Preview: explore islington festival

Last year's Islington International Festival bagged a Glastonbury- tastic 120,000 visitors. Another strong line-up this year should accommodate at least as many revellers over the next two weeks. Topping the North London bill are Michael Nyman (right) who will be performing the world premiere of his latest solo piano work in the Highbury Fields' Spiegel Tent (17 Jun). Another global debut is Jah Wobble Brings the Studio to the Stage (Fri 26). Clare Martin and Ian Shaw do their thing next week (25 Jun), while the Frenetic Poetics count John Cooper Clarke and Salena Saliva among their wordy number for a gathering on 22 Jun. Other highlights include a Roger McGough reading at the Islington Museum and a biopic from artist Tracey Emin at the Screen on the Green. Complementing the event, in nearby Stoke Newington, is the Midsummer Festival (box office 0181- 356 5358), a celebration of "cutting- edge work of Hackney-based artists and performers". Sick of the World Cup yet? Well, don't say we didn't offer an alternative...

Islington International Festival, various venues (0171-833 3131) 16-27 Jun