It’s that time of year again when we all head to Clapham Common, strip off most (in some cases all) of our clothes and burn our skin to the sound of amazing music from some of the world’s best artists with an alcoholic bevvy in hand. Yup, it’s time for Clapham Common Festival season – just another typical summer eh? There’s tonnes going on and here’s a brief run through of what’s been, gone and coming up…

• Saturday, 24 July
  Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common: day one (go to site) SOLD OUT
• Sunday, 25 July
  Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common: day two (go to site) SOLD OUT
• Saturday, 28th August
  South West Four 2010: day one with Armin Van Buuren (go to site)
• Sunday, 29th August
  South West Four 2010: day two with Fat Boy Slim and Salt n’ Pepa (go to site)
• Friday, 24 September
  Toast Festival: South Africa (go to site)
• Saturday, 25 September
  Toast Festival: New Zealand (go to site)
• Sunday, 26 September
  Toast Festival: Australia (go to site)

Have you been to one? Was it good? Bad? Tell us on the Clapham Forum.

OK! You got me, I give into Christmas! I’ve been avoiding Christmas at all costs. The IN YER FACE Christmas adverts on TV at the moment have been making me anti-Christmas – they keep filling me with the overwhelming urge to stick needles in my eyes instead of Christmas cheer. So thank heavens for the lovely little leaflet popped into my letter box this week that reminded me of what Christmas is all about: a fun ol’ get together! Tomorrow, Saturday 21st November from 2 – 4pm at St Peter’s Halls, Prescott Place off of the Highstreet is Clapham’s first Christmas Market of 2009. I love everything about the leaflet that promises “bargains galore” for the price of a mere fifty pence piece entry charge. There will be a tombola, gifts, toys, preserves, books and other goodies. Do the organisers a favour and nip in for a cup of tea and a look around.

Clapham Common Fireworks Display 2009 is on Thursday 5th November starting bang on 7.30pm and it’s totally free! No self-respecting Claphamite would dare to leave it off their winter social calendar, it’s yet another reason why we completely Love Clapham. I do hope they turn the flood lights down and change the music this year though, I’m a bit bored of Queen…

Clapham Common Fireworks Display 2009

• Thursday 5th November
• 7.30pm on the dot
• Clapham Common (Clapham Common tube is closest)
• Free
• Follow us on Twitter: @loveclapham

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are turning brown and we’re snuggling up inside with toasty drinks, which means only one thing: time to get your gloves and sparklers ready for the biggest fireworks show in town. The area has a number of free fireworks displays, with Clapham’s among the longest running, most popular and most spectacular.

On the night there is often a large number of stalls selling food, snacks and other goodies (hopefully nice toffee apples and waffles, Mmm). There are no bonfires sadly because fires aren’t allowed in public parks, probably because someone might trip and fall into it… or something.

Getting to Clapham Common Fireworks

Clapham Common tube is the nearest stop to Clapham Common’s fireworks display. Visit our Clapham Common Guide for a simple map and full travel and local amenities information.

Travel warning

On the night, be sure to leave work early to get a good place before 7.30pm; Clapham’s fireworks display attracts thousands of people, often packing the Underground to the max, causing congestion and the risk of missing the display. We’re not underestimating either, last year Love Clapham was stuck in Kennington while tube staff closed the rammed station, causing chaos and us to miss the fireworks.

Follow us on Twitter…

For info from the night, plus future news and info for Clapham area events, please follow us on Twitter (@loveclapham).

