It’s bonfire night weekend, so grab your toffee apples, jacket spuds and mulled booze, and warm yourself up with our latest Weekend Combo curation of good stuff happening in London across the next few days.

Pzzzzzz…. boom!! That’s a firework btw…

Black Mambas
Showing at Dalston Rio as part of the UK Green Film Festival 2022, Lena Karbe’s acclaimed documentary tells the story of the Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa, dressed in camouflage and trained in a military-style boot camp. Yet scrape at this badass image and Karbe reveals that the Black Mamba women lack decision-making power and are actually chosen by white superiors as part of a marketing ploy. It’s a fascinating work exploring issues of race, equality and class dynamics.

Black Mambas is showing at Dalston Rio on Friday 4th November at 18:30

Life, but not as you know it
A free retrospective of pioneering British photographer Bill Brandt has arrived at Tate Britain, titled Inside the Mirror, a selection of 44 works from Brandt’s archive have been carefully curated to offer up a cohesive snapshot of his career. A leading visionary of the mid-20th century, Brandt was at the fore of change as a period of experimentation and growth spread through the art world. Known in the 1930s for his observations of British life and later for his landscapes, portraits and nudes, his signature approach of merging experimentation and artistic intention evoked the surreal beauty he teased out of the everyday.

Bill Brandt: Inside the Mirror runs at Tate Britain until 15th January, more info here. 

Fire and brimstone
All of a sudden it’s November, so bonfire night plans need to made and luckily this year Alexandra Palace are back with a bang (love a pun). Known for putting on one of the best displays in the city, Ally Pally always offers up a little something extra. While you’re warming up by the bonfire, an endless supply of sizzlin’ street food stalls and a huge German Bier Fest will also be on hand. So, as the dust settles on bonfire night, you can officially take the leap into the festive season.

Ally Pally’s Firework Festival will take place on 5th November, more info here.

A grand return
What better way to warm up this weekend than getting hot and sweaty with Copenhagen outfit Lust For Youth, who are performing at Moth Club this Friday – their first headline show in London for over three years, no less.

Hannes Norrvide’s long-running, ever-evolving project last put out a record in 2019: a self-titled work of beaming synths and new-wave beats (think New Order, M83, Depeche Mode). Amongst the newness, there’s a 90s nostalgia here that would send the Hacienda wild, urging you to immerse yourself and let go – we advise you to do just that.

Lust for Youth play at Moth Club on Friday 4th November – buy tickets.

It’s very pink in here
Turner Prize Winner Tai Shani’s latest exhibition at Gathering in Soho is a hot pink psychedelic trip into the future. A psychedelic temple of contemplation, themes of technospiritualism, psychedelics and occult visions are articulated in a sea of swirling watercolours, dozens of glass eyes and burning candelabras. Exploring cultural changes through the effects of religion, drugs and digital innovation, the exhibition attempts to grasp at reality while also creating new meaning.

Your Arms Outstretched Above Your Head Coding With the Angels runs at Gathering until 6th December, more info here. 

Film-a-thon
It’s no secret Korean cinema is at the top of its game right now, and proving this, the Korean Film Festival lands in London this week with a killer roster. Now in its 17th year, the schedule celebrates everything from blockbusters to indies, documentaries to music videos, as well as a special programme dedicated to the legacy of actor Kang Soo-yeon. Taking place across various locations including Regent Street Cinema, ICA and the Rio, highlights this weekend include screenings of Stellar: A Magical Ride and The 2nd Redemption. 

The Korean Film Festival runs until November 17th, more info here.

Treat yourself
Axel Arigato are hosting a mega three-day sample sale in Farringdon, and everyone loves a bargain. Offering up a mix of stock and samples across menswear, womenswear and accessories at discounted prices, there’s guarenteed gems. As well as heading down to treat yourself, it might also be a good chance to get some early Christmas prezzies in the bag so you can be everyone’s best mate come the 25th.

Axel Arigato’s sample sale runs until 6th November at The Drill Hall, 57a Farringdon Road, EC1M 3JP. For more info click here. 

It’s nice here, let’s stay
From American documentary producer Ryan White, Good Night Oppy investigates the NASA exploration rover that was sent to Mars for a 90-day mission but ended up exploring the planet for fifteen years. Co-produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and narrated by Golden Globe winning actress Angela Bassett, the feature-length documentary sheds a light on the inner workings of NASA’s 1993 mission.

Good Night Oppy is out in cinemas now and arrives on Amazon Prime on 23rd November.

Can’t beat the classics
North London’s cult cafe (pronounced caf) Norman’s is heading East, taking up residency at Shoreditch’s Seed Library. The bar’s regular cocktail menu consisting of Chive daiquiris and Coriander seed gimlets can now be enjoyed alongside a series of small plates from Norman’s kitchen. On the line-up, you can expect classics such as smiley faces with ketchup, whipped cod’s roe with Frazzles and chicken nuggets with chilli sauce – all beautifully presented in that signature Norman’s style.

Norman’s will take up residency at Seed Library until 16th November and is located at 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ. For more info click here.