Tuesday 29 October (6:30pm)

@ Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 (020.7887.8008) Tube: Southwark/Blackfriars

Thinking paint... that's what abstract painters do or at least appear to do. Believe it or not, most don't, they think about the birds and the bees, eating, boozing, bank balances or lack thereof... That doesn't mean that somewhere in between they're not trying to get ahead, trying to achieve something in art. Now David Reed is probably all this, a thinker of paint. In fact his objects are paintings rethought, gestural paint reduced to the representation of gesture -- "what the hell...?" You say -- it's brushwork that's been sanded and airbrushed to simulate brushwork. In other words the man is Hollywood, but not low-grade fake Vin Diesel shoot-em-up or any Seagal and Van Damme Hollywood, but Hitchcock-Kubrikian enlightenment thinking. So catch the man speaking -- after all -- it would seem like he has much to say.

Tuesday 29 October (7pm)

@ 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, E1 (020.7247.3293) Tube: Aldgate East/Liverpool Street

British Sea Power are part of a grand tradition -- the British eccentric. They are their own captain but if you want references, think Echo and The Bunnymen meet the Kinks at a fancy dress tea party round Jarvis Cocker's house. If the crushing boredom of Coldplay and the pop banality of baggy trousered teenagers doing formation dancing has left you seasick, BSP could be just the restorative you need. With an album out in the new year and royal approval from the more discerning music publications the good ship BSP is looking seaworthy. Dandyism is back, catch these able seamen before they get too famous.

Wednesday 30 October (7:30pm)

@ Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue (020 7863 8015) Tube: Angel

Festen was the first product of the Dogme (planned) phenomenon -- and it is thus far superior to any of its successors. Dogme -- a manifesto aimed at restoring reality to filmmaking -- shot Denmark to fame in the movie industry. And whilst it may just be a successful gimmick, this can never eliminate the genuine characters and in-your-face story of Festen, which as any Scandinavian will tell you, is one they could easily imagine -- or even been to if they belong to the richer strata of Scandinavian society (save the more extreme revelations). This is a theatre production of Festen -- one made by the Polish director Grzegorz Jarzyna in conjunction with the Rozmaitosci Theatre in Warsaw (Jarzyna is its artistic director). Jarzyna is only 34 and most definitely someone to watch. Having received standing ovations across Europe, catching Festen on stage during its four day run is a must. (This play is part of the LIFT's (London International Festival of Theatre) "Landscape of Childhood" season.)

NB: Festen is only on for a four day run -- Wednesday 30/11 till Saturday 02/11

Wednesday 30 October (6pm)

@ Apollo Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V (020.7494.5399) Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Everybody knows The English Patient, but few people know the name Michael Ondaatje. Credit should be given where credit is due and Michael Ondaatje -- as the author of the book The English Patient is the one that deserves the credit. Ondaatje is by no means a one-book-author.. on the contrary, he is the author of copious pieces of prose and poetry -- of wonderful quality that have been repeatedly rewarded with literary awards all over the world (including the Booker prize in 1992 for The English Patient). Discover or rediscover Michael Ondaatje in conversation with Richard Eyre -- yes, the Richard Eyre of Iris -- at the Apollo theatre this Wednesday.

Wednesday 30 October (7pm)

@ Whitechapel, 80-82 Whitechapel High St., E1 (020.7522.7888) Tube: Aldgate East

When is a piece of art not a piece of art, and just a big bright idea: Marcel Duchamp was probably the grandfather of conceptual art... the one with the urinal? Damian Hirst supporters point to Duchamp as if it were an academic argument that the one allows the other; but as far as big bright ideas go, concept art is that which is just all idea, and certainly in the late-sixties when it came into its own, there was nothing to sell, because ideas were pure. It was a rebellion to the market, rebelling against abstraction, and aspiring to a logical purity! But that was then, now we call some art post-conceptual? What the hell is that? 'cause it does sell, and it even looks like art. Confused? Come and duke it out with this expert panel then...