In the photo above I was aiming for a mix of “funny money” to go with the headline, but instead ended up with a blurry, poorly executed version of one of those “haha I can fold a note over and put it on someone’s face” photos. But enough of that, I know what you’re thinking: where’s LoveClapham been and is that a dollar bill? Why yes loyal Clappers, you have deduced correctly that Love Clapham left the confines of our amazing society for a brief jaunt in the Big Apple, New York! Verdict? It’s not Clapham folks, so I came back. Back to the crappy news that house prices in our area are still going up, up and away in Clapham despite the recession. Good if you’re selling, utterly rubbish if you’re buying. Claps better not get too expensive otherwise I might have to start loving somewhere cheaper (as if!) On a lighter note, in fact a downright amazing note, Comedy Carnival is returning to the Clapham Grand. It already has a huge line-up of comedians for you to book and see right now, check out their site for more details. Given that Clapham has such a poor amount of entertainment options this is a much welcome, much needed and much [insert own superlative] development. Nice one Clapham Grand – Comedy Carnival is high up on Love Clapham’s excitement list.

This week the new Meryl Streep and Amy Adams film, Julie & Julia, comes out in Clapham Picture House and to celebrate they’ve given us four sets of aprons and books to go to four lucky winners! To enter into the prize draw, email we@loveclapham.com with the answer to this question: in which film did Meryl Streep star alongside Nicole Kidman? The closing date for entries is Friday 18th September. Clapham Picture House has two cool exclusives this week too; on Monday they’re showing Away We Go with an exclusive satelite Q&A with Sam Mendes, then next Thursday is their Argentinian film and wine evening. Full listings in the rest of this post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
11th September – 17th September

SPECIAL EVENT:
AWAY WE GO (15) + Satellite Q & A with SAM MENDES
Mon only: 6.30

AGENTINIAN FILM & WINE EVENT:
MOTORCYCLE DIARIES + THE WINES OF NICOLAS CATENA
Thu only: 6.45

JULIE & JULIA (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.00 3.40 6.10 (thu only) 6.20 (not thu) 9.00
Sun only: 12.00 2.40 5.20 8.00

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 8.45
Sun only: 7.45

DISTRICT 9 (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 (not mon) 9.10
Sun only: 12.30 3.00 5.30 8.10

500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.10 (not sat/thu) 2.20 4.30 6.40 8.50
Sun only: 1.20 3.30 5.40 7.50

BROKEN EMBRACES (15)
Daily except Sun: 12.25 3.15 6.05
Sun only: 2.15 5.05

KIDS CLUB: ARTHUR & THE INVISABLES (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

SECOND CHANCE CINEMA: ANTICHRIST (18) 12.00 (Sun only)

BIG SCREAM: JULIE & JULIA (12A) & THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

Hey, hey! Have you signed up to our Clapham Social Network yet? It’s free and you can do funky things like add local Clapham Events. Speaking of events sans Cla’hm, The White House has just added all of their upcoming dates into the diary to kick things off. All sounds pretty exciting!

Love Clapham’s on holiday this week, so sorry about the site being slightly quieter. This weekend marks the end of Clapham’s run of festivals – boo hoo! – and it’s the big ones, SW4 and Get Loaded in the Park. If you managed to secure yourself tickets have a wicked time! We’ll have Clapham Picture House’s film listings up today or tomorrow, but Love Clapham’s mega excited about a one-off charity screening of Bugsie Malone at 1pm on Bank Holiday Monday. Classic! Now, if you will excuse us, Love Clapham needs to go and chillax. TTYL.

Internationally renowned DJs, The Freemasons are heading to Clapham this weekend to play at the White House on Saturday 15th August. The Freemasons can often be spotted dj-ing at clubs across South London, particularly in Vauxhall, but they’re better known for their remixes of international music artists like Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Sophie Ellis Bextor. Not to mention their own albums from which you probably know more songs that you think.

They first came to clubland’s’ attention with the much loved, Jackie Moore sampling – ‘Love On My Mind’ closely followed by ‘Watchin’. Other hits you’ll recognise as being more recent are ‘Rain Down Love’, ‘Uninvited’, ‘When You Touch Me’ and current track ‘Heartbreak’ featuring Sophie Ellie Bextor.

