Nearly February already - where does the time go, eh? Listened back to White Cliff Sands' 2nd record the other day and it was an enjoyable return. I also managed to do some more work on the 3rd album and I am fairly confident it will materialise this year. I came up with the idea for a new musical project: possibly psuedo instant trash electronica/sinister kiddy pop, possibly conceptual and no music. The name Globszo came to me from a car registratrion (GL08SZO), and possible track titles include 'Buttons were his undoing', 'Hairline Recession' and 'Coffin Trails' - thanks to New Low for this last one. It might not come to anything anytime soon, but you'll know soonest if you check back here!
The Arnolfini in Bristol is showing the first major retrospective of Angus Fairhurst from this weekend, after this important YBA-era artist sadly took his own life last year. Let's hope the show tours. http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/details/189
Mark Wallinger's 'The Russian Linesman' is on from 17 Feb until 4 May at the Hayward Project Space: he has curated a selection of works dealing with physical, political or metaphysical thresholds, featuring Thomas Demand, Durer, Nauman and Penone amongst others. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/visual-arts/productions/mark-wallinger-s-the-russian-l-44420/?utm_campaign=email_visual&utm_source=email_visual090102&utm_content=email_visual090102_wallngr
Danish collective Superflex have a film called 'Flooded McDonald's' at the South London Gallery until 1 March. Yep, you've guessed it, a replica fast food chain restaurant is gradually submerged; it's supposed to be climate-change/consumerism metaphor.... http://www.southlondongallery.org/docs/exh/exhibition.jsp?id=157
Just a reminder that the Barbican's Corbusier show opens 19 Feb http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=8114
There are some great films out at the moment, like Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire; so what better reason to ignore the financial gloom and meanwhile support your local independent cinema.
The Roxy Bar and Screen has some good films on in the coming weeks: Gomorrah (highly acclaimed modern day Italian mob drama, 2 Feb), Hunger (Bobby Sands' Maze prison hunger strike, directed by artist Steve McQueen, 3 Feb), Chaplin's classic silent movie The Kid with live score by classical guitarist and composer Sebastiano Genovese (9 Feb).
Dr Terror's House of Horrors (1965) is on at the Barbican 20 Feb, featurng Donald Sutherland. http://www.barbican.org.uk/film/event-detail.asp?ID=8442
Some of the performers have been announced for this year's Ether festival on the Southbank. Names include: Brian Eno, Peaches, Royksopp, David Byrne, Mouse on Mars, CM von Hausswolff and Christian Fennesz. Full details at www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ether
Also on the Southbank, Bonny 'Prince' Billy will play 20 April; and on the same night J Spaceman (Spritualized) and Matthew Shipp reprise their Meltdown duo as Spaceshipp. 14 Feb and Bellowhead put on a 'dirty weekend'show with special guests.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/music/productions/a-dirty-weekend-with-bellowhea-44044/?utm_campaign=email_cont&utm_source=email_cont090128&utm_content=email_cont090128_bellowhd
12 Feb our friends at the free literary pick-up Litro are putting on an evening of spoken word called Litro Live! at Foyles café. Tickets £6/5 www.foyles.co.uk
