Things to do: Doorstep Duets, Nish Kumar, Folkestone Book Festival

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures dance company will be bringing Doorstep Duets to Margate and Ramsgate later this month. Now in its fourth year, the project gives people the chance to see world class dance in their local area - this summer it’s Hum by choreographer Anjali Mehra with original music by Luke Brady. Catch it at various locations in Margate on August 23 and Ramsgate on August 24. Find out more here. 

Ziah Ziah has been announced as the new performance artist in residence at Tracey Emin’s TKE Studios. She takes the baton from Ted Rogers, who has been in the role since the gallery and artist studio space opened last year. Applications are also now open for artists hoping to join next year’s Tracey Emin Artist Residency. Full details here. 

As part of National Play Day on Wednesday, August 7, Margate-based sound artist Yuri Suzuki will present Acoustic Pavilion at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green. The free interactive installation will give families the opportunity to explore sound and music building their own horn-like structures. Suzuki will also DJ in the afternoon. Full details here. 

Filipino restaurant Barkada in Broadstairs has announced that it is closing. If you want to visit one last time, you’ll have to get in quick, as their last day of trading is today, August 3. It’s not absolutely the end though - they say the decision comes as they are “seizing new opportunities.”

Skinny Dip Coffee Roasters will be taking over Giant Coffee in Margate’s Old Town this weekend, debuting the new company’s full line of coffees. And for those suffering withdrawn, Sunday will see the return of the Classic Bodega egg sandwich - a staple of the Skinny Dip coffee shop in Cliftonville before it closed earlier this year. 

This Bean Spins will be hosting two circus workshops at Ellington Park in Ramsgate on August 6 and 20. Places are £4 per child. DM to book. 

The Curzon Canterbury Riverside’s open air cinema is in full swing. Being screened over the next few days are Forrest Gump, Rebel Without A Cause, The Wizard Of Oz and Mad Max: The Road Warrior. The Olympics will also be shown for free during the day. Full details here. 

Nish Kumar is coming back to Margate. Following two phenomenal performances for Chump’s earlier this month, he will be back at Olby’s on September 4 and 5. The first date is already sold out, but the second still has tickets available for £15.

Margate’s Turner Contemporary has announced Turner Lates: Movements from the Margins on Friday, August 30. Presented by People Dem Collective and Diasporas Now, and inspired by abstract expressionist artist Ed Clark, the night will feature a programme including live music, DJ sets, improv dance, sound healing, meditation workshops, performances and more. It’s free, but book here. 

Musicians Lou Barlow and John Davis will be touring their Folk Implosion project for the first time in 25 years this winter. The run of shows will arrive at Ramsgate Music Hall on Thursday, November 28. Tickets are £22.50 from the RMH website. 

Open mic poetry night Babeslam will be back at Where Else in Margate on August 14. Ten performers will have three minutes each to compete to be crowned winner of the night. There will also be a headline set from previous winner Catrin Osbourne. Tickets are £6.44 on Dice, or £5 on the door. 

Folkestone Book Festival will return on November 14-24. The initial programme has already been announced, including talks from Helen Lederer, Rory Cellan-Jones and Robin Ince. Find out more here. 

Indie band Porridge Radio will be in Margate to play a show at the Lido on November 29. They will be in town to promote their fourth album Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me, which is out on October 18. Tickets are £20 on Dice. 

Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has announced her fourteenth solo exhibition at London’s Victoria Miro gallery. Titled Every Day I Pray For Love, it will premiere a new series of paintings, as well as including an infinity room. The show will run from September 25 to November 2. Entry will be free, but booking is required. Tickets will be available from September 2. 

ICYMI - previously tipped events taking place in the next week

A special Pride edition of Pretzel Cage and Shelly Grotto host a special Pride edition of their Is A Drag night at Margate Arts Club tonight, August 3. It’s also now been announced that this will be the last edition of Is A Drag, as Pretzel Cage is leaving Margate. Book your tickets here. 

Rise Up Residency’s Lido Paint Jam takes place on August 3 and 4 in Margate, featuring murals and street art from artists including Breeze Yoko, Cat Neil, EKS and Copie. 

Recording studio and rehearsal space Messiah Riff Audio in The Centre, Margate is holding its opening party from 3pm today, August 3. Live music from Muckwits, Cool Hot Rockers and Claire Pitt Wigmore kicks off at 5pm..

Folkestone Food Festival is running this weekend with restaurants and food outlets in the town centre hosting masterclasses, pop ups, and demos, as well as live music.

The Northdown and Gadds breweries are holding the first Northdown Gadd-About today, August 3. A loop bus will take up between the two tap rooms as well as Margate and Ramsgate’s train stations. There will be food and live music too. 

Head out on the Queer Margate Walking Tour at 11am on August 4. The event is free and starts at The Margate School, winding its way around historic and current queer points of interest before finishing at Walpole Bay in time to join Queer Swim Margate for their social at 1pm. 

More walking, and the Palace Cinema in Broadstairs hosts the first of its tours exploring Thanet’s lost cinemas on Sunday, August 4. This one will weave its way around Broadstairs. Book here. 

The Driftweed Artist will hold two seaweed pressing workshops at Kinder Collective in Broadstairs on Monday, August 5. Places cost £9 per child. 

Ark in Cliftonville is screening a double bill of new documentary United At The Coalface and 2014 comedy film Pride on Monday, August 5 at 7pm. Following the documentary screening, there’s a Q&A with director Ashley Francis-Roy. Book free tickets. 

Artist and therapist Clare Beloved will host a grief workshop at Ark in Cliftonville on August 7, followed by a performance of her one woman show A Very Lesbian Love Story at the same venue on August 8. The workshop is free, while tickets for the performance are £5. 

Stand up comedy night Chump’s will be raising money for Margate Pride with a special night at Margate Arts Club on August 7. Performing will be Dominic McGovern, Jodie Mitchell, Frankie Thompson and Sapphire McIntosh. Tickets £14. 

Margate wine bar and small plates restaurant, Pomus will hold its first wine tasting on August 8 from 6.30pm. Email enquiries@pomus.co.uk to book. 

The organisers of The Brighton & Hove Pride Film Festival will be at Ark in Cliftonville on August 8 to show a programme of queer short films from around the world. Tickets on sale here. 

A Note To My Young, Queer Self at the Turner Contemporary on August 9 sees local queer writers will share letters addressed to their younger selves. Tickets available on a pay what you can basis. 

The London Craft Beer Festival takes place at the Tobacco Dock on August 9-10. Representing Thanet will be Margate bar and brewery Xylo, among a whole range of companies from around the UK. Grab tickets here. 

Broadstairs Folk Week officially gets underway this Friday, August 9. The first acts will take to the stage in the evening, but there are family-friendly events during the day. Find out more at the BFW website.