Pick of the Week: 2 - 8 March

Broom broom

Nusic Academy Megashop
On top of producing videos, podcasts and reviews for the lucky talent in our city, Nottingham’s all-seeing eye for new music host workshops to give budding, melodically-inclined muckers a leg-up. Because, come on, there’s plenty of management stuff you’ve not thought about. But fear not. For this session, it’s all about getting media coverage for your sound – guests include XFM DJ John Kennedy, NME Journalist Rhian Daly, and Drowned in Sound reviewer Dom Gourlay, who’ll all be taking part in a seriously valuable Q&A session, all for free. Never stingy boggers, they’ve also invited a load of different organisations down including the Arts Council, YMCA, the Young Creative Awards and yours truly, so you can get advice and meet relevant people. You can even book a one-to-one session with music law and finance experts. Grab your free ticket while you can.
Tuesday 3 March, 5.30pm, Nottingham Arts Theatre, free

Nottdance
The festival that gets in the groove is back in our fair city, celebrating the work of some of the world’s most creative and provocative artists. With more than forty different performances taking place across various venues, our city will be transformed into a moving, breathing piece of artwork, courtesy of the chaps at Dance4. Take the little ones along to events such as Fleur Darkin: Innocence, performed by the Scottish Dance Company, where the kiddies are encouraged to watch and participate in a contemporary dance performance. Alternatively, you can delve into the philosophical, with events such as What The Body Does Not Remember, which “balances on the razor edge of attraction and repulsion”, in a high-energy, raw and physical dance piece. It’s a right old community affair, and one to set a spring in your step for spring. For more details, waltz on over to page 26.
Thursday 5 – Sunday 15 March, various times, prices and locations

Ain't no party like a beatnik party

Beatniks
A night has risen up from the city’s underbelly to dust away every last speck of Thursday evening boredom. With recent dos having gone down like a freshly ground espresso, we can only expect awesome stuff from future Beatniks nights, proper Notts jam sessions of live music and spoken word poetry with sprinklings of berets and goatees. After releasing his debut EP, the folky, acoustic-driven Jamie Moon is cracking on with making a name for himself with delicate fingerpicking and a dreamy voice. Right alongside him is the similarly stripped-back singer-songwriter Josh Kemp who, armed with guitar and loop pedal, is taking over the world one intimate gig at a time. Finally, a garage rock spanner in the works in the form of four-piece Fleets, who’re set to deliver some funky, punky vibes. Get into the groove, daddio.
Thursday 5 March, 8pm, free, Wax Bar

Fan Club Launch Party
While their hair and skin might be softer, women go hard in the creative world. Fan Club is Nottingham’s latest celebratory evening of all things femme in art and music, where all the fun and games go down with one rule only – no boys allowed. Well, they are, but only if they are in agreement that women are rather awesome and deserve an equal voice, which hopefully most fellas are by now. It’ll be a great opportunity to get an eyeful of talent – illustrations, books, guest speakers, writing, posters and live music will all be out in full force, with an endless list of lady-led music blasting out of Rough Trade’s speakers in the ultimate genre mashup. As well as hosting these new monthly nights, Fan Club also put out a sexy zine from time to time – well worth keeping an eye out for if you end up bopping down.
Saturday 7 March, 7pm, free, Rough Trade

Melton Original Portraits
Over the last year, photographer Barney Melton has been capturing the faces of Nottingham. And not as in the 'ace faces' - although they are all ace from what we've seen - but everyday folk who've been happy to sit in front of his sixty-odd-year-old ex-RAF bellows camera to be immortalised. With over 500 shots to date, he's doing one last session this weekend before he gets ready to sift through them and pick his favourites to stick in a book for all to see. There’s something very special about his prints and if you want one of your own mug - which we highly recommend, much better than a naff selfie - and potentially be in a real life book, this is your very last chance. 
Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 March, Malt Cross

PleasFest 2015
We’re bloomin’ well proud of our acting talent in Notts, where we can boast about young talent like Toby Kebbell, Vicky McClure and Jack O’Connell. Paving the way for these modern day acting greats was Donald Pleasence, a Nottingham actor famous for his performances in Halloween and The Caretaker. To celebrate the life of Mr Pleasence, Kino Klubb are teaming up with their Cinema Diabolique partners, The Kneel Before Zod Video Club Of Nottingham Club (try remembering that when you’ve had a few) and Watergate Cinematik Club to bring you a selection of his finest work in a cinema round the corner from his gaff. A right old celebration of fine Notts talent if we ever did see one.
Sunday 8 March, 2pm, £6/£20, Savoy Cinema, Worksop

image: Bram Demunter

5 Points of Connection
This world is full of bleedin’ contradictions: moaning that nothing interesting ever happens in your life yet spending every weekend vegging out on the sofa, complaining on facebook about other people constantly complaining on facebook… The list goes on. To try to understand, and even reconcile these daily troubles, are five artists presenting their work at Backlit Art Gallery through their involvement in Kunstpodium P - a laboratory and platform for new, contemporary artists. Four ‘apprentice’ art students from Nottingham Trent will be showcasing their work, under the watchful eye of ‘master’ artist, Geoff Diego Litherland. Reconcile your aching head and enjoy a couple of hours soaking up some darn good art.
Friday 6 - Sunday 22 March, various times, free, Backlit Art Gallery

Look! The Moon!
Unbeknown to few, the LeftLion massive share an office space with the loveleh lads from I’m Not From London. Unbeknown to many, this does not result in continuous party behaviour and liquid lunches at The Old Angel, cos them lads are always so god damn busy. They’re hosting a this gig at The Orange Tree this week, and would very much like you lot to attend. Three bands will be performing on the night, including Alex Strongmen, and folky quartet I Am Albatross. Headlining the night, and sure to go down swimmingly with a £2.50 spirit and mixer, is Cecille Grey. Already a suitably established band on the Notts music scene, their alternative pop sound is heavily influenced by the worlds of both folk and indie. For a chilled, weekday vibe, this is the only place for you ducks to be this week.
Wednesday 4 March, 8.30pm, free, The Orange Tree

Quidditch Cup
No, we’ve not gone bloody barmy. This is a real live, genuine sport and it is coming to the realms of Hood town to fight to the death for the title of Quidditch champions. Stock up on butterbeer and wrap up in your best dress robes. Forget your Viktor Krums of Bulgaria, the Nottingham Nightmares are on stand-by to do our city proud by dodging all the bludgers they can and seeking out the golden snitch (a tennis ball in a sock) before the other teams have even had a look in. Hopefully, there will be no appearance from any death eaters, but keep your little ones close and your eye on your port-key, should any mishaps occur.
Saturday 7 March, 8.15am, Sunday 8 March, 8.30am, free, Wollaton Park

Drop in the ocean

Blackdrop
Warser Gate is home to our offices, and a brand spanker of a venue, The Lofthouse. Opened by superhero couple, Tricia and Ian Gardiner, the venue specialises in hosting underground, creative events and giving those with creative minds a voice and a place to share it. Pouncing on the opportunity is this monthly spoken word open mic event. This month, the topic is ‘Wordz 4 Wimmin’, and poets, rappers, singers, instrumentalists, comedians and storytellers are invited to take the stage in a celebration of all things us kick-ass women can do. It’s an inclusive environment, and newcomers are always welcome to try out their material on a friendly crowd. Put yersen’s out there. You’ll feel all the better for it afterwards.
Thursday 5 March, 6pm, free, The Lofthouse

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

Promoters: Want your event featured in one of our upcoming Pick of the Weeks? If so then you can start by adding your event details into our magazine and website database.