“Everything Fun” Banned From 2012 Olympics
Well, not literally everything. But everything fun to make noise with is definitely not allowed.
18 Mar 2011
A Drowning by Pope Joan
Had Roxy Music formed in the late noughties, they may have sounded a little like Brighton art-rockers Pope Joan. 2010/11 has included support slots with the likes of Twin Shadow, The Fall, Fools Gold and The Vaccines. They release new single, A Drowning, March 21st. Download a free track, Mattias, here.
18 Mar 2011
London agenda for Friday 18 March
1. Hear Jessica 6 at XOYO [Le Cool]
2. Drink at the Duke of Sussex, Waterloo [Tired of London]
3. Dance until stupid at Scandalism [Flavorpill]
4. Watch Submarine, the film from Richard Ayoade [Time Out]
5. Increase the hardcore thrash content of your life with Flowers of Flesh and Blood, Jakal, Bin Raiders, and Usual Players [London Gigs]
18 Mar 2011
Desmond Dumping Magazine Lineup
All of the mogul’s magazine titles — including OK! — are up for grabs.
17 Mar 2011
Bucket of iPhones Buried in Geffrye Museum
Blind optimism was on display as the museum’s youth panel placed a time capsule underground, not to be unearthed for 100 years.
17 Mar 2011
UK Specific Farmville Recreates British Countryside
Now you can at least waste your time and money in a more sophisticated setting.
17 Mar 2011
Five charlatans, eccentrics, or otherwise notable personages buried at Kensal Green
I recently went on a romantic afternoon stroll through Kensal Green cemetary (no, it’s not weird), and a beautiful stroll it was too. So many graves, so many lives, so many lived days lie scattered beneath your feet – it’s impossible to avoid some very big thoughts indeed. And it’s also a great place to get stuck in to some London oddballs. Here are five good ones, and may they continue to rest in peace.
John Saint John Long
Any man who has a chapter of his own in a 1928 book called Mysteries of History with Accounts of Some Remarkable Characters and Charlatans has already got me pretty fascinated. When his chapter is entitled A Charlatan of Distinction, then I’m in love. A dashing quack who sold made up medicine, he was tried for his dubious practices and fined the substantial sum of £250. His response? I quote from the above linked book: “There was intense excitement in the court, during which Long remained unperturbed, then ostentatiously taking a roll of notes from his pocket, he immediately paid the fine and left the building.” What a hero. Explains the curious wording on his tombstone.
Andrew Ducrow
What sort of man would have a brightly painted pastel tomb combining Egyptian and pagan motifs, and including a deliberately broken column on which rests a stone replica of his hat and gloves? Why, the sort of man who would fight a live lion while dressed as a centaur of course!
Sophie Dawes, Baronne de Feuchères
Wikipedia
describes her as “an English ‘adventuress’”, and that extra pair of inverted commas should tell you that her adventure was not exactly played by the book. She grew up in a workhouse, was a servant in a brothel, and yet somehow finagled her way to the very heart of the French court. What a woman.
Percy Sholto Douglas, 10th Marquess of Queensbury
UPDATE: The potted biography below relates to Percy’s father, John Douglas, the 9th Marquess who lies buried in Scotland. Poor Percy, who does lie in Kensal Green, was thus the victim of a gross slur at my hand. I can only ask forgiveness of his memory. Thanks to Linda Stratmann for pointing out my error.
Notable for three things: sponsoring the rules which govern boxing to this day, having a brilliant middle name, and prosecuting Oscar Wilde for being a whoopsie. He pursued that vicious campaign to the extent that it bankrupted Wilde who, broken, died soon after. Not a nice man, Percy Sholto Douglas.
James Barry
Forgive the repeated links to Wikipedia, but it really is the best way. James Barry was a surgeon who travelled the world with the army, fought a couple of duels and helped revolutionise medical sanitation in the armed forces. Only after his death was it revealed that he was probably born a woman. A pioneer then, in so many ways.
Email [email protected]
Tweet @mikpollitt
17 Mar 2011
See this tonight: The Babies and Cheatahs at CAMP
17th March @ CAMP Basement, 70-74 City Road, Old Street, EC1Y 2B
If you’ve liked Woods or Vivian Girls over the last couple of years then The Babies UK tour is a must see. A band formed by members of the two groups with the simple mission to have ‘fuckloads of fun in small rooms’, they’ve been tearing up basements and bar rooms all over the US with songs as immediately catchy as ‘Break The Law’, garage pop rollick ‘Meet Me In City’ and ‘Run Me Over’ (all on their fantastic debut LP out last month on the Shrimper label). Tonight, they bring the same spirit to the roomier environs of CAMP. Go have fun. You know, a fuckload of it.
17 Mar 2011
London agenda for Thursday 17 March
1. Visit the Tic Toc Pop-Up shop, by art collective Efdeay who have taken over an abandoned Camden dry-cleaning store. Warning – it’s only there for 24 hours. [Le Cool]
2. Book a ticket to the Troxy [Tired of London]
3. Listen to Louise Raw giving a challenging new interpretation of Bryant and May Matchwomen and their Place in History proving that the women themselves, not celebrity socialists like Annie Besant, began it [Ian Visits]
4. Pick Me Up some graphic art [Time Out]
5. Watch Lillies on Mars with the Last Dinosaur at The Victoria, Dalston [London Gigs]
6. Visit a parallel universe with Professor Brian Greene [Jon Davis]
7. Have a fuckload of fun with The Cheatahs and Babies UK [Sian Rowe]
17 Mar 2011
Aquarium's Key by Lilies on Mars
Every so often, a record comes along that makes you want to kiss the nearest religious icon and thank chosen deity for blessing you with ears. Aquarium’s Key, by London-based trio Lilies on Mars, one such record. Call it dream-pop, call it shoegaze, call it whatever; it’s simply a stunning, stunning tune. Taken from forthcoming album Wish You Were A Pony (available for streaming via the band’s website), it’s accompanied by an apt and rather cutesy animated video, directed by Luna Caricola. Lisa, Marina and Matthew play The Victoria, Dalston tomorrow night (March 17th).
16 Mar 2011
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- The five spookiest abandoned London hospitals
- Hope and despair in Woolwich town centre
- Silencing the Brick Lane curry touts could be fatal for the city's self-esteem
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- The best church names in London, and where they come from
- Only 16 commuters touch in to Emirates Air Line, figures reveal
- Summer Camp: Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days
- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
- 9 poems about London: one for each of your moods
- An interview with Desiree Akhavan
© 2009-2026 Snipe London.