Pick of the Week: 8 - 14 December

Poetry is Dead Good
Mondays can be dead boring at this time of year. You're back at work, plummeted into darkness about an hour after the sun's come up, and barely see so much as a smirk from anyone you bump into. Well, turn yer winter frowns upside your face, cos another poetry session is going down to cure the blues, and this time it's in Rescue Rooms. It's a late night jam with wordy goods from the likes of Chris McLoughlin, Stephen Thomas and Joshua Judson, as well as music from Shaman Erginer. There's the open mic slot too, so bring owt you've been working on and take to the stage. No danger. Relaxed vibes, oodles of talent and friendly faces. Don't be shy, duckies.
Monday 8 December, 10.30pm, free, Rescue Rooms

Dealmaker presents Method Man and Redman
Another amazing American hip hop headliner is hitting up Rock City for the final head nodding session of the year. Although this one might go ever-so-slightly beyond that there dance move. Wu Tang’s Method Man and Def Squad’s Redman are set to tear up the place good and proper with a slick brotherly collaboration itched for by heads worldwide. The duo go hard in every sense of the word, bringing those boom bap, old school beats and flows many grew up with and love. A serious dream-come-true gig for Nottinghamites far and wide, made even more hard to believe by the presence of special guests M.O.P. Brooklyn emcee legends, Mash-Out Posse consists of Fizzy Womack, Billy Danze and those prolific tunes of theirs like Robbin Hoodz Theory. Be warned, this gig isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s gonna go off.
Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm, £27.50, Rock City

From Bedrooms to Billions
Video games. Blessing or curse? Waste of time or the best thing since sliced bread? Whether you're wrestling the controller off your other half or your thumbs are permanently fixed at optimum angles for analogue sticks, video games have become a massive part of our lives. There's gonna be a screening of a documentary at Broadway following the development of the industry in Britain, from 1979 up to now. With stories illustrating the rapid rise, including struggles and successes alike, it's sure to be just as entertaining as it will be informative. And an introduction from writer Paul Drury is just the cherry atop a delicious, virtual cake.
Tuesday 9 December, 6pm, £8, Broadway Cinema

Tales from the Darker Side of Winter
Gather round, gather round. Legend has it that two local storytellers have searched lands far and wide to collect the grimmest of tales and most twisted of fables, dragging them from magical depths so the likes of us Nottingham folk can hear them. Forget sleigh bells and merry ding dongs, Tim Ralphs and Mike Payton have got Christmas stories packed with myths, chaos, fear, and everything in between. With stalwart performance experience behind both of their belts, expect ups and downs to create grimaces and giggles of equal stature. Grab a ticket from the venue or reserve one by giving Tim a bell on 07719 092 513... if you dare.
Wednesday 10 December, 7pm, £5, The White Lion, Beeston

Smoke Fairies
Dunno if you've heard, but a brand new record shop has opened on Hockleh, and they're not exactly doing things by halves. Doubling up as a coffee shop and gig venue, Rough Trade hopes to defy the physical record sale slump by creating a space for the community to get involved in. Oh, and they've only gone and got a bleddy air compressor for your bike tyres. Gems. A couple of lovely ladies are bringing their classic, wintery game to Notts after reigniting their love for making music and putting out a new album, so get involved. New venue, new voices, and maybe a new vinyl as a present to yourself. Because, well, you are lovely.
Wednesday 10 December, 7pm, Rough Trade

Melton Original Portraits
Sod your Instagram, your DSLR and your iPhone. It’s all well and good to be able to capture every moment of your life, sober or drunk, but with archives going into the hundreds, if not thousands for some folk, where is the beauty? We’re being flippant, but even though digital photography has made snappers of us all, it’s rare that anyone actually prints their pictures, or even looks at them after they’ve been chucked up on social networks. There’s something a bit special about analogue photography, and Melton Original Portraits take that up a notch with prints that really are one of a kind. By using a sixty-odd-year-old ex-RAF bellows camera and discontinued positive paper stock as opposed to negatives, the portraits he takes are quick and beautiful. If you fancy being immortalised with his camera, wash your face, brush your hair and teeth and just pop in.
Saturday 13 - Sunday 14 December, £10/£15, Malt Cross

The Christmas Covers Party
A few months ago, back when Christmas was but a distant dream, there was a day when men, women and cats were crying into their porridge. The reason for this morning of mourning that will be forever known as Over-Salted Porridge Day was Damn You! announcing that, for the first time in thirteen years, they were not going to be holding their Christmas Covers party. If you’ve ever been and heard the beautiful mess that is created on these occasions, you’ll understand why. If you haven’t, you should be crying for other reasons. This story has a happy ending, though. Hello Thor, Joey Chickenskin and TKBZVCONC got together and said a collective “No!”, then took the baton from Damn You!’s weary, limp hand. And they’re running with it. Run with them. Hear local musicians make love to other musicians songs in the spirit of charity while you drink and be merry.
Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm, £7, The Bodega

