Dizzee gesticulates Photo: live for the funk

Two girls wear identikit festival uniforms: Hunter wellies, straw hats and demin shorts with the inside pockets peering (more…)

lovebox

Love, summer, music, dancing: for true Londoners, who hate all that mud and tentpole malarky, Lovebox is the ultimate summer festival; three days of blissful tunes in the edenic surroundings of Victoria Park, what  more could you ask for?

And though buying a ticket to Lovebox doesn’t guarantee love,  listening to the europhic beats of Yeasayer, the deeply powerful vocals of Grace Jones and Ellie Goulding’s powdery soft lyrics, you  might feel something very close. Dizzee Rascal headlines on Friday, Roxy Music and Marc Ronson  on Saturday and Hot Chip, followed by Ms Jones herself closing the weekend on Sunday.

eastlondonlines will be reviewing each day of the three day musical exravagnza, but to see it for yourself,  click here:  http://www.lovebox.net/tickets/

Lovebox, 16th – 18th July, Victoria Park, London, E9

Friday LOVEBOX GATES OPEN AT 2pm EVENT ENDS 11pm
Saturday LOVEBOX GATES OPEN AT 12noon EVENT ENDS 11pm
Sunday LOVEBOX GATES OPEN AT 12noon EVENT ENDS 10.30pm

Photo: Rami Hanafi

Images from all over the world will go on display in Shoreditch later this month at the opening of one of London’s biggest (more…)

Photo: Horniman Museum

With England out of the World Cup and Andy Murray out of Wimbledon there are sure to be lots of unhappy sports fans around the country needing something to occupy them this weekend. (more…)

Tower Hamlets' Wheelers Picnic Photo: bignoseduglyguy

This weekend, East London not only sees temperatures of up to 30^oC, but some amazing events all the way along the East London Line.  So, if the football or the tennis are not for you and you didn’t get a ticket for Glastonbury, then art, comedy and exercise are all on offer this week, with a wide range of events  for everyone. (more…)

Lewisham residents dancing at the Midsummer Fayre Photo: Francesca Waite

Brockley Society’s Midsummer Fayre took place at Hilly Fields, on Saturday and even the rain and freezing wind didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended. For other summer events see the end of this post.

The Brockley Fayre was jam packed with children, families and teenagers having a day out together. The main white tent held a range of  hand made items, including greeting cards, jewellery, cakes, paintings and gifts for children.

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A mural in Shoreditch. Picture: Anna Haswell

Whether you are in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham or Croydon, there is somewhere you can grab a drink and prepare for ninety minutes of football in the company of fellow fans – whoever they support. East London Lines has checked out the best places to  meet up with fellow fans to watch the games and get in the spirit of the globes biggest sporting competition. (more…)

Photo: Jeremy M Farmer, DIZZEE RASCAL

As the sunshine of last weekend gives way to more showery days, here at East London Lines we have sought out some upcoming summer events which do not require sun.  Hopefully, the better weather will return next week for the start of the major arts event, the Create10 Festival in Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

The upcoming week is an excellent time for residents along the East London Line to experience some local art, and what better excuse to hide inside from the rain than being in an art gallery!

Perienne Christian, an acclaimed local artist, will be exhibiting her work at the cueB gallery in Brockley, starting tomorrow, June 9, and running until June 22.

Christian specialises in drawing and prints, and recently completed a one-year residency at Kensington Palace. If it’s good enough for the Royals then it’s good enough for us!!

The cueB gallery, situated within the Brockley Mess café, aims to show good quality, exciting and stimulating work of local, national and international artists, hoping to reach a wider audience than mainstream galleries.

For more information visit their respective websites at: Perienne Christian or cueB

At Canary Wharf, The 15th annual London Motorexpo is back. Up to 40,000 visitors are expected to attend where they will be able to inspect some top of the range cars, including the latest vehicles from top manufacturers including Alpha Romeo, Jaguar and Bentley, use interactive displays and go on a test drive around London.

The event runs until June 13, open Monday – Saturday10am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm. Visit the website for more details.

