During my time at the Iris Prize Festival I was lucky enough to be able to see a few of the competition winners, which includes ÔÇÿBest British ShortÔÇÖ, and ÔÇÿBest International ShortÔÇÖ, to name a few. We Love Moses Until last yearÔÇÖs astonishing ÔÇÿMoonlightÔÇÖ, it is safe to say that black, gay masculinity was a subject rarely explored in film. At least, not with the … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE SHORT FILM REVIEW: We Love Moses
Hi itÔÇÖs Molly the Elf, whatÔÇÖs your favourite colour? It must be said (and I will festively fight to the death on this), that Jon FavreauÔÇÖs Elf is one of the best Christmas films ever, and if not, one of the best films ever. To exist. Ever. If you havenÔÇÖt watched Elf at least 7 times before Christmas Day, then you are not doing Christmas … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 3 – ‘Elf’
Loyle CarnerÔÇÖs YesterdayÔÇÖs Gone was an announcement of a new voice in the hip-hop scene. This is not a scene I am personally very familiar with. However, this album was brought to my attention by a friend whom I share a love of spoken word poetry with. Although not something I would have ordinarily sought out, I hold his opinion in high esteem and he … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar Day #3! Loyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone
by Rachel Nurse ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The outstanding production of the Second Star to the Right was magical and uplifting.┬áThe sets made by the production team and acting from all the cast really made the audience engross into the fantasy action retake of Peter Pan. Jon Dafydd-Kidd, Director, quoted that, ÔÇ£Odyssey and Neverland have many similarities. They are a place of joy, limitless imagination and celebrate play.ÔÇØ … Continue reading REVIEW: “Second Star to the Right” at the Wales Millennium Centre
The early signs are strong for Fickle Friends, a pop group from Brighton who are getting the kind of early buzz which could see them break the mainstream with the release of their debut album next year. Together since 2013, they started out in the music breeding ground of Brighton, responsible for the likes of Royal Blood, James Bay and Rizzle Kicks in recent years. … Continue reading Are Fickle Friends about to break the mainstream?
During my time at the Iris Prize Festival, I was lucky enough to be able to see a few of the competition winners, which includes ÔÇÿBest British ShortÔÇÖ, and ÔÇÿBest International ShortÔÇÖ, to name a few. One Summer The pastoral to gay narratives is what waterlilies were to Monet; inseparable and unimaginably beautiful. ÔÇÿOne SummerÔÇÖ is the quiet, sun-drenched story of two sheepshearers wiling their … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE SHORT FILM REVIEW: ‘One Summer’
CanadaÔÇÖs brash indie outfit Arcade Fire returned this year, four years after the release of the epic ÔÇÿReflektorÔÇÖ to bring us a bold dancefloor filler in ÔÇÿEverything NowÔÇÖ. After a slew of fake reviews, fake companies and a head scratching social media marketing campaign Arcade Fire deliver a rejuvenated sound, abandoning their alt rock roots for an 80s disco groove. ÔÇÿEverything NowÔÇÖ is an electro … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar Day #2. Arcade Fire ÔÇô Everything Now
This film has everything you love about Christmas. Carol singers, snowmen, tinsel and most importantly, elderly women being shot out of windows. Fun for all the family. Gremlins is a bit quirky. Released in the Summer of 84 to rival against Temple of Doom and Ghostbusters, the film mocks the commercialisation of Christmas as well as tell a story which is particularly dark at times, … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 2 – ‘Gremlins’
During my time at the Iris Prize Festival, I was lucky enough to be able to see a few of the competition winners, which includes ÔÇÿBest British ShortÔÇÖ, and ÔÇÿBest International ShortÔÇÖ, to name a few.┬á Lily Set against the backdrop of IrelandÔÇÖs gloomy skies, and steeped in the uncertainty of teenage life, ÔÇÿLilyÔÇÖ is a brief, devastating look at the internal struggle, and, often, … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE SHORT FILM REVIEW: Lily
After touring his seminal album, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, ┬áKing Krule (also known as Archy Marshall, Edgar the beatmaker, DJ JD Sports) retreated from the stage and from most forms of public life. Residing in an ever-changing London he set to work on the difficult second album, trawling through fan mail and recruiting a busking saxophonist to help pull him above the creative rut … Continue reading King Krule – Live @ Motion, Bristol
