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SEPtEMBER 2015
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contents
C O N T E N T S 16/17
06/08/09/10: The Big List: A what’s on guide to Plymouth’s best venues, bars and clubs, written by Andrew Girdler 12/13/14: Editor Naomi Girdler had a hectic festival season this year to bring you reviews of the best local and national festivals
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16/17: We interviewed local music giants Antimatador to talk about breaking and entering, the local music scene and what’s in store for the dynamic eight piece 18: Contributor Lorna Parker writes about the newest member of the political sphere, Jeremy Corbyn and how not singing the National Anthem has made him a threat to our national security*
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20: Teaming up with our pals Upgrad, we interview several graduates of the city about how graduate life in Plymouth can be improved 22: Local PCA student Michael Neale shows us the best of Asian fashion with this exclusive photoshoot 23: Fashion rules and street style from London courtesy of Fashion, Media & Marketing students Melissa Bennett and Rhian Davis
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24/25: Luke Mullane, of PCA’s Fashion, Media and Marketing course brings us a super cool photo shoot, featuring streetwear brands 26/27: Fashionista Enya Richards and illustrator James Rae have teamed up to bring you a sweet pull out poster on where to spend your Fresher’s Week and how you can make the best impression with your outfit
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28: Minerva Streetwear, originally based in Exeter has moved to Ebrington St, we went to check out the brand new store 29: We meet up with Phil James, screen printer for local activewear company Dewerstone, we talk about nature, sports and his illustration work
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30: Continuing the fashion theme, another local brand Mayflower Apparel gets the spotlight with their tattoo, naval inspired clothing. 32: Not sure what to do with your Halloween? How about watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and party hard with OUF, Plymouth’s alternative club night?
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34: We catch up with Last Shop Standing Record store owner Chris Muirhead on how the business has coped with the Bretonside redevelopment 38: We review two local venues, with two very different vibes - The Underground and the Bread and Roses
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40: Agony Aunt Ellie did some stretching in the sun with Purposeful Futures yoga, check out her review 42: Treat your new housemates to a curry with our new favourite recipe 44: A game review, a film review and a book review all on one page! Oh, we do spoil you!
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45: Seth Haney checks out some more classic, current and local albums - featuring pop punk rockers Blowouts 45: The Dust Piggies are at it again... 46: Resident Agony Aunt Ellie tackles your problems once again *Not really
CHECK OUT THE NEW PLYMOUTH STUDENT WEBSIT E AT
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editor’s letter
Contact PS: New Media House 2A De La Hay Avenue Plymouth, PL3 4HU 07811 343335 hello@ps-zine.com www.ps-zine.com Published by Vivid Collective Many thanks to all who’ve supported and contributed to PS Issue 13. Editor, Designer & Writer Naomi Girdler naomi@ps-zine.com Contributors Chris Girdler, Andrew Girdler, Lorna Parker, Luke Mullane, Melissa Bennett, Rhian Davis, Michael Neale, Dan Rowbotham, Phil James, Ryan Sellick, Owen Finnie, Enya Richards, James Rae, Matt Girdler, Chloe Smith, Chris Muirhead, Seth Haney, Ellie Ward, Garry Hunt, Mike Bromage & the Dust Piggies Advertising If you are interested in advertising in PS, please contact us at les@ps-zine.com or 07835 495881
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Hello! Welcome Freshers of 2015! It’s been a crazy few months for the Plymouth Student team as we have officially moved into offices! It’s a great feeling to be working from a desk in an air conditioned office space rather than sharing the sofa with my cat and trying to make phone calls and design magazine layouts all while being distracted by Netflix and The Sims. We now have a lovely little office space in New Media House, shared with our postgraduate friends Elixel, who’ve been featured in the magazine before. We’re now working our butts off full time to bring you exciting new content, a dynamic social media presence and our very cool website (www.ps-zine.com) courtesy of Garry Hunt at Sonic Digital. Fresher’s Week is our favourite time of year, we get to see a lot of new faces and make new friends with you guys. We hope that you find this Fresher’s Issue helpful, we’ve got great advice from our Agony Aunt Ellie (as always), Andrew has done a cracking job at getting all the best upcoming events all in one place for you, as well the boys from Antimatador telling us all the hot gossip about their travels, the Plymouth music scene and filming in the Palace Theatre! As well as all the reviews (music, games, films AND festivals!) we also have a super duper fashion supplement courtesy of Plymouth College of Art’s Fashion, Media and Marketing students. It’s so great to see what talent this city is producing. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed making it!
