London (un)covered – The Insider Feb 14 – 20

The Steve Reich Ensemble rehearsing in France. There are still tickets available to see the London Sinfionetta playing works from Steve Reich later this week at the Royal Festival Hall. Photo: Todd Reynolds / Wikimedia

The Insider is The First Pint’s expert on all things cool and London. Picking out the best of the week’s events and activities; one-off or regular, unique or mainstream. So we have a day-by-day selection of the best events to keep you occupied all week long. Enjoy.

Monday 14

Queueing up for day tickets at the National Theatre is a good way to get a cheap, if sometimes slightly out of the way seat, to see a play in London. Getting up early to get tickets to see Greenland; not utterly convinced of the need for a play on the global warming debate, but hope to be surprised.

Tuesday 15

Ever since hearing their album, Violence in the Snowy Fields, I’ve followed the band Dolorean and this is the first chance I’ve had to see them live. I guess I’d describe the sound as Americana/folk pop or some sort of cocktail of those influences. I don’t know anyone else who likes them, so I might well be wrong to suggest this gig at the Lexington, but it is only a £8 investment to find out.

Wednesday 16

Student protest seems to have slowed down a little in the new year, but there is certainly lots of discontent still bubbling under about education cuts so there should be plenty of discussion and ideas flying around at the day long Goldsmiths Teach In on the theme “Is there an alternative?”.

Thursday 17

Not really sure what to do with tonight, I’ve still to visit the cinema at Rich Mix near Brick Lane so might prepare for Oscar night by going to see either Black Swan, The King’s Speech or True Grit. Afterwards I’ll stroll over to the The Book Club for a few drinks and the vinyl spinning Convex Club in the basement.

Friday 18

There are still plenty of seats left to see the London Sinfonietta play works from modern composer Steve Reich at the Royal Festival Hall, and while some of them are a little pricey, those on a budget can still gain entry for a mere £9 for this concert.

Saturday 19

Booked a days worth of free tickets for the LSE literary festival this weekend. Opening the day with a randomly selected discussion of David Shield’s book Reality Hunger, hopping back and forward between venues throughout the afternoon, and then rounding out the day with an authors’ panel on Islamaphobia in the Netherlands.

Sunday 20

Classic British cinema for a Sunday afternoon in the form of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, often cited as the defining film of the British New Wave, screening is at 2pm at the Phoenix cinema in East Finchley, and its free, just call the box office to book (020 8444 6789).