Join us in t'ARTopia for a queer-curated night of drag, comedy, poetry, cabaret and music from some of our most delicious t'ARTs.

We have invited some of our favourite performers to entertain you all, at a night that will be nothing short of t'ARTopian. 

We will be raising money for gender affirming surgery funds with this evening's raffle, so come with a couple of quid, win art and raise money for good causes!

Let's get mouth-watering

Schedule:

7:15pm -  Doors Open

7:30pm - Start

10:00pm - End

t’ART is a queer-led arts and lit collective, that creates space (on the page and in real life) for marginalised voices. Lineup

Nyongbella - Drag

Nyongbella is a life sized Bratz doll and fashion editorial come alive. She is truly a rarity, and with supermodel poise and showgirl glamour, she's ready to leave everyone wanting more. 

Teresa Rendell - Poetry

Writing has proved an invaluable vehicle for expressing the instability of grief following the loss of my dad, David, to MND last year. Finding humour as well as darkness has proved to be, granted, a foreseeable challenge, but one which has developed and grounded my creative practice. I’ve performed at Up the Creek, and VFD, and in my work invite you into this deeply personal and vulnerable journey of bitterness, recovery, and the absurdity of living with what’s left.

Christopher Lieberman - Comedy

Christopher Lieberman (he/him) is a queer writer, actor, and comedian from South London. He has self-produced two solo shows, including the award-winning "Bunny Man", and he has performed at venues across London, Brighton, and Edinburgh. 

Solstice Corn Dolly Workshop

Summer Solstice Corn Dolly Workshop….

Daddystreetfox returns to VFD for another Corn Dolly workshop on the Summer solstice, Sunday 22nd June 12-3pm Tickets £25

Using soaked layers of corn husks you will guided through the process of creating a traditional corn dolly. These dolls were often made to keep the spirit of the harvest alive. There will be time to decorate your doll with a selection of wheat, rye, lavender, dried flowers, ribbons and seed pods.

Feel free to bring along anything you would like to use for decoration.

VFD is a fully accessible space.

Queer Square - a free day party on Solstice. 

Come and help VFD celebrate a new phase in our 18-year history . This year we are becoming a charity which will allow us to continue serving the needs of our Queer community and intersectional allies. 

This is a period of change and challenges for us as we move from profit-making to offering more free services and events. 

This is a party, an activation, a call to our community to come and share the LOVE. 

Love Art Magic 

VFD 

The VIBES

It's an honour to have two members of our VFD family Gin and Alex, Djing the party and bringing the good vibes.

GIN - Founder of Faggamuffin Bloc Party and celebrating QTBIPOC carnival culture. Playing the best Dancehall, Soca, Bashment, Reggae and Calypso. 

Gin is also a founding member of other community support groups to include Black Obsidian Sound System, Sex and Rage and Goldsnap. 

Alex Loveless - Founder of the trans and non binary- led dance party Body2Body. Playing Disco, RnB, Pop, Rock and everything in between, with tunes and anthems that everyone knows and loves. 

Alex is a founder of ‘La Camionera’ a lesbian bar and community space on Well Street, a welcome addition to Hackney nightlife culture. 

We will be announcing our final set times next week. 

This event is free and you do need to reserve a space for free or you can support us by - 

• Purchasing a ‘Pay It Forward’ drinks ticket on Cocktails and Doubles with Mixer.

• Donating to us.

‘Pay It Forward’ tickets will be given when you check -in. 

A few things to note. 

Priority entry will be given to ‘Pay It Forward’ ticket holders.

To avoid queuing, we advise those who purchase a ‘Pay It Forward’ ticket to arrive before 6pm. 

We advise all free ticket holders to arrive before 6pm to guarantee entry. 

The gates will close at 7.30, half an hour before the party ends at 8pm. 

No liquids will be allowed into the square. Free water will be available at the bar. 

Please check our Social Media for updates on the day. 

Gillett Square is a fully accessible outdoor space, and there are accessible toilets on site. 

