pic: Jane McCallion

Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Festive Fayre, held at the Human Rights Centre in Shoreditch this weekend, merged traditional stalls with live entertainment, ranging from the hilarious to the bizarre. (more…)

pic: Olive Loves Alfie

Stuck for Christmas present ideas? Are those two-for-one Sainsbury’s selection boxes looking appealing? Before you resign yourself to giving everyone gift vouchers, EastLondonLines has picked the five best places in Hackney for unusual presents. (more…)

Brotherhood of the Lake. pic: Anurag Tagat

You know an underground movement is alive and kicking when a bunch of young bands want to tear a club down to the ground. And they came pretty close to doing that at Scream Lounge in Croydon in a metal melee headlined by the brilliant Brotherhood of the Lake.

First to take to the stage on Saturday were the newly-formed Bromley-based quintet Bears. Songs such as  ‘Always around’ and ‘Silver Tongues’ sounded close to alternative metal with a catchy melodic streak, though the vocals seemed laboured and painful to listen to at times. (more…)

Art by Zoe Catherine Kendall pic: Tillie Cox

Sound and visuals combine in this rapturous art exhibit, says Tillie Cox. (more…)

How the World Began pic: Robert Workman

There is more to this play than a tired religious debate, writes Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill. (more…)

EastEnd Cabaret at the Arcola Theatre Pic: EastEndCarabet

EastEnd Cabaret comes with high expectations. Their show, The Revolution Will Be Sexual, has been showered with critical praise and this week they grace the cover of Time Out. (more…)

Photo: Will Coldwell

Sickboy’s infatuation with religious symbolism manifests itself in a playfully surreal way at his latest show.

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Wow Now. Photo: Xixi Zheng

Ever since it was sold to a mystery bidder in February, a cloud of intrigue has surrounded the disused Shoreditch Tube station.

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Photo: Sofia Ignatidou

There’s more to Drums than just hype. The effervescent surf-pop quartet from Brooklyn proved that much after yesterdays live performance at the Queen of Hoxton. (more…)

I <3 East London

Sweaty garage rock, snarling vintage synthesizers, pitch-bending guitars and grating electro pulses abound at I ♥ East London. This rhythmic night of live music held on the first Thursday of every month on Whitechapel Road, spreads the passionate message that East London is an exciting place to be for creative music.

Running the ground between beatmeisters manning the DJ booth and indie bands taking to the main stage, ♥ embraces all there is to love about local music. From the warehouse shouts of The Coolness or Daytona Lights and their lighter, breezy take on stress-free indie pop the night is a celebration of the eclectic vibrancy of the East London music scene.

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