What’s on in London this week: 2 - 8 September 2024

Discover our pick of events in London this week: 2 – 8 September 2024.

London Podcast Festival 2024

The London Podcast Festival is returning to King’s Cross for its ninth edition, featuring 11 days of live podcasting events. Highlights include Nick Grimshaw hosting a live edition of Dish from Waitrose, Maisie Williams co-hosting the Frank Film Club, and comedian Joanne McNally joining Jameela Jamil on I Weigh… Click here for more details.

Date: 5 - 15 September 2024. Location: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG. Click here for the full programme of events. 

London Podcast Festival. Photo by Viktor Erik Emanuel.

Rolf Hind: Sky in a Small Cage: The extraordinary life of Rumi

Mahogany Opera opens the Barbican’s classical music season with the UK premiere of Rolf Hind’s new work, inspired by Sufi mystic and poet Rumi, after its debut at the Copenhagen Opera Festival. Directed by Frederic Wake-Walker, the opera blends Rumi's poetry and words by award-winning poet Dante Micheaux, exploring themes of love, loss, and spirituality. Narrator Elaine Mitchener leads a talented cast, including countertenor James Hall and bass-baritone-dancer Yannis François, who depict the spiritual relationship between Rumi and his guide, Shams. The performance also features mezzo-soprano Loré Lixenberg, six ensemble singers, and the Riot Ensemble.

Date: 8 September 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £15 +BF. Book now.

Birkenstock 250th anniversary exhibition

To celebrate its 250th anniversary, Birkenstock is hosting a photo exhibition and book launch at Birkenstock Studios from 5 to 8 September. The exhibition will showcase the brand's history and cultural impact, featuring never-before-seen archive materials from The Book of Birkenstock, including historic advertisements, original photos, and iconic campaigns.

Date: 5 - 8 September 2024. Time: Noon - 6pm.  Location: BIRKENSTOCK Studio, 91 Brick Lane, Shoreditch, E1 6QL. Price: Free. birkenstock.com.

Birkenstock is hosting a photo exhibition and book launch at Birkenstock Studios from 5 to 8 September 2024.

Totally Thames 2024

Totally Thames, a month-long celebration of London's river, starts this week. The September 2024 festival features artwork, outdoor concerts, cultural events, and free exhibitions. Highlights include "Hulked" on the sailing barge Edith May, "Sing for Water," mudlarking exhibitions, and the Clean Thames Challenge. Key events also include the St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival, Thames Tideway Tunnel Boat Tour, and Great River Race.

Date: 1 – 30 September 2024. See Totally Thames full programme of events at thamesfestivaltrust.org.

Unlimited Festival

Opening at the Southbank Centre this week, Unlimited Festival is the UK’s largest celebration of disabled and D/deaf artists. It features new commissions, unique events, and existing works across various art forms, including performance, dance, literature, comedy, music, and visual art. The festival offers both free and participatory events, showcasing ambitious and thought-provoking work from UK and international artists.

Date:  4 ⁠–⁠  8 September 2024. Location: Southbank Centre. Click here for the full festival programme. 

Totally Thames returns this September 2024. Photo by Genevieve Perron Migneron.

London Mural Festival 2024 

The London Mural Festival, organised by Global Street Art, returns this week, showcasing over 100 murals across the city. Themed around ‘connection’, the festival will feature contributions from top street artists worldwide, bringing together artists, communities, and visitors to celebrate London's diversity.

Date: 5  - 29 September 2024. Location: Throughout London. londonmuralfestival.com.

Cocktails in the City

Returning to Bedford Square Gardens this week for its final instalment of the year, the event features pop-ups from 20 of London’s best bars, along with cocktail masterclasses, a silent disco, live music, and plenty of fun!

Click here for a visual preview of Cocktails in the City.

Date: 5 – 8 September 2024 Location: Bedford Square Garden, Bedford Square, WC1B 3ES. Price: £22 per person, including welcome cocktail, live music and tasting sessions. Book now.

