📡Transmissions from... planet Hackney Wick

Before the nights draw in (and the raves do too), there’s time for one last local al feresco hurrah, as day-into-night party Transmissions from Hackney takes over the neighbourhood this Saturday, 28th Sept.

Hackney Wick’s multi-venue parties are when the area comes alive with colourful characters and bubbling party energy, so if you’re already pining for the festival season just gone, here’s where you can keep the summertime dream alive for another weekend (we’re almost in October, don’t you know?!)

Split across no less than nine dancefloors indoors and out, it’s a continuous 16-hour party returning for its third year with a massive line-up of incoming international DJs, live acts and a big record fair at No.90 from 1pm, too.

The billing includes sets from the likes of DJ Nobu, Vlada, Polygonia, Kia and Identified Patient, with live performances from Surgeon, LOIF, Reptant, Shackleton, Jorg Kuning and Monophonik.

Loads is free to enjoy, including the record fair and streetfood terraces, with final tickets still available for the indoor venues through until 6am.

More local music and nightlife to catch this week below…

There’s another chance to catch Rasheed Araeen’s participatory art piece Discosailing: A ballet on Water this Friday afternoon 27th Sept, at Waterworks River, which is just south of the London Aquatics Centre in the Park. Members of the public are invited to take to the water on red discs, wearing yellow ‘sails’ (see pic above) for a set of mediative 30-minute performances which will start on the half hour, from 12.30 until 6pm.

♀️ Female Unlocked is the new deeply personal and spiritual show from artist Catherine Amakars. It dives into the themes of feminine strength and beauty, exploring the female body through abstract depictions that merge traditional iconography with a modern twist, and opens tomorrow, Thurs 26th Sept, at Unlock Pizza.

This weekend sees KAIROS explore spirituality, the cyclical nature of life and how art can serve as a portal to the sacred via the work of no less than 28 different artists, showing at Indra Gallery. With work from across a broad range of media, from painting and performance to sculpture and video, the exhibition opens on Friday 28th Sept, (free tickets are limited so book now) and continues through until Sunday. 

🔓 It’s the second weekend of Space Studios open studios, which gives you the chance to visit over 300 artists across their 11 East London studio buildings 28th & 29th September. Check out the various dates and times for each location.

🩻 You can’t have failed to have encounter the emotive skeleton characters of Squarms adorning the streets of Hackney Wick and far beyond. Two More Years is currently home to a solo show of their drawings and paintings as the latest in the venue’s ongoing series of month-long gallery pop-ups.

🏗️ Wicked Changes IV is the latest edition in Felstead Arts exhibition series exploring how East London artists respond to current social and urban challenges of large-scale redevelopment; who is involved in creating the new image of the area, and who is left behind. See the exhibition at The Trampery now. Runs until November 30th.

💃🏻 Incoming East Bank institution the V&A bring their back2back live programme to UCL East Marshgate this Saturday night 28th Sept, with InBetween: A Latinx Takeover. Expect a celebration the in-between spaces of east London’s Latinx creative scene, their heritage and communities. Throughout the night there’ll be DJ sets, spoken word, photography, live art and more, served alongside food and drink with a Brazilian twist.

🎤 Queer Edge Live returns tonight (Wed 25th Sept) a talented local line-up including dancehall artist Lexxicon, non-verbal comedian Alex Gibbon, Irish alt-pop artist Erin Astra and loads more. It’s all at Nico’s at Hackney Bridge from 5pm.

🎙️ Yasmina, aka, Sunkissed Child is a South-London based artist originating from Lebanon. Through her music and captivating lyrics, she shares pieces of herself through a mix of cultures, languages and genres, with influences ranging from Neo-soul, R&B, Hip-Hop and UK Jazz, as well as from her Middle Eastern culture. She’ll be bringing emotion, energy, and incredible musicianship to Nico’s Bar on Friday 27th September, free.

📲 Do you work at night in London? You could earn up to £100 simply by taking part in a research workshop run by University College London’s UCL Urban Lab. Take the Voices of Nightworkers survey 

🆙 UP Projects have just launched this year’s Constellations Assemblies, an online learning programme designed for artists, curators, producers, and all those interested in the expanded field of public art. It comprises three online events exploring the relationship between creative practice and policy, starting this afternoon at 2pm, with How can we harness political energy? with Artist Dread Scott and Chisenhale Gallery director Dr. Zoé Whitley. The Wick readers can book for free using the promo code: constellations24.

