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 JULY – SUNDAY 2nd AUGUST 2015

Glasgow Smile
Everyone’s favourite rough and ready Glaswegian actor Robert Carlyle (Sorry McAvoy) has added another notch to his acclaimed film career. In his directorial debut The Legend of Barney Thomson Carlyle proves that he’s just as handy behind the camera as he is in front of it.

For his directoral debut Carlyle serves up everything we’ve come to love him for. Set in Carlyle’s native Glasgow the black comedy tells the story of the awkward barber (played by Carlyle) whose dour existence is disrupted when he accidentally kills his boss and looking to cover his tracks he seeks out the help of…his mum (Emma Thompson), of course.

It’s two spoons Sweeney Todd a dollop of Trainspotting and a sprinkle of Ladykiller‘s dark wit.

The Legend of Barney Thomson, in cinemas now. 

Spray it, don’t say it
Before the likes of Banksy and Shepard Fairey there was a period of political street art that kickstarted what we now know as graffiti.

In his book The Writing on the Wall (1976) Roger Perry documented this nascent political and counter-culture graffiti scene in 1970s London. Last seen in book shops nearly 40 years ago it was one of the first major survey of London’s fledgling graffiti scene. Perry’s lens proves a fascinating window into the countercultural scene at the time, helping to establish a trend which has helped transform public perception of graffiti as a visceral art form.

To celebrate the book’s 40th anniversary The Horse Hospital are running an exhibition showcasing Perry’s work, highlighting the photojournalist’s acute eye for cultural movements.

The Writing on the Wall runs until 1st August at The Horse Hospital, Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JD

Old School
There’s a new cinema in town, but this one has a worthy USP, Close-Up in Shoreditch boasts restored 35mm reel-to-reel twin projectors, meaning that you can now catch films which would normally sit in film archives gathering dust.

The cinema will be showing a wide range of auteur cinema and independent films. This Saturday head down for a screening of John Cassavetes’ Shadows (1959), the plot revolves around an interracial romance between Lelia (Lelia Goldoni) and Tony (Anthony Ray).

Shot on location in Manhattan with a cast and crew made up primarily of amateurs, Cassavetes’ Shadows is a visionary work that is widely considered the forerunner of the American independent film movement.

Shadows, showing until 1st August at Close-Up Shoreditch

Brixton’s finest
On Friday evening we’re Brixton bound, for it’s time for another Trashmouth Records party over at Windmill.

Trashmouth – home to The Fat White Family – are offering up a heavy dose of sweat drenched trouble, featuring three of their killer roster, Talman Shud, Meatraffle and BAT-BIKE, Brixton’s finest in all their glory.

If you aren’t won over by the epic band names alone just press play below and listen to the sordid musings of BAT-BIKE. Hold tight, things are going to get very weird, very fast.

Trashmouth Records Party, Friday 31st July at Windmill Brixton, details here.

Lovestruck
The late Lucien Freud is rumoured to have fathered as many as forty children, although gossip rumours don’t often ring true, but it is known that Freud was quite the lothario. However there was one special lady in his life, Lady Caroline Blackwood, said to be the only woman who truly broke his heart.

An exhibition at Ordovas gallery pays tribute to Blackwood via a series of portraits painted by Freud.  Some of the artist’s most tender works, the painting portray Freud’s affection for the young socialite, who later became a successful journalist and novelist.

In her book The Stepdaughter Blackwood spoke of her lavish relationship with Freud, claiming that their London existence was “a whole kind of Soho life: going out Wheeler’s, and then the Colony and the Gargoyle, was the thing with that crowd.”

Girl: Lucien Freud runs until 1st August at Ordavas, 25 Savile Row, London W1S 2ER

Jailhouse Rock
Whilst you’re over in W1 take a trip back to the 50s via Love Die Late, a coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night.

Think Wes Anderson on an Elvis binge. Retro interior, pastel colour palette and enough floorspace for a swing, or two.

And keep an eye out for their Monday night film screenings, a strong cocktail sure beats an overpriced pick ‘n’ mix – we’d opt for the Rising Gaze Collins, it really hits the sweet spot.

Love Die Late, 114 Great Portland St, London W1W 6PH