With coffee chains such as Costa and Starbucks popping up on just about every street corner, itÔÇÖs easy to see why such franchises make huge amounts of money and draw in large cosmopolitan crowds. Offering a generic atmosphere store to store, these chains promise a standardised experience which is no doubt suited to the average commuter, city-goer and coffee-craver. This is all very well, … Continue reading The Cardiff Coffee Guide
A table littered with food snobs, bargain hunting penny-counters and simply greedy students; what else would you expect from the first quench Food Evening? On a drizzly evening in October, Quench initiated its monthly celebration of student-friendly restaurants in Cardiff with an evening full of rich food, tipsy cocktails and excellent company (if we say so ourselves) at Svago restaurant on Crwys Road. A new … Continue reading Quench Food Evening: Svago
There’s no doubt that the band can charm an audience. It is perhaps fitting that the Cardiff leg of Clean BanditÔÇÖs autumn tour passes by The Great Hall on a Saturday night. Despite the curious m├®lange of adults on a night-out, and teenage girls who canÔÇÖt quite manage to get served, the crowd is buzzing with the diluted visions of hedonism that only a weekend … Continue reading Live Review: Clean Bandit, The Great Hall
The Flaming Lips are as bizarre as they are enduring. The Flaming Lips are as bizarre as they are enduring. Their heady mix of dreamy synth-pop, acidic sampling and crushing walls of sound has been around for almost three decades, and thereÔÇÖs still no sign of slowing down. Their most recent endeavour – a cover of the BeatlesÔÇÖ eighth studio album Sgt. PepperÔÇÖs Lonely Hearts … Continue reading Review: The Flaming Lips-With A Little Help From My Fwends
‘Putting pistols in faces’. El-P and Killer Mike have teamed up for a sequel to what was, for many, one of the finest rap albums of 2013. Aptly titled Run the Jewels 2, the album kicks off in a similar vein to the previous project, with a menacing bass line and notions of ÔÇÿputting pistols in facesÔÇÖ. ÔÇÿBlockbuster Night Part 1ÔÇÖ is all barely controlled … Continue reading Review: Run The Jewels-Run The Jewels 2
Less immediate pop music. After a fairly tame first album from KindnessÔÇÖ Adam Bainbridge, the release of Otherness sees a more coherent statement. Here, he continues to build on his industrious reputation as a pop artist, tightening up his sound to produce a sense of clarity in search of creating pop music that is, what he describes as, ÔÇÿless immediateÔÇÖ. The album features a star-studded … Continue reading Review: Kindness-Otherness
This genre is where Taylor belongs and most likely, will be staying for future music. You might wonder how global superstar Taylor Swift can top Red, the 2012 album that sold over 1.2 million copies in just its first week. Whilst it may have been hard to follow, Taylor has more than risen to the challenge; country roots have been stripped away and 1989 emerges … Continue reading Review: Taylor Swift-1989
They deserve all the luck and success that they are sure to amass. ‘Menagerie Melodies’ is the publically audible inception of solo musician, Son Joan. An EP comprising of four grunge laden, psychedelic tracks that are available through Quatre Femmes Records. How did this intriguing project come about? “I started writing about 2 years ago with the intention of starting a solo project. The songs … Continue reading Interview: Son Joan
┬á Twin Atlantic meet and exceed expectations. On Sunday 2nd November, Glaswegian four-piece Twin Atlantic took to the stage in Y Plas at Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs Student Union with fantastic support from Essex boys Nothing But Thieves and fellow Scotsmen, The Xcerts. At around 21:15 it was finally time for what weÔÇÖd all been waiting for; Twin Atlantic hit the stage. Having seen the boys play … Continue reading Live Review: Twin Atlantic
Another reckless Uni band ready┬áto inject 500mg of pure, unadulterated fun into the UKÔÇÖs music scene is Childhood. Another reckless Uni band ready┬áto inject 500mg of pure, unadulterated fun into the UKÔÇÖs music scene is Childhood. Having taken on festivals from Reading/Leeds to IOW’s Bestival, we discuss their biggest aspirations before their support slot with Johnny Marr at The Great Hall (and with the man … Continue reading Interview: Childhood