NB: The panel consists of Michael Archer (Critic/Lecturer), Terry Atkinson, Neil Cummings & Marysia Lewandowska (artists) and will be moderated by Lisa Le Feuvre (of the Photographer's Gallery)

Wednesday 30 October (Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm; Thu till 7pm; Sat 10am - 5pm )

@ Haunch of Venison, 6 Haunch of Venison Yard, W1 (020.7495.5050) Tube: Bond St.

This new gallery is one to watch. Blains Fine Art is relaunching with Anthony d'Offay (yup, like bankers it's that semi-retirement gig), Graham Southern of Christie's & d'Offay's, and Christiane Schneider of the Dia NY's curatorial team. The space is called Haunch of Venison Yard after the new location. It's like Real Madrid, a multi-million dollar dream-team, so let's see if there're lots of goals and terrific midfield play. For their inaugural show, it's that d'Offay first-teamer, Rachel Whiteread. Remember her infamous House -- of cast concrete -- won her both the Turner prize and the K-Foundation's prize for worst artist. This time, she's presenting Untitled (Domestic) a 7m tall cast of the premises' staircase; the Haunch was Admiral Lord Nelson's home while he was recovering from having lost his arm. There'll also be selection of work from 1995-2001.

NB: This show ends Saturday 21/12

Wednesday 30 October (Tue to Sat 10am - 6pm)

@ White Cube, 48 Hoxton Square, N1 (020.7930.5373) Tube: Old St.

Ahhh the Chapmans... them wig-wearing, penis-face mannequin-making, just basic hair-raising YBAs... Oh, and they also made a porn flick. But really, they're serious artistes... in a sense they're ethnographic explorers; note their subject matter: teenage sexuality, teenage representations (NB: the Airfix sensibility of their Apocalyse dioramas). But now they're really displaying their serious-nerd credentials: the Chapman Family collection. You know, that need to horde, to define identity by possession, it's a basic human trait. Some do it better than others though, and it seems that the entire Chapman family has been collecting rare ethnographic and reliquary fetish objects over several generations -- and here we were thinking that the Brothers were just responding to art-school teenage angst! So, Whitecube is going to turn the tables on the Anthropological museum and present their objects in an art gallery instead. Go on then, ask if you can buy something...

NB: Private view from 6pm - 8pm Wed 30/10 -- show runs until Sat 7/12

Thursday 31 October (7pm - 1am)

@ Cargo, Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington St., EC2 (020.7739.3440) Tube: Old St./Liverpool St.

Out come the freaks for the penultimate Xen Solid Steel night where Ninja Tune promise to get ghoulish on your asses. Ground breaking audio-visual artists Hexstatic are showcasing a one-off horror set, while Coldcut's Matt Black & Jonathan More will terrify you with their spooky blend of Funk, Hip Hop, Drum'n'Bass, Techno and just about anything else they can conjure up with their 4-deck wizardry. If you're not already hiding behind your mouse-pad beware, Ninja newbies and B movie matinee idols Pest are also on hand with a DJ set -- teasing you with highlights of their forthcoming single. And just when you thought it was safe to peek over the top of your mouse-mat, up pops DJ Dangergirl aka Web Witch with a chilling mix, nightmarish tunes, straight outta cauldron. Finally, don't forget, ninjas like to dress up too. Come in fancy dress and get a free ninja gift...!

Giveaway: We have two Hexstatic and two Coldcut CDs to give away. They'll go to 2 randomly picked subscribers who can tell us which Ninja Tune artist used to go by the alias Cujo (Hint: He was born in Brazil)

Thursday 31 October (6:30pm)

@ Sadie Coles HQ, 35 Heddon St., W1 (020.7434.2227) Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Blood is really for the serious: an offshoot of the C.A.S. (Contemporary Art Society), they arrange tours to bring hot-exciting art together with the right people, and the Blood tours certainly raise the temperature. This week Blood pumps into Sadie Coles and Emily Tsingou (10 Charles II St, SW1). At Sadie's Jonathan Horowitz's video of Rock Hudson and Doris Day engage with the perception of Hudson as he revealed that he was HIV-positive, while his "prints" question other celebrity pairs... Sadie herself will be on hand to give her views. Your chance to get some answers! Meanwhile, at Emily's Henry Bond presents a slide show of the "everyday". Image after image of Bond's reality are presented, and it doesn't seem that bad a life -- yes, enough with the angst and in with the surfing of life... The heat in this tour will also be raised by the drinks and canapes sponsored by Quod after! Watch your purses, there'll be artists present!