The Marriage of Figaro ©2023 Clive Barda.

Cornelius + Ichiko Aoba 

Cornelius, a Shibuya-kei pioneer, marks his 30th anniversary with a Hall performance. Known for his experimental pop, he gained fame with the 1997 album Fantasma and has collaborated with artists like the Yellow Magic Orchestra. His latest album, Dream In Dream (2023), blends electronic and acoustic sounds. The show, featuring synchronized sound and visuals, will open with atmospheric folk musician Ichiko Aoba.

Date: 6 September 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £25 +BF. Book now.

The Marriage of Figaro

Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro opens the Royal Opera House's season this week, directed by David McVicar. Ying Fang makes her UK debut as Susanna, with a cast that includes Luca Micheletti, Huw Montague Rendall, and Jacquelyn Stucker. Julia Jones will conduct, promising a memorable and enjoyable performance.

Date: 2 September – 15 September 2024. Location: Main Stage, Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD. Price: From £51 - £245. Book now.

A book club is coming to Rooftop Film Club at the Bussey Building in Peckham this week. Photo by MTotoe.

Rooftop Book Club

Bussey Rooftop Bar is hosting its inaugural Rooftop Book Club this week, featuring author Beth McColl and a discussion of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. The event includes a movie screening, a drink, and a goodie bag. It's a great opportunity for book lovers to connect and enjoy a film under the stars. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Date: 4 September 2024, Location: Bussey Building, Copeland Park 133 Copeland Road Peckham London SE15 3SN. Price: from £32. Book now.

Paralympic Games 2024

The Paralympic Games began in Paris on 28 August and will continue until 8 September. Click here for where you can catch the action in London.

Arts & Culture

September will bring the opening of several new exhibitions. Click here for our round-up of what to expect in London.

Below is a reminder of some art exhibitions concluding this month:

The Vinyl Factory: REVERB

The Vinyl Factory: REVERB at 180 Studios is a major multimedia exhibition celebrating art and sound, featuring over 100 artists and musicians. It includes 18 audio-visual installations from notable figures such as Theaster Gates, Es Devlin, and Virgil Abloh, along with UK premieres by Kahlil Joseph and Virgil Abloh. Highlights include Devon Turnbull’s Listening Room with exclusive music and Ben Kelly’s installation of 100 rare vinyl records. Click here for our review.

Date: 23 May – 28 September 2024. Location: 180 Studios, 180 The Strand, London, WC2R 1EA. Price: from £20. Website: 180studios.com.

Reverb at 180 Studios. Stan Douglas. Photo by Jack Hems.

Ernest Cole: House of Bondage 

The Photographers' Gallery is showcasing the groundbreaking work of South African photographer Ernest Cole, who exposed the brutal reality of apartheid. The exhibition features over 100 photographs, including previously unpublished works, curated in collaboration with Magnum Photos. 

Date: 14 June – 22 September 2024. Location: The Photographers’ Gallery 16–18 Ramillies Street London W1F 7LW. Price: £8 / £5 concessions (members go free) Advance online booking: £6.50 / £4 concessions. Book now.

Roger Mayne: Youth

British photographer Roger Mayne's exhibition Youth, showcasing evocative black-and-white images of young people from the 1950s and 1960s, is currently on display at the Courtauld Gallery.

Date: 14 June – 1 September 2024. Location:Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN. Price: from £10. Concessions available. Book now. 

‘St Ann's, Nottingham’ (1969) can be seen in the exhibition Youth by Roger Mayne, on show at the Courtuald Gallery. Photo by MTotoe.

Rheim Alkadhi: Templates for Liberation

The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is hosting the UK's inaugural exhibition of artist Rheim Alkadhi's work, which explores the enduring impacts of war and colonialism.

Date: 11 June - 8 September 2024. Location: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH. Price: £6. Book now.

Gavin Jantjes' Retrospective

The Whitechapel Gallery is hosting a retrospective of South African painter and printmaker Gavin Jantjes, marking his largest solo presentation in the UK. The exhibition showcases over 100 works from his five-decade career.