NO BYO and NO RE ENTRY

Join us in Gillett Square to learn about Matariki/Pacific New Year - which celebrates the rising of the Matariki star cluster - with a free Whētu/star making workshop. 

VFD invites everyone, including friends, family, children, dogs and imaginary friends to learn about Matariki while creating beautiful handmade Whētu (all sustainable materials provided). Come along from 12pm-2pm, stay as long or as short as you like and connect with our pasifika culture. After the workshop all the Whetū will be hung within Gillett Square to share your creations with the public throughout the day or you are welcome to take them home with you. 

In Aotearoa, Matariki is a time to come together to remember all those that have passed into the realm of the star Pōhutukawa in the previous year and to celebrate the coming of the New Year by giving thanks for the gifts of our Taiao (natural world) to Waitī, star of freshwater bodies and all foods they contain; Waitā, star of the Moana (ocean) and the food it provides; Waipuna-ā-rangi, star of rainfall; Tupu-ā-nuku,star of all that grows in the earth and is harvested; Tupu-ā-Rangi, star of fruits, berries birds and all that grows on trees; Ururangi, star of the winds; Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the wishing star and Matariki, star of people’s health and well being. 

Please note : Whētu making takes around 20 mins but please feel free to come and go as you please. 

Gillett Square is a fully accessible space.

SH*T ON IT  is an event showcasing Trans voices on the recent UK Supreme Court Ruling where they determined that the legal definition of a woman is based on their biological sex. 

As one may assume this has huge implications of how trans people (especially trans women) are treated in day to day life as well as a cis women who doesn't look like a femme woman. This act has been enforced by outdated thoughts that don't seem to be completely thought out. 

If you are looking for an evening where you get to hear trans voices on the matter come along. This is a free event yet if you have the capability to pay for a ticket please do as this means we can throw more events like this. 

This event takes place on the 19th at 6:30pm with readings and performances by some iconic trans people TBA, at 7:30pm at the gallery of VFD. It will also be showcasing images of Fleur Bloemsma from across 5 years on a toilet around the gallery. You can also be apart of a movement and have your picture taken on the toilet and posted all around London (completely optional).

I will also have made a zine with trans voices and pictures inside that will be for sale on the day. 

More suprises along the way. if you can reserve your place that would be great as there is limited space. 

Address 64-66 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7XB, UK./ This venue is fully accessible   

The meaning of this show is to make people feel less alone and more together. 

See you soon 

Fleur 

Mealofa - Fundraiser for Palestine

Talofa Koutou

Join us for a day of workshops that celebrate creativity, movement and
connection at VFD, 14th June. We will be hosting workshops for; hula,
printmaking, creative writing and zine making to raise money for
families in Palestine. Each workshop will explore creative ways to
sustain ourselves and act in solidarity.

All our artists have donated their time and resources to benefit
families who are suffering under aid blockades, accelerated and
indiscriminate bombing and the destruction of vital infrastructure. As
Bloody Samoan says “Palestine’s struggle today was our struggle
yesterday”. Mealofa translates to "something of love" but is used to
mean "to give". We give the people of Palestine our unwavering
solidarity, our time, our resources and our resistance until Palestine
is free.

All workshops have been created to include everyone from absolute
beginners to confident artists and performers.

Workshop schedule:

Pasifika Dance and Connection with Nicola (1.5 hrs)
Solidarity Printmaking with Momoe (1.5 hrs)
Creative Writing for Communities with Yogi and Lau (1.5 hrs)
Zinemaking for Collective Liberation with Sina (1.5 hrs)

Workshops start from midday. No island time. More details to follow.

Tickets begin at £12 for a workshop or £35 for the full day. Limited
low income tickets available and please email laubatty@gmail.com if
you have access issues or are struggling financially but would like to
come and connect with community.

VFD Tarot

A co-created, experimental and cosy night of tarot inspired cabaret. 

Gender Queer Tarot – if it’s been done before, we still clamour for more!

 With the added twist of history and so expanding gender queer community through space and time. The VFD tarot is a willful whoop to our ingenious ancestors for inspiration and insight.

