness of arts funding

Sections

The Big Picture 36 Einstein On The Beach

14 17 18 22 26 28 32 34 36 43 44 47

London Shopping Food & Drink Art & Culture Comedy Film DVD/Download LGBT Music Sport & Fitness Theatre Competitions

scoutlondon.com Scout London

3

amy lamé’s new show directed by scottee camden people’s theatre 1-5, 8 -12 may tickets £10/£12 box office 08444 77 1000 www.unhappybirthday.net #unhappybirthday

photography tom sheehan

Scouted

BIG TEN

1

Get back to Camden Town

2

Get on yer bike

3

Camden has been in the shadow of its ‘hipper’ east London counterparts for too long - now it’s fighting back  p8

 Crawl over to Camden

5

Cycling isn’t just for commuters - it’s a great way to see the best London has to offer  p43

Celebrate the best of British design  p17

Dine al-fresco The sun will come out one day, and you’ll need to know where to eat p18

6 Alaistair Muir / Oleg Skrinda (SKRINDA.com) / George Rex / Piers Allardyce

4

Burn baby burn Get poptastic with Carpet Burn in Vauxhall everyone welcome  p34

7

Crack a smile with Jo Brand  p26

8

Rock out with Tinariwen  p37

Put your Top Hat on  p44

9

Re-live the Thatcher years  p32

10

Deck yourself out in tweed  p15 scoutlondon.com Scout London

5

Scouted //SECRET CASH////////////////////////////////////// MACHINES OF LONDON//////////////////////////// EUSTON STATION //////////// Euston Station is a nightmare. Full From its uninspired post-war //////////////////////////////////// stop. architecture to the courtyard which is little more than a glorified ashtray, Euston is the pits. Worst of all, there is always a massive queue at the lone HSBC cashpoint near the Underground entrance.

A few months ago some new ATMs have emerged and for some reason they are never busy. This may be because they look like the cash points that charge a fortune just to withdraw a tenner, but they are free to use.

Located between platforms 5 and 6, head towards the nice big sign that says Cash Machine.

We have no idea how people are missing these money-dispensing gems, but then again Londoners are creatures of habit.

LONDON

Neighbourhood Watch Tricycle Theatre Closes Sat May 5 Soul Sister Hackney Empire Closes Sat May 5 6

Scout London scoutlondon.com

Hampstead Heath last Saturday - we left our dogs next to each other in the doggie crèche while wandering around the market. Dinner? M To the hot Spanish waiter at Carluccio’s St Pancras: buy me a drink? THIRSTY

Spotted someone you fancy in London? #loveScout on Twitter

London votes: suddenly it’s looking a lot like 2008 again On May 3, people from across London will be given the chance to vote for the Mayor of London and the 25 members of the London Assembly.

In 2008, incumbent Ken Livingstone battled it out against a field of competitors including Boris Johnson and Brian Paddick. In 2012, current Mayor Johnson runs against a field of competitors including, er, Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick.

This year’s election is all

about colour coding. Each voter will have three brightly coloured ballots - pink for the Mayor of London, yellow to elect your constituency London Assembly Member and the orange sheet is used to cast your vote for a London-wide Assembly Member.

Polling station are open from 7am-10pm. If you arrive and there’s a queue you might not be able to enter the polling station in time to vote, so get there early.

please come and switch off your car alarm

don’t underestimate my boredom

MICHAEL SCOTT

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Othello Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Closes Sun May 6

Thorpe Park on Saturday 21st. You were with your gang of gay mates.

We queued a short distance behind on Nemesis and we kept catching eyes. Would have given you my number but didn’t see you after. How about now? JAY

If you know any of these people, let us know and we’ll try to get you in touch. love@scoutlondon.com

Baba Shakespeare: Tower Theatre Company Arcola Tent Closes Wed May 2

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Closes Tue May 1

I saw you at the Capital Car Boot Sale in Pimlico. I should have asked you more than the price of that Joy Division vinyl. See you again next Sunday? ANON

We were both queuing at Bodeans on Poland Street on Record Store Day with our friends and couldn’t believe an hour wait for barbecue. Try again next Sat? SOPHIE

last chance

Chalet Lines The Bush Theatre Closes Sat May 5

# love

Noel Falkner Owner, Comedy Cafe and Bedroom Bar As the owner of the Comedy Cafe in Shoreditch for 20 years Noel Falkner has seen the likes of Lee Evans, Mark Lamarr, Jo Brand, Lee Mack and Ed Byrne perform on his stage. Recently rebranding the venue as The Bedroom Bar, it currently hosts cutting-edge new music as well as the latest comedy talent.

Let’s go to the pub. Scout’s buying - you pick the location.

Anywhere that isn’t showing the football.

Ah, OK then. How about we forget that idea and grab a bite to eat instead. Any restaurant tips?

A small restaurant in Hoxton Square called Ruby’s which does good food, has great desserts and is cheap! Its chocolate brownies are the best.

Scout London Cover Stars 0003 Artem Sukhinin, Graphic designer, Shoreditch

What in London inspires you?

London is a very inspiring place on its own. Everything is inspirational: lifestyle, people, streets, walls. I get inspired mostly by people’s attitudes towards living here and by the feeling of freedom of this amazing city.

Any London secrets to share?

When I am outside I always try to look out for different things. You can find amazing rare book shops,

small markets, odd collections or interesting and experimental graffiti.

Favourite part of London?

East London. I have been living here for three years, but still every day is like an adventure.

How important is London to your work?

I feel free here to express myself in many ways. I experiment with

How about outdoor spots?

The roof of my house. I have four fox cubs in my back garden which I feed every day. Last year there were seven cubs that regularly came into my garden.

Where do you get your shopping fix?

I enjoy going to the Sunday flea market near Brick Lane. I absolutely love junk.

Where do you go to relax?

The Rich Mix cinema on a Monday night. The staff are really nice and you can get some great munchies from the cafe downstairs.

Do you have any secret London tips for us?

Drive a small, small car. I know all the secret forecourts that I can squeeze into.

techniques and materials, because every day I see something new. It has opened my mind opened to so many things. I am constantly developing my graphic style and the high level of competition in the city helps me improve.

What’s next for you?

To conquer the world!

See more at behance.net/ArtemSukhinin

Talent Scout is looking for talented creatives to design the Scout London logo that appears on our cover each week.

London-based artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, all welcome. Interested? Contact talent@scoutlondon.com

scoutlondon.com Scout London

7

If you thought Camden’s glory days were over, think again. Chris Beanland discovers how London’s music quarter is battling the eastward emmigration and

O

nce upon a time, the media fizzed to the story of the collapse of Barings Bank following losses of $1.4bn at the hands of rogue trader Nick Leeson; Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and the YBAs outraged the Daily Mail, while the Tories thrashed about amid infighting in John Major’s government.

It was at this time that music

8

Scout London scoutlondon.com

fans flocked to Camden Town to see to see the likes of Blur, Pulp,

Suede, Elastica, Supergrass, Sleeper, Echobelly, and The Bluetones.

Wide-eyed, they crowded excitedly into pubs such as The Good Mixer, hoping to catch a glimpse of Graham Coxon or another famous regular. They danced, sweated, got drunk and fell in love at club night Blow Up at The Laurel Tree, then chased away the hangover at George and Niki’s Golden Grill greasy spoon on Parkway the following day.

Even as the last bars of Britpop

faded out of earshot, a new breed of cool Camdenites were acting as a magnet on suburban souls

SEE CONTENTS PAGE FOR MONTAGE CREDITS / GWDESQ

...getting the groove back

PHOEBE FERRIS ROTMAN / REX / APHRODITE IN NYC / ALLY GOLIGHTLY / MARY CARSON

seeking the accessible glamour the Bizarre team sat at desks that artists such as The Libertines in front of a garish giant mural and Amy Winehouse provided. featuring this pseudo-slogan on After closing time the hippest a London Underground roundel place to be was the famous kebab adorned with a mish-mash of shop, Marathon, a few doors up photos of people like Pete Doherty. on the right from The Barfly. Here, Visiting celebs used to sign the the entry fee to the back room mural for posterity. was charged at one can of Red Along with a ramshackle Stripe and the al fresco terrace collection of famous Camdenites looked like a Wild West shooting ranging from Peaches Geldof to gallery, packed to the rafters with Sadie Frost, Winehouse loved the good-looking chain-smoking Hawley Arms. And the managers deviants who didn’t want to go loved her back. to bed.

However, in 2008 a Marseilles-born minstrel devastating fire started by a Daniel Jeanrenaud used to pitch portable heater ripped through up and wail one-man blues sets some of Camden’s famous like his life depended on it. With markets (and The Hawley) his 1950s clobber and slicked burning them to the ground and back hair, Jeanrenaud – aka The necessitating a major rebuild.

Camden Cat – is a true NW1 character. I once saw him burst into song on a Northern Line train at Mornington Crescent to the astonishment of even the most “seen it all” of tube-goers.

But when the council and Camden police – led by Raj Kohli (brother of the comic Hardeep Singh Kohli) – lost patience in 2010 with Marathon’s late nights, they curtailed its license.

This wrist-slap seemed to signal much more – the end of an era. Camden Town had ceased to be the hip party enclave it once was.

Camden has had to face the facts: things change; places change; fashions change.

But London is always in flux.

Travel back in time 150 years and this place was a Victorian mire of smoke and soot and trains that Charles Dickens brought to life while living behind The World’s End pub.

Throughout the 1980s, niel post-industrial Camden evolved Da Jeanrenaud into something very different, reaching something of an apotheosis in the Britpop 90s.

It wasn’t just the markets Having made it his base back which needed reconstructing. then, Graham Coxon can’t shake Camden’s reputation as the the Camden bug – he still has a epicentre of youth culture house here, not far from where had taken a bit of a battering.

Amy Winehouse lived at Camden Youngsters in lust with the capital Square. were drifting east, dreaming of a Talented and tragic, fantasy life as hipsters in Hackney Winehouse symbolised a new rather than cool in Camden Town. generation of what The Sun But the area won’t take its crassly referred to as “The knocks lying down. It’s fighting Camden Caners”. In its old offices back hard on multiple fronts – by in Wapping during the mid-00s, offering a deliberately different

experience to Hackney and by shouting more loudly about what it’s got to offer.

Camden is growing up – its shops, restaurants, markets, pubs and even its buildings seem to reflect this. There’s a renewed commitment to nightlife – Camden’s gig venues, like Koko and The Roundhouse, are some of the most prestigious in town.

Nights like Ultimate Power at The Electric Ballroom, ASBO at the Lock Tavern and Jubilee at The Barfly – the latter run by former Libertine Carl Barat and ex-3 Colours Red guitarist Chris

McCormack – are consistent crowd-pullers. And the Camden Crawl – which takes place this weekend – underlines Camden’s value as a giant A&R hypermarket.

Most of Camden is constructed of sturdy Victorian brick – but not all of it. Camden contains the most interesting collection of modernist council housing in the world, such as Denton – where Tulisa and the

Dappy from N-Dubz once hung out.

Camden’s newer buildings are always worth a look – though they are a hit-and-miss affair.

The council is happy for identikit yuppie box flats to be built on the canal, but don’t even think about wrapping your shop in copper like All Saints did. The planning officers made the company rip it all off. Now there is just the usual sewing machine display in the window.

There’s always something new in Camden – and the authorities are proselytising about that like there’s no tomorrow. The quango Camden Town Unlimited aims to improve the visiting experience and encourage new businesses to start. It’s even gone as far as to produce a free iPhone app on which designer Wayne Hemingway (who launched his label Red or Dead at Camden Market) and Suggs (whose love affair with the area is so deep he penned the track Camden Town) wax lyrical about their favourite Camden things.

Although it’s being eroded by rising prices, Camden retains a strong sense of community; it has a soul. It’s home to movers and shakers and people from around the world – Somalians, West Indians, French. The new Jewish Museum is worth a visit.

There are even a few Banksys dotted around. But just down the road from The Barfly, I discover his famous maid painting opposite Domino’s Pizza, which was whitewashed by a “vandal” in 2008, has now been replaced with a rather more, err, striking work – a mural painted

by Eduardo Kobr and Eduardo Agnaldo. A Domino’s cashier told the Camden New Journal that while the Brazilian pair were painting it last year: “Every day they would eat a pepperoni pizza with no tomatoes and a bottle of coke, every day the same.”

The two Eduardos might have eaten the same lunch every day – but no two days in Camden are ever the same. scoutlondon.com Scout London

9

As Morrissey once sang:

Come back to Camden Town.

Check out our top tips...

Food and Drink

In the arches underneath

Market has been steadily garnering praise for its homely British fare. The school dinners vibe extends to minimalist décor and little wooden chairs – but they didn’t serve skate wing at the school we went to. marketrestaurant.co.uk

New retro American cocktail bar and hot dog emporium Joe’s does the business across the road from The Roundhouse. Open late, it also hosts Northern soul, ska and rockabilly club nights. joescamden.co.uk

beer of choice for thinking drinkers – and April saw the opening of a bar at the brewery. Big Apple Hot Dogs serve franks outside every Friday and Saturday night. camdentownbrewery.com

Camden Road Station, Meribel is a new Alpine-inspired joint that serves up pork loin a la Languedocienne, and of course – fondue. meribelbrasserie.com

Punk vegan bakery Cookies

And Scream now has a permanent café. Famous fans of the award-winning, gluten-free cupcakes, brownies and cookies include rock dudes Against Me! and Alkaline Trio. cookiesandscream.com Owned by global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, Cottons brings a flavour of the Caribbean to Camden. With a mix of cocktails and West Indian grub it will satisfy even the most ardent desire for curried goat. cottonscamden.co.uk

Made in Camden is The

Roundhouse’s restaurant. It proudly stakes its claim as a standard bearer for NW1 with that moniker and with vintage posters of Roundhouse productions past.

Those small plates of global tapas are for a good cause too: profits are ploughed back into the venue’s youth development programme. madeincamden.com

The Camden Crawl

What’s your favourite venue?

Three days, over 300 bands and DJs, most of the venues in Camden, and some very sore feet for everyone. It can only be Camden Crawl time again this weekend. Acts include likes of Glasvegas, The Futureheads and D/R/U/G/S. But where to start?

Tobi O’Kandi from neogoths O Children and Jordanian dubstep duchess Ayah Marar give us their insider guides to the Crawl.

AM: Jazz Cafe is an old favourite of mine. Proud is wicked.

AM: Disclosure, Roska, Alpines, Sway.

What’s going to be cool about the Crawl?

What else will you be up to?

TO’K: The fact that we haven’t played it in three years as a band living in London. It’s going to be a sort of North London homecoming show for us.

TO’K: Hanging out, seeing friends, watching bands and basically living the Camden dream. Maybe even a quick trip to Cyberdog for moon boots.

thecamdencrawl.com

TO’K: The Lock Tavern is the coolest bar in Camden, hands down.

Tobi O’Kandi

Ayah Marar

AM: There is definitely an extra buzz around Camden Town now.

At the Crawl you can jump from one venue to the next and catch something totally different.

Which bands will you be seeing?

TO’K: Death in Vegas, The Big Pink, Spector.

AM: Some furniture shopping in the Stables Market! My favourite place to eat is Viet Ahn Cafe on Parkway.

FREYAILLUSTRATION.CO.UK / ANDREW ATTAH

Camden Town Lager is the

Comedy

Music How Is Camden Fighting Back?

Camden is known worldwide as a place where music runs in the blood. In the 1990s Britpop was king, but nowadays the scene is all about rock. Punk record shop All Ages (allagesrecords.com) is thoroughly DIY. The Underworld (theunderworldcamden.co.uk) is the home of metal, and you can’t move for piercings at the Hobgoblin (myspace. com/hobgoblincamden). The Unicorn (facebook.com/theunicorncamden) was the epicentre of London’s metal scene in the 70s, and is again hosting key gigs.

If that’s not your bag, venerable institutions the Lock Tavern (lock-tavern.com) - which marks its 10th birthday in May - Barfly (barflyclub.com), Dublin Castle (thedublincastle.com), Proud (proudcamden.com), Dingwalls (dingwalls.com) and others which are testament to the area’s adopted title of capital of music. The Roundhouse and HMV Forum ensure top names visit too.

It’s not just musicians such as Coxon and Winehouse who made Camden their home. Leigh Francis, and Simon Amstell are just two of the comics who have based themselves in the borough.

The Highlight (thehighlight.co.uk) is one of Camden’s newest venues for regular stand-up – each Friday and Saturday sees the Foster’s Comedy Live night. Julian Barratt likes to attend the Crawl, while his Mighty Boosh partner Noel Fielding lives nearby and drinks in the Hawley. This year’s Crawl features lots of live comedy – Rufus Hound and Andrew Maxwell headline.

Chris McCormack Ex-3 Colours Red, lives in Camden “Camden has a totally different vibe to anywhere else in London. Camden is the heart of rock ’n’ roll in the city.”

Othello Woolf Musician and Camden resident “You get the odd secret show in the smaller venues here - I supported Courtney Love at The Monarch, which only holds about 150 people.”

Simon Pitkeathley Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited

“The number of creative and fashion companies in the area, York & Albany restaurant, as well as thriving venues like The Forge all point to Camden’s reawakening.”

Steven Proud Promoter of Ultimate Power “Camden has always retained its own identity. Although that has evolved over the years, it remains identifiably ‘Camden’ without caving in to fads. Certain hypeled areas of East London can’t say that.”

DIAMOND GEYSER / FRANCO CARUZZO / OUR BLACK HEART / EWAN-M

Lisa Paulon Organiser of Camden Crawl

Camden’s Markets Camden’s markets are the stuff of legend.

Sprawling complexes that have gradually taken over the muscular brick warehouses and stables of Camden’s old railway yards, the markets are a big draw for foreign tourists.

Since the fire, a new canalside market has

“Camden’s had its knocks over the past few years. But things are starting to change. Media and music businesses are relocating here and some great bars and restaurants are opening.”

emerged – but the controversial new glass building behind Proud isn’t to everyone’s tastes – some people think it looks more like a Westfield. camdenlockmarket.com scoutlondon.com Scout London 11

Charity reg no 1110621

Suicide is the single biggest killer of young men in London.

We need to start talking.

Get support, ring

0808 802 5858

It’s free, confidential & anonymous.

Or text

07537 404717

Start the first text with CALM1.

CALM doesn’t charge, though your network might.

Help us stop male suicide. Support us at thecalmzone.net/support

What price artistic risk?

By Amy Lamé have taken delivery of 2,500 party poppers, 350 sanitary towels, two dozen cakes, three stretch satin skirts and a wig. I pity the poor person who had to pick that order at Tesco online but at least it makes a change from baked beans and tinned peaches.

I’m just about to open my new one woman show, Unhappy Birthday, at Camden People’s Theatre and there’s a well-worn track from my front door to a basement on Hampstead Road where this stuff is stashed.

Camden People’s Theatre is an intimate 60-seater venue – a converted pub with a real feel of spit and sawdust. The two new artistic directors at the helm – Brian and Jenny – are trying to make a splash on a budget smaller than Andrew Lloyd Webber’s monthly latté allowance.

Small scale theatre has many virtues, but brimming coffers is rarely one. On the other hand, big brash musicals are often a success: bums on seats translates into commercial ka-ching. I recently went to see Singin’ In the Rain; mind you with the weather the way it’s been, I didn’t need to go to the theatre to get drenched, I could just stand near a giant puddle on Shaftesbury Avenue and wait for the 38 to speed past me.

The theatre foyer was packed.

Everyone was enjoying themselves and basking in the glow of the anticipated footlights. We were ushered along a bizarre route to

QUINNFORD + SCOUT / COLIN MERKERT / WWARBY / CHANDLER HUMMELL PHOTOGRAPHY

I

our seat in the stalls, forcing a bottleneck in the merchandise area. Singin’ In the Rain keychain / travelcard holder / wellies, anyone?

The subliminal message to “spend, spend, spend” is about as subtle as Gene Kelly tap dancing on your forehead.

A few hours in a Victorian-sized seat, a warm G&T at the interval (£8.20!) and what felt like an enforced standing ovation left me feeling jaded and fleeced.

Big West End productions may not be edgy or experimental, but they are hugely popular and encourage people to have a big night out. Nothing wrong with that. There’s no substitute for the thrill of live performance, no matter how much easier it may be to stay in and watch TV on the sofa. However, audiences are being hoodwinked into parting with a lot of cash for the privilege of theatre.

Arts minister Jeremy Hunt has recently escaped the chop. He was accused of misleading the

House of Commons and breaching his duty to be impartial over the News Corp bid for BSkyB. This is the man who had the bright idea to cut Government funding for the arts, and encourage artistic philanthropic giving in its stead.

Then his own government cut tax relief for those giving money to the arts. A perfect own goal.

It seems to be that artistic endeavours which can wholly self fund (ie big West End productions) are safe…so long as punters buy tickets, programmes, keyrings and overpriced bar drinks. And that’s a lot of pressure in a double dip recession. Sure, the bottom line is a balanced bank account – but at what price? When should the bottom line not matter so much, and artistic risk take precedence?

I’ve chosen to have a team of people aged 26 and under to work on my show. It’s been a real eye opener. My young director, Scottee, has written a provocative blog scottee-scottee.blogspot.co.uk - about the current state of the arts It’s a reaction against the hoops regional theatres are required to jump through in order to get a small ladle of cash from a shrinking pot, and how performance art is eating itself into a diabetic coma.

Shall all London’s artists do a whip-round at the House of Commons bar and see how they like it? At the very least it might pay for 2,500 party poppers, 350 sanitary towels, two dozen cakes, three stretch satin skirts, and a wig.

