Mary Hampton: Secret Gardens and Enchanted Follies, 15 June, Queen Elizabeth Hall roof garden

This is the first live event in the roof garden of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and it also launches Mary Hampton's Secret Gardens and Enchanted Follies tour, all taking place under a rising, eclipsed full moon. Based on Mary's fascination with the possession of beauty through the pursuit of idealism, this event will see her performing new repertoire from her forthcoming album, Folly. Hailed as one of the true originals of the "new" folk scene, Mary has a fragile, haunting voice that perfectly conveys the surreal satires, bittersweet romanticism and incisive wit of her songs.
• tickets on sale 23 May, £15, southbankcentre.co.uk, themagpiesnest.co.uk, myspace.com/maryhampton

Les ballets C de la B presents Gardenia, 29 June-2 July, Sadler's Wells

Contemporary dance collective Les ballets C de la B are a big favourite of Run Riot. Based on the real experiences of the cast, Gardenia indulges the human instinct for voyeurism in a visual show that blends dance, song and the arresting contemporary music of Steven Prengels. This collaboration is inspired by the film Yo soy así, in which the private lives of a group of artists are revealed through the closing of a Barcelona transvestite cabaret, and is the work of transvestite actress Vanessa Van Durme, directors Alain Platel and Frank Van Laecke, and Prengels.
• tickets £10-£27, sadlerswells.com/show/les-ballets-C-de-la-B-Gardenia

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2011: Peter Zumthor, 1 July-16 October, Kensington Gardens

The Serpentine Gallery is renowned for its amazing annual architectural summer pavilions. This year sees the 11th commission – the world's first and most ambitious architectural programme of its kind. Created by world-renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor – his first completed building in the UK – it will include a specially created garden by the influential Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. At its heart, the Pavilion is a garden that the architect hopes will inspire visitors to become observers. Zumthor says his design "aims to help its audience take the time to relax, to observe and then, perhaps, start to talk again – maybe not". Delightfully charming.
• free, serpentinegallery.org

Kew the Music, featuring Bryan Ferry, Jools Holland, Blondie, the Noisettes and more, 6-11 July, Kew Gardens

There couldn't be a more lush and elegant setting for these classic live music performances. The star-studded line-up opens with a double bill with the Feeling and the Noisettes, and features Bryan Ferry, Jamie Cullum (in his only London date), plus Blondie supported by the Magnets, and Jools Holland making his annual appearance, along with special guest Sandie Shaw. Kew has also secured a visit from the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, with a special opening set by Cuban diva Omara Portuondo and jazz piano legend Chucho Valdés. Pack your picnic and raise your glass!
• tickets £32.50-£45, kew.org

Lomography London summer events, June-August, various locations

Lomography has become synonymous with everything retro-cool, vintage and analogue. So if you're curious about the cameras and intrigued by the wild colours that shooting film produces, join them for a summer packed with workshops, walks and parties. Apart from basic camera workshops, they have bowling nights, hula-hoop lessons in the park, trips to the seaside and stop-motion matrix video making – all captured through the trusty lenses of their quirky cameras. You pick up a new hobby, make new friends and discover what makes shooting film so special.
• Details available on the website in the last week of each month, for the month ahead, tickets £10-£15, lomographylondon.co.uk

Postcards Festival: Circus, Cabaret and Extraordinary Performance, 8-31 July, Jacksons Lane, Highgate

Building on Jacksons Lane's growing reputation as a home for physical and visually led performance in London, this brand new festival of mixed bills and new commissions combines new work from 19 companies and performers, including Francesca Martello, Bryony Kimmings, Wendy Houstoun and Ed Rapley, with aerial performances from Zu Aerial, Inverted Dance and Gisele Edwards, and trampoline, clowning, circus and the downright unusual from the likes of Marawa the Amazing, Dodgy Whiskers, Tumble Circus and Slingshot.
• £10 per night, early bird tickets at £5, festival pass at £35, jacksonslane.org.uk

Artsadmin present Two Degrees, 12 & 18 June, various locations, east London

Two Degrees 2011 is where activism, performance and protest meet head to head. Its focus reflects world events since its incarnation in 2009: failed climate-treaty negotiations, financial disasters and government cuts. Protest and activism have hit the headlines, from revolutionary movements in the Middle East to London's biggest protests for nearly 10 years. This year offers a chance to be part of artist-led action: tell your own revolutionary story, go on a mass bingo bike ride, ask an expert about the future or exchange your own personal and political views for a free haircut.
• price varies from free up to £8, artsadmin.co.uk/twodegrees

Hackney WickED Festival, 29-31 July, Hackney

Now in its fourth year, the Hackney WickED art festival throws open its gates once again to bring you three days of exhibitions, open studios, art markets, performance and site-specific installation from emerging and established artists based in the area, and VIP guests. It's totally artist-led – even local Gavin Turk mucks in – which means a festival full of integrity, well out of the reach of any commercial branding. Run Riot's Clare Callan said of last year's festival, "It feels like a celebration – the weekend has a sense of absurdity and humour, and doesn't take itself too seriously." Go along for the genuine creative buzz.
• free, hackneywickedfestival.co.uk

You Me Bum Bum Train 2011, September, location to be announced

As we enter the tail end of summer brace yourself for one of the most infamous performance experiences of the year. If you haven't the foggiest what this is, take a peek at their website. You may still be left rather baffled even after seeing interviews with Jonathan Ross, Dermot O'Leary and other audience members. Imagine this – an abandoned building taken over by a cast of 200 performers and crew led by YMBBT founders Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd. Now, you go alone through 20 scenes as the main character with the rest of the cast improvising around you in the lead role. It's a life-changing experience. Details on volunteering and performances will be announced via their email list.
• price tbc, bumbumtrain.co.uk

Jamie McLaren, director of London-based listings website run-riot.com