The Freemasons website is running a competition to win tickets and signed CDs, but if you’re not feeling lucky – like Love Clapham – you can get in the usual way. Full info below:

White House, Clapham presents The Freemasons

VENUE: The White House, 65, Clapham Park Road, Clapham Common
SW4 7EH
OPENING TIMES: 9pm – 5am
DOOR COST: £10 concessions £12 door
DETAILS: The White House present’s THE FREEMASONS with support from ANDY M and David Minns
DATE: Saturday 15th August (PLEASE FEATURE)
WEB: www.thewhitehouselondon.co.uk

What’s your idea of heaven? Part of LoveClapham’s idea of heaven includes endless supplies of ice cream. Thanks to Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common festival this Saturday and Sunday, we’re going to have heaven on earth… on Clapham Common to be specific. Not only are the Human League (the blinkin’ Human League!!) and the Super Furry Animals performing at the festival, there will be non-stop supplies of ice cream too. But that’s not all that’s going on in Clapham this weekend, keep reading for your chance to win a £500 bar tab for The Loft. Enter quickly ‘cos LoveClapham’s got our eye on THAT prize!

Not only are those fiesty people at The Loft offering 50% off meals during the week, 2-4-1 on selected cocktails, now they’re throwing £500 at you. Literally throwing wads of cash in your FACE! Well… maybe not. But they are offering The Loft customers the chance to get their sexy paws on that £500 bar tab we mentioned. Visit The Loft’s website for all the details to help you on your way to an amazing night out in Clapham.

On Sunday, don’t forget to get jiggy at Gigalum for their 3rd birthday. With an amazingly successful three years under their belts, they have reason to offer free food and drinks to anyone that turns up at 3pm on Sunday to celebrate.

This Sunday is Gigalum’s 3rd birthday and to celebrate they’ll be holding a party from 3pm with the after party at Inigo taking you all the way through to 2am. DJ’s playing include Lee Ford, Scott Lummes, Andy P and Steve Butcher. With free drinks and food at 3pm and ‘Gigalum punch’ only £3, we’d advise you now to book Monday morning off! Gigalum’s had enormous success since it first opened and is always rammed, fully living up to its own statement of “busiest bar in Clapham”. Cheers to Gigalum for making that Clapham South corner so amazing!

Love Clapham HQ’s email has been abuzz with activity this week. HostelBookers, a company offering budget travel info and services has nabbed two tickets to the Get Loaded in the Park festival on Clapham Common, which they’re offering as a competition prize along with one night in a hostel for accommodation. Visit the HostelBookersBlog for all the info and to enter the competition. A speed dating event for graduates is taking place at the Alexandra Pub opposite Clapham Common tube tomorrow (Thur) night from 7pm, find out more and book on the Graduate Nation website.

Take celebrity Australian chef John Torode, three horses, a flock of sheep and some scantily clad Antipodean dancers. Stick them altogether on Clapham Common, take a photo and BAM! There’s your perfect launch photo for the Toast Festival 2009 this weekend. Update: the competition is now closed, Love Clapham reader Richard Kellow is the lucky winner! Read on to learn about the Toast Festivals.

Toast Festival 2009 is the largest celebration of Australian, New Zealand and South African culture to hit the UK. Toast is taking place on Clapham Common this weekend from Friday 26 June until Sunday 28 June showcasing a huge mix of food, wine, sport and culture.

Best bits include polo matches kicking off each day, BBQs piled high, headlining performances from Sydney dance group Sneaky Sound System and over 200 varieties of New World wine. It’s the perfect taste of life down under, so head down there!

In preparation for Toast, MasterChef judge and Aussie cook John Torode has been busy herding sheep on Clapham Common with the help of two other riders, and dancers from South Africa and New Zealand in traditional dress. It was touch and go as a couple of sheep nearly escaped on to Clapham Highstreet but John managed to round them up in the end.  Not only a top critic on MasterChef ready to pull apart any dish thrown his way, John also looks good on a horse!

John Torode will be at Toast Festival dishing up traditional Aussie fare including BBQ lamb leg, beef party pies and Hokey Pokey ice-cream.

