2020 promises to be another grand year for events in the UK. With everything that’s going on in one of the world’s commercial and cultural centres, it can be hard to pick which ones to actually pay a visit to. Here’s a list of some of the most unique events, festivals, talks, concerts, and shows to narrow down your own cultural to-do list.
London International Mime Festival
Any lover of classic European theatre would be remiss to not attend the London International Mime Festival. Time Out has the scoop on what we can expect from the festival’s 43rd edition: a lipsync drag performance from creative duo Thick & Tight, a Chaplin-inspired tramp down memory lane, an aerial German circus about parenthood, and the bare-bones clowning of the intriguing Trygve Wakenshaw. If you’ve always been curious about mime and theatre, this is one festival you simply cannot miss. The festival is on now and will finish on February 2.
PPPoker Festival
PPPoker is an app that has exploded in user numbers over the last years. Unlike other poker apps, PPPoker is all about the social dynamics of the game than the wagering aspect of poker. And now, as in previous years, it’s launching a wave of tournaments across the world in 2020, the first of which is happening at Aspers Casino in London on January 15 to 19. During the 5-day event, Cardplayer reports that the PPPoker Festival will also host a player’s party. This will include “fun games, a live DJ and jackpot prizes”. This tournament is the perfect place to see some of the world’s best poker players compete.
London Music Conference
This conference/festival is a veritable who’s who of the London electronic music scene. Apart from concerts from brands like Red Bull Radio, Boiler Room, and Beatport, the London Music Conference will also feature discussion panels on the big topics surrounding the city’s nightlife, inclusivity and safe spaces, the role of social media in 2020, and other factors that are shaping the future of British electronic music. This political and musical gathering of the minds behind London’s nightlife will happen on January 30 to February 1.
National Geographic Traveller Food Festival
What makes this festival different from the tons of other food festivals that are happening in the UK in 2020? It’s the only one that’s been created and developed by global science and entertainment brand National Geographic, a two-day festival that’s dedicated to both food and travel experiences around the world. This means cooking demos, tasting workshops, exhibitor stalls, and panel discussions celebrating two of the most powerful driving forces of global culture: food and travel. Catch the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival at the Business Design Centre, Upper Street, London on July 18 to 19.
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Named after lyrics from the song Anthem by Leonard Cohen, How The Lights Gets In is a celebration of music, politics, literature, and philosophy. It’s one of the few festivals where the likes of media critic and philosopher Noam Chomsky shares the stage with heavy-hitting musical headliners such as British Sea Power and Anna Calvi. The best of contemporary music and philosophy under one roof — aural pleasure at its finest. While its actual dates are yet to be announced, this is one festival that should definitely be in your Google Alerts.
