Monthly Culture Fix ~ your guide to the newest releases, latest exhibitions and most fabulous places to see each month.
February sees a plethora of exciting releases and openings happening across the UK and further afield. Whether film, music or art is your thing, we’ve picked the hottest highlights for your culture fix this month.
FILMS
Academy Award-nominated gems abound, so get down to your local cinema for your injection of art-house cinema. Whether it’s The Wolf of Wall Street (sex, drugs, and a lot more sex), Dallas Buyers Club (mainly drugs, some sex) or August: Osage County (Meryl Streep at her darkly dysfunctional best), make sure you’re in the know by Oscar night.
Fancy something more light-hearted? Get your toes tapping with dancing comedy Cuban Fury, or take kids to animated flick The Lego Movie this half term.
BOOKS
Nathan Filer’s The Shock of the Fall has got book clubs buzzing nationwide this month. The recent Costa Book Award-winning novel tackles protagonist Matthew’s chilling, grief-stricken spiral into schizophrenia. One of those books that you’ll read as you eat your dinner, brush your teeth, or have a spare two minutes anywhere in your day!
EAT & DRINK
As ever, London sees a flurry of new bars popping up. We recommend fairy-tale themed The Fable in Holborn. If the cocktails are anywhere near as good as its sister venue The Happenstance, they have to be tasted to be believed!
If you’re in Manchester or Leeds this month swing by new American-style restaurant Red’s True Barbecue, which is promising lip-smacking meat platters, including their infamous Donut Burger.
Across the Scottish border, head to the Vintage in Edinburgh (which has just been awarded in the Top 50 Gastropubs) for craft beers and their absolutely divine apple cronut.
MUSIC
This is a storming month for music fans. American rock giants King of Leon were announced as headliners for the Isle of Wight Festival in June (alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers and Calvin Harris) and indie rockers Bombay Bicycle Club have already hit the No.1 spot with their fourth album So Long, See You Tomorrow.
We’re also loving Katy B’s just-released album Little Red. Her single Crying for No Reason already had us hooked with its achingly poignant lyrics and soaring strings. You can expect more of the same, plus plenty of upbeat tracks perfect for the dancefloor – wrap your ears around Aaliyah, a cracking collaboration with Jessie Ware.
EXHIBITIONS
Glamour dominates new exhibitions this month. Bailey’s Stardust (6 February – 1 June 2014, National Portrait Gallery, London) showcases many of the photographer’s iconic images. Swoon over Johnny Depp and Mick Jagger and marvel at a never-seen-before portrait of Kate Moss.
For your fashion fix head to the Ossie Clark exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery (until 29 June 2014), featuring 25 of his iconic outfits from the 1960s and ’70s.
So there you have it – plenty to see, do and experience this month!
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