Undercurrents

15 May 11

From Paul van Dyk playing in Ibiza, to the Venice Biennale, these are the May and June events not to miss.

IBIZA, SPAIN
16 JUN -22 SEP
CREAM IBIZA

The legendary Liverpool club night has been taking a summer holiday to Ibiza’s Amnesia club for the past 16 years, and 2011 will be no exception. This year, you can get down to headliner Paul van Dyk (pictured), who mans the decks in the main room, while other big names like Laidback Luke and Calvin Harris will also be in attendance. See www.cream.co.uk for details of who’s playing when. It’s going to be a very long party.
TEXT BY SOPHY GRIMSHAW

FLORENCE, ITALY
25- 29 MAY
FIRENZE GELATO FESTIVAL

Italians love ice cream, but then, who doesn’t? Satisfy your cravings for the cold, creamy stuff at this most enjoyable of events, taking place at a variety of venues across the city. As Florence sizzles in the heat, see how ice cream is made, get the chance to create your own flavour, and – it goes without saying really – eat bucketloads of the stuff . Ice cream is big business in Italy and this festival is suitably huge and impressively well- organised as a result. WWW.FIRENZEGELATOFESTIVAL.IT
TEXT BY MADELEINE WRIGHT

PARIS, FRANCE
17 MAY- 5 JUN
FRENCH OPEN

Who will conquer the clay this year? The Roland-Garros French Open is considered by many to be the most physically demanding on the professional tennis tour. The clay surface creates a slower pace of play, which is a disadvantage to those relying on big serves. A boisterous French crowd always creates an electric atmosphere, getting behind those who display the best skill and determination. Rafael Nadal’s victory last year was his fifth French Open title. Be at the prestigious Philippe Chatrier court this year, or find a bar with a big screen, to see who’ll take home the cup. WWW.FFT.FR/ROLANDGARROS
TEXT BY TEDDY FLOREA

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
27-29 MAY
ARCHIPELAGO FAIR

Whatever floats your boat, you’re sure to find it here! See scores of ships, many over 100 years old and built in mahogany, hear a sea shanty or two, and feast on local seafood. This annual celebration of the Swedish archipelago and the Baltic attracts about 50,000 people each year. WWW.SKARGARDSMASSAN.SE
TEXT BY TAMAS GABOR

KRAKOW, POLAND
13 MAY-12 JUN
PHOTOMONTH

Some photo festivals are more akin to trade fairs, but Krakow’s Photomonth has a lot more in store. This year’s guest curators, London-based artists and photographers Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin, will be commissioning 22 works to appear in venues around the city. It’s the perfect time to visit too, as Poland’s first purpose-built museum for contemporary art, MOCAK, opens on 19 May. WWW.PHOTOMONTH.COM
TEXT BY SOPHY GRIMSHAW

VENICE, ITALY
4 JUN - 27 NOV
VENICE BIENNALE

First held in 1895, today this is arguably the most important event in the art world calendar. This year’s main exhibition, ILLUMInations, features 82 artists from around the world (including French photographer Jean-Luc Mylayne, whose work is pictured), spread across the vast showgrounds in Arsenale and Giardini. Alongside them are 88 national pavilions, each showcasing one artist who is representing their country. Look out for work by installation artist Mike Nelson, representing the UK, and Spain’s Dora García, who will present a piece of performance art using actors. WWW.LABIENNALE.ORG
TEXT BY IAN COOK

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND
17-26 JUN
EAT! NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD

This 10-day food and drink festival in the north- east of England champions local food producers, restaurants and culinary talent. Highlights include a Food Heroes tasting market, the opportunity to buy the morning’s catch fresh from a fishing boat, and an all-new Chocolate Festival. To mark this year’s event the best restaurants in and around Newcastle and neighbouring Gateshead will be offering a three-course menu for £20.11. WWW.EATNEWCASTLEGATESHEAD.COM
TEXT BY THEODORA BLACKWOOD

DONINGTON PARK, ENGLAND
10-12 JUN
DOWNLOAD

Donington Park is home to the Download festival, and is the UK’s spiritual home of heavy rock. AC/DC (pictured), ZZ Top and Guns N’ Roses have all played at the annual festival over the years, and 2011’s performers include System of a Down, Def Leppard, Linkin Park, Korn and Alice Cooper. Open-air rock at its grimy, sweaty, beer-fuelled best. WWW.DOWNLOADFESTIVAL.CO.UK/2011
TEXT BY EDWARD WIESE