Visit the Toast Festival 2009 website for full information and to book your tickets.

Have you spotted our new Clapham Offers page in the top menu? Take a look, we’ve got a couple of excellent discounts for the Four O Nine restaurant in Clapham North including a tremendous Sunday lunch deal – check it out this weekend. On Friday evening it’s Northcote Road’s Summer Fare, see ya there! Then on Saturday it’s Clapham Common Fayre (note the spelling difference) at the Holy Trinity Church. Clapham clubbing offers and more below.

If you’re en masse at the weekend, why not check out Inferno’s guestlist? Book on Thursday or it’s too late. If you feel like doing something for Charidee, check out MSF Clapham Treasure Hunt. Don’t forget to make the most of Revolutions 2-4-1 offer running at the moment on some cocktails.

Clapham Picture House is hosting a Robert Pattinson day on Saturday, celebrating the Twilight star’s career so far with three of his films: Twilight, How To Be and Little Ashes. Also check out our newly updated Clapham Bandstand 2009 Summer Schedule because there is the Cheeky Monkey Tea Party on Saturday and the Crystal Palace Brass Band is playing on Sunday.

Can you say Clapham-packed? We can too, but don’t cos you’ll sound silly. It is a busy weekend events wise though.

There’s a saying from Ricki Lake: “You have been told girlfriend!” And Love Clapham has been told. There we were, being all smug earlier in the week stating that “Clapham Band Stand is never used” when SHABAM! A whopping great schedule of Clapham Band Stand events comes flying into our inbox. Just for you, fellow Clappers, here is said schedule.

Saturday 20 June @ 10am – 4pm
Cheeky Monkey’s Tea Party
The Cheeky Monkey’s Tea Party is a fundraising event for the NCT and will include a mix of stalls, entertainment, arts and crafts.

Sunday 21 June @ 3pm
Back to Brass – Crystal Palace Brass Band

Sunday 5 July @ 3pm
Back to Brass – South London Jazz Orchestra

Saturday 11 July 2009
Rhythm of London
12pm – 4pm
Rhythm of London aims to provide young people the opportunity to experience and take part in live music. 24 young musicians will perform live and the music genres will include pop, folk, R&B and Jazz.

Sunday 12 July @ 3pm
Back to Brass – South London Concert band

Thursday 30 July
Purple Broccoli Story Telling Session
11am – 11.30am
Aimed at 4 – 7 year olds.

Saturday 1 August @ 3pm
Back to Brass – South London Saxophone Quartet

Sunday 2 August
Purple Broccoli Story Telling Session
11am – 11.30am
Aimed at 4 – 7 year olds.

Thursday 6 August
Purple Broccoli Story Telling Session
11am – 11.30am
Aimed at 4 – 7 year olds.

Sunday 9 August @ 3pm
Back to Brass – Becontree Brass Band

Thursday 13 August
Purple Broccoli Story Telling Session
11am – 11.30am
Aimed at 4 – 7 year olds.

Saturday 15 August
Purple Broccoli Story Telling Session
11am – 11.30am
Aimed at 4 – 7 year olds.

Sunday 16 August @ 3pm
Back to Brass – South London Jazz Orchestra

Sunday 23 August @ 3pm
Back to Brass – Crystal Palace Brass Band

Please note all events are subject to change and weather permitting.

Oh yes people, it’s that time of year again – Clapham festival time! Love Clapham is going totally gaga thinking about the massive partying ahead of us this summer. With Orbital, Super Furry Animals, Eric Prydz and The Human League all paying a trip to Clapham Common to headline, you lovely Clappers are totally spoilt for choice this year. But why choose when you can go to them all?! Read on for Love Clapham’s definitive guide to Clapham’s 2009 festivals.

Clapham is getting quite a name for itself as party central. Scrap that, with a 20,000 person venue (hello Clapham Common) it already is party central. Londoners will pour into our cosy little suburb for music and drinking gallore with no less than eight festivals on Clapham Common in 2009. And what the hell, we’re gonna join them!

