Pick of the Week: 2 - 8 November

Wrap up an' head down to Forest Rec...
 

Starting to Write: Your First Novel
If the creative juices have dried up faster than rain in the Sahara, then you need bash that head against your writer's block no longer. Pop down to Waterstones and take part in their course, especially designed for those of you who want to write a bestseller, but just can’t work out where to start. Victoria Villasenor will give you the creative kick up the arse you need, helping you to look at your plot and character construction, as well as your story arcs and narrative voice. You’ll be selling copies by the million in no time.
Monday 2 November, 1-3pm, £84/£96, Waterstones

Grim Finga

Grim and Kid with Rubberdub
Two of the city’s most prolific street artists, Grim Finga and Small Kid, have joined forces in a cloud of emulsion and spray paint, to bring you a jock-off selection of brand new work. This month, Alley Cafe will be home to some off-the-chain A3 prints, designed and created especially for the prying eyes of you folk. Expect the grimmest of digits, some cute hooded figures, and gawd knows what else. The exhibition is launched with a proper party, the best way Notts knows how – with Rubberdub Sound System, of course. Get down for a particularly tasty espresso martini, a good owd jig, and to engage in some proper art exhibition chat. Whatever that is.
Wednesday 4 November, 7pm, free, Alley Cafe

Bonfire Night
It’s about time you dug out the owd ear muffs and asked yer nan for a fresh pair of mittens, ‘cos winter is coming thick and fast, right alongside Bonfire Night. Forest Rec hasn’t had time to catch its bleddy breath since Goosey arrived, and we’re about ready to pillage the fields again with the footfall of thousands to watch the biggest and baddest fireworks display in the Midlands fill our eyes and hearts with sparks. The evening starts at 5.30pm with the opening of the fun fair, and kiddy fireworks kick off at 7.15pm, so you can pack ‘em off to bed in time for school the next day. The bonfire will be lit at 7.45pm sharp, and as tempting as it might be to lob a life-sized effigy of Mr Cameron onto the burning embers, it’s not allowed, so save it for yer own burning shenanigans at ‘ome. Fireworks for the grown-ups will be blasted into space from 9pm, so make sure you’ve got a chilli-coated jacket potato in yer hands in time. Round up all your best mates, and have a right good Thursday eve of it. And, apart from your tatty, it won’t cost you a penny.
Thursday 5 November, 5.30pm, free, Forest Recreation Ground

Nottingha-ha-ha-ham

Nottingham Comedy Festival 
Now in its seventh year, these lot ain’t mucking about when it comes to having a larf. Spanning an entire week and incorporating over fifteen venues, the festival has some big hitters on the roster including Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse at the Theatre Royal. But there’s loads of room for the more obscure: Daniel Nicholas’ show, Reverb – The Lovestory of Terrance the Crocodile and Julia the Mannequin. Sounds like a proper giggle to us, and you’ll be able to watch with a salt beef beigel at Rough Trade, for absolutely no damage to your wallet at all. Minus the fiver for the scran, of course. The banter bus is travelling all over the shop, and isn’t confined to the city centre, with shows being hosted across town, including The Maze, Poppy and Pint in West Bridgford, and the Admiral Rodney out in Southwell. If you’re a fan of one-liners, don’t miss Gary Delaney at The Canalhouse for just a fiver. He’s a right funneh bloke and will tell you all sorts about his private life, ‘’When my girlfriend suggested we try playing doctors and nurses, I was really hoping for something sexier than being left in a corridor for two days.” Gerron down.
Friday 6 - Saturday 14 November, £5 - £10, various venues

Circuit: Affinity Festival
If young, local and creative are three adjectives that apply directly to you, then prick up thine ears, youth. The wondrous beings behind Collabor-8 are taking over Tempreh to bring you a free festival like no other. Showcasing talent from near and far, you’ll be able to get right inspired by the musical stylings of artists like Lady Leshurr, Harleighblu, Congi and Yazmin Lacey, and get stuck in to VJ-ing workshops with Urban Projections, jewellery making, and loads more. There’ll also be food, films and a whole load of networking to be done. So iron your shirt, get stuck in to what’s on offer, and soak up the talent of our city. It’ll be you, next.
Friday 6 November, 12pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Give it to us. Now.

Cake Sale for Calais
If you’re one of them folk who love the sweet taste of doing sommat good, combined with the sweet taste of sommat actually sweet tasting, then by golly are you in for a treat this week. Head over to the St John’s Parish Church in Beeston, and spend your pocket money on a load of fairy cakes, freshly baked in aid of the refugee crisis in Calais. Your piggy bank’s contents will go towards raising funds for selfless charity workers in Nottingham to travel to Calais to help relieve the situation.
Saturday 7 November, 10am, free entry, St Johns Parish Church, Beeston

Tumble Audio
The biggest, baddest and raddest grime and bassline night is ready to hit Notts like a ton of bricks this weekend. Taking over the Bodega once again, the guys at Tumble Audio have got a ram up night of drums, bass and bars ready and waiting for you. There’s three newbies for you sink your teeth into, and you’re urged to keep your ears to the ground to find out who they are. So far, the line-up consists of Walton, TRC and Killjoy, and all sound is provided by Sinai Sound System. Get your tickets booked online sooner rather than later, else you’ll be sitting home alone this weekend.
Saturday 7 November, 11pm, £7, Bodega

Lustre
As much as you don’t wanna hear it yet, Crimbo is beginning to rear it’s tinsel-clad head piece over the horizon. Don’t leave yourself in the same ‘orrid situation as last year and fret over last minute pressies for long lost cousins and the in-laws. Gerrup early this weekend, head on down to Lakeside Arts, and have a gander at the craft fair they’ve got a gwarnin. Over 65 of the country’s best craft makers will be selling their wares, so make sure you get there early to bag the best stocking fillers this side of the North Pole.
Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 November, £5, Lakeside Arts

Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain

Scratch: Record and Craft Fair
New Art Exchange’s current exhibition, Sound Systems Back in Da Day, is all about the beats, the bass, the community, and the heart of music. And what better way to celebrate this than with a good old record fair. There’ll be record and music stalls – naturally – zines, live DJs, live illustration and you can have a go at screen printing. And, if you like to get technical, there’s a mini-amp building workshop, plus Plates Records will be giving a talk on the history of turntables and how records are made. It also marks the launch of the Wilfred Limonious exhibition, so all in all, it promises to be a lot fresher than the musty fairs held in church halls of the eighties and nineties. Get on down.
Saturday 7 November, 11am – 5pm, free, New Art Exchange

Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain 
If you missed the massive Sleaford Mods weekend back at the start of October, then fear not. You’ve got one last chance to catch their kitchen sink, realer than real documentary about the real ‘Broken Britain’ this weekend. The band take a tour of the UK, and pay visit to the most neglected, boarded up corners of our country, and ask why residents in these areas are forced to live this way. It’s probably the biggest middle finger to austerity this side of Jeremy Corbyn. Expect themes of anarchy, a hell of a lot of passion, and one huge “fuck you” to the men in suits down on Downing Street.
Sunday 8 November, 8.30pm, £8.20, Broadway

For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.

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