Giveaway: This Blood tour is not open to the public, however five subscribers will be able to attend, each with one friend. To enter the draw you need to tell us what other well-known gallery is next to Sadie Coles HQ.

Friday 1 November (11pm on Fri & Sat)

@ Curzon Soho, 93-107 Shaftesbury Ave., W1 (020.7439.4805) Tube: Leicester Square/Piccadilly

A special night out at the Curzon Soho showcasing music videos by French Directors. Michel Gondry one of the most notable ones is well known for his groundbreaking promos which are not only beautifully and stylishly crafted but act as the perfect compliment to the music which they accompany. Tonight you can catch his award-winning vids for the White Stripes (Fell in Love With a Girl, Dead Leaves & Dirty Ground) and the Chemical Brothers (Star Guitar), alongside promos for Air, Plaid, Royksopp and Super Furry Animals by the creme de la creme of French directors (Francois Vogel, Geoffroy de Crecy...). After the show, Ladyfuzz will be DJing in the Mezzanine Bar (which has a late licence!).

Friday 1 November (8pm)

@ ICA, The Mall, SW1 (020.7930.3647) Tube: Charing Cross/Piccadilly

An art-funk ensemble from the South Bronx, ESG were formed in 1978 by sisters Renee, Valerie and Marie Scroggins. Now augmented by two of their daughters, Soul Jazz Records presents a rare intimate UK appearance by the legendary percussion led funk band. Having been adopted by the NYC underground dance scene in the '80s the girls have now thrown themselves back into the disco/punk/hip hop hybrid that they crafted so well with the release of Step Off, their first new release in a decade. ESG's work, with the sisters' complex polyrhythms, atmospheric bass and pop-flavoured guitar, has influenced generations of artists (their work has been sampled by the likes of Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Doug E Fresh) and has made them one of the most sampled groups in history. This will be a truly enjoyable show from a highly renowned group.

Friday 1 November (7pm 1/11; 7:45pm 2, 5, 6, 7, 8/11; 5pm 3/11; 2:30pm & 7pm 9/11)

@ Barbican Centre, Barbican Centre, EC2 (020.7638.8891) Tube: Barbican

Bertolt Brecht famously used the life of iconoclastic astronomer Galileo Galilei to tell a story about the search for individuality and truth in the face of both power and the state. But the hero of Glass's new opera, which will have its European premiere this week at the Barbican as part of the Bite:02 contemporary performing arts series, has a different message for today's audience. Told from the end of Galileo's life backwards, the action moves the viewer ineluctably to the optimism and inspiration that were the very germs of Galileo's creativity. Philip Glass has written minimalist compositions for every kind of ensemble, from string quartets to choirs; covering every conceivable subject, from history's Great Names to relationships reduced to their purest abstract, such as "1+1," written for one person rapping his knuckles on an amplified tabletop. But his work always taken particularly well to the stage --perhaps because the mesmerizing, repetitive motifs that mark his music create a kind of fertile ground for further layers of performance. For this production, he's joining forces with director Mary Zimmerman, who recently won a Tony Award in the U.S. for her production of Metamorphoses. This is most definitely one to see.

NB: This run ends on Saturday 9/11

Saturday 2 November (5pm Sat & Sun)

@ Mean Fidler W1, 157 Charing Cross Rd., WC2 (020.7434.0403) Tube: Tottenham Court Rd.

