We might have laughed when JT announced his new album Man Of The Woods and dropped a pic of himself looking like Marcus Mumford stumbled onto Brokeback Mountain but we all still want to hear it, right? There is also new music from MGMT, plus Kendrick Lamar will be touring the UK.
And the last of the Oscar contenders are being shown so if you're reluctant to get back on the booze horse, then consider a quiet evening in front of I, Tonya or Phantom Thread.
Click through to see the best new albums, films, shows and books in February.
Jess Commons, Health & Living Editor
Requiem, BBC One, starts 2nd February
This new six-part BBC drama is being hailed as one of the scariest the BBC has ever made. And it’s a murder mystery. So that sounds right up my street. It’s about a woman who, after her mother commits suicide, ends up in Wales looking into the disappearance of a little girl.
I, Tonya, in cinemas 23rd February
Margot Robbie? Marvellous. Allison Janney? Queen. This is the true story of Tonya Harding, the world-class figure skater stripped of medals and banned for life for her involvement in attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. '90s figure skating fashion looks like it was nothing short of spectacular by the way.
Gillian Orr, Content Director
Lady Bird, in cinemas 23rd February
It's receiving so many award nominations you hardly need my advice to go see this gem of a movie. Every single person is perfectly cast and rarely are we gifted such a flawed and honest character in a female coming of age film. It's a must-see.
MGMT, Little Dark Age, released 9th February
Does anyone really care about MGMT anymore? That they're performing this month not at Brixton Academy but down the road in the much smaller Brixton Electric suggests that not many do. But the eponymous first single from their new album Little Dark Age is a banger so I'm intrigued to hear what the former psych kings are doing these days.
Katy Thompsett, Sub Editor
Everything Is Recorded, Everything Is Recorded, released 16th February
There can’t be many people with the clout to make an album featuring Sampha, Ibeyi, Giggs, Infinite, Damon Albarn and Kamasi Washington but XL Recordings’ boss Richard Russell has pulled it off for his project, Everything Is Recorded. Check out Mercury Prize winner Sampha doing his thing on lead track “Close But Not Quite ” – you won’t be disappointed.
Everything Sucks! Season 1 on Netflix, 16th February
Man, we knew how to get our kicks in the ‘90s. It pains me – literally pains me – that kids today may never experience the utter joy of turning a calculator upside down and spelling out ‘BOOBS’. Better still, ‘BOOBLESS’. Fortunately, they can tune into this new Netflix original series and find out how we occupied ourselves pre-Snapchat (or whatever the kids are up to in 2018).
Sarah Raphael, Editor At Large
Zadie Smith, Feel Free, published 8th February
Zadie Smith’s essay “Joy” is one of my absolute favourite pieces of writing. I think I prefer her essays to her books (or maybe just prefer essays to books in general because: time) so I’ve been looking forward to this for ages. Feel Free comprises 33 essays written between 2008 and 2017 and covers her passions, from Jay Z to Joni Mitchell. Very good thing to be spotted on the Tube reading.
Rose Matefeo Sassy Best Friend at Soho Theatre, from 19th-24th Feb
I saw New Zealand comedian Rose Matefeo perform her show Sassy Best Friend at Edinburgh Festival last year and it was so good that I’m taking all my friends to see it this Feb at the Soho Theatre. In it, Rose talks about periods, things guys say in bed and the utterly unfair, gender-based affliction of the contraceptive pill. It’s all comedy gold. If you’ve ever been a young woman, you’ll laugh your pants off.
Natalie Gil, News Writer
Phantom Thread, in cinemas 2nd February
I’m trying to catch most of the Oscar contenders before the big night and Phantom Thread is next on my list. I’ve purposely avoided all reviews and details of the plot before seeing it, but I do know it features pretty clothes, some salty and highly quotable one-liners and strong female characters. What more could you want?
Dust at the Soho Theatre, London, from 20th February
Milly Thomas is being touted as “the next Phoebe Waller-Bridge”, so of course I’m going to sit up and take notice. Her one-woman show, Dust, received rave reviews at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe and sounds like a thoroughly intriguing concept. Thomas, drawing on her own experience of depression, tells the story of one woman’s depression, suicide and everything that follows. She visits her grieving parents, watches her boyfriend sleep with another woman and cries at her own funeral. Heavy stuff.
Anna Jay, Art Director
Stevie Martin: Work In Progress, 4th February, The Vaults, London
Stevie Martin from mega-lols comedy sketch group Massive Dad is going solo for a work in progress show as part of The Vaults festival. Get tickets quick, as this is bound to be a sellout. Tickets £9.50. The Vaults, Leake St, London SE1 7NN
Survival Of The Fittest on ITV, February
Anyone who watched Love Island would be lying if they’re not planning to give Survival Of The Fittest (from the same producers) a go, on ITV this February. Tragic, maybe. Addictive, surely. Let the guilty pleasures commence.
David Farrell, Performance Marketing Executive
Justin Timberlake, Man of the Woods, released 2nd February
Totally bizarre. That was my first reaction to the title of Justin Timberlake's fifth (!) solo studio album. And, to be honest, I'm still not entirely convinced he hasn't lost his shit. The concept of MOTW is to modernise Americana by incorporating 808s, which seems like a ambitious goal even for the artist formerly known as Trousersnake. But, then again, where would we be if musicians didn't dare to take a risk? Cautiously optimistic about this one.
Loveless, in cinemas 9th February
Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev follows up 2014's highly acclaimed Leviathan with some more catnip for the critics. Loveless certainly doesn't promise to be a barrel of laughs but if a bleak exploration of the ills of contemporary Russian society is right up your alley, it won't disappoint in the slightest.
Natasha Slee, Social Media Manager
Jorge Pardo, Victoria Miro Hoxton, from 2nd February
I’m not embarrassed to admit that the Victoria Miro in Hoxton is my go-to for guaranteed Instagram fodder. (Does that make me a bad art fan?) And judging by the queues for the likes of Yayoi Kusama in 2016 and Do Ho Suh in 2017, the sentiment is shared. The gallery is a short walk from the R29 UK office, so this month I’ll be spending a lunchtime ‘gramming Jorge Pardo’s colourful chandelier installations, inspired by Mexico. #InstaGood.
Facebook’s Gallery of Groups, 8-11th February
Chances are you belong to a Group on Facebook. The throwback one (RIP the Will Wyatt Halls Speakeasy), the one for staying up to date on hometown politics (X/Y/Z town ‘bargains’ group), some for work, some for friends, some for hobbies. This month, Facebook have selected six stand-out Groups from a mindblowing 29 million for their ‘community’ exhibition ‘Gallery of Groups’. It’s free and on the South Bank – so one for popping into if you’re wandering the river over the weekend. Also FYI Potter fans, there will be a Quidditch Group on show.
Louise Whitbread, Editorial Intern
Madam Secretary Season 4 on Sky Living, 1st February
The harmless but entertaining political drama returns this month, centring around Elizabeth McCord, the US Secretary of State, and her family’s continuous crises. It has your standard romantic storyline interwoven throughout terrorist threats, cyber attacks and government shutdowns. Plus, it’s always nice to see a female lead fighting for social justice, even if it is in an imaginary White House.
Glenn Brown: Come to Dust at The Gagosian Gallery, London, until 17th March
If you’re looking to further rid the January blues, perhaps pay a visit to Glenn Brown’s latest exhibit Come To Dust, now showing at the Gagosian gallery (for free). Showing slightly terrifying mashups of Rembrandt portraits and creepy clowns with reworked bronze statues, it’ll make for a trippy and intriguing afternoon.
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