Musical Bingo with Jess Indeedy

Bingo has traditionally been the pastime of folk of a certain age, namely death-dodging oldies. Stereotypes may not always be the most accurate portrayal, but their very existence is based on, perceived, frequent occurrence. That’s all set to change here, though, with the big pen and number scorecard replaced by a far more engaging – and probably challenging – musical edition. Rather than looking out for the two fat ladies, players listen to tunes and mark them on their card by genres (hip-hop, electro, indie etc). 

Thurs, May 17 | 8pm-12am | £7
9 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX 
Tube | King’s Cross 
musical-bingo.com

Culture shock: Robocop

There’s a remake in the works, due for release next year – it will surely be billed as a reimagining, and a ‘dark’ one at that. Before this taints your memories, though, catch the original, gruesomely violent, deeply satirical vision of a corporate future, starring Detroit’s most iconic law enforcer.

Tues, May 15 | 9pm | £12
Ritzy Cinema, SW2 1JG
Tube | Brixton
picturehouses.co.uk

Hoxton Ukulele Hootenany

DJs were the new guitar gods, but nob-twiddlers and six-string legends have both been surplanted by the instrument du jour – the little ukulele. This weekly night celebrates the easy to learn-difficult to master instrument, with a tutorial at 7pm followed by a 9pm performance and play-along. Rock on!

Tues, May 15. 7.30pm-10pm |Free
Queen of Hoxton, EC2A 3JX
Tube | Old Street
queenofhoxton.co.uk

Femmes by the Thames

London’s premier female cabaret and comedy night, this regular event hosts a special one-off at previous venue Battersea Barge, with a line-up that includes stand-up Shazia Mirza, musical sketch comedian Cariad Lloyd, musical comedy poet Liz Bentley and singer songwriter Mary Leay.

Thurs, May 17 | 7pm | £5
Battersea Barge, Nine Elms Lane, SW8 5BP 
Tube | Vauxhall
femmesbythethames.com

Empire of Dirt

Boasting the most challenging BMX course assembled in the world, this two-day event will attract 10,000 spectators to watch 36 riders compete to prove themselves the best, most fearless all-round BMX star. Straddling all disciplines within the sport, this competition, the brainchild of BMX legend Kye Forte, promises some dazzling stunts and, surely, some bone-breaking crashes, too. After all, the possibility of it all going tits-up is half the fun.

May 19-20 | 12pm-5pm | £5
Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY
Wood Green 
redbull.co.uk/empireofdirt

Independent Label Market

Some of the world’s finest independent record labels – Moshi Moshi, Domino, Warp – come together for this vinyl-treasuring event. Running in east London for the third year in a row, it shows that buying music can be as social an experience as listening, dancing or moshing along to it. Get along.

Sat, May 19 | 11am-5pm | Free
Old Spitalfields Market, E1 6DT
Tube | Liverpool Street
oldspitalfieldsmarket.com

Words in the Park

This three-day literary festival has top names – Sandi Toksvig, Sophie Dahl, Jeremy Paxman, author PD James, Andrew Marr, Tony Benn – to wax lyrical on topics such as defending democracy, food, looking at clouds and, best of all, Alain de Botton on religion for atheists. 

May 18-20 | 11am-7.45pm | £12
Opera Holland Park, Central Library, Phillmore Walk, W8 7RX
Tube | High Street Kensington
operahollandpark.com