UnLondon 25th Jan at St Mary’s Old Church, Stoke Newington

London band, The Unfortunates, host Unlondon, a free one-day festival of literature, music and visual art inspired by the less celebrated side of the capital city. Unappreciated and unknown to many, this is a London of libraries and launderettes, of back streets and betting shops, a city whose very future is under threat as council housing is ‘regenerated’ out of existence, and as local pubs make way for buy-to-let apartments, sold off-plan to overseas property investors. Speakers include cult writer and poet Bernard Kops, the inspiration for Mannie Katz in Absolute Beginners; The Bus We Loved author, Travis Elborough; Ken Worpole, whose pioneering study of working class writing, Dockers and Detectives reintroduced Alexander Baron’s London classic The Lowlife to a new generation of readers; and Des De Moor, author of the CAMRA Guide to London’s Best Beer. Unlondon will be played out to a soundtrack of London songs, both familiar and obscure, live performances from The Unfortunates, The Walk Uprights and Danny Thornton Shaw, and screenings of short films about the capital. Throughout the event a licensed bar will sell hot snacks and drinks, wine, cider and locally brewed beer. www.unlondon.org