The best things to do and see (or watch) in Europe this week

Irish comedy ‘Kneecap’, Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’, Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Romance’, Notting Hill Carnival and more – here’s what to see, do and listen to in Europe this weekend.

Nearing the end of August always feels like a strange time. The summer’s not technically over, but it seems to have fallen asleep as a sense of limbo takes over and you’re left in a state of yearning and dwelling over all the dissipating possibilities.
Or maybe that’s just us.
Anyway, emotional projections aside, August still has a lot to offer. For one thing – the Edinburgh Fringe continues until the 26, and Euronews Culture’s Jonny Walfisz has handily rounded up all the highlights to see while you still can, including comedy, theatre and alternative shows.
For the joystick jousters there’s Gamescom, the world’s largest gaming fair in Cologne and British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori’s 23ft-tall installation that’s transformed London’s Piccadilly Circus into a beacon of optimism.
So, in honour of Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, pour yourself an espresso and please, please, please enjoy this week’s recommendations.
‘In the Eye of the Storm’ at London’s Royal Academy of Arts (London, UK)
Throughout decades of war and turmoil, Ukrainians have turned to art as a form of expression and resistance. Looking at the period of 1900-1930 in particular, London’s Royal Academy of Arts is displaying the modernist movements that blossomed from a backdrop of the First World War and creation of the Soviet Union. The works were loaned from the National Art Museum of Ukraine and the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine in Kyiv, London’s Royal Academy of Arts. While unavoidably overshadowed by the current war in Ukraine, it’s also, overwhelmingly, an exhibition of optimism; art can be our liberation from violence, and a means to share truths that help pave a way towards a better future. See it until 13 October 2024.
Notting Hill Carnival (London, UK)
A vibrant extravaganza of feathered costumes, music, dancing and delicious food takes over the streets of West London this weekend (25 -26 August) for the annual Notting Hill Carnival – one of the biggest street parties in Europe. The carnival’s origins date back to 1959, when it was first held, with Caribbean communities seeking ways to congregate and celebrate their culture after being brought to the United Kingdom via the HMT Empire Windrush to help rebuild post-war Britain. It’s become a defining event of the summer, famous for its colourful parade of extraordinary outfits and lively party atmosphere – an opportunity to revel in the wonderful multicultural pageantry of London with family and friends.
Venice Film Festival (Venice, Italy)
Opening with Tim Burton’s highly anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,Venice Film Festival returns to the Lido for its 81st edition next week. Known as the awards season predictor, its line-up is rich with exciting new movies, including Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer and Halima Reijn’s Babygirl. Beginning 28 August until 7 August, stay tuned to Euronews Culture for all reviews and news updates!
Kneecap
A fictionalised retelling of the origin story behind Belfast-based rap group Kneecap, featuring Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who play themselves. Effervescent with offbeat humour and grit, political and cultural defiance is the pulse as the musicians insist on rapping in the Irish language (also known as Irish Gaelic), one of the oldest languages in the world that was once banned under British rule and only recognised as an official language of the EU in 2022.
“Kneecap is an absolute blast, a high-energy and frequently hilarious feature which appropriately mirrors the outfit’s music and ethos, in the sense it is rebellious, boisterous, and crucially never forgets to get its point across,” Euronews Culture’s David Mouriquand wrote in his review. Read it in full here.
And one to avoid: The Crow
A remake of the 1994 cult goth movie of the same name starring Brandon Lee, Rupert Sanders’ version once again tells the bloody back-from-the-dead revenge story of Eric Draven (Bill Skarsgård) after him and his girlfriend Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs) are brutally murdered. Cringe, try-hard edginess is the vibe, but the critical panning will have those Megalopolis trailer makers stewing with envy. David Mouriquand hated it – so much so that starting to write a review made him so angry that he opted for sanity and chose to write about Kneecap instead. Do yourself a favour – follow his example and ditch the goths for the Belfast hip-hoppers.
‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ (Sky Max)
‘The Walking Dead’ is once again back from the dead! After ending its 11-series run in 2022, the Frank Darabont-led adaptation of the same-named comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard has risen from the grave to groan towards a number of spin-off series that tell the stories of side characters. ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ was one of the first of these, premiering in America last year – but it’s only now become available to stream in Europe via Sky and Now. The premise is basic – zombies (obviously) in New York, taken on by two characters that hate each other Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan). Fans of the series will find the character dynamics more effective, but you don’t need to know all the ‘Walking Dead’s’ lore to enjoy what is ultimately a fun bit of zombies in Manhattan madness.
Fontaines D.C.: ‘Romance’
The fourth album from Irish post-punk rock band Fontaines D.C., ‘Romance’ is a kaleidoscopic collection of colourful and frenetic tracks that sonically slide between the smooth and scruffy stylings of their orchestral and grunge influences. It marks a remarkably exciting return for the band, formed in Dublin in 2017 and consisting of lead singer Grian Chatten, guitarists Conor Curley and Carlos O’Connell, bassist Conor Deegan III and drummer Tom Coll.
Euronews Culture’s David Mouriquand is already calling it one of his favourite records of 2024. You can read his full review here.
Sabrina Carpenter: ‘Short n’ Sweet’
While the title of pop princess Sabrina Carpenter’s new album might be ‘Short n’ Sweet’, the length of time its chorus lyrics will spend spinning in your brain won’t be! From lead single ‘Espresso’ – and its maddeningly moreish line, “I’m Working Late Cause I’m A Singer” – to the sugary swell of manners in ‘Please Please Please’, the 25-year-old has an unfailing ability to create songs that stick like gummy worms in your teeth. A former Disney Channel star, Carpenter’s fame has seemingly skyrocketed in the last year, with ‘Please Please Please’ ranking number 6 in TikTok’s ‘Songs of the Summer’ list. This is actually her sixth album, however, and it’s filled with fun, frothy bops that are sometimes over caffeinated, but always sure to make you feel re-energised and damn fine.