Epping Forest has many identities. Rural idyll, city escape, political battlefield, rave site and cruising ground.

Now, thanks to author and co-founder of online music magazine The Quietus Luke Turner, and arts and events curator Kirsteen McNish, it’s the setting and inspiration for The People’s Forest, a year-long programme of arts events as part of Walthamstow Borough of Culture.

Together, Kirsteen and Luke are Run-Riot's Guest Editor's this week, and in their candid interview with author Amber Massie-Blomfield they tell us about the poets-in-residence, all night radio broadcasts, walks, gigs, performances and more.

Among those announced are Matana Roberts, Gazelle Twin, a queer summer rave, activism workshops, a black metal inspired woodland installation and 24 hour solstice radio station The Dark Outside. Read the interview with Luke and Kirsteen here.

In our Magazine section, we summarise Season Butler's debut novel Cygnet, (published by Dialogue Books) - a short story of hope, laughter and finding one's voice in a crumbling world.

Gareth and Anthony return with their weekly Independent Music Podcast, featuring Japanese Cumbia, mill town hip hop, and Viennese experimental music, plus a whole bunch of goodness to chomp down on. Expect some banging house music, droney, beautiful experimentation, punk rock and a lot more... Boom!

For fans of the Chemical Brothers - watch the video to Got To Keep On, from the forthcoming album 'No Geography' (out on 12 April).

For more weird culture gems and obscure competitions and offers - browse our Offers page. As for the best of the rest - rummage through our genre-bending pages where you'll find plenty of haut happenings.

Here's to wishing you a rousing week dear Players! Bottoms up! RR xx