Get involved in Gay Pride

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// Friday //

Ninja Tunes

Renowned label Ninja Tunes hosts a showcase of new acts, icons, plus a friend from Lo Recordings (Cursor Miner) for good measure, as part of the AIM (Association of Independent Music) 10-year anniversary. Grasscut and Daedelus perform live while DJ Food & DK take to the decks.

Ninja Tunes ICA, The Mall, SW1, 7.30pm-2am, £11.50

Always Fridays

A special one-off in support of noiseporn.com, who are driving to Mongolia for Save The Children. This clubbing fundraiser features Aquasky, Trevor Loveys, Raffertie and John & On, and proceeds should help with purchasing the petrol.

Always Fridays Egg , 200 York Way, N7, 10pm-7am, £8 before midnight, £12 after

Hospitality

Drum 'n' bass and dubstep big guns head to Matter for this showcase from one of the genre's top labels. OK, so their sound might not have evolved very much recently, but you can expect the usual jazzy, melodic beats from the likes of High Contrast, London Elektricity and Scratch Perverts.

Hospitality, Matter at O2 Arena Peninsula Square, SE10 0AX, 10pm-6pm, £20, £15 adv

// Saturday //

Stand up and be Proud

The annual Gay Pride parade makes its way from Oxford Street to Victoria Embankment with floats, music and eye-catching costumes (this year’s theme is “come out to play”). Performances will be taking place all day in Trafalgar Square and the streets of Soho will be closed, with five stages for entertainment.

Gay Pride , Central London, from 1pm, free

Have a Swede day out

Celebrate the start of Sweden’s EU presidency by heading to this free open-air gig, where ABBA’s Benny Andersson (right) will play from his new album Story of a Heart. He’ll be supported by Swedish performers Miss Li and Sofia Jannok and the beatboxer Shlomo.

Sweden on Stage , Hampstead Heath near the bandstand, NW5 1QR, 2-9pm, free

Cheerleaders and bhangra

1,200 young dancers will be putting on a spectacular array of performances as part of the annual London Youth Dance Day – expect street dance, circus, ballet, bhangra and even a spot of cheerleading.

London Youth Dance Day, The Scoop , 4-5 July, Queens Walk, SE1 8XT, 10am-6pm, free

American Independence Day

If there’s one thing Americans are good at, it’s putting on a party. Gatecrash their Independence Day celebrations and stuff your face with BBQ food and beer before watching fireworks.

Americans Abroad BBQ, Pump House Gallery, Battersea Park, from 2pm, SW11 4NJ, free

Take part in a wedding

Audience members will play the part of guests at the wedding in this grand outdoors production of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner , with a cast featuring 150 kids from local schools.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner , Southbank Centre Square, SE1, 0871 663 2501, 12pm and 3pm, free

I Love Acid

At this Star Wars-themed night, Rave Wars, expect pub prices. Free glowsticks and whistles for ravers who want to throw shapes to At-At Rave Cru, Bespin Cloud City Prophets, DJ Boaby Fett and Don’t Take The Force DJs. Photo ID is essential, so don’t forget it!

I Love Acid Ginglik, Shepherds Bush, W12, 8pm-4am, £6 before midnight, £8 after.

Shake It!

Just a couple of minutes’ walk from Southwark Tube station and you’ll find this mighty warehouse party in action. With Layo & Bushwacka! playing all night long and only 600 people allowed through the doors, the best advice is to get there super-early.

Shake It!, Corsica Studios , 5 Elephant Road, SE17, 10pm-6am, £1