Big Special band seated
Interview, Music

Black Country Boys Take The Big Stage: In Conversation With Big Special.

The last time I spoke with Big Special, it was the summer of 2022, when we played a small gig together in Birmingham. Since then they have skyrocketed, releasing their debut album Post Industrial Hometown Blues (2024) and its Deluxe edition (2025), as well as touring the world, not only headlining and supporting, but also playing big festivals like Glastonbury. On the back of their latest Deluxe album, and in the … Continue reading Black Country Boys Take The Big Stage: In Conversation With Big Special.

Contributing Writer
Brøds in Pontcanna (photo by @a_bakingmess)
Food, uncategorized

A Breakaway to Brøds – a cafe review

Escaping to Brøds The perfect way to escape your problems is by visiting a cafe and eating away your troubles. I currently find myself buried under piles of revision at the moment, and in need of an excuse to avoid it. The two seem to marry together seamlessly at the best time of year, giving me the perfect opportunity to visit another one of Cardiffs … Continue reading A Breakaway to Brøds – a cafe review

ellenhollingshurst
Good Neighbours on stage
Interview, Music

On The Rise: In Conversation With Good Neighbours

Before taking over The Globe in Cardiff with their blue-sky sound, Jenny Algieri sat down with Oli Fox and Scott Verrill of Good Neighbours to talk about how a casual project turned into their breakout moment- and why they’re just getting started.  Both Oli and Scott spoke of their love of music from an early age, having written and released music during their teenage years. … Continue reading On The Rise: In Conversation With Good Neighbours

jennyalgieri
Features

The Final Countdown

University has been pivotal. All that talk of ‘character building’ and memorable times weren’texaggerated. From the second I arrived at my University Halls I was welcomed into the comfortablespace between freedom from parents and complete adult independence – I’m sad to leave it. Thememories of figuring out things for myself are ones that will always stick with me… housing billsespecially. It’s nice to play adult … Continue reading The Final Countdown

Contributing Writer
Features

Workloads, Deadlines, and Burnouts

I know better than anyone just how easy it is to get overwhelmed with deadlines and workloads piling up. Burnout often feels like a consistent state of being for me, with the odd week of relief dotted here and there. Whether it’s my ADHD or poor organisational skills, the rush of hyperfocus is always followed by the inevitable crash. Over time, I’ve learned that pushing … Continue reading Workloads, Deadlines, and Burnouts

Contributing Writer
Music

Resonant Frequencies: How Music Echoes Through Time

When considering our history, we can consider music as both a reflection and a catalyst. A response to the human experience: our emotional highs and lows, our technological advancement, social injustices, and more. While times and tastes may change, the lifeblood of music remains remarkably traceable. As such, today’s music is layered with the hits of past decades. A revival representing everything, from collective nostalgia … Continue reading Resonant Frequencies: How Music Echoes Through Time

Contributing Writer
Food

Picnic Bites: A Student’s Dream

The closest I’ve managed to a picnic this year is a spontaneous but hungover Thursday in Bute Park, cut short by an aggressive headache ignited by the sun. I am holding out for my post deadline freedom where I will eagerly await a window of hot weather to do this practice justice.  I think the enchantment of picnics lies within the slowness and the permission … Continue reading Picnic Bites: A Student’s Dream

Contributing Writer
Love

The Best Sex Toy Ever

One night stand? Nah, meet your lifetime lover! Some things in life are fleeting – crushes, trends, those fifteen unanswered messages on Hinge… But finding the one is a love story for ages – “the one” being a ride-or-die sex toy in this case. Replace those awkward Tinder hookups and questionable late-night texts (or sexts) with a good vibrator that will never ghost you or hit you … Continue reading The Best Sex Toy Ever

Contributing Writer
Culture

This is Cardiff Calling: Saturday 17th May is The Eurovision Society’s Watch Party

Shwmae Cardiff, Eurovision Society calling! With flags at the ready, Cardiff University’s Eurovision Society is gearing up for their biggest event of the year: the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Watch Party, held this Saturday 17th May in Y Plas. Whether you’re a seasoned stan or a casual viewer lured in by the chaos and choreography, all are welcome to attend. “We can’t wait to bring … Continue reading This is Cardiff Calling: Saturday 17th May is The Eurovision Society’s Watch Party

oliviagriffin
City Baser at The Globe
Live Reviews, Music

Caity Baser Live in Cardiff: Exclusive First Listen to New Album

Southampton’s rising star, Caity Baser, is introducing the world to her upcoming debut album on her Watch That Girl (She’s Gonna Sing It) Tour, where she unveils a more intimate side of her sound. Throughout the night, she delivers stripped-back previews of her unreleased music, guided solely by piano and acoustic simplicity. Having only recently discovered her music – and never having seen Baser live before – … Continue reading Caity Baser Live in Cardiff: Exclusive First Listen to New Album

jennyalgieri
phones at a concert in a crowd
Music

The Highs And Lows Of Live Music

In my eyes, there’s nothing better than live music. The real-time, in-person connections shared between performers and audiences are something truly sacred and special. At their best, gigs and concerts can foster a sense of belonging, help you make friends for life, and bring you to tears for all the right reasons.  The highs are certainly high, but with rising prices and poor crowd etiquette, … Continue reading The Highs And Lows Of Live Music

Contributing Writer
Music

Chained to the Rhythm

The paradox of musical freedom and industry constraints has permeated various artists’ ability to perform authentic material. Chappell Roan, a queer popstar whose drag-inspired artistry propelled her popularity from an underground performer to stardom, was awarded Best New Artist at the Grammys this year. In her speech, she addressed how the music industry profits off artists’ work who don’t even earn a liveable wage. She … Continue reading Chained to the Rhythm

Contributing Writer
The Wombats on stage
Live Reviews, Music

The Wombats: Live From Cardiff

Are you still dancing to Joy Division after all these years? We certainly are- and so were the crowd at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on March 21st for Indie legends The Wombats. As the doors opened and the fans bustled their way to the barricade, it became clear just how broad the band’s appeal was- drawing people of all ages and pulling in both first timers and returning … Continue reading The Wombats: Live From Cardiff

jennyalgieri
Literature

All-Time Favourite Romance Novels

André Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name is, at its heart, a novel about first love—the kind that consumes, unsettles, and lingers long after the last page. It is a romance, but not in the conventional sense. There’s no grand declaration, no sweeping resolution, and no clear line where love begins or ends. Instead, it’s an intimate, feverish portrait of desire and self-discovery, narrated through … Continue reading All-Time Favourite Romance Novels

Contributing Writer
Concert
Music

Can Cardiff Handle Big Concerts?

Cardiff has slowly paved its way to being a top-billing location on the tour posters of some of the world’s biggest artists. Long gone are the days of reminding your favourite band that Wales exists, or urging your favourite singer to add a show at the CIA to their already limited UK tour (consisting of three London dates and maybe Manchester if you’re lucky). Somehow, over the last few years, our capital has made a name for … Continue reading Can Cardiff Handle Big Concerts?

Contributing Writer
Live Reviews, Music

This Is How Tomorrow Moves: Beabadoobee Concert Review

From bedroom sessions to global sell-out tours, Beabadoobee released her third studio album This Is How Tomorrow Moves in August 2024 which preceded her Autumn U.K tour that I was lucky enough to attend in November 2024. Transitioning over the years from bedroom pop to a more alternative rock genre, ‘This Is How Tomorrow Moves’ is bursting with catchy guitar riffs, whimsical melodies and introspective … Continue reading This Is How Tomorrow Moves: Beabadoobee Concert Review

Contributing Writer