The event is divided into three - for our shenanigans are sacred:

Intentions can be set and cards will be conferred on the door,

We will come together in the spellbinding space of The Outsider’s Gallery VFD, hosted by The Irrepressible Andrea Boswell who will represent The Fool. The howling horn of Sarah Woolfenden will create a clarion call to community and a surreal soundscape, rallying resonant reciprocity... She will represent the four suits of the tarot. 

The Cabaret of the Cards will begin, comprising of 3 ingenious acts, the 3 journeys that the fool pursues through the major arcana.

Journey 1 The Worldly One : Arkem Mark Walton

Journey 2 Turning Inwards : Charlie Jimenez

Journey 3 The Great Journey : Ella the Great

After this we gather to generate a group quest-i-on, posed to the tarot and followed by a 3 card reading.

We will embody these tarot insights through well-held whimsical psycho-magical acts and close the space together with a shared group intention.

This night plays with the insights of Rachel Pollack, tarot expert, trans activist, sci-fi writer and creator of the first trans cartoon super hero (and ex-Londoner).

A VFD Tarot Deck has been created by Sally Ruth Davies for the night, celebrating 22 Gender Queer Londoners .

There will be tea and cake.

Doors open at 7pm. The show starts at 7.30 and the event ends at 9.30pm.

This is an intimate event held at The Outsiders Gallery @VFD - book early to avoid disappointment.

NOTAFLOF (No one turned away for lack of funds) tickets available upon request. Please email info@vfdalston.com for more info. 

Supporting Grassroots Live Music with focus on celebrating and platforming Queer Musicians.

Plus mini DJ Workshop with IKONIKA

SOLD OUT

Jacqueline Ennis-Cole open-mic and book launch event. Private Invite Only

Jacqueline received a Spread The Word Commission Award in Autumn 2023. Recent readings include Lewisham Literature Festival, Autistic Shuffle, Devereux and with Poem Brut at Rich Mix and a Hundred Years Gallery. They received an Arts Council Project Award in 2024, to co-facilitate a series of free poetry workshops at CLR james Library and VFD for LGBTQIA+ communities and to produce a diverse and intersectional poetry anthology hatred is a bitter fruit. 

The co-host will be Venus - a martial artist, writer and performer from Harlesden. A sex worker for many years, her work is a reflection of her experiences with unconventional notions of power, strength, sensuality, subversion and the concept of embodiment as knowledge. She is a recent graduate with a BA in Politics, Philosophy and History, and is founder of Sex and Rage, a sex worker led organisation resisting stigma and shame through sex education. 

Our other co-host will be our own Lyall Hakaraia. 

Sexquisite Events is proud to put on its first ever SWer led live band night!

MilkMaiden’s ‘Death of All Men’ EP Launch will take place at  VFDalston Thursday May 8th.

MilkMaiden is a resident performer and co-founder of Sexquisite Manchester and Liverpool. You might have seen her grace the stages acoustically with the songs such as ‘ The Death of all Men’ or her cowboy pegging song ‘Folsom Bussy Blues’. MilkMaiden will be releasing all of the above and performing with a full backing band May 8th. Killer, right?

The night will be supported by a sickening lineup of band ‘A VOID’ as well as performances and gogo. 

All ticket holders will get a code to download MilkMaiden’s ‘The Death of all Men’ EP for free.

About MilkMaiden

MilkMaiden is your new favourite low–budget gaffa-tape goth queer cuntry music star. She is inspired by a legacy of divine, ethereal women such as Kate Bush, Courtney Love, and Dolly Parton with a big, crude and nude attitude. You might have seen her grace the stages of Sexquisite Cabaret as a resident act, and various dives throughout Manchester to London and New York to New Orleans. Opening for bands/artists like Skating Polly, Delilah Bon, and Crawlers. MilkMaiden is for the working grrrls, the dykes, and the dog. None of the above? Stand in the back x

Common Ground: Live at VFDalston

An evening of words, music, and movement in support of The Common Press

Join us at VFDalston for a night that celebrates the power of queer voices and collective joy. We're gathering our community for an evening of live music, spoken word, and DJ sets, all to support The Common Press, a vital queer bookshop, café, and community space that needs a little extra love right now.

