We definitely wanna go...
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Half term has poked its head round the corner again, and already cries of “I’m bored”, “can we watch tele” and “can I have some money for the shop” have erupted from the mouths of your darling children. Keep ‘em away from the box, and their grubby paws away from your purse strings, by taking ‘em to the castle to get right stuck in to some free family activities, courtesy of Dolly Parton’s Imagination library. Make a shark mask, meet Peppa Pig herself, and make sure you get down to Geoffrey Jumper’s under the sea themed puppet show – you’re advised to bring a brolly for that one. If that’s not enough to persuade the nippers to go with you, they’ll get a free balloon animal for their troubles. Everyone’s a winner.
Thursday 9 June, 10.30am, free, Nottingham Castle
Bars for days...
Clash Money
We got bars for days. Clash Money’s got bars for days. Youthoracle has done it again. Yep, don’t watch us. Just getting right in the mood for the latest Clash Money rap battle event, set to blow the socks right off your tootsies. Liverpool’s Oshea will battle Leeds-based Matter as the main event of the evening, and our very own – unbeaten – Brizzaling, aka The Left Lioness, will no doubt be bringing down her opponent Kinell in a blaze of fire. Bias aside, there’ll be beatbox battles, live art and clothing stalls to make it an event with a little summat for everyone. Just make sure you don’t chatter during filming. Safe.
Friday 10 June, 9pm, £8, Market Bar
It's gonna be a biggun...
Gate to Southwell Festival
The Gate to Southwell Festival is one of the baddest acoustic, dance and roots music festivals. Catch Hayseed Dixie – who have crossed the pond especially – Show of Hands, and BBC Folk Awards Best Newcomer, Jackie Oates Trio. Plus, our designer, Raph, will be performing with his band The Killer Bees. The festival turns ten this year, and they’ve got a whole bunch of ceilidhs, a significant helping of street theatre and a one-of-a-kind late night silent folk disco, and even some DIY Poets spoken word to celebrate. It’s a proper family-friendly event, so pack up the kiddos and dig that six man tent jobby out the back of the garage. Fingers crossed it’ll be mad sunny an’ all.
Thursday 9 - Sunday 12 June, £115 per adult ticket, camping not included.
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Oo-er...
House of Q
Well, smack us on the bum and call us Larry. This one’s a date for the diary. Nonsuch Theatre’s brand new space on Clarendon Street is about to be taken over by The House of Q, who will host an evening of wonderful variety and a whole lorra cabaret. Illusionist Neil Kelso will wow you with his psychic ability, and burlesque goddess, Felicity Furore will bring all the class and tease one needs of a Friday evening. Alexander Luttley is the House of Q’s gender-bending clown and vocal acrobat, who performs under the pseudonym of Pi the Mime and Mercury. It’s definitely worth clearing your schedule for. And make sure you hire a babysitter.
Friday 10 June, 8pm, £10, N_Space
New Art Exchange...
On The Green with Hetain Patel
Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf exhibition at the New Art Exchange has gone down a storm with folk of all ages. Enlisting the help of artists from all o’er the shop, the mini-golf course asks important questions about the travel and tourism trade across the globe. One said artist, Hetain Patel, will be enlightening us about his golfing green, featured in the exhibition. Mr Patel graduated from Nottingham Trent, so it’s the prime opportunity to see what a truly local artist has got to say about his work. Plus, you’ll probably get to have a go on the course, so it’s a win win situation, really.
Friday 10 June, 6.30pm, free, New Art Exchange
A Midsummer's afternoon dream...
Where You At
When the weather brightens up in good old Hoodtown, we come out to play. Hockley’s bars and cafes are ram-packed with punters, spilling out onto the cobbled streets. Market Square becomes a proper city centre attraction, and the Arboretum is a maze of picnics, with the sweet smell of wackeh backeh wafting through the air. The Bodega are getting in on the act with another one of their all-day garden parties. There’ll be a Function One sound system rattling the tunes around, and there’ll no doubt be a barbecue of sorts for you to sink your teeth into. Their last event was full to capacity by 5pm, so get down early to make sure you can get in.
Saturday 11 June, 2pm, £tbc, The Bodega
Big up the Notts music scene...
Ukiyo Records Showcase
Oh, we love it when all of our musical buddies and pals come together to strut their stuff in an evening of mass celebration and delight. This week, it’s the turn of the artists signed to Frazer Lowrie and Dan Hall’s new label, Ukiyo Records. Catch the likes of Lowrie himself, the acoustic stylings of Molly & Jack, the lovely lass that is Beth Frisby, and the beautiful Jamie Moon in one monster session set to make sweet sweet love to your ear drums. Plus, it’ll only set you back £4 – that’s like a pahnd per artist, which we reckon is well worth it. Get your act together and pop down.
Saturday 11 June, 6.30pm, £4, The Bodega
Get yer swap on...
Community Food Swap
While some of us have been checking if we can get our cucumbers cheaper from Tesco or ASDA, a lot of the Nottingham populace are sticking it to the man and getting green fingered. With the 75-acre St Ann’s Allotments smack bang in the middle of the city, it’s no wonder we’re brimming with the freshest of edible gear. Home Grown Exchange have set up an event the community to swap everything edible – from homemade jam, to chicken eggs and herbs – as long as it’s home made, home grown or foraged, it’s cool. So gerrin yer green’ahse, make sure you book yourself a free ticket to the event, and get swapping.
Sunday 12 June, 1pm, free, Green’s Windmill
Climb aboard...
Paddle Boarding with Adventure SUP
Ever been paddle boarding? Unbeknown to many, you don’t have to be on a swanky beach somewhere to get stuck in – you can do it right here in Nottingham. SUP Yoga and Fitness, who combine paddle boarding with yoga, are hosting a few different sessions this month, meaning you can bask in the sun on the river without a care in the world. Well, apart from falling in and your face dissolving, that is. On Sunday 12, it’ll be time for a Trent Loop for ten whole miles, starting at Beeston Lock and stopping off at various places for beers, ice creams and the like. On Sunday 19, they’ve got a Dads vs Kids river challenge, and their Full Moon evening paddle on Monday 20 has sold out already. Get yersen to their website to book – it looks like a right good craic and you’ll come away feeling all zen and that.
Sunday 12 June, 11am, £48 - £60, Beeston Lock
For the full motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensiveNottingham events listings.
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