There's so much going off in the next seven days...
The Art of Survival
The days of Googling how to grow in confidence are, thankfully, over. Backlit Gallery have pulled out all the stops, we’re happy to announce, with guest speakers in abundance, to talk you through some of the trickier parts of life, with six events running over the course of the week. For the mindfulness seekers among you, Daniel Baker, artist and educational professional, will be at your service. Want to improve your public speaking? Martin Berry will be in attendance to help you do just that. There’s many a thing to get involved in – we just recommend booking the tickets you want sharpish. Most of the events start at 1pm, but there are a few anomalies so make sure you check out the website below.
Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 February, various times, £2 - £4, Backlit Gallery, event link
A Memorable Evening with the Footballing Stars of the East Midlands
In a bid to collect donations for their awesome cause, Autism East Midlands have rounded up legends from football clubs across the East Midlands for your amusement this week. Les Bradd, leading goalscorer for Notts County, John McGoven, the man who captained Forest to European glory and Roger Davies, Derby striker extraordinaire, will all be in attendance. It’ll set you back twenty quid, but for bragging rights over who’s met some of the best players to grace our pitches, and knowing it’s going to a good cause? If you ask us, that’s a right good deal. Just make sure you get your tickets bought quickly; there are only 100 available.
Thursday 23 February, 7pm, £20, Notts County Football Club Sports Bar, event link
Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation
If you’re stuck for summat to do on Friday night, Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation can be found at Nottingham Contemporary for under a tenner. Considering they’ve already been nominated for a Swedish Grammy, we think that’s a bleddy good deal. Get yourself some top notch alternative tunes after a more-than-fitting introduction to the evening from Cowtown. Their post-punk-era tunes could get any night going, and will be the perfect start to the festivities. Save the Netflix and takeaway for another day, and get down there sharpish.
Friday 24 February, 9pm, £7.50, Nottingham Contemporary, event link
The Virtual Self
New Art Exchange are asking for many an existential crisis with this event, but the idea is well fascinating, if you’re into that kind of thing. Hansi Momodu-Gordon and exhibiting collaborative artists Larry Achiampong and David Blandy will discuss how, as we move into an increasingly digital age, social constructs such as race will be affected. Ever thought about what’ll happen to us when our physical bodies aren’t useful? What about considering how class can be challenged in the digital realm? If so, this is the place you need to be. It won’t even cost you anything – pretty good, if you ask us.
Friday 24 February, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, free, New Art Exchange, event link
Gilles Peterson
The life of every good party is, obviously, the person behind the decks. Lucky for us then that almost two years after his last visit, Gilles Peterson graces the stage at The Irish Centre with some seriously sexy mixes. With tickets expected to sell out, and his truly massive discography, it’s bound to be a banger. In fact, it’ll be legendary – this DJ, who’s put out a ludicrous 26 albums, knows his stuff. We’re sure there won’t be a single tune you’ll be able to hold back on.
Friday 24 February, 10pm, £20, The Irish Centre, event link
Mellonie Page & Band
The legendary tunage of the seventies and eighties will hit The Duke of Saint Albans this week as Mellonie Page & Band take the stage. Be ready to dance, ladies and gents, and only stop when the music does. It’ll be that kinda night. They’ve got a variety of sounds under their musical belts, it has to be said: reggae, rock, ska, and punk will all be a part of the evening but, rest assured, whatever your style, you’ll be up and about all night. If you’re lucky, there might even be some originals in there, the band have so much in their repertoire for this gig we’re excited to see what cracks off – what we do know is it’ll be a right party.
Saturday 25 February, 9pm, free, The Duke of Saint Albans, Top Valley, event link
Monteverdi Vespers
Nottingham’s classical musicians have united at Nottingham Cathedral to offer you a rendition of Monteverdi’s Vespers and a Saturday night unlike your usual pub crawl catastrophe. Alex Patterson will direct St Mary’s Church Choir, the Nottingham Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Youth Choir. All along with the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, The Monteverdi String band and organist John Keys, who’ll give you a rarely performed musical extravaganza from way back. 1610, to be exact. So if Baroque-era classics involving awesome song sections on top of brilliant instrumentals are your thing, it’ll be a night an’ a half.
Saturday 25 February, 7pm - 10pm, £12 - £15, Nottingham Cathedral, event link
Demystifying the DSLR
A camera and all of its many, many features can be a scary thing, we know. Don’t worry though, budding photographers, Ashley Bird – a man who deffo knows how take the perfect picture – is hosting a number of workshops that’ll tell you everything you need to know. He’s taken the odd pic in his time, what with Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys and Rihanna all in his portfolio, so we know he knows what he’s doing. You’ll learn all the basics: landscape, nature and portrait, all the stuff that’ll turn you into a right photography wizard. Just make sure your camera has full manual modes – check out the website below for full details.
Saturday 25 February, 10am - 4.30pm, £75 - £90, Broadway Cinema, event linK
English National Cross Country Championships
Have you ever wanted to run as fast as you can across the countryside for long periods of time? Us neither, but 2000 blokes will be doing just that this coming week. You’d be forgiven for wondering why anyone would want to, but in fact the best of England’s cross country elite will be congregating to compete in the oldest, and largest, cross country event in the world. Head down there yourself, whether it be to support someone in the race, or laugh at them, it should be a nice day out for all. Who knows? Maybe they’ll inspire you to take up the sport.
Saturday 25 February, 11am - 4pm, free, Wollaton Park, event link
Body Casting Workshop
You might have been to art workshops before – painting and drawing and whatnot – but how many have you been to where you can make body parts? If the sound of body casting gets your artistic talents tingling, get yourself over to The Navigation Inn. During the session you’ll get the chance to ask questions galore about the work you’re doing, so you’ll leave thoroughly clued up on everything you need to know. You’ll even be able to take your masterpiece away. Remember when you said you were going to try new things this year? This has gorra be it.
Sunday 26 February, 11am, £35, The Navigation Inn, event link
For the full motherload of goings-on this week, check out our What's On section.
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