Cultural Digest: Don’t miss these events in Europe this week

Amber Louise Bryce
·4-min read
Cultural Digest: Don’t miss these events in Europe this week

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to become a chicken nugget?

You just might after consuming this week's cultural recommendations, of which there are plenty. Who says you need to have secured Glastonbury tickets or live on the coolest street in the world to have a good time?

Exhibitions

'Showtown', Blackpool, UK

The smell of fish and chips riding on a sea breeze, flickering neon lights and the distant clattering of coin machines. There's something surreal about Britain's seaside towns; kitschy landscapes on the edge of a haunting horizon that now seem frozen in time. But a new museum in Blackpool is reviving the old razzle dazzle from its heyday. From Stan Laurel's hat to a Sooty puppet, sparkly Strictly outfits and the door of a Blackpool police cell that Harry Houdini escaped from - the displays are brimming with characterful tackiness that will take you back to simpler, "oh, I do like the be beside the seaside', times.

'Speak to the Eye', Paris, France

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Centre Pompidou (@centrepompidou)

Widely considered a pioneer of computer-generated art, Hungarian artist Vera Molnár left behind a legacy of fascinatingly futuristic works, paving the way for artists to create alongside technology and utilise its capabilities in shaping ambitious ideas. Molnár sadly passed away in January, but a new retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in Paris celebrates her innovative approach and enduring impact on abstract art. On until 26 August 2024.

Festivals and events

'Music Pavilion: Atenea Quartet, Barcelona Obertura', Barcelona, Spain

Atenea Quartet at the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe
Atenea Quartet at the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe - Barcelona Obertura

The sleek, sharp architecture of Barcelona's iconic Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is the perfect host for an intimate string quartet performance by the Atenea Quartet on 17 March. Organised in conjunction with the Ciutat de Clàssica program, a part of the Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival, the event provides a platform for young local musicians.

Tomorrowland Winter, Alpe d'Huez, France

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tomorrowland Winter (@tomorrowlandwinter)

While festival season is fast approaching (see our European recommendations here), it still feels forever away. Thankfully, there's a winter edition of Tomorrowland, one of Europe's biggest electronic music celebrations, starting this weekend (16-23 March). Located on the spectacular sun-stroked ski-slopes of Alpe d'Huez, the line-up includes superstar DJ's and electro artists like Alesso, Blasterjaxx, Steve Aoki, Henri PFR, Lost Frequencies and more. See you après-rave.

Movies

Drive-Away Dolls

A lesbian road trip gets weird and wild when Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) discover a suspicious briefcase in the boot of the car they've been tasked with delivering. Cue a classic Coen brothers' crime caper - although Ethan Coen's riding solo this time - filled with oddball characters, kooky Americana and a whole lotta horniness. The cast is stellar, including Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, Beanie Feldstein and Miley Cyrus. Here's what our resident film critic David Mouriquand had to say about it.

'London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival', UK

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BFI (@britishfilminstitute)

The biggest queer film festival in the UK, BFI Flare is back for 2024 and the line-up looks better than ever. From highly-anticipated movies like Rose Glass' Love Lies Bleeding to yet-undiscovered voices and shorts, there's a plethora of fantastic LGBTQIA+ cinema to be seen until 24 March.

TV series

Manhunt (Apple TV+)

This edge-of-your-seat period drama tells the true story of John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle), the stage actor that assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 during a performance at a theatre. Focused on the aftermath, we follow Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) as he leads the 12-day-search for Booth. Even if it's a story many of us are familiar with, watching it unfold in this glossy series still makes for unbelievable viewing. Have Wikipedia at the ready.

Chicken Nugget (Netflix)

'Chicken Nugget'
'Chicken Nugget' - Netflix

"I woke up this morning feeling like a chicken nugget," said internet celebrity Trisha Paytas in a now infamous (amongst the chronically online, at least) YouTube video from 2017. That very concept has been taken to the extreme in this new Korean Netflix series, which sees a woman inexplicably turned into a chicken nugget after stepping inside a weird machine. Her father and boyfriend must band together to try and reverse the curse before anyone nug-hungry turns up, gulp. Silly, deep-fried fun that you probably won't want to watch with a Happy Meal.

Music

Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well

The sixth studio album from Grammy award winning country singer Kacey Musgraves is a meditation on life and love, written in the wake of her divorce from fellow singer Ruston Kelly. It centres around the astrological belief of Saturn return, a transit period bringing chaos, as Musgraves swoons to the glimmer of synths through themes of heartbreak and self care in search of a sense of resolve.

Justin Timberlake: Everything I Thought It Was

Still simmering in the controversy from Britney Spears' damning memoir revelations, noughties heartthrob JT is back with 'Everything I Thought It Was', his first album since 2018's 'Man of the Woods'. The album's first single 'Selfish' was released earlier this year to an underwhelming response, but for fans of Timberlake's back catalogue, this artificial-flavoured fizzy pop is laced with enough nostalgia to still quench your thirst.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • The red flags that will tell us when China's actually ready to invade Taiwan

    Signs are growing that China could be readying for a showdown over Taiwan. These are the warning signs China experts closely track.

  • Man accidentally charged $2020.90 for $20.90 steak at Common Grill by Collin’s, takes to Facebook to complain

    The post Man accidentally charged $2020.90 for $20.90 steak at Common Grill by Collin’s, takes to Facebook to complain appeared first on SETHLUI.com.

