Eccentric wild-haired rockers The Darkness are back with their brand-new album ÔÇÿPinewood SmileÔÇÖ, as well as a huge nation-wide winter tour. After band departures, and a relative lack of activity over the past two years, these new projects are a statement of intent from the four-piece that, even in their seventeenth year, they are still committed to, as per their single ÔÇÿSolid GoldÔÇÖ, ÔÇ£blow[ing] peopleÔÇÖs … Continue reading An Interview with The Darkness
HowÔÇÖs your day been so far ÔÇô have you been up to much? IÔÇÖve just been signing off the mix for our next single, IÔÇÖve been doing some yoga! WeÔÇÖre loving your new track Glue, whatÔÇÖs the inspiration behind the track? I think itÔÇÖs because we were really obsessed with RihannaÔÇÖs track, Needed Me. ItÔÇÖs such a good song, we felt we didnÔÇÖt really have … Continue reading An Interview with Fickle Friends
The 2nd September 2017 marks the day The Drums stepped on board the infamous party/gig boat Thekla in front of a sold-out crowd in Bristol. Perhaps a better name for The Drums would now be ÔÇÿThe DrumÔÇÖ as Jonny is the last original member of the band left, but the new guitarist and bassist somewhat resemble previous bandmates Connor and Jacob. Even though Jonny … Continue reading The Drums Review – Bristol 2nd September
After clearing out all the 10p slot machines and mopping up the sticky floor after many a spilt slush puppy from the excitement that is Weston Super-MareÔÇÖs grand pier, the venue was ready to be filled with an avid pack of Alt-J fans. After a great opening set from Hampshire trio, Blaenavon, Alt-J took to the small ┬ámake-shift stage as the final show of their … Continue reading Alt-J- Live Review, Weston-Super-Mare
If you know Maggie RogerÔÇÖs 2016 song Alaska, youÔÇÖll know itÔÇÖs groovy, funky and youÔÇÖll know its the perfect shoulder-shimmy-head-bop track. Amber RunÔÇÖs opening cover of Alaska to their EP of the same name, is just a lil bit different. ItÔÇÖs laid back and angelic, giving the track a sense of purity. Maggie RogerÔÇÖs voice is no doubt angelic too, but in usual Amber Run … Continue reading Amber Run’s Alaska EP Review
Behind the scenes at this yearÔÇÖs Barn on the Farm festival, we chatted to brotherly duo Callum and Ewan, the leading-men from indie hip-hop group Bad Sounds, to see what they had been up to recently and their plans for the very near future. Sitting on a dubious looking old armchair perched on a stack of wooden planks, Callum says ÔÇ£Our set here was super … Continue reading A chat with Bad Sounds
We caught up with Clean Cut Kid before their set at┬áthis yearÔÇÖs Barn on the Farm Festival. It was the day after the busy band had played Community Festival in Finsbury park, where bassist, Saul yelled ÔÇ£Hello Hyde ParkÔÇØÔǪ letÔÇÖs hope their set in this quaint farm in Gloucester starts a bit more smoothly! We sat down with Evelyn and Saul from LiverpoolÔÇÖs finest band … Continue reading An interview with Clean Cut Kid
Last week I had the ultimate privilege of seeing the 25 year strong Blink-182. Supporting them on this tour are the Front Bottoms and Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls.Sadly, in true university student style I ended up late to the Motorpoint arena, which still had a queue wrapping half way around the building by the time the first act had started, resulting … Continue reading Blink 182 Live Review- Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Review by Molly Wyatt -UDDERLY FABULOUS- Animal Farm is by no means a simple play to stage; an absolute classic piece of literature, this politically charged story requires a great deal of creativity, commitment and character. Having read (and loved) the book, yet never seeing a stage production of it, I was intrigued to see how this challenging show has been adapted. To say that … Continue reading Review: Animal Farm, Act One
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
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
As Tinder and a spawn of similar dating apps rise to new heights of popularity, Ciara Gillespie takes a look at how this app has taken the world of love, sex and dating to new and controversial dimensions. Dating. Defined by Urban Dictionary as ÔÇ£The modern day battlefield of romance where hearts are won and broken; the not-so-quite version of chivalry and wooing; the progressed … Continue reading Tinder and the Rise of Technosexuals
Biffy ClyroÔÇÖs B-side compilation album, ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ, is not a waste of time. ItÔÇÖs not a cheap money spinner that tides keen fans over until the next album cycle. It’s a demonstration of the hugely prolific and profound songwriter, frontman Simon Neil, and an exceedingly professional band doing exactly what they do best. The very nature of a compilation dictates that ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ is not as coherent … Continue reading Review: Biffy Clyro – ‘Similarities’
International tensions are increasing, conflict has provoked much political debate, and whatÔÇÖs more, the UKÔÇÖs general election is fast approaching. It is the time for celebrity cynics and anarchists to force their views upon us, increase their tabloid exposure, and make some money. Unsurprisingly, Morrissey has released a new album. While the opening lyric, ÔÇÿWorld Peace is None of Your BusinessÔÇÖ, does not provide the … Continue reading Review: Morrissey – ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’
Written concurrently with last yearÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ, itÔÇÖs more accurate to describe ÔÇÿFuturologyÔÇÖ as a counterpart than a follow-up to SeptemberÔÇÖs acoustic reflection on middle age. Indeed, a lot of the songs here give a comforting feel in contrast to the heartbreaking moments of ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ. The opening title track bubbles through its verses until a soothing Nicky Wire vocal ÔÇ£one day we … Continue reading Review: Futurology – Manic Street Preachers
To some extent, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get with a Jack White record. ‘Lazaretto’, White’s second studio album, is no exception with most of the old trademarks present.┬áRaucous riffing and squealing solos? Check. Weird, jarring lyrics? Check. And, rising above it all, you get WhiteÔÇÖs signature hair raising yelp. Although, thereÔÇÖs also a marked emphasis on the mellower side of his sound, with … Continue reading Review: Jack White – Lazaretto
Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason. Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica. Del … Continue reading Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
ItÔÇÖs safe to say that the wealth of festivals the UK has to offer can be a little overwhelming. Do you (providing you get your hands on a ticket) blow all of your savings and head to the father of all festivals, Glastonbury? Or, wander of the beaten track and pay WOMAD a visit? Well, our tip is neither. From July 11th-13th weÔÇÖre heading to … Continue reading Festival Preview: 2000trees
In the light of Independent Venue Week, Hannah Embleton-Smith finds out from industry insiders how Cardiff fares with small-time success in ‘Going It Alone’. The past few years have seen drastic changes for the dynamic of CardiffÔÇÖs independent music scene. With small venues becoming increasingly concentrated around ClwbÔÇÖs stomping ground, is the city seeing the revival of its independent culture or increasing marginalisation? As the … Continue reading Feature: Going It Alone
With the image of heads buried in their hand-held screens surrounding us, Andy Love examines the way smart phones have changed our social interactions in ‘Communication Problems’.┬á ÔÇ£This one has a better battery life, better definition screen, better camera…it’s also flatter,ÔÇØ says a girl wearing glasses to two of her peers who listen closely as if sheÔÇÖs a wizard telling a story. Smart-phones progress so … Continue reading Communication Problems