This isn’t your usual open mic. It’s a curated night of artistry, expression, and connection—with a few on-the-night sign-up slots for those feeling brave and inspired.

Featuring:  

• LAKY – Singer-songwriter with a voice that cuts deep and lyrics that heal, fresh from their award-winning musical and gearing up for their next chapter.  

• Eden J Howells – Alt-folk-rock rising star bringing raw emotion, melody, and an ever-growing fanbase.  

• TRIBE - A Black, trans-led performance duo consisting of Oduenyi Nwike and Wura Kareem. They blend vocals, movement, and live improvisation to create raw, genre-defiant soundscapes.

   + more surprises and DJs spinning joy ‘til late

  Expect:  
  → Powerful performances from some of London’s most exciting voices  
  → Limited open mic spots for spontaneous brilliance  
  → A chance to give back to a space that gives so much to our community  

Timings
Doors: 7PM  
Show kicks off: 7:30PM  
Last performer: 10PM  
Dancing: Until 11:30ish  

Come for the art, stay for a dance.  
 

All funds raised go directly to supporting The Common Press.

THIRST is a series of live music events at VFD to bring you new music, new artists, our second showcase of four acts is on Thursday May 1st. 

Tall Child

Tall child is the alias for Zha Gandhi, a South East London based musician of Nigerian/Indian heritage paving the way for black artists in the indie music scene. tall child takes inspiration from the likes of Mitski, Radiohead, Rachel Chinouriri and Arlo Parks, to create a beautifully intimate and authentic basis for their soundscape. They build on this with a brutally honest style of lyricism, that explores their experiences as a queer disabled POC, to develop a sonic space especially for those who feel their differences being used against them.

PORTIA

PORTIA is a 24-year-old Sydney-born and London-based producer, songwriter, and vocalist who draws on a decade-long love of R&B, hip-hop and electronic sounds to create what she affectionately calls ‘girl music’. Tending towards the sad and sultry, but also veering into more upbeat territory at times, girl music is an expression of vulnerability, femininity, sexuality, and beauty. PORTIA's sound is an ode to the artists she found and loved whilst trawling through YouTube, SoundCloud, and other corners of the internet in her teens: ELIZA, Qendresa, Ojerime, JOY., Jorja Smith, Flume, Pip Millett, and more.

Zoiya

Zoiya is a singer-songwriter producer who creates an ethereal, dreamy, and moody atmosphere in their songs and has been making demos for a couple of years which led them to release two singles last year, 'Rewind' and 'Don't Invite Me to the Party'. She has released one single so far this year titled 'used2Call' and plans to drop several more this year as well as an EP. 

Jake Silke 

Jake Silke is a londoner with a deep love for music that blends R&B, gospel, and neo-soul. As a mixed-race and queer artist, their sound is influenced by the rich cultural and musical diversity that has shaped them, from the soulful music they grew up with, the divas they looked up to and then discovering spirituality later in life largely from exploring the gospel genre.

THIRST takes place in the basement club space at VFD which has one set of stairs to enter.

THIRST is funded by Arts Council England.

Band/Artist Line Up TBA

COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS

An evening of Extended, Experimental, Unreleased, New Work from 2 Trans creatives pushing boundaries. With a special feature from Mermaids - who are doing essential work for and with Trans+ youth 💜

by Die Lemma and Asher Fynn

Art, Live Music, Performance, Risk Taking

DIE LEMMA

Die Lemma is a trans femme artist of German and Ethiopian heritage, blending the worlds of music and drag.