And then... we’ve got a show!

OVERHEARD LONDON Woman coming out of beauty salon with her five-year-old daughter in tow: “Mummy, next time can I get my eyebrows waxed?” Sure and why not go for the Brazilian/ vajazzle 2-for-1 deal while you’re at it?

REASONS TO LOVE LONDON

0003

Coffee’s for life, not just for the London Coffee Festival.

You may be having caffeine withdrawls by now so I urge you to sip the best flat white in town at the dinky Espresso Room, Great Ormond Street.

Andrew Lloyd Webber would approve. scoutlondon.com Scout London 13

London

The tweed smell of success

T

here’s something quintessentially British about the combination of Tweed, tea and vintage bicycles.

Quaintly traditionalist and undeniably stylish, the three combine to invoke sepia-toned visions of a time once forgotten. Although this time, possibly with a little help from Hipstamatic.

The past few years have witnessed a revolution in the British textile industry, with tweeds and other such home-grown fabrics coming screaming back into fashion and being spotted everywhere from the catwalks of Milan to the dance floors of New York.

Once considered the uniform of the countryside, this fabric has staged a city invasion, and takes to two wheels every spring in the form of the Tweed Run. The premise is simple: once a year, 500

14 Scout London scoutlondon.com

dapper souls don their finest threads and take to the streets of the capital by bike, absorbing the sights and delighting in the traditions of days gone by. Riders are encouraged to dress up in the attire of yesteryear, and enter into the spirit of things with gusto.

The route wheels through some of London’s best-known landmarks, taking in sights such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Savile Row, before braking for a leisurely tea break, where riders can mingle and chat all things nostalgic.

Although the vintage fabrics are no doubt experiencing an in-Vogue moment, we can’t help but wonder if there is something odd about doing vigorous exercise wearing one of the world’s warmest and roughest fabrics.

Some people may well be put off by the fabric’s heavy weave and coarse nature, or simply feel that fluorescent polyester is truly the

only apparel to sport while saddled up.

Jacqui Shannon, co-founder and event director of the Tweed Run, is no such lady.

Her vision and love for the fabric saw her and business partner Ted Young-Ing, summon a group of like-minded individuals and set off on a journey of tweed, tea, and charity – the Tweed Run was born.

“The idea for the run originally came from a shopping trip my partner took in Scotland,” she tells Scout London. “He bought some lovely tweed plus fours, but on arriving back in London, he realised he had nowhere to wear them.”

Shannon and Young-Ing decided to create their own excuse to don the garments, and organised the debut run in 2009.

“To me, it’s a great day out when we cast aside everything about the modern world and allow ourselves to be the best version of

Oleg Skrinda (skrinda.com)

This weekend hundreds of cyclists will take to the roads of London for a ride with a difference. Jo Carrigan goes behind the scenes for a closer look at the Tweed Run

featured

66 For a few hours we can become quintessentially British gentlemen and ladies 99 ourselves,” she beams. “For a few hours of the year we can become the quintessentially British modern gentlemen and ladies that we would love to be. Not only that but we do it looking lovely, on bikes and while raising money for our chosen charity, World Bicycle Relief.”

If all this is tickling your vintage fancy – and it’s not just due to the fabric – places are now all filled. But fear not, it’s not just the taking part that counts. It’s also a great spectacle to behold as the riders tour the capital dolled up to the nines.

“The Tweed Run allows its participants and spectators a glimpse of something special,” says Shannon. “Everyone feels it on the day - the riders and the public who see us. It’s a hard thing to describe - you’d have to experience it to really understand.”

The mother of all Pearly coronations

The Tweed Run is on May 6

Ride on Our pick of the best spots and landmarks from which to follow the ride on its journey through the capital Big Ben Make the time to watch the cyclists whizz past. Get both hands in the air to support them on their way.

Oleg Skrinda (skrinda.com) / Jessicamulley

Buckingham Palace Get your royal wave on and gallantly cheer on the riders from the regal gates of the palace.

The British Museum Once you’ve had your fill of the vintage clothing astride the bikes, make your way over to the museum’s collection for a further taste of Britain in days gone past.

Savile Row Tailor-made for a great view of the riders, pitch up here to get some influences before picking up your own tweed suit.

In what is one of London’s great traditions, the coronation of the next generation of Pearly Kings and Queens takes place on May 6.

Expected to be the largest such event of its type for decades, the coronation takes place at the ‘official’ Pearly church, St Martin-in-the-Fields, where there’s a great chance to see a gathering of the families dressed in their iconic suits adorned with pearl buttons.

After the ceremony there will be a good old cockney knees-up at Bethnal Green’s Carpenter’s Arms, with music from The Barrow Boys, to welcome family and friends of the new ‘royalty’.

The kings and queens wear their trademark suits to raise money for charity, following in the footsteps of founder Henry Croft.

Born 150 years ago, Croft was an East End costermonger who spent his life helping the poor.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 15

London

TUESDAY MAY 1 Bengali Book Group: Idea-Pathok at Idea Store Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU Whitechapel phone for prices, 18.30-20.00. A talk about a book.

Bethnal Green £10, concs £8, 20.0021.30. An introduction to the techniques of Egyptian bellydance.

Clayton Littlewood: Book Launch at The Society Club, 2 Ingestre Place, W1F 0JF Piccadilly Circus FREE, phone for times. The author discusses his book Soho Is Dead.

The Politics Of Squares: Talk at London School Of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE Temple FREE, 18.3020.00. A panel discussion about civil society’s radicalisation.

Ukulele Jam Session at The Royal George, Goslett Yard, WC2H 0EA Tottenham Court Road FREE, 19.0023.00.

Luke Wright’s Cynical Ballads at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Wed & Thu £10, Fri & Sat £12.50, concs £10 & £10.50, 21.15. The performance poet recites seven tales on modern, fragmented Britain.

THURSDAY MAY 3 Singalong Oliver! Choral Club at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo FREE, 18.00, 18.30. Voicelab hosts a drop-in singing session, in which participants can perfect songs from the classic musical.

Lost In The Andes: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington phone for prices, 14.30-15.00. Find out what it’s like working as a botanist in the Andes.

Power Of Design 1948-2012 at RIBA, 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD Regents Park £8.50, mems £5.50, 18.30-20.30, booking essential. With V&A exhibition curators Christopher Breward and Ghislaine Wood.

WEDNESDAY MAY 2 Bellydance: Workshop at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E2 6HG

All Work And Low Pay: The Story Of Women And Work Exhibition Tour at The Women’s Library, 25 Old Castle Street, E1 7NT Aldgate East FREE, 18.30.

Hear about the many different types of jobs women have held.

The Estorick Collection Of Modern Italian Art: Lecture at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD West Dulwich £10, mems £8, inc glass of wine, 19.30. A talk about the collection, its Futurist paintings, figurative art and sculpture.

The Frozen Archive: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 14.30-15.00. A staff member discusses the planet’s climate.

Life Drawing: Workshop at Primrose Hill Community Centre, 29 Hopkinson’s Place, Fitzroy Road, NW1 8TN Chalk Farm £5, 19.00-21.30. Improve your drawing skills and understanding of the human body.

Transport for London travel update

Circle line: Suspended between Edgware Road and Aldgate via King’s Cross St. Pancras Sun-Mon. District line: Suspended betweenTurnham Green and Ealing Broadway Sat-Mon. Hammersmith & City line: Suspended between King’s Cross St. Pancras and Barking Sun-Mon. Metropolitan line: Suspended between Baker Street and Aldgate Sun-Mon. Northern line: Suspended between Camden Town and High Barnet/Mill Hill East Sat-Mon.

16 Scout London scoutlondon.com

FRIDAY MAY 4 Culture Now: Dennis Kelly & Alexandra Wood In Conversation With Aleks Sierz: Talk at ICA, 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH Charing Cross £5, mems FREE, 13.15. Discussing playwriting and stage adaptation.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Einstein On The Beach at Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Barbican £35-£125, 19.00, ticketholders to be seated 20 minutes before performance. Rarely-performed epic opera by composer Philip Glass and director Robert Wilson.

Modern Chinese Ink Paintings: An Introduction: Talk at British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Tottenham Court Road FREE, 13.15.

Curator Clarissa von Spee discusses the country’s artworks.

Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation: Live: Workshop at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Euston £7.50, concs £5, 18.30-20.00. See how the playwright’s work sounded to audiences of the day.

SATURDAY MAY 5 The Adonis Cabaret at Club Aquarium, 256-260 Old Street, EC1V 9DD Old Street £45, 19.00-22.00. Variety show.

London 2012: 2012 Hours To Go: An Evening Of Athletics And Entertainment at The Olympic Park: The Olympic Stadium, E20 2ST Stratford £20, concs £15, 19.00. Famous faces from the world of sports and entertainment, gather for a series of fun, quizzes and challenges.

The Cosmology Of The Outer And Inner Universe According To The Indian And Tibetan Buddhist Traditions: Talk at October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, WC1N 3AL Holborn FREE donation welcome, 15.00. Robert Beer explores the Buddhist Wheel of Life painting.

Piccadilly line: Suspended between Acton Town and Uxbridge Sat-Mon. Victoria line: Entire line suspended Sun-Mon. London Overground: Part closure. No service between Clapham Junction and Kensington (Olympia) Sun. No service between Richmond and Willesden Junction SunMon. Tramlink: Suspended between Mitcham and Mitcham Junction Sat-Mon. For the latest information on all public transport across the capital check tfl.gov.uk

Grand Designs Live at ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL Canning Town phone for prices, 10.00-18.00. Contemporary home show.

Genealogy Sessions at Wimbledon Library, Wimbledon Reference Library Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19 7NB Wimbledon phone for prices, 10.00-12.00. Experts help trace ancestry.

Love Music Hate Racism at Rich Mix, 3547 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East £5, concs/NUS £3, 20.00-01.00. Anti-fascist event.

Singalong Oliver!: Family Workshop at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo FREE, 16.00. Learn more of the musical’s famous songs.

Speed Surgery: Surgery In The 19th Century: Demonstration at The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret, 9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY London Bridge £6, child £3.50, concs £5, family £13.90, 14.00. A demonstration exploring surgical practices in 1822.

SUNDAY MAY 6 Herbs, The Garret And Operating Theatre at The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret, 9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY London Bridge £6, child £3.50, concs £5, family £13.90, 14.00. Learn about historical medicines.

Spaced Out Tour at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington FREE, 13.00-13.30.

An interactive tour.

MONDAY MAY 7

Vaisakhi at Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DS Charing Cross FREE, 12.0018.00. Live music, dance and special performers to mark the Sikh New Year.

Caught In A Trap: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.3013.00, 14.30-15.00. A museum scientist discusses how insects are collected.

Feldenkrais at Primrose Hill Community Centre, 29 Hopkinson’s Place, Fitzroy Road, NW1 8TN Chalk Farm phone for prices, 18.10-19.10. Gentle exercises according to a method devised by Moshe Feldenkrais to enhance posture and bodily freedom.

An Introduction To Sevres Porcelain: Lecture at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, 13.00-14.00. A short talk about the ceramic collection.

Storytime at England’s Lane Books, 41A-41B England’s Lane, NW3 4YD Belsize Park phone for prices, 11.00.

Stories for children.

Varlam Shalamovís Kolyma Tales: The Poet And The Gulag: Talk at Pushkin House, 5A Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2TA Holborn £5, 19.00.

Zumba at The Old Sorting Office Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, SW13 0LF Barnes phone for prices, 10.00-11.00.

Latino dance and fitness session.

C. G. P. GREY

ONGOING Cutty Sark at Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT Cutty Sark From Apr 26, Tue-Sun 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, extra days May 7, Jun 4, closed Jun 2, timed entry, £12, accompanied child £6.50, concs £9.50, family £20 & £29, accompanied under 5s FREE. Tread the decks of the iconic three-masted sailing ship. Until Dec 31.

recommended

Shopping

recommended

SOMETHING TO BANG ON ABOUT Immune to Olympics and Jubilee fever?

At least Lisa Williams is finding Selfridges’ enthusiasm catchy he powers that be must forgive, or at least understand, why some Londoners are still not quite mopping their brows with Olympic and Jubilee fever.

After all, tons of us missed out on Olympic event tickets, didn’t get in there fast

T

enough to book the all-important dates in June off work, only to be left with nothing but dread that our commute’s going to be even more of a nightmare than usual.

But, if you are feeling this way, why not have a saunter past Selfridges, which hosts its Big British Bang celebration from May 4 until late summer. And it’s set to be the biggest event in the iconic department store’s 103-year history – an exuberant extravaganza of all things British.

Whether you are wanting to shop or merely take a look around, there’s plenty going on. For starters, the Oxford Street retailer has commissioned Vivienne Westwood to design some of its window displays.

There’ll even be Morris dancers and real Pearly Kings and Queens, invited to promenade around the store.

The Big British pop-up shop will showcase some of our finest homegrown produce (yep – Marmite and

Branston pickle are on the list), plus the best of British fashion.

The Union Flag moves on from the Spice Girls with appearances on a special edition Barbour jacket and Mulberry Bayswater bag, while designer shoes inspired by the Pearly crew are also on sale.

In fitting tribute to the Diamond Jubilee, there’ll also be a tiara shop, with replicas of those worn by the late Lady Diana and new princess, Kate Middleton, on their wedding days available to buy, with prices ranging from a bargain plasticfantastic £5 to £52,000 for the diamond-encrusted real deal.

The theme is all-encompassing, with the roof terrace – once a prime location for events and fashion shows – re-opening for crazy golf by Bompas and Parr and “the highest tea on Oxford Street”, open daily from noon.

Downstairs, the basement houses fashion exhibition Britannica 1951-1953.

This display,

curated by leading fashion curator, Judith Clark and milliner, Stephen Jones, recreates period looks using current items, and is inspired by the pages of vintage Vogue magazines (pictured, top left).

So, if your Brit factor’s in need of a boost, you know where to head.

It might just make you feel a teensy bit proud.

The Big British Bang launches on May 4, with individual events running for different periods.

For further details and crazy golf and tea bookings, see: selfridges.com/BigBritishBang

scoutlondon.com Scout London 17

Food & Drink

Dine beside London’s pride The Thames is about more than keeping north and south Londoners apart - it makes the perfect spot for eating out.

Ben Norum picks the highlights

T

he longest river in England, an historic trade hub and our original gateway to the rest of the world – it’s pretty much because of that blue squiggle on the Tube map that London exists at all.

We have a lot to thank Father Thames for. Historically, it was via the river that we received goods such as spices and tea, and the water source was what gave London a head start when it came to distilling spirits or brewing beer.

The river really was London’s pride.

The Thames’ connection to our food and drink culture isn’t quite what it once was, but the river is good for much more than keeping North Londoners north and South Londoners south.

Now the weather is warming up, the bon viveurs in the city are turning their attentions to dining by the water.

This week sees the start of the Tower Bridge Summer Festival at the foodie enclave of Shad Thames.

While the wet weather of late will act as a reminder to the marketing team at D&D London which has organised the festivities that summer hasn’t actually started yet, a few drizzles aren’t going to stand in the way of some good old fashioned trumpetblowing to mark the area’s 15 minutes of fame when later in the year both the Olympic torch and the Queen’s jubilee barge will be passing.

The festival’s itinerary includes cocktail masterclasses, wine tastings, pasta-making lessons and

18 Scout London scoutlondon.com

more, taking place across eateries such as the British Butler’s Wharf Chop House, Italian Cantina Del Ponte and French Le Pont De La Tour.

Up river the Blueprint Cafe will also get in on the action. Recentlyappointed chef Mark Jarvis - who replaces Jeremy Lee after he moved to Soho’s Quo Vadis - will be working with Surrey farm Secrett’s to host special supplier dinners showcasing the best of Britain’s seasonal produce. Although you’re more likely to spot office workers in The City on the other bank of the river than any kind of wildlife, the restaurant makes the most of its enviable waterside position by placing a pair of binoculars on every table.

There’s more regular foodie action to be found at the main stretch of the Southbank, courtesy of the Real Food Festival market.

A four-day special running from Friday marks the Bank Holiday this weekend. And round the corner, in the shadow of the London Eye, the annually-appearing upturned purple cow of comedy festival Udderbelly has brought with it some award-

winning street food in the form of The Laughing Stock’s pop-up shack serving wraps, rolls, soups and stews.

At the river’s west end the Foodies Festival will see Artisan producers, restaurants and top chefs gather in Hampton Court Palace for the popular show, a highlight of which will be a pop-up oyster bar from Soho’s Randall & Aubin. Although Samuel Pepys wrote in his 17th century diary of eating oysters straight from the Thames, we’re happy to report that these ones aren’t quite that local.

If being by the river isn’t enough for you, then Tamesis Dock in Vauxhall is worth checking out.

Newly-refurbished just in time to get in on the river action, this Dutch barge, formerly known as The English Maid, has spent most of its the years since launch in 1933 travelling the Seine, but is now permanently moored between Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges. Hop aboard for an impressive lunchtime burger or evening cocktails on the water. Just be sure to raise a glass to Father Thames while you’re at it.

We owe him one.

Off Thames Waterside eating beyond the river Towpath, N1 5SB A small but serene café serving seasonal Italian dishes and well made coffee overlooking the Regent’s Canal near Haggerston. A perfect place to watch the world go by, but you’ll want to watch out for cyclists, too.

The Bridge House, W2 6ND Enjoy a cold beer or a hot meal at this picturesque pub along the Grand Union Canal in leafy Little Venice. You might even forget that you’re still in London.

Rotunda, N1 9AG Set on a peninsula jutting into King’s Cross canal basin, this modern British restaurant offers simple food which is as charming as its location.

Anchor & Hope, E5 9HG With an open fireplace, dartboard and little in the way of space, this pub on the River Lea in Clapton is as traditional as they come. Outdoor seating overlooks the river.

reviews

Top Ten

Brunches

1

The Providores Fusion feasts W1U 4RX Bond Street

2

The Delaunay Big style buffet WC2B 4BB Holborn

3

Dishoom Cheesy naan WC2H 9FB Leicester Square

4

Hackney Pearl Fritters & chilli jam E9 5LX Hackney Wick

5

Hawksmoor Guildhall Steak & eggs EC2V 5BQ Bank

6

Roast, The works SE1 1TL

7

Madeira Cafe Portuguese custard tarts SE1 8TG Waterloo

8

Riding House Café Chorizo hash browns W1W 7PQ Oxford Circus

9

Lido Café Sausages & swimming Herne Hill SE24 0PA

London Bridge

Road Brasserie Small plates chic 10 High W4 1PR Turnham Green

Launceston Place Gloucester Road A big name on London’s restaurant scene for some time, Launceston Place has been through a potentially tricky transition of late, bidding farewell to renowned Tristan Welch and handing the kitchen over to Yorkshire chef Timothy Allen.

If there’s the slightest of jitters going on behind the scenes, you certainly wouldn’t know it. Turning off busy Gloucester Road and onto the pretty Kensington side street which lends the restaurant its name, there’s an elegant serenity which isn’t usually associated with London. Not even these plush western parts.

The calmness continues as we step through the restaurant’s door and straight into the bar area.

It’s actually more of a lounge with a drinks cabinet, giving a taste of the equally homely atmosphere in the dining area. For a restaurant that’s unashamedly high-end, such a laid-back feeling is unusual, and Launceston Place owes much of it to the staff. Sure, they’re slick and efficient, but what makes the real impact is just how friendly, conversational and genuinely interested in a bit of banter they are. Either that or they’ve been trained to pretend really, really well.

There are several menus available, with the cheapest (excluding weekday lunchtimes) offering three courses for £46, while at the other end of the spectrum a blow-out eight-course tasting menu will set you back £60 (£118 with wine pairing). Cheap it isn’t, but with quality

ingredients at the core of the restaurant’s ethos, ambitiously intricate flavour combinations and generous portion sizes, it quickly becomes apparent that Launceston Place offers considerable bang for your buck.

A slow-cooked duck egg served with pata negra lardo (Spanish ham from pigs fed on acorns) and an English asparagus velouté is as seasonal as can be, and an instant stand-out.

The syrupy, nectar-like liquid of the just-cooked yolk mixes with the vibrant green velouté in a justright cocktail of ‘refreshing’ and ‘cloying’.

The roasted scallops comes with a slab of pork belly, sorrel and ‘textures’ of apple and celeriac, which are less pretentious than they sound - raw slices, cooked cubes and purées of each.

A lemon posset served with confit lemon and rosemary granita as a pre-dessert is an example of just how effective simple flavour-pairing can be, creating a light dish that’s full of flavour.

The ensuing Valrhona chocolate soufflé can’t claim to be light but it’s pretty damned sexy in its chocolatey ooziness, and combined with more sugar in the form of complimentary petit fours it rounds off a treat of a meal in a suitably indulgent way. Worth the money? Definitely.

1a Launceston Place, W8 5RL Gloucester Road scoutlondon.com Scout London 19

Food & Drink

reviews

Dalla Terra Covent Garden

Volupte City

For a restaurant with a name that translates as “from the Earth”, it’s little surprise the team is well grounded in culinary skills. Tucked away in Covent Garden’s chic new foodie location St Martin’s Courtyard, the Italian wine bar-cum-café boasts an extensive selection of fine wines matched with refreshing ‘no frills’ foods. An impressive array of carpaccios grace the menu, ranging from smoked swordfish to thin strips of cured, peppered beef. Confit of pork fillet comes bathed in aromatic oil and served with a playfully tangy anchovy mayonnaise.

