August is doing its thing, and Lewisham has kindly supplied everything from hardcore punk and Cubist painting to free chess, giant indie singalongs and enough kids’ workshops to rescue at least part of the school holidays.
In this week’s Loop:
Punk chaos at New Cross Inn
Chess and Cubism in Deptford and Blackheath
A 14-piece record release party in Lewisham
Bastille and The Wombats take over Crystal Palace Bowl
Freebies, crafts and family entertainment in Pick n’ Mix
🗓️ Our picks for 10th - 13th August
MDC at New Cross Inn
Monday night, but considerably louder
If easing gently into the week sounds overrated, New Cross Inn has MDC heading up a proper hardcore punk bill, joined by The Restarts and Under The Influence. Doors are at 6pm and it runs late enough to make Tuesday morning somebody else’s problem.
Book your tickets here via Skiddle to save your spot! General admission tickets are priced at £20.07.
Monday 10 August @ 6pm - 11:30pm
New Cross Inn @ 323 New Cross Road, SE14 6AS
Note: The minimum age for this show is 14+
Chess Club
Free, friendly and no grandmaster credentials required
Deptford Lounge’s Chess Club welcomes everyone from complete beginners to experienced players, with casual games, tips from the organisers and chess clocks available if you fancy getting competitive. It’s free, open to all ages and runs for two hours. Plenty of time to improve your skills or simply meet other local chess enthusiasts!
Further details can be found here, no booking required - simply drop in!
Tuesday 11 August @ 5pm - 7pm (Monthly, every 2nd Tuesday)
Deptford Lounge @ Giffin Street, Deptford, SE8 4RJ
Picasso, Braque and Cubism - Painting Beyond One Viewpoint
One evening, several points of view!
A three-hour adult art session exploring how Picasso and Braque broke away from straightforward observation through fragmentation, abstraction and multiple viewpoints. You’ll work through drawing and painting exercises, and no previous painting experience is needed — useful for anyone whose last masterpiece involved school poster paint.
To book a place or for further details, please visit here.
Tuesday 11 August @ 6pm - 9pm
The Conservatoire @ 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ
TRIGGAH Record Release Party
Fourteen musicians. One Lewisham pub. Sensible Wednesday behaviour.
TRiGGAH are celebrating their new version of Jimi Hendrix’s Crosstown Traffic with a full 14-piece live show at the Fox and Firkin. Expect jazz fusion tangled up with ska, blues, reggae, psychedelic rock and a fair bit more besides.
Tickets are priced at £14 and can be found directly from the Fox & Firkin website here.
Wednesday 12 August @ 7pm - 11pm
Fox and Firkin @ 316 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JZ
Bastille & The Wombats at Crystal Palace Bowl
Your late-2000s indie playlist has escaped into the park
Bastille and The Wombats share the Crystal Palace Bowl stage for a one-off co-headline show, with Prima Queen, Cherryholt and a Propaganda DJ set also on the bill. Doors open at 4:30pm, with a 10:30pm curfew — plenty of time for several thousand people to collectively remember every word to Moving to New York.
Tickets can be bought from Skiddle here or via Ticketmaster here - prices from £60. Details can be found on the Crystal Palace Bowl’s website here
Thursday 13 August @ doors 4:30pm - 10:30pm curfew
Crystal Palace Bowl @ Terrace Straight, Crystal Palace, SE19 2GA
Note: The minimum age for the show is 5+ - children must be accompanied by an adult
Pick n’ Mix ✨
Crafts, calm and useful ways to fill a few summer-holiday hours
🎨 Colourful Collages - Monday 10 August, 9:30am-12:30pm. A drop-off art workshop for ages 4-7, making colourful patchwork collages inspired by artist Faith Ringgold.
🧘 Mindful Mondays - Monday 10 August, 7pm-9pm. Free meditation, slow walking and mindful discussion at Corbett Community Library. No experience and no booking needed.
🌼 Summer Flowers - Tuesday 11 August, 9:30am-4:30pm. A drop-off day for ages 5-11, painting wildflower fields using the satisfyingly messy art of splatting.
🎭 Sing a Book: Interactive Workshop - Wednesday 12 August, 3pm-4pm. A free Catford Library session for ages 7-12 mixing stories, music, script reading and roleplay. No booking required.
✏️ Character Design and Shapes with Chanté Timothy - Wednesday 12 August, 3pm-4pm. Author and illustrator Chanté Timothy shows ages 7-12 how simple shapes can become expressive characters at Downham Library. Free.
🌧️ Rain Rhythms - Thursday 13 August, 11am-12pm. Make a rainstick, decorate it and join an interactive story at Crofton Park Community Library. Free, drop-in, and bring a cardboard tube if you can.
See you next week ~