Culture are on a mission to debunk the myths that make opera seem boring and unapproachable. Vaiva Seskeviciute reviews the dramatic story of La traviata, where the courtesan ViolettaÔÇÖs rise and tragic fall is spellbindingly presented through dance, music and song. Images courtesy of┬áRoger Donovan A string orchestra, and the mysterious walk of Alfredo opened the scene of La traviata, VerdiÔÇÖs most famous opera. The … Continue reading Review: La traviata, WMC
ThereÔÇÖs something very special about the construction of East India YouthÔÇÖs debut LP ÔÇô ÔÇÿTotal Strife ForeverÔÇÖ. Somehow, William Doyle has managed to make an album which is sporadic, indecisive and yet beautifully flowing all at the same time. With influences ranging from David Bowie and Sufjan Stevens to Factory Floor, any attempt to pigeon-hole this album into one given genre would be an insult … Continue reading Review: East India Youth – Total Strife Forever
Like many final year students too scared to face up to real-world demands and find a job just yet, IÔÇÖve recently been planning a post-University gap year to Australia and parts of Asia. Whereas, in years gone by, I remember my parents pouring over endless brochures, atlases and travel guides before deciding on that years summer holiday, my first thought when planning my travels was … Continue reading Top Travel Blogs
This month Quench Travel finds out which destinations are tempting our fellow students to explore different cultures in 2014!┬á Interrailing Following a pretty dismal summer of 2013, the winter-exam-January blues spurred on the adventurist within me and I have now planned to go interrailing around Europe this summer. Such a brilliant form of procrastination, I might add. With my best friend now residing up north, … Continue reading Travel Aspirations 2014
Paul Michael Glaser, star of ÔÇÿ70s cop thriller ÔÇÿStarsky and HutchÔÇÖ, leads the talented cast of Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye which is on at the New Theatre until Saturday 8th February. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, Fiddler tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters who attempts to preserve his family and Jewish traditions in the face of the Tsar … Continue reading Review: Fiddler on the Roof – The New Theatre
Behind the scenes at Burbidge Studios fashion shoot for Quench Magazine, shot at Keep the Faith Social Club Keep The Faith Social Club is neatly situated in Royal Arcade, just off the hustle of the Hayes. The bespoke barber-come-tattoo parlour provides a safe haven of vintage charm met with a modern twist.┬á Whether you are looking for a new haircut, a wet shave, tattoo or … Continue reading Keep The Faith ÔÇô Behind the Scenes
The Leeds-based five-piece will drop their self-titled LP on March 3rd, but is it more eagle or seagull? Perhaps someone has already come up with that, but this album feels like both across its 10 tracks, swaying between a sense of wonderful intrigue and ear-piercing doubt. There is a bunch of mysterious openings and dark riffs to get interested in, with opener ÔÇÿNerve EndingsÔÇÖ suggesting … Continue reading Review: Eagulls – Eagulls
Fashion weeks are an exciting time for any┬áfashionista, and Cardiff fashion week promised to be just that. Although┬ásmaller scale event to the more known London, New York, Paris, Milan fashion weeks, its locality offered something special and unique to those who live and work in Cardiff, showcasing not only major brands and designers but local boutiques and outlets. CFW, could not have been more … Continue reading Run-ing The World: A Day in a Runners’ Shoes
Dillion Eastoe speaks to Frank Turner ahead of the first night of his arena tour at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. Tonight is the first show of the tour, how are you going to translate the live show from the smaller venues youÔÇÖre used to, to playing in an arena setting? Frank: ItÔÇÖs a question I spend a lot of time thinking about actually. The reason weÔÇÖre … Continue reading Interview: Frank Turner
After a surprise encounter with prolific producer John Feldman led to spontaneous writing sessions abroad, Blitz Kids vocalist Joe James began laying down the foundations for what was to eventually become the bandÔÇÖs brilliant new studio album. ÔÇÿThe Good YouthÔÇÖ was recorded out in LA during the early part of 2013 and is the result of the band finally finding the right direction for their … Continue reading Album Review: Blitz Kids – ‘The Good Youth’
