Its a new month and London is a buzzing with cultural activity – here once again are the Cognitive Space recommendations of the best things to do in London over the next 2 weeks or so

Tate Lates – Art meets Fashion – Codes @ The Tate Britain (Friday 4th April)

Relax with a drink on a Friday night and enjoy vibrant performance, music and film, and learn more about art with exclusive talks. Also a great opportunity to visit Tate exhibitions after hours. Tate Lates are back once again. This month is Art meets Fashion – Codes: which will look into how art and fashion are linked and will examine the influence and connections across politics, style, extremes and transformation in art. The programme includes a discussion Semiotics of street capturing the change and parallels between past and present codes, style and culture with the mighty Normski; a live broadcast from Reprezent Radio 107.3 FM; video screenings of Skepta’s Underdog Psychosis; a live visual collage of projections from Pinky Tesfay, music, drinks and a whole lot more

Friday 4th April
Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
6.30pm to 10pm
Free
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/performance-and-music/late-tate-britain-april-2014

DJ Marky @ Village Underground (Friday 4th April)

Soundcrash Music present a night of drum n bass with the mighty Brazilian drum ‘n’ bass legend DJ Marky for his first ever Village Underground appearance – a cultural hub of music, exhibitions, theatre and art in Shoreditch, its guaranteed to be a great night of music. Marky will be joined by Stamina MC and the other artists include dBridge alongside SP:MC and Manchester’s Dub Phuzix with MC Strategy.

Expect the 360 of drum n bass across the evening, its going to be massive

Friday 4th April
Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, London, EC2A 3PQ
11pm to 4am
£15.50
http://www.villageunderground.co.uk

What The Fuck You Lookin’ At? @ Blackall Studios (5th April)

This is the first solo exhibition of artist Selina Rahman and in true fashion the exhibition space will also be used for a party in the evening known as the Dirty Little Party with a secret lineup of acts that shouldn’t be missed. Shoreditch better watch out this Saturday its going down

Saturday 5th April
Blackwall Studios, 73 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4QS
1pm to 1am (the Dirty Little Party starts at 7pm)
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/259887624182564

Studio Ghibli Season @ The BFI (April 3rd to May 31st)

Near reaching its 30th anniversary Studio Ghibli has become on the animation powerhouses of the world which began with the absolutely amazing (and one of my childhood favorites) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. The BFI have brought a season of the studios best movies across April which include My neighbour Totoro, Nausicaä, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, the UK premiere of The Wind Rises

Whether you’re new to Studio Ghibli or a veteran and want a chance to see all these greats on the big screen – this season is for you

British Film Institute, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT
£8.50 – £12.10
https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=studioghibli#

Pangaea: New Art from Africa and Latin America @ The Saatchi Gallery (2nd April to 31st August)

Pangaea refers to the pre-human landmass that was once Africa and Latin America combined over 200 million years ago

This mix of paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography is the first exhibition dedicated to Latin American and African contemporary artists. These 16 relatively unknown artist deal with issues of colonial rule, rapid urban expansion, migration and political and economic unrest in interesting ways like the giant sculpture of ants which represents the internal displacement suffered in Columbia during the armed conflict

Its great that the Saatchi Gallery are looking to the new breed of artists for Latin America and Africa that are overlooked in the UK

Saatchi Gallery, Duke Of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
Free
10am to 6pm
http://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/pangaea/

Kerb @ The Southbank Centre (4th – 7th April)

For all you (street) foodies Kerb is taking over the southbank centre for 5 weekends over the summer – for the first of their sessions they are bringing a massive 26 traders as well as 2 bars and a DJ. Traders include Bao, Crabby Shack, Kimchinary, Laurdos & Spit & Roast to name a few.

Friday 4th to Sunday 7th April
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Friday: 12pm-9.30pm (late night special), Saturday: 11am-8pm, Sunday: 12pm-6pm
Free
http://www.kerbfood.com/

Dead Man @ The White Cube Gallery (6th April)

Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive is currently in the cinemas and The White Cube gallery are having a showing of sixth film; a surreal and alternative psychedelic Western Dead Man (1995), staring Johnny Depp as a newly orphaned accountant who leaves his job in Cleveland, Ohio to take up a new post who is told the job has already been filled and after a night with a prostitute and a violent altercation with the woman’s lover, flees into the wilderness. Blake has a bullet lodged in his chest – and is, literally, a walking dead man – until he meets a Native American named Nobody (Gary Farmer). Nobody is convinced he has met an incarnation of the poet and ‘real’ William Blake and decides to be Blake’s guide through his passage into the spirit world.

