Play/Silence: a double bill at Porter’s Bar

PorterÔÇÖs, a bar on Bute Terrace close to the Motorpoint Arena, on a barren stretch of road encased within CardiffÔÇÖs transport links, (the beer garden is almost sheltered by the concrete pillars that hold up the railway) is a stylish venue with an understated film/theatre aesthetic. It often screens films and theatre productions in The Other Room; a tiny back room of 20 or so … Continue reading Play/Silence: a double bill at Porter’s Bar

Photograph by Aled Goodwin

T┼À Celf 2016

T┼À Celf 2016 is now online! Also included as a pull-out in issue 156 of Quench magazine,┬áT┼À Celf is Cardiff University’s annual arts publication and we are very excited to share this year’s issue with you all. In addition to some wonderful pieces of traditional art, photography, poetry and prose, we have decided to include film within the anthology this year; exhibiting the variety of … Continue reading T┼À Celf 2016

GWDIHW

Live: Bass Twelve – Gwdihw – 15/01/16

Gwdihw, much like the little owl from which it takes its name, is one Cardiff venue that comes into its own in the late hours of the evening. In contrast to the 7,500-capacity Motorpoint Arena towering above it just over the road, itÔÇÖs a great low-key setting for DJs, singer-songwriters and tonight, ÔÇÿriot jazzÔÇÖ. Bass Twelve bring up a few questions: When did brass bands … Continue reading Live: Bass Twelve – Gwdihw – 15/01/16

cosy club pork belly

Review: The Cosy Club Cardiff – Alice Fairbanks

Alice Fairbanks gives us her review of The Cosy Club, a mainstay of Cardiff’s city centre. I had heard that┬áThe Cosy Club┬áwas a genuinely cosy place, and after a sufficient amount of time spent there,┬áI can confirm this. The d├®cor is┬árustic and thrifty, but with a grand entrance to the main restaurant. All of the details and little touches are what charmed me about The … Continue reading Review: The Cosy Club Cardiff – Alice Fairbanks

Review: Hand Gestures with Q+A at Chapter Arts Centre

Il Gesto delle Mani, or Hand Gestures is a masterful documentary film from Franscesco Clerici that focuses on the creation of bronze sculpture. At the historic Fonderia Artistica Battaglia bronze foundry, we follow a Velasco Vitali sculpture through each step of the process. The understated documentary has no background music or voiceovers┬áexplaining the process; it simply watches with the audience in the ambient sounds of … Continue reading Review: Hand Gestures with Q+A at Chapter Arts Centre

Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

You might have heard of Star Wars. It’s quite popular apparently. After ten long years, the hype train returns and itÔÇÖs more powerful than you could possibly imagine. So, here’s the review for the seventh film in the franchise, for which the title seems more appropriate as a question – Star Wars: The Force Awakens? And yes, indeed it does awaken. If you have yet … Continue reading Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Review: Just Cause 3

ÔÇ£Pfft, this sounds stupidÔÇØ a gamer states, as Just Cause 3 is loading up; the cover art and advertising literally covered in explosions. Cut to three hours later; the gamer has rigged up an elaborate system of grappling hooks, placed explosives and vehicles. At the press of a button, a cow is rocketed into a petrol station that results in an earth-shattering detonation that sends … Continue reading Review: Just Cause 3

Inception

Spotlight: Christopher Nolan

Each month, Quench looks at different directors’ selected filmography. We take a look at Christopher Nolan for December’s online feature. Christopher Nolan is one of the most well known modern directors. From making stop motion films as a child with his dadÔÇÖs super 8 camera, he went on to make short films as a part of UCL film society where he studied English Literature, and … Continue reading Spotlight: Christopher Nolan

Green Day - 'Heart Like A Hand Grenade'

Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Finally given a proper release more than a decade after completion, ÔÇÿHeart like a Hand GrenadeÔÇÖ follows Green Day into the studio as they record what would become their biggest album ÔÇÿAmerican IdiotÔÇÖ, propelling them to full-blown stadium status. Filmmaker and friend of the band John Roecker is given full access to the recording of the album from day one, as the three punks piece … Continue reading Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Why Treetop is Tip Top: Quench does Adventure Golf

Treetop Adventure Golf is a rainforest themed mini golf course with a total of 36 holes, situated on top of St. DavidÔÇÖs shopping centre. The course itself is easy to find with numerous monkey-clad signs leading potential putters up to the third floor car park, where the ambient jungle sounds can be heard from beyond the entrance. Upon entry, the staff were warm and friendly, … Continue reading Why Treetop is Tip Top: Quench does Adventure Golf

Brief Encounter

Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

As part of the BFI Love Season, Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff have screened a choice selection of films spanning from ‘tainted love’ to classic romance. Quench reviews┬áa handful of these films. To find out which┬áexciting films Chapter are currently screening, and information on upcoming seasons, visit┬áhttp://www.chapter.org/whats-on/┬á. Brief Encounter (1945) As part of the BFI Love season, Chapter Arts Centre screened Brief Encounter,┬áDavid Lean’s 1945 … Continue reading Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

Preview: JAWS – Clwb Ifor Bach – 14/12/15

JAWS; one of the initial bands that fronted the promising, yet never fully realised, ÔÇÿB-TownÔÇÖ music scene early in the decade, alongside Swim Deep and Peace, travel to Cardiff at the tail end of their 21-date UK tour. Taking residence in Womanby StreetÔÇÖs Clwb Ifor Bach, or the affectionately nicknamed ÔÇÿWelsh ClubÔÇÖ, alongside support from Nai Harvest, expect to be faced with hazey, atmospheric indie … Continue reading Preview: JAWS – Clwb Ifor Bach – 14/12/15