Top image: Still, ‘Scorpio Rising’ (1963) dir. Kenneth Anger

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 31st AUGUST – MONDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2018

Leather, sex and the occult – we’re in
Having rubbed shoulders with everyone from Mick Jagger and Jean Cocteau to sexologist Alfred Kinsey and Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey, in terms of underground auteurs, one name stands out from most: Occultist and filmmaker Kenneth Anger. Confrontational, controversial and uncompromising, Anger’s unique blend of magik iconography, pop culture references and male sexuality culminates in works that burn deep into the collective consciousness.

This weekend, Dalston’s Moth Club celebrates Anger’s twisted oeuvre with a full night’s programme. Showing three of his most renowned films – Invocation of my Demon Brother, Scorpio Rising and Lucifer Rising – alongside re-imagined live scores, this is the perfect initiation into the world of Anger. And for further reading, check out his notorious Hollywood Babylon books, in which he laid bare the sordid scandals of Hollywood – pure sleaze.

The films will be followed by NTS’ Bones Radio DJs, serving up a distorted playlist that would have Anger himself glued to the dancefloor.

Kenneth Anger night takes place at Moth Club on 2nd September. Tickets available here.

Ears ringing for 48 hours afterwards – get your money’s worth
Whether you’ve just had the week from hell or life is serving you lemons, here’s a recommendation that holds as much value regardless of your current sitch on the emotion spectrum, for Death Grips are holding residence at The Royal Albert Hall.

Yes, you heard right. Those sonic enfants terribles are pitching up in one of the world’s most historical and iconic venues for a night of no-holds-barred chaos. If you haven’t seen this duo perform live before, just imagine getting repeatedly kicked in the head with bass and lasers, whilst being repeatedly punched in the head by surrounding fans. And that’s meant as a reason to absolutely go btw.

At the time of writing the gig is sold out, but where there’s a will there’s a way. So beg, steal or borrow – this is one to tell the grandkids about.

Death Grips perform at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 1st September.

Holy moly
Our second gig suggestion (but no less recommended) for the weekend is Stockholm psych merchant Holy. Having returned with his sophomore record, All These Worlds Are Yours, earlier this year (and it’s a belter!), Holy – real name Hannes Ferm – will be showcasing his new tracks alongside those from his 2015 debut Stabs.

A perfectionist’s baby, the new record was conceived at the notoriously DIY Studio Cobra, where Ferm would sneak in late at night to deconstruct his songs and build them up again, layer by layer like some mad scientist with a sleep disorder. The finished result is a piece of work exploring our relationship with the night (makes sense). So what better way to hear the record than at night, via Ferm’s own words at Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms.

Read our 2015 interview with Holy to get yourself in the mood.

Holy plays at Shacklewell Arms on Friday 31st August. Tickets here.

One room, lots of art
Bristolian five-piece punk outfit Idles have just released their new album, Joy As An Act Of Resistance, and it’s really bloody good. Beyond their pithy, seemingly irreverent veneer, they’re a group of musicians who like to address serious issues, a number of which, like the loss of frontman Joe Talbot’s mother and the pitfalls of masculinity, run through the album.

In celebration of its release they’ve put together the Joy Exhibition, a one room affair on Nile Street that sheds some light on the collective consciousness behind the band’s sound with a vinyl takeaway to boot. In their words, “It’s a parade of laughing at the funeral, of listening to the bastards, of phlegm on the mirror. It’s a parade of my Grandfather’s wit, it is all the shit haircuts I’ve ever had.” Nuff said.

Joy Exhibition is on at HM Electric Gallery, 65 Nile Street, London N1 7RD from 30th + 31st Aug 2018. For more information click here.

Wax on
Crate-diggers unite! Hackney record fair is back, offering up piles and piles of rare, obscure records alongside fanzines and DIY merch.

Next Sunday! Hackney Record Fair – Sunday 2nd September at @earthackney £2 entry 11am – 6pm #Dalston #records #vinyl #stokenewington #independentrecordlabels #fanzines #records #Recordfair #recordcollector #recordcollecting #hackneyrecordfair #vinyljunkie #vintagehifi #vinyljunkies #c86 #Dalston #hifi #londonmusic #recordcollector #recordcollection #shacklewellarms #counterculture #undergroundmusic #musicblog #musicblogger #musicbloggers #recordcollection #recordcollector #recordcollecting #cratedigging #rarevinyl #rarerecords #hackneyartscentre

A post shared by Hackney Record Fair (@hackneyfleamarket) on Aug 26, 2018 at 12:49am PDT

The perfect Sunday activity (especially just after payday), you’ll also find an on-site bakery, record cleaning service and DJs playing all day. What’s not to like.

Hackney Record Fair takes place on Sunday 2nd September at Hackney Arts Centre.

Audrey Hepburn getting her hair did
Renowned for her legacy of iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday and Funny Face, here’s your chance to see Audrey Hepburn BTS. Proud Central gallery’s latest exhibition showcases a selection of portraits exploring Hepburn’s life beyond the screen, on the 25th anniversary of her death at the age of 63.

Exploring the iconic actor’s charming and playful personality via works by renowned names such as Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson and Bob Wiloughby, the exhibition will 100% have you heading home for a Hepburn-a-thon – and that’s never a bad thing.

Audrey Hepburn: Beyond the Screen runs from August 17 to September 30 at Proud Central.

How’d you like it, runny or firmly set?
Is there any food that better embodies a warm, reassuring embrace like the humble soft boiled egg with soldiers? Thought not. Crispin, who have just opened their new premises in Spitalfields, have cottoned on to this particular culinary law with a brunch menu that seriously delivers on comfort.

There’s absolutely no missing them either, in an extraordinary glass and steel structure that looks part ice queen palace and part Titanic stern, the pavillion certainly shouts above the din of its surrounding East End architecture. Not to mention the fact that Crispin have teamed up with ace Stoke Newington bakers Dusty Knuckle for a dinking experience you’re never likely to forget.

Crispin is located at White’s Row, Spitalfields, on the junction with Crispin Street. Breakfast prices range from £5-£9.