10 Things To Do in Nottingham This Week

 

Museum, Musex, Mutext, Mutant
Miguel A Lopez is a writer, researcher and Chief Curator of TEOR/éTica and Lado V in San Jose, Costa Rica and he’s hosting a talk at Nottingham Contemporary this month. His work looks at the changes to engagement with politics in Latin America in recent years, specifically queer re-articulations of history and institutional critique. All this, with a big nod to Peruvian philosopher and drag queen Giuseppe Campuzano who created the Transvestite Museum of Peru – a project that collects press clippings, objects, images and artworks in order to propose true narratives and representations of the transvestite community. With references to the research and performances of Campuzano, Lopez’ talk won’t be one to forget any time soon.
Tuesday 14 June, 6.30pm,  free, Nottingham Contemporary

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King screening
Filmmaker Jeanie Finlay is, in our books, queen of the documentary world. With a human touch like no other, the way she gets people to open up to her gives us, the viewer, an opportunity to get right to the heart of the stories she's telling. Her latest film, Orion, tells the bizarre and fascinating tale of Jimmy Ellis, a singer whose voice was so uncannily like Elvis Presley that his record label decided to fuel the 'Elvis is alive' rumours by having him pretend to be the King returned from the grave. Masked and covered in rhinestones, his story beggars belief and is a must see for music and documentary fans. Jeanie will also be there on the night to do introduce the film as well as do a post-screening Q&A. And all for nowt - which means you can more than afford to shell out for the DVD and get her to put her John Hancock on it. 
Wednesday 15 June, 7pm, free, Rough Trade

Millions of Voices
The planet Alderaan is a peaceful place to be. In fact, it’s so peaceful that planets all over the galaxy understand it to be a place of ‘unspoiled beauty and refined culture’. All well and good for its inhabitants, one of which is Princess Leia. Little do they know, that Grand Moff Tarkin is planning to test his Death Star on Alderaan. Dun dun duun! MissImp are the East Midlands improv group that are bringing you their entirely improvised show, packed with songs and choreography made up on the spot as you, the audience, decide what happens next. Sounds like chaos may ensue, but hey, what’s life if you don’t live it on the edge?
Friday 17 June, 8pm £7/£8, Nottingham Playhouse

The Boogie
Women of Notts – if your Friday nights’ are plagued by drunken louts breathing lager-flavoured innuendoes your way, or you spend most of your dance floor time trying to avoid being gyrated on by ‘orrid blokes, then there’s summat to save the day. The women behind The Boogie are hosting a women-only, bringing the Ibiza vibes to ‘Tempreh with DJ Blonde Ambition spinning some mighty tunes, fresh from her gigs in London, Croatia and beyond. There’ll be some wicked superfood virgin cocktails giving you that healthy sugar kick to keep yer dancing till closing time. Ladies, leave your man at home, round up your best gal pals and get on down.
Friday 17 June, 8pm, £9.50-£13, Nottingham Contemporary

Manushi 20
The Nottingham-based dance company are celebrating twenty years of bopping about, and to commemorate the momentous occasion, New Art Exchange are throwing them a right old knees up. Co-founder of the group, Vina Ladwa will present the best Manushi has to offer – both past and present – alongside some proper tunes from Midlands-based band, Muha. Their anniversary shindig just so happens to take place on the same night as an exhibition displaying several images from the company’s archives is launched – a proper coincidence if ever we did see one. With so much to celebrate, how could you possibly turn the invitation down?
Friday 17 June, 7pm, free, New Art Exchange

Refugee Week Launch Night
A week to welcome and celebrate the contributions of refugee and asylum seekers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is set to kick of with a bang this weekend. The Space at ‘Tempreh is to be taken over for an afternoon of live music from all over the world, including British Iranian fusion group, Arian Band, and local legend, Wariko. Invited speakers from all corners of the world will take the stage to impart their wisdom upon us, and information stalls will be held by Morton Hall Detainees Visitor Support Group, Himmah, Refugee Forum and many others. There’ll be bags of food from all over the globe ready for the tasting, and for those practising Ramadan, takeaway boxes will be available. Show your face and your support.
Saturday 18 June, 1pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Stars in their Eyes
Now this one sounds like a whole lorra Saturday afternoon fun. The first of it’s kind, Stars in their Eyes sees local bands we know and love taking on the mammoth task of performing and imitating some of the biggest names in the business. The perfect afternoon drinking session, catch The Smiths from 3.30pm, followed by the likes of David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Beyonce, Electric Wizard and Blondie. Stanley Mackerel will host the event, and the first fifty people to enter the building get a free shot. Free shot at 3 o’clock on a Saturday?! Erm, yes please. Get right rowdy and by half eleven you’ll be tucked up in bed. Winner.
Saturday 18 June, 3.15pm, £3, The Maze

Crosa Rosa, Mannequin and The Damn Heavy 
Now we're going to assume that if they can sort out this rowdy bunch of alternative rock bands, that them lot at Black Iris are also perfectly capable of sorting out a piss-up in a brewery. Which is fortunate because during the day they've organised a beer festival, and in the evening all hell is going to break loose on stage with a mixture of garage, psychadelic, punk, surf and blues rock being fed directly into your tabs. Sorted out alongside I'm Not From London, this is the third gig of its kind down the Basford brewery, and they've all been corkers. You can get tickets for the day and the night do, or both if you know what you're on with. 
Saturday 18 June, 12-5pm (beer festival), 6-12am (gig), £2/£5, Black Iris Brewery

FSN Final
Your finalists have been chosen. They’re currently sweating it out in basements, recording studios and their dad’s garage, perfecting and fine tuning their act before taking to the massive Rock City stage this weekend. Get down – for free – to catch the likes of Babe Punch, Ski and winners of the public vote, Homesick, as they battle it out to win over the crowd and a panel of expert judges, including our’s truly, Ali Emm, editor of the best mag in town. You can read up all about this year’s finalists in this here article, so you’ll know all you need to know before catching them sweat it out on stage. You never know, you could be watching the next big thing...
Sunday 19 June, 6.30pm, free, Rock City 

Kimberley Jam 
Back for the third year in a row, the biggest music festival Kimberley has ever seen will be taking over local venues for a day of full on fun, all in aid of local charity, the Ryan Lee Trust. The Nelson and Railway, The Gate, Lord Clyde, The Stag, The White Lion (Swingate), The Royal Oak (Watnall), Kimberley Cricket Club and the Ian Campbell Stage on Toll Bar Square will all be hosting music and events throughout the day, including children’s entertainment and food stalls, as well as bags of live music. There’ll be collection buckets dotted all over the shop to raise money for the charity dedicated to helping children and teenagers affected by brain tumours and other cancers, as well as their families.
Saturday 18 June, free, basically all the Kimberley pubs

For the full motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.

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