There’s an equally meaty wine selection. An innovative wine cooling system means that over 30 of the 180 bottles are available by the glass, making it quite the spot for an oenophile. Dalla Terra is reaching for great heights here, but a rustic edge ensures its feet remain on terra firma. BN

Lying deliberately low on the City’s fringes, this bar, restaurant and burlesque venue is a multi-sensory melange. A carefully-timed set mixes magic, comedy, music and a bit of flesh as accompaniment to the food - to great effect. Equal praise is due for the staff who manage to seamlessly deliver each course between acts, but it’s a shame that what arrives doesn’t match the quality of service. While most of the food is middle-of-the-road characterless fare, instances of chewy monkfish “cheeks” with cold sauce and bread served with frozen butter leave a less-than-great-impression. A visit to Volupté will ensure a fun night out and the food will keep your stomach content while you watch, but coming here for the culinary offerings would be a bit like travelling to the States just to get your in-flight meal. BN

Slingsbury Place, WC2E 9AB

Covent Garden

9 Norwich Street, EC4A 1EJ

Chancery Lane

Market Cafe Hackney

Marco Chelsea

Neatly encapsulating the changing nature of the borough, this new opening in darkest Hackney occupies a now uber-trendy spot on the corner of Broadway Market. Decked out with floral wallpaper and deliberately mismatched furniture, the place is more polished than it’s trying to look. If you ignore the hipster apparel of many of the punters you could be sitting in a Clerkenwell gastropub. And a rather good one at that. Small plates of goat curd on toast and truffled rarebit do what they say on the tin with gusto, and a main of slow-cooked mutton ragu is meltingly sublime paired with soft parmesan polenta.

Meanwhile, a rhubarb and apple crumble with custard is so good it could only be beaten by your mum’s cooking. If you need your appetite whetting any further, we’re sure there’ll be some Hipstamatic photos coming soon to a Twitter feed near you. BN

It’s a case of a big venue for a big name at Marco Pierre White’s latest opening - this time inside Chelsea FC’s vast Stamford Bridge ground.

On our weekend visit it was far from packed, though it’s undoubtedly a different story on match days when the large, club-like venue comes into its own. Dark, glitzy and more diamante-covered than the female cast of Made in Essex, there’s a persistent nagging that food is far from the main game. Indeed, a steak- and grill-focused menu lacks excitement and what arrives on the plates is anything but inspiring.

A steak au poivre noir served with deep fried oysters tastes of little but pepper, and the token topping of two tiny bivalves feels a tad stingy for a £25 dish. Service doesn’t score much better either, being at best uninterested and at worst inattentive. For anyone without a footballer’s salary there are better places to kick your cash about. BN

2 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ 20 Scout London scoutlondon.com

London Fields

Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, SW6 1HS

Fulham Broadway

Food & Drink The King’s Head 100 Clapham Park Road, SW4 7BZ Clapham North Gastropub £ A proper pie and ale house, with just a few gastro flourishes.

Chorizo and broccoli sits next to steak and kidney.

CENTRAL Automat 33 Dover Street, W1S 4N Green Park Diner ££ ’Sleb-heavy hangout, with Robert Downey Jr being just one of the big names making repeat visits. It’s all about the burgers or the eggs.

Momo 25 Heddon Street, W1B 4BH Piccadilly Circus North African £££ Tucked away off Regent Street, here you’ll find hummus, baklava, mint tea and cocktails.

Roganic 19 Blandford Street, Marylebone W1U 3DH Bond Street British ££££ The much talked-about two-year pop-up from Simon Rogan, bringing hyper-seasonal, foraged, leafy food and long tasting menus to London.

Thai Metro 38 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NL Goodge Street Thai £ An accurate name for this basic but authentic eatery serving all the Thai staples alongside a few more creative options.

The Well 30 Well Walk, NW3 1BX Hampstead Gastropub ££ Fresh and vibrant flavours are presented at this picturesque pub in leafy Hampstead. It’s modern, but not too modern. Posh but not too posh.

EAST The Merchant of Bishopsgate Liverpool Street Station EC2M 7PY Liverpool Street Pub ££ Pies and other suitably British pub grub, washed down with a heavy offering of craft beers and real ales.

Angels & Gypsies 29-33 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR Denmark Hill Fusion ££ A Latin American vibe hangs over this tapas restaurant with a difference. The calamari is a stand-out. And, yes, there is a boutique hotel in Camberwell.

WEST The Lounge at Odeon Odeon Cinema, Whiteleys, 151 Queensway, W2 4YN Bayswater European ££ The next frontier of cinema food, from Le Café Anglais chef, Rowley Leigh. Order without leaving your seat and choose from finger, fork and spoon options depending on how dexterous you are in the dark.

Galvin Demoiselle Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL Knightsbridge French / British £££ The fifth restaurant from the Galvin brothers, this Food Hall concession offers light breakfasts, soups, salads, charcuterie and a house special lobster fishcake.

The Troubador 267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA Earl’s Court French £££ Seductively simple bistro food, live music, good coffee and a great wine list. What more do you want? Plus Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan have played here.

Randall & Aubin 16 Brewer Street, W1F 0SQ Piccadilly Circus British £££ This iconic Soho restaurant has partnered with Belvedere vodka to lay-on a series of Bloody Mary brunches, including hearty grills and more cocktails than just the namesake.

NORTH Yipin China 70-72 Liverpool Road, Islington, N1 0QD Angel Chinese ££ Authentic Hunanese cuisine with some Sichuan and Cantonese influences. Chef Mingyuan Geng prides himself on the restaurant’s signature dry wok dishes.

Elephant Walk 98 West End Lane, NW6 2LU West Hampstead Sri Lankan ££ Serving authentic Sri Lankan food and less authentic Sri Lankan-influenced afternoon teas.

Hackney Pearl 11 Prince Edward Road, E9 5LX Hackney Wick Cafe / Bar £ All-day cafe turned bar excelling in seasonal dishes, cakes, cocktails and coolness.

Saravana Bhavan 300 High Street North, E12 6SA East Ham Indian £ No-frills South Indian vegetarian cooking with a cult local following. Hefty portions and minute prices.

SOUTH Gregg’s Table Bermondsey Square Hotel, Tower Bridge Road, SE1 3UN Borough British ££ The latest venture from Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace, the menu includes his personal childhood favourites such as boiled beef and carrots, spam fritters and Angel Delight.

Boqueria 192 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5UL Brixton Spanish ££ New Brixton opening offering simple Spanish dishes alongside a wide selection of wines and sherries.

Charlotte’s Bistro 6 Turnham Green Terrace, W4 1QP Turnham Green French / British £££ Ingredient-led fare is key at this relaxed family run bistro.

Pay the bar a visit and don’t forget the cheeseboard.

Scout London Price Guide ££££ £££ ££ £

Over £19 per main £14-18 £9-13 Under £9

scoutlondon.com Scout London 21

Chris Mandle explores Bauhaus in London

A

t times, art can feel a little intimidating especially for those without formal art education. The prospect of doing one’s homework before attending the latest must-see exhibition can be somewhat off-putting.

But the new exhibition at the Barbican, Bauhaus: Art As Life, will look at the history and innovation behind one of modern art’s biggest cultural movements in a way which goes beyond displaying the work.

The exhibition - the largest of its kind for 40 years - is a celebration of the diversity behind

22 Scout London scoutlondon.com

the 14-year life span of Bauhaus, with photography, sculptures, theatre and installations. Curator, Catherine Ince says that this multidisciplinary aspect was what made Bauhaus so popular.

“What we tried to do with this exhibition was rather than paint a picture of the Bauhaus, we looked at the art school, what they made; what they worked on, the parties they had, the lifestyle, the relationships forged,” she tells Scout London.

“We weaved all the different things such as ceramics, furniture, photography and stagework

together, because at the time, Bauhaus was a lifestyle.”

Staatliches Bauhaus was an art school in Germany, known for its marriage of fine art- and craftwork. After the German monarchy collapsed following the First World War, a new wave of expressionism grew from that which had formerly been suppressed. Young creatives, embracing radical aesthetics and new, exciting designs, rose to the forefront of architecture and art.

“People returned to appreciating art as a craft,” Ince explains. “And they appreciated the skill in the art.”

The exhibition will offer a unique insight into the Bauhaus lifestyle. Kite flying, for example, was incredibly popular and will be offered to Barbican visitors. There will also be costume parties, in recognition of the movement’s renown for flair and decadence.

“They were incredibly flamboyant,” says Ince. “But also thrifty; people would make a costume entirely out of plates and frying pans.

“We’re holding a costume workshop as part of the exhibit and Fred Butler, one of Lady Gaga’s designers, will be attending. It’s

Iwao Yamawaki Bauhaus Building, Dessau, 1930-32 Vintage print 37.8 x 28 cm Galerie Berinson, Berlin © Makoto Yamawaki Josef Albers Club Chair from Oeser’s home, 1928 Mahogany veneer, beech wood, maple, with flat cushions 75 x 61.6 x 67.6 cm Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin Photograph: Fotostudio Barsch © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, Germany Josef Albers Set of four stacking tables, c.1927 Ash veneer, black lacquer and painted glass 39.2 x 41.9 x 40 cm; 47.3 x 48.0 x 40 cm; 55.4 x 53.3 x 40 cm; 62.6 x 60.1 x 40.3 cm © 2012 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/ VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, Germany/ Artists Rights Society, New York, USA

Art & Culture

FArKuS moLnAr deSIGn For A SInGLe-FAmILY houSe, 1922 TemPerA over PenCIL on PAPer 24 x 33 Cm BAuhAuS-ArChIv BerLIn PhoToGrAPh: mArKuS hAWLIK

highlights going to be really exciting.”

Bauhaus: Art As Life looks set to be an incredibly multidimensional exhibition; if you’re interested in discussions and talks, there are plenty on offer, with Peter Fischli offering an exciting insight into his childhood with his father, hans - a trained Bauhaus artist.

The movement’s cultural impact on London can be seen in a number of spots around London.. notably, the Isokon Building on Lawn road, hampstead, which was built between 1933 and 1943 and is now considered one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the uK thanks to its Grade I Listed status.

Premier crime novelist, Agatha Christie lived there during the 40s, apparently.

If you’d rather get out and see examples of the movement for yourself, the Social housing and Bauhaus walk lets you see buildings inspired by Bauhaus throughout the city, specifically Golden Lane, Spa Green and the Finsbury estates.

“I suppose it was the first modern artform,” says Ince. “They tried to unleash the individual’s creativity, and as constructivism gained ground, that started becoming more influential, too. Art aligned with industry, and in terms of creative education, Bauhaus was fundamental. People would go on to specialise their craft after learning about it.

“You could see it around you, you realise it’s influenced things around us like schools, buildings and furniture. It’s going to be a really exciting exhibit.”

Bauhaus: Art As Life, May 3-Aug 12, the Barbican Art Gallery, £10 adv, £12.

HIGHLIGHTS TOUR: Collecting The Bauhaus When: June 21 What: Alexander Payne, Worldwide director of Phillips de Pury and Company, leads a tour of the exhibition focusing on the design pieces in the show and their relevance in today’s market.

TALK: An Insider’s Glimpse of Bauhaus Life When: may 10 What: Led by nicholas Fox Webster, this offers a rare glimpse into the day-to-day life at the Bauhaus, including the secrets, scandals, and personal relationships. With photographs depicting the artists at work and at ease, it’s a great way to add context to the Bauhaus movement.

TALK: Building On The Bauhaus Legacy When: June 12 What: Part of the Bauhaus appeal is its thick roots in our own culture.

This talk by Louisa hutton will address her involvement in the landmark school and the current projects undertaken by the award-winning practice Sauerbrunch hutton. A great way to understand the lasting legacy of Bauhaus.

WALK: Hampstead and the Bauhaus When: July 14 What: many artists from the Bauhaus school came to england.

Their new home became hampstead, and their stay helped shape hampstead into the area it is now. This 90-minute walk goes through Lawn road, Willow road and devonshire hill, offering a different way to experience the culture of the Bauhaus school.

Where to head this week... with your National Art Pass.

Half-price or discounted entry to major exhibitions. Free entry to over 200 art galleries, museums and historic houses across the UK. For complete listings or to buy a National Art Pass visit artfund.org

British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age V&A 50% off with National Art Pass

Jamie Reid, ‘God Save the Queen’, Poster promoting the Sex Pistols, 1977 © Jamie Reid. Photograph by Victoria and Albert Museum

Turner Inspired: In the Light of Claude National Gallery 50% off with National Art Pass Gillian Wearing Whitechapel Gallery

Joseph Mallord William Turner, Keelmen Heaving Coals by Night © Image courtesy of the Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Widner Collection 1942.9.86

50% off with National Art Pass

Bauhaus: Art as Life Barbican Art Gallery Reduced price entry with National Art Pass

Gillian Wearing, Self Portrait at 17 Years Old, 2003 © the artist.

Courtesy Maureen Paley, London

T. Lux Feininger, The jump over the Bauhaus/ Sport at the Bauhaus, Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

Download our free Art Guide app and find great art wherever you are, whatever your interest.

‘The Art Fund’ is the trading name of the National Art Collections Fund. Registered charity nos. 209174 and SC038331. The National Art Pass is issued to Art Fund members, subscriptions start from £50.

Art & Culture CENTRAL

The Box: Ai Weiwei at Pippy Houldsworth, 6 Heddon Street, W1B 4BT Ladbroke Grove FREE, Until May 26. A conceptual installation.

Contemporary Norwegian Architecture at RIBA, 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD Regents Park FREE, Until Jun 15.

Models, photographs and sketches from Reiulf Ramstad Architects and Jensen & Skodvin Architects.

Jeremy Deller: Joy In People at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo £9, OAP £8, NUS/ unwaged £7, mems/under 12s FREE, ages 12-18 £6.50, inc adm to David Shrigley: Brain Activity, Until May 13. Photographs, posters, sound installations and banners.

Fourth Plinth: Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset: Powerless Structures, Fig 101 at Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DS Charing Cross FREE, Until Apr 12.

A bronze sculpture commenting on the bravery of growing up.

first major survey of the acclaimed British artist’s work to be held in the UK. Mondrian/Nicholson: In Parallel at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple £6, concs £4.50, NUS/disabled carer/Mon 10am-2pm/under 18s FREE, Until May 20. Paintings and reliefs.

National Gallery - Permanent Collection at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN Leicester Square FREE, additional charges for special exhibitions, Until Dec 31. One of the greatest collection of European paintings in the world.

Picasso And Modern British Art at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG Pimlico £14, concs £12.20, mems FREE, Until Jul 15. A mostly chronological show exploring the Spanish artist’s connections to the UK.

Christian Louboutin at Design Museum, 28 Butlers Wharf Shad Thames, SE1 2YD London Bridge £10, NUS £6, concs £9, mems/under 12s FREE, Until Jul 9. A major retrospective of the career of the renowned French shoe designer.

Tate Modern at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark FREE, donations welcome, admission charge for special exhibitions, Until Dec 31. Gallery in the former Bankside Power Station housing the national collection of international modern art.

John Madejski Fine Rooms Gallery Tour at Royal Academy Of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD Green Park FREE, Until Dec 29. A tour of the permanent collection.

Imperial War Museum at Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Lambeth North FREE, admission charge for special exhibitions, Until Dec 31. Museum devoted to British and Commonwealth involvement in military operations since August 1914.

British Library Exhibition Galleries at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Euston FREE, Until Dec 31. Treasures from the world’s largest library collection on display. Includes a hands-on gallery for young visitors.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Lucian Freud: Portraits at National Portrait Gallery, 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE Charing Cross £14, OAP £13, NUS/ages 12-18/unwaged £12, Art Fund £7, concs £6.50, mems FREE, Until May 27. Portrait paintings by the late realist artist.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Damien Hirst at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark £14, concs £12.20, mems FREE, Until Sep 9. The

24 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Ron Mueck at Hauser & Wirth, 23 Savile Row, W1S 2ET Oxford Circus FREE, Until May 26. Sculptural works exploring the artist’s understanding of myth and folklore.

Johan Zoffany RA: Society Observed at Royal Academy Of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD Green Park £9, OAP/disabled/Art Fund £7, NUS £5, ages 8-18/unwaged £3, under 8s/disabled carer FREE, Until Jun 10. Paintings, drawings and prints by the 18th-century artist.

NORTH Arsenal Museum at Arsenal Museum, 75 Drayton Park Road, N5 1BU Arsenal £7, under 16s £4, Until Dec 31. Extensive archive of football memorabilia chronicling 122 years of the Gunners’ history.

Zabludowicz Collection Invites: John Summers at Zabludowicz Collection, 176

recommended Prince Of Wales Road, NW5 3PT Chalk Farm FREE, Until May 27.

Contemporary sculpture by the American artist.

Weighted Words at Zabludowicz Collection, 176 Prince Of Wales Road, NW5 3PT Chalk Farm FREE, Until Jun 10. Works in various media exploring the power of language.

EAST Willie Doherty: Photo/Text/85/92 at Matt’s Gallery, 42-44 Copperfield Road, E3 4RR Mile End FREE, Until May 27.

Black-and-white photographs exploring the complex nature of disputed territories.

Home Office Of The Fan Fiction Empire at The Residence Gallery, 229 Victoria Park London Fields FREE, Road, E9 7HD Until May 27. Works in various media by artists including Bill Aitchison, Angel Rose and Darren Coffield.

London 2012: Lemn Sissay: No Politics at The View Tube, The Greenway Marshgate Lane, E15 2PJ Hackney Wick FREE, Until May 18. An installation exploring the relationship between politics and sport.

The Bloomberg Commission: Josiah McElheny: The Past Was A Mirage I Had Left Far Behind at Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX Aldgate East FREE, Until Jul 20. Seven large-scaled mirrored sculptures act as reflective screens for McElheny’s interpretation of a series of abstract films.

Museum In Docklands at Museum Of London Docklands, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL Canary Wharf FREE, Until Dec 31. A Museum devoted to the story of London’s river, port and people, with galleries showing the history of the region and it’s contribution to social and economic change.

Occupy Everything at Hales Gallery, 5-13 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Bethnal Green FREE, Until May 26. Politically charged prints, paintings, drawings and installations by the artistic duo kennardphillipps.

Snapshots Festival : Passport Control at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East FREE, Until Jul 21. An interactive pinhole-camera photo booth.

Vestry House Museum at Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, E17 9NH Walthamstow Central FREE, Until Dec 31. Displaying forest archives and local social history.

Gillian Wearing at Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX Aldgate East £8.50, concs £6.50, Until Jun 17. Film footage and photographs of ordinary people.

SOUTH Alice Channer: Out Of Body at South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH Elephant & Castle FREE, Until May 13. A sculptural installation by the British artist.

Firepower - The Royal Artillery Experience at Firepower ñ The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6ST North Woolwich £5.30, child £2.50, concs £4.60, family £12.50, Until Dec 31. The history of artillery with hands-on activities to enhance the experience.

Shari Hatt: I Just Want To Be Taken Seriously As An Artist... Etc at Space

Station Sixty-Five, 373 Kennington Road, SE11 4PS Kennington FREE, Until May 25. Photographs and videos by the Canadian artist.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: The Body Adorned: Dressing London at Horniman Museum And Gardens, 100 Forest Hill London Road, SE23 3PQ FREE, Until Jan 6. An exploration of the relationships between dress and costume and the body, and the emergence of London as a world city.

Ragamala Paintings From India: Poetry, Passion, Song at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD West Dulwich £8, child FREE, OAP £7, unemployed/disabled/NUS £4, combined entry with Van Dyck In Sicily: Painting And The Plague, 1624-1625 exhibition £10, Until May 27. Miniature paintings showcasing various modes of Indian music.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Road, SW19 5AE Southfields Museum £11, child £6.75, concs £9.50, Museum & Tour £20, child £12.50, concs £17, Until Dec 31. The story of the development of the game into today’s exciting sport.

WEST Beautifully Bitten: Acid-etched Metal In Europe 1500-1750 at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington FREE, Until Jun 30.

Historical weapons, armour, tools and locks with etched-metal designs.

Japanese Enamels: The Seven Treasures at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington FREE, Until Aug 19. Cloisonne-enamelled objects and vases from the late-17th century to the 20th century.

Still In Love With You: The Philip Lynott Exhibition at O2 Bubble, Millennium Way, SE10 0PH North Greenwich solo exhibition ticket £8, joint British Music Experience/Philip Lynott exhibition ticket £15, Until Jun 24. Personal artifacts including diaries, lyric books, letters, as well as guitars, video installations and more, relating to Ireland’s late, great rock guitarist.

Outreach Celebration at Blyth Gallery, Imperial College, 5th Floor Sherfield Building, SW7 2AZ South Kensington FREE, Until May 10. Works in various media.

Beatrix Potter Country: A Legacy In Lakeland And Beyond at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington FREE, Until Jun 10.

Drawings and paintings reflecting Potter’s deep connections with the Lake District.

Ten Climate Stories at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington FREE, Until Sep 28.

Photographs, objects, audio and artefacts highlighting designs and discoveries that have affected man’s relationship to the planet.

Comedy

One Brand not made en masse Jo Brand reveals her charitable side to Chris Beanland. Just about.

26 Scout London scoutlondon.com

who manages the careers of Britain’s top comics through his Off The Kerb agency. He’ll also be producing this show through his TV offshoot, Open Mike Productions, responsible for (among other things) the wonderful Jack Dee vehicle, Lead Balloon.

But how did Jo Brand get involved? “I’d like to say an owl flew into my bedroom with a letter in its beak, but I have done several events for Great Ormond Street Hospital in the past and was asked to take part by the organisers,” she explains, before slyly adding: “Sorry, it’s a bit of a boring story.”

