Culture Diary w/c 18-06-12

Monday – Jaws @ FACT (see details)

The prototype on which now traditional summer blockbuster-success is based, Jaws tells the story of a great white shark menacing the sleepy beach community of Amity Island. Twitchy Sheriff Brody (Roy Scheider) enlists the help of Robert Shaw’s shark hunter Quint to bring the terror to an end. Coasting towards middle-age, this big-beast of the summer blockbusters still has the teeth to thrill audiences.

Tuesday – The Man Who Fell to Earth 8.30pm @ FACT

A sci-fi without space battles or evil empires, Nic Roeg’s 1976 picture, The Man Who Fell to Earth (pictured) serves more as cautionary tale than anything. Featuring David Bowie’s brilliant – and brilliantly cast – exiled alien Thomas Jerome Newton on a mission to save his stricken home planet, the narrative follows his journey of existential crisis and confusion. A prescient film with perhaps more relevance today than on release, it’s something of an overlooked classic of its type.

Wednesday – Bash @ the Unity Theatre

Greek myths and American sensibilities combine in this trilogy of one-act plays written by American playwright Neil Labute. Bash: the latter day plays is the first production from Liverpool’s Said & Done theatre company, debuting at the Unity with performances from Tuesday to Friday.

Thursday – Rushmore 9pm @ FACT

While not Anderson’s debut, Rushmore is perhaps the first featuring many of the associations we make with his singular style. Recurring cast members Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman feature for the first time, while idiosyncratic yet meaningful gestures and the influence of classic British pop are employed to great effect as FACT continue their WA retread.

Friday – Turner Monet Twombly: Later Paintings @ Tate Liverpool

In keeping with a world seemingly dominated by football, Tate have pulled off the perfect hat-trick in forthcoming exhibition Turner Monet Twombly. Exploring the trio’s style, subject and motivations during the final decades of their practice, the exhibition is a rare opportunity to see a collection of their finest, most famous pieces – Monet’s Water Lilies included – all in one place.

Damo Suzuki 7.30pm @ The Kazimier £7

Member of legendary krautrockers Can, Damo Suzuki returns to the Kazimier with local noise-smiths Mugstar in tow. Also featuring the superb space rock of Mind Mountain and Cantaloupe by way of support, it’s safe to assume a psyche/kraut mash-up to kick your weekend off is in store.

Saturday – 10 bands 10 minutes: A Prince Tribute 8pm @ The Kazimier £5

10 bands get 10 minutes apiece to knock out sets inspired by Prince, all rounded off nicely by the Gold Soundz party DJs afterwards. Expect the likes of When Doves Cry, Kiss, Raspberry Beret and Purple Rain, all performed with a twist by Vasco da Gama and Married to the Sea, amongst others.

Saturday and Sunday – Africa Oyé 12.30 – 9.30 both days

Beginning life as a series of small gigs around Liverpool 20 years ago, Africa Oyé has evolved into the UK’s largest free African music festival, moving to its Sefton Park home a decade ago. A showcase for some of the best music of African origin – Aswad frontman Brinsley Forde features this time – the festival incorporates a (hopefully) sunny weekend in the park with great tunes, food, and friends.

Posted on 18/06/2012 by thedoublenegative