Gig
Various Venues, Various Cities throughout October
Nine years since it first launched, Oxfam’s music-focussed Oxjam is still going strong, with local promoters and anyone-who fancies-it asked to raise money for the charity’s global projects by hosting gigs and clubs. You know, like how Blue Peter used to inspire you to do a Bring’n’Buy sale at school when you were younger, only with more vodka. This year’s launched at the end of last month with performances from Bipolar Sunshine and Indiana – and there are Oxjam takeover parties taking place all month. This weekend sees London get involved with a Dalston takeover featuring Andrew Ashong, Auntie Flo, Jane Fitz, Lixo, Throwing Shade & more, and a Clapham version filled with local performers. In Manchester there’s a new music showcase at just £4 taking place at Bar 21, while the St Aldates Tavern in Oxford plays host to a night of gorgeous acoustic music in the round. Takeover events follow next week in Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham.
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Club
@ 9 Oct, Corn Exchange, Leeds
@ 10 Oct, Motion: Bristol
@ 11 Oct, Boxxed, Birmingham
Say what you will about the gloopy energy drink (it’s gross, it legally doesn’t give you wings etc etc ) but Red Bull know how to throw a good party. Case in point, their Culture Clash – that pitted crews and soundsystems against each other in big party battle with London’s Boy Better Know crew (Wiley, JME, Skepta etc) emerging victorious against Major Lazer, Magnetic Man and Channel One. This year A$AP Mob, Boy Better Know, Rebel Sound and Stone Love will face off on Oct 30, but before then there’s a series of warm up events in Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol. In Leeds, 2020 Vision, Brotherhood Sound System, Nightmares on Wax and SubDub are vying for your support. Bristol features DJ Q, Marcus Nasty & more (aka 02.31), Leftfoot, One Dub and Seedy Sonics and in Birmingham it’s Kahn & Neek’s Bandalu, Jah Tubby’s World Soundsystem, Subloaded Sound Force and T.Williams’ T.Party Movement. Cheer for your favourite.
Film
Various Venues, London
The London Film Festival is brilliant even if you don’t get invited to any of the premieres as Benedict Cumberbatch’s date or actually go and see a ton of films. It turns the BFI into an even better people watching spot than usual (the bar, with a cocktail is a good spot) and all the reviews and buzz that comes out of it is a fantastic primer for what you’re going to watching well into Oscar season. Films showing this weekend include the Sundance winning film from Writer/director Justin Simien Dear White People, Bjork’s Biophilia Live and a showcase of films about sex that 'question how we interact physically and emotionally with other' (presumably in a deeper way than say, that dodgy looking new Hugh Grant film, The Rewrite).
**Feast
The Belgrave, Leeds
On the second Saturday of every month the Belgrave in Leeds (from the people who also bring you Beacons Festival) put on Street Feast, an all day/all night event featuring art, record stalls, video games and club nights. It looks so good I’m finding it hard to pick what’s best, from Newcastle-born middle eastern food (Papa Ganoush) to the brilliantly named Holy Pierogi, to a party from Warp’s Lone and Photomachine to the free event downstairs (til 3am) that includes FREE (FREE!) Dough Boys pizza and tequila from 10pm.
Shop
The Stylist’s Rail @ Hoxton Hotel, London
**Beatroot & Lace Bazaar @ Art School, Glasgow **
If Instagram is anything to go by, stylists know how to make any outfit work. Golfing trousers with new balances, fine. Horizontal stripe jumpsuits, easy. The accounts of people like ASOS styler and fashion blogger Freddie (ASOS_Freddie) have got me wondering if I can make knee high boots work, or orange jumpers, wide legged jeans or cream culottes (answer to all: no). They all seem to have perfect collections of houseplants, none of which are dead. Their food is always perfectly arranged. And often fruit. Maybe granola. They can do that tucking her hair into a poloneck thing without looking foolish. Anyway, if you want a bit of stylist magic – try the Stylists Rail this weekend which has moved from Birthdays to the Hoxton hotel. ‘The Apartment’ suite will have vendors from Grazia, Wolf & Badger, plus labels including Ginger Fizz and Bohemian Rose Vintage. Added bonus - it’s free and there are free gin cocktails on the day. Meanwhile the Art School in Glasgow takes things in a more experimental direction with The Beatroot & Lace Bazaar – what they call a thoroughly new type of vintage fair. Expect handmade goods, art collaborations and live music while you scan the rails.
RUN
Various locations, UK
Running with the Nike App (or similar) is a good way to make yourself exercise on the weekend – if only because your friends and colleagues are locked in a short term fierce competition about who can do the most miles and get the most praise from (confusingly) Ellie Goulding. But if you fancy doing something more community minded and keep fit through winter, try a ParkRun. They organize free 5km timed runs all over the world. They’re free to take part in (just register for your local event) and they’ll give you your time at the end so you can track your progress.
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** Follow Sian on Twitter @SianRowe_**
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.