London, squeeze this weekend for all it’s got

Weekend Combo: Prince Madoc, Fat White Family and two painters in a tub
By Tempe Nakiska | Art | 16 May 2014
Above:

Still from American Interior, Gruff Rhys, 2014

This article is part of Weekend Combo – What to do this weekend

We bring you our guide to living well in the world’s capitals, from exhibitions to cinema, food, drink, fashion, music and beyond. Just call it culture and take it, it’s yours.

LONDON, FRIDAY 16th MAY – SUNDAY 18th MAY 2014

If Columbus had a smartphone
Christopher Columbus may be credited with discovering America, but in Wales another theory runs: that in fact “the ocean blue” was sailed 300 years earlier than Columbus’ 1492 venture, and that America was in fact found by a Welshman, Prince Madoc. Cue the latest project from musician, artist and author Gruff Rhys – a reptile-wrestling, bison-hunting tale of Welsh-speaking native Americans that retraces the steps of an 18th century ancestor of the Super Furry Animals frontman, busting open myths and legend.

American Interior encompasses not only a film but an album, book and interactive smart app (a clever ode to this brave new world of technology and cross-medium communication, with visuals by longtime collaborator Pete Fowler). The film itself sees Rhys wander in the footsteps of his distant relative John Evans, who left the shores of Wales for America in 1792 in search of the fabled lost tribe – which, Rhys argues, Evans found to be a myth.

American Interior, 92 mins
In selected cinemas 17th May

We dig repetition
The Met Office tells us, the hopelessly Vitamin D deficient, that we should be on high alert for sunny weather upwards of 20 degrees all weekend. If there’s anything suited to half-decent climate it’s beer and live music, indoors or not.

The Shacklewell Arms does this to a definitive ‘T’ with the second edition of their Repeater Festival. Kicking off tonight and grinding down all weekend, the line up features Temple Songs, Faris Badwan (The Horrors), Grass House, Casual Sex, My Sad Captains, Klaus Johann Grobe, Slowcoaches, Holy Milk, Wild Smiles and a whole bunch more. This shindig also aligns with The Shacklewell Arts Festival and Ale Festival – perfect for those culture vultures with a penchant for drinking (the two aren’t mutually exclusive).

If you only get to Dalston for one day make sure you check out  Temple Songs’ set on Sunday – get in the mood by checking our recent interview with frontman Jolan Lewis.

Repeater Festival at The Shacklewell Arms
Friday 16th May–Sunday 18th May, doors 20:00 Friday, 12:00 Saturday and 20:00 Sunday
Tickets from £5

A German Warhol and Hamilton in a bath
The names Polke and Richter have become such staples of recent art folklore that it’s hard to believe that Christie’s new two-man show is their first since 1966. Sigmar Polke (1941-2010) and Gerhard Richter (born 1932) are widely touted as the founders of capitalist realism, hatching a post-war movement that was speedy to become the European counter to America’s darling pop art.

The Royal Academy’s legendary A New Spirit In Painting brought the duo into London’s collective consciousness in 1981, so it’s testament to how strongly we embraced their work that Christie’s should host this new show. Expect the pair’s witty and wily personalities to take over, guiding you across a trip that balances their art with their mind-blowingly sardonic takes on pop.

‘Taking a bath together’ – Sigmar Polke (back) and Gerhard Richter (front), 1966. Image courtesy Gerhard Richter Archive © Gerhard Richter, 2014. Christie’s Images LTD 2014

‘Taking a bath together’ – Sigmar Polke (back) and Gerhard Richter (front), 1966. Image courtesy Gerhard Richter Archive © Gerhard Richter, 2014. Christie’s Images LTD 2014

polke/richter richter/polke 
Christie’s Mayfair, 103 New Bond St, London W1S 1ST
Until 7th July

Shut up and listen
From Peckham squat to the stage, let’s reiterate the obvious, the music Fat White Family are making right now is pure, sleazy magic. What a band. The group crowdfunded their way to SXSW earlier this year, and now are back home preparing for a string of summer gigs and festival slots that will blow your socks off. Get to Red Gallery Saturday and hear their Champagne Holocaust in a small room before Field Day shares ’em with everyone else.

Fat White Family at Red Gallery
Saturday 17th May, doors 19:00
3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT
Tickets £10, buy online here

There’ll be no fries with that
This week we’re dishing you up two gastronomical options, so head to one or splash out and visit both if you’re loitering cash alley – payday is precious and so is good grub.

First dish off the rank is Lyle’s, the new food baby of James Lowe (Young Turks, St John), John Ogier (St John) and Jyo, Karam and Sunaina Sethi (Gymkhana, Bubbledogs, Trishna). If that roll-call’s anything to go by, they’re onto a winner. (They are). The food is distinctly British: Jersey Royals, Seaweed & Duck Egg, Monk’s Beard & Anchovy, Aged Dover Sole, and Brown Butter Cake, Marmalade & Soured Cream. Plus vino at upwards of £3.50 a glass. You’re welcome.

Lyle’s London

Lyle’s
Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
Open 08:00–23:00 Friday and from 18:00–23:00 Saturday, closed Sundays

Round two, Sunday at L’Entrepôt. With wine by the bottle or barrel, this is your opportunity to plot an ideal afternoon with the right glass. Come Saturday and Sunday the focus here is on brunch, and with good reason: the eggs benedict may be staple but it’s so mindblowing you’ll be forgiven for staying close to quarters. Or step outside of line with the oeufs en muerette (in red wine) or the mallard breast with beetroot and potato gratin. Whether you take a barrel home or not you might gently roll out of here like one (in the best way), so it really doesn’t hurt to arrive ready to eat your own arm. It’s a marathon not a sprint as the weekend plays out.

L’Entrepôt
230 Dalston Lane, London E8 1LA
Open late Friday–Sunday with lunch from 11:00–16:00 Saturday and Sunday




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