June 19 sees the start of the CREATE10 festival, a six week long event showcasing artists and creative venues from East and South East London. The festival is taking place in the five host boroughs for the 2012 Olympics, including East London Line boroughs Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

Here at East London Lines we always knew the area was special, and now it has been confirmed with the information that more than 12,000 artists are living and working in the area, making it Europe’s largest cultural quarter.

The festival plays host to international stars such as Dizzee Rascal, Paloma Faith and Tracey Emin. But it’s not all about art and music; attendees will also be able to enjoy theatre, walks, talks, workshops and dance. Keep your eyes peeled for more on the festival on East London Lines.

This Friday sees the beginning of a month of events at the Rich Mix Cafe and Bar in Bethnal Green, called the ” Afro Cup Festival.” The festival celebrates the South African World Cup, the first ever major sporting event in Africa and also the 50th year of independence for 17 African nations. The pub will be playing all World Cup matches on a 15x10ft screen, and guests will also be able to enjoy a festival bonanza of African music, arts and culture.  All events are free, visit the website for a more detailed line-up of the goings on.

Brick Lane farmers' market begins on Sunday. Pictures: London Farmers Markets

The annual Bike and Kite Festival at Blackheath and the start of Brick Lane farmer’s market on Sunday morning are among many events taking place in the ELL boroughs  this  weekend, where you can find almost anything to suit your tastes.  If you like music the Brockley Max Festival is for you, while Stoke Newington Literary Festival will satisfy all you bookworms and  Celebrate Hackney which will  showcase the diversity of the borough!  Or if you just want to join the nearest party, visit Ashwin Street on Sunday – just across from Dalston Station.   And don’t forget, you can catch the Free Range Art Festival at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, which will be featuring the work of Goldsmiths students, from until 26 July.  (more…)

Photo: Moira Tait, Opening night of the Brockley Max Festival

This weekend check out the  Brockley Max festival,  the Stoke Newington Literary Festival and  Celebrate Hackney which will  showcase the diversity of the borough!  Or join the party in Ashwin Street on Sunday – just across from Dalston Station.

Brockley Max Festival, started last weekend, celebrating and showcasing the talents of people from Brockley, Ladywell and Crofton Park.

The nine day long festival is now in its ninth year and counts over sixty events throughout the week, culminating in a whole day of events at Hilly Fields this Saturday, 5 June, comprising arts events, music workshops and exhibitions, followed by an after party at Jam Circus in Brockley.

The Saturday’s bonanza includes the “Hacienda on the Hill” during which people can participate in workshops on Brazillian dance, as well as enjoying live bands, DJs and a craft market.

Not only is the festival for local people, it is also run by them, with over 300 volunteers involved in the planning and running of the event: “Every year we get more and more calls from local people asking how they can help and get involved,” said Moira Tait, festival director, “all of them help make the area a better place to live.”

Last Friday, East London Lines checked out  the music performances in front of Murals at Brockley Station. The music began late in the afternoon, and went on into the early hours, with ten different acts taking part.

It started with Grupo Ase playing traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms and songs and finished with Monkey Rush playing ska-influenced post punk.  They were accompanied by street dancers from Montage Theatre.

Throughout this week there will be live music every evening in various venues, ranging from rock to soul, jazz and hip-hop.

More information is available on the Brockley Max Facebook page and Twitter

For more cerebral events take the train to Dalston and then hop on a bus up to Stoke Newington Media School opposite Clissold Park.  Hackney Unites will be debating everything that matters from environmental issues to asylum and immigration, to the Arts in Hackney.  You can then end the evening at the newly refurbished Stoke Newington Town Hall with Jeremy Hardy and John Hegley who are headlining the Stokie Literary Festival from 7pm.

For eating and drinking before during and after these events check out our listings which are all organised for your convenience, around each East LondonLine Station.

If you know of any events, concerts, festivals, happenings of all kinds, we should attend, email us at news@eastlondonlines.co.uk, and maybe we will see you there!