Wednesday 12 November (7:30pm)

@ Barfly, 49 Chalk Farm Rd., NW1 (020.7691.4246 ) Tube: Chalk Farm

"Not too political, nothing too clever!" The Liars do themselves a disservice. Try as they might, their infectious punk-funk riot can't disguise a predilection for the abstruse which was fully indulged on 2001's They Threw Us All In A Ditch And Stuck A Monument On Top. Recorded in two days in Brooklyn, their first album was a gloriously bloody-minded mess of taut bass, discordant guitar shapes and the barked lyrical proclamations of Angus Andrew; lurching New Zealander front-man and uniquely erudite Tourette's sufferer. Following support slots with Sonic Youth and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, these dates precede forthcoming album, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned -- due for release early next year on Mute, and inspired by -- you've guessed it -- "the facts and folklore of witches and their craft".

NB: Liars also play on Thu 13/11 at 93 Feet East and Fri 14/11 at the 291 Gallery.

Wednesday 12 November (Wed 12/11 & Thu 13/11 8pm)

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

It's a digital festival smorgasbord in London this week, at least at the NFT and ICA. It's not all on screen, as France's Mulleras Dance Company demonstrate in the UK premiere of Mini@tures. Originally conceived as 100 short film clips for the web, the show has now been adapted for the stage. The four dancers interact with computer-manipulated dance images interspersed with a Baraka-esque flow of natural images. The soundtrack took us back to a rave in the early '90s, in the days before technology got really, really serious. The interaction between image and dancer is amazingly precise. Computer-manipulated images of the dancers are very clever -- shrinkage, enlargement, multiplication -- and made the audience giggle (too much serious techno stuff to laugh out loud at the absurdities). The ICA brochure blurb proclaims Mulleras as "one of the most outstanding dance companies in Europe." It's a big claim to live up to. We say "most intriguing" is more accurate. It would be something to see this show at a real rave. Will contemporary dance and time travel combine in the future?

NB: Mini@tures runs until Thu 13/11.

Wednesday 12 November (8pm)

@ State51, 8-10 Rhoda St., E2 (020.7729.4343) Tube: Shoreditch

We're really looking forward to this, another offbeat gig by rarely seen groups at the wonderfully intimate Arts Cafe venue. Margo are from France -- listen to the fragments offered on le site officiel de Margo and it becomes clear they're in the same family as groups such as Komeit, Lali Puna, M83, Mils, To To Rococo Rot... "organic electronics", perhaps? An intimate, homey, very un-British mix of curious analogue and warm instrumentalism... They may employ a similar approach, but we reckon The Chap will have your foot tapping a little quicker if "this" is anything to go by -- although even if they (all four of them) choose to stick with Margo on sofa-level, we'll be in for a laugh. Hugely entertaining; download their version of "What's love got to do with it" on their site.

Wednesday 12 November (8pm - 1am)

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

As part of the UK's largest ever festival of Portuguese music, Rui "Touch Me" da Silva will be performing a "a world premier" at Cargo where he will be unleashing his latest live project. Responsible for '01's biggest selling single, the renowned house producer left Portugal for London in '99 to become immersed in this city's booming music industry. His own record label, Kismet Records, is based in East London and his progressive, hypnotic house music and commitment to a genuine independent house sound has won him a loyal following from the dance industry. He will be supported at Cargo by UK producer, DJ and broadcaster, and now a partner of Rui's, Chris Coco, and Portugal's DJ Jiggy. This year's festival offers us a medley of exploratory music from Portugal mixing up contemporary dancefloor house, experimental electronic and traditional Fado. Highlights have included Portugal's hottest export, Fado folk queen Mariza, who performed her blend of blues at The Union Chapel last month. Still to come, though, is Vitor Joaquim who will be performing with Scanner on Thu 27/11 at 93 Feet East. Both artists thrive on collaborative work, making music for installations, theatre and experimental films by creating absorbing, multi-layered soundscapes.

NB: Atlantic Waves will be showing at venues across London including the Royal Festival Hall, Union Chapel, ICA and 93 Feet East until 06/12. All Atlantic Waves concert-goers will receive an exclusive CD: Exploring music from Portugal '03, featuring unreleased recordings by many of the participating artists.