Her vocal performances pay homage to black music and old cabaret. Situated in the trans body, they disrupt prescriptive ideas of gender. In its place, Die weaves reimagined possibilities using costume, craft and paint. Her work has taken her to venues such as the National Theatre, Southbank Center, Barbican, and the Roundhouse. She recently won the drag competition Top of the slops Allstars and recently sold out her first Drag theatre show, Peach, Shit & Die, with collaborator Masc Peach

ASHER FYNN

Asher Fynn is a transfem, dark songstress from Brighton.

Their unique and distinct voice soars through intimate power and relentless softness, with songs, stories and raps that respond to queer themes of intimacy and experiences of violence. Asher sings about freedom, representation, and even drastic hook up stories... with humour, flirtation and sad songs!

They have performed on many amazing stages and at many prestigious events: TIN/Trans Pride Berlin, Brighton Spiegeltent, Trans Day of Remembrance (Brighton), HausofGaishoku (Tokyo, Japan), Vault Festival, Barbican. They have also competed in alternative drag and talent competitions: Anything Goes (Brighton, 2024, WINNER), TITANS Alternative Drag Competition (Brighton, 2024, FINALIST and Fan Favourite), Brighton’s Got Talent (Brighton, 2024, FINALIST)

THIS EVENT CENTERS TRANS+ ART AND IDENTITY.

PLEASE COME AND ENJOY THEIR POWER AND ARTISTRY!

We will also have a special feature by Mermaids, who are doing essential work for and with Trans+ youth 💜

Saturday 19th April

@VFDalston

Doors: 7pm

Show: 8pm

MERMAIDS

Mermaids are an amazing charity that support Trans+ youth. They are under a lot of fire right now given the continued negative perceptions of Trans people, perpetuated by right-wing media and politicians. These are scary times for young people, and anyone supporting the next generation, especially those who are LGTBQIA+ and/or questioning themselves or their identities, are super special

We have taken off the Charity donation option of the ticket, in the hopes you will support Mermaids 💜

Please click this link:

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/?form=donate

Alternatively, please donate directly to Trans+ individuals fundraisers for their personal journey. This directly supports and positively impacts Trans+ individuals access healthcare and comfort. Thank you 😽

WIDGET are an East London based Queer-Funk-Punk supergroup featuring members of Big Joanie, Junodef, all cats are beautiful and the drummer Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani. 

Their music is truly danceable and repeatedly listenable - counterpoint guitar lines coalesce over disco drums and funk bass enriched with grainy synths. All fronted with the acerbic wit and humour of a John Waters film put to life and filled with millennial references to Myspace Tom and Uncle Buck.

WIDGET DJs 7pm-8pm

LIVE SET 8pm-9pm 

THIRST is a series of live music events at VFD to bring you new music, new artists, our first showcase of four acts is on Thursday April 10

 REZMORAH 

An Electronic Visually Charged Artist, Creating Lyrical Words To Hypnotic Beats. 

A Brazilian born, Portuguese and NYC bred international trans-artist, active in the field of performing/live arts and music, exploding the boundaries between these and multimedia.

Their music speaks to body and mind, with an urgent desire to reconnect to new mythologies, transcestrality, and mundane lustful experiences in urban and isolated settings. 

Expect - Deep synths, bright keys, electro beats and dramatic rockstar persona. Movement, looks and raging desire.

 Isa Alvarez 

Originally from Spain, non-binary singer-songwriter Isa Alvarez’s music delves into personal experiences and the universal struggles of navigating adulthood with introspective lyrics that explore themes of identity, longing, and the complexities of human emotions.

Expect - layered, thoughtful, impressionably melodic alt/indie’. Heavily influenced by bands like Cocteau Twins, The Marias and Blonde Redhead.

 Jorinde  

Blending 80s influences, shoegaze, and indie rock, Jorinde crafts a dynamic, immersive sound that’s always evolving. Performing as a one-woman band, she layers synths, drum machines, and guitar to create a raw yet cinematic atmosphere. 

Expect - A lesbian artist with a distinct musical identity, her sound has been compared to The Kills, PJ Harvey, and Anna Calvi, offering a unique, electrifying presence on stage. 

 Shagfoal 

Shagfoal is playing their first ever gig.

