pic: Angel Jimenez
Stuck for ideas this Valentine’s Day? With less than a week to go, EastLondonLines has tracked down the sexiest suggests in east London so you don’t have to. Who said romance was dead?
Thursday 9 February – Hackney Colliery Band + DJ Volta45
Picture House, Hackney, £8 entry.
East London’s unique take on the brass band. Featuring trumpets, trombones, and sax, this is high energy, good time music that will make you want to move your feet. For more information, see the Picturehouse website here.
pic: Jon Delorey
Friday 10 February – Love Sax and All That Jazz (Da Mans Dem)
Broadway Theatre, Catford
An evening of explosive theatre with comedy, drama and poetry. The play takes a humorous look at men and relationships, exploring the age old question: what do men want? Why do men cheat? And what defines a man? Get ready to laugh your socks off. Tickets for the show can be bought here.
Eclectic Anarchy at the George Tavern
The George Tavern, 373 Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, E1 0LA
Free admission. For more information on this live-music night at one of London’s infamous pubs, click here.
Saturday 11 February – Love&Hate art exhibition
Stolen Space Gallery, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL – Free admission
This group show will be celebrating – and mourning – Valentine’s Day with an array of mixed media pieces from various artists, as well as a few brand new screen print releases. The gallery exhibits pan-genre work incorporating street, urban, and underground art.
The Stolen Space Gallery can be found here.
Sunday 12 February – Valentine Comedy and Lovers’ Rock
The Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ
Entry: £25/£21 concessions
The highlight of Valentine’s weekend. Don’t miss top comedians Felicity Ethnic, The Real McCoy’s favourite Mr Fraser, and the Bajan Queen Dibbi alonside the kings and queens of Lovers’ Rock: Janet Kay, Caroll Thompson, Kofi, Peter Hunnigale, and international reggae superstar Gappy Ranks.
For tickets, click here.
Monday 13 February – Animate Orchestra
Trinity School, Lewisham, £15 (£5 for children)
A young person’s orchestra for the 21st Century. Instrumentalists ages 10 to 13 are invited to take part in the orchestra run by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Music Services.
Tickets and further information can be found here.
Love Boat All-day Challenge – Purley Leisure Centre, 50 High Street, Purley, CR8 2AA
Give your loved ones a healthy heart this Valentine’s Day. Purley Lewisure Centre is getting in the mood with a tempting ‘Kiss and Swim’ offer. Admission is free.
pic: Jon18
Tuesday 14 February – Valentine’s Tea Dance
East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf
Waltz, cha-cha and foxtrot to your sweetheart’s content with the eleven-piece Berkeley Square Society Band.
Tickets are £12, or £20 for both Tea Dance and Swing Dance (including a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival).
For tickets, see the Tea Dance website.
Valentine’s Inspired Film Fest – Round Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Clapton Road, E5
See classic Valentine’s films in the glorious surroundings of the Round Chapel, a landmark grade-II listed building.
Wednesday 15 February – Films for a fiver at The Underground Picturehouse
7pm – Potiche (2011) by Francois Ozon
The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street, E1 6BX – Entry: £5/£8
Thursday 16 February – Youth short documentary festival at Hackney Picturehouse
Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EH
Screening information can be found here.
‘India Exposed’ – Portraits and Street photographs by Tom Ferrie
A freelance photographer based in east London, Ferrie has travelled extensively around south east Asia, India, Europe, Central America and Africa. His collection is showing at the Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, E2 6HG.
For opening times, click here.