  • Russia has found the critical vulnerability in Nato’s American tanks

    The arrival of the US M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine was hailed as a turning point in the war. Coming in at roughly $10 million a unit, the Nato stalwart was supposed to provide the armoured fist that would punch through the Russian lines. But tactics evolve quickly in warfare, and Russia’s use of surveillance and hunter-killer drones has led to heavy casualties for Ukraine’s tank fleets. This is alarming for NATO. If Russia has found critical vulnerabilities in our armour, our borders are beginni

  • Mohamed Salah in extraordinary touchline row with Jurgen Klopp: ‘If I speak there will be fire’

    A row between Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah, the greatest player of his Liverpool era, in full view of the London Stadium and the television cameras, suggested that all was not well at a club that as good as signalled the end of their title challenge with another two points dropped.

  • Russian actress who hosted 'almost naked' party fined for calling for peace in Ukraine

    Anastasia Ivleeva fell foul of a law that sanctions remarks discrediting the Russian military.

  • Moh Swee Kee — Disagreement spurs sister of Rui Ji Chicken Rice to go solo

    The post Moh Swee Kee — Disagreement spurs sister of Rui Ji Chicken Rice to go solo appeared first on SETHLUI.com.

  • Japanese town overlooked by Mount Fuji erects screen to block tourists’ view

    A small Japanese town at the base of Mount Fuji is erecting a gigantic screen to block off a viral view of the peak from the “world’s prettiest convenience store” after it began attracting dangerously large crowds.

  • Secret Service says agent on Harris’ detail was removed from assignment after distressing behavior

    A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris’ detail was removed from their assignment after displaying behavior that colleagues found “distressing,” the agency said.

  • Millie Bobby Brown Pairs Tiny Bikini with Denim Hotpants on Vacation: See the Cheeky Pic!

    The 'Stranger Things' star rocked a pair of denim shorts from her fashion brand, Florence by Mills

  • Erik ten Hag: Marcus Rashford abuse is wrong but he must accept share of blame for failings

    Erik ten Hag has told Marcus Rashford he must take his share of the blame for Manchester United’s struggles despite offering the striker his full backing in the face of “months of abuse”.

  • Jacky Wu and his "Mr. Player" team filmed in Penang for four days

    The Taiwanese host is back in Penang again after filming in the island back in 2015 and 2019

  • Pictured: Sea lion pups outsmart orca

    A pair of sea lion pups had a lucky escape after outsmarting a hunting Orca and leaving the giant whale stranded on a beach in Argentina.

  • Maggie Cheung Ho Yee to make TVB comeback?

    The Hong Kong actress is said to star in a drama by "The Queen of News" producer

  • Kylie Jenner just revived the naked brow trend and she looks like a woodland fairy

    Kylie Jenner shares Instagram selfies of her new bleached eyebrow look for 2024. She looks so different, with the ash-blonde look.

  • How the 'Bengaluru dream' turned into a nightmare

    STORY: Nineteen-year-old Kkavya landed in Bengaluru with dreams of getting a degree in English literature and an exciting job at a tech firm.During a job interview, Khavya, who hails from Kashmir, was told she would have amazing job opportunities in India's Silicon Valley.She was sold the "Bengaluru dream.""What was promised to me when I came to work, they were like, 'Listen, the weather is going to be amazing, you're going to get paid, come work for us for seven hours, go home, take a beer, chill, sleep."After three years in the city, the dream is falling apart, and fast.One problem is the traffic."Do you see the horn? Did you hear it? This is my nightmare."As it was transformed into India's tech hub, the city has struggled to keep up with the massive population influx.Kkavya now spends up to five or six hours on her daily commutes.In the 1990s, Bengaluru rapidly became India's answer to Silicon Valley.It attracted millions of workers and the regional headquarters of some of the world's biggest IT companies.But unrestrained urban expansion has affected Bengaluru's character as a liveable city.With the city poised to vote in the second phase of India's national election on Friday (April 26), Kkavya said she felt frustrated to see that these issues are rarely addressed by local politicians and candidates."We are that sad now, we don't even think that this is something politicians can fix, because they never talk about it. Traffic is our problem, roads are our problem, hospital is your problem. So when I tell my boss that I can't reach on time, it's my problem, not the people who made the roads, not the people who are responsible for the traffic."And she struggles every morning to get water for her daily use. Weak southwest monsoon rains last year failed to replenish depleted groundwater causing shortages.This forced residents to ration water use and pay a much higher price.Water rates at her apartment have gone up by almost four times from about $8.40 per month to more than $27. "Water is expensive as it gets. It is something like we fight for, cause I remember, two days back, this building and the next building had a war over one tank. Because there was only one tank available, and we both wanted it, so basically they paid more and they got it."

  • The games that will decide Premier League title race as Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool battle in run-in

    The Gunners’ bid has been revitalised but the reigning champions remain in pole position

  • Jurgen Klopp: Blame me for Liverpool’s failure

    Jürgen Klopp has blamed himself for Liverpool’s title bid unravelling, and revealed he ‘hated’ the Merseyside derby performance so much he would have led a crowd chant demanding more fight from his team.

  • Egyptian delegation in Israel to reignite Gaza truce talks

    A delegation from Egypt arrived in Israel Friday in a bid to reignite stalled negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza war including the potential release of hostages, Israeli and Egyptian media reported. The signs of fresh truce talks came alongside Israeli preparations for a military push in Gaza's southern city of Rafah. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. A ship was damaged when it was attacked twice by at least two missiles while travelling off Yemen's coast on Friday, Briti

  • ‘One guy’ is blocking release of Israeli hostages, says White House

    Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, is blocking a deal to release Israeli hostages, the Biden administration has said.

  • McConnell argues against presidential immunity for criminal prosecution

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he doesn’t think presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for their actions in office, as the Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue related to former President Trump. Asked in a Thursday interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker if he believes a president…