What's happening in Thanet? Music, comedy, roasts + more

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We’ve updated our guide to Christmas events and activities across Thanet, as well as East Kent and London. So much is going on, we’re completely spoiled for choice. There’s shopping, festive family fun, pantomimes, nights out, craft workshops and more. Check it out.

Thanet District Council is offering the opportunity to experience regeneration plans for Ramsgate in virtual reality today. Pre-booked places have all gone, but drop-ins are also encouraged, so head over to Discovery Planet on the High Street between 11am and 4pm. If you can’t make it, you can get a taste for what’s planned for Broad Street, Ramsgate Harbour, the Clock House, Green Campus and the Newington Community Centre in this trailer.

There have been several new announcements for next year’s Margate Summer Series at Dreamland this week. Basement Jaxx will play their first live show for ten years on Saturday, July 26, Madness will be back on Saturday, August 2, and The Sex Pistols (minus Johnny Rotten but with the excellent Frank Carter up front) will tear up the venue on Saturday, August 23. Other acts already announced include Supergrass, The Libertines, Texas, and Olly Murs. Full line up and tickets.

Chump’s Comedy is breaking out of Margate in the new year with two shows in Folkestone and Canterbury. And what a dream line ups they’ve put together. Sindhu Vee, Daniel Foxx, Jack Skipper and Lou Wall will play Folkestone’s Quarterhouse on Thursday, January 23, then Vittorio Angelone, Olga Koch and Huge Davies will bring the funny to Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Theatre on Friday, January 31. Both shows will be hosted by Chump’s own Kit Proudfoot. Tickets are £16.

Soft Play (former Slaves) will be DJing at Justine’s in Margate on Saturday, December 7. They promise that a flick through their record box will find a mix of indie bangers, Robbie Williams, nu metal and the Venga Boys. If that sounds like your sort of playlist, tickets are £8.

Charity drawing battle, anyone? Illustrators Jen Davis and Mehmet Erk will be going head to head at The Folkestone Bookshop Wednesday, December 4. They’ll battle to design the best characters based on submitted suggestions. You can draw along too, with prizes on offer for the best audience creations. Tickets are £7, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.

The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter are coming to Dreamland next summer. Photo: Press

We’re pretty focussed on Christmas at the moment, but maybe your mind is fixated on Thanksgiving. If so, Snake Oil Barbecue at Daisy in Cliftonville has the supper club for you on Thursday, November 28. They’ll be cooking a feast, including smoked turkey, mashed potato, roast veg and pecan pie. Places are £38pp, book via the Daisy website.

Rakookoo have announced their next kitchen takeover, setting up shop at The Good Egg in Cliftonville on Wednesday, December 18. For £40pp, you’ll get a four course meal including Issan spiced duck, grilled hispi cabbage, Javanese fish curry and coconut panna cotta. Book your table.

Fancy yourself a bit of a green thumb or wish you were a better one, or just like being out in the fresh air? Monkton Reserve is looking for horticulture volunteers who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. If you are free either Tuesdays, Thursdays or on the weekend, and you’re aged 18 or older, drop them a line - it doesn’t matter whether you’re a pro with a hoe or a total dunce with dirt, as all experience levels welcome and full training and PPE are provided. volunteering@monkton-reserve.org.

TKE Studios artist Layla Andrews presents Flies in Amber at Soho Revue, in the West End. This solo exhibition will include some of her croc paintings, and works that challenge the binary ideas of good and bad. Running December 11 to January 11. Find the gallery at 14 Greek Street W1D 4DP

Not done with immersive exhibitions and have time to kill in Kings Cross but don’t want to sit in an overpriced, soulless bar? The Lightroom is a swish exhibition space that is every bit Kings Cross, but not heinous, and in fact, good. Its current exhibition Vogue: Inventing the Runway is a visually spectacular installation narrated by Cate Blanchett. It looks at how fashion shows evolve to embody the designer’s style and identity, using first-hand interviews, with pop and classical music to score luscious images. Running until April 25, tickets £25.

Vogue: Inventing The Runway at The Lightroom. Photo: Justin Sutcliffe

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

Author Charlie Moyler and illustrator Martin Stanev will be hosting a book making workshop today (November 23) at the Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop in Broadstairs. As well as a place in the workshop, your £5 ticket will also get you a copy of their new book The Tree Next Door.

Award-winning documentary Gaza will be screened at Where Else in Margate tonight at 1.30pm. There will also be a Q&A with the film’s editor Mick Mahon afterwards. Tickets are £9.96.

Alternative club night Kerosene returns to Salon Du Miel in Ramsgate on tonight for a night of emo, punk and metal. Entry is £5. Grab your tickets now.

Pursue and purchase the works of various local authors at the Broadstairs Book Fair on Sunday, November 24. You’ll find it at The Pavilion on Harbour Street from 9.30am to 4pm. More details here.

Artists Anya Gallaccio and Michael Landy will be in conversation, discussing sculpture, at the Turner Contemporary on Sunday, November 24. Tickets are £8.

Margate Film Festival gets underway on Wednesday, November 27 running through to Sunday, December 1 at Ark and the Tom Thumb Theatre. See the full programme here.

Margate ex pat Pretzel Cage will be performing their new drag show The Mountain at The Divine in London on Wednesday, November 27. Tickets are £10.

The Dreamland Heritage Trust is hosting a guided and (in part) interactive tour of Margate’s art scene on Wednesday, November 27. Tickets are £15, email info@dreamlandheritagetrust.org.uk to book.

Musicians Lou Barlow and John Davis will be touring their Folk Implosion project for the first time in 25 years this winter, with a show at Ramsgate Music Hall on Thursday, November 28. Tickets are £22.50.

Southern Water will be holding an event at Pierremont Hall in Broadstairs on Thursday, November 28 from 10am to 6.30pm. Staff will be on hand to talk about current and future investment in local water systems, financial support for those struggling to pay bills, and efforts to reduce storm releases.

Ramsgate poetry night Setlist will be back at Salon Du Miel on Thursday, November 28. Set to perform are Mithago Craze, Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman Hall and Michael Isaacs. Tickets are pay what you can up to £5.

The Tate Modern gallery in London’s new exhibition Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before The Internet is set to open on Thursday, November 28. Full details.

The London Illustration Fair runs from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1. Find out more.

Margate’s country music cabaret Queer Cuntry is coming back to London, taking over Signature Brew in Walthamstow on Friday, November 29. If you need a refresher, take a look back at our interview with founders Pink Suits from earlier this summer. Tickets range from £15-20.

Indie band Porridge Radio will be in Margate to play a show at the Lido on Friday, November 29, promoting their fourth album Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me, which is out now. Tickets are £20.