The Spoonfed editorial team select the biggest and best events taking place in London this December.
Clubbing
December means Christmas parties – and there are some crackers this year. The How's My Raving crew throw down a mega Christmas bash with cut and paste mash up duo Cassette Boy and DJ Rubbish at the Big Chill House, while Fabric bring you a triple bill across three nights: Snowbombing, True Playaz and Rinse Boxing Day special respectively. Dubstep powerhouses need look no further than the Tribe launch at the Electric Brixton and Warm continues its run of brilliance with a Hessle Audio party in the Bussey Building with all three honchos - should be utterly compelling. LC
Art
December is always pretty quiet in terms of major exhibition openings, but there's still good stuff out there. The biggest show is probably the Serpentine's retrospective for Brazilian artist Lygia Pape, whilst perhaps the most interesting is Haunch of Venison's examination of post-war British figurative paniting by the likes of Bacon, Freud, Hockney and Auerbach. Elsewhere Miriam Elia explores her past relationship with Martin Creed, and Peckham's shop windows are being filled with art, courtesy of Peckham Space. Oh, and this year's Turner Prize winner will be announced on the 5th by none other than Mario Testino. Fingers crossed it's not Karla Black. TJ
Comedy
As you might expect, December is awash with festive comedy parties. Take your pick of the juicy line-ups from Knock2Bag, Rich Fulcher, Sheeps, Freeze!, Monster Comedy, Michael McIntyre and No Pressure to be Funny. Cult US improv show Set List transfers to the Soho Theatre with some incredible bills in store, where you can also catch the latest Edinburgh productions from Aussie surrealist Sam Simmons, award-winning poet Tim Key and this year's Foster's Comedy Award winners. Somehow, tickets are still available for Live at the Chapel with Daniel Kitson, while loads of the circuit's best sketch acts unite for The Joy of Sketch at the Lyric Theatre. EM
Lifestyle
As if Christmas didn't offer us a good enough excuse to pig out this December, the Southbank are hosting the Chocolate Festival, which should entice the inner Augustus Gloop out of all of us. Award for best pop-up shop of the year goes to God's Own Junkyard, which sees possibly the world's greatest neon artist selling off the bulk of a collection amassed over his 30 year career. Indulge in some clandestine cocktail pop-uppery at the Candelight Club, and I don't care how uncool it is, I'm recommending Carols by Candelight, which would warm the cockles of even the most icy veined Scrooge. TA
Theatre
Master storyteller Simon Callow performs his one-man adaptation (created with Tom Cairns) of the classic A Christmas Carol at Arts Theatre while Duckie's Copyright Christmas begins its fantastic assault on The Barbican. The much talked about Animals and Children Took to the Streets runs at National Theatre until 3rd January and Slava's Snowshow looks like fantastic family entertainment. Ontroerend Goed's Audience, on the other hand, absolutely does not. Neither does the unsettling Haunted Child, by Joe Penhall and starring Sophie Okonedo. But BAC's Christmas Cook Up looks like the best for interactive and experimental new works this December. NK
Live Music
In the words of Noddy Holder, iiiiiiit’s Christmas! And if you’re fans of twee folk, anarcho punk or carols in general, it definitely feels like it. Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler’s show at Bush Hall, UK Subs’ show at the Garage, and End of Road’s Christmas Shindig at Cargo all look pretty good, but the top pick has to be Holy Roar’s Xmas Bash at the Old Blue Last. I mean, nothing gets you into the festive spirit more than head-splitting math-rock, right? We should also mention Superchunk are playing this month. They’re only the best band ever... DH
Looking for present ideas? Why not read our smashing Christmas Gift Guide?
Image credit: State Library of New South Wales
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