I remember a CD floating around our student house by a mysterious figure by the name of Rodriguez. Like a funky, loungey, latin version of Dylan with some sinister-sounding subject matter, there was no sleeve, no information, no track titles; all we knew at the time (and I'm pretty sure Wikipedia wasn't about then) was there was some connection with South Africa.
He was more or less forgotten by me until I chanced upon a review of a record called Cold Fact by an ex-teacher of Mexican parents, Sixto Rodgriguez from Detroit. The track titles corresponded with my recollection of the lyrics: Sugar Man (as sampled by David Holmes), Forget It, I Wonder. There is a Motown influence, not just in that he's from Motor City, but also through those handling the backing music and production. This was his debut album from 1970 and then he disappeared from the scene going back to the class room and other jobs. But his South African following grew underground through the 80s until his was tracked down for a sell-out tour in 1998. This reissue goes back to the original master tapes and there are limited editions with signed posters, full colour booklet etc. http://www.lightintheattic.net/releases/rodriguez/

Some might consider punk rock a disability enough, but check out and be won over by Heavy Load who are playing the ICA on 1 Oct. The documentary film about the last two years of their development is out on 3 Oct. www.heavyloadthemovie.com

Deptford X festival is on now and celebrating 10years. As part of that season there is a programme of films caled Deptford 45s
http://www.deptford45s.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=26
Italian Arte Povera artist Giuseppe Penone is on display at the Frith Street Gallery until 30 Oct

http://www.frithstreetgallery.com/gallery.html
Houldsworth Fine Art have a show called Royal Art Lodge: Learned Helplessness, full of 2" square quirky illustrations by these three artists. On until 25 October.

http://www.houldsworth.co.uk/current/index.html
Gerhard Richter's exhibition 4900 Colours: Version II opened at the Serpentine Gallery yesterday and runs until 16 Nov.
www.serpentinegallery.org

Camden Arts Centre are screening The Cool School, about the West Coast US 1950s scene which featured architect Frank Gehry and artist Ed Ruscha. http://www.camdenartscentre.org/talksandevents/?id=100534 
Other CAC screenings coming up: Easy Rider 22 Oct, Le Sang d'un Poet (Cocteau) 5 Nov

Artists now confirmed for the Southbank's Tribute to Nico include James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers), Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees), and Peter Murphy from Bauhaus.

Forthcoming Roxy Bar and Screen showings include Iron Man (29 & 30 Sept), and Scarface double bill (5 Oct) www.roxybarandscreen.com