Bigamy, al fresco literature, and groundbreaking art. All you need for a cultural fix this month, apart from your copy of Litro, edited by Alex James.
June – October 2009, More London Free Festival,
Now in its 7th year, More London’s annual Free Festival, comes to life in June to early October staging over four months of free events and free public arts performances set against stunning views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. www.morelondon.com/events
1st – 30th June 2009, Story of London Festival.
Write your own experience, off the back of The Story of London, which features hundreds (no, really) of events across the capital. This festival celebrates London is an all its glory – past, present and future, with events on everything from art and architecture, to fashion, film, history, literature, music. For more information visit www.london.gov.uk
1st and 2nd June, 2009. Orange Prize for Fiction, celebrating the best in female fiction. The Southbank Centre will host a series of events in June celebrating the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction. The event will open with readings from the three shortlisted authors, Francesca Kay, Nami Mun and Ann Weisgarber, followed by discussion with host Lisa Jardine, at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX , price £12 to £20. See: www.southbankcentre.co.uk, www.orangeprize.co.uk
2nd – 13th June 2009. Hampton Court Palace Festival.
The Hampton Court Palace Festival, now in its 17th year, has grown into one of the UK’s most exciting music events: . But it’s best known as being King Henry VIII super-posh residence. Going from naughty to nautical nearby Maritime Greenwich celebrates 500th Anniversary of London’s biggest womaniser in various locations in Greenwich, throughout June, in a homage to it being his birthplace.
7th – 19th June 2009, Spitalfields Festival.
Spitalfields has long been the stomping ground for artists, writers, and serial killers like Jack the Ripper, although thankfully, never in the same room. It comes alive for two weeks with top class musicians performing early and new music, jazz and opera in the spectacular Christ Church Spitalfields and Wilton’s Music Hall. www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk
12th June – 10th July 2009, The Art Lounge, Urban Angel, Redchurch Street, presents, Lost Colours and Alibis.
If you couldn’t be bothered to finish Odyssey by Homer, don’t worry. ‘LOST COLOURS & ALIBIS’ is a tribute to the classic, in art form, and the first London solo show of paintings by Remi/Rough. In fact where Remi is going next is back in time to Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’. Each of the vibrant, large‐scale canvases is based around a particular story or character from this epic book of poetry, all exhibited in London’s latest art quarter. Entry is free, but the painting’s slightly more.
13th – 24th June, 2009, Chelsea Arts Festival, 2009.
The all-new Chelsea arts festival aims to take its audience through Chelsea village with arts events taking place in venues ranging from the prestigious Cadogan Hall and the historic Royal Hospital to quirkier venues such as the Chelsea Arts Club. Go, in ten-years time people will be saying: “I was at the first Chelsea Festival.” like it’s Britain’s answer to Cannes, www.chelseaartsfestival.org.
18th June, Tongue Fu, Rich Mix, Shoreditch, 8pm
No, it’s not the name of a new Chinese Take Away. Tongue Fu , is where the UK’s finest performance poets flex their best lyrical moves to an improvised soundtrack of mercurial jazz and blistering beats. Come along to witness risk-taking performance at its most entertaining, music at its most spontaneous and poetry alive with breath, magic, sex and thunder. £5 , www.richmix.org.uk
25th June – 5th July 2009, The Holloway Arts Festival.
Now in its seventh year, The Holloway Arts Festival returns with a packed 10-day programme featuring over 40 events showcasing an exciting mix of music, visual arts, literature, cinema, theatre, dance and comedy featuring local talent alongside international artists. www.hollowayartsfestival.co.uk
Festival Fever, 24th to 27th June 2009. Glastonbury Festival has launched a literary strand for the first time this year. The Free University of Glastonbury sees authors reciting their work, but if you can’t find tickets, go further afield to avoid the mud bath at In Music Festival, taking place in Zagreb, Croatia’s most literature-loving city, with a line-up that includes Franz Ferdinand, Kraftwerk and Moby, see: www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
Up until 27th June. Much Ado About Nothing. Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. Tourists go to The Globe, real London aficionados go to The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park in the Summer Months, for a real Midsummer experience of how Shakespeare was originally intended to be watched. Directed by Timothy Sheader, featuring Shakespeare’s most reluctant lovers Beatrice, played by Samantha Spiro, and Benedick, played by Sean Campion, this is a joyous, wise-cracking comedy of love, honour and second chances, which is just as well, if the heavens decide to pour. www.openairtheatre.org