Thursday 13 November (6:20pm)

@ National Film Theatre, South Bank, SE1 (020.7928.3232) Tube: Embankment/Waterloo

Old Jean-Luc Godard flicks regularly make their way onto the London screen... There's a reason, the man has entertained cinema-goers for 50 years, but this time it's a little special. The NFT wishes to celebrate the publication of the authoritative and long-awaited Godard biography by Colin McCabe. And the chosen feature is one that has received less frequent screenings than for example Breathless -- namely Sauve qui peut... (la vie). As with most of his work, this film -- his so-called "second first film" -- is a labour of love, and a perverse love triangle between director, wife and prostitute. Though not his best, for Godard that means something very different than for Spielberg. However, Sauve qui peut... (la vie) cannot be avoided, Godard will always be superior on the big screen -- and the NFT has a b-i-g screen.

NB: Sauve qui peut... (la vie) will also be screened on Sat 22/11. Additionally catch the Godard double-bill at the Curzon Soho on Sun 16/11 -- Alphaville and Quentin fave Bande a part. On Tue 25/11, Theo Angelopoulos will be in conversation with NFT programmer Geoff Andrew after the screening of his film, Landscape in the Mist.

Thursday 13 November

@ National Film Theatre, South Bank, SE1 (020.7928.3232) Tube: Embankment/Waterloo

RESFEST 2003, the travelling digital film, music and technology festival touches down at the NFT for three nights of cutting-edge events. With a full programme of innovative digital films and music videos, RESFEST is an intimate showcase for big talent. A forum for both established and up-and-coming directors and animators, RESFEST features the digital talent working with some of the biggest names such as Bjork, The White Stripes, Royksopp. Highlights include a sampling of Spike Jonze rarities along with outtakes from an unreleased Oasis video; Cinema Electronica, a collection of music videos from electro-icons such as Yoko Ono, Dan the Automator and DJ Towa Tei; the UK premiere of Helen Stickler's Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator, a documentary about skateboard legend/convicted murderer Mark "Gator" Rogowski; and Off The Map. Catch the latest in amazing digital effects at RESFEST before they're blasting up your local multiplex in the guise of the next Hollywood blockbuster.

NB: Various Q&As are planned notably Johan Kramer (of KesselsKramer) will be chatting about his film The Other Final and Helen Stickler will discuss Stoked. Click here for the full programme and here for directions. Lastly, take a peek at more from Johnny Hardstaff who created the RESFEST 2003's identity and trailer, and, contributed the designs for this week's header.

Giveaway: We have two RESFEST goodie bags to give away (each contains a copy of Best of RESFEST I, II and III, and, a pair of tickets to the opening night). They'll go to two randomly picked Flashers who can tell us the name of KF's second favorite promo director. (Hint: she's a woman and just won "Best Video" at the MTV Europe Music Awards.)

Friday 14 November

@ Various cinemas across London

Every once in a while, a film lingers in your mind... The protagonists refuse to leave and the narrative replays itself in your head. High Art is one, and Laurel Canyon another. That's not the only thing they have in common; there's also the incredibly talented writer and director Lisa Cholodenko. If you walk into Laurel Canyon expecting High Art, then you'll be disappointed; where the former was melancholic and outright depressing, Laurel Canyon is quiet, sometimes funny, and all taken up with confusion. It's the character study that Cholodenko engages in. And you cannot have this without great acting; fortunately, the brilliant Frances McDormand turns in yet another unbelievably powerful performance, and is strongly supported by Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Alessandro Nivola and Natascha McElhone. Simply put, Laurel Canyon is a small film that just should not be missed.

Friday 14 November (Fri 14/11 & Sat 15/11 11am - 6pm)

@ Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Rd., E14 (020.7987.0655) Tube: Limehouse DLR

Judging by the plethora of screenings, workshops, and live performances on offer, this two-day event looks set to confound any expectations of how an art fair might look or behave. Taking interaction to a place where conventional events can only dream to go, the DMZ mission is a striving for, and embracing of, an exchange of ideas via a "firewall-free mapping of media arts in London". In fact, most of the exhibitors in this experimental festival seem less concerned with labelling or justifying what they do as "Art", as they do with getting on and doing whatever they need to do. A hardware DIY ethic looks set to pervade the proceedings, with any notions of technology as a vehicle of alienation vehemently refuted through the rewiring and harnessing of the myriad latent potentialities of machines. In Pete Gomes' presentation on Saturday, the artist will be talking about his visit and social intervention in the form of a workshop in Karosta, an ex-Russian-military village in Latvia surrounded by a forest and the sea. (Other participants include Thomson and Craighead, Desperate Optimists, The Light Surgeons, furtherfield.org and Mute Magazine.) He will also be showing the film that documents his adventure, and relating this to media art practice.

