Culture

Review: The Shawshank Redemption, New Theatre

Originally a novella written by horror-mogul Stephen King, then transformed into the classic cult film over twenty years ago, I pounced on the opportunity to review The Shawshank Redemption production at The New Theatre, Cardiff. While this latest adaption definitely captured the tone of ÔÇÿfear will hold you prisonerÔÇÖ, it struggled to recapitulate the sombre themes explored so elegantly on screen. In a miscarriage of … Continue reading Review: The Shawshank Redemption, New Theatre

georgecaulton
Lonely The Brave
Music

Live: Lonely The Brave – The Globe – 20/11/15

Coming off the back of a well-received debut album and a growing reputation as a spellbinding live act, Lonely The Brave arrive at the Globe on the final victory lap of ÔÇÿThe DayÔÇÖs WarÔÇÖ before they finish up their sophomore release in the New Year. Openers Black Peaks slightly startle the Friday night crowd with their abrasive hardcore, held down by Liam KearleyÔÇÖs machine-gun drumming … Continue reading Live: Lonely The Brave – The Globe – 20/11/15

jackglasscock
Film & TV

Review: Mississippi Grind

Mississippi Grind is a film that could easily pass by without people taking notice. For the most part it is a quiet film, not necessarily because of volume or action, but because its style is far away from the flashy gambling aesthetic that many films about the subject have. Directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson), Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn, A Place Beyond the … Continue reading Review: Mississippi Grind

Sadia Pineda Hameed
Culture

Experimentica15

EXPERIMENTICA┬áreturned to Cardiff this year for five days filled with live art, performances and interdisciplinary projects. As Chapter stated on their website ÔÇÿEXPERIMENTICA is entertaining, dangerous, confusing, life-affirming, playful, provocative, thoughtful, witty, engaging, irritating and everything in between.ÔÇÖ Here are a number of the performances that took part across the five day international festival. Review 1# (by Georgie Crespie) Across one day were the performances … Continue reading Experimentica15

Beau Beakhouse
Los Campesinos!
Music

Live: Los Campesinos! – Exchange, Bristol – 18/11/15

The University of Cardiff does not boast a particularly long list of famous bands in its alumni, and even then Los Campesinos! are perhaps not one of them. Formed at Cardiff University way back in 2006, their first gig came at a club night in the SU. 9 years and 5 albums later the band find themselves still making music around their life commitments. While … Continue reading Live: Los Campesinos! – Exchange, Bristol – 18/11/15

jackglasscock
High Tyde
Music

Interview: High Tyde

Brighton teens,┬áHigh Tyde,┬áare turning heads in the music industry, and are gaining much deserved, national recognition. The indie quartet have been making their mark on the music scene, from touring with Peace and Little Comets to releasing their well received EP ÔÇÿFuzzÔÇÖ in April. QuenchÔÇÖs Chloe Stevens chatted with their lead vocalist, Cody Thomas-Matthews, about their upcoming tour, their new EP ÔÇÿGlowÔÇÖ and finding out … Continue reading Interview: High Tyde

jackglasscock
Travel

Exploring Cardiff

Whether you’re a budding first year, eager to explore your new home, or a long term resident of our glorious city. Here is a run-down of the best day trips in and around Cardiff! St Fagans St Fagans is a pretty village in the west of Cardiff, a humble 5 miles from student domain Cathays. If youÔÇÖre living in Cardiff (and you probably are if … Continue reading Exploring Cardiff

lucypierce
Film & TV

Review: L’amour at Le Monde

As a part of the BFIÔÇÖs love season, Darkened Rooms and Chapter Arts Centre screened Breathless and Am├®lie upstairs in the French restaurant Le Monde. Lines of red seats were set up in front of the projector screen, with a bar near the back serving food and drink. PeopleÔÇÖs silhouettes were superimposed on the bottom of the screen as they moved to their seats like … Continue reading Review: L’amour at Le Monde

eleanorparkyn
Video Games

Mobile Game Marketing

YouÔÇÖve likely seen that advert with Kate Upton walking through a massive medieval battlefield completely unharmed. You may not even have noticed the battlefield past how great herÔǪ dress is. Yeah. Anyway, can you even remember what the advert was for? Some kind of mobile gameÔǪ Clash of Clans, was it? No, that one has animated ads with flying pigs and all sorts. That advert … Continue reading Mobile Game Marketing

