Record Store Day 11 releases. Over 400 limited editions are due this year. Pic: Aurelien Guichard
To celebrate the UK’s fifth official Record Store Day this Saturday, EastLondonLines has trawled the wires to bring you the stores, gigs and events to look out for. And we’ve also got the usual mix of cultural picks to whet your appetite.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19
Secret 7, Idea Generation Gallery, 11 Chance Street, Shoreditch, London, E2 7JB (From 10am to 6pm, Free)
The Idea Generation gallery is exhibiting around 700 unnamed 7” sleeves inspired by tracks from the Cure, Florence + the Machine, Bombay Bicycle Club, CSS, DJ Shadow, Noah & the Whale and Ben Howard. It will be a mystery who design the sleeves and which of the seven tracks is etched on the record.
From April 21 to 22, each of the one-of-a-kind 7” records will be available to buy for a minimum donation to Teenage Cancer Trust of £40. Every penny profited from the sale of these exclusive vinyl records is going to the charity. See more at secret-7.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20
The Jackathon with Heidi and Benoit & Sergio, Factory 7, 13 Hearn St, London, EC2A 3LS (From 6pm to 4am, £10)
Treat yourself to a warehouse party as the Easter holidays come to an end. The line up includes Heidi, Benoit and Sergio and the Krankbrothers. See more.
SATURDAY, APRIL 21
**Record Store Day 2012: various events**
Independent record stores across the UK, and the world, celebrate their unique culture with special limited edition releases and in-store gigs. Be sure to check trains and get down to your local store early if you want to get your hands on your favourites. See more on the RSD official website.
Customers outside Rough Trade East on RSD 09. Pic: Tom McShane
Rough Trade East, Dray Walk, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL (Opening from 8am till late)
Store events: Keane, Wet Nuns, Becoming Real, Hohnny Flynn, Little Boots and others, plus the British Record Shop archive will exhibit a collection of vintage/retro record shop bags. See more at Rough Trade.
Kristina Records, 44 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, London, N16 7XJ (Open from 10am till 9pm)
Store events: DJ sets by Veronica Falls, Raime, Blackest Ever Black, Auntie Flo, Cage and Aviary and House of Traps. Visit the website.
Flashback Records, 50 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 8LR
Store events: at 7pm, the Fair Ohs play a live set at Flashback’s Islington store. Visit the website.
Casbah Records, 320-322 Creek Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9SW (Open from 10am); Facebook page.
SUNDAY, APRIL 22
London Marathon, various parts of London
This year’s London Marathon route begins at Greenwich Park and takes participants on a scenic tour of the capital, through Docklands, Canary Wharf and past the Tower of London, before finishing at St James Park. If you are not involved in the 26.2 mile run, there are plenty of good spots to observe and show your support. Much of the route is covered by DLR stations, and Time Out has a nifty map with spectator spots.
MONDAY, APRIL 23
William Shakespeare. Pic: Steve Evans
World Shakespeare Festival 2012, various venues in London
The Royal Shakespeare Society is celebrating the work of the famous playwright with almost 70 productions across the UK, and the festival forms part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The festival officially begins today, and in London you can look forward to productions of King Lear, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet to name but a few. Participating venues near east London include the Almeida Theatre and the Barbican. See more.
Baba Shakespeare, Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, Hackney, E8 3DL (From 7.45pm till 10pm, £12)
The Arcola present a romance between an Indian boy and an English girl, inspired by a film that recreates the real travels of Felicity Kendal and her family who toured India putting on Shakespeare plays. See more.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24
Wood Wharf Landscape Exhibition, Lobby, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB (Open daily, Free)
Over 120 designs were submitted for a landscape competition launched six months ago by Canary Wharf Group, the Landscape Institute and Townshend Architects. All 14 shortlisted entries will be on display in the lobby of One Canada Square alongside details of the development of the winning scheme, which is due for completion at Wood Wharf this summer. See more.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
Home Office of the Fan Fiction Empire, The Residence, 229 Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E9 7HD (From 11am to 6pm, Free)
For an afternoon in the grip of flamboyant, macabre visions of consumer culture visit the Home Office of the Fan Fiction Empire. This exhibition, which runs till May 27, features work from over 20 artists looking to confuse and amaze, including Darren Coffield, Paul Sakoilsky and Corinna Spencer. See more.
