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In November 1966, Ken Loach’s shocking film ‘Cathy Come Home’ catapulted homelessness and unemployment to the top of the national conversation. A few days later, the charity Shelter was officially founded, and 50 years later it’s still campaigning for safe, affordable housing for everyone. This month it marks its half-century with an event series called Gimme Shelter, bringing some tasty-looking cultural happenings to London for a good cause.
The line-up covers literature, art, film and music, and begins on July 15 at the beautiful St Pancras Old Church with a rare appearance by PJ Harvey. Peej will be reading from her book ‘The Hollow of the Hand’ as part of a line-up that also includes Tracey Thorne, Mark Watson, Joe Dunthorne (author of ‘Submarine’) and the songwriter Laura J Martin. That’s followed by an event with artist, designer and uber-hipster Richie Culver, launching his new exhibition at Protein in Shoreditch on July 28.
On-point singer-songwriter Shura gives an acoustic performance at Moth Club on August 4, with an appearance by Mercury Prize-winning Brixton rapper Speech Debelle, before things wrap up in Peckham with a rooftop screening of Ben Wheatley’s London dystopia ‘High-Rise’, starring Tom Hiddleston. Wheatley will be introducing the film and answering questions about adapting JG Ballard’s classic novel.
Tickets are only a tenner, and all proceeds naturally go to furthering Shelter’s important work. Apply through the ballot on Shelter’s website – and don’t hang about: the PJ Harvey ballot closes tomorrow at noon.
Apply for Gimme Shelter tickets or check out more great things to do in London this July.