The Spoonfed editorial team select the biggest and best events taking place in London this January.
Comedy
What sort of comedy gigs can we expect in 2012? New concept nights and more sketch, variety and alternative stand-up, if January is anything to go by. The Pajama Men from Albuquerque return with more hilarious physical comedy. Free Fringe founder Peter Buckley-Hill has organised a fundraiser for his free Edinburgh Fringe festival with a line-up that includes Stewart Lee, Robin Ince and Rich Hall. Sketch 'ones to watch' The Pin showcase their new material at the Invisible Dot. Frank Skinner brings more top variety bills to the Noel Coward Theatre and Monster Comedy have a belting sketch gig to kick off the year. Inventive duo Casual Violence launch an ever-changing, travelling comedy club, while comics turn into teachers for School Night at the New Red Lion. ComComedy present a fabulous alternative bill at the Queen of Hoxton, the 30th New Act of the Year final takes place in Stratford, showcasing the best new acts to watch out for this year, and cult favourite Simon Munnery [pictured above] brings his quirky musical/monologue/anecdote show to Soho. EM
Art
The biggie this January is by some distance the Royal Academy's much-hyped David Hockney show, but as ever there's a host of other shows to take away (or add to) those January blues. For the optimists out there, Hoxton Art Gallery kick off their 2012 programme with an exhibition exploring contemporary attitudes to Utopia, whilst, more depressingly, the Southbank Centre hosts a festival themed around Death. Elsewhere, Flowers present paintings of the notorious Aylesbury Estate; the Foundling Museum host recent works by the world's favourite illustrator, Quentin Blake; and Stuart Pearson Wright returns with beguiling portraits of megastar screen siren Keira Knightley. TJ
Clubbing
January is usually a month of hibernation. It begins with noble declarations about early nights and yoga, and then you see line-ups like the Louche and Jaunt party at Plan B, which features Bristol house hotshot Julio Bashmore – top of many a 2011 'best of' list. He's joined by deep-enough-to-jump producer Shonky and genre-blender Midland. You've also got the mulletover January Sale with the future-leaning nephew of junglist Ray Keith and Kompakt founder Michael Mayer. Giles Peterson brings his Worldwide Awards to Koko, plus, The Nest are doing a great Friday night series – the most interesting of which is headed up by computer game fantasist and limelight shy Glaswegian Rustie. LC
Theatre
The best of the big ones this January include a West End run of Alan Bennett's Madness of George III and a look at the even crazier ruler, Ubu, in Simon Stephen's Trial of Ubu at Hampstead Theatre. Also at the ready to divide critics and stir up debate is Bijan Sheibani's Iranian interpretation of The House of Bernada Alba at Almeida Theatre. Some of the smaller shows we'll definitely be heading to this January include Philip Ridley's darkly magnificent The Pitchfork Disney and a voyeuristic familiar affair called Frankland & Sons. London International Mime Festival 2012 is also on our list. NK
Lifestyle
According to some, the world is going to blow up or something as soon as we reach 2012, so all of these events are based on the assumption that it's still business as usual for mankind in January. Firstly, London's best independent cinemas are due to host the London Short Film Festival, generally considered the finest of its kind in the world. The Hackney hipster brigade have breathed new life back into the old Chatsworth Road Market, which now offers food, vintage nick-nacks and more every Sunday – they are good for something I suppose. And for more bargain hunting away from the jam-packed high street, Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair hold their January sale at Spitalfields on the 7th. TA
Live Music
January is no time for resolutions, especially of the non-drinking kind. Think about it: you’ve just been given a wad of cash from your relatives, why would you stop going out when you’ve got a stack of free money to flit away? What’s more, there’s actually quite a few decent gigs on this January for a change, from a late indie Christmas present from Fortuna Pop at the Lexington, to a brace of shows from hotly tipped rapper Childish Gambino, and even a stack of shows from One Direction if you’re into that sort of thing. Seriously, stay on the sauce – heroes quit in October! DH
Click here for more things to do in London.
Add an event
Review: The Company You Keep
Robert Redford, an iconic face of Western cinema whose influence for decades has weighe...