Girl Meets Porn

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

Student in a Strange Land: Study China

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

Live Review: Jessie J ÔÇô Motorpoint Arena ÔÇô 11.11.13

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

Preview: Stereophonics – Motorpoint Arena – 24-26 November

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

Review: The Invisible Dot New Wave Tour 2013, Chapter

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

Interview: Young Kato

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

I ÔÖÑ WARSAW

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

Cardiff Fashion Quarter: A Year of Independence

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

Cardiff Surf Club Makes A Splash

ÔÇÿHavenÔÇÖt seen this time in a whileÔÇÖ, I thought, clambering out of the surf lodgeÔÇÖs triple bunk bed at 6.30am on Friday morning. It was the opening day of the BUCS Surf championships, one of the biggest surf contests in Europe. The best thing about the contest is that it is a real eye-opener to competitive surfing, which has been previously overlooked in the sporting … Continue reading Cardiff Surf Club Makes A Splash

Live Review: Chase & Status – Motorpoint Arena – 7.11.13

Chase & Status’ mixture of aggressive beats and influences from hip hop and reggae has enthralled audiences across the UK. The duo have gained a following that has rocketed them away from the genreÔÇÖs underground into arenas around the country. Fresh from the release of the Brand New Machine album last month, how would the Chase & Status live show translate to this arena environment? … Continue reading Live Review: Chase & Status – Motorpoint Arena – 7.11.13

Preview: The Darkness – November 17th – Solus

ÔÇ£Come winter time, we will be getting into a bus and setting up equipment in some rooms up and down the British Isles, playing music songs for those who care to listen,ÔÇØ posted The Darkness rather cryptically on their Facebook page in June. The Suffolk band, whose combination of the hard rocking grooves of AC/DC and the multi-layered vocals of Queen took the rock world … Continue reading Preview: The Darkness – November 17th – Solus

Preview: Dads, Newport Le Pub, 16.11.13

Hailing from the musical hotbed of New Jersey, Dads offer up the kind of twinkly, guitar-based emo thats nonchalance is its greatest asset. Comparing themselves to ÔÇ£the shitty movie you know is crap but put on to forget about everything else going wrong around youÔÇ£, their lo-fi stylings are perfectly suited to Le PubÔÇÖs sweaty, beery confines. Latest EP ÔÇÿPretty GoodÔÇÖ is much more than … Continue reading Preview: Dads, Newport Le Pub, 16.11.13

Travel Top Five: Cities

Struggling with planning your EuroTrip? Worried you’ll take a wrong turn like Scotty and the crew? Travel writer┬áSarah Davies┬átalks you through the top city destinations across the continent from the dazzling sights in Paris to the artistic side-streets of Berlin. ┬á Travelling through Europe may seem like battling through an overwhelming urban jungle of stylish streets, majestic buildings and breathtaking views. With so many temptingly … Continue reading Travel Top Five: Cities

Trainer here, trainer there…

Menswear writer┬áJonathan Keys┬ágives his insight on the habit that we just can’t seem to kick… Trainer here, trainer there, trainers are everywhere! Modern day fashion has embraced the trainer and put a retro spin on it. Ever since the success of the Nike Blazer range, every reputable sports brand; Reebok, New Balance and Asics to name but a few have released their own lines of … Continue reading Trainer here, trainer there…

A night at Cardiff Fashion Week

Firmly placing itself within CardiffÔÇÖs Fashion Calendar, Cardiff Fashion WeekÔÇÖs showcase revealed upcoming A/W 13 trends from high street retailers and independent brands. One key trend was modernism, reflected within the monochrome colour palette, but also more predominantly within the structured, clear-cut silhouettes. Leathers and Tartan were key textures, nodding to the current inherent A/W punk trend, but also adding a touch of luxury through … Continue reading A night at Cardiff Fashion Week

Preview: The Feeling & Yellowire, Solus, 3.11.12

Have a guess at who was the most played band on the radio in 2006? Got a Feeling you know this oneÔǪ? It was of course The Feeling, who – after forming in the mid-90s – exploded into the British music mainstream in the mid-2000s with the smash hits, ÔÇ£Fill My Little WorldÔÇØ, ÔÇ£Never Be LonelyÔÇØ, and ÔÇ£I Love It When You CallÔÇØ. But their … Continue reading Preview: The Feeling & Yellowire, Solus, 3.11.12

Live Review: The Blackout, Solus, 24.10.13

Sean Smith, the slightly more outspoken half of The BlackoutÔÇÖs vocal partnership, often jokes they are ÔÇ£the best live band in the world.ÔÇØ Taken seriously or not, the statement resonated during their 90-minute set on 24 October, as the post-hardcore sestet left CardiffÔÇÖs Solus throbbing, sweaty and in need of a lie down. The eager teens who had hours before scattered the steps of Cardiff … Continue reading Live Review: The Blackout, Solus, 24.10.13

Live Review: letlive., Clwb Ifor Bach, 15.10.13

Since letlive. broke into the UK hardcore scene following the release of their critically acclaimed album Fake History in 2010, they have never failed to impress, especially in the live arena.┬á The bands chaotic, visceral live reputation often precedes them; first arriving in the UK in the summer of 2011 for a few small support slot runs and a couple of festival slots, causing mayhem … Continue reading Live Review: letlive., Clwb Ifor Bach, 15.10.13

Interview: The Blackout

Ahead of their return to Solus, Jack Glasscock and Louis Browne sat down with The Blackout‘s two vocalists to talk Merthyr and models. YouÔÇÖre almost halfway through your tour and yesterday you were back at home in Merthyr Tydfil, how was that? Sean Smith (Vocals): It was lovely ÔÇô 2008ÔÇÖs third roughest town in Britain. Gavin Butler (Vocals): Although, some of our crew spent the … Continue reading Interview: The Blackout