Citadels take our hand and show us around their London

Stef, Lucy, Doug, Jim and Chris sit jovially around a big wooded table in St Johns, Archway eagerly awaiting the summer that was supposed to reach us two months ago, not to mention me. Formed after a jam session in Finchley Central the band are keen to get talking, they are excited about the next few months and where they will be, come the end of the year. They’ve been writing and performing together for a little over a year and have already performed at an impressive string of venues, most recently BE at Proud Galleries. Their four track EP Animals is being championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music. The band are on tour with Little Death in October following a month in the studio in September to record a new EP.

Citadels have yet to be ascribed to one particular genre or scene in today's musical climate, describing their approach to writing as being "pre-emptive". With a live set frothing at the mouth with energy and rabid enthusiasm, They take pride in winning over a new audience with each and every show in their on going carnival of performance. Fresh from supporting Architecture in Helsinki these starlings are set to make quite an impression in 2008.

Day Tripper

‘Got a good reason for taking the easy way out’

Citadels do and they’re taking you with them for one day only. Here’s your handy guide to a toasty summer day in London town (we even let them stray a little bit east)

UP until noon…lie-in –It’s not really London specific, but let’s face it – almost all the best days start this way and we’re not going to start arguing. It worked for Descartes, it can work for you.

Noon…Brunch at Bar Music Hall, Curtain Road

When the debauchery of Friday night has faded away and the brightly coloured ‘ditch kids have sunk back to the bed-sits this delightful space is perfect for a sunlit breakfast. Good food, good coffee, good tunes…beware the toilets though; it’s a Lynchian experience…

www.barmusichall.com/pages/p_menus.html

1400…paddle your cares away at London Fields Lido

Let that brunch settle and then wander to The Capital's only outdoor heated Olympic sized swimming pool for a couple o’ lengths. No petting though kids…

www.gll.org/centre/london-fields-lido.asp

1500…dry off in the sun on London Fields

It’s hot, it’s sunny – and why not?

1600…Broadway Market

Recently recovered to its thriving traditional state, this is a great place to spend an afternoon - art, ceramics, clothes, furniture, lighting, records, and enough local produce to make a success of the worst Ramsey’s nightmare. With all that exercise you’ll be hungry and we recommend the hog roast baguette…it’s all kinds of good.

www.broadwaymarket.co.uk

1700…Regent’s Canal

At the bottom of Broadway Market is Regent’s Canal. There are about 40 miles of canal tow-paths in London waiting to be discovered. They are a great alternative perspective on London geography and you’ll be amazed at how much you can see. The canals used to be the veins and arteries of the city and access is still great. You can get all the way to Little Venice but for our journey today we’re only going to go as far as St Pancras lock…

1800…Doom Bar at Smithy’s

Branded as the best-kept secret in King’s Cross, this quaint little eatery is tucked away behind Gray’s Inn Road. “Now refurbished with dark wooden tables, intimate alcoves and some seats cushioned with authentic Victorian tapestry, and with the long bar's subdued lighting, they recreate an atmosphere of eating out in the gaslit days of more than a century ago.” It’s also the only place we know in London that serves Doom Bar, the Cornwall ale that breeds legends.

www.smithyslondon.com

1900…Into central for a theatrical treat

Gone are the halcyon days of music halls and opium dens, but we still have the boards. If you’re quick you can still get tickets for That Face at the Duke of York theatre – an explosive piece of drama from precocious playwright Polly Stenham that. The theatre isn’t dead, you heard it here first.

2100…Food should be fun

Citadels dig seafood. Not only is it light enough to carry around with you for the duration of your liver defiling funtime but a nice shellfish platter is hard work, and thereby very rewarding. Try Loch Fyne just off Russell Street.

2300…Sardine Soul

Hanway St (just off Oxford St) is teeming with nook and cranny bars but we’ve had many good nights down at The Bar…the place is tiny, and often gets really rammed. For some reason this isn’t as much of a problem as it is in other bars and clubs. Possibly because it’s so small it’s more like a house party of the good variety or maybe it’s got something to do with Wray and Nephew rum…plenty of lime and vintage soul – you can’t go wrong.

0100…Haggerston (formerly Uncle Sam’s)

This little place on Kingsland Road in De Beauvoir Town is a great space to end your night in. Late night jazz and blues and a delicious Weissbier is sometimes so much better than a greasy beat pit…try it!

FIN…Passing Clouds

Situated behind the Haggerston is a huge art space called Passing Clouds. We won’t spoil it for you but when there’s a something going on, there’s something going on…

www.passingclouds.org/what.htm

Time for bed…