ItÔÇÖs safe to say that merely 12 months ago, most people would not have heard of Daniel Avery. A resident of the infamous Fabric club in London, he has been quietly grinding away, producing a handful of EP releases and remixes for larger artists. However, at the end of 2013, following the release of ÔÇÿDrone LogicÔÇÖ, his debut album, he has truly become the man … Continue reading Live Review: Daniel Avery, 10 Feet Tall, 23.01.14
Founded by original Attack Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile and bassist Jaxin Hall in 2009,┬á┬áCosta Mesa, CaliforniaÔÇÖs Of Mice┬á&┬áMen seemed set to make their biggest steps as a band yet, five years on from their formation, following the introduction of bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley. Tipped to be amongst metalÔÇÖs ones to watch of 2014, the band have called their third album┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, in reference … Continue reading Album Review: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force’
Soon-to-be the hottest duo in British Rock music, Mike & Ben from Royal Blood chat to Marc Mayo about 2014, the bandÔÇÖs setup, and their upcoming tour. A year since deciding to form a band together, it seems all parts of the music industry are taking an interest in Royal Blood. Being nominated for both the MTV ÔÇÿBrand New For 2014ÔÇÖ and BBC ÔÇÿSound of … Continue reading Interview: Royal Blood
Now the next generation is well and truly here Rhys Thomas Elliott looks back at how gaming has changed, for better or worse. So the Xbox 360/PS3 generation is technically over. It was a generation that brought a lot to the gaming industry, both good and bad; here are a few of my picks for the best and worst things the 360/PS3 generation brought us. … Continue reading Gaming Has Changed
Review by Elouise Hobbs The self-published anthology by Cardiff University’s Creative Writing Society, which celebrates and examines internal and external darkness, contains a unique collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Not only did Cardiff students write the content, but a member of the society also designed the front cover. This, their third anthology, shows the development of the society, exemplified in the range … Continue reading Book Review: Let The Darkness In by Creative Writing Society
Review by Amy Pay Taschen, for the uninitiated, produce some of the most beautiful art books in existence. Always carefully compiled, dotted with facts and printed in rich coloured ink, their publications are a real treat to flick through. 100 Illustrators is one of the latest releases from Taschen, and, like its ancestors, its massive, shiny and bright pages of eye-candy will lure you in … Continue reading Book Review: TASCHEN 100 Illustrators
London┬áGrammarÔÇÖs UK tour has been eagerly anticipated.┬á Solus is illuminated by a thousand smartphones; Cardiff waits to watch it through a thousand cameras.┬á ThereÔÇÖs a buzz of conversation, which unfortunately fails to subside even after Hannah ReidÔÇÖs opening note. Although a complete sellout,┬áLondon┬áGrammarÔÇÖs live performance is not as gripping as expected. Reid is exceptional, and she sings beautifully, despite her obvious problems with the sound … Continue reading Live Review: London Grammar, Solus, 28.01.13
Since the release of their debut album ÔÇÿI Had The Blues But I Shook Them LooseÔÇÖ in 2008, Bombay Bicycle Club have been quietly working their way to the top of the British indie scene. With the release of ÔÇÿSo Long, See You TomorrowÔÇÖ, perhaps their most inventive and exciting album yet, they donÔÇÖt look set to stop any time soon. The commercial success of … Continue reading Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’
The Xbox One was marketed by Microsoft as being more than simply a gaming console with more emphasis being placed on it being an entertainment device. Now while this might have swayed some people in direction of its competitor the PS4; it is fair to say that Microsoft has delivered the next-gen experience with the entertainment features that it focused so much on. The first … Continue reading Review: Xbox One
Every year, CardiffÔÇÖs Malaysian Students Society puts on an extravaganza of a show, called Festival of Diversity. MalaysocÔÇÖs FOD director Xue Ying Tan tells us how this meaningful occasion comes to be. Cr: Shermin.T Photography Malaysia, Truly Asia – thatÔÇÖs what they said about this kaleidoscopic country. This is the land of paradise ÔÇô a heartwarming country with the perfect tropical climate and abundance of … Continue reading Festival of Diversity: How Culture Leads to Art
