The Spectacular Spectrum of Now
This wacky one-of-a-kind night takes stand-up and old fashioned variety and fuses them with a zeitgeist-y multimedia spin to create a wondrous blitz of sights, gags and performances. On the bill for this evening are sketch troupe The Real MacGuffins, character comedian Gabby Best, who won the Funny Women Award last year, and Fortuna Burke, performing an extract from her new comedy musical, Laundrette Superstar. All the madness will be marshalled by self-confessed washed-up boozy singer Quint Fontana (above).
£6, July 14, 7pm Netil House,
1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL
Station | London Fields
netilhouse.com
TCR BBQ: The Vinyl Frontier
After 11 years of BBQs and tunes, this north London institution at the Lockside Lounge is calling time with one final vinyl-only blowout. Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth and TCR BBQ regular Rennie Pilgrem, and plenty more, will be spinning the rave, disco, jungle and hip-hop tunes to keep you dancing all day and night.
Free, July 13, 2pm-3am NW1 8AF
Tube | Camden Town
locksidelounge.com
Skin Tight
This New Zealand-set play is by turns romantic, erotic and heartbreakingly honest as a couple confess to one another their innermost thoughts, feelings and passions. It won plaudits aplenty when it played over here last year so make sure you catch it this time round. Powerful stuff.
£15, July 16-Aug 11, 7.45pm
(matinees Sat & Sun 3.15pm)
Park Theatre, N4 3JP
Tube | Finsbury Park
parktheatre.co.uk
Brixton Windmill Tours
This too-little-known windmill in Brixton opens its doors to the public over the summer and autumn so you can take a look behind the scenes and learn about the family who milled there. Their Our Big Gig is held just outside on July 14, too, with local folk group The No Frills Band as the headliners.
Free, July 13-Oct 13,
2pm West End of Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5EU
Tube | Brixton
brixtonwindmill.org
TNT 30th Birthday Party – Camden
Your favourite mag is 30 years old this year. Yes, that’s right, ol’ TNT was born in the Big Smoke back in 1983 amidst shoulder pads, Thatcher and New Order’s Blue Monday.
To celebrate this momentous occasion we’re throwing a birthday bash to trump them all. Ash Grunwald is headlining, alongside Matty P, Polly Money and Melic, with a bumper load of travel giveaways on the night, including a five-day trip for two to Oktoberfest. You gotta be in it – er, there – to win it!
£15, July 28, 5pm-11pm Koko, NW1 7JE
Tube | Mornington Crescent
tntmagazine.com/30thbday
Mimetics Festival
This festival of emerging mime, puppetry and cabaret acts showcases more than 20 shows from 13 countries. Ones to watch out for include Damsel Sophie’s The Damsel In Shining Armour and the truly mad-sounding Pinocchio, which re-tells the classic nose-swelling fable in a Fifties sci-fi-horror B-movie setting. We’re intrigued.
£8, July 12-27, times vary
Millfield Arts Centre, N18 1PJ
Station | Angel Road
fingerinthepie.com
Great Contiki Challenge
This ace tour-race-competition takes your around some of London’s most stunning – and secret – sights. You’ll collect points as you go, and be in with a shout of winning some cracking prizes, too. All you need is a team of two to eight people, a camera and a good sense of humour. Game on!
Free, July 13, 11.30am
Russell Square Gardens, WC1B 4JA
Tube | Russell Square
contiki.com/contikichallenge13
Photos: James Allan