Described by the director as a “Psychedelic Western”, the movie is entirely shot in black and white and has a specially composed sound track by Neil Young, with improvised passages added after Young watched the final footage. Featuring Robert Mitchum in his last film role, Dead Man is a truly postmodern film – worth watching for the haunting soundtrack alone.

Sunday 6th April
The White Cube Gallery, 144-152 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
2pm
Free
http://whitecube.com

Kingston 14 @ The Theatre Royal Stratford East (28th March – 26th April)

Drum ‘n bass don Goldie is multitalented – artist, DJ, producer and actor. He stars in this gripping new play from the BAFTA award-winning and Olivier-nominated playwright Roy Williams (Offside BBC, Sukerpunch).

Set in modern day Jamaica, KINGSTON 14 follows the story of James, a British police officer, who is sent to Kingston to investigate the murder of a UK tourist. James struggles to lead a proper investigation when gang leader Joker, played by Goldie, is brought into custody. The play comes to a climax when two police officers are kidnapped, uncovering corruption in a hidden corner of the sun bleached island.

Directed by Clint Dyer (Olivier-nominated The Big Life, The Westbridge) and designed by the Olivier award winning designer ULTZ (Mojo, Jerusalem, Pied Piper, The Harder They Come) KINGSTON 14 will have you on the edge of your seat.

28th March – 26th April
The Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN
£7 – £23
http://www.stratfordeast.com/kingston-14

Left Hand Billy presents The Sorcerer @ The Hideaway (Tuesday 8th April)

The Sorcerer is one of the most underrated films of the 70s and suffered from being released at the same time as Star Wars which led to its doom. Created by The Exorcist and French Connection director William Friedkin it tells the story of four outcasts (including the late Roy Schnieder) from around the world that are on the run for various reason and end up hiding out in a south american village where they become truck drivers for a cargo of unstable nitroglycerine – what ensues is a gripping existential triller. Despite being a complete flop at its release it is now considered a modern great

Left Hand Billy will be showing this cinematic great and the film will be introduced with some of the stories behind it’s grueling production and followed by an audience discussion.

Tuesday 8th April
The Hideaway, 114 Junction Rd, London, N19 5LB
8pm to 11pm
Free
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/left-hand-billy-presents-sorcerer-1977-william-friedkin-tickets-10972608367

The Raid 2 @ Various Locations (11th April onwards)

If you’re into action movies and have never heard of The Raid then you just got caught slipping!!!! This Indonesian actioner which was directed by Welshman Gareth Evan took the world by storm in 2012 and was the greatest action movie of the decade – until now!!!!

Its bigger, badder and more explosive second part has finally been unleashed with a whole host of new characters like the aptly names Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Boy. Its going to be immense

The Raid 2
Various Locations

Fairground @ Kingsland Road (12th April onwards)
Fairground is a cultural emporium of food, music and opinions. A 10 week popup running over 3 floors in a disused  office block in Haggerston. It will showcase individuals and collectives from across creative communities and beyond. Created by the people who brought you Streetfeast each floor will present a different offering from live music to talks and food.

The opening weerkend will feature Love Bullets whole will be recreating their Glastonbury Shangri-La parties on the live music floor. Thanks from English Lovers Disco and Busaba Eathai will take over the dinner with a whole host of Thai themed activities

Also expect some Street Feast favourites across all the floors. Culture, food and entertainment all under one roof

Sign up to the website for me details – this is definitely going to be one to look out for

Saturday 12th April to Sunday 13th April (and weekly there on)
Fairground, 260-264 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
10am to 3am Saturday, 10am to midnight Sunday
Free
http://www.fairgroundlondon.com

John Carpenter Allnighter @ The Prince Charles Cinema (12th April)

If you’re a horror fan and have never seen a John Carpenter film then there is something wrong with you. The amazing Prince Charles Cinema is presenting this all nighter of John Carpenter greatness including Halloween, Big Trouble in Little China, The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing and They Live. Its going to huge!!!!

