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

You are invited to put pen to paper, surrounded by queer sound as part of the Queer Sound Weekender.

Join us to have the chance to free-draw and to free-write to the soundtrack of queer musicians and queer sounds, to work collaboratively and individually, to make freely. 

Guided by writer and maker Finn Brown.

Join us for a very special live drawing session as part of the Queer Sound Weekender! 

Illustrator and graphic novelist Lucie Arnoux will lead a live-drawing class in which attendees will learn how to sketch a musician as they are playing, focusing on the relationship between a person and their instrument. 

Featuring live musician Rosie from Boom Boom Racoon!

One More DAYTime 2002

We're taking 2002 to the daytime! Pop Idol was all over the charts - from Will Young, Gareth Gates and Darius to Jessica Garlick, Rosie Ribbons, Sarah Whatmore and, err Rik Waller. Liberty X resurged and and Girls Aloud and The Cheeky Girls emerged.

Shakira launched as did S Club Juniors, Christina Milian and Ashanti and Las Ketchup whilst Enrique Inglesias, Pink, Sugababes, A1 and Atomic Kitten all returned. Meanwhile Clubland ruled with with dance music from Kelly Llorenna, Flip & Fill and Scooter and Belgian eurotrance from Lasgo, Milk Inc and Ian Van Dahl.

We’ll be playing the A list popstars from 2002 along with B listers like H & Claire, Romeo and Anastasia along with loads of other pop and dance hits from 2002. Expect loads of forgotten gems that don't get played anywhere else (from Ladies First to Mad'House and MadDonna). Our Bargain Bin first hour of 2002’s pop flops (from Soraya to Haifa and the year's biggest flop Angelle) kicks off from 2pm.

Join us in our gallery space The Outsiders at No64 for a fabulous closing night to this incredible exhibition celebrating Andrew Lumsdens life as a queer activist, journalist and artist.

See the artworks for one last time, may of which are for sale.

Our legendary cocktail bar will be open and there may be some special guests (tbc)

Tickets available on Outsavvy

Also you can purchase the book