Culture Diary w/c 04-07-2016

A BUMPER mix of Liverpool Biennial and Biennial Fringe events this week across a wide constellation of arts, design, film and music… It’s our pick of the listings from around England!

Tuesday – The Battle Of The Somme 7.30-9.30pm @ Manchester Cathedral — £8/10

Remember the Battle of the Somme through this live screening of the 1916 documentary film, which is composed of real footage of the battle, accompanied by a live orchestra conducted by Stephen Threlfall.  The composer Laura Rossi and curator Dr Toby Haggith from the Imperial War Museums will be giving a pre-performance talk.

Liv Wynter: HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU? Artist’s Talk 6.30-8pm @ Crown Building Studios, Liverpool — FREE

The controversial performance and spoken word artist speaks candidly about her mistakes, processes and new works tonight, as part of a week-long residency at The Royal Standard Gallery and Studios. Look out for her other events planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the city, and read our editor Laura’s interview with her here for a-n. Expect a rallying cry for artist’s pay, equal rights and anti-austerity.

Wednesday — Quantum 6pm @ Everyman Theatre, Liverpool — £5/7

Young Everyman Playhouse presents Quantum; a performance exploring physics, spacetime, time travel and multiverses — wrapped into a sci-fi love story. Written, produced and performed all by the up-and-coming youngsters at YEP, be sure not to miss this tale of deep space romance.

A Girl At My Door (2014) 7-9pm @ Small Cinema Liverpool — £3/4

July Jung’s directorial debut, starring Doona Bae (Sense8, Cloud Atlas), is a psychological thriller about a young girl suffering under an abusive stepfather in the eerie solitude of a rural town (below). Part of Small Cinema’s 58% invitation, which celebrates the work of women, trans and non-binary filmmakers, A Girl At My Door is one creepy South-Korean flick.

Thursday — The Albertines 6.15pm @ Upstairs At LEAF, Liverpool — FREE

Join this new niche book club celebrating the works of French novelist Marcel Proust (1871-1922), and discussing the ideas and themes surrounding his novels. The first meeting will be looking at volume one of À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time); be transported to an alluring country house in the fictional town of Combray.

Flight By Geraldine Pilgrim 10am-5pm @ Brockhole On Windermere, Lake District — £10/15

Lakes Alive annual festival starts off with artist Geraldine Pilgrim’s performance tribute to the history of aviation, co-commissioned by the World War One centenary arts programme, 14-18 Now (feature image). Pilgrim’s installation will capture the beauty and transformation that flight has had on our lives, and the lives of soldiers and their families during WW1, featuring works with 100 performers over three days.

Friday — X&Y Festival 6pm @ Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool — SOLD OUT

X&Y Festival is back for its July installation, this time featuring folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner, whose latest album Positive Songs for Negative People is perfect to inject a bit of optimism into even the most cynical. Here’s to hoping you have tickets to the sold out gig!

The Stuckists 12-5pm @ View Two Gallery, Liverpool — FREE

Love it or hate it, Stuckism is here to stay, and it’ll be on display in Liverpool until the 20th August (below). Aiming to promote figurative painting as opposed to conceptual art, and dubbing itself the “first Remodernist art group” and “anti-anti-art”, Stuckism has certainly caused a stir since its founding in 1999. The exhibition features the works of Stuckist artists Annie Zamero, Duncan Grant, and Ron Throop. Read more about the movement in out Top Five Artist’s Manifestos of All Time.

Friday and Saturday — Liverpool Artists’ Book Fair 11am-5/6pm @ Liverpool Central Library — FREE

The third annual Liverpool Artists’ Book Fair is in the works, this year with a nod to Shakespeare following the 400th anniversary of his death. Expect any and all art related to and made out of books: from handcrafted novels to sculptures made entirely of paper.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Saturday — Liverpool Biennial 2016 @ Locations Across Liverpool — FREE

It’s finally here! From today until October you can enjoy brand new exhibitions, artworks and events from artists including Marvin Gaye Chetwynd (below), Mark Leckey and more, all whilst exploring the glorious city of Liverpool. Organised into digestible “episodes” this year, make sure to prepare yourself by reading our highlights article, plus Zian Chen’s bizarre review from the future; in addition to our special Biennial Fringe Culture Diary for the scoop on all the best alternative events.

Village Green Festival 11am-10pm @  Chalkwell Park, Southend on Sea — £12.50/15

Hosted by Metal, Village Green is a multi-art, one-day festival amidst green spaces and rose gardens by the coast. There will be eight different stages, international music, theatre performance, dance, poetry, comedy, cricket pitches, marketplaces, cabaret, circus… And much, much more. Our top picks include artist Mahalia who mixes songs with spoken word, a workshop from the accessible art education school TOMA, and the small sculpture show.

Constellations Summer Garden Party 12pm-12am @ Constellations, Liverpool — FREE

What better way to celebrate summer than at a BBQ garden party? Bring your family and friends along and raise your glass to Constellation’s own live DJs (below), plus enjoy games, workshops, loads of food, activities for the little ones, and , of course, lots of dancing.

Saturday and Sunday — Independent Liverpool Summer Food And Drink Festival 12-11pm @ The Great Baltic Warehouse, Liverpool — £8/12

Describing itself as “Mardi Gras meets Rio”, the Summer Food and Drink Festival hosted by Independent Liverpool is flaunting a carnival theme this year… Expect lots of colour, dance, DJs, drumming troupe Katumba, salsa dancing — and of course the best food and booze that Liverpool has to offer.

Vintage On The Dock 11am-6pm @ Albert Dock, Liverpool — FREE

From clothes to homewares, browse for a bargain at this weekend’s vintage marketplace, watch performances and dances that allow you to travel back in time, and keep an ear out for the vintage DJs that’ll be blasting the best songs from the past. Make sure to check out the selection of classic cars on display, which will be sure to take you on a journey throughout the ages.

Vanessa Wheeler

Hosting your own #BiennialFringe event July through October 2016? Use the hashtag so visitors can find you, and email us the details in advance so we can publish it in our weekly, online Culture Diary listings (published every Monday)

Download or pick up in print now our Biennial Fringe edition of Culture Diary! Your indispensable pocket guide to a wide range of alternative events across Liverpool, happening at the same time as Liverpool Biennial 2016 festival of contemporary art (Jul-Oct 2016)