This is more than special... Sonic Mook Experiment Club has surpassed itself with the line-up for their future rock'n'roll weekender. Suicide will headline: a chance to catch the most exciting and influential band to emerge from the '70s NY arts scene. An arresting mix of hypnotic synth, intense lyrics and a performance style that makes the New York Dolls look like N'Synch. And if that's not enough, Liars, Pink Grease, Radioactive Man (aka Keith Tenniswood), and the Martini Henry Rifles will be amongst the live bands to perform. All this, plus DJs Sean McClusky, Pam Hogg, The Queens of Noize, Jo Perfect and Disastronout... sounds like an absolute bargain to us.

Line up:

Saturday
Suicide, Crossover, Pink Grease, Discordinated and Punish The Atom + DJs

Sunday
Suicude, Liars, Radioactive Man, The Martini Henry Rifles, Tokyo Windbag and Kings Have Long Arms + DJs

Sunday 3 November (3:30pm)

@ Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd., SW7 (020.7942.2000) Tube: South Kensington

With an unorthodox working method putting his ideas into a watercolour painting first in order to be able to work "from the outside in" and then finding out whether what he's painted can actually be built, Will Alsop is known for being a maverick architect, putting up buildings that don't look anything like buildings. He was awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize in 1999 and has lately won competitions such as the Peckham Library & Media Centre in London and the Hotel Du Departement des Bouches-Du-Rhone in Marseilles. Focusing on three current projects (in Manchester, Southwark and Holland), Alsop will be discussing the relationship between himself as an architect and the way people use his colourful and provocative buildings.

NB: Tickets can be bought by calling 0207.942.2211

Ends Saturday 16 November

@ Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1 (020.7565.5000) Tube: Sloane Square

A Number is the latest offering from Caryl Churchill to hit the London stage. It premieres at the Royal Court, where several of Churchill's other hit plays, including Top Girls and Far Away, have first appeared. This piece investigates the all-too-relevant subject of cloning and its short and long-term consequences for cloned and clonee alike. The two-man cast deliver Churchill's beautiful conversational style with relish. The ever-fabulous Michael Gambon holds the play together in his role as the pitiful father, and Daniel Craig (seen most recently in Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition) pulls off his various tricky roles with aplomb. In fact, the only thing wrong with this production is that, at just over an hour long, it leaves you wanting more.

Ends Sunday 3 November (8pm)

@ The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Rd., NW1 (020.7424.9991) Tube: Chalk Farm

Gawk, gasp and be amazed by the quirky Australian troupe of enormously talented and extremely skilled athletes which make-up Acrobat. The Roundhouse has become a Big Top where everything borders on the unexpected. The toothy grins and sequins of more traditional circus have been replaced by humorous self-mockery, ragged boxer shorts and gaffer-taped breasts, creating an atmosphere somewhere between nineteenth-century Russian spectacle and a post-human vision of the future. Split-timed chaos has been orchestrated with expert precision, as performers effortlessly double back-flip onto their comrades' shoulders or, with the use of only an ankle, spin round a trapeze with a dancer's grace -- whilst a naked magician conjours up an awe-inspiring disappearance act. All this to the crazed sounds of live electric guitar, banal answer-phone messages and momentary interruptions from '50s American voice-overs.

NB: Acrobat is part of the LIFT's (London International Festival of Theatre) "Landscape of Childhood" season

Ends Wednesday 13 November (Tue to Sat 12pm - 10:30pm; Sun 12pm - 6pm)

@ The Wapping Project, Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, E1 (020.7680.2080) Tube: Wapping

Within the cool dark depths of the faultlessly designed Wapping Project two screens stand opposite each other. One of these has been placed within a large whitened enclave, and bares the sublime slow moving images of a cold, distant landscape. In the other a man at a desk closes his eyes whilst drawing something equivalent to the scribbled, coded equations of a highly developed maths problem. At times his hand moves uncannily in pace with the camera movement of the remote images shown opposite. Caught in the gap between the two screens, the spectator desperately tries to make the connections between the viewer and what is viewed, seeing in the invisible, distant projections of their own. Shot simultaneously in London and Askja, Iceland, Graham Gussin's Remote Viewer documents a trained individual's attempt, through employing methods used by American Intelligence since the Cold War, to trace the unknown whereabouts of the artist as he travels over road, mountain, snow and ice.