“What I like about the gala is that there are loads of different acts on, doing very short sets,” Brand tells us. “So if you don’t like someone, they’ll disappear in five minutes. Also the calibre of acts is very high, so you get a tip top evening’s entertainment. Except for me, of course. I’m just there to show older women are still managing to get on the telly.”

Speaking of telly, I ask Jo whether there’ll be another series of her BBC panel show, Jo Brand’s Hot Potatoes. Her effortless reply: “Are you taking the piss?”

It’s this no-nonsense approach that endears Brand to her fans. On that subject we’re also keen to know how much comics have to tone

down their routines for galas like this. After all, an arena-sized charity get-together peopled by the great and the good is rather different to a drunk, rambunctious Soho comedy club crowd.

“I tend not to swear quite so much or do my rather more rabid material,” Brand explains.

“But I don’t go as far as talking about knitting or flower arranging.” Good.

The C4 Comedy Gala is not only one of the best comedy bills all year, it’s also worth seeing it live because you can bet your bottom dollar that in these jumpy times, Channel 4 will inevitably slice out all the rudest and most inflammatory material before they broadcast a somewhat neutered version on TV. After all, who can forget how much hot water the live screenings of the British Comedy Awards has got broadcasters into over the years?

If not with Hot Potatoes, Brand has been busy lately with other projects: “I’ve just finished filming a new series of Getting On and am working on new stand up material which I’m hoping to tour with,” she tells us. What else is on Brand’s to do list this summer? She laughs.

“Learning to wing walk.”

The Channel 4 Comedy Gala, May 11, The O2, £40-£100

Piers Allardyce

W

hile the bill for this year’s Channel 4 Comedy Gala might look maledominated, Jo Brand is flying the flag for female comics. But are women in comedy getting a fair deal yet?

“I wish I had enough time to write a 2000word essay about it for you, but I haven’t. It’s a very complex thing, which I can’t make a throwaway comment about, but I admire any woman who makes it in comedy,” deadpans Brand.

As recently as the 1980s, when Brand broke through with her ice-cool demeanour and total lack of fear while discussing anything and everything that was near the knuckle, the standup scene was still incredibly laddish.

Now, with Watson & Oliver on TV, Bridesmaids succeeding at the cinema, Lena Dunham’s acclaimed new show, Girls, and the likes of Sarah Silverman and Tina Fey becoming true power players, funny women no longer have to put up with the chauvinistic put-downs.

Which fellow female comics does Brand admire right now? “I love Kathy Burke, Dawn French, Liza Tarbuck, Sarah Solemani and Sharon Horgan,” she tells Scout London. “And Edwina Currie makes me laugh for the wrong reasons.” We can all empathise with that one.

There should have been more women on the bill for Channel 4’s annual Comedy Gala a fundraiser for Great Ormond Steet Children’s Hospital. Still, the line-up is one which certainly whets the appetite. Jonathan Ross, Jack Whitehall, Sean Lock, Micky Flanagan, Seann Walsh, Jon Richardson, Lee Nelson (aka Simon Brodkin) and Michael McIntyre will all be doing a (very) short turn on stage of 10 minutes or less.

It’s an impressively solid bill and if you’re wondering how the channel managed to get so many big names together in one place it’s because uber-agent, Addison Cresswell told the comedians they had to turn up. Cresswell is the strongman who famously negotiated his mate Jonathan Ross’s £18m salary with the BBC and

recommended ONGOING Hannibal Buress at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road From May 1, Tue-Sat 19.45, ends May 12, May 1 £10, May 2 & 3, 8-10 £15, concs £12.50 & £13.50, May 4 & 5, 11 & 12 £17.50, concs £15 & £16. Intelligent observations. Until May 12.

E4 Udderbelly Festival at E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment Apr 5-Jul 8, times vary, prices vary. Stand-up, family shows, music and theatre. Until Jul 8.

Newsrevue at Canal Cafe Theatre, Bridge House Pub, Delamere Terrace, W2 6ND Royal Oak Thu-Sat 21.30, Sun 21.00, £10, concs £8.50. Topical sketches and songs. Until Dec 23.

TUESDAY MAY 1 99 Club South London at Electric Social, 40 Acre Lane, SW2 5SP Brixton 20.30-22.30, adv £7, £12 inc meal. With Yianni Agisilaou.

Late Night Gimp Fight at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road 20.30, Apr 19-21, 23 £10, Apr 24-26, 30, May 1-3 £15, concs £12.50 & £13.50, Apr 27 & 28, May 4 & 5 £17.50, concs £15 & £16. Sketch comedy.

Paul Merton: Out Of My Head at New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, SW19 1QG Wimbledon 20.00, £24.

Stand-up and sketches.

WEDNESDAY MAY 2 Comedy Store Players at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 20.00, £17, NUS/ concs £12. Improvised comedy from six players Elgar Comedy at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP South Kensington 20.30, £10. With Jigsaw and Daniel Simonsen.

Miles Jupp: Fibber In The Heat (A Cricket Tale) at Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, WC2H 9ND Leicester Square 20.00, £18, concs £15. The stand-up tells the story of his attempt to become a cricket journalist.

Pear Shaped In Fitzrovia at Fitzroy Tavern, 16a Charlotte Street, W1T 2NA Goodge Street 20.30, doors8pm, £5.

With Marc Lucero, Michael Ayres, Rhys Williams, Allin Kempthorne, Doppleganger, Pav Thiruchelvargjah, Daniel Bentlett, Nick Jenkin and MCs Brian & Krysstal and Anthony Miller.

THURSDAY MAY 3 E4 Udderbelly Festival: Gina Yashere at E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment 21.00, 19.45, £17.50 & £22.50, concs £16. Cheeky observational humour.

Pam Ann: You F’Coffee at The Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH Euston 20.00, Tue £22, Wed & Thu £24, Fri-Sun £26. Character comedy.

War On Want at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT Shepherd’s Bush 19.30, £20. With Tim Minchin, Shappi Khorsandi, Seann Walsh, Doc Brown, Robin Ince, Kevin Eldon, Alistair Barrie, Graham Wilde, Andi Osho, Hal Cruttenden and Frisky & Mannish.

The Cutting Edge at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 20.00, £14, NUS/ concs £9. Ian Stone, Sean Meo, Martin Coyote and Simon Evans Joe Fairbrother: O Fairbrother, Where Art Thou? at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 21.00, £8. Character comedy.

Bill Bailey: Qualmpeddler: Work In Progress at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 20.00, £17.50, phone for availability. Offbeat humour.

The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 20.00, £18 & £25.50, NUS/concs £13 & £20.50.

Andy Askins, Jimmy McGhie and MC Ian Coppinger Jarred Christmas: Let’s Go Mofo! at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 21.00, £10. Storytelling and gags.

Comedy Cafe at Comedy Cafe, 66-68 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Liverpool Street 20.00, £10. With Lee Camp, Noel Faulkner and Jim Grant.

FRIDAY MAY 4 Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 21.00, £14, concs £11. With Jeff Innocent, Ben Norris and Rev Obadiah Steppenwolf III. The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 19.30, 23.00, 7.30pm £20 & £27.50, 11pm £15 & £22.50, NUS/concs £10 & £17.50. Andy Askins, Jimmy McGhie and MC Ian Coppinger The Boat Show at Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2HR Charing Cross 20.00, £13.50, concs £11. With Doc Brown, Neil Delamere and John Fothergill.

Comedy Cafe at Comedy Cafe, 66-68 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Liverpool Street 20.00, £12. With Phil Dinsdale, Fredrik Andersson, Martin Beaumont and Jason Patterson.

Comedy Carnival at One, 1 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 20.00-22.00, £12. Hal Cruttenden, Joe Lycett, Pete Jonas, MC Tom Price.

The Funny Side...Of Covent Garden at The George, 213 Strand, WC2R 1AP Temple 20.00, £12.50. With Adam Vincent, Dave Fulton and MC Gareth Kane.

Magic Night at Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus 19.45, £12-£24.

With Matt Hennem, Neil Henry and Pete Antoniou.

Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 20.00, £15, adv £10. With Lee Camp, Nick Revell, Jason Patterson and MC Kate Smurthwaite.

Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW Greenwich 20.45, £11, concs £8. Dan Evans, Andy Askins, MC Dana Alexander.

SATURDAY MAY 5 7 On Red Comedy Club at Seven Dials, 51 Neal Street, WC2H 9LL Covent Garden 20.30, £12 & £15, £25 inc meal. With Simon Feilder, Catie Wilkins, Stephen Carlin and MC Damian Clark.

99 Club Clapham Junction at Battersea Mess & Music Hall, 49 Lavender Gardens, SW11 1DJ Clapham Junction 20.3022.30, £12.50, £20 & £25 inc meal. With Patrick Monahan, Ben Norris and Bob Mills.

The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 19.30, 23.00, 7.30pm £22.50 & £30, 11pm £18 & £25.50, NUS/concs £13 & £20.50.

Andy Askins, Jimmy McGhie and MC Ian Coppinger

SUNDAY MAY 6 Comedy Store Players at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 19.30, £17, NUS/ concs £12. Improvised comedy from six players Russell Howard’s Good News: Warm Up Show at Tabard Theatre, 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW Turnham Green phone for times, phone for prices. The stand-up performs new material ahead of his BBC3 series.

MONDAY MAY 7 Balls To Homelessness at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 20.00, £15.

Comics At Play at The Slug And Lettuce, County Hall, 5 Chicheley Street, SE1 7PJ Waterloo 20.00, £6, concs £4, adv £5.

New material night.

Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 20.00, £12.50.

Topical humour with special guest Tim Minchin.

Bruce Forsyth at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP South Kensington 20.00, £35-£65. Comedy and music.

E4 Udderbelly Festival: Cardinal Burns at E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment 21.00, £12.50 & £17.50, concs £11. Sketch comedy.

The Funny Side...Of The City at The Spectator, 6 Little Britain, EC1A 7BX St Paul’s 19.30, £14. Cole Parker, Gary Delaney, MC Gareth Kane.

Comedy Cabaret at Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 20.30, £10, concs £7.

With Jeremy O’Donnell, Wendy Wason, Colin Owens, Joel Dommett, Tony Cowards and MC Dominic Frisby.

Comedy Cafe at Comedy Cafe, 66-68 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Liverpool Street 20.00, £16. With Phil Dinsdale, Fredrik Andersson, Martin Beaumont and Jason Patterson.

Deborah Frances-White: Cult Following at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 20.30, £10. Stories and ad libs.

The Funny Side...Of Covent Garden at The George, 213 Strand, WC2R 1AP Temple 20.00, £12.50. With Greg Burns, Stephen Carlin, Dave Fulton and MC Gareth Kane.

Monkey Business Comedy Club at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 20.45, £12.50, concs £10. Tom Wrigglesworth, Nick Doody, Lewis Schaffer.

Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 20.00, £15, adv £10. With Lee Camp, Carey Marx, David Mulholland and MC Kate Smurthwaite.

Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW Greenwich 20.45, £15, concs £12. Dan Evans, Dana Alexander, Andy Askins, MC Rob Beckett.

Live At The Chapel at Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, N1 2UN Highbury & Islington 19.45, adv £16. With Phil Nichol, Rufus Hound and MC Charlie Baker.

Stand Up For The Week: Work In Progress Shows at The City Arts & Music Project, 70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ Old Street 19.30, £4. With Jon Richardson, Seann Walsh, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe, Paul Chowdhry and Andrew Lawrence.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 27

Film

YOU’RE IN STATH HANDS Plucked from obscurity, Jason Statham is now one of the world’s most bankable stars. Cinema’s hard-man reveals why it’s not so bad being typecast. By Susan Griffin

H

e’s one of the world’s biggest action stars, dates Victoria’s Secret lingerie model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and has millions in the bank, but Jason Statham still gets star-struck.

Despite sharing screen time with the likes of Sly Stallone, Mickey Rourke and Dolph Lundgren in 2010’s mega-action movie, The

28 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Expendables, he admits he couldn’t resist taking a little keep-sake from set.

“They have a call sheet which tells you what time to turn up and it has all the cast names on it. I kept it because it was such a novelty,” confesses Statham, looking a little sheepish.

It’s not the sort of behaviour you’d expect from somebody

known for looking like they’d always win a fight, but then Statham takes you by surprise.

Given he’s one of cinemas most bankable stars, you couldn’t be blamed for anticipating some sort of swagger, but he actually seems on the shy side when he walks into the interview room at Soho Hotel.

Dressed in combat trousers and a grey fitted top, he delicately sips

water from a wine glass for the duration of the interview (Statham rarely speaks to press for more than 15 minutes) and giggles - a lot.

As someone who grew up watching Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, he says he couldn’t believe it when he was cast in The Expendables.

“It was quite a privilege to be part of something so great,” says the 44-year-old.

“I’m over the moon and everyone’s really friendly, it’s like a football team getting together.”

This summer, the cast reunites for the film’s sequel, but before that comes Safe - a slick action film from the producer behind Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill.

Statham plays Luke Wright, a second-rate cage fighter who’s

featured isolated and forced into homeless destitution when the Russian Mafia make an example of him and kill his wife.

He’s on the verge of committing suicide when he spots a terrified Chinese girl being pursued by thugs and makes the decision to help her. Over the course of one night, he tears a trail through the city’s underworld in order to save the stranger’s life and redeem his own.

It’s pure Statham territory with guns, hand-to-hand combat, super stunts, explosions and minimal dialogue from the leading man.

But Luke’s not simply a tough guy says Statham - he’s also emotional and vulnerable.

“I always like to play characters that are likeable in some way. There has to be something there, not just a mindless assassin with no heart,” he explains in his gravelly voice.

A man who takes his action seriously, he did most of the stunts himself.

“Years ago, in the first ever action movie I did, I ended up doing all the fight sequences and stunts and from that day forward, it was like, ‘Well I’ve done it now, if I stop doing it then I’m going to end up with a few disappointed people,’” he says.

“You can quite easily get caught out if you’re not doing it.

“There’s a certain sort of reward you get from doing it anyway. You learn a new skill, you’re working with good people and we’re all doing something creative, so it’s a lot of fun.”

While Statham’s inspiration is the late, legendary martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee, he’s well aware of the potential risks, particularly when pyrotechnics are involved.

“I think the most anxiety you can get from doing action sequences is when you’ve got explosions and squibs and all that stuff,” he says. “That doesn’t sit too well with me.”

Fighting on the other hand, which largely relies on the actor’s own physical skills, is different.

“That’s something I’ve always done and always will,” he adds.

Born in Chesterfield in Derbyshire, Statham’s first job was selling knock-offs on his dad’s market stall, which sounds like

something straight out of Only Fools And Horses.

“It’s not like we were selling somebody stolen goods although people may have thought it,” he laughs.

the promise of a role that not only wouldn’t stretch him but he even had some experience for.

The role was Bacon, a tough guy flogging black market tat out of a briefcase in 1998’s gangster

But he acknowledges that with success comes a greater sense of duty.

“Yeah, the bigger the budget, the more responsibility you have to deliver,” he says.

66 Fight scenes are something I’ve always done and always will 99 “If the police thought we were causing an obstruction in the street then the worst news you’d get was to move on.”

Throughout his teens, Statham trained extensively as a diver, spending years honing his skills and in 1992 earned 12th place in the World Championships.

With the Olympics around the corner, he must wonder ‘what if’ sometimes?

“No, not really,” he shrugs. “I think I started too late.”

“You’ve got to start when you’re five-years-old for any competitive sport. If you’re starting later then you’re at a disadvantage.”

Scouted by a sports talent agent while training at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Statham went on to model for French Connection before being spotted by Guy Ritchie, who asked him to appear in his new movie with

classic, Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.

Two years later he appeared in Ritchie’s next flick, Snatch alongside Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro, and two years after that was cast in Luc Besson’s The Transporter.

All of a sudden the former diver was a bona fide movie star.

A remake of The Italian Job, two sequels to The Transporter, Cellular, Revolver and underground cult film, Crank, among others, followed.

They might all be action based but Statham has no problem with being typecast.

“Action movies are what you call entertainment. They’re exciting, they’re thrilling. The biggest movies that take the most money are usually action movies and the biggest movie stars we know, like Stallone and Schwarzenegger are the biggest movie stars on screen.”

In Safe, he delivers wry oneliners with aplomb and you wonder whether comedies could beckon.

“I’m open to all stuff. If someone wants to send a great romantic comedy my way, I’d be the first to read it,” he says.

“My pursuit is to work with talented people and if there’s a great screenplay why wouldn’t I do something with that?

“But there are certain characters I wouldn’t be that good at playing. At some point you have to recognise that.”

Judging by his elder Expendables co-stars, however, there’s no foreseeable expiration date on his winning formula.

Laughing, Statham says: “If I can get 10 per cent as far as Sly’s got, I’ll be very happy.”

Safe is released in cinemas on May 4

scoutlondon.com Scout London 29

Film

out this week The Lucky One (12A) Based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, who also penned The Notebook and Dear John, The Lucky One follows a similar template - hunky guy, beautiful girl, deathly spectre of war, obstacle to enduring love - as a battle-damaged Marine (Zac Efron) seeks out the mystery woman (Taylor Schilling), whose photograph literally saved his life during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Director, Scott Hicks bows down at the altar of Efron, his camera staring dreamily into the actor’s blue eyes as they sparkle with tears or marvelling at every inch of his bulked-up frame. A vengeful ex-husband (Jay R Ferguson) delays the inevitable but the narrative signposts its intentions well in advance and ticks off the clichés to a soundtrack of gently strumming guitars. DS

Safe (15) As the title of Boaz Yakin’s testosterone-fuelled game of cat and mouse intimates, we’re in familiar territory here. Safe sees Hollywood hardman, Jason Statham doing what he does best, gleefully tossing out the salty one-liners (“I’ve been in restaurants all night - all I got served was lead!”) as a disgraced former NYPD officer, who turns protector to a 10-year-old mathematical genius (Catherine Chan) caught between the Russian mob, the Triads and dirty cops from his old precinct. Safe ramps up the bone-crunching violence as the leading man runs rampage through the Big Apple, punctuating a perfunctory plot with energetic fight sequences and explosive shoot-outs. Modern day action hero, Statham approaches each line with a roguish grin and he catalyses pleasing screen chemistry with Chan in her first feature film. Set your expectations low and Safe will meet them. DS

American Pie: The Reunion (15) The fourth slice of the American Pie series is like that moment at a party when just a few drunken stragglers remain, caught in a reverie as the exhausted hosts longingly contemplate their beds. Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg’s film is one helping of filth too far for thirty-somethings, Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Stifler (Seann William Scott) and co as they suffer familiar indignities, invariably including a generous spattering of bodily fluids. Subtlety didn’t receive an invitation to this reunion. “You’re so trapped in the past. When are you going to realise things will never be the way they used to be?” Jim berates man-child Stifler. It’s a pity the directors didn’t heed their own lesson. DS 30 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Film

recommended

Let The Right One In (Lat Den Ratte Komma In) (15) Tomas Alfredson directs John Ajvide Linqvist’s unconventional coming-of-age story. Set predominantly around a snowladen housing estate in 1980s Stockholm, the story centres on 12-year-old loner, Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), who befriends the strange, yet alluring girl (Lena Leandersson) next door.

“Are you a vampire?” he asks. “I live off blood, yes,” she replies.

As the relationship deepens, Oskar finds the courage to stand up to his bullies at school with his voracious friend at his side.

Stylishly directed and bloody from the outset, Let The Right One In lingers tantalisingly in the memory. DS Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, W6 9RL Hammersmith, May 3, 18.30

Buck (PG) Cindy Meehl’s inspiring and heart-warming documentary trumpets the extraordinary compassion of real-life cowboy, Buck Brannaman, who forges incredible bonds between humans and their troubled steeds. Or, as he succinctly drawls, “I’m helping horses with people problems.” With tenderness and a wistful, almost poetic air, Buck shows his clients how to earn the animal’s trust through kindness and respect.

Beauty And The Beast 3D (U) More than two decades after it became the first animated feature to contest the Academy Award for Best Picture, a whole new generation is about to be introduced to Walt Disney’s “tale as old as time” as it returns to multiplexes across the country in a glorious new 3D print.

Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s fairytale still casts a heady spell, following spirited Belle (voiced

by Paige O’Hara) as she swaps places with her inventor father

(Rex Everhart) as prisoner of the accursed Beast (Robby Benson) and falls in love with her hirsute host. The screen bursts with fresh new colour and Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s songs are still as jaunty and lyrically wicked (“I’m especially good at expectorating!”) as ever, but it’s the film’s huge heart which beats loudest, reducing us to tears as the final petal of the enchanted rose falls. It’s a bona fide classic. DS

Sci-Fi London Meehl applies the same gentle touch behind the camera, cantering down memory lane as Buck recalls his abusive childhood, which gave him a deeper understanding of the devastating repercussions of cruelty. Extraordinary scenes of the lead consultant on Robert Redford movie, The Horse Whisperer, talking to the horses, and clearly soothing their troubled souls, leave us as awestruck as the owners. DS

The 11th London International Festival Of Science Fiction And Fantastic Film sets its phasers to stunning with the opening night gala of Martin Gooch’s steampunk ghost story, Death, starring national treasure, Leslie Phillips. Premières abound at this week-long celebration of the weird and wonderful, including German post-apocalyptic horror (Hell), a cautionary tale of sentient computers (Zero One) and a zombie flick with a

re-animated Osama Bin Laden. It won’t just be androids dreaming of electric sheep when Sunday morning comes. DS Apollo Piccadilly Circus/BFI Southbank/BAFTA, SW1/SE1 Piccadilly Circus/Waterloo.