NB: The DMZ Festival runs for two days, Fri 14/11 and Sat 15/11. Click here for the full line-up.

Friday 14 November (2 - 8pm daily; till 5pm on Wed 19/11)

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

Catastrophic world events regularly find their way into channels of creativity, art and culture. Recent examples are the Columbine massacre, which caused Michael Moore to respond with his investigative film Bowling for Columbine, and Neil LaBute with his play The Mercy Seat, set in New York the day after the twin towers fell, which is currently on at the Almeida. The difference with politically engaged German filmmaker and artist Harun Farocki is that, rather than taking stimulus from these internationally reported events, his work uses the fabric and tools of the events themselves, in this case the methods of war. His series of three films, Eye/Machine I - III, shown as an installation in the ICA theatre, focuses on the Gulf War and the dramatic revolution it brought about in the use of image and war technology. Combing visual material taken by military and civilian sources during the Iraq war, the most disturbing moments come from the perspective of cameras sitting on live missiles, hurtling towards their final destinations.

NB: Harun Farocki's Eye/Machine installation is on view from Fri 14/11 till Wed 19/11. On Fri 14/11 (7pm) catch Farocki discussing his work.

Friday 14 November (7pm)

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

You can just imagine Jean-Marie Straub and Daniele Huillet, a somewhat rebellious husband and wife team, at home planning their next creation as they sieve through novels, plays, music, film and historical documentation; abstracting them to produce a beautifully subversive film by mixing pre- and post-war artefacts and challenging contemporary society generally. Not Reconciled, based on Heinrich Boll's novel Billiards at Half Past Nine presents the lives of three generations in Germany from 1910 to the '60s, which are intertwined to create irritating simultaneity. In discarding chronological order and the picturesque elements of the book they create a hard-hitting, frightening observation, which led to the book's publisher calling for all copies to be destroyed. Like the artists that feature in their work, including Fassbinder and Mallarme, Huillet and Straub had a sense of dislocation. Described as minimalist/materialist creators, Huillet and Straub were part of a radicalism that took place in '60s France and had a significant influence on West German filmmaking. Their work repelled capitalist cinema, demanding engagement from the audience rather than allowing a pleasurable time of escape. This radical clarity and bare creativity touches on a sense of post-war Europe, as their films present an exciting if not dark time.

NB: Showing with Not Reconciled is Machorka-Muff, taken from Boll's satire Bonn Diary. As part of the season several other shorts will be shown on Fri 22/11, including '68's The Bridegroom, the Comedian and the Pimp and Introduction to Arnold Schoenberg's "Accompaniment To A Cinematographer Scene". The films are being shown as part of Tate Modern and the bfi's Rare Finds season, which coincides with the Tate's Sigmar Polke exhibition.

Friday 14 November (7pm - 3am)

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

Running loose without a record label or any parental control, word of Menlo Park's shambolic live shows has spread across the land. But the horse come home when it's feeding time and, hungry for more debauchery, this musical circus returns once more to Shoreditch. Having already trashed the Town Hall and Hoxton's oldest theatre, they are trying it on at Cargo as part of the Barbican's Beyond Nashville showdown. Whether Cargo will let the reins go for this Wild West band on Friday remains to be seen. We cannot guarantee you live chickens, cockroach competitions or a finale of feathers, but there will certainly be all the usual ingredients of Arcadian revelry. Climb aboard for this rollicking ride through Cajun chaos fronted by Philadelphia's Chris Taylor whose band will be joined onstage by a four-piece brass section twisting the heart of country music, and there will probably be naked ladies. If you were cautiously unbolting the door after surviving Halloween and a fortnight of urban fireworks -- think again.