Christmas Castle
On top of all the sparkly festive madness in the square, this weekend sees Nottingham Castle get its Noel on with a big craft fair, brass band and its usual cave tours with a Christmassy twist. It's all free to get in, and if you fancy bringing the small humans in your life along, there's a jolly owd fat bloke in a red suit with a rather lonely looking knee and a bag full of presents awaiting your arrival for an extra few quid. For a couple of hours in the afternoon, you can be seated for some quintessentially British afternoon tea - if that takes your fancy - so get involved. The frosty city will look bloody lovely from up there.
Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 December, 10am, free, Nottingham Castle

Pentatronix
No strangers to Nottingham sound waves, Pentatronix are a huge group of musicians who use unique instruments that’ll make your jaw drop. With their world music and big beat vibe, they’re set to take over the Contemporary in a window-rattling ruckus. Made up of electronic producer Si Tew and percussion band Sabar Soundsystem, the live, electro-acoustic collaboration creates an energetic showcase of drumbeats galore. An act like you’ve never seen before, the troop build up some seriously funky tunes, layer by layer, right in front of your popping eyes. Best of all, they look like they’re having the time of their life while they’re at it. After wowing crowds at Glastonbury and BoomTown Fair this year, they’re back in Notts to deliver something completely different from your regular Saturday night pint down the pub, so get stuck in – you won’t regret it.
Saturday 13 December, 8pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Hollaback Nottingham Launch Party
You ever been shouted at in the street? It makes you feel like a right wally, dunnit? Not just for the numbskull harassing you, but cos it's difficult to know how to react to it. Thing is, some don't realise how shitty it can make people feel, so it's important that we raise awareness. Sexist, racist, classist, sizeist – whatever the abuse, the international Hollaback campaign aims to get the conversation going and develop ideas of how we can combat the problem. After a day of art, music, food, talking and walking at The Corner, Rites of Passage are chucking a party to celebrate the initiative, with music from Woman's Hour, Philip FM, Sac Magique, Eastern Promise and Fiona Bruce. Well in.
All dayer: Saturday 13 December, 12pm, free, The Corner
Gig: Saturday 13 December, 8pm, free, Lee Rosy's Disco Basement

Sleeping Beauty
Everyone loves a bit of panto action. Even grumbling Scrooges can’t resist a cheeky trip down the theatre to shout at a bloke dressed as an owd broad. This year, the Playhouse is host to a production of Sleeping Beauty, and although Kenneth Alan Taylor hung up his Dame stockings last year, he’s directing it, so the old magic will still be there. With all the normal get-up of a huge, beautiful set and totally over-the-top costumes, it’d be a shame not to treat the little people in your life, or even the big ‘uns. The tale goes that a lovely princess is cursed by a proper dutty witch, meaning she’s conked out for an age. Luckily, a dashing chap wants to wake her up with cheesy pick-up lines, screamed at the top of his lungs, and we get to follow him on his endeavour. Or something like that.  
Until Saturday 17 January, £22.50 - £29.50, Nottingham Playhouse

A Symphony of Curves: Geoffrey Preston
The Harley Gallery is a bit out of town but if you have access to a car, you’ve no excuse. Their current exhibition, for those that appreciate a good bit of plasterwork, is a perfect way to escape the chaos of the city. We’re not talking your common or garden ceiling rose, or that artex malarky that is the bane of any home buyers existence, Geoffrey Preston is an architectural sculptor who specialises in decorative plasterwork and, in particular, the art of stucco. The smooth white plaster and the delicate curves of his work have a serenity about them, and you can see why rich folk were particularly fond of tarting up their pads with this sort of thing. The pieces on display range from small relief panels to a wildly exuberant new Rococo ceiling, plus you get to see some of his design drawings and photographs.
Runs until Wednesday 24 December, free, Harley Gallery, Worksop

Christmas Jazz Fest
Not that anyone needs an excuse to sling on a gig in this town, but if you do want one, Christmas is a pretty good call. The Nottingham Jazz Orchestra are in the festive mood and as such have organised a seasonal shindig. Catch the big band giving it some, with guest vocalists GaBen and Swing Gitan, in the cosy confines of the Federation House Social Club. Not only will there be jazz sounds and a few surprises, they’re putting on a buffet so you can make an evening of it. Get ready to swing, and on a Sunday, no less.
Sunday 14 December, 7.30pm, £8, Federation House Social Club, Claremont Road

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

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