May 1-7, Tue from 6.45pm, Wed from 6.10pm, Thu from 10.30am, Fri from 1.30pm, Sat from 11.30am, Sun from 12.30pm, Mon from 12.20pm, free-£30 per event. scoutlondon.com Scout London 31

DVD / Download

As comfortable playing Denis Thatcher as Postman Pat, Jim Broadbent’s versatility is key to his success. By Kate Whiting

I

f Meryl Streep is The Iron Lady, then perhaps Jim Broadbent, who plays her husband in the Margaret Thatcher biopic is The Aluminium Man. By no means a suggestion that Broadbent is more common or weaker, it’s more a nod to his outstanding versatility. It’s won him two Baftas, an Oscar and a reputation as one of Britain’s best-loved actors, but if he were responsible for choosing his roles, he would’ve played it much safer.

“Other people have a much better idea of what I might do,” he reveals. “It would never have occurred to me that I might play Lord Longford or Harold Zidler [in Moulin Rouge!].”

Almost 63, Broadbent is as busy as he was at 33, testament to his ability to play any role. Recently, Broadbent has recorded voiceovers for a film adaptation of well-loved children’s cartoon, Postman

32 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Pat but there isn’t much that Broadbent is a stranger to.

Broadbent was nominated for best supporting actor in the 2012 Baftas for his portrayal of Denis Thatcher. He didn’t win, but as Britain’s first female Prime Minister, Streep picked up the best actress award, an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Being part of the film was reward enough for him.

“If projects you’re involved in get suitably acknowledged, that’s very satisfying”, he said at the time.

He was in awe of Meryl’s physical transformation to become Maggie.

“One did forget what the real Margaret Thatcher looked like and you began to believe in the impersonation,” he says.

The film is shown from the point of view of the now 86-yearold Baroness, reminiscing about her career and struggling with the onset of dementia. Denis, who died

in 2003 aged 88, is shown as a figment of Margaret’s imagination, making the role more challenging.

Added to that was the fact that Denis, often billed as the longsuffering husband, kept his cards close to his chest, says Broadbent.

“He did one major interview.

[His daughter] Carol interviewed him on television and she wrote the biography, so that was all there was to go on, apart from glimpses of him in the background.”

In Margaret’s flashbacks, viewers see her as the daughter of a grocer and newly-selected parliamentary candidate, meeting the young Denis at an official function and the ensuing romance, lending it the air of a love story.

The Denis of Margaret’s mind provides light relief throughout the movie, making her smile by dancing and donning a turban.

“One of his lines was that it’s

The Iron Lady out now on DVD

ANTHONY CHAMMOND / Flickr/turbotoddi

Jim of all trades

better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt,” explains Broadbent. “And that sort of humour pervaded his personality.”

The Iron Lady stirred passionate comment, particularly over the portrayal of the ageing Baroness’s frailty. Broadbent insists the film is empathetically done: “I think the dementia is sensitively and carefully depicted but it’s not a film about dementia.”

Opinions on Postman Pat will be a little softer, but Broadbent will be bending the mould again before long – we’ll see him soon in political thriller, The Diplomat.

new releases Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (12) Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is broken out of a Russian jail by two fellow agents (Paula Patton and Simon Pegg) in order to break into the Kremlin. The mission goes south when a madman bombs the iconic building to cover up the theft of Russian nuclear launch codes. Ditched by their government, the trio plus a top analyst (Jeremy Renner) must operate outside of official channels to avert Armageddon.

Brad Bird’s film is truly exhilarating, boasting ingenious gadgets and cracking fights. What the script lacks in plausibility - almost everything - it compensates with unabashed, non-stop fun. Cruise is kept in the eye of the storm, with the gung-ho star performing many of his own jaw-dropping stunts.

From the moment he barks, “Light the fuse,” cueing that iconic theme music, we’re strapped tight in for a giddy, thrilling ride. DS

Hard Boiled Sweets (15) Crime boss, Shrewd Eddie (Paul Freeman) rules Southend-onSea with an iron fist. However, even he answers to someone - London hard-man, Jimmy the Gent (Peter Wight), who always carries a suitcase containing a small fortune. When Jimmy and his goons come to Essex to collect their dues from Eddie, excon, Johnny (Scot Williams) and feisty moll, Porsche (Ty Glaser), gatecrash in a bid to steal the cool million pounds in question.

This is yet another Lock, Stock... clone replete with dodgy geezers, salty language and deathly black humour. It makes a refreshing

change to venture outside of London and first-time writerdirector, David LG Hughes allows his camera to linger on the iconic pier. However, he lacks an ear for credible dialogue - the characters’ parlance is bizarre - and the extended metaphor giving the film its title grates as parallels are drawn between characters and penny sweets: Porsche is a tart-yet-sweet sherbet lemon; Jimmy, a strong, old-fashioned mint imperial. There are plenty of holes in the script and that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. DS

Dragon Crusaders (15) Dark magic threatens to destroy noble men on a mission of mercy in this low-budget swords and sorcery romp, written and directed by Mark Atkins. A group of Knights Templar sees pirates attacking a defenceless village.

Sworn to protect the vulnerable, JohnThe Brave (Dylan Jones) and the other brave knights vanquish the marauding enemy with assistance from, feisty warrior, Aerona (Cecily Fay). They sail to the pirates’ ship where a village girl, Neem (Shinead Byrne) is being held hostage. Unfortunately for the knights, she has cast a spell cursing anyone with

bloodied hands that dares to board the ship. Neem doesn’t know how to break her powerful magic so the knights embark on a quest to locate a wizard. Dragon Crusaders betrays its meagre finances at every turn, relying on an inexperienced cast who are so wooden, they don’t need their ramshackle boat to float along. A dreary colour palette works surprisingly well, creating the illusion of a bygone age, but special effects are merely passable. Fights are choreographed at a pedestrian pace and Atkins fails to generate any tension, aside perhaps from within some of the cast’s snugly fitting costumes. DS scoutlondon.com Scout London 33

LGBT

Eagle rising Eagle London’s club night Carpet Burn may be unashamedly cheesy, but it has developed a reputation for appearances by star names, as Simon Kilner tells Ray Lamothe

S

imon Kilner is General Manager of Eagle London, a Vauxhall bar best-known for being home to the Sunday night stallion that is Horse Meat Disco. Eagle London also hosts Tonker on Friday nights and Ashley Ryder’s Strip Academy every Tuesday, keeping Vauxhall just that little bit seedy.

Carpet Burn is one of Eagle’s newer evenings, taking place every first Saturday of the month. When not busy managing the bar, Simon has been known to spin some tunes.

How did Carpet Burn get started?

Carpet Burn was started three years ago by Martyn Fitzgerald, a good friend of Eagle London. It was quite a departure for Eagle at the time as up until then we had favoured nights that focussed on men-only cruising and minimal tech house music. Martyn’s idea for Carpet Burn was the antithesis of this: it was camp, shameless, no attitude, a mix of boys and girls and all in between and more importantly, a lot of fun.

What makes Carpet Burn special?

Carpet Burn is a no-nonsense knees-up. We have a music policy of sambuca-soaked, poppersgiddy, 80s and 90s pop and house classics. No ‘guilty pleasures’ – just unashamedly good ‘hands in the 34 Scout London scoutlondon.com

air’ feel-good stompers. Carpet Burn welcomes everyone. Hairy blokes and femme-real trannies to hairy trannies and effeminate blokes, we like it all.

We have had some truly amazing PA’s over the past three years. Their very presence alone has been a sensation in itself, like Pete Burns.

We have adored every one of our guests, from the likes of Limahl, Kym Mazelle, Steve Strange, Hazel Dean and Rozalla. One particular favourite has to have been Jaki Graham who brought the house down with her incredible voice and humble charm.

What are your musical influences?

I love 80s/90s soul, pop and RnB, so I play a lot of that at Carpet Burn. Donna Allen’s Serious always gets played, as well as anything by 5 Star. I leave all the house mixes to our guest DJs who can actually mix. Johnny Kalifornia does an excellent job at Carpet Burn – he really knows his pop.

Do you fear that Vauxhall will go the same way as Soho has, with hen parties and frozen yogurt shops taking over?

When I first came out I always went out in Soho. It had an edgy vibe and was the only area worth going to. Now it feels a bit more commercial but there are still some good places to go. Vauxhall

is currently undergoing major regeneration with luxury flats and the new American Embassy being built. This will definitely have an impact on the nightlife in the area.

It will either drive it underground to be less conspicuous or it will become mainstream. A few nice shops in the area would not go amiss.

Any trends you see emerging in gay clubs?

I wouldn’t know – I seriously don’t go to many gay clubs. I am usually busy with all things Eagle.

The thing about London is that everything seems so segregated.

There’s a club for the bears, a club for the twinks, the fashion kids, the lesbians. I like it when you go to a small town and all these people mix as there is no other place to go. It makes the crowd more interesting.

It’s what we encourage here at Eagle with nights like Carpet Burn

and Horse Meat Disco.

You’re very well known on the scene in London. Are you born and bred?

I am proud to be from Essex. Not the make-believe land of TOWIE but proper, down-to-earth Essex, Basildon. I moved to London when I was 19. I was already clubbing in London in my early teens as growing up in Basildon there was nothing for the gays. Now when I go back the first thing you see when you leave the train station is Colours, Basildon’s first gay bar. I had quite a messy Christmas Eve in there once with (Carpet Burn creator) Martyn.

Carpet Burn hosts May Day Gay Day with DJ Severino on May 5.

For more information, visit eaglelondon.com

recommended TUESDAY MAY 1

Shinky Shonky at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 22.00-03.00. Boogaloo Stu and his colourful coterie spin classic and contemporary pop, plus live cabaret performances.

Candy Boys at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 19.0003.00. Resident DJs spin dance and pop.

Lines & Bears at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. Resident DJs spin house music, plus line dancing.

Ruby Tuesdays at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 21.00-late. Pop, R&B and 1980s hits from Sandra D and Joe Grohl.

Industri at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall FREE, 20.00-02.00. House from Miss Minty, Brent Nicholls and Paul Heron.

Macho City at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 22.00-03.00.

Resident DJs spin disco, pop and retro.

QueerlyOut at Escape Bar, 10A Brewer Street, W1F 0SU Leicester Square £5, mems £3, FREE before 9pm, 21.00-03.00.

DJ Robby D spins dance, pop and R&B. Retrosexual at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 22.00-late. Tasty Tim spins 80s music.

Room Service at Miabella, 12-13 Greek Street, W1D 4DL Tottenham Court Road £10, £5 before 11pm, 22.00-03.00. Weekly gay dance party in the company of residents Kris Di Angelis, Severino, Fat Tony, Steve Pitron, Matt Bogard and Ariel plus special guests.

Usual Suspects at First Out, 52 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LH Tottenham Court Road FREE, 18.0023.00. Resident DJs play pop, R&B, electro and indie.

Xxtra at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £5, FREE before 11pm, 22.00-03.00. TerryJames Lynch hosts a night of house, electro and pop, plus fashion.

FRIDAY MAY 4 Girl Friday at First Out, 52 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LH Tottenham Court Road FREE, 19.0023.00. Resident DJs play pop, R&B, electro and indie.

WEDNESDAY MAY 2 Disco Paradiso at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street phone for prices, 23.00-02.00. DJs Jo Public and Stewart Who? spin disco, soul, funk and rock’n’roll.

Girls-A-Loud at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 20.00late. DJs Coco Yeah and MDMX play pop, chart and electro.

Trannyoke at Escape Bar, 10A Brewer Street, W1F 0SU Leicester Square FREE, 21.00-03.00. DJ Matt spins pop and dance, with host Lady Lloyd, and karaoke.

Trannyshack at Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus £5, w/flyer £3, FREE before 12midnight, 22.00-03.00. Miss Dusty O, Tasty Tim and Lady Lloyd spin commercial dance and pop.

Work at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £5, £4 before 1am, 23.00-05.00. Lee Harris, Niyi Maximus Crown and Big John Freeman spin house, pop, electro, R&B, funk and dancehall.

THURSDAY MAY 3 Dolly Mixtures at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 21.0003.00. DJP plays pop and R&B.

Horse Meat Disco at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £6, 20.00-03.00. Residents Jim Stanton, Luke Howard, James Hillard and Severino spin disco and house.

Popstarz: After Dark at The Den & Centro, 18 West Central Street, WC1A 1JJ Holborn FREE, 04.00-08.00. Resident DJs spin indie, rock, R&B, pop and Motown.

Shake & Pop at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road £5, mems £3, FREE before 10pm, 21.00-03.00. DJ Bam Bo Tang spins urban anthems, chart, retro hits and pop classics.

Super Techno Party Machine at East Bloc, 217 City Road, EC1V 1JN Old Street Station £5, 22.00-04.00.

DJ Larry Tee spins techno and house.

Therapy at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square FREE before 11pm, 22.00-03.00. Electropop and dance from DJs Miswhite, Minx, Paul Heron and Sonathaq.

Tonker at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £6, mems £5 after 10pm, FREE before 10pm, 21.00-03.00.

DJ Tim Jones and Alan X play house, chart and dance.

SATURDAY MAY 5

Deelooded at Covert, 65 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP Vauxhall £12, w/flyer £8, 23.00-06.00. DJ Fat Tony hosts a Bank Holiday special to challenge preconceptions of the London gay scene in the company of Boy George, Tom Stephan and Smokin’ Jo in the Main Room plus Kartel Brown, Matt Bogard and La Gosse on the decks in Room Two. The O Zone at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square w/flyer FREE, 22.00-03.00. Dusty O spins pop, chart and R&B. Popstarz at The Den & Centro, 18 West Central Street, WC1A 1JJ Holborn phone for prices, 22.00-04.00. Resident DJs spin indie, pop and R&B.

A:M Afterhours at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £12, w/flyer £8, 03.00-11.00. Resident DJs spin house and disco.

Barcode Saturday at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. Mattias, D’Jonny, Gonzalo, Steven Artis and Pagano play electro.

Fabulous at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 21.00-03.00. DJP and Toumo Foxx spin pop, chart and R&B. Inferno at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £10, FREE before 11pm, 22.00-03.00.

Andrew Elmore spins funk, house and dance.

Monster at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road £5, mems £3, FREE before 10pm, 21.00-03.00. DJ Sandra D spins chart hits, dance and pop classics.

SUNDAY MAY 6 Barcode Sunday at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. DJ Saki plays dance and house.

Lady Lloyds Hit Factory at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square phone for prices, 20.00-03.00. Lady Lloyd spins retro pop.

Later at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £6, w/flyer £5 before 1.30pm, 12.00-19.00. D’Johnny, Paul Martin, The Oli, The Sharp Boys and Jamie Head spin house music.

Music Love Makers at Joiners Arms, 116118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 22.00-02.00.

Resident DJs spin indie and electro.

S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT Sundays at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £8, £5 before 7.30pm, 14.00-00.00. Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin disco, electro and house, plus The D E Experience performs live.

Sunday Social at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 20.3000.30. Resident DJs spin pop hits.

MONDAY MAY 7 Bearcode at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, 21.00-01.00.

Resident DJs play house music.

Detention at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 22.00-03.00. KU DJs and Doug Silva spin house music.

The Joiners Arms: Soulful Sounds at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street FREE, 22.0002.00. DJ Alex spins soul and funk.

Mondays at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, phone for times. Resident DJs spin pop and R&B. Popcorn at Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross £8, 23.00-05.30.

Jonesey, Harvey Adam, Jamie Hammond and Terry T-Rex provide dance, electro, R’n’B, pop and hip-hop.

Orange at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £12, £10 before 12midnight, w/ flyer £6 before 12midnight, adv £8, 23.00-09.00. The Oli, Paul Martin and The Sharp Boys spin house in room one, while Gonzola Rivas, David Jiminez and Hi Fi Sean provide minimal techno and tech house in room two.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 35

Shock opera When we're recommending an opera that lasts five hours without an interval, you're probably thinking we're out of our minds. But bear with us on this one.

Although there isn't an interval, the audience is allowed to wander in and out at liberty during the performance. Now that worry is out of the way, we can tell you more.

The opera is co-written by composer Philip Glass, who has had a profound influence on modern electronic music. So, if you like Brian Eno, Talking Heads, Mike Oldfield, Aphex Twin, and even David Bowie, your heroes are great champions of his work.

Widely credited as one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century, the rarelyperformed Einstein On The Beach originally launched its director, Robert Wilson and Glass to

international success in 1976.

The work breaks all of the rules of conventional opera. Instead of a traditional orchestral arrangement, Glass composed the work for the synthesizers, woodwinds and voices of the Philip Glass Ensemble.

Although non-linear, it is structured in four interconnected acts divided by "knee plays" - so called because they join the acts together. Abstract dance sequences in this reworking are created by American choreographer, Lucinda Childs.

Einstein On The Beach, then: Revolutionary, exciting, challenging and yes, quite long, but - especially as this is the first performance to take place in the UK - utterly unmissable.

Einstein On the Beach, from May 4, Barbican Theatre, £35-£125

LUCIE JANSCH

Music

death in veGaS • the cribS

alabama 3 • GlaSveGaS • the FutureheadS the raincoatS • GaZ coombeS • Spector actreSS • and So i watch you From aFar • baXter dury • ben weStbeech • the biG pinK brandt brauer FricK • charli XcX • clocK opera • d/r/u/G/S • euGene mcGuinneSS

4TH - 6TH MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND LIVE MUSIC • COMEDY • PERFORMING ARTS • INTERACTIVE 3 DAYS • 300 ARTISTS & EVENTS • 1 TICKET • CAMDEN TOWN

GhettS • icona pop • KidS in GlaSS houSeS • lady leShurr • lucy roSe micachu & the ShapeS • miStaJam • niKi & the dove • rolo tomaSSi • roSKa

ruStie • Sway • theme parK • three trappedtiGerS • true tiGer • veronica FallS • younGman

+ very Special GueStS

thiS

weeKend!

22 • ADMIRAL FALLOW • ALPINES • ANGEL • ANTLERED MAN • ARROWS OF LOVE AYAH MARAR • THE BARR BROTHERS • BASEMENT • BASTILLE • BEANS ON TOAST BENNY BANKS • BIGKIDS • BINARY • BLACK MOTH • BLACKHOODS • BLACKLISTERS BO NINGEN • BOY FRIEND • BRONTIDE • BXENTRIC • CASHIER NO. 9 • THE CHEVIN CHEW LIPS • CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE • COLD PUMAS • CROWNS • CYMBALS DALEY • DAM MANTLE • DAN MANGAN • DEBUKAS • DEVIN • DISCLOSURE • DOG IS DEAD DURRTY GOODZ • DUTCH UNCLES • ECHO LAKE • ELLEN & THE ESCAPADES ENGINE EARZ EXPERIMENT • FANZINE • FEAR OF MEN • FICTION • FIXERS • FOE FRANCOIS & THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS • FUNERAL SUITS • HARRY OAKWOOD • HAWK EYES HEY SHOLAY • HYMNS • THE JAMES CLEAVER QUINTET • JAPE • JAYMO & ANDY GEORGE JEHST • JOE WILKES & SIMON STANLEY WARD • JOHNNY FOREIGNER •JOSH KUMRA

KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS • KWES • KYLA LA GRANGE • L.A. • LIONESS • LIZ GREEN LONEY DEAR • LOWER THAN ATLANTIS • MARMOZETS • MARTIN CREED MELODICA, MELODY & ME • MICHELLE STODDART • THE MILK • MOLOTOV JUKEBOX MONSTA • MZ BRATT • NIGHT ANGLES • NIGHT SYMMETRY • NOVELLA • NZCA/LINES O CHILDREN • ODONIS ODONIS • PARIAH • PAUL THOMAS SAUNDERS • PEACE • POLARBEAR POST WAR YEARS • RACE HORSES • RANDOM IMPULSE • RASCALS • THE RUMOUR SAID FIRE RUBBERBANDITS • SAUNA YOUTH • SEX HANDS • SIMIAN GHOST • SISSY & THE BLISTERS SOUTH LONDON ORDNANCE • ST. LUCIA • STEALING SHEEP • SWISS LIPS • TEAM ME THEFFT • THROWING UP • TOBY KAAR • TOM STAAR • TOM WILLIAMS & THE BOAT • TOY TREVOR MOSS & HANNAH LOU • TROPHY WIFE • TROUBADOUR ROSE • VIRALS TWO WOUNDED BIRDS • WEIRD DREAMS • WILLY MOON • YOUNG FATHERS • ZUN ZUN EGUI

Full day time line up available at thecamdencrawl.com/line-up 24 hr CC hotline 0871 320 0260 or buy online www.thecamdencrawl.com Tickets include free programme guide, magazine, compilation album and entrance to all venues and events

thecamdencrawl.com @thecamdencrawl

featured

Desert island discs You may not know them, but pop's biggest stars certainly do. Tinariwen talk to James Edwards about working with the greatest names in the music world

----------------------

S

ince their emergence on global consciousness from the Sahara desert over a decade ago, Tinariwen have been feted by some of pop music's biggest names including no less than Thom Yorke, Brian Eno, Robert Plant, Carlos Santana and TV On The Radio.

Originally hailing from Mali, these exiled nomads-turnedrockstars of the Sahara have become the soundtrack for Touareg independence and reconciliation, fusing traditional Touareg melodies with Malian, Western, Berber and Arabic influences to create sparse, hypnotic grooves. They use their music to broadcast the message of a rebel movement that set out to promote the rights of their nomadic people who were suffering under various government policies.

This sense of rebellion - and the familiar sounds of the blues rock they play - has struck a chord with many stars of Western music.

"I think they like the fact it's

something new and authentic," founder, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib tells Scout London. "It has the roots of rock and blues, which they recognise and identify with."

