Pick of the Week: 23 - 29 June

photo: David Severn

Beginner Bike Mechanics Course
If you missed Hackspace’s bike surgery last week, fret not pedigree chums. Sustrans have set up a course where you can learn the basics of bike maintenance, so you can get your pedals on the road for the summer. With tonnes of professional cycle events going off in our city, from the Milk Race, to CycleLive which rolled down to Victoria Embankment last weekend, now it’s time for all of us to join the pedal revolution. There are three workshops, every Monday, starting tomorrow. The first is for punctures, the second for brakes and the third for gears – book your place by emailing smartertravelnottingham@sustrans.org.uk
Monday 23 June, 6.30pm, free, St. Christopher’s Church Hall, Sneinton

Rik Mayall TV/Film Night
As one of the funniest men to have ever graced TV, everyone was gob-smacked and gutted to hear the news of his death. From fond memories of watching The Young Ones to the heart-breaking yet hilarious Drop Dead Fred, the ridiculous slapstick of Bottom to the best Jackanory ever, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Mr Mayall jumped out of our screens and attacked our consciousness and tickled us pink for decades. The Maze are screening Drop Dead Fred, the Blackadder where he triumphantly entered as Lord Flasheart and a crowd voted episode of The Young Ones and Bottom. Bring a cushion, bring a hanky, and revel in his… charm. Woof!
Wednesday 25 June, 7pm, free, The Maze

David Severn Q&A
The local photographer’s latest exhibition, Thanks Maggie, looks at the current social situation in Mansfield, particularly in relation to its post-industrial recovery. Hailing from there himself, with a family history of working down the pits, David’s clued up on the culture and attitudes of the people, and his work shows. The places he’s photographed are unique and peculiar spaces, with ghosts of their industrial past still afloat, but the once polluted land has now largely been given back to nature. The man himself and director of the exhibition, Jennie Syson, are hosting an informal question and answer session for anyone interested, so get brain picking.
Wednesday 25 June, 6.30pm, free, Antenna

Hhymn
A band that use loads of different instruments to create a truly unique sound that earned them a slot on the front page of MySpace when it used to be a big deal. They’ve got their arses back in gear and have put together a new album. They’ll be supported by 94 Gunships and We Show Up On Radar, so it’ll be a good knees up. Not only that, but they’re a bit sick of their self-proclaimed “appalling” name, so they’ll be running an election style ballot to change it - it’s out of five choices though, so you can’t force them to call themselves The Mushy Peas or summat.
Thursday 26 June, £4/£5, The Chameleon

Cover From Another Brother
Under The Tree are great at bringing together some of Notts’ best local acoustic talent; but this week they’re doing something a bit different, they’re throwing a proper little love fest down at JamCafe, known as Cover From Another Brother. Basically, it’s a load of Notts’ finest musicians, who all take to the stage to perform… you guessed it, a cover. But not just any cover, they’re keeping it proper Notts, so it’s got to be a cover of another Notts artist. They’re mostly singer-songwriter folk, but we’re sure you’ll get to hear some interesting renditions. Anyone else really want to hear a folk version of Indiana?
Thursday 26 June, 8pm, free, Jam Cafe

Ghosts
Broadway has a knack for getting rather obscure films, and opening them up to a new audience; and that’s exactly what they’re doing with this West End Theatre series they’re showing at the minute. The latest one in the series, Ghosts, tells the story of a mother who desperately wants to tell her son the truth about his charming yet cruel father; but by the time that she plucks up the courage, he’s pretty much gone and turned into him. It might sound like a bad episode of Home and Away; but trust us, it’s much better; it’s won the cast several Olivier awards and plenty of critical acclaim.
Thursday 26 June, 7pm, £14, Broadway

Nott Just Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet and Dance4 joined up last year to give a group of eight-to-sixteen year olds from Sneinton and St Ann’s a chance to put their best foot forward. The project was so successful that the light-footed folk from the other half of the Midlands are back this week with a series of free workshops for sixty young people to learn ballet. The culmination of their efforts will be a one-off performance on the stage of Theatre Royal – a perfect way to show off their newly learnt skills and moves. Here’s hoping they break a leg, in the best possible way.
Friday 27 June, 5pm, free (booking essential), Theatre Royal

Performance That Bites
Little Wolf Parade are at it again, immersing your senses in what can only be described as one of the more surreal, yet sublime experiences in life. The Saturday event includes not one, not two, but over sixteen artists and performers, including the fantastically eccentric Robert Hardaker. Offering up movement and body-based art, with a dance floor and bar, there’s no reason to turn it down. Not ones for doing things by halves, they’re hosting artist Jamie Lewis Hadely’s performance on Friday, which explores the history of bloodletting and its role in medicine. In essence, you’re promised a proper gory night out, before it leaves a trail of blood around the rest of the UK. 
Friday 27 June, free, 7.30pm, Twenty Eight Barbers. 
Saturday 28 June, £5, 7.30pm, Vintage Warehouse

Lonnie Liston Smith & Terri Walker
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop are on a roll; having brought us the rammed out Hot 8 Brass Band show a few weeks ago, they’re back to deliver us another jazzy soul legend from the states - Lonnie Liston Smith. Lonnie’s built up a well-respected and highly eclectic back catalogue over the years, and having worked with the likes of Miles Davis, he knows how to put on a great show. There’s also support in the form of Terri Walker, a British soulstress who’s caught the attention of Gilles Peterson and Mos Def to name but a few. With plenty of DJs spinning tunes 'til the early morning, it’s worth every penny.
Friday 27 June, 8pm, £20, The Approach

Adam Peter Smith Album Launch
If you’ve wandered round some of the wonderful open mic nights that Notts has to offer, you’ve probably seen Adam Peter Smith at some point. In between hosting open mics at the Fleece and Bell Inn, he also makes some rather beautiful tunes himself. Despite being on the scene for a while, he hasn’t had an album to his name - until now. After two years, his debut album Fulcrum is finally ready, and he’s chucking a big ol’ party for its release. With support from local lads Sam Kirk, Careen and Leo and the Seraphim, it’ll be quite the celebration. 
Saturday 28 June, 7pm, £4.75, The Bodega

Brouhaha #4
As one of the latest regular nights to hit the city, they’ve been whipping up quite a storm. Back to deliver yet another night, it’s going to be full of some of the most diverse acts that Nottingham has ever seen. We’re talking carnival punk, hip-hop, gypsy, ska, reggae, street punk, and more. There’s even a performance from Circus Insane, a Jackass-esque carnival performer who is banned from TV in Europe cos he’s so mental. There’ll also be plenty of other circus themed antics going off around you, including fireplay. Hot. Almost makes you wanna run away from home and join them, dunnit?
Saturday 28 June, 8pm, £6 - £10, The Maze

Bru-C’s Birthday Bash
Our kid’s been smashing every pie he’s got a finger in, so join the Nottingham emcee in celebration of his birthday with a proper family knees up. There’s a back to back spinning session from Rubberdub SoundSystem and Tumble Audio, there’s DJ Big Mikee, Fable, and even more sound clashing from Sergic and Lyka. To accompany the beats, grime crews Invasion Alert and Don’t Gas will be on hand to deliver mad flows and lyrical prowess, right alongside local lad Gino. It’s gonna be a crazy night, with live art, food and freestyles around every corner – head down to Braderie, Mimm or Taper’s barber shop for a ticket.
Saturday 28 June, 10pm, £6 - £8, The Irish Centre

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

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