Date: 12 June - 1 September 2024. Location: Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. Price: from £9.50. Book now.

Lonnie Holley: All Rendered Truth 

The Camden Art Centre is hosting a major solo exhibition by American artist and musician Lonnie Holley, titled All Rendered Truth. The show features new works from his UK residency and previously unseen sculptures from Italy. Holley's art, shaped by his experiences growing up in Alabama and his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, transforms discarded objects into symbols of hope and redemption. His work carries a message of hope, humility, and inspiration, encouraging viewers to live well and prepare for future generations.

Date: 5 July – 15 September 2024.  Location: Camden Art Centre, Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6DG. Price: Free. camdenartcentre.org.

Lonnie Holley at Camden Art Centre. Photo by MTotoe.

NONOTAK: ECLIPSE

Lumen Studios presents ECLIPSE by the creative duo NONOTAK in London, featuring three large-scale installations—‘HIGHWAY’, ‘DUAL’, and ‘HIDDEN SHADOWS’—that blend light and sound. As part of the exhibition, there will be special live performances on 5, 6, and 7 September. A portion of the ticket sales will support the Lumen Prize, which celebrates digital art innovation.Link in bio for  more details and to book your tickets. 

Date: 30 August - 8 December 2024. Location: 47 Tanner St, SE1 3PL. Price: from £26 + £2 BF. eclipse.show. 

NONOTAK, “HIGHWAY” (2022). Audiovisual light installation at Cineum Cannes as part of NONOTAK solo exhibition HORIZONS

Review of the Week

Shifters

Benedict Lombe’s critically acclaimed romance Shifters is now playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, following a sold-out run at the Bush Theatre. Directed by Lynette Linton, the play runs until 12 October and explores themes of identity and love through its compelling characters.

Click here for our full review.

Date: 12 August - 12 October 2024. Location: The Duke of York's Theatre, St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4BG. Price: from £20. thedukeofyorks.com.

Christopher Zalla's heartwarming drama, Radical, on show at the Barbican Cinema this week. Photo by Peter Yang.

#FLOFavourites: Pick of the Week

FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK  

One Tree Hill

Experience one of London's finest views by visiting One Tree Hill in Honor Oak Park. This 7-acre nature reserve in Southeast London provides a tranquil retreat from city life, accessible via the Overground train. The summit offers panoramic vistas of landmarks like The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Canary Wharf, along with a rich history and diverse wildlife.

Click here for more.

Location: Honor Oak Rise, London, SE23 3RA. Nearest station: Honour Oak or Crofton Park. 

Interview of the week 

In conversation with FriendsWithYou

Los Angeles-based artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, known as FriendsWithYou. Covent Garden. Photo by David Parry.

Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, the acclaimed LA-based artists behind the collective ‘FriendsWithYou’, are the creative minds behind Little Cloud World, now on display in Covent Garden. During their recent London visit, we had the opportunity to discuss their creative process and the inspiration behind the project.

Click here to read the full interview.

Food of the week 

Babur

Babur, a respected family-run restaurant established in 1985, is known for its enduring quality. Led by talented chefs Jiwan Lal and Praveen Kumar Gupta, both former members of the luxury Oberoi Hotel Group, Babur won London’s Best Asian Restaurant at the 2022 Asian Restaurant Awards. Click here for our full review.

Location: 119 Brockley Rise SE23 1JP. Nearest station: Honour Oak or Crofton Park. babur.info. 

Babur restaurant, Forest Hill.

Cause of the week 

Volunteering with The National Trust

Ham House and Garden. Photo by MTotoe.

The National Trust offers a range of volunteering opportunities at their historic sites, including Ham House and Garden, as well as other locations like Modern Hall Park. Volunteers can engage in various roles, from gaining horticultural skills to sharing historical insights and welcoming visitors. Flexible time commitments are available to suit your schedule.

Click here to discover more on how to volunteer with The National Trust.

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