That level of identification has produced several collaborations with Western artists, most recently with TV On The Radio, on Tinariwen's latest album, Tassilli.

Reaching out to people via a more familiar vehicle is the perfect way to spread their message of revolution to a wider audience.

"Each collaboration is a new experience," says Ag Alhabib. "But if I have to pick some favourites, the recording sessions in Djanet for our last album, with Kyp and Tunde from TV On The Radio, felt very pure.

"Also, we love and know very well the French band Lo'Jo, because we have been sharing with them ever since the beginning of our adventure in the West. Robert Plant was also a great meeting."

As no stranger to collaborations,

the band's forthcoming one-off playing in London, Ag Alhabib says. show at the O2 Shepherd's Bush "London is great," he enthuses.

Empire with Jose Gonzales (he "We did our biggest club shows in of the Sony Bravia bouncing balls town, people love all kinds of music advert) will be comfortable ground. and you can see a lot of different It will produce a beguiling melting ethnicities at our shows - there's a pot of music as the acts play real mix of population and cultures." separately and together.

However, there is an element He says the band gets its of the city the band is less keen musical inspiration from the on - "All the consequences of desert, "The Sahara, which has the capitalism," he grins. spontaneity to discover the guitar Tinariwen and Jose Gonzales, naturally, with all the traditional music we hear since we were born." May 3, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, ÂŁ27.50 The band is excited to be

scoutlondon.com Scout London 37

Music

T he Camden Crawl May 4-6, various venues, £39.50-£77.50 London's music and comedy feast returns for the bank holiday to strum the opening chords of the festival season with more bands than you can shake a

copy of NME at. We at Scout London will be hosting the Electric Ballroom on Saturday night, where you'll be able to see Alabama 3 (pictured), Simian

Ghost and The Rumour Said Fire.

Elsewhere on the bill there's The Futureheads, a weclome return from Gaz Coombes of Supergrass, Chew Lips, Kwes and more,

Comedy comes from Abandoman, Rufus Hound, Robin Ince and hundreds more. One wristband allows entry to all venues - just get in early for the hot shows.

The Hives May 1, The Borderline, £22.50 Professor Green May 5, O2 Brixton Academy, £20 He's not a professor, just in the same way you wouldn't let Dr Fox loose on your medical ailments. Neither is he green - he's risen rapidly from being signed by The Streets' Mike Skinner in 2006 to become urban music's hottest talent (and more recently tabloid fodder). Behind the headlines though there's a raft of great tunes, demonstrating just why he's consistently bothering the Top 10. We won't mention Just Be Good To Green if you don't.

38 Scout London scoutlondon.com

It's hard to believe that it's been so long since the widlest Swedes we've ever come across were last on these shores. But when their last world tour – for the Black and White Album in 2007 – took in 400 dates and necessitated 25 nights in hospital, it's hardly surprising they needed a break. The hospitalisations are testament to the enthusiasm with which Howlin' Pelle Almqvist's band of punk rockers - often literally throw themselves into their shows. As the five-piece can normally be found playing much larger venues, this Borderline show will give fans chance to get very up-close-and-personal with them.

And possibly a guitar neck.

this week

EGG birthday party May 5, EGG, £10-£20

Dodgy May 1, The Lexington, £15 The weather may have taken a turn for the worse recently, but fear not – the sound of the summer, Dodgy, are back. New album Stand Upright In A Cool Place brings more sunny hooks from the powerpop trio, which sit very well alongaide such classics as Staying Out For The Summer and If You're Thimnking Of Me. Also on the bill is songwriter, Boo Hewerdine, who will be performing solo and also with Brooks Williams as State of the Union.

Has it really been nine years since EGG strolled its way onto the scene? King's Cross has never really been the same.For the big birthday, EGG will be showcasing the infamous sounds of Germany for their regular night Berlin Berlin.

On hand will be DJ and Producer Monika Kruse, Hamburg duo Kaiserdisco and electronic icon D.Ramirez (pictured) as well as Edwin Oosterwal, CJ Hartmann and Pagano. Wunderbar.

PHIL SHARP

Also this week: Alabama Shakes May 3, Electric Brixton, £12.50 Candi Staton May 4, Islington Assembly Hall, £29-£32.50 Comet Gain May 7, The Lexington, £6.50-£8 Imelda May May 4, Royal Albert Hall, £29.50-£40 Lonsdale Boys Club May 2, Borderline, £7.50 Marcus Miller May 4, Royal Festival Hall, £10-£30 New Order May 2-3, O2 Academy Brixton, £35 Nought/Listing Ships/Rome Pays Off/ Flights of Helios May 1, 93 Feet East, £3 The Rapture/Factory Floor May 2, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, £15 Sequenza May 2, Rough Trade East, FREE Simple Plan/We Are Kings May 1, HMV Forum, £16 Starboy Nathan May 1, O2 Academy Islington, £9 Such Gold/Apologies, I Have None May 1, Barfly, £6 White Powder Gold/Mosse/Accidents

Will Happen May 3, The Bull & Gate, £12 White Rabbits May 1, XOYO, £12

Land of Kings May 4-5, various Dalston venues, £20-£30

Lostprophets May 4, O2 Academy Brixton, £25

That this festival is in Dalston pretty much tells you all you need to know. Ultra-hip bands, film and performance art abound in this showcase of all that's creative in east London's hipster quarter.The line-up includes Speech Debelle (pictured), Kwes, O Children, Factory Floor and Tayo. Nonmusical entertainment includes Hackney Film Festival, The Austerity Games and all manner of foods. Bring your own moustache.

Listening Post

PLAYLIST

1

Bricks And Mortar Cancer Bats Hassle Records

2

Panasonic Youth The Dillinger Escape Plan Relapse Records

3

We Are Young fun.

Fueled By Ramen

4

Sixteen Saltines Jack White XL

5

The Opposition Ancient Wisdom Prosthetic Records

6

Epic Faith No More Slash Records

7

Celestine Spector Luv Luv Luv Records

8

Bleed Meshuggah Nuclear Blast

9

Bury My Bones Pure Love Mercury Records

10

Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen Interscope

Sub editor Raziq Rauf's 50 per cent metal, 100 per cent compromise mix... @raziqrauf scoutlondon.com Scout London 39

Music 10cc May 10, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£45 3 Inches Of Blood, Goatwhore, Angelus Apatride, Havok May 13, The Underworld, £12 A$AP Rocky Jun 5 & Jun 6, Electric Ballroom, £15 Alanis Morissette Jun 27, O2 Academy Brixton, £37.50, phone for availability Albert Hammond, Lotte Mullan May 15, Union Chapel, adv £25 Aliases May 30, O2 Academy Islington, phone for prices Alkaline Trio, Dave Hause May 10, Electric Ballroom, £18 Amon Tobin May 12, O2 Academy Brixton, £28.50 Anathema May 3, KOKO, £18.50 Andrew Roachford Jun 16, The Jazz Cafe, £20 Avicii Jun 4, The O2 Arena, £36 Azealia Banks Oct 12, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 Barry Manilow May 15, The O2 Arena, £25-£100 Beach House May 24, Village Underground, £14, phone for availability Blaze Bayley May 18, Monto Water Rats, £10 Blink 182, All American Rejects, Twin Atlantic Jun 8 & Jun 9, The O2 Arena, £35 Bloc Party Jun 21, phone for times, KOKO, £20, phone for availability Blood Red Shoes, The Cast Of Cheers May 3, Heaven, £12 BluesFest 2012: George Benson, Christian Scott Jun 28, Royal Albert Hall, £37.50-£70 BluesFest 2012: Hugh Laurie Jul 2, HMV Apollo, £35-£40 BluesFest 2012: Ronnie Wood Jun 30, HMV Apollo, £35-£75 BluesFest 2012: Van Morrison Jun 29, HMV Apollo, £45-£100 Blur, The Specials, New Order Aug 12, phone for times, Hyde Park, adv £55 Bo Ningen, Damo Suzuki May 12, Cafe Oto, £9, adv £7 Bob Geldof Jun 1, Islington Town Hall, £25 & £35 Bob Mould, Cloud Nothings Jun 1, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £25 Brendan Benson May 22, The Scala, adv £15 Brontide Jun 21, phone for times, Hotel Street, FREE Buzzcocks May 26, O2 Academy Brixton, £25 Camden Crawl 2012: Death In Vegas, Alabama 3, Glasvegas May 4-May 6, times vary, Various Venues, Camden, Fri adv £20, Sat/Sun adv £39.50, weekend ticket £77.50, Sat & Sun £67.50 Candi Staton May 4, Islington Town Hall, £25 & £32.50 Chimp Spanner, Algorithm, Midnight Realm, Colours To Shame May 19, The Garage, phone for prices Chris Cornell Jun 18, London Palladium, £27.50-£35 Chris Isaak Oct 9, HMV Apollo, £35 Coldplay Jun 1, Jun 2, Jun 4, gates, Emirates Stadium, £55-£75, phone for availability Combichrist Jun 28, Electric Ballroom, £17.50

40 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Comeback Kid Jun 29, The Borderline, £12 Crippled Black Phoenix May 3, The Garage, £9 Curtis Stigers Jun 25-Jun 27, phone for times, Ronnie Scott’s, phone for prices Darren Hayes Sep 24, IndigO2, £22.50£37.50 Daryl Hall Jul 12, phone for times, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices Dexys May 8, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20-£30, phone for availability Dionne Warwick May 28, Royal Albert Hall, £20-£125 Dry The River May 2, Electric Ballroom, £10, phone for availability Ed Sheeran Oct 13-Oct 17, HMV Apollo, £24 Eddie Vedder Jul 30, HMV Apollo, £37£50 Estelle May 15, IndigO2, £17.50-£22.50 Euan Burton’s Occurrences May 7, phone for times, 606 Club, phone for prices Eyehategod, Ramesses, Dopefight Aug 9, The Garage, £17 Faith No More Jul 8, HMV Apollo, £33.50 Fear Factory, October File, Hang The Bastard Jun 7, The Underworld, £17.50 Feeder Nov 23, phone for times, O2 Academy Brixton, phone for prices Fei Comodo May 23, O2 Academy Islington, £7 Fields Of The Nephilim Oct 31, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20 Fighting With Wire Jun 12, The Barfly, Camden, adv £6 Forever Never, Sworn To Oath, Orestea May 30, The Barfly, Camden, £7 Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons Jun 26 & Jun 27, Royal Albert Hall, £85 Fun May 14, XOYO, adv £8.50, phone for availability GUN May 22, O2 Academy Islington, £10

BluesFest 2012: Tom Jones Jul 1, HMV Apollo, £35-£75 Gallon Drunk May 25, Nambucca, £10 Garbage May 9, Troxy, £29 Gary Numan Jun 1, HMV Forum, £28 Gaz Coombes May 25, Bush Hall, £12.50 Gemma Hayes May 18, St-Giles-In-TheFields, adv £15 George Crowley Quartet May 15, The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston Culture House, phone for prizes George Michael: Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour Sep 29, Royal Albert Hall, £46-£126 George Michael: Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 17, Earls Court, £51-£91 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly May 16, The Garage, £10

Girls May 28, HMV Forum, £15 Glenn Hughes, Fish May 25, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 Godsmack, The Defiled Jun 20, HMV Forum, £19.50

Hard Rock Calling 2012: Soundgarden, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, Paul Simon Jul 13-Jul 15, phone for times, Hyde Park, Fri £50, Sat £60, Sun £55, Sat & Sun £110

Kyle Eastwood Band May 9-May 12, Ronnie Scott’s, phone for prices Lady Antebellum Jul 16, HMV Apollo, £30 Ladyhawke, Sheís So Rad May 11, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £16, phone for availability Lagwagon Jun 26, O2 Academy Islington, £17 Laura Marling Jul 7, phone for times, Royal Albert Hall, £22.50-£45 Liars Jun 12, XOYO, £12.50 Limp Bizkit May 29, O2 Academy Brixton, phone for prices Lionel Richie Oct 28 & Oct 29, The O2 Arena, £40-£65 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend: Leona Lewis, Will.i.am, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Florence & The Machine, Tinie Tempah, Plan B, Lana Del Rey, Jack White, Professor Green, Calvin Harris, Wretch 32, Labrinth, Emeli Sande, Dappy Jun 23 & Jun 24, Hackney Marshes, booking essential, FREE, Ticket Registration via www.bbc.co.uk

Field Day: Franz Ferdinand, Metronomy, Beirut Jun 2, Victoria Park, early bird £39.50 Gorgoroth, Abigail Williams May 21, The Garage, £15 Gossip May 15, XOYO, phone for prices Gravenhurst May 22, The Lexington, £11 Grimes May 9, XOYO, £9 Guns N’ Roses, Thin Lizzy May 31 & Jun 1, The O2 Arena, £45 & £50 Holy May 3, phone for times, The Black Heart, phone for prices Hot Chip Jun 13, Heaven, phone for prices Hot Water Music, Sharks, Hildamay May 2, The Old Blue Last, phone for availability Hue & Cry May 26, O2 Academy Islington, £22.50, £32.50 w/signed album I Like Trains May 7, The Borderline, £8 Ian McCulloch May 12, phone for times, Union Chapel, £22.50 Imelda May May 4, Royal Albert Hall, £22.50-£40 Integrity, No Second Chance Jun 24, The Underworld, £12 It Bites, Jon Amor Blues Group May 20, Bush Hall, £18 Jack White Jun 21, O2 Academy Brixton, phone for prices James Yorkston And The Athletes May 29, Cecil Sharp House, £14.50 Japandroids May 22, The City Arts & Music Project, adv £9.50 Jeff Williams Quartet May 7, The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston Culture House, £10 Jettblack May 30, The Borderline, £8 Jimmy Cliff May 18, IndigO2, £20-£45 John Cale Oct 13, Southbank Centre, £20£30, concs £10-£15 Judas Priest May 26, HMV Apollo, £37.50 Katzenjammer May 23, XOYO, £13.50 Keane Jun 8, O2 Academy Brixton, £28.50

Hit Factory Live: Steps, Jason Donovan, Bananarama, Rick Astley, Dear Or Alive Jul 11, Hyde Park, £54.25 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Eurostar Presents Traction Jul 14, Granary Square, £20 Lostprophets, Modestep May 4, O2 Academy Brixton, £25 Lynyrd Skynyrd Jun 3, HMV Apollo, £40 Madonna Jul 17, Hyde Park, £70 & £125 Malcolm Middleton May 21, Cargo, £14.50 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band May 3, The Jazz Cafe, adv £22.50 Marilyn Manson Jul 5, O2 Academy Brixton, £30 Marina And The Diamonds May 3, The Tabernacle, adv £18.50 Mazzy Star Jun 3, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50

Jay-Z And Kanye West May 18-May 22, The O2 Arena, £39.50 & £60 Megadeth Jun 12, Electric Ballroom, £35 Michael Kiwanuka May 23, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £14

future events Classical

Michael Schenker May 12, phone for times, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices Miike Snow, Niki And The Dove, Alex Metric May 31, O2 Academy Brixton, £16 Mull Historical Society May 29, Dingwalls, adv £14 NOFX, Margate, Snuff Jun 17, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20

Einstein On The Beach May 4-13, Barbican Theatre, £35-£125 BBC Symphony Orchestra May 10, Barbican Centre, £10-£30 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: London Sinfonietta May 12, Southbank Centre, £9-£22, concs £4.50-£11 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Philharmonia Orchestra May 13, Southbank Centre, £12-£45, concs £6-£22.50 London Symphony Orchestra May 11, Barbican Centre, £10-£35 London Symphony Orchestra May 8, Barbican Centre, £10-£35 OperaBabes, Rachel Kolly D’Alba May 2, Cadogan Hall, £10-£30

La Fille du Regiment from May 1, Royal Opera House, £8-£195 Philharmonia Orchestra/London Philharmonic Choir/Trinity Boys’ Choir May 18, Southbank Centre, £14.50-£48, concs £7.25-£24 RCM Symphony Orchestra May 4, Royal College Of Music, £10 & £15

Wireless Festival 2012: Wireless 2012: Rihanna, Drake, Jessie J, Professor Green Jul 6 & Jul 7, Jul 8, phone for times, Hyde Park, Fri phone for prices, Sat day ticket £49.50, Sun day ticket £52.50, Sat & Sun two day ticket £97 Neil Sedaka Oct 17, Royal Albert Hall, £40-£55 New Order May 2 & May 3, O2 Academy Brixton, £35 Newton Faulkner May 1 & May 2, The Scala, adv £17, phone for availability Nickelback, Daughtry Oct 1, The O2 Arena, £39.50 Nicki Minaj Jun 24 & Jun 25, HMV Apollo, £35 & £45 Norah Jones Jun 1 & Jun 2, Southbank Centre, £22.50-£45, concs £12.25£22.50 North Atlantic Oscillation May 2, The Tabernacle, £12 Of Mice & Men, Bury Tomorrow, Crossfaith, With One Last Breath May 3, The Underworld, £10, phone for availability Of Monsters And Men May 2, The Lexington, £15 Off!, Trash Talk Jun 20, The Garage, adv £16 Olly Murs Mar 29, phone for times, The O2 Arena, phone for prices Ozric Tentacles May 23, O2 Academy Islington, £17

Peter Hook And The Light Jun 1, O2 Academy Islington, phone for prices Polar, Carcer City May 10, The Garage, £7 Priceless London Wonderground: The Tiger Lillies Jun 7-Jun 9, The London Wonderground Spiegeltent, £17.50 & £22.50, concs £16 Prong May 13, The Garage, £13.50 Queen & Adam Lambert Jul 11 & Jul 12, HMV Apollo, £70 & £75 Ramin Karimloo May 1, Southbank Centre, £14.50-£45, concs £7.25-£22.50 Regina Spektor Jul 2, Royal Albert Hall, £38.50 Richard Hawley Jun 8, HMV Forum, £20 Rick Wakeman, Hawkwind, Focus, The Strawbs, Curved Air, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash Jun 23, Crystal Palace Park, £42.50, adv £30 Rizzle Kicks Nov 16, O2 Academy Brixton, £17.50 Roddy Woomble May 27, The Borderline, £15 Saint Etienne May 28, London Palladium, £22.50-£28.50 Saint Vitus, Acid King, Sardonis Jun 11, The Underworld, £16 Scar Symmetry, Xerath, Betraeus, Deals Death May 9, O2 Academy Islington, £10 Scissor Sisters May 16 & May 17, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £32.50 Scooter May 12, HMV Forum, £20 Set Your Goals, Make Do And Mend, The Story So Far May 24, The Old Blue Last, £10 Sharon Van Etten, Exitmusic May 16, The Scala, adv £12.50 Slash Jun 6, HMV Apollo, £29.50 Spector May 17, Electric Ballroom, £10 Spiritualized Nov 5, Roundhouse, £23.50 Squeeze Dec 12, HMV Forum, £37.50 Steak Number Eight May 4, The Garage, £5 Steve Hackett May 20, Islington Town Hall, £25-£30 Steve Miller Band Oct 20, Roundhouse, £35-£47.50 Steven Wilson May 15, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £25 Such Gold May 1, The Barfly, Camden, adv £6 Tall Ships Jun 7, Hotel Street, £3 Tangerine Dream Jun 24, phone for times, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £45 Ted And Gladys May 31, Lauderdale House, £9, concs £7.50 Tellison May 9, The Garage, £7.50 Tenacious D Jun 5-Jun 7, O2 Academy Brixton, £35

Lucie Jansch

London Philharmonic Orchestra May 2, Southbank Centre, £9-£65, concs £4.50-£32.50 The London’s Gay Men’s Chorus May 6, Southbank Centre, £20-£40, concs £10-£20 Viviane Hagner, Lawrence Power, Christian Poltera And Khatia Buniatishvili May 4, Southbank Centre, £10-£35, concs £5-£17.50

One Direction Feb 22 & Feb 23, Feb 23 & Feb 24, The O2 Arena, phone for prices

Katie Melua Oct 10, HMV Apollo, £37.50

The Apple Cart Festival 2012: Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse, Billy Bragg, Noah And The Whale Jun 3, Victoria Park, £35, with adult under 14s FREE The Charlatans Jun 8, HMV Apollo, £29.50 The Cranberries Jun 18, HMV Apollo, £35 The Cribs May 8, Troxy, £20 The Diamond Jubilee Concert Jun 4, gates 3.30pm, Buckingham Palace, FREE, tickets allocated by ballot, register before Mar 3 at www.jubileeconcert2012.co.uk The Enemy May 24, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £16.50 The Gaslight Anthem Jun 11, KOKO, £20.25 The Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets May 10 & May 11, O2 Academy Brixton, £37.50 The Hives May 1, The Borderline, £19, phone for availability The Horrors May 25, O2 Academy Brixton, £17.50 The Human League Nov 26, Royal Albert Hall, £27.50 The Maccabees Jun 8, Alexandra Palace, phone for times The Rapture May 2, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 The Subways, Royal Republic, Turbowolf May 10, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 The Swellers May 13, The Old Blue Last, £6 The Temper Trap May 21 & May 22, KOKO, £16.50 The View May 10, phone for times, Hoxton Square Bar And Kitchen, phone for prices This Is Hell, Feed The Rhino May 12, The Borderline, £8 Three Trapped Tigers May 29, phone for times, Hotel Street, FREE Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Jun 18 & Jun 20, Royal Albert Hall, £40-£75 Tony Bennett Jun 30 & Jul 1, phone for times, Royal Albert Hall, phone for prices Train May 3, HMV Apollo, £23.50 Trudy Kerr Band, Ingrid James May 12, phone for times, 606 Club, £12 Ugly Kid Joe, Fozzy, Butcher Babies Jun 6, The Underworld, adv £17.50 Veil Of Maya, Betraying The Martyrs, Vildhjarta, Structures, Volumes May 4, The Underworld, £11 Viking Skull, Mercy House May 23, The Borderline, £8 Visions Of Trees Jun 2, The Nest, FREE Visions Of Trees, Philco Fiction May 11, The Old Blue Last, FREE We Are Augustines May 3, Dingwalls, £10, phone for availability Westlife: The Greatest Hits Tour, Vanquish May 12, May 23, May 24, The O2 Arena, £38.50 & £44 Wheatus May 24, The Garage, £12.50 White Denim May 22, HMV Forum, £16.50 William Control, Fearless Vampire Killers, Obscure Pleasures May 31, O2 Academy Islington, £11 Wretch 32, Jakwob May 9, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 Yacht May 8, XOYO, £10 Yelawolf, Doomtree May 14, Electric Ballroom, £14.50

scoutlondon.com Scout London 41

Music

clubbing

TUESDAY MAY 1

SUNDAY MAY 6

Panic at The Roxy, 3-5 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ Tottenham Court Road £5, NUS/w/flyer £3, w/flyer FREE before 10.30pm, 22.00-03.00. Max Panic, Gaz Panic and That Perfect Fumble spin indie, electro, retro and pop.