Tom Morris
Culture

Review: Battle Scars: A New Musical, YMCA Theatre

When I was told that I was going to see a musical about depression, self harm, anorexia and a girl whoÔÇÖd been sectioned, honestly I feared the worst. Musicals are usually so fun and whimsical that I thought it would be impossible to display the emotional depth required for such a topic. Boy was I wrong. Battle Scars: A New Musical, written and directed by … Continue reading Review: Battle Scars: A New Musical, YMCA Theatre

georgecaulton
Video Games

The Savvy Student Gamer

Remember when you were younger and about 90% of your limited income went on video games? But now youÔÇÖre a student, only slightly better off than you were as a kid, but have to buy pizza, cider, andÔǪ like, textbooks or something, I thinkÔǪ too? All that superfluous stuff really cuts into your gaming budget. HereÔÇÖs four ways you can get round the pressures of … Continue reading The Savvy Student Gamer

Tom Morris
Culture

Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.

BizetÔÇÖs gracefully hypnotic, four act opera, Carmen, hit the stage of St DavidÔÇÖs Hall this week and its success was evidently exemplified by the roaring applause upon the final curtain of the performance. The opera revealed a spectacular degree of d├®cor with an all- inclusive account of highly qualified opera stars, multitudes of colorful clothing and just to top it off, a real donkey walking … Continue reading Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.

georgecaulton
Nothing But Thieves
Music

Live: Nothing But Thieves – Clwb Ifor Bach – 1/11/15

After bouncy pop-rock openers WITTERQUICKÔÇÖs cover of ÔÇÿWrecking BallÔÇÖ that went down surprisingly well with the crowd, and an aggressive set from Merthyr teen rockers Pretty Vicious that was somewhat impaired by technical issues, Nothing But Thieves hit the stage for the Cardiff leg of their sold out UK tour. Just a fortnight after the release of their self-titled debut album, the crowd were up … Continue reading Live: Nothing But Thieves – Clwb Ifor Bach – 1/11/15

jackglasscock
The Ordinary Boys
Music

Live: The Ordinary Boys – 5/11/15 – The Globe

Remember, remember the 5th of November the memorable saying goes, and frankly it would be impossible to forget the evening spent watching Preston and the boys rock out spectacularly at little cult venue, The Globe on Albany Road. ItÔÇÖs always enjoyable watching music here, as the atmosphere is intimate and personal, and itÔÇÖs easy to nab a great position in the crowd to view the … Continue reading Live: The Ordinary Boys – 5/11/15 – The Globe

jackglasscock
Culture

Review: The Glenn Miller Story, New Theatre

The proof of a good story, whether in film, television or theatre is always the way you feel about the characters come the finale. There have been endless occasions in which protagonists have met their fatal and dramatic deaths, with directors hoping for a weeping audience to mourn the tragedy, only to be met by the realization that no one in the audience really cares. … Continue reading Review: The Glenn Miller Story, New Theatre

georgecaulton
Fashion

Cath Kidston SS16 Collection Preview

The rain’s pouring and there are sticky leaves everywhere. Yes, summer has long gone. *cry cry* But fear not! There is a silver lining on the horizon. Cath KidstonÔÇÖs new collection was available for exclusive viewing and Quench were lucky enough to have a cheeky look ahead of their Spring/Summer 2016 range. And if you thought CK only did floral or polka dotted handbags, think … Continue reading Cath Kidston SS16 Collection Preview

jamilagandhi