Keep your head up, dear friends, today is the last day of January. The days are already getting longer and soon the trees will blossom and the sun will shine again. Until then I can offer you one more goodie to blast away your January blues. What’s better than a fine meal to comfort body and soul? Nothing! Which is why I send today’s winner to the wonderful Nagasui to enjoy a three course dinner of his or her choice including a bottle of wine, desert and coffee. Just send me an e-mail.
Give my love to the city, Ron

You may have only seen Zurich represented in movies via a Bond or Bourne film, as our heroes rush into a bank or out of a hotel, on their way to saving the rest of the world. But at Leihfilm, starting tonight, is an exhibition called ‘So ist Zurich’ that will have video installations of 20 historical and contemporary short films that are either from, or about, Zurich and show our city in all it’s celluloid glory. The Swiss film director Stefan Haupt will be at the opening night, as well as food and drinks for those who get the movie munchies.
Thursday 7 pm, Leihfilm

Erol Alkan has been a dj at the heart of the London music scene for over 15 years now, first at his own influential indie club nights and then as resident dj at any number of the best London dance clubs where he built a formidable reputation, winning him dj of the year a number of times. On Friday, he comes to Zukunft for the very first time and will be ably supported by those groovers-in-arms of the Drumpoet Community. 
Friday 12 am, Zukunft

Merz is on of those English singer/songwriters who seems destined to remain in the shadows, I think it’s more to do with his knack of mixing the peculiar and pleasurable into his electronic folk songs that maybe keeps people away but if you like the electro glitchings of Radiohead, then this boy might scratch an itch. He’s actually just recorded his 4^th album in the mountains of Switzerland and will be playing live at Helsinki on Saturday.
Saturday 8 pm, Helsinki

Zurich isn’t a city that’s usually associated with the mellow sounds of 70’s California but The Legendary Lightness seem to have absorbed the laid back melodies and acoustic harmonies that bands like Crosby, Stills and Nash and Big Star made famous. After releasing their debut album a couple of years ago, they are back with a new album, and the release party is on Saturday at Restaurant Rosso. 
Saturday 9.30 pm, Restaurant Rosso

Given the chilly winter conditions we’re all currently plunged into, the appropriately named The Pussywarmers will be looking to expand their remit, and keep us all warm on Saturday at Bundeshaus. Their mix of acoustic instruments and brass horns give this band a real gypsy carnival feel and they’ll also be joined on stage by Pierre Omer, to deliver a real devil-may-care evening of joyous sounds and stamping beats.
Saturday 8 pm, Bundeshaus

Hearing their name, I can picture them sitting in a pub, drinking Guinness and pondering about the meaning of life. Maybe they’re even wearing black suits. Funeral Suits, a band from Dublin, have nothing dark about them though. Full of harmony, dreams and self-confidence they’ll rock the stage on Wednesday at Rote Fabrik, presenting their latest album Lily of the Valley. Sounds like good craic! Entry: 25 francs
Wednesday 8.30 pm, Clubraum Rote Fabrik

You may already have heard the rumours – Geroldstrasse won’t be the same by the summer. The short street in Kreis 5 has become the hub for good nights out over the last few years but unfortunately, this will all change. What I know at present: Cabaret will close in April, Pfingstweide in June. Supermarket and Hive managed to get their lease extended, so they’ll stay. Within the next 5 years the leases on all clubs in that area run out, and the owners plan to build an extension of the Viadukt and maybe a new congress centre. Far away from it all, another one bites the dust – Oxa. The club in Oerlikon has been a legend, opening its doors 25 years ago. At the end of March, it will open its doors for the last time. I’ll keep you posted.

Archy Marshall, formerly Zoo Kid, aka King Krule, has just turned 18 but is celebrated by everyone as a musical genius. Next to various articles in blogs and magazines, the skinny red head was also honoured with a listing in BBC’s Sound of 2013.  Deserved, I think. His music appears mature and poetic, disturbing but thriving at the same time. Putting him into a single category wouldn’t do him justice. Just enjoy his sound and drrift into the beautiful world of the new king.

Have you ever needed to buy something small in Ikea but the thought of driving to, and then traipsing around, various make-believe rooms set inside a Swedish warehouse just doesn’t excite you enough to go? Or have you ever gone there and thought, ‘Someone should be paying me to do this!’. Mmm, those happy shopping days. Well, bringbee is a new website that may just have solved your Ikea irritations. Either make a shopping list of items that someone going to Ikea can pick up for you, or if you’re going to Ikea anyway, you can check out other people’s shopping lists and pick up their stuff. A small fee is paid to the shopper, and items are delivered directly to your door.