Everything slows down during the lazy, hazy, crazy days of August except for Stoke Newington's music venues. Here's a selection of what's on.

The Eye's (020 7923 7781)programme for August is as follows (dates first). 5, New Bands Night. (£free); 6, Luxury Condo + support (£4); 7, Dylan Bates presents...( £free); 8 , Aftermatch. £free); 12, Los Raw Gospels (£3); 14, Gaffer Hexam/The Dirty (£tbc); 19, Zenith (£tbc); 20, Incredibly Strange Film Band (£4); 26, New Bands Night (£free); 27, Burlesque Bazaar (£8/6); 28, English Garden Party (£3). September's offerings include: 2, New Bands Night (£free); 3, Underground Jazz Project (£4); 4, Dogheads (£tbc); 5, Aftermatch, (£free). On 12 September The Eye is running Wozzfest. Contact venue for further details. Any bands who would like to play at The Eye should contact Warren on the above number.

Ryan's (020 7275 7807) opens its August account with blues/folk outfit The Frontline on the 7th. Other evenings include acoustic Jukebox Open Mic (11th) and jaxx from Flim-Flam on the 18th and 25th. Also, every Sunday starting at 6pm Tattoo John plays Insurgent Country. On Sunday 15 August Downstairs at the Bodrum Cafe (020 7254 6464), Downbeat Nick presents (mostly) acoustic pop, featuring Sunita, Elia and Harpoon Daisy (doors open 7pm, £3). Virtually next door at the White Hart (020 7254 6626) there are DJs every weekend from Thursday through Sunday.

The Bar Lorca (020 72758659) is home to Salsa and DJs on Fridays, disco on Saturdays and Return of the Jam on Sundays, while Barracuda (020 7275 0400) has its regular Friday residency with Johnny Miller.

The Lion (020 7249 1318) presents a free Open Mic evening every Wednesday, except for the last Wednesday Music Listings of the month. On the last Thursday of the month, the pub stages the best four acts of the month's Open Mics (£2 entry). The Auld Shillelagh (020 7249 5951) is hosting the Ska Bar (see page 6) on 15 and 29 August and on 12 September, starting at 3pm. The Shillelagh follows on from the great success of the Johnny Cash night in July with Another Night with Johnny on 16 September. On 23 September the pub presents Stop Press: Music from the Tabloids where they play the best and the worst freebie CDs from the tabloid press. You have to award the Shillelagh a prize for inventiveness.

Any music venues who would like to keep us informed of their musical programmes, please email us on info@n16mag.com. Finally, N16 magazine is intending to promote a major folk/acoustic evening towards the end of September at Abney Public Hall. Watch our website - www.n16mag.com - for further details.

They brought the house down. Twice. On two soldout, standing-room (and-ovation) only nights at the Boilerhouse Theatre, Stoke Newington School, some 52 young members of Hackney Shed theatre group performed their version of the Broadway musical Annie.

This landmark performance celebrated the third anniversary of the group and was its most ambitious project to date, involving children not only on stage, but in all aspects of production, from front of house to props and make-up, through to the technicalities of lights and sound. Having previously written and performed several musicals including Thumbelina, The Silver Sword and The Grinch and, in June 2002, contributed to performances in the Mall marking the Golden Jubilee, Hackney Shed this was the group's first venture into Broadway theatre.

Formed in January 2001 as an outreach project of the Chicken Shed Theatre Company, the group's stated aim is 'to provide an exciting, relaxed and informal atmosphere for children and young people in the Hackney/Stoke Newington area to come together and produce theatre'. Run on an entirely voluntary basis, Hackney Shed holds termtime workshops for young people from the ages of 7 to 16 - at which later age, while still able to attend, members are encouraged to become 'practitioners', assuming more responsibility and taking a leadership and guidance role for younger members.

The founding principle of the Chicken Shed Theatre Company is that theatre should be an
experience available to all, regardless of ability, in a culture that equally embraces young people with special needs and the able-bodied. All are seen as being capable of making a contribution. One of the Hackney Shed's coordinators, Nic Harris, explains the group's central 'inclusive environment': 'We aim to provide a safe and stimulating space for children and young people to work creatively using drama, music and dance. Chicken Shed's ethos is our backbone and Hackney Shed sets out to be non-exclusive, enabling children from all social, economic and educational backgrounds to achieve their full potential, helping each other to produce great results.'

While children's theatre has lately become a growth area for aggressive commercialism,
the Shed's approach demands commitment from all. Nic continues, 'Annie was a great
testament to the massive effort of everyone involved to really put Hackney Shed on the map. We will begin again with a new project in September and are always receptive to new members - adults and children.

Anyone with an interest in helping with the sessions - choreographers, musicians,
drama practitioners, or behind the-scenes with sewing, setdesign or administration - is
very welcome.'

And as for the brought-down house, given that the capacity crowd consisted mainly of
proud parents, siblings and friends of the cast and crew, at Annie's conclusion there was
not a dry eye in it. web: www.hackneyshed.co.uk  email: hackneyshed@yahoo.co.uk 
tel: 07950 838 238