👩🏻‍💻 Creative Coding Crafts Space is an afternoon workshop for anyone interested in picking up or using coding skills to produce interactive or generative artwork in the browser. No previous experience necessary, just being curious about creative expression through code. It will be meeting for the first time this Saturday, 28th September at The Cave in the basement of Algha Works.

The Community Sauna Baths at The Bath House are launching a monthly Men’s Circle club, with the first event taking place next Wednesday, 2nd October. Alongside an hour of sauna and cold plunge, there’ll be the chance to sit in a facilitated session where you can connect with other men, build mental resilience, grow emotional intelligence, support others and challenge yourself.

💅🏻 Not one but two new nail bar openings in the area this month, and both are offering tasty introductory offers. TW Nails Club at Omega Works currently has 30% off all treatments to celebrate their grand opening, while the new Rookwood Way canalside branch of Dream Nails has a promotional soft launch period of 50% off all treatments running from 24th Sept - 15th October. 

😶‍🌫️ The ongoing issues around air quality arising from the Hackney Yards development by the Overground station are addressed in the latest newsletter from construction company Ardmore. They list various ways they will be monitoring and mitigating the chemical odours that have been coming from the site now that work has resumed.

💻 Local creatives aged 18-30 who want to know more about exploring AI as a creative freelancer should sign up for a special session at The Good Growth Hub tomorrow, Thurs 26th Sept. It will deal with everything from prompt engineering to making the most of generative AI tools, plus the ethical issues of AI use in creative projects.

💁🏻‍♂️ The Help to Grow: Management Programme is an opportunity for local SME founders to boost their leadership skills and their business performance. The programme is delivered by business experts at Fashion Business School, LCF and is 90% funded by the UK Government, but if you are an alumnus and/or networked with UAL and meet the eligibility requirements, you can get a bursary so the entire 12-week programme, including 1-1 mentoring, will be fully funded. The next course begins on 30th October

🎬 If you’re a Hackney resident (aged 18 or over) with a passion for a career in the movie or TV industry, then Hackney Council is offering an exciting FREE training in partnership with Screen Hackney. led by industry experts. The two-day Set Ready programme will train you in the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to work as a Location Marshal on large-scale film or TV productions. Upon completion, you'll be eligible for a paid placement on a major film or TV production. The course takes place 22nd & 23rd October - apply before Tuesday 1st October. 

🔥 Head to the Mobile Garden at Hackney Bridge tomorrow night, Thurs 26th Sept, from 4.30pm where organisers Our Parklife, Social Farms & Gardens and Groundwork are throwing a free BBQ. They want to meet and chat with everyone who lives or works in the four Olympic boroughs, demonstrate garden activities and give everyone a chancy to meet other members of the local community, too, at an end-of-summer party.

♻️ After the success of last week’s Open House event, The Loop, is hosting a Circular Neighbourhoods Conference as part of London’s Circular Economy Week, on Friday 4th October. Sign up for free and join the event which will include panel discussions, keynote talks, hub tours and stalls. The Mayor of Hackney will also be giving a speech announcing further details of the borough’s Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan.

📈 Discover more about the ecosystem of innovation, culture and talent now based around the Olympic Park and wider East London at a special morning event called The Future is Now, taking place at Plexel on Wednesday 9th October. Podcast hosts and former politicians Ed Balls and George Osborne will give their take on the area, followed by a networking reception.

❤️‍🩹 Legal & General and UCL’s Institute of Health Equity have launched a £3m Health Equity Fund to support place-based projects addressing social issues around health. Charities, social enterprises, NHS Trusts or primary care organisations, university or academic organisations and community groups can all apply for grant funding to support initiatives or early-stage projects, up to £75k per project. Register your interest now.

📋 Local e-cargo company Zhero and UCL are looking for a Research Assistant to work on their New Organisational Model Project, exploring how impact investment and alternative ownership models can help tackle society’s biggest challenges. It’s a fixed term position until next June with some great benefits. Applications by 6th October.