Pongathon at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East FREE, 16.00-22.00. Resident DJs spin indie, pop and retro, plus ping pong.

Thought Factory Presents at The Queen Of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX Shoreditch High Street FREE, 19.0000.00. DJs Jen Long, Hearts N Bones, Project Fresh Socks and Emily Rawson spin blues, rock and indie, plus hosts fashion and lifestyle magazine Acid.

White Heat at Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus £5, concs/flyer £4, 22.30-03.00. DJs Matty, Olly and Marcus spin electro, techno and indie.

Black Tie Ball Presents at Proud 2, The O2 Arena Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich £15, adv £10, 21.00-06.00. DJs Craze, Pigzy, Supa C, Ballsey And Peck, Garmzie and more mix dubstep, house, garage and old skool, plus live performances from Livin Joy, Rozalla and Baby D. Colony And Scand Bank Holiday Special at The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel £5, FREE before 11pm, 22.00-06.00. DJs Perc, Phase, Tengui, MB And CB, Billy Nasty, DMX Krew, Sync 24 And Innume, agent2 and Steve Allman spin techno and electronica, plus AnD perform live.

Faster at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge adv £14, 22.00-06.00. Wilkinson, SPY, Lenzman, Dom & Roland, Marcus Intalex, Break, Doc Scott and Anile spin dubstep, house and drum’n’bass, with hosts 2 Shy, SP, Lowqui and Code:breaker.

The Hot Caribbean Party! at O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel adv £12, 23.00-late.

Sun Bailante DJs, Robbo Ranx, The Heatwave, Shaker HD, Soca King, QT and Djahman spin hip hop, R&B, funk, reggae and Caribbean beats.

Pendragon And Escape From Samsara at The Coronet, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ Elephant And Castle adv £12 & £15, 22.00-06.00. Line-up includes Nik Sequenci, Mark EG Stutekh, Prozac, Derrick Patterson Mitch, Rubec Low 948, Miss CMC Kate and Timmy Detached.

Promised Land 8th Birthday at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras phone for prices, 14.00-late. Includes DJs Danny Rampling, Nicky Holloway, Alex P, Trevor Fung, Philgood And Ram and Kenny Redz.

Tayo’s Tracksuit Party at Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE Kensal Green adv £5, 19.00-03.00. Rob Da Bank, Artwork, Matt Jam Lamont, Wookie and Tayo 3000 spin disco, hip hop and house.

WetYourSelf! at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £16, adv/NUS £12, £8 after 4am, 23.00-08.00.

Tania Vulcano, Peter Pixzel, Cormac, Jacob Husley, Pig & Dan, and more.

Zombie Soundsystem Bank Holiday Sunday at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street FREE, 14.0000.00. Shane Watcha, Leitmotiv, Clint Lee and Nobody spin house and electro.

WEDNESDAY MAY 2 Madd Raff Wednesdays at The Social, 5 Little Portland Street, W1W 7JD Oxford Circus £5, £3 before 11pm, FREE before 9pm, 19.00-01.00. The Heatwave supply bashment and dancehall, plus a dance session with dancehall instructor Safwaan Shoshoni of Pineapple Studios.

N*A*S*I*N at The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette Street, W1D 4JB Tottenham Court Road £5, w/flyer £4, NUS £3, mems £2, 23.00-03.00. SoniX, Brahim and Punk Gareth play punk, rock, metal and ska.

Part One at The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP Old Street FREE, 19.00-late. Man LIke Me and Tim Ross spin electro and rock, plus Lois & The Love, Beans On Toast and The Queens English perform live.

THURSDAY MAY 3 Bedrock at XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP Old Street £8, 21.3003.00. The final session before the summer break in the company of John Digweed and Jozif and their heady mix of underground electronic, house, trance and techno across two rooms.

Chris Coco & Friends at The Player, 8 Broadwick Street, W1F 8HN Oxford Circus FREE, 20.00-01.00.

Pete Golding and Chris Coco play Balearic beats, disco, funk and house.

The Jump Off at The Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL King’s Cross St Pancras £12, £10 before 9pm, adv £8, 20.00-02.00. DJ Manny Norte plays hip hop, garage and R&B, with hosts Rap 6 and Charlie Sloth.

Superfine Music at The Basing House, 25 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA Liverpool Street FREE, 21.00-02.00.

Drum’n’bass, deep house, garage, dubstep and disco edits courtesy of Eveson, Glenn A.I., Emma G, Collette Warren and Luke Benson.

FRIDAY MAY 4 Blow Up! at Ginglik, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8PH Shepherd’s Bush £8, adv £6 before 11pm, £6 guestlist before 10pm, mems FREE, 19.00-03.00. DJs Paul Tunkin and Ian Jackson spin pop, 1960s soul, garage, funk, ska, indie and electronica, plus a live performance from B-Movie.

42 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Fabriclive at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £181, adv £17, £22 inc CD, mems £13, NUS £10 before 12midnight, £7 after 3am, 22.00-06.00.

Including Busy P, Brodinski, Riton, Filthy Dukes and Daniel Avery, plus New Build perform live.

Bump at Plan B, 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AY Brixton £8, FREE before 10pm, £5 until 12 midnight, 21.00-04.00.

Resident DJs spin hip hop, funk, dancehall and dubstep.

Chew The Fat Presents at XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP Old Street adv £6 & £8, 21.00-late. DJs Roska, Jamie George, Artwork, Script, MJ Cole, Dismantle, DJ Champion and Jack Swift mix dubstep, garage, house and electronica.

Idiosynphonic Present at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge adv £5 & £8, 22.0003.00. Reid Speed, Special Guest to be announced, Dubsidia, New Team ft Youthstar, Tha Trickaz, The Unik and Twist spin dubstep and electro in the main room.

Innovation: Drum And Bass Bank Holiday Friday at Proud 2, The O2 Arena Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich £20, NUS £17.50, early bird before Apr 13 £15, 22.00-06.00. Goldie, Hazard, Drumsound & Bassline Smith, TC, Taxman, Bryan Gee, Majistrate and more spin drum’n’bass across two arenas.

Lucid First Birthday at The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel adv £3 & £5, 23.0005.00. DJs Mickey Pearce, Moxie, Deft, Manni Dee, JJ Mumbles, DA-10, Chesslo Junior, Moomin Pappa, Elsewhere, Seb Wildblood and Apes mix house, disco, techno and dubstep.

Merk Chicken Presents at The City Arts & Music Project, 70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ Old Street £7, £5 before 11pm, 22.00-late. Sticky, Logan Sama, White Tyson, Alruii, Dozy and Collapse spin garage and house.

Propaganda at O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel £5, 22.30-03.30. DJ Dan and guests spin an eclectic mix of indie, electro, pop, dance and drum’n’bass.

Return To The Future Vol 4 Bank Holiday Special at Secret Location, E1 £18, adv £15, earlybird £10, 22.00-07.00. Seth Troxler, Tale Of Us, Fur Coat, Road To Nowhere Soundsystem, Luca C and Bill Patrick spin disco, electro, funk and deep house.

SATURDAY MAY 5 Carpet Burn at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £5, FREE before 11pm, 21.00-04.00. Resident DJs spin disco, pop and retro hits.

Egg Birthday at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £15, 22.00-late. DJs Monika Kruse, Kaiserdisco and Edwin Oosterwal mix techno and electronica.

Spectrum Warehouse Party at Great Suffolk Street Warehouse, 29 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0NS Southwark adv £20, 22.00-06.00. Chase And Status, Rage, Sub Focus, Breach, Killsonik, Major Look, Zombie Kids and Pete Jordan spin drum’n’bass, dubstep, electronica, house and techno with MCs Rage and ID, plus Disclosure perform live.

Fabric at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon adv + cd £23, £19, adv £18, NUS £12, £10 after 4am, 23.00-08.00. Magda, Danny Benedettini, Mike Sevito, Plaid, Electro Elvis (DJ set) and more.

Cadenza Vagabundos at Proud 2, The O2 Arena Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich £27.50, adv £20 & £25 before 12midnight, earlybird £15 before 11pm, 21.00-06.00. Luciano plays a three-hour set, joined by Reboot live, Maayan Nidam, Alex Picone and more.

Toolroom Knights at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant And Castle £15, mems £12, 23.00-07.00. DJ Mark Knight and residents spin house, electro and techno.

MONDAY MAY 7 Relations Presents Special Bank Holiday at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge earlybird £8, 23.00late. Deep, underground house and pulsating techno courtesy of Adam Shelton (pictured), Greg Brockmann, Lamache, Gianni Scotto, Nathalia, Keira and Max Lenski, plus a two-hour live set and a two-hour DJ set from two special guests.

Wiggle 18th Birthday at Corsica Studios, 4-5 Elephant Road, SE17 1LB Elephant & Castle adv £15, concs £12, 22.00-06.00. Stacey Pullen, Nathan Coles, Terry Francis, Eddie Richards, and others spin electro, techno, house and disco.

Funday Monday at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street FREE, 19.00-01.00. DJ Jimbo Jangles plays house, dance, indie, pop, R&B and electro.

Kinky Kabaret at Freedom Bar, 66 Wardour Street, W1F 0TA Piccadilly Circus phone for prices, 23.30-03.00. DJs spin pop music, plus cabaret performances.

Mondays at Yates’s, 30 Leicester Square, WC2H 7JZ Leicester Square phone for prices, 20.00-late. Resident DJs play house, dance, hip hop and R&B. Rehab at The Roxy, 3-5 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ Tottenham Court Road £5, NUS/w/flyer £3, mems £1 before 10.30pm, 22.00-03.00. DJ Haley, Zoe Demonette, Dan Udy and Malarky supply indie, electro and pop.

Sport & Fitness

featured Geared up Resources for cycling in London, whether commuting or sightseeing Bikeminded Kensington and Chelsea’s website is a great resource for cyclists, featuring advice, information, details of forthcoming events and tours, as well as the chance to win £1,000 in its Cycle Shorts film competition. bikeminded.org Barclays Cycle Hire The ubiquitous ‘Boris Bikes’ have been used for over 10m journeys since the scheme began in July 2010. There are now 8,000 bikes across 570 docking stations following a recent extension in east London. Find out more at tfl. gov.uk/barclayscyclehire

On yer bike James Glavin explores London on two wheels

I

t’s a matter of fierce debate how cycle-friendly a city London is. On the one hand you have Boris Johnson armed with his blue bikes and even bluer cycle superhighways claiming he’s spearheading a cycling revolution.

On the other, organisations such as the London Cycling Campaign argue that there is still much to be done to improve how easy and safe it is to cycle around the city.

Whatever your view, cycling is on the rise - official Transport for London statistics released in 2010 suggest cycling in London has increased 117 per cent since the year 2000.

Kensington and Chelsea is one borough playing its part in encouraging its residents to dust off their bicycles and take to the streets. Bikeminded, a three-year, European Union-funded project is a series of initiatives - bike polo matches, a short film competition and a style blog - designed to prove just how cycle-friendly a borough it is, with the hope of encouraging more cyclists into the saddle.

I went to try out the film tour, which explores film locations in the borough.

We meet our tour guide, Jamie,

who is on loan from Fat Tire Bike Tours, by Albert Bridge (or the place where Alex was beaten up by tramps towards the end of A Clockwork Orange, as I now refer to it). Before the tour starts, I chat to Kathryn King, Kensington and Chelsea’s road safety manager, who works on the Bikeminded project. I ask her how much campaigns such as this change attitudes towards cycling.

“I find that people who have taken part in our activities get converted very quickly to cycling,” she tells me. “Often people have become so supportive of cycling they have become local cycling champions, helping to spread the message more widely.”

She says 70 per cent of people who take part in a Bikeminded events say they feel more positive about cycling as a result. But before we can chat any further, Jamie rallies the group and we head off. Unlike many tours, you use your own bike (or a Boris bike if you don’t have your own wheels), which means you don’t have to grapple with an unfamiliar machine, making it a much more comfortable experience. The pace is not too hardcore, but I do feel like I’m

getting a bit of exercise as well as improving my chances in the film round of my local pub quiz.

The tour references a wide range of films. Notting Hill, arguably the most famous film shot in the area, is mentioned only fleetingly while more eclectic films such as The Italian Job, Performance and Blow-Up are highlighted.

Jamie is clearly a history buff too, and provides a great social history of the area, charting its transformation from a squalid area of pig farms and potteries to a fashionable, affluent neighbourhood. As you’d expect from a Royal Borough, it’s a picturesque cycle.

We pass some eye-poppingly stunning mansions en route (including Simon Cowell’s London pad) and most of the places we see on the tour I would happily move in to tomorrow (except maybe Brompton Cemetery).

The tour is a great way to take a new look at a part of London which can often be stereotyped.

Now, with my newfound knowledge of British cinema and a good day of cycling behind me, I will mostly be answering to my new nickname, Cycle Caine.

Fat Tire Bike Tours Originally from Texas (hence the American spelling of ‘tire’), Fat Tire offers two different tours in London, both with knowledgeable, experienced guides. fattirebiketours.com/london Tally Ho Cycle Tours For those with a vintage sensibility, Tally Ho Cycle Tours provide small, group-guided sightseeing tours on vintagestyled Pashley bicycles. tallyhocycletours.com London Cycling Campaign The authoritative voice of London cycling, the LCC offers a huge number of resources for the capital’s pedal lovers.

Consider becoming a member to support its campaigning activity such as its current “Love London, Go Dutch” campaign, calling for London to be a cycle-safe city to rival any in the Netherlands. lcc.org.uk

scoutlondon.com Scout London 43

Theatre

featured

You can leave your hat on Donning Fred Astaire’s shoes for a new production of Top Hat is a dream come true for Strictly winner Tom Chambers

44 Scout London scoutlondon.com

the ‘planted’ character in the soap, who sets off for London to find Lloyd Webber because she wants to appear in one of his musicals.

Lo and behold she gets the lead role in Maria, leaves the soap and - in real life could be found in the role from February 2008 until 2009.

Top Hat sees famous American tap dancer Jerry Travers (Chambers),arrive in London to appear in his first West End show. There, he meets the irresistible Dale Tremont (Strallen), the girl of his dreams, and proceeds to chase her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart.

Opening 77 years since its film release, this adaptation for stage includes Irving Berlin classics from the film, such as Cheek to Cheek, Isn’t It a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain and Top Hat White Tie and Tails.

But that’s not all, musical fans. As the original film only included five songs, a further 10 numbers from Berlin’s 1,200-strong back catalogue have been interpolated, including the classics Let’s Face the Music and Dance and Puttin’ On the Ritz.

Top Hat is at the Aldwych Theatre until Jan 26

Greg King / Exljbris

I

t was thanks - in some small way - to Fred Astaire that Tom Chambers landed his role as surgeon Sam Strachan in TV’s Holby City.

The 34-year-old actor had been out of work for six frustrating years and was driving lorries to make ends meet. In a bid to stand out from the crowd, he made a film of himself recreating the sequence from 1937 film A Damsel in Distress, in which Astaire tap dances with a drum kit.

The video was sent to hundreds of casting directors and finally picked up by Holby City bosses, who snapped up the top tapper.

Now he’s stepping into Astaire’s shoes once again, this time for the most successful film the iconic dancer made with Ginger Rogers: Top Hat. It’s something of a dream come true for the 2008 winner of Strictly Come Dancing, who, before the series started, said: “All I have ever wanted to be is like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.”

Opposite him in the musical is Summer Strallen - whose ascendancy to the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber-produced The Sound of Music was charted on Hollyoaks.

She was Summer Shaw,

Theatre WEST END The 39 Steps, ends Oct 20, Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, W1J 0TR Piccadilly Circus £12.50-£47.50, Premium Seats £55, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Wed 3pm, Sat 4pm. John Buchan’s thriller.

Belong, ends May 26, Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Sloane Square Mon available on day of perf £10, Tue-Sat £20, under 26s £8, OAP/NUS £15, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Sat 3.30pm (press night May 2, 7pm, no perf May 7, extra mat perf May 17, 24, 3.30pm). A satirical drama written by Bola Agbaje.

MANUEL HARLAN

Collaborators, ends Jun 23, National Theatre: Olivier, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32, May 1-5, 8-12, 15-17, Jun 4-7, 11-14, 21-23, 7.30pm, mats May 5, 9, 12, 16, Jun 6, 14, 23, 2pm, May 13, 2.30pm.

Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale feature in John Hodge’s 1930s Moscowset drama.

Billy Elliot - The Musical, ends Dec 15, Victoria Palace, Victoria Street, SW1E 5EA Victoria £19.50-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. An adaptation of the film.

Blood Brothers, ends Nov 24, Phoenix Theatre, 110 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0JP Leicester Square £20£65, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm. Willy Russell’s musical.

Chicago, ends Jan 26 2013, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross £26£67.50, Apr 23-Sep 22 Mon-Fri 8pm & 5pm under 26s £20, Mon-Thu, Sat 8pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 3pm, Dec 22, 3pm. Musical.

Dreamboats And Petticoats, ends Nov 24, Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE Charing Cross £17.50-£55, Premium Seats £55-£65, Mon-Fri 7.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm. Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran’s musical.

The Duchess Of Malfi, ends Jun 9, Old Vic, 103 The Cut, SE1 8NB Waterloo £10-£49.50, Mar 17-27 previews £10£44.50, Premium Seats £75, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. John Webster’s Jacobean tragedy is directed by Jamie Lloyd.

Ghost - The Musical, ends Apr 20 2013, Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1D 7DY Piccadilly Circus Mon-Wed/ Thu mats £25-£65, Thu eves/Fri & Sat £25-£67.50, Premium Seats £85, £25 day tickets available Mon-Fri from the box office from 10am on the day of the performance, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. A stage adaptation of the 1990 film.

recommended Hay Fever, ends Jun 2, Noel Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AU Leicester Square £16£53.50, Premium Seats £85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Noel Coward’s comedy starring Lindsay Duncan and Kevin McNally.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain! (Over 6s), ends Sep 1, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross £10-£14.50, Wed-Fri 1pm, Sat 10.30am & 12noon, Sun 3pm & 5pm. A look at all the nasty, crazy things British people have done to each other over many years.

Jersey Boys, ends Oct 21, Prince Edward Theatre, 28 Old Compton Street, W1D 4HS Tottenham Court Road Tue-Thu £20-£65, Fri-Sun £20-£67.50, Premium Seats Tue-Thu £85, Fri-Sun £95, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Tue, Sat & Sun 3pm, except May 1-Oct 21, Sun 5pm. Musical drama about the career of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons.

The King’s Speech, ends May 12, Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA Leicester Square MonSat £10-£52.50, Thu 2.30pm OAP £35, standby rate £25, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. David Seidler’s original drama which inspired the celebrated film.

Singin’ In The Rain, ends Feb 23 2013, Palace Theatre, 109113 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 5AY Leicester Square £14£84, £25 day seats available from the box office from 10am on day of the performance, Mon & Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 3pm, extra mat perf Jun 8, 3pm, no perf Jun 4, Jul 2-Sep 30, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mat Jul 2-Sep 30, Wed, Sat 3pm, Oct 1-Feb 23 2013, MonSat 7.30pm, mat Oct 1-Feb 23 2013, Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Musical based on the MGM film about the end of silent movies.

Les Miserables, ends Oct 27, Queen’s Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6BA Piccadilly Circus £10-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Musical drama.

The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ Charing Cross Tue-Thu £30-£60, Fri, Sun £32.50-£62.50, Sat £35-£65, May 1-Jul 23, Sep 2-30, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat & Sun 2.30pm, Jul 24-Sep 1, TueSat 7.30pm, mats Wed & Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no eve perf Jul 27. Musical.

Long Day’s Journey Into Night, ends Aug 18, Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ Piccadilly Circus £21-£53.50, Premium Seats £76, Mon-Sat 7pm, May 1-Aug 18, Mon & Tue, Thu-Sat 7pm, mats Wed 2.30pm. David Suchet and Laurie Metcalf star in Eugene O’Neill’s drama.

Love Love Love, ends Jun 2, Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Sloane Square Apr 27 & 28, May 1 & 2 previews £12, £20, £28, Apr 30 preview, limited availability £10, May 3-31, Jun 1 & 2 Mon £10, Tue-Sat £12, £20, £28, OAP & student £15, £23, under 26s £8, concs on top two prices until May 5 £15, £23, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 24, 2.30pm (press night May 3, 7pm).