They think they might want to usher in a new age of romanticism with their errant folk guitar playing and lovelorn lyrics. But they're honestly still figuring it out.

Expect - vibes inspired by  Comus, Clarissa Connelly and Kate Bush. Maybe !

THIRST takes place in the basement club space at VFD which has one set of stairs to enter.

 THIRST is funded by Arts Council England.

OPEROTICA: STABAT MATER LAUNCH PARTY

We here at Operotica HQ are celebrating the launch of our gorgeous new music video by Dan Stokes for Dáire's bold new arrangement of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.

Join us for a night of Operotic delights, with performances by Operotica, Angel Bella and Danielle James.

Then, be among the first to witness the premiere of our STABAT MATER music video, followed by a Q&A with the brilliant creatives behind it.

To top it off, we'll be serving our signature Operotica Cocktail.

Doors open at 7:30pm for 8pm show

Please note that VFD is in a basement venue accessed by a staircase and therefore is not wheelchair accessible - for more detailed accessibility information please visit https://www.vfdalston.com/accessibility-info

THE OUTSIDERS GALLERY 

APRIL 5, 2025, noon to 6pm 

01 

WHAT'S YOUR TYPE? 

art-poetry-music 

in typing & computing 

LA PLAQUE TOURNANTE (Frédéric Acquaviva and Loré Lixenberg) is  proposing every first saturday of the month a new series of exhibitions hosted  by THE OUTSIDERS GALLERY (64 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7XB). Following the Berlin space where 10 exhibitions were held between 2014 and  2017 (receiving the Berlin Senate Artists Space Prize in 2017), they will  organize 10 pop up exhibitions of ONE DAY ONLY starting on APRIL 5. 

What's your type? will display works using typewriter or computer in the  fields of poetry (concrete poetry), art (lettrism) and music (notations),  including international artists never shown before in UK. 

It will include some original works realised on a typewriter machine from  1947 to 2024 by Dom Sylvester Houédard, Bob Cobbing, Keith Armstrong,  Cozette de Charmoy, Robin Tomens, Karel Adamus, Jiri Kolar, Jan Burka,  Jiri Valoch, Alan Ridell, Isidore Isou, Maurice Lemaître, Gil Wolman, Ben  Vautier, Henri Chopin, Pierre Garnier, Ilse Garnier, Jean-François Bory, Joël  Hubaut, Charles Pennequin, Maggy Mauritz, Ferdinand Kriwet, Franz Mon,  Roberto Altmann, Paul Dutton, Steve McCaffery, Willem Boshoff, Öyvind Fahlström, Ake Hodell, Bengt Emil Johnson, Berndt Petterson, Carl  Reuterswärd, Enzo Minarelli, Maurizio Nannucci, Eduardo Kac, Betty Lee  White, Christopher Knowles, Kazunori Yaoita as well as an anonymous  typewriter work. 

It will also show computer related works of Max Bense, Manfred Mohr, Timm  Ulrichs, Bernard Heidsieck, Henri Chopin, Broutin, Jeff Nimp as well as music works using typewriter by Frédéric Acquaviva, John Cage or computer by  Pierre Barbaud and Denis Dufour. 

5pm : Performance by Enzo Minarelli (IT) 

Enzo Minarelli (1951) is the founder of the Archivio 3VITre di Polipoesia  (1983) and the creator of the term "polypoetry" (sound poetry, video poetry,  concrete and visual poetry...). 

Next exhibition : MAY 3 (noon to 6pm) 

MAGGY MAURITZ & AUDE JESSEMIN, Hypergraphic Women in presence of the german lettrist artist Maggy Mauritz (1941), the first  female artist to have used spray bomb in art since the mid sixties. 

THE OUTSIDERS GALLERY, 64 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7XB Contact : acquavivafrederic@gmail.com / lorelixenberg@gmail.com

The various spaces at VFD - gallery, community basement space and the club are all available for hire, to host your party, reception, birthday, art show, performance, dance, spoken word etc

Get in touch with the team info@vfdalston.com