Saturday 15 November (10am - 5pm)

@ LSE, Houghton St., WC2 (020.7405.7686 ) Tube: Holborn/Temple

"Studies show that between 6% and 10% of people visiting doctors may be suffering from hypochondria." Flashers, does this make you feel paranoid? Can you feel your palms sweating, your temperature rising? Are you reaching for your Valium/Prozac/Viagra? (Quick joke: there's a new drug on the market. 50% Viagra, 50% Prozac. If you don't get a fuck, you don't give a fuck.) Will it make you even more paranoid to know that American Life Direct are using a hypochondria website to sell cheap life insurance? It's hardly surprising that in this self-help, self-diagnosis age we've become increasingly obsessive about our health. But where's the boundary between "normal" anxiety and hypochondria? Indeed, is hypochondria merely a social condition or is it a quantifiable clinical illness? Is there a cure? Before rushing off to your poor, stressed-out GP for answers, you might consider booking an appointment with this year's Hypochondria conference, organised by the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research. Couches are limited, so remember to register early.

NB: This symposium will take place at Clement House (for info call 020.7640.0277). Speakers include Astrid Gessert, Darian Leader, Alan Rowan and Paul Verhaeghe.

Saturday 15 November (9:30pm till 4am)

@ Infinity Club, 10 Old Burlington St., W1S (020.7287.5255) Tube: Piccadilly Circus/Oxford Circus

Owner of groundbreaking label Persona Records and one of the finest producers of forward-thinking minimal house and techno, Stewart Walker, is making his live London debut at Clever Music. Renowned for his cutting-edge live shows and his prestigious output on esteemed labels such as Force Inc. & Tresor, Walker likes to perform intimate electronic shows characterised by intricate rhythms, delicate fresh textures, taking his inspiration from Alexander Calder. Joining Walker on the night will be the familiar faces of Nick Craddock (Third Ear/Valvo), Lakuti (Sud) and Clever residents Mark & Alex. Other guests include Wang's Lula & Electro Elvis and Glasgow's Jamie Thomson (Basic Level) keeping you on your dancing feet in the electro room.

NB: To purchase tickets send an email to info@clevermusic.net or call 07786.264.933/07968.780.013.

Sunday 16 November (5pm)

@ Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2 (090.1272.7007) Tube: Leicester Sq.

Pompous, over-exposed and over-rated he may be, Tom Cruise did have one moment of glory (and it wasn't Jerry Maguire): Born on the 4th of July. Whether it was him, or the pure genius of the ever-controversial Oliver Stone (NB: Commandante is still showing), it is more likely the simple, yet powerful, tale of a reformed war veteran Ron Kovic that imbued Tom with the fire to pull off a decent performance. As the story goes, the crippled Kovic returns from Vietnam to become one of the peace movement's leading anti-war spokesmen. Protests become poignant when the warriors become peaceniks, when award-winning heros return their medals of valour. In conjunction with the much-anticipated and "welcome" visit of President Dubya this month, Kovic is in town to join the Stop the War Coalition in their protests.

NB: Kovic will be introducing the screening and engaging in a Q&A session.

Ends Saturday 15 November (Tue to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 1pm)

@ aspreyjacques, 4 Clifford St., W1S (020.7287.7675) Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Scottish artist Graham Little makes artworks that can seem contradictory -- in the same exhibition he presents immaculate illustrations of a pretty fashion-magazine girl alongside an abstract, architectural sculpture. The point of meeting for the works is in their celebration of surface beauty, and in the meticulous way that Little uses drawing to bring to life both the models and the beautifully rendered surfaces and textures of his sculptures. The works here at aspreyjacques draw on influences as diverse as baroque and gothic styling, through to skateboarding and progressive rock. While not breaking particularly new ground for Little, they amply demonstrate his skill for creating art that is exceptionally easy on the eye.

NB: Show ends on 15/11.

Ends Saturday 15 November (Tue to Sat 10am - 6pm)

@ Anthony Reynolds, 60 Great Marlborough St., W1 (020.7439.2201) Tube: Oxford Circus

Paul Graham has gained acclaim for his up-front, raw photography which, in the tradition of the best documentary photography, uses simplicity to somehow succinctly capture the subject in its entirety. These works seem more meditative, as Graham focuses his attention on using landscape shots of America to explore the continuing racial divide in the country. He has deliberately over-exposed the photographs to present bleached-out, dream-like surroundings, which include desolate, isolated characters, too far away to see clearly. The one counterpoint to this -- a close-up, fully exposed shot of a distressed-looking woman squatting on a pavement -- only serves to intensify the sense of tragedy in all the photographs. Rather heartbreaking stuff, but definitely worth catching before the exhibition ends on Sat 15/11.