Mike Bartlett’s drama follows the sparky relationship between Kenneth and Sandra, in 1967.

Mamma Mia!, ends Sep 1, Prince Of Wales Theatre, 31 Coventry Street, W1D 6AS Charing Cross Mon-Fri £20-£64, Sat £20-£67.50, Premium Seats £85 & £95, Mon-Thu, Sat 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, extra mat Jul 27, 3pm, no eve perf Jul 27. Musical comedy.

Matilda: The Musical, ends Feb 17 2013, Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU Covent Garden Oct 25 2011-Feb 13 2012 £19-£58.50, disabled £28.75, Tue-Thu under 18s £19-£48.50, Feb 14 2012-Feb 17 2013 £20-£62.50, disabled £31.25, Tue-Thu under 18s £19£52.50, Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm, extra mat perf Nov 1, 2.30pm. Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s tale.

Misterman, ends May 28, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo Apr 14, 16 & 17 previews £12£34, Apr 18-30, May 1-28 £12-£40, MonFri 7.30pm under 18s £12-£16.50, midweek mat senior citizen £12-£30, May 1, 8-10, 14-17, 23-26, 28, 7.30pm, mats May 10, 17, 26, 2.15pm, May 27, 3pm. Cillian Murphy stars in Enda Walsh’s epic drama on the evangelist Thomas Magill trying to save the sinful town of Inishfree.

Moon On A Rainbow Shawl, ends Jun 9, National Theatre: Cottesloe, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32, Tue-Thu mats OAP £12-£22, disabled £12 & £15, Mon-Fri, Sun under 18s/Sat mats under 18s £12-£16, May 1 & 2, 17-19, 21-23, 28-30, Jun 7-9, 7.30pm, mats May 19, 22, 30, Jun 9, 2.30pm. Errol John’s drama is set during the early 1950s in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The Mousetrap, ends Dec 15, St Martin’s Theatre, West Street, Cambridge Circus, WC2H 9NZ Leicester Square £15.60£41.60, Premium Seats £60.60, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Tue 3pm, Sat 4pm. Agatha Christie’s murder mystery.

Noises Off, ends Jun 30, Novello Theatre, 5 Aldwych, WC2B 4LD Covent Garden Mon-Thu £10-£52.50, Fri & Sat £10-£55, Premium Seats £85, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm (captioned perf May 1).

Michael Frayn’s farcical comedy.

One Man, Two Guvnors, ends Jan 12 2013, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, SW1Y 4HT Piccadilly Circus £15-£55, premium seats £85, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, extra mat perf Dec 27, Jan 3, 2.30pm, Dec 24, 2.30pm, Dec 26, 7.30pm.

Richard Bean’s comic tale, based on Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant Of Two Masters.

The Phantom Of The Opera, ends Oct 27, Her Majesty’s Theatre, 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL Piccadilly Circus £22.45-£85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm.

Musical.

Rock Of Ages, ends Oct 28, Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8DP Holborn Mon-Thu £20£57.50, Fri & Sat £20-£65, Mon-Thu 7.30pm, Fri 5.30pm & 8.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Sat 4pm. Chris D’Arienzo’s musical celebrating Los Angeles rock culture.

Shrek - The Musical, ends Mar 31 2013, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF Covent Garden £20-£65, Wed & Thu eves family of four £99-£150, additional seats £29.50 (upper circle) & £45 (best available), Premium Seats £95, Mon, Thu-Sat 7.30pm, Wed 7pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm, no perf Oct 10. Musical based on the computer-animated film.

Stomp, ends Dec 15, Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, WC2H 9ND Leicester Square £20-£49.50, Mon, Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm, extra eve perfs Jun 6, Aug 1, 15, 22, Oct 31 2012, 8pm, extra mats Aug 15, 22, Oct 31 2012. Steve McNicholas and Luke Cresswell’s show.

The Sunshine Boys, ends Jul 28, Savoy Theatre, Savoy Court, Strand, WC2R 0ET Charing Cross £20-£58.50, Apr 2730, May 1-16 previews £15-£53.50, concs available, 20 top price seats at £10 each, available in person only, from 10am on day of performance, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm (press night May 17, 7pm). Neil Simon’s comedy with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths as the estranged comic duo Willie Clark and Al Lewis.

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, ends Sep 22, Adelphi Theatre, 409-412 Strand, WC2R 0NS Charing Cross £20-£67.50, £25 seats available in person from the box office from 10am on day of performance (max 2 per person), Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton star in Stephen Sondheim’s musical.

A Tale Of Two Cities, ends May 12, Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NL Embankment £24.50 & £29.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 4.30pm. Musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s novel.

Thriller Live, ends Sep 23, Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES Piccadilly Circus £27.50-£59.50, Premium Seats £85, Tue-Fri, Sun 7.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Sat 4pm, Sun 3.30pm.

A celebration of the music of Michael Jackson.

War Horse, ends Oct 26 2013, New London Theatre, 166 Drury Lane (corner of Parker Street), WC2B 5PW Covent Garden £15-£55, Premium Seats £85, Mon, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Tue 7pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Michael Morpurgo’s story.

We Will Rock You, ends Oct 20, Dominion Theatre, 268-9 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7AQ Tottenham Court Road Jan 1-Dec 31 2011, Jan 1-May 13, May 15-Oct 20 2012 £27.50-£60, May 14 10th Anniversary Special Show £14.15, £40.50, £73.25, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 14, 7pm, 10th Anniversary Special Show.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 45

Theatre

OFF WEST END The Art Of Concealment, ends May 20, Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, W6 9RL Hammersmith £17.50, concs £15, £14 preview, From May 1, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3.30pm, May 1 & 2, 7.30pm preview. The dying Terence Rattigan is haunted by memories, in Giles Cole’s drama.

Baba Shakespeare: Tower Theatre Company, ends May 3, Arcola Tent, 2 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL Dalston Junction £12, concs £10, Apr 26 post-show Magic Bus event £25 sold separately, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Sat 3pm, Apr 26, post-show Magic Bus charity event.

Featuring choreography by Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati.

Big Daddy Vs Giant Haystacks, Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES Greenwich £15, concs £10, May 4, 7.30pm. Two-handed comedydrama celebrating a bygone wrestling era.

Brimstone And Treacle, ends Jun 2, Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL Dalston Junction May 2 & 3 previews £12, May 4-31, Jun 1 & 2 Mon/Wed-Sat £16, concs £12, Tue Pay What You Can, From May 2, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Sat 3pm (press night May 4, no mat perf May 5).

Dennis Potter’s darkly-comic realist drama, on paranoia, xenophobia and prejudice.

The Conquering Hero, ends Jun 9, Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, TW9 2SA Richmond Apr 25 & 26 previews £14, concs £12, Apr 27-30, May 1-31, Jun 1-9 Mon/Sat 7.45pm & 3pm £14, concs £12, Tue-Thu 7.45pm £16, concs £14, Tue, Thu 2.30pm £11, Fri 7.45pm £18, concs £16, Sat £21, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Sat 3pm, Tue, Thu 2.30pm, no mat perf May 2. Allan Monkhouse’s first world war-set drama.

Chalet Lines, ends May 5, The Bush Theatre At The Old Library, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ Shepherd’s Bush Apr 6 & 7, 10 & 11 previews £18, concs/ under 26s £10, Apr 12-30, May 1-6 MonSat 7.30pm £24, concs £12, Wed & Sat 2.30pm £18, concs/under 20s £10, MonSat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Lee Mattinson’s comedy-drama, a journey over 50 years’s worth of birthdays, weddings and hen partys, experienced by the Walker women.

46 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Dixie’s Tupperware Party, ends May 19, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road £10-£20, From May 7, Mon-Sat 9.45pm. The fast-talking Tupperware Lady shares her thoughts on how she became the number one Tupperware seller.

Soul Sister, ends May 5, Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ Hackney Central £10-£27.50, Tue-Thu, Sat 7.30pm, Fri 8.15pm, Sun 5pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 2, 2.30pm.

A musical devised by Pete Brooks and John Miller, inspired by the life of Ike and Tina Turner.

Educating Rita, ends May 12, The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU London Bridge £29.50, concs £27, £37 inc meal, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Sat & Sun 3.30pm, May 3, 10, 3.30pm. Willy Russell’s comedy drama features Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly.

Filumena, ends May 12, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, N1 1TA Highbury & Islington Mar 15-21 previews £8-£26, Mar 22-May 12 £8-£32, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 2, 2.30pm. Eduardo De Filippo’s jubilant comedy drama, adapted by Tanya Ronder.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ends May 1, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House £10-£35, standing £5, disabled £5-£17.50, under 18s £7-£32, under 3s FREE, season ticket £100, May 1, 7.30pm. A mix of mime, music, dance and song in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy. Performed in Korean.

World Stages London: Three Kingdoms, ends May 19, Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL Hammersmith May 4 & 5 £12.50, May 3, 6-19 £12.50-£35, From May 3, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats May 12, 19, 2.30pm (press night May 8, 7pm, no perf May 7). A dark thriller written by Simon Stephens, about trafficked women.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Othello, ends May 6, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House £10-£35, standing £5, disabled £5-£17.50, under 18s £7£32, under 3s FREE, season ticket £100, May 6, 6.30pm, mats May 5, 2.30pm, May 6, 1.30pm. A hip hop interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, co-directed and produced by The Q Brothers.

Making Noise Quietly (Being Friends/ Lost/Making Noise Quietly), ends May 26, Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street,

WC2H 9LX Covent Garden Apr 19-21 previews £10-£25, Apr 23-30, May 1-26 £10-£32.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Three short plays forming a triptych exploring the effects of war and the universal bonds of suffering. Written by Robert Holman.

Neighbourhood Watch, ends May 5, Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR Kilburn Mon/Wed 8pm & 2pm £14, Tue-Sat 8pm & 4pm £23, Sat 8pm £26, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Sat 4pm, May 2, 2pm. Alan Ayckbourn’s comedydrama about vigilantes.

FRINGE All Good Men, ends May 14, Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 9ED West Brompton £14, concs £10, Sun & Mon 7.30pm. Trevor Griffiths’s political drama. Directed by Rania Jumaily.

Belt Up Theatre’s Macbeth, ends May 18, House Of Detention, Sans Walk, EC1R 0LT Farringdon Apr 12-16 previews £10, Apr 17-30, May 1-18 £15, concs £13, Tue-Sat 7pm. A site-specific, atmospheric production of Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy.

The Night Of 1000 Voices, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP South Kensington £15.50-£67.50, May 6, 4pm & 8pm. Actor Hugh Bonneville hosts this annual celebration of musical theatre.

Black Battles With Dogs, ends May 5, Southwark Playhouse, Shipwright Yard, corner of Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street, SE1 2TF London Bridge £9-£17, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 3pm.

Bernard-Marie Koltes’s drama exploring racism and colonialism.

E4 Udderbelly Festival: Showstopper!

The Improvised Musical, ends Jul 1, E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment £15.50 & £20.50, concs £14, May 6, 20, Jun 3, 17, Jul 1, 7.45pm. An improvised musical comedy, based on audience suggestions.

Give My Regards To Broadway, ends May 2, Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, E16 2DA Liverpool Street Apr 24 & 25, 27, May 1 & 2 £25 inc tea, Apr 26 £30 3 course meal, Apr 28 £39.50 inc meal, show & dancing, May 1 & 2, 2pm, doors 1.15pm. Songand-dance show featuring extracts from Broadway musicals.

The Great Gatsby, ends May 19, Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, off Ensign Street, E1 8JB Aldgate East Apr 20-22, 24 previews reserved seating £15, unreserved seating £10, Apr 25-30, May 1-19 Tue-Sat

reserved seating £27.50, unreserved seating £17.50, Tue-Sat 7.30pm. Tour de Force Theatre Company presents an adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic story.

Suicide Letter Love Note, ends May 5, Pleasance Theatre, Carpenter’s Mews, North Road, N7 9EF Caledonian Road £12, Tue-Sat 8pm. Comedy drama about a man planning the run-up to his suicide.

The Hare And The Tortoise: Tutti Frutti Productions (Over 3s), Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, E15 1BX Stratford £7, concs £5, family £20, May 5, 11.30am & 3pm. Adaptation of Aesop’s fable about two animals in a race.

His Greatness, ends May 19, Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 9ED West Brompton Apr 24 & 25 previews £10, Apr 26-30, May 1-6 Tue £10, Wed-Fri, Sat & Sun 3pm & 7.30pm £14, concs £10, Sat 7.30pm £14, May 8-19 Tue £12, WedFri, Sat & Sun 3pm & 7.30pm £16, concs £12, Sat 7.30pm £16, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 3pm. Daniel MacIvor’s moving drama, a tale of coping with greatness and the pain you suffer when that greatness is in decline.

How To Think The Unthinkable: Unicorn Theatre (Ages 11-14), ends May 19, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge Apr 28 & 29 previews £10, May 1-19 £15, child £10, NUS/OAP/unwaged £12, May 1, 7pm, May 5, 12, 19, 5.30pm, mats May 2, 10, 17, 10.30am, May 3 & 4, 9, 11, 16 & 17, 1.30pm.

Ryan Craig’s drama is based on the story of the ancient Greek story of Antigone.

The Man With The Disturbingly Smelly Foot: The Unicorn (Ages 7-10), ends May 20, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge Apr 25-29 previews £10, May 1-20 £15, child £10, NUS/OAP/unwaged £12, May 1, 4.30pm, mats May 2, 8, 10, 15, 18, 1.30pm, May 3 & 4, 8 & 9, 11, 15 & 16, 18, 1.30am, May 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 2pm. A re-working

by Nancy Harris, of Sophocles’s drama Philoctetes.

The Time Capsule, ends May 5, New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, SW19 1QG Wimbledon £10, May 2-5, 7.45pm. Interactive drama involving the opening of a time capsule.

Stop Search, ends May 26, Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, SE6 4RU Catford £14.50, concs £11, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Wed & Thu 2pm, Sat 4pm. A hard-hitting drama on the impact of the police’s Stop and Search powers, Written by Dominic Taylor.

Wasted, Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, E18 2RB South Woodford £9, concs £5.50, May 3, 8pm. Kate Tempest’s drama set around South London, on love, life and losing one’s mind.

World Burlesque Games 2012: The World Burlesque Games VIP Opening Ceremonies, Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus £24.50-£44.50, May 7, 7pm. An intimate yet glamorous show hosted by Ivy Paige.

World Stages London: Wild Swans, ends May 13, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ Waterloo Apr 13-19 previews £10, £17.50, Apr 20-30, May 1-13 £10£29.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. A stage adaptation of the bestselling book written by Jung Chang.

NATIONAL THEATRE OF CHINA

Wicked, ends Apr 27 2013, Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LG Victoria Mon-Fri eves/mats £15£62.50, Sat eves £15-£65, 24 front row day tickets priced £27.50 each released 10am at the box office, maximum two per person.

The Wizard Of Oz, ends Oct 28, London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF Oxford Circus £25-£65, Premium Seats £84, £25 day seats available from the box office from 10am on day of the performance, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of L Frank Baum’s tale.

The Woman In Black, ends Dec 15, Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, WC2B 5HH Covent Garden £16.50£45, Premium Seats £55, Jan 9 2012-Jul 15 2012, Sep 2 2012-Dec 15 2012, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Jan 9 2012-Jul 15 2012, Sep 2 2012-Dec 15 2012, Tue, Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm, Jul 16 2012-Sep 1 2012, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Jul 16 2012-Sep 1 2012, Tue 3pm, Sat 4pm. Susan Hill’s ghost story.

recommended

Competitions Win a night out to see One Man, Two Guvnors with dinner at Assaggetti

presents

One

Man, Two

Guvnors

OM2Gimage_260412.indd 1

Scout London has the chance for you a chance to win a night out to see One Man, Two Guvnors at Theatre Royal Haymarket with dinner at Assaggetti, Haymarket.

The National Theatre’s awardwinning production is a glorious celebration of British comedy.

Richard Bean’s play is a unique, laugh-out-loud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one-liners.

The prize includes two top-price tickets, a meal for two from the Chef’s Selection at the delicious Italian small plates restaurant Assaggetti in Haymarket, plus interval drinks and a signed souvenir programme.

To enter, email win@scoutlondon.com and answer the following question: What is One Man, Two Guvnors an adaptation of? a) Starlight Express b) Nuts and Milk c) Servant of Two Masters onemantwoguvnors.com assaggetti.co.uk

26/04/2012 14:44

Win a prize pack from The London International Ska Festival

For more information on The London International Ska Festival, visit londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk

The London International Ska Festival returns to the capital May 3-6 and promises 40 acts from around the world. From its birth in Jamaica, Ska has come a long way - morphing and inspiring every generation and reaching all corners of the world.

In association with Academy Events, the festival line-up will showcase all Ska has to offer from its roots in rhythm and blues, mento and calypso, to the Jamaican originators, the progression through rocksteady and reggae, 2-Tone, ska-punk and right up-to-date with 21st century Ska sounds.

The four days will see musical legends take to the stage as well

as new talent on the Ska scene.

Dandy Livingstone will play his world exclusive comeback show and first in 40 years on Friday, May 4 at O2 Academy Islington.

Other headliners across the weekend include The Pioneers starring Jackie Robinson and George Dekker (Let Your Yeah Be Yeah and Long Shot Kick De Bucket), the voice of Dave and Ansell Collins - Dave Barker, Owen Grey, Freddie Notes (singer of the global smash Montego Bay) and Rico Rodriguez MBE. The prize includes a pair of four-day tickets to the festival, a copy of the rather lovely limited edition (2000 numbered copies)

2012 Ska Fest book, and a copy of each of the limited edition/ hand numbered exclusive Ska Festival 7” records.

Disc 1 features Neol Davies (The Selecter) & The Dualers, while Disc 2 features Dave Barker (Dave & Ansell Collins) & Phoenix City All-stars.

Four sets of prizes are available.

To enter, email win@scoutlondon.com and answer the following question: Q: What country is considered the birthplace of Ska? a) Ireland b) Jamaica c) Russia

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competitions are free to enter. Competitions close midnight May 7 2012. Entries will be judged after the closing date and winners will be notified by phone or email within 14 days. Prizes will be sent out within 14 days of notification by the companies or promoters involved. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. No purchase necessary. For full T&Cs for all competitions, visit scoutlondon.com.

Food & Drink Editor Ben Norum

Head of Sales Andrew Mercer

Listings listings@scoutlondon.com

Scout Media Holdings Limited

Film Reviews Damon Smith

Public Relations Parker, Wayne & Kent

Publishing Director & Founder Jim Zambrano

Graphic Designer Kevin Duggan

Sales Executives James Littlewood Alexander Merrifield

Creative Director Sam Proud

Picture Desk Shila Sultana

Editor-in-Chief James Drury

Office Manager Andie Moore

Editorial editorial@scoutlondon.com Advertising advertise@scoutlondon.com sayhellotoscout.com

Print Production Webmart Distribution Emblem Group

Scout London is published by Scout Media Holdings Ltd. Registered company number 07890708. Registered company address: 39-41 North Road, London N7 9DP. Scout London is a registered trademark. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden. Copyright of all original content is held by Scout Media Holdings Ltd. Scout London makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 47

16TH - 19TH

AUGUST

THE GUARDIAN

THE INDEPENDENT

JOIN US THIS SUMMER IN THE MAGICAL SURROUNDINGS OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS, WALES...

Music VAN MORRISON • FEIST •

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS • THE WALKMEN • THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH •JONATHAN RICHMAN • TUNE-YARDS • OF MONTREAL • MICHAEL KIWANUKA • YANN TIERSEN • THE FELICE BROTHERS •

KING CREOSOTE & JON HOPKINS • THE BEES • SCRITTI POLITTI •

JUNIOR BOYS • TIME & SPACE MACHINE • DAMIEN JURADO • FIELD MUSIC • C.W. STONEKING • FRIENDS • BOWERBIRDS • GHOSTPOET • SLOW CLUB • CASS MCCOMBS • DARK DARK DARK • THREE TRAPPED TIGERS • BETH JEANS HOUGHTON & THE HOOVES OF DESTINY • WILLY MASON • DAUGHTER • TREMBLING BELLS • JOE PUG • LUCY ROSE • PEAKING LIGHTS • ISLET • MEGAFAUN • CASHIER NO. 9 • TOY • ALT-J • THE WAVE PICTURES • KWES • THE STAVES • STEVE SMYTH • LAURA J MARTIN • JAMIE N COMMONS • GANG COLOURS • STEALING SHEEP • VADOINMESSICO • ROCKETNUMBERNINE • JAMES BLAKE (DJ) • BULLION (DJ) • VONDELPARK • LONE • And Many More

AD

Comedy BUG WITH ADAM BUXTON • THE RUBBER BANDITS • ZOE LYONS • ROBIN INCE • HOLLY WALSH • MIKE WOZNIAK • HENRY PAKER • MARK OLVER • Plus Many More TBA Plus 9 STAGES • 24HR BARS • EINSTEIN’S GARDEN • CHAI WALLAHS • DUSK TILL DAWN BONFIRE • LOCAL BEER & CIDER • GOURMET FOOD • LITERATURE • LOADS TO DO FOR KIDS & TEENS • MASSAGE & THERAPY • MOUNTAINS • And Lots More...

Adults: £145 (including camping). Student: £125 (including camping). Holiday Ticket £40 (Add a holiday ticket and camp for a whole week) Tickets available from www.ticketline.co.uk/green-man Tel 0844 888 9991 Coach Tickets and packages available from National Express www.nationalexpress.com/greenman For more information, including the full line up please visit www.greenman.net

www.greenman.net