This week, we’re really excited to feature Eddie Langham in our On Your Radar series for this insider’s guide to the city. We’ve been following Eddie on Instagram and are in awe of their unique aesthetic. In this interview, Eddie shares their favourite spots in London, from cinemas to queer nightlife and art bookshops, along with what’s currently on their cultural agenda, revealing some real gems you won’t want to miss.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
I'm a Multidisciplinary Artist, Stylist and Internal Culture Manager for Dazed Media. Among other things I nerd out on Serial Killers, 1920s Berlin and Italo Disco. I came to London almost 10 years ago to study fashion and I currently live in Camberwell, South London. I recently completed a project that took the best part of a year working on a photo book called Trouble Every Day with the help of my creative community which was published by New Dimension and debuted at Inventory Artbook fair. I'm currently ruminating on the next project so let's see what that brings!
Could you tell us what’s currently on your culture agenda?
The only good thing about the end of Summer is finding out what's on in Autumn. I have a few cultural highlights for the coming months which I'm excited about.
This exhibition centres around the legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985. It's at Zandra Rhodes Fashion and Textiles museum near London Bridge from 4 October. Leigh Bowery is one of the reasons I moved to London. His art really was groundbreaking and his influence can literally still be felt today in any sticky basement in Dalston to many runways in Paris. So I'm thrilled that Bowery along with many more less well known designers of the period are getting their long due flowers. There is also a huge Bowery retrospective happening at the Tate Modern in 2025 for further reading!
On 19 October, Planningtorock, Tom Rasmussen, Tony Njoku and more reimagine Bronski Beats seminal album that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. When Bronski Beat released The Age of
Consent in Thatcher's Britain the world was a very different place for queer people. With Section 28 and the worsening AIDS crisis it was a period of extreme upheaval for the community. However, although things are undoubtedly fairer today for some queer people, radical action is the only thing that will destroy the rampant and dangerous Transphobia this country is sick with. By centering Trans & Queer voices performing this core queer text The Age of Consent 40 should be a cathartic as well as joyous experience - Don't miss it!
If you haven't had a chance to see Daniel Kokotajlo new 70s set folk horror Starve Acre -
you must! Morfydd Clark stuns in this dark British folktale. The BFI has invited Kokotaklo to
screen some films in a season that's inspired by his latest work - including classics of the
genre Don't Look Now & Erazerhead, as well as some less well known European horror
films. I've got tickets to see Don't Look Now on the big screen for the first time and I'm
buzzing.
What’s the most memorable art event you’ve attended this year?
The best exhibition I've seen this year by a landslide was the Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland
show at Studio Voltaire a few months ago. It was the first time these two idiosyncratic artists have been displayed together. When you saw the works together, you realised although both artists' subject matter and mode of expression varied wildly, that they both had such a kindred spirit. It was amazing to see that they were both talking about desire, gender, class and taste in the same language.
[Note from La Fomo: SHOWstudio is currently showcasing a selection of works by Tom of Finland as part of their exhibition SHADOWBAN, which runs until 15 November.]
Left image: Beryl Cook | Right image: Tom Of Finland
Which event did you miss recently that you’re still regretting?
I stupidly didn't get my act together to see Anohni and The Johnsons at The Barbican. I sat
at home very depressed that I missed that one. I was very much racked with regret when
people's instagram stories started rolling in!
[Note from La Fomo: Tickets are pricey, but if you missed Anohni and The Johnsons at the Barbican or just want to see more of her, don’t miss her at the Royal Festival Hall on 24 November.]
If you had to choose just one cinema in London, which would it be, and what are your favourite nearby spots for drinks?
There are so many interesting cinemas with diverse programming in London (we're definitely
spoiled!). However my absolute favourite has to be The Prince Charles Cinema in Soho.
From its cult programming to all night film marathons the Prince Charles never fails to
disappoint. Although I only managed two films out of the David Lynch movie marathon - I
was starting to disassociate! When I'm in Soho it's always a half at the French House and a
little toast to iconic Queer Londoners of the past: Francis Bacon, Muriel Belcher et al. And if
you need to stretch your legs after the cinema, pop over to Trishas for the smallest (read
best) smoking area in London, late night jazz and proper characters!
Top picture: Prince Charles Cinema | Bottom left picture: Trishas | Bottom right picture: The French House
When it comes to a night out, what’s your go-to?
I used to go out a lot, and did the queer thing of growing up in clubs etc, but these days I'm
a lot more cosy (boring). So when I do go out it has to be somewhere I know I can dance and
enjoy the music. Being a devotee of post punk, goth and alternative 80s music you can
usually find me at Scared to Dance and Night Terrors both nights at The Shacklewell Arms.
I've been going there for 10 years and I still love it as much as I did when I was a student!
One of the most exciting nights I go to is Wraith - Often at the iconic Electrowerkz (plenty of
good nights worth checking out there as well). You will see some of the best looks at any
night in London, as well as experiencing the beauty of pure queer expression. The
performance artists get as much space on the bill as the djs, and I've seen some really
radical art at Wraith. A must for any queer or kink inclined person with a taste for the
alternative.
For something a bit different (camp) you can't beat the Retro Bar weekly quiz nights, nothing
quite like Princess Julia and pints on a Wednesday night. Also the Retro Bar has the best
JukeBox in London period! It's always a gay old time, you just have to try not to drink too
many pints or face a hangover the next day at work.
What are the best bookshops to wander into for a bit of inspiration?
I recently created a photobook called Trouble Every Day published by New Dimension
which is stocked alongside many other titles from some of the best independent publishers
in Tenderbooks. The brick and mortar shop is located on Cecil Court which also has one of
London's oldest occult bookshops and very posh antique shops, always good for a mooch if
you're in the West end.
Being a South Londoner I also want to highlight The Feminist Library and BOOKS both in
Peckham. The former being one of the most exciting spaces in South London. They have a
fantastic program of events and really champion some interesting artists and practitioners.
The latter being one of my favourite shops to pick up Zines.
Last question... if you could style any icon, past or present, who would it be and what would you dress them in?
Sylvester: they were the true queen of disco and made being explicitly fem and queer into
chart topping success with their operatic voice and beauty. I would love to style her in full
glam and give her the supermodel of the world treatment - she deserved it!