Lewisham Loop - Issue 37 ✨

Hello, Lewisham! 👋

October is settling in, but South East London clearly hasn't received the memo about staying indoors.

This weekend, Catford is turning into one big art gallery, lovers rock is taking over Lewisham, and Deptford's bringing everything from Bollywood dance to powerful storytelling. Throw in live jazz, a few proper gigs and a free garden party where you can actually have a go on the decks, and we're looking at a rather busy weekend.

Whether you're after a dancefloor, a dose of culture or simply a good excuse to leave the house, we've got a few ideas.

If your ideal Friday night involves energetic live music and absolutely no standing still, New Cross Inn has you covered.
7 Seconds of Love are bringing their wonderfully chaotic, ska-heavy sound to New Cross. Expect infectious rhythms, plenty of bounce and the sort of gig where you arrive intending to watch politely and end up dancing anyway - a lively way to kick off the weekend, particularly if your Friday plans currently involve the sofa.

Tickets are £15, plus a £1.50 booking fee. Get yours here.

Fancy trading your usual Friday routine for a proper night out? Cocktails & Vibes is one to keep on the radar for anyone looking to round up their friends and head somewhere lively. Located at the Hatch Club, this one goes till late with several DJ sets on the lineup and buy one get one free cocktails all night!

Tickets can be found from here for £8.30, as well as directions/ lineup details.

_{Note: This event is 18+, valid ID required on entry.}

Catford is turning itself into a neighbourhood-sized art gallery, and everyone's invited.
The Catford Arts Trail returns for two days of open studios, exhibitions and creative discoveries across SE6. Local artists and makers will be opening up their spaces, giving visitors the chance to explore everything from ceramics and painting to photography, textiles, sculpture and illustration.
It's a brilliant excuse to wander down streets you might normally walk straight past, meet the people creating things right on your doorstep and possibly discover a new favourite artist - there’s even a stamp card to stamp at any 10 venues and hand in for a chance to win £100 of artwork!

You can explore the trail at your own pace, so there's no need to squeeze everything into one frantic afternoon. Find the trail map and participating venues here, or more about the event as a whole here!

At the Albany this Saturday, artist Hussina Raja invites audiences into STATION, an intimate living-room installation exploring the different chapters of women's lives. Moving between childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, motherhood and the experience of being mothered, the performance blends movement, live sound, text and installation to explore memory, identity and resilience.

Developed with local women, choreographer Vidiya Patel and composer Fran Lobo, it's part performance and part shared space for reflection.

A thoughtful afternoon for anyone who enjoys theatre that takes a slightly different route. Tickets and further details can be found here - priced at £12.50, or £10.50 concession.

New Cross Inn is keeping the weekend gig energy going with six-day rider taking to the stage on Saturday evening.

If you've been meaning to get back into discovering live bands, here's your excuse. It's a chance to trade another night of scrolling through playlists for actual guitars, actual people and the joy of hearing music at full volume.

Tickets are priced at £7.70 - check availability here! Links to the band and the supporting acts’ socials can be found through through the same link.

Deptford Lounge is bringing a little Bollywood magic to Saturday evening, and this one comes with a lovely purpose. Bollywood on Hollywood is a celebration of South Asian film and culture, featuring short films by South Asian filmmakers, conversations with the creatives and a Bollywood dance class led by Saaj Raja.
The evening includes screenings of Jhumki, a comedic, relatable story about two sisters, and Vetala, a horror short inspired by South Asian folklore.

Cinema, dancing and supporting independent art? That's a fairly convincing Saturday night. Tickets cost £12 plus booking fee, or £40 for a group of four and can be purchased here. Full details and cast can also be found at the same link.

_{Note: Not recommended for under 15s; under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Vetala is a horror and not recommended for anyone with a heart condition.}

As part of Black History Month, Nzinga Dance Company is bringing the Lewisham Lovers Rock Lounge to Elements Bar for an evening honouring the borough's Caribbean community, musical heritage and the spaces that helped shape it. Legendary reggae pioneer Lloyd Coxsone joins DJ Melvina Moves and DJ Ade, who'll be paying tribute to Brockley's own June Reid, also known as Junie Rankin of Nzinga Soundz.

Alongside the music, expect photographs celebrating Lewisham's reggae history, a Black History mini-market and Caribbean food stalls available.

Entry is completely free! View full details/directions and reserve a spot here!

_{Note: Adult only event, dress code is smart - so no hoodies/sportswear. Accessible venue.}

Lovers rock royalty Janet Kay MBE and Carroll Thompson are sharing the stage for an evening celebrating the soulful reggae sound that became part of British music history. Janet Kay made history with Silly Games, while Carroll Thompson's Hopelessly in Love helped define a generation of lovers rock.

Final Release tickets are available here for £25.

Station TEN in Sydenham is welcoming Mark Douglas and his quartet for an intimate evening of live jazz and soulful vocals. Expect smooth melodies, expressive singing and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that goes rather nicely with a drink and good company. Whether you're a committed jazz fan or someone who just appreciates excellent live music, this is a lovely alternative to the usual Saturday-night rush.

Full details along with tickets can be found here! Tickets are priced at £11.55.

Ever fancied having a go behind the decks but never quite found the courage?

This Sunday, the Fox and Firkin is handing over its garden party soundtrack to the people of Lewisham. Whether you're a seasoned selector or someone who's been practising transitions in their bedroom, you're welcome to sign up for a slot on the day and play your favourite tracks - make sure to bring your USB!

Even if you aren’t ready to DJ, come along, have a drink and enjoy the music instead. Entry is completely free! Details can be found here.

Not every weekend plan needs a ticket, an outfit or three weeks of organising. Sometimes a library visit, a browse around the market or a few hours outdoors does the trick!

📚 Online Book Group - Friday,12pm. A friendly, informal reading group discussing short books over Teams. This session focuses on Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan. Attendees are advised to join the Teams call as a guest and not to display their full name.

🧱 Lego Club at Deptford Lounge - Friday, 4pm–5pm. A free, relaxed building session for little creators. Lego and Duplo are provided, so all they need is some imagination and an accompanying adult.

🎨 Arts and Craft Club at Downham Library - Saturday, 10:30am. A lovely hands-on option for children who enjoy getting creative. The supplied listing shows earlier sessions; check the current session before visiting.

📚 Manor House Reading Group - Saturday, 11am–12pm. An easygoing monthly get-together for adults who enjoy books and a good discussion.

🥕 Blackheath Farmers' Market - Sunday, 10am–2pm. Fresh bread, seasonal produce, cheese, cakes and plenty of reasons to arrive hungry. Find it at Blackheath Station car park.

🌱 Community Garden Sessions with Grow Lewisham - Sunday, 1pm–4pm. Get your hands in the soil at The Plot in Downham, learn some growing skills and help produce food for the community. Tools and refreshments provided.

Whether you're discovering your new favourite Catford artist, singing along to some lovers rock, dancing in Deptford or just heading out for a Sunday market wander, we hope you find something that makes the weekend a little brighter.

Support your local venues, take a friend along and enjoy what's happening right on your doorstep.

See you next week ~