A room full of Johnny Marr fans┬áis moved to tears. YouÔÇÖre likely to recognise Johnny Marr through his diverse history: being crowned NMEÔÇÖs Godlike Genius; his work with some teeny-tiny band Mancunian band back in the 80ÔÇÖsÔǪ or a recent two (stupefying impressive) solo albums, the latter of which he happens to be midway through touring as he blesses the ground of CardiffÔÇÖs Great Hall … Continue reading Live Review: Johnny Marr
For two days only, a travelling fusion of art installation and dance experience came to NewportÔÇÖs Riverfront Theatre on Friday 7th November-Saturday 8th November. The Dance Dome is an igloo-shaped portal 360┬░cinema, showcasing three very different contemporary dance performances, which incorporate not only unique and electrifying interpretive dance, but also pay homage to pole sport, parkour free-running and elements of break-dance. Each of the three … Continue reading Discover Dance Festival ÔÇô Dance Dome
Ingrida Kurlinkut─ù gives us her tips on how to spend a cheap weekend in the Belgian capital Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union, is often an overlooked destination due to more famous rivals nearby such as Amsterdam and Paris. However, itÔÇÖs a big mistake to assume that Brussels is not worth a visit, especially with the option … Continue reading Brussels on a Shoestring
The best new and upcoming artists to look out for this month… Dream Beach No label involvement, no blog premiers and no A&Rs; Ryan HemsworthÔÇÖs Secret Songs venture is every new musicianÔÇÖs dream. A chance to be heard by 20,000 followers with no compromises and no strings attached, Secret Songs brings the best and brightest in new electronic music to the forefront. Dream Beach, one … Continue reading new/newydd – November
Credit: LCN Photography We review Cardiff’s premier music festival, DimSwn… Seazoo – Clwb Ifor Bach On entering the downstairs of Clwb Ifor Bach, you could be mistaken for thinking that youÔÇÖd been transported into eighties era Top Of The Pops. ItÔÇÖs a fact that Seazoo point out as they finish up their sound check. Bathed in atmospheric blue and green lights that befit the bandÔÇÖs … Continue reading Review: DimSwn
What you need to know when travelling to South East Asia for the first time South East Asia, the ultimate gap year destination and a rite of passage for any young person wishing to explore and see the World. It is a part of the globe that conjures up images of paradise, white sands and gorgeous food, a place rich in culture and in partying … Continue reading First time backpackers: South East Asia
Food writer, Imogen Byers, took a trip down to Cardiff City House of Sport to check out Wales’ largest health and fitness event. I had no idea what to expect when offering to write a review on the ÔÇÿEat Well: Live WellÔÇÖ event , ÔÇÿCardiffÔÇÖs largest Health, Nutrition and Fitness ExhibitionÔÇÖ held at Cardiff City House of Sport. ┬áI was picturing either a large hall … Continue reading Review: ‘Eat Well: Live Well’ Event
Cavalry┬ástorm at┬áLe Pub and leave victorious. One band┬áin a slew of many, local boys Cavalry take to the stage┬áof Newport’s iconic┬ávenue as part of the current Save Le Pub campaign. In a quest to raise the necessary funding so that the venue can insulate their roof and remain in operation, bands have been forgoing payment, while putting on awesome shows. Tonight is no exception. After … Continue reading Live Review: Cavalry, Le Pub
Tom Reeder reviews Fear Of Men at Clwb Ifor Bach Monday night, and as openers The Echo and The Always materialise on stage, the audience of Clwb Ifor Bach remain scattered, drawn instead to their beer and gossip. It doesnÔÇÖt take long for The Echo to steal their attention, though, and after the opening song, everyone is listening intently. ItÔÇÖs never easy to open a … Continue reading Live Review: Fear Of Men, Clwb Ifor Bach, 29/09/14
On a quest to find an authentic kooky cafe in the city, Kathryn Lewis discovers a gem on the universities door step. Lately it seems that every caf├® I enter is aspiring for the quirky vintage style; with endless bunting, unnecessary kooky clutter and mismatched furnishings, itÔÇÖs a look that can easily appear over strained. However, I think I may have finally found the real … Continue reading Review: Th├® Pot
