Indie rock quartet Wolf Alice popped in for a chat with Charlie Mock┬áto talk NME, touring and what they want for Christmas. Firstly, your name is a reference to an Angela Carter short story- do you particularly like the piece?┬á Ellie: Yeah, we copied it. Joel: We thought it sounded nice, but we donÔÇÖt like it now so much. Joff: I like it! Theo: … Continue reading Interview: Wolf Alice
You know those albums where every song is absolutely top notch? Those albums that you just canÔÇÖt stop listening to? Yeah? Well, this is one of them. ÔÇÿNo BluesÔÇÖ is the newest release from CardiffÔÇÖs very own sextet and itÔÇÖs a mighty good one, to say the least. DonÔÇÖt let the optimistic title get you too in the mood for the latest bubblegum pop though; … Continue reading Album Review: Los Campesinos!
Aled Rheon – The Hayes┬á Aled Rheon represents what S┼Án Fest is all about. Performing his carefully written songs in both Welsh and English, the musician broadly appeals to all while standing up for his heritage. Peaceful and soothing melodies filled The Hayes during his performance on the circular stage. Reminiscent of Dallas GreenÔÇÖs side-project, City and Colour; the artist demonstrated how minimal production can, … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Sunday
Rhodri Brooks Rhodri BrooksÔÇÖ electric guitar remained muted and mellow as the inevitable rain hit The Hayes at the start of his set. However, the unassuming singer soon turned things around. The minute that ÔÇÿYour Head Was Full Of TroubleÔÇÖ and its finger-picking melodies floated to the crowd gathered beneath the trees, a smile flitted across the performerÔÇÖs face. Toe-tapping and head nodding, the audience … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Saturday
Samoans┬á ThereÔÇÖs a sense of trepidation floating around Four Bars as the clock strikes 11. CardiffÔÇÖs prodigal sons Samoans have returned from an almost yearlong absence, bringing with them arguably the South Wales sceneÔÇÖs most anticipated debut album. As they shuffle onto the stage with all the nerves of someone introducing their new spouse to a gaggle of drunk mates, it soon becomes clear that … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Friday
Chl├Âe Howl ÔÇô The Angel Hotel At just 18 years of age, Chl├Âe Howl writes the sort of brutally honest, cynical lyrics about what it is to be young that youÔÇÖd expect from someone whoÔÇÖs lived through it already. Her talent as a synth pop artist was clear from the outset, with opener Rumour from her EP of the same name: high energy and a … Continue reading S┼Án Festival: Thursday
Smoky, super sleek or smudged; eyeliners have an ability to reshape the eye, making them appear larger and more animated.┬áKirsty Fardell has investigated three of the best eyeliners in the student market. L’Oreal Superliner Gel Intenza in Pure Black – ┬ú9.99 in Superdrug This gel eye liner comes in a small glass pot with the perfect eyeliner brush. Gel liners are great for creating the … Continue reading Student-Friendly Beauty – Eyeliner
Tom Connick┬ágot the lowdown on S┼Án from the Father of the festival, John Rostron.┬á For the uninitiated, can you explain what S┼Án Festival is and why they should take note? S┼Án is a 4-day multi-venue new music festival which takes place in Cardiff this year from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th Oct. You buy either a day or a 4-day wristband, then go and see … Continue reading Interview: John Rostron
Charlie Mock caught up with Rob Damiani, lead vocalist of Don Broco ahead of their headline UK tour to chat trending on Twitter and new releases. If people havenÔÇÖt heard of Don Broco, how would you describe yourselves to them? A rock band! We like playing loud rock music, but weÔÇÖve got melodies too so youÔÇÖre going to find a tune in there. The best … Continue reading Interview: Don Broco
Charlie Mock┬átakes to the streets to search out what we should be wearing this winter in order to keep warm and stay on trend without drowning under a mountain of knitwear.┬á Will’s a charity shop scavenger so found his outfit at bargain prices. Knitwear is essential as the temperatures are dropping and, who doesn’t love a good pair of Doc Martens to finish of a … Continue reading Street Style
