Music
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire are a Canadian export to rival both Justin Trudeau and maple syrup in global popularity, but their recent dancey diversions led to dissenting murmurs. As the band begin the UK leg of their tour at York Hall in London, will fifth album Everything Now see a return to world-beating, anthemic form?
At York Hall, E2, 4-5 July; Castlefield Bowl, Manchester, 6 July
Wireless festival
For summer R&B, hip-hop and grime, it’s always Wireless. The festival takes place for the fourth year running in its new Finsbury Park home. The impressive lineup offers an infinitely more hopeful vision of London’s cultural openness, with grime star Skepta, acid-rapper Chance the Rapper, R&B singer Bryson Tiller, trap king Fetty Wap, Zara Larsson, Geko and Nas, across the weekend.
At Finsbury Park, N4, 7-9 July
La Traviata
Cornwall’s coastal treasure – the open-air Minack theatre – is well known for its storm-blown productions of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. This week, though, it’s arias-on-sea, courtesy of the county’s Duchy Opera. Porthcurno bay provides the perfect backdrop for Verdi’s tragic tale of a fallen women and a thwarted love affair; so long as the libretto doesn’t get lost on the wind.
At Minack theatre, Porthcurno, 3-7 July
Film
Gross Indecency
“Gross indecency” is a terrible phrase but a genius name for a film season. The programmers at London’s BFI Southbank and Newcastle upon Tyne’s Tyneside Cinema obviously agree: they’re marking this summer’s 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexual acts throughout July and August, with films including Call Me Kuchu, an affecting doc about gay people in Uganda.
See Film, p22
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Just when you thought you were done with superhero movies, along comes a spider (man) intriguing enough to catch you in its web. This is the first proper debut of Brit school graduate Tom Holland (he appeared briefly in Captain America: Civil War), playing a 15-year-old Peter Parker dealing with normal teen problems as well as some abnormal Marvel Universe ones. It’s the supporting cast that entices most, though: Michael Keaton plays a supervillain in the Tony Soprano mould, while Donald Glover and teen star Zendaya also appear.
See Film, p22
Comedy
Eddie Izzard: Believe Me
Here’s a chance to get to know our Eddie better. The standup, activist and possible future Labour MP reads from his new memoir and answers questions.
At The Lowry, Salford, 2 July; touring to 8 July
Rob Delaney: More Meat
The Catastrophe star kicks off a two-week residency in London, where he will showcase a new moustache as well as some new standup material. Delaney’s 2015 Meat tour revealed a flair for tasteless yet tender material on life, death and parenthood. This sequel should establish him as standup’s one-man answer to the much-mooted masculinity crisis.
At Leicester Square Theatre, WC2, 5-15 July
Exhibitions
True to Life
Early 20th-century art is most associated with abstract modernism, but the era produced impressive figurative work. This collection of realist painting from the 20s and 30s is a record of the country both as it was and as it hoped to be.
At Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, 1 July to 29 October
Festivals
Shubbak
The word means “window” in Arabic, and that’s exactly what this biennial London festival aims to provide on to contemporary Arab culture. It arose out of the 2011 political uprisings, and that spring has matured into a summer of creativity. Syrian dancer and choreographer Mithkal Alzghair will be at Sadler’s Wells; there’s Egyptian electro at Rich Mix; and a striking documentary filmed in post-Saddam Iraq by film-maker Mohamed Al-Daradji. Plus, artist Zahrah Al-Ghamdi is making a replica Saudi village in the British Museum’s Great Court.
At various venues, London, 1-16 July
Sport
Wimbledon Watch
Strawberries and cream? Tick. Pimm’s? Tick. Seasonal sporting interest? Tick. If the only thing missings are your Centre Court tickets or invites to the royal box, get along to one of the many outdoor big-screen events taking place UK-wide. Murray Mound is only for the unimaginative.
At various venues, nationwide, 3-16 July
