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 26th JUNE – SUNDAY 28th JUNE 2015

Gunslingers
Everyone loves a good Western, right? However it has often proved a difficult genre to approach in modern cinema without attracting the pastiche label. But first time director John Maclean (one-time member of The Beta Band) isn’t put off that easily and has thrown a creatively brilliant curveball into the Western mix, his debut feature Slow West (2015).

The late 19th-century trail western follows Jay (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a pale young Scot looking to reunite with his beloved after she was forced to flee. Unprepared for the hardships of frontier life, Jay falls in with Silas (Michael Fassbender), a cheroot-chewing desperado, they strike out west to Colorado, encountering oddballs and ne’er-do-wells along the way.

There’s a major Coen brothers influence here (which is by no means a bad thing), Slow West falls nicely in between their ice-cold No Country For Old Men and their mud-spattered remake of True Grit.

Elegantly shot with a witty script to boot, Maclean’s first shot hits hard, right in the sweet spot.

Slow West, 84 mins. Out now

Enter the wormhole
A psychedelic cocoon has landed in the Serpentine Gallery garden this week, the latest incarnation of their annual summer pavilion series.

Created by architects José Selgas and Lucía Cano this year’s commission is a “party pavilion” according to the Serpentine Gallery’s director, Julia Peyton-Jones. Formed by a steel skeleton draped in multi-coloured plastic sheeting it’s an urban clash that demands your attention.

The pavilion marks the start of their annual summer programme chock-a-block with live art, poetry, music, film, literature and performance. This weekend the attention is on Ghanaian artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, the Turner Prize nominee with be discussing her famous figurative oil painting aesthetic.

Serpentine Pavilion series begins this weekend
The full programme is available here

Best known as the drummer of Cream, alongside Eric Clapton and the late Jack Bruce, Baker became an instant iconic figure, that wild ginger hair, the glaring eyes and the explosive temper that was well documented in the brilliant Beware of Mr Baker (2012) – at one point he actually whacks film maker Jay Bulger in the face with his cane. Brutal.

The 75 year old is as prolific as they come. From his time in Cream to Blind Faith to Ginger Baker’s Air Force and all numerous other wacky jazz projects, Baker never puts his sticks down for too long. This is a must-see gig, provoke him at your peril…

Ginger Baker plays at Jazz Cafe, Camden on Saturday 27th June
Book tickets here

All Aboard
American artist and film-maker Doug Aitken’s latest film Station to Station is a nomadic experience. A ‘living exhibition’ that began as a 4,000-mile train journey on an illuminated vintage train filled with artists, musicians, writers and dancers (including Patti Smith, Thurston Moore, Ariel Pink, Giorgio Moroder and Cat Power) stopping off at nine towns between New York and California and finally landing at London’s Barbican this weekend.

As well as a screening of the film the Barbican will also host an eclectic “30 Day Happening” of rehearsals, workshops, talks, readings, dances, films, video clips. Musical residences come from J. Spaceman, Savages, Suicide and Beck (whose new single Dreams is our song of the summer btw, quick tip), whilst artists and photographers contributing to the series include Martin Creed, Juergen Teller, George Barton and many more.

This line up blows everything else out the water, if you’re stuck for ideas this July just head to the Barbican and you know it’s going to be good.

Station to Station begins 27th June at Barbican
The full programme is available here

One hell of a place
Whilst you’re East-bound at the Barbican make your way over to the brilliantly named Satan’s Whiskers, our new favourite watering hole.

Hidden away between some rather uninspiring store fronts there’s a devilish neon glow that entices you in. With a laid back vibe and taxidermy animals eyeing you up from all corners of the room the Bethnal Green whiskey bar has nailed the aesthetic, and on the speakers? Well old school Hip Hop of course.

Cocktails are the order of the night. Strong and tasty, the perfect combo.

Satan’s Whiskers, 343 Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9RA