Festival essentials

We’re in touch with all of the festival organisers and this page will be updated regularly with loads of useful tips and info related to Clapham’s 2009 festivals, so be sure to save it and visit back often.

• Clapham Common Guide: for info about travel to and from festivals.
• Clapham events: for other events to the big festivals.

Festival schedule

South Africa, New Zealand and Australia all have a healthy serving of residents living in Clapham, so it will come as no surprise that Toast Festival 2009 is a three day festivalathon to cater for all three nations. With Polo, music, mayhem and more it’s a brilliant event. Throw in BBQ’s and wine tasting, and we’re there!

Gay + Clapham = hand-in-hand and as a celebration the local gay Clapper community put on a song and a dance every year on the road next to Kazbar. Drag queens and tonnes of celebs usually turn up to entertain between music and drinking. Plus it’s free, just pay for the booze and enjoy. [More info coming when we're sent it!]

Super Furry Animals are the headline act for the first day of Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common festival. As usual there will be music, frollics, drinking and ice cream, possibly in reverse order (and then repeated).

You love icecream, we love icecream, most of London loves icecream – let’s go back for second helpings at the second day of Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common festival. Tickets have sold out already, but if you nabbed yourself a ticket, you’ll be lucky enough to see the Human League performing.

Probably Clapham’s best known gig, South West Four has a steller line-up this year with Eric Prydz and David Guetta headlining. Yummy.

With a line-up as long as your arm, Get Loaded in the Park is the last Clapham festival of the 2009 season – so you better get your skates on, buy tickets and get us a pint ready when you’re there.

Get Loaded in the Park brings even more festival goodness your way on Bankholiday Sunday 30 August. With no work on Monday there really is no excuse to miss headliners Orbital, Röyksopp and the rest of the acts.

You can still buy tickets from TicketMaster for a mere £35, or opt for a weekend pass to get you into South West Four (SW4) the day before too.

Get Loaded in the Park Line-up

Stonking line-up this year with headliners, other acts and DJ sets below:

• Orbital
• Röyksopp
• Carl Craig Presents Innerzone Orchestra
• Roni Size Reprazent
• Laurent Garnier // Peaches
• Sneaky Sound System // Freeland
• Booka Shade // Miss Kitten & The Hacker
• Magnetic Man feat Skream & Benga
• Esser // Trip // Marina & The Diamonds // Devils Gun

DJ Sets:

• Felix Da Housecat // Pendulum // Crookers
• Chase & Status // Rob Da Bank // Krafty Kuts
• The Count & Sinden // Steve Aoki // The Bloody Beetroots
• Eddy Temple Morris // Junior Sanchez

Visit the Get Loaded in the Park website for further information.

You know that swanky new wood and brick building opposite the Windmill Pub on Clapham Common? Well that, dear reader, is the newly built Clapham part of Lambeth College to house the sixth formers in September. Colleges have come a long way since our day and all the better for it, it’s a fantastic modern building and very in keeping with the tone of modern Clapham. If you’re interested in the courses – or your children are – head down there this Saturday for the open day.

Moving on to over 18 activities, other weekend goings on include Revolutions bar still offering two-for-one on their cocktails, click here for vouchers (one day you won’t have to print them off and save some trees). Infernos is free on Fridays before 10pm for Lady’s night, so perhaps there’s some kind of Revolution + Infernos plan for you right there.

If you’re excited about the South West Four festival later this year, you might want to head over to their website to watch a video interview with Sasha and John Digweed. One last thing, Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on Clapham Common tickets are now on sale – go grab ‘em!

Most of June, if the weather holds out, will no doubt be spent with friends on Clapham Common. Hold your horses though, because there are a growing number of events coming up that should catch your interest. Events include the open day at the new sixth form college, the Clapham Street Party, the big Clapham Common festivals and an open evening to learn more about Lambeth’s Green Communities scheme. Visit our Clapham events page for more info and links.