NorwichÔÇÖs Olympians popped in to the Quench base to catch up with Charlie Mock ahead of their S┼Án Festival set. Warning: contains puns.┬á First of all welcome to Cardiff! You’ve got a lot of live dates at the moment- how are they going for you? Dan: Totally mixed. WeÔÇÖve had some totally good ones. But, we played in Norwich with Focus and all … Continue reading Interview: Olympians
Amy Endacott┬ácaught up with Playlounge ahead of their main support set at Fuel on the Sunday of S┼Án Festival.┬á You describe your sound as noise pop and soft core punk, explain that a little more. What is it you want your fans to take away from your gigs?┬á Soft core punk is like a joke because we both love hard core punk but just arenÔÇÖt … Continue reading Interview: Playlounge
Aimee-Lee Abraham examines the myths of pornography and the impact the industry is having on society and the student psyche.┬á This season, a housemate remarked, Channel 4 ÔÇÿhas gone a bit mental with all the sexÔÇÖ. This is not coincidental; the broadcasterÔÇÖs ÔÇÿcampaign for real sexÔÇÖ is well underway, with shows like Date My Pornstar and Diary of a Teenage Virgin dominating post-watershed airtime. Channel … Continue reading Girl Meets Porn
Study China is a programme open to UK undergraduate and postgraduate students which is designed to grant successful candidates a unique insight into China, its language and culture. Funded by the department of Business and Innovation, Study China offers successful applicants 3 weeks tuition and accommodation at a Chinese university as well as organising a selection of cultural trips and activities for participants. I, along … Continue reading Student in a Strange Land: Study China
Jessie JÔÇÖs final stop on her ÔÇÿAliveÔÇÖ tour went out with a bang on Monday night at the Motorpoint Arena, however it did seem like a bittersweet farewell for the soloist who clearly thrives from performing live. Support act Lawson were a good choice for the pre-concert warm up and it was obvious that it wonÔÇÖt be long before theyÔÇÖre headlining their own shows. But … Continue reading Live Review: Jessie J ÔÇô Motorpoint Arena ÔÇô 11.11.13
Their first gig in Cardiff since opening the Cardiff City stadium to a sell-out 30,000 crowd, Stereophonics return on Sunday 24 November to begin a 3-night residency at the Motorpoint Arena. These shows will round off the successful worldwide arena tour of their latest album ‘Graffiti on the Train’ before a curtain call in London. While their new album didnÔÇÖt trouble the charts too much, … Continue reading Preview: Stereophonics – Motorpoint Arena – 24-26 November
Reviewed by Matthew Lee Schneider Comedy. ┬áIt manifests through seemingly infinite methods and mediums, all striving towards one goal: to be funny. ┬áWhen oneÔÇÖs divine judge manifests in the form of fifteen minutes of memorized material alone in front of a dimly lit sea of strangers, one will find arguably the most daunting form of comedy, stand-up. In the world of stand-up, the common theme … Continue reading Review: The Invisible Dot New Wave Tour 2013, Chapter
Tommy Wright, lead vocalist of Cheltenham’s biggest indie-pop sestet and Made in Chelsea soundtrack regulars Young Kato, took some time out from the studio to chat Morrissey, whipped cream and Glastonbury with┬áCharlie Mock.┬á It’s been two years since you got together as a band- safe to say things have gone very much in your favour. Your gig at the Camden Barfly was featured in … Continue reading Interview: Young Kato
This month our travel journal presents one of Eastern Europe’s best kept secrets,┬áAshley Bebbington┬ágives us his personal insight into Poland’s capital, Warsaw┬á With the cost of being a student higher than ever before, more and more students have begun to explore Eastern Europe to cut travel costs. It was with this in mind that I decided to visit Warsaw, Poland, managing to secure flights, and … Continue reading I ÔÖÑ WARSAW
Fashion writer Francesca Gardner┬átook a trip down to Cardiff fashion’s worst kept secret to delve into the treasures it holds after a year in service to the city’s most dedicated style seekers… ┬á Having recently celebrated their first year anniversary, it seemed the perfect time to explore and uncover the secrets of Cardiff Fashion Quarter. Found hidden away in an old converted cinema on Womanby … Continue reading Cardiff Fashion Quarter: A Year of Independence
