We bring you our guide to living well in the world’s capitals, from exhibitions to cinema, food, drink, fashion, music and beyond. Just call it culture and take it, it’s yours.

LONDON, FRIDAY 3rd JULY – SUNDAY 5th JULY 2015

Enter the unknown
2001: Space Odyssey opens in in pre-historic times. Neanderthals populate the land, resting under the blazing sun, when suddenly a strange black monolith appears: and as if inspired, one of the apemen discovers how to kill with a bone club. Triumphantly he tosses the bone into the air and as it spins in slow motion against the sky, it morphs into a spaceship, and we are suddenly transported to the moon’s surface in the year 2001, where a strange, black monolith has just been discovered.

Perhaps the most famous opening moments in the history of cinema, Stanley Kubrick’s foray into sci-fi proved to be a pioneer of the genre and a piece of cinematic genius. Forget Instagram filters, each scene comes so beautifully shot there’s zero need for retouching.

However don’t rush out and buy the film on DVD, a small TV screen really doesn’t do it justice, luckily the guys over at the Prince Charles cinema are on hand to provide the proper mega screen experience this Friday evening.

2001: Space Odyssey is being shown at the Prince Charles Cinema on Friday 3rd July at 8.30pm
Book tickets here

That’s Entertainment
“Breaking up is hard to do … but The Jam have done it,” ran the Smash Hits headline back in December 1982, to the misery of Fred Perry clad mods all over the globe. But today the band’s legacy is as strong as ever, never more evident than last weekend hearing the Glastonbury masses burst into a “doo-do-do-doo” singalong, climaxing  Paul Weller’s epic set on the Pyramid Stage.

But don’t get your two-tone knickers in a twist, there’s more Jam goodness to lap up in London, over at Somerset House there’s a new exhibition in celebration of the band titled The Jam: About the Young Idea.

Partly curated by the former head of The Jam’s fan club Nicky Weller (clocked the surname? Yeah, she’s also Weller’s sister), the exhibition looks at The Jam from all angles: their sharp, Mod fashion; their cultural impact and their music, of course. For the very first time, all three members of the band – Paul Weller, Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton – have opened up their archives to give us an insider glance at one of music’s most iconic bands.

The Jam: About the Young Idea runs at Somerset House until 31 August

Eyes down, ears up
Shoegaze vanguards The Jesus and Mary Chain are in London for a a one-off gig as part of the ATP Season at the Roundhouse curated by Mogwai.

As 2015 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Glasgow band’s seismic debut album Psychocandy they will be playing it in full, all 39 minutes of face melting, shoegaze goodness.

Standing the test of time is the ultimate challenge for a record, and Psychocandy does just that. It’s thin, trebly reverb sounds just as mesmerising as it did back in 1985, and hearing it live is something everything should experience at least once in their life. Here’s your chance, don’t let us down.

The Jesus and Mary Chain play at the Roundhouse on Sunday 5th July 
Buy tickets here

Driving force
If seeing The Jesus and Mary Chain doesn’t fill your dreamy, shoegaze quota for the weekend (it really should do) London band Whistlejacket are playing in Stoke Newington the night before.

You’ve probably heard us harp on about how brilliant this band is numerous times, so just press play on the video below and try tell us we’re wrong. (Not that we’d listen anyway, fingers in ears).

Whistlejacket play at The Waiting Room, N16 0LH on Saturday 4th July
Entry is free

Drop in
Free Skateboard Magazine does what it says on the tin, it’s a new free magazine all about…you guessed it, skateboarding.

To mark the launch of their inaugural issue they’re throwing a party over at Bardens Boudior on Stoke Newington Road. Free drinks, free magazine and free music. Boom, night sorted.

They’ll also be showing the premiere of a new skateboarding film by collective Sour Skateboards, head over to Free Skateboard Magazine‘s Facebook page for a load of gnarly skateboard videos to get you in the mood.

Free Skateboard Magazine issue#1 launch party is on Saturday 4th July at 20:00, Bardens Boudior, N16 7XJ

Portraits
It’s that time of the year again when the Portrait Gallery swings open it’s doors for the annual BP Portrait Award.

This year’s stellar line-up boasts a prolific overview of contemporary portraiture – artists were allowed to submit images of their portraits digitally for the first time in the award’s 36 year history.

Whilst most of the portraits feature artist’s close friends and family members there’s a familiar face in the crowd, Bob Geldof painted by French artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott. And check out Leicester-based Michael Gaskell’s Eliza, a breath taking, photo quality painting.

BP Portrait Award nominations are currently being displayed at the National portrait Gallery

Get up offa that thang
Whilst the sun has forgotten which country it’s in and mercury levels hit the roof; raid your wardrobe for your dusty summer clobber, whack on a load of factor thirty and head to Dalston Roof Park for the first Kitsuné rooftop party in a five part series.

The French brand is bringing the funk to East London, titled The Funk Soul Summer the music is self-explanatory – disco classics mixed with some contemporary funk. As always there will also be amazing street food, cocktails galore and a BBQ to fill up on.

Burgers, booze and beats. Blazin’.

Kitsuné’s Funk Soul Summer takes place on Saturday 4th July at Dalston Roof Park, E8 3DL
Book tickets here