While it may not feel like spring has sprung, London has certainly come to life for this weekend, a feast of films, clubbing cavorts, thespian frolics & musical masterpieces, we plumping for our presidential picks or what to do, what to watch & listen to, where to go and where to be & be seen across the capital.
In a week which has seen us lying low and under the weather, a string of bad news pieces not helping the situation, while we are not yet sure how fit we will be to grip the coming weekend with gusto, nevertheless we couldn’t let the moment pass without promoting our picks or what we feel is best to do, to watch, to listen to, as well as where to be & be seen, whether it be marvelling in music, plumping for a motion picture, thrilled by the theatre or cavorting in a club. So without further a-do, here are our seven selections of presidential style picks to whet you weekend appetite.
First to film and if nothing else, this is something we will crawl on all fours to watch if we have to, “Truth” one of those magnificent movies that has been trailing in the cinemas for a while and so one we have been eagerly looking forward to. Indeed, it has a truly presidential flavour as the plot of the picture surrounds the scandalous suspicion that Gorge W Bush skipped Military service, the film starring leads Cate Blanchett & Robert Redford, among others including Dennis Quaid & Stacey Keach. Yet with mixed ratings & reviews this could yet prove a presidential pup but we are sticking to our guns as with “Hail Caesar” also out this weekend, “Truth” could be a superb sleeper of a screenplay success.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOz8-Sto1g[/youtube]
Next up is our clubbing pick, also in the presidential style as brilliant Spanish brand, WE Party lands in London on Saturday (5th March) flaunting its latest theme and bringing along two of its star players, D.J./Producer Carlos Gallardo and stage queen & hostess with the mostest, Wesha Want, along with their trademark huge visuals, graphics & lighting that make this one of the most popular parties on the capitals clubbing circuit, host venue The Coronet drawing in crowds in the thousands. And WE Party “President” is sure to do the same, London resident D.J.’s Steve Pitron & Gonzalo Rivas part of a luxurious line-up over two spaces, this colossal clubbing cavort the place to be on Saturday, further details out via events page https://www.facebook.com/events/952788161477453/.
Now something to watch, especially for those of you that missed the live broadcasting of this year’s Academy Awards which took place in Hollywood on Sunday, or if you were watching in London, in the wee hours of Monday morning, a huge highlight of this sparkling spectacle being Lady Gaga’s moving & powerful performance of song “Till It Happens To You”. Written by this amazing artist who herself has been subject to sexual abuse, Gaga was introduced to the Dolby Theatre stage by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden who has championed the cause of tackling sexual abuse among college females, this the subject of emotive documentary movie “The Hunting Ground” which features this song in its soundtrack. And with the video of this phenomenal live performance having been officially released on Tuesday, we are hoping & praying that a download of this version, which is head & shoulders above the original, will be available soon.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZhsJ1saExI[/youtube]
Onwards to an event that, if we are honest, are clutching at straws to find a presidential connection, while we are also a sucker for a good old rummage, The Hackney Record Fair which takes places this Sunday (6th March) a prime place to do just that and with vinyl making a real comeback, this is likely to be very popular indeed. Indeed, being an offshoot of the monthly Hackney Flea Market and into its second year, this record romp promises a chance to get hold of rare vinyl, possibly including a Marilyn Munroe “Happy Birthday Mr President” 45, while a host of labels and dealers on board, while with craft beer, an on-site bakery and even a free record cleaning service, it makes for a great day out. So, EPIC Dalston on the Stoke Newington Road is the venue, doors open from 11 a.m. and the best news is that entrance is free, http://timeout.com/london/shopping/hackney-record-fair providing anything more you need to know.
With the presidential links watering down before our very eyes, at least our next two picks have an inextricable link, or at least a common denominator in host venue and one of our favourite theatre’s to boot, so it would make sense to cover off what we are showcasing in the medium of Theatre first, Sunday (6th March) the date and the superb St James’s Theatre in Victoria the place, amazing American actor, singer & Olivier Award winner, David Bedella, continuing his monthly residency of the delightful downstairs studio, hosting an evening of laughter, song, gossip and chat; featuring a live band and his many celebrity friends from the worlds of film, television, Broadway and the West End. And this Sunday his guests include Matt Henry from the West End Stage musical, “Kinky Boots” and Mark Shenton, chief theatre critic for The Sunday Express, so sure to prove explosive & enthralling entertaining, more info & tickets available at https://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/studio/david-bedella-friends-primetime/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0x0O8WVB_Y[/youtube]
And staying with the St James’s Theatre but switching from stage to music, tomorrow (Fri 4th March) sees multi award-winning Antonio Forcione, acoustic guitarist, composer and talented artist take over the studio space delivering a delightful blend of jazz, Latin, African and flamenco sounds. Pushing & plucking the guitar to new levels of expression, be prepared to both laugh and be moved as Antonio celebrates the unexpected elements in life with delicacy, humour and not least, passion. With a cupboard full of critical acclaim and on the back of international tours as far & wide as Australia, Hong Kong, Russia and the USA, this is a rare opportunity to catch this master at his art in action, his “Motown & Magic” show sure to be a sell-out meaning you need to move quick on booking your ticket by heading to https://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/studio/antonio-forcione-music-magic/, not least that the studio’s capacity is strictly limited.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuzyh-MCk0E[/youtube]
Finally for this weekend’s worth of presidential picks is something to watch on the box and as much removed from our newsletter theme as the previous two, although like both of them, is a must see as the combination of adorable actor Tom Hiddleston and legendary novelist John Le Carre is a match made in heaven, even for the least favoured fan of television drama that we are, “The Night Manager” screening on BBC One this Sunday evening at 9 pm already into its third episode of six, the cast beyond the delightfully dishy Tom including Hugh Lawrie & Olivia Coleman, while the plot in a nutshell is ex British solider Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston) is recruited by intelligence operative Angela Burr (Coleman) to influence the inner circles of arms dealer Richard Roper (Lawrie) and his close associates. Riveting to resplendence, if you missed out on the first two, fear not as a click on BBC iPlayer links http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03g14d5/the-night-manager-episode-1 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b072vxvy/the-night-manager-episode-2 while bring you bang up to date for this Sunday at 9 pm.
Well that’s just about it from us, we off to tend to our tormenting spiking temperature and exacerbating lack of energy in an attempt to charge our batteries for making a date with at least three of our five nominated outings, while if we don’t, at least we have that Lady Gaga video & Tom on the telly to enjoy, but if we do make it to WE, and to the Hackney Record fair and you do too, come say hi, otherwise watch this space for our review of “Truth”, we wishing you a wonderful weekend whatever you watch, do, or go to. (DISCO MATT)