Quenchmas Countdown: Day 22 – ‘Black Mirror’s White Christmas’

Black MirrorÔÇÖs White Christmas is something of a unique entity in the endless stream of Christmas television. It doesnÔÇÖt fall into any of the usual categories that encompass Christmas┬átelevision; your Love ActuallyÔÇÖs or any other show that makes you feel all warm and giddy on the inside. As a result, you are left with a feeling of dread about what may happen with humanity’s constant … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 22 – ‘Black Mirror’s White Christmas’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 21 – ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

ÔÇ£Can I refill your eggnog? Get you something to eat, drive you into the middle of nowhere, and leave you for dead?ÔÇØ National LampoonÔÇÖs Christmas Vacation ÔÇô Making you feel a whole lot better about your impending dry turkey, minor electrical tree fire, and extended family festive chaos! Christmas Vacation is definitely up there as one of my favourites for this time of year because … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 21 – ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

Footloose review: the Kinetic Theatre Arts’ revival of a masterpiece

by Rachel Nurse ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå 20th December 2017, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Footloose, footloose, no other performance can be as good as footloose! Ren McCormack leaves the city life when he is forced to move in with his motherÔÇÖs family. His love of dancing helps him through his dark days and is shocked to find out that in the town of Bomont- dancing … Continue reading Footloose review: the Kinetic Theatre Arts’ revival of a masterpiece

Musical Advent Calendar #22 Jonwayne – Rap Album Two

Following JonwayneÔÇÖs first full length rap effort, ÔÇÿRap Album OneÔÇÖ, the producer-rapper-poet extraordinaireÔÇÖs future was somewhat ambiguous. Dropping from his label, cancelling tour dates and distancing himself from the scene completely all stemmed from the rapperÔÇÖs battle with alcoholism, worsened by the harshness of his new lifestyle and complemented further by a limiting fear of flying. Fast forward to February 2017, ÔÇ£Rap Album TwoÔÇØ, JonwayneÔÇÖs … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #22 Jonwayne – Rap Album Two

Musical Advent Calendar #21 Kasabian – For Crying Loud

KasabianÔÇÖs sixth studio album, written in a short six weeks by the bandÔÇÖs iconic guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, comes after a three year album absence. ÔÇÿFor Crying Out LoudÔÇÖ is KasabianÔÇÖs fourth album to top the UK charts and it is the album which finally, and to the relief of many including myself, put an end to Ed SheeranÔÇÖs domination in the number one position with … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #21 Kasabian – For Crying Loud

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 20 – ‘Trapped in Paradise’

The movie follows the story of three brothers trying to escape from ParadiseÔǪthe town. This low-key great Christmas-themed comedy crime film is absolutely hilarious, and I am always shocked when I find out that not many people have watched it. The film follows Dave and Alvin Furbo, portrayed by two SNL greats: Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey, as they trick their older brother Bill, played … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 20 – ‘Trapped in Paradise’

Musical Advent Calendar #20 Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love

RightÔǪ Awaken, My LoveÔǪ Where to start?… A general umbrella opinion of this quite musically controversial album is that itÔÇÖs great; the album envelopes so many genres and styles and uses so many techniques that you wouldnÔÇÖt expect an R&B artist to use. But itÔÇÖs very easy to argue that Childish Gambino isnÔÇÖt your bog-standard R&B artist. Donald Glover has released 4 projects under his … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #20 Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love

Musical Advent Calendar #19 Mount Kimbie – Love What Survives

Originally coming to prominence and critical acclaim in 2009 through their effortless yet, expertly crafted departure from dubstep, Dominic Maker and Kai Campos have surpassed their post-dubstep label into a genre interestingly challenging to define. Mount KimbieÔÇÖs third studio album Love What Survives was released in September by Warp Records, arriving alongside two new members of the groupÔÇÖs live performance, drummer Marc Pell and Andrea … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #19 Mount Kimbie – Love What Survives

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 19 – ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

If the perfect amount of adult humour in a very Christmassy, extremely child-friendly, holiday season film is what youÔÇÖre looking for, The Grinch does it the best. TisÔÇÖ the season for Christmas films and no film gets me as excited this time of year as the classic ÔÇÿHow the Grinch Stole Christmas.ÔÇÖ┬á The mean green, furry creature that finds space in his tiny heart for … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 19 – ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

Musical Advent Calendar #18 Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

