Pick of the Week: 9 - 15 June

Utopia, Failed – Art & Estate 
Being proper sorts, Contemporary has all sorts going off so you can delve deeper into the stories behind the art. Over the coming fortnight, there are a series of documentaries, discussions and workshops based around the Keith Coventry and Mark Lewis piece in the current exhibition that looks at the large-scale, post-war social housing projects and considers whether utopian housing dreams are in fact just that, dream. This week is Nick Broomfield’s Behind The Rental Strike, followed by a discussion on Lenton Flats. Two further screenings focus on the regeneration of the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle: Vision Quest, A Ritual for Elephant and Castle and Concrete Heartland. Fascinating stuff, and all for free. 
Tuesday 10 June, 6pm; Tuesday 17, 6pm; Wednesday 18, 7pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Nusic Academy Workshop
Most musicians would love a slice of Jake Bugg’s success - that is unless they totally don’t wanna go mainstream, man. Luckily for Nottingham’s up-and-comers, Nusic are hosting another one of their renowned academy workshops, where experts reveal tips, tricks and learned experiences in the music industry. This particular event aims to draw from the journey of the little bugger - they’ve got Jake’s dad, his unofficial biographer, and the journo who knows him best, to talk about how he got where he is today. There’s also a “love spreading” session, where you can have a natter with producers, managers, and other sexy musicians.
Tuesday 10 June, 5.30pm, free, Antenna

Hush
For their third session, Hush are delivering a local acoustic line-up to charm the socks off every bleeder in the city. The selection includes Chloe Charlemagne, the soulful, bluesy singer-songwriter; Young Creative Award winning Frazer Lowrie, a multi-talented charmer with a great voice and guitar skill; and Hearts, a three-piece mishmash of musical tastes fusing together to create lovely harmonised folk. On top of all that, there’s ex-Arse Full of Chips frontman Will Bailey in his solo form, gypsy hip hop production master Kane Ashmore and, on his birthday, the wonderful Maze resident that is Gaz Peacham.
Wednesday 11 June, 7.30pm, £3, The Maze

Nathan Caton and Chris Martin
With the Edinburgh Fringe Festival just around the corner, all the comedian folk are stretching their funny bones for their big moment. Well, Nathan Caton and Chris Martin, both whom will be performing at the festival, have decided to prepare by giving you a rather intimate set here in Notts. And why not? We’re partial to a good chuckle round these parts. Nathan’s been a panelist on shows like Mock The Week, and Chris has just come off tour with Milton Jones, so they both know a thing or two about comedy. In fact, they’re a right laugh.
Wednesday 11 June, £5/£7, Canal House

Moonrise
This one’s a brand spanker - a weeknight treat for all you bar monkeys coveting your mates’ messy weekends. The evening is set to wrap everyone up in that sunny festival vibe, with live art from the Mimm collective, a tasty Caribbean barbecue, and tons of live acts to throw a few shapes to. There are DJs from Mimm, Wigflex, RubberDub, Bass Society, DJ Society, Takeover and Trent Bass, all bringing a family feel and extending their hands. Some serious spinning sessions just wouldn’t be complete without a sprinkling of local musicians – Band Society, Cheshire and the Cat, Levi Civita and Shape of Things. A fine hand to be dealt.
Wednesday 11 June, 6pm, £2, The Bodega

Comic Making Meetup
Got a head full of stories but can’t draw for toffee? Love to get your doodle on? Just love comics? There’s a new meetup group at Hackspace that will be a place for anyone into the genre who wants to get their ideas out of their heads, talk about the comic as a medium for storytelling, share ideas, give each other feedback, and generally just have a nice get together. Take down your favourite comic on the night and you can wax lyrical about it to people who won’t be rolling their eyes at you. Pow! 
Thursday 12 June, 7pm, Hackspace

Kagoule, Tigercub and Grey Hairs – Clump
Bored of the usual stage set-up of wall, stage, crowd, doors? It has been done to death, we can all agree. Two groups of Nottingham’s finest noisemakers and one group of Brighton-based dirge popsters will be taking centre stage this Friday for an underground get together. Yep, performing in the middle of the floor, you can view them from any which angle you prefer, or just run circles around them – although doing the latter will probably earn you a slap from a fellow listener for being annoying. An added bonus to the night’s delights is that your ticket lets you upstairs into Unlucky for Some that'll have you dancing til 3am. 
Friday 13 June, 8pm, £4/£5, The Lacehouse Basement

The Great Notts Show 
Some of you boggers have a bit of a moan when the Square gets taken over and you can’t sit on your favourite bit of step, but who cares when something proper is going off? The Great Notts Show is back, which means the city will be rammed with ace food, fashion and music in the blazing summer sun. There’ll be a heated beer garden - because you can’t guarantee weather in this country - where you can enjoy a pint to the sounds of some fine local musicians including the likes of Josh Kemp and Frazer Lowrie. Pair that with thirty stalls of crafts and clobber, and there’s no excuse not to get your bum down. Meet at the left lion, yeah?
Friday 13 - Sunday 15 June, free, Market Square

Farmyard Presents...
Friday nights just wouldn’t be the same without a jam. This week sees The Afterdark Movement, who brought the sunshine out at No Tomorrow festival, continuing the jazzy hip hop explosion at everyone’s favourite café. Joining them in the party are Duke 01 and Furious P, who’re showcasing Duke’s latest release, drenched in a blend of old school and experimental hip hop. There’s a sweet touch from local singer-songwriter Joy Mumford, whose recent soulful appearances around Nottingham have left cheesy grins on faces through and through. To top it all off, Don’t Flop legend Youthoracle is on hand to deliver his expert flow and lyrical prowess.
Friday 13 June, 8pm, free, JamCafé

The Game Show
Get yourself down to Broadway this Sunday to see a darkly satirical look at online gambling, celebrity culture and reality TV game shows. A short film written, directed and produced by John Edwards that was made right here, where the trees grow greener and film is loved, The Game Show is a horror-action-revenge-thriller that was crowd funded last year - and we get to see its first UK screening, all for nowt. You can meet the cast and crew afterwards in the bar area to get more details on the film. Don’t forget to pre-book your tickets, though – you can’t get ‘em at the box office.
Sunday 15 June, free, 12pm, Broadway

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

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