BeckÔÇÖs 13th studio album Colours is like a pop music J├ñgerbomb, full of energy but leave a strange taste in your mouth. The instrumentation is distinctive and massive. Beck has taken a traditional pop sound and infused it a bit of funk and an experimental attitude. Thisculminates in a bold sound which attacks your ear drums. In short, the instrumentation on the album is exquisite, … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar Day #1!! Beck – Colours
The power couple that gave us Forrest Gump reunites once more to rejoice our screens with a Christmas classic. ‘The Polar Express’ directed by Robert Zemeckis and voiced by Tom Hanks, among others, reimagines the 1985ÔÇÖs children book written by Chris Van Allsburg. The animators have attempted to preserve the look of the original illustrations of the book using state-of-the-art motion-capture technology, the result is … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 1 – ‘The Polar Express’
The LGBTQ+ narrative in cinema is one that comes with a rather complicated history. From ÔÇÿBrokeback MountainÔÇÖ right up to this yearÔÇÖs most lauded romance, ÔÇÿCall Me by Your NameÔÇÖ, LGBTQ+ stories in film have repeatedly been dominated by drama, tragedy and, more often than one would like, death. How refreshing it is, then, as a huge fan of queer narratives, to come across Christopher … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Prom King, 2010
Ever since the Autumn of 2016, and under the administration of Donald Trump, countless groups of people have been vilified, scrutinised, and scapegoated by the very government that is supposed to represent them. From the announcement of TrumpÔÇÖs decision to campaign to become the president of the United States onwards, much conversation in America has revolved around the rights of minorities, and much of it … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Signature Move
As a meat eater, I was sceptical about reviewing Milgi, as it is so well known throughout Cardiff for being the veggie and vegan hub. But let me say right now that I was wrong for being so narrow-minded and I was very happily surprised once I arrived and tried the food. I walked into this quaint and cosy little restaurant on a rainy and … Continue reading Vegan Roast Dinner- Milgi’s A Winner.
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Musical theatre is a very difficult and challenging form of art. Not only for the triple-thread actors, but, in particular, for the authors. Shows on a blonde girl going to Harvard Law can make a huge success, and then musicals about morally and historically important topics may well fail miserably┬á to meet the audiencesÔÇÖ expectations. Tiger Bay stands right in the … Continue reading REVIEW: “Tiger Bay: The Musical” at the Wales Millennium Centre
On a quiet Wednesday lunch time, Quench food editors Nadine and Lottie headed out for a Japanese adventure to Yakitori. Situated in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Yakitori finds itself competing with the best of the sophisticated Cardiff food scene. But it holds its own. This sushi joint is the best weÔÇÖve tasted, with much more TLC and effort put into each dish than that seen … Continue reading REVIEW: Yakitori #1
It is often difficult to track the moment when you move from being a great admirer of an artist too when you completely fall in love. Often this will take the form of emotional significance if a particular artist or particular song holds values because they remind you of a particular time of your life or a particular person. However, sometimes the moment you fall … Continue reading Lucy Rose Review
by Andrea Gaini I must have seen Legally Blonde ÔÇô The Musical at least one hundred times now, but I can never get tired of it. The beautiful story of Elle Woods that moves all the way from California to Boston (and gets into Harvard Law!), to follow the man she loves, has conquered my heart when I saw the fabulous Laura Bell Bundy rocking … Continue reading REVIEW: “Legally Blonde – The Musical” at the New Theatre
At the O2 Academy Bristol, the notorious Bristol gig goer, Big Jeff was front row for Wolf AliceÔÇÖs first date on their first UK tour since the release of their second record. Anyone who knows of Big Jeff, knows that this is a sign of a good gig. Superfood opened the show in the best way possible, with the enormously catchy boom-chica-boom of ÔÇÿWhereÔÇÖs … Continue reading Wolf Alice Gig Review