Earlier this year when Kendrick Lamar dropped ‘The Heart Part IV’ (the 4th instalment of The Heart series), his ever growing loyal fan base and the world went into pandemonium. The Heart preluded Overly Dedicated (a brilliant EP, check it out) whilst The Heart Part 2 featured on the tape itself. In The Heart Part 3 – a pre-release single for KendrickÔÇÖs second album Good … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #18 Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 18 – ‘Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special’

In the words of Nessa, ÔÇ£OH, OH, OH, Merry ChristmasÔÇØ. This comedic show written by Ruth Jones and James Corden creates the perfect image of Christmas in Wales in comparison to Essex, guaranteeing to make any student studying in Cardiff laugh at their token ÔÇ£Welsh friendÔÇØ. On the other hand, if you are the token ÔÇ£Welsh friendÔÇØ, as relatable as the show may be, you … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 18 – ‘Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special’

Your Favourite Artists Doing Christmas!

Words by Erin Brown It comes every year and every year we never fail to saturate our playlists, radio stations and music channels with our favourite, cheesy Christmas hits. You canÔÇÖt deny that Christmas truly starts when you hear those first few chimes of our much loved Maz with ÔÇÿAll I Want for Christmas is YouÔÇÖ. Every year youÔÇÖll stick on ÔÇÿDriving Home for ChristmasÔÇÖ … Continue reading Your Favourite Artists Doing Christmas!

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 17 – ‘The Santa Clause’

ÔÇ£Seeing isnÔÇÖt believing. Believing is seeing.ÔÇØ Arguably one of Tim AllenÔÇÖs films, aside from his recognisable role as Buzz Lightyear, The Santa Clause is truly a 1994 family Christmas classic. It is centred around Neil who, with the help of his young son Charlie and the North PoleÔÇÖs head elf, has to adapt to the biggest promotion of his life, i.e. becoming Santa Clause. After … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 17 – ‘The Santa Clause’

Musical Advent Calendar #17 Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

Lust for Life, Lana Del ReyÔÇÖs 5th studio album was released after much anticipation from fans on July 21st this year. This album is a whopping 16 tracks long; thatÔÇÖs nearly 72 whole minutes of Lana-goodness. The album has been featured on┬áNME┬áand┬áRolling StoneÔÇÖs┬ábest albums of 2017 and has received much positive feedback from fans. The first track┬áÔÇÿLoveÔÇÖ┬áfeatures Del ReyÔÇÖs typical vintage pop sound over grand … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #17 Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

The Bear review: exploring all the places our imagination can take us

by Andrea Gaini 16th December 2017, Wales Millennium Centre ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå We’ve all been kids once in our lives, but still, every time we look behind we wish to go back to those times when our imagination could turn our living room into the biggest and most amazing submarine the world had ever seen. The Bear is a stage-representation of the homonym book by Raymond Briggs … Continue reading The Bear review: exploring all the places our imagination can take us

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 16 – ‘Notting Hill’

Notting Hill is the quintessential boys meets girl tale, preeminent of all other soppy rom coms it boasts, possibly, the most charming setting and cast to date. Whilst it might not be the first film that springs to the mind during the festive season, for me, itÔÇÖs a dreamy nineties classic that forces that indescribable fuzzy sensation upon you (without the aid of a small … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 16 – ‘Notting Hill’

Musical Advent Calendar #16 Noel Gallagher – Who Built The Moon?

Just like back in the nineties, the Britpop feud has somewhat taken over once again here in 2017, although this time the rivalry has taken place between Noel Gallagher and his mighty army of High Flying Birds, and newly solo brother Liam. For many avid Oasis fans, the latter tends to get far more credit; perhaps due to the sound being extremely similar to that … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #16 Noel Gallagher – Who Built The Moon?

LANY @ O2 Academy, Bristol – Live Review

The first time I saw LANY in concert was in the spring of this year, in an intimate venue in London, just before the release of their debut album. In the time that has passed since, they have garnered much acclaim and cemented a place amongst the most exciting artists around right now. On a recent wintry evening in Bristol, I went to see LANY … Continue reading LANY @ O2 Academy, Bristol – Live Review

Musical Advent Calendar #15 J Hus – Common Sense

At just 21 J Hus has firmly positioned himself as one of (if not the) most versatile rappers in the UK. ThereÔÇÖs no guessing which version of the Londoner youÔÇÖll hear as you work your way through his incredible debut album, Common Sense.┬áHus, real name Momodou Jallow, switches feverously from the grit and power of London slang to the infectious sounds of Jamaican dancehall and … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #15 J Hus – Common Sense