9 Things To Do in Nottingham This Week

Gardens for the Duchess

Well who’da thunk it? It’s only the bleddy Year of the Garden, and we would have gone on like nothing was new or different if it weren’t for the Harley Gallery. They’re hosting an exhibition of rare stereoscopic autochromes – an early photographic process – of the Edwardian gardens at Welbeck. The magnificently colourful images, dating back to 1911, present the elegance of well-decorated gardens, and the wealth and grace of Welbeck Abbey back when it was a proper bustling social haunt. You’ll have all the academic inside goss straight from the expert’s mouth, with Dr Brian May’s curator, Denis Pellerin on hand to discuss the photographs in more detail on Saturday 24 September.
Runs until 23 October, The Harley Gallery
 

Bank Holiday BBQ

So after several prolonged months, we’ve finally made it to a summer bank holiday. Make the most of it by heading over to a cultured bank holiday BBQ with absolutely no damage to the money box at all. As they’re celebrating the day of Independence for Trinidad and Tobago, it’s an amazing opportunity to have a nibble on some diverse foods, and lend your tabs to a spot of traditional Caribbean music. With any luck, the sun will be shining an’ all, so you can pull the holiday wardrobe back out and lather up on the sun cream. If not, get the kagoule out the cupboard and head over anyhow.
Monday 29 August, 10am, free, New Art Exchange
 

Soul Buggin’ Family All Dayer

If you’ve been dying to get the kids up and at ‘em on the scene, but don’t quite fancy stuffing ‘em in your bag while you go raving, then get yourselves down to Rough Trade this bank holiday for a day's worth of movin’ and groovin’ to some slick soul beats. There’ll be lights and toys for the kiddos to be getting on with, and some cracking visuals for big kids like yourselves to enjoy. Plus with a lineup that includes Beane, Mark A and Elmo, you can show the sprogs your best moves as you jig about to some funky soul goodness. Plus, it won’t cost you a penny to get in, so you can spend your hard-earned pennies on craft beer and home-cooked vegan goodies to refuel your boogie marathon.
Monday 29 August, 2pm, free, Rough Trade
 

Medieval Costume

Is your wardrobe looking drab and dreary? Sick of the flexible fabrics and loose fittings of the modern day clobber? Get yourself down to The Textile Workshop and create some fresh new garmz that’ll have you looking like you’ve stepped straight outta the Medieval period. If you’ve got basic skills on the sewing machine – and by basic we mean able to sew something without losing a hand – then there be folk over at the Martinmas Fair who’ll enable your imagination can go haywire. As long as it remains firmly in the set time period. Spend the day crafting your very own medieval costume.
Wednesday 31 August, 10am, free, The Textile Workshop
 

Lemn Sissay

One of the UK’s most revered poets is returning to Nottingham to launch his new book. When he was in our city for Nottingham Poetry Festival, he absolutely blew the socks off the Antenna audience. This time, he’s hitting up Rough Trade to deliver readings as well as take questions and sign away. After recently appearing at Southwell Poetry Festival, Lemn obviously can’t keep away from us lot and we’re far from complaining. His words do nowt but wow, and his performance style will have your jaw hanging in a stupor. Dreamlike, strong and at time hilarious, this is a poetical endeavour you won’t want to miss. As per, you need to buy the book from Rough Trade in order to gain a wristband to the event, so make sure you get it all sorted beforehand to guarantee entry.
Wednesday 31 August, 6.30pm, free with book purchase, Rough Trade
 

Salsa Social

Boom, shake shake shake the room. What a corker of an evening Revolucion de Cuba have got lined up for you every Thursday from here to kingdom come. Salsa and socialising. Now, those two words may be enough to give steady nerves a complex, but after a couple of happy hour cocktails, lovingly provided between the hours of five and seven, you’ll be raring to go for the salsa, and chatting the back legs off a donkey by the end of the night. A place where you can listen to live Latina bands, dance, and sing your heart out. And get tiddly with a whole lorra rum-based cocktails. Sounds like our kinda night. Best ring up and book a table before you get there, just to guarantee yoursen a place to sit when it all gets too much...
Thursday 1 September, from 5pm, Revolucion de Cuba
 

Macmillan Fest

Bringing you the best in local music while raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. DHP venues will be overrun with Notts rock ‘n’ roll talent, with epic sounds set to melt your faces and give you the good feels. Rock City is home the likes of InMe, SikTh and Black Peaks busting out guitar solos left right and centre. In the gloomy Rock City Basement, expect sweaty sets from Bad Touch and Autumn Ruin. Over at Rescue Rooms, Eyre Llew and Suspect Alibi are set to tear things up, with a set from Unknown Era at 8pm. Of course, yours truly wanted a slice of the action, and the LeftLion stage up in the Red Room is where it’s gonna be at. Three Girl Rhumba are headlining, alongside a phenomenal set from The Barnum Meserve. Respite can be found in the Rescue main bar with top dollar acoustic sounds. Once you’ve recuperated, get over to Stealth for a bit of The Qemists and Just James. Spanky Van Dykes are moving the tables outta the way to make room for You Want Fox, Hello Tomorrow and High Tides to name but a few. Buy your tickets online now, and turn up with a bitta spare cash to dump in the collection buckets while you’re there.
Saturday 3 September, 12pm, £16.75, Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Stealth, Spanky’s
 

Reel Equality: No Home Movie

The organisation that hates sexism and loves film are bringing you an absolute smasher of a film season over the coming month. Celebrating all that is woman in the industry, they’ve teamed up with Broadway to bring you the best of the best of films about women, made by women. That’s what we like to hear. This week, the season kicks off with Chantal Akerman’s film, No Home Movie. The intimate documentary follows the director’s mother, Natalia, in the last few months of her life. A Polish Jew who survived Auschwitz, the film sees Natalia struggle with chronic anxiety that leaves her confined to her Brussels flat. An insightful, moving film, and the start of what will surely be an incredible season of cinematography.
Sunday 4 September, 2pm, £8.40, concessions available, Broadway
 

Tour of Britain Cycling

You thought sports were over for the summer didn’t yer? Well, you most certainly thought wrong, my youth. The sport that grabbed us a ridiculous amount of medals at the Rio Olympics will be touring around Britain this week. If you’ve been feeling the need for a bit more sport this summer, then head over to The Golden Eagle on Sunday and proper involved with the cycling once again. They’ll be streaming all coverage on huge screens, so even if you manage to get stuck behind the Mayor of Tallsville, you’ll still have front row seats. Sort of. Watching superhumans tour around Britain is hungry work, but they’ve got you covered with that an’ all, with a couple of sarnies on standby. They’ve thought of everything.
Sunday 4 - Wednesday 14 September, various times, The Golden Eagle
 

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

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