Saturday 12th April
The Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BY
8.45pm all night!!!
£25
http://www.princecharlescinema.com

The Creative Bubble @ The Roxy Bar & Screen (15th April – 17th April)

Three nights, once a month, The Creative Bubble, L’Enfant terrible of the art world, is taking over the Roxy Bar and Screen, London Bridge’s on-trend bar, painting a new picture of contemporary art via a host of different mediums.

A 30 day rolling gallery with original art and limited edition prints, curated by Incandescent Artists, is a showcase of a who’s who in the UK art scene. The exhibition is complemented by 3 nights of award winning short films, slam poetry and music.

Each month, The Creative Bubble will host a rotating pop-up gallery showcasing exciting new artists alongside established talent from around the world for 30 days. Launching on Tuesday 15th April with art on the walls by international talent consisting of: Inkie – Parlee ERZ – Dan ‘DANK’ Kitchener – Gnasher -Eska -Rowan Newton – Otto Schade -spZero76 – KeMeF Inc – Suzko -Zina – Cherie Strong – Artista – Jack Candy Kemp – SLM – Hush – Amara Por Dios – Martyna Pikula – Lee Hadwin – Rosie Emerson – ROO – Skyhigh and Sam Gare.

Tuesday – The exhibition opening night, is complemented by a short film night hosted by SixSixty who are screening 6 short films with heavy weights such as the 2014 BAFTA Short Film Winner James W. Griffiths, also included in the line up are shorts by Helena Brooks, Lev Pakman, Cassey Warren, Laurence Relton and Cyrus Trafford whose work has been included in the official selections for: Palme d’Or, Cannes; Berlin, Melbourne & Stockholm, San Diego Film Festival 2013; Cannes Short Film Corner 2013; Audience Fav Palm Springs Int. Shortfest 2013.

Wednesday – Sees the Street Art Agency present Femme Fierce: Street Art Movie Night featuring both British and international street art documentaries ranging from Women on Walls that explores how gender affects the graffiti scene to Femme Fierce which follows some of the women who took part in UK’s largest all female street art extravaganza. The screenings will be interspersed with a Q&A with some of the directors and artists featured in the movies.

Author and legendary graffiti writer Glynn ‘NOIR’ Judd will be signing his critically acclaimed book “Addicted to Steel” on the night.

Thursday – Invites the finest of London’s slam poets to hit the stage and deliver intellectually stimulating rhymes and witty repartee’s.

Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th April
The Roxy Bar and Screen, 128-132 Borough High St, London SE1 1LB
Free
https://www.facebook.com/TheCreativeBubble2014

The Doctor’s Orders – #TDO300 @ The Scala (18th April)

To celebrate their 300th event The Doctor’s Orders are bringing you a massive lineup that should not be missed by any hip hop fan. A Jazzy Jeff set is that rare balance of technical flair, ingenuity and straight party rocking which stands him apart from the crowd. Having started spinning at the tender age of 10 he now has a DMC Championship and several Grammy nominations to his name but his genuine love of music keeps his feet firmly on the ground. Joining him in room 1 are DJ Babu (Beat Junkies), Rakaa Iriscience (Dilated Peoples), The Doctor’s Orders residents Mr Thing & Spin Doctor the driving force behind The Doctor’s Orders for close to 9 years.

In Room 2 as DJ Andy Smith and guests drop late 70’s disco & 80’s boogie, he is joined by good friend Nick Halkes.

Friday 18th April
The Scala, 275 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9NL
10pm to 4am
£17.50
http://thedoctorsorders.com/v2/friday-18th-april/

Recordstore Day @ Various Locations (19th April)

Recordstore Day came into being in 2007 when over 700 independent stores in the USA came together to celebrate their unique culture. The UK followed suit and 2014 will see the seventh celebration of the UK’s unique independent sector. This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include performances, meet & greets with artists, DJ’s, in store quizzes and many other events

As usual the main hub of activity in London will be Berwick Street and it surrounding areas where the street become pedestrianised and each record store has its own sound system. The website has details of the various record shops involved in the event

Its going to be an amazing day

Saturday 19th April
Recordstore Day, various locations
Free
http://www.recordstoreday.co.uk

By Tendai – Cognitive Space