NB: Paul Graham currently has a solo show (American Night) at P.S.1 in New York City (ends 29/11).

Ends Sunday 16 November (Wed to Sun 1 - 6pm)

@ The Showroom, 44 Bonner Rd., E2 (020.8983.4115) Tube: Bethnal Green

Des Hughes mixes everyday objects to create sculptures, which almost act as prototypes for a functioning machine while similarly looking like the result of child's play. Using different forms of manipulation -- adding resin and latex or sanding and conjoining surfaces, for example -- Hughes reconsiders the mundane for placement in the gallery. Of course, Hughes is not the first to do this, but he does it in such a lo-fi style, breaking boundaries between function and fantasy, that he almost prevents us recognising where one ends and the other begins. Hughes is a compulsive collector of objects, ordering and presenting them with a DIY behaviour, while having the witty (but less pessimistic) unpretentious honesty of Philip Guston. And while re-representing the everyday, he highlights the discreet charm of the commonplace and perhaps the creative possibilities we could all too easily miss out on.(Show ends Sun 16/11.)

NB: While in the neighbourhood make sure you pop by The Approach, IBID Projects, Wilkinson Gallery, Modern Art and Mobile Home all relatively close by to The Showroom.

Tuesday 18 November (7:30pm)

@ Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, SE1 (020.7960.4203 or 4242) Tube: Embankment/Rail Waterloo

Another one of Mr Peterson's sporadic soirees reaches the rarefied confines of the Royal Festival Hall, a testament to the continuing popularity of the "latinsexfunksouler", as he recently referred to himself in the risible DJ Top 100 poll. On this occasion, forming a part of the London Jazz Festival, two mighty acts of the moment have been summoned to peddle their wares in front of the expectant audience of Worldwiders. Pinning down the musical agenda of Gilles Peterson is a notoriously and refreshingly complex thing to do. He continues to champion almost any genre of music, the emphasis being a consistent quality, be it "bruk"en beat, or forthcoming reissues of the legendary vibes-master, Roy Ayres. Next Tuesday, we will be treated to the expansive and incendiary sounds of Matthew Herbert's Big Band. This man's unique, jazzy and funky form of electonica always proves to be a winner and an entertaining visual experience. In support will be 2 banks of 4. Rising from the skunk-laden ashes of former Talking Loud darlings Galliano, Two Banks of Four are currently thriving, and promoting their new album, Three Street Worlds. Expect some blissfully soulful and jazzy sounds, as Peterson once more treats his disciples to the cream of the crop.

NB: Two Banks of Four will be live at Cargo on 13/12.

Wednesday 19 November - Saturday 22 November (8pm)

@ Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (020.7304.4000) Tube: Covent Garden

Despite highbrow first impressions, this French Opera Week double-bill boils down to one highly accessible subject: sex. To be precise, sex when it goes right, sex when it goes wrong and sex when it's just plain confusing. First up is the "dumped mistress" scenario courtesy of Poulouc's La Voix Humaine. Parachuted into late '50s France, we eavesdrop on a distraught telephone conversation between a sophisticated woman and her ex. As you'd expect, browbeating and threats of suicide are in abundance. Tragedy switches to comedy with Chabrier's quality romp Une Education Manquee -- a sort of cerebral Carry On. It's the reign of Louis XVI and the inlaws are trying to supply two young newly weds with much-needed sexual instruction. The relatives prove a shambles, a storm brews up and the young couple -- hugging each other for warmth -- begin to get into the swing of things without assistance.

NB: Debussy's original version of Pelleas et Melisande -- a story of two half-brothers vying for the affections of the same woman -- plays as part of French Opera Week on Tue 18/11 and Sat 22/11 at 8pm. Expect confusion, a great of deal of wandering about in forests and a gruesome finale. All three operas play in the Linbury Studio Theatre.

Giveaway: We have three pairs of tickets for the Tue 18/11 performance to give away. They'll go to three randomly picked Flashers who can name the Three Tenors.