Midsummer Night's Dream among some leaves. Beautiful.
Surface Gallery request for paintings
Fancy yourself as Nottingham’s answer to Pablo Picasso? Then have your oil paints at the ready, cos Surface Gallery are making you an offer you can’t refuse. They want you to submit your work to be included in their paint exhibition, Painted Surface. Any work that uses the medium of paint can be submitted for consideration, and one lucky artist will win a solo show in the gallery’s main exhibition space. How lovely of ‘em. Any theme, including portraiture, landscapes and abstraction is welcome, and artworks on boards and canvas, as well as painting that examines different methods of presentation is encouraged. You haven’t got long, so you best get your art attack on, sharpish.
Deadline: Friday 17th July
Outdoor Theatre Season
It’s been rough, but the time has finally come when we can crawl out from under our duvets, cancel the Netflix account, and get out into a gloriously sunny world. One massive benefit of our forgotten friend called summer is the outdoor theatre season that takes place in all the biggest and best Nottingham locations. Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey and Wollaton Park will all be inundated with the thespian population, and yourself if you fancy a warm evening of off-the-grid entertainment. Make yersen a pack-up, gather the nippers, and be part of an ambience that will have you swooning. There’s The Three Musketeers, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Emma, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and loads more to look forward to over the next couple of months. Don’t forget your chairs and blankets to sit on.
July and August, 7pm, £10 - £40, Nottingham Castle, Wollaton Park, Newstead Abbey
The beach is back, baby...
Nottingham Riviera 2015
Nottingham may be the most landlocked county in England, but that won’t stop us having a proper good summer knees up, will it me owd?! Once again, the beach is coming to you. Skeggy is a little too far for an afternoon off work, but thanks to the council, all you have to do is trudge down to Market Square. Enjoy the 250 tonnes of golden sand, giant paddling pool and of course, most importantly, the fully licensed beach bar. You can almost smell the sea air. Probably best to get down sooner rather than later, cos them pesky pigeons are bound to have their way with that sand. Where else can you pop to the beach on yer lunch break, eh?
Thursday 16 July - Tuesday 1 September, Old Market Square
Past and Present
Like the Brad and Angelina of the art world, Pip and Paul Crawforth are bossing it this week. Opening her exhibition at Bohunk, Pip will be displaying a selection of work twenty years in the making, using a variety of mediums. She’s commissioned her fella, Paul, to create a piece specifically for the opening. Keeping it in the family in the coolest way possible. With her studio situated above the gallery, Pip is keen to have a natter with you all about her work. Either that, or you could meet them in the pub - namely The Chameleon - on Sunday afternoon, after the gallery closes at 4pm. Paintings and a pint? Right up our road.
Thursday 17 July - Wednesday 22 July , free, Bohunk Institute
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Weightier than gold...
The Damn Heavy
These bluesy rockers will be tearing up the stage at ‘Tempreh this Saturday. Their big guitar riffs, wailing amp tubes and pounding bass-lines fuse from an expansive range of influences. How expansive? They lap up anything from soul to garage, gospel to heavy, guitar-led rock and mush it all together to make a sound with proper impact. With the addition of new member Wayne Fullwood playing guitar and adding vocals, they’ve spent the first half of this year laying down new material in the studio so you’re in for a right treat with a load of brand spankin’ songs from the album, played live for the first time. Their sleazy, upbeat and sometimes-frenetic blues are not to be missed; come on down to get down.
Saturday 18 July, 8pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary
Raw Roads: Invisible
We’re all about engaging youths in Hood Town. Charities and organisations such as CYF, The Lofthouse and YMCA Digital are doing their damn best to get kids on the right track through creative projects. The new kid on the block is Raw Roads. They’re gerrin’ a load of industry professionals involved, hosting four days of workshops before holding a showcase performance at the end of the week. Using music, poetry and beats, the kids’ll be having a crack at performing Radio 1 featured artist, Potent Whisper’s Invisible, telling the story of three incredible people overshadowed by negative stereotypes. A proper celebration of the next generation of local talent.
Saturday 18 July, 6.30pm, free, Galleries of Justice
He's got his ticket, have yow?
Splendour
A joyous spectacle of all things splendid is afoot. Wollo Park is about to get taken over with one of the biggest parties in Nottingham this year. Don’t feel too bad for the deer – they’re getting their wellies and flowery headbands ready, and are sure to receive a carrot or two for all the palaver of having their yard taken over. Besides, there’s a massive mash-up of a lineup for them to look forward to, with stalls, funfairs, bars and kids’ areas to boot. Headlining the summer festival frivolities are the legendary 2 Tone and ska revival band The Specials, so get strapped into your best skanking Docs and get ready to have it out. There’s alt-rockers James, the ever-badass Bananarama, punk mentalists Ferocious Dog, Nottingham indie kings Amber Run, the UK hip hop genius Roots Manuva, the Future Sound of Nottingham winner Suspect Alibi, and shedloads more. Magic.
Saturday 18 July, 12pm - 11pm, £33 - £50, Wollaton Park
Egg and Vinyl #1
A brand new session from everyone’s favourite little slice of Europe is about to commence. Egg. And vinyl. That’s right, on the third Sunday of every month henceforth, Nottingham residents’ hangovers will be cured with all the delectable goods JamCafé has to offer. Especially eggs. And vinyl. So if you wallop the town of a Saturday evening and find yourself waking up rather perplexed at who or what your life is, fear not. The wonderful chefs and musically-inclined beings of the dinky venue are ready and waiting to hold your hand through the whole ordeal. With egg. And vinyl. There will be free range eggs for you to either eat on a plate, or pack up and take away for later, and guest vinyl sellers setting up shop on a stall outside on the new terrace. There are discounted records and free breakfasts to be won, so if you’re serious about brunch, don’t hang about.
Sunday 19 July, 10am, free, JamCafé
Mendhi
Eid Celebrations
The end of Ramadan is nigh, and our Muslim community are preparing for the biggest celebration in their calendar. As usual, NAE are getting us all involved to join in the festivities as one big community. And good on ‘em. The day is open to all, whether you’re a follower of the faith or just up for learning more about your neighbour. You can fill yer boots with some traditional Sudanese food, and work it all off by getting down and groovy with live music. Get over to Forest Fields and celebrate the diversity of our city in true Notts fashion.
Sunday 19 July, 11.30am, free, New Art Exchange
For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.
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