It's the weekend, let's get planning
LEEDS
EMBRACE THE FORTIES
The folk of Harrogate aren’t pulling down the bunting yet – the town’s annual 40s Day takes over the Valley Gardens with tea and cakes, music, stalls and entertainment this Sunday. 10 June; free; 11am-5pm; Valley Gardens, Harrogate, HG2
ARTISTS’ STUDIOS
Local artists open their workspaces to the public for North Yorkshire Open Studios over the next two weekends. We particularly love Pam Grimmond’s bird prints and Harrogate sculptor Chris Moss’ wire horses. 9/10-16/17 June; 10.30am-5.30pm; free; venues across North Yorkshire
MUSIC REIMAGINED
Introducing, the nine-piece band famed for recreating classic dance albums live, take on DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing, the first completely sampled album when it was released in 1996. 9 June; 8.30pm; £12.50; Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queen’s Road, LS6
SEE STEWART LEE
The funniest anti-comedy stand-up around, Stewart Lee brings his Carpet Remnant World show to the Playhouse tomorrow night with very funny takes on news programmes and bizarre retail park employees. 8 June; 7.30pm, £17.50; West Yorkshire Playhouse, Quarry Hill, LS2
MAKE A SUMMER DRESS
Designer Dawn Wood is hosting a summer dress making workshop at her shop, Fabrication, this Saturday. You’ll be shown how to make a halterneck or strappy dress. Some previous sewing skills necessary. 9 June; £45; 10.30am- 5.30pm; Fabrication, 102 Merrion Centre, LS2
BIRMINGHAM
FAREWELL PARTY
The Electric Swing Circus play their last gig in Birmingham before embarking on their UK tour. See them off in style at the Hot Club de Swing Bon Voyage Party, boasting cabaret performance, swing dancing and a nautical theme. 9 June; 9pm-late; £7; Hare And Hounds Pub, 106 High Street, B14
CELEBRATE JAMAICA
Jamaica 50 marks 50 years of Jamaican independence. Photographs from the Fifties and Sixties tell the story of the Jamaican communities that settled in Birmingham decades ago. Until 30 September; free; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, B3
ART APPRECIATION
Gary Hume: Flashback is a retrospective of contemporary artist Gary Hume at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. There will be a selection of his earliest paintings, best known for their vivid colours and use of abstract forms. Until 7 July; free; Lichfield Street, WV1
ON THE ROCKS
Stop by Selfridges Birmingham for whisky-inspired events and sampling sessions that are part of Whisky Month. You’ll find a range of whisky tastings by brands such as Compass Box and Glenmorangie. 8 June (2pm-8pm) and 9 June (12pm-5pm); free; Upper Mall East Bullring, B5
COMEDY GENIUS
Amy Lamé throws an Unhappy Birthday party complete with cake, balloons and nostalgic comedy. Experience Amy’s sharp observations and witty commentary on everything from the cult of celebrity to sexual identity. 8 June; 8pm-late; £10, mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12
MANCHESTER
LIVING LEGEND
Directed by Robert B Weide of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame, Woody Allen: A Documentary gets up close to the inscrutable filmmaker and his Hollywood buddies over a period of 18 months. 8-14 June; £5.50; The Cornerhouse Cinema, 70 Oxford St, M1
AFFORDABLE ART
Launch your art collection with the help of the £1 Art Show where original pieces from local artists of all statures will be on sale for £1. 10 June, 1pm; £1 entry; Night and Day Cafe, 26 Oldham St, M1
TAKE TO THE STREETS
Join a riot of dazzling costumes, music and dance at the Manchester Day Parade, this year riffing on the theme “The sky’s the limit... a celebration of heroic achievements.” 10 June, 2pm- 4pm; free; city centre
SUPERSTAR DJ
Be on the dancefloor when Swedish pop-princess Robyn hits the decks at Homoelectric, just make sure you arrive early to nab one of 150 tickets left on the door. 9 June, 10pm-2.30pm; £12; 2022NQ, Little Lever Street, M1
MUSIC AND MAYHEM
The Parklife Weekender returns for two days of bacchanalian excess and a pop-heavy line-up topped off by psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips. 9-10 June, 12pm-11pm; £64.50 full weekend; Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, M14
SCOTLAND
INDIE POP-UP SHOP
At Bold Souls’ glamorous fashion pop-up Prohibition Glamour, you can meet independent designers, buy one-offs and have them customised for you. 7 June; 6pm (for 7pm show); £10; SocietyM, Ground Floor, CitizenM Hotel, 60 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2
LAKESIDE DANCING
You might not find Nessie this weekend but thanks to RockNess you can catch Mumford & Sons, Biffy Clyro and The View on the banks of Loch Ness. 8-10 June; various times; from £59 (day ticket); Clune Farm, Aldourie, Inverness, IV2
SECRET CINEMA
After four years of re-routing (thanks to the trams), the Leith Festival’s colourful gala day and pageant is back on Leith Walk. Join locals and performers as they make their way to the Links. 9 June; 11am-6pm; free; Leith Walk (ending at Leith Links), Edinburgh, EH6
STAR SPOTTING
Today’s GSA and ECA graduates might be tomorrow’s Turner Prize winners. Head to the degree shows to discover them before they get big. GSA: 9-16 June; 10am-9pm; free; various veunes, Glasgow; ECA: until 11 June, 10am-5pm/8pm; free; Lauriston Place Campus, Edinburgh, EH3
SCOTTISH DESIGNS
Join Alexa Chung at the Scottish Fashion Awards for a night of mingling with celebrities and supermodels, nominee catwalk shows and surprise music acts. Strictly black tie. 11 June; 5.45pm; £35; SECC, Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, G3
LONDON
FANCY A HOBNOB?
No not networking, we’re talking about an actual biscuit. The British Biscuit Festival is a celebration of our favourite snack with build-a-biscuit workshops, an agony aunt called Dai Gestive, a farmers’ market, live music and a tea dance. 8-10 June; 12-6pm; free; The Brunswick Shopping Centre, WC1N
HIDDEN GARDENS
At Open Garden Squares Weekend outside spaces not usually open to the public open their doors. At Cadogan Place Gardens there will be live rock ’n’ roll music and a pop-up take-away food bar serving sandwiches, afternoon tea and Pimm’s on the lawn. 9-10 June; from £9; various locations
SECRET CINEMA
More than your average film night, at Secret Cinema you meet at a secret location where, before the film starts, you can enjoy an interactive theatrical experience, which hints at what the film is. Tickets are available for tonight and Sunday performances. Various dates; £35; secret location
RISING STARS
Free Range 2012 is the UK’s largest graduate art and design exhibition. Admire work in disciplines such as fashion, design, photography and interiors. Support comes from Fashion East founder Lulu Kennedy and Giles Deacon. Until 16 July; free; The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1
AMAZING ARCHITECTURE
Part of the London 2012 Festival, the recently unveiled Serpentine Gallery Pavilion – a temporary summer pavilion now in its 12th year – is designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, the team behind the Beijing National Stadium. Until 14 October; free; Serpentine Gallery, Kensington