Naomi Girdler Editor
Printed by Newsquest Weymouth The views expressed in PS are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of all information contained in this publication. However, the publishers do not accept any liability for any advice or information included in this publication. Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ plymouthstudentmagazine Find us on Twitter www.twitter.com/PSzine Find us on Instagram www.instagram.com/ plymouthstudent
Antimatador Photography by Tim Cresswell
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the big list
THE BIG LIST Listings by Andrew Girdler
Fresher’s Week is here and there’s no reason to be bored when there’s just so much going on in Plymouth! We’ve got all your favourite childhood stars including the Chuckle Brothers and Dave Benson Phillips bringing back Get Your Own Back! But don’t stress, there’s even more to do after the festivities are over, just check out our BIG LIST if you don’t believe me!
September The Whipping Man 17 Sep - 03 Oct Theatre Royal Winner of the 2011 John Gassner New Play Award from the New York Outer Critics Circle, The Whipping Man is a powerful and enthralling play about choice, hope and what it means to be free. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Gnarwolves Tour DVD Premiere 19 Sep An exclusive viewing of the upcoming Gnarwolves feature length ‘2014 Euro Tour’ DVD a week before its official release. Featuring art and photography from Andrew Ford, Leigh Drinkwater, Lauren Rothery and more, plus Patrons to play. £2 entry, free pizza! For more info, call 07916 127298 Café Acoustica 23 Sep, 14 Oct, 28 Oct, 11 Nov, 25 Nov, 09 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre The B-Bar’s fortnightly showcase of unplugged local talent, hosted by singersongwriter Jessie Mullen.
Will Young
Fresher’s Cheese Night with the Chuckle Brothers 23 Sep University of Plymouth Student’s Union “Oh dear, oh dear... Join the Chuckle Brothers for our Ultimate Fresher’s Cheese Night… See you there, and no slacking!” For more info, call 01752 288388 “The Incredible” General Levy 23 Sep Voodoo Lounge Paul Levy a.k.a General Levy is a real veteran of the UK urban music scene. He grew up influenced by reggae music and sound system culture. After starting his own sound system in the early 90s, he quickly became recognised for his MC talents and began to tour with some of the UK’s top sounds of the time. Today, over 20 years later, General Levy is still killing it and will be sharing a stage with local MC Jman and Man Like Tim. Tickets £6-£10, for more info, call 01752 262288 Fresher’s Fair 24 Sep University of Plymouth Student’s Union Plymouth Uni’s famous Fresher’s Fair is back for #plymfresh15. For more info, call 01752 288388
The Chuckle Brothers are making their way to the SU!
Jam House presents: Duke Live 24 Sep University of Plymouth Student’s Union Jam House hosts the beatboxing trio. Live music from local and student talent. For more info, call 01752 288388 Freshers: Get Your Own Back Live 24 Sep Oceana Plymouth The legend Dave Benson Phillips hosts a very special Get Your Own Back at Oceana Plymouth with the gunge tank. Come and gunge a friend and meet the 90s legend! For more info, call 01752 251382 Nowhere Inn Beer Festival 24 Sep The Nowhere Inn Pop in for over 30 real ales, as well as 10 ciders, with food from Mrs Browns as well as a few wonderful local music acts lined up for you featuring Neelix Helix and Dean Hutchinson. Call 01752 670592 for more info. Thomas Ford 24 Sep, 26 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Born in a field 20-something years ago, Thomas Ford is a blues shouter, a guitar picker and a harmonica fire-breather. Mixing delta blues traditions with nublues songwriting, this one man trio has been hailed as “The rising star of British blues”. For more info, call 01752 242021 Squeeze 25 Sep Plymouth Pavilions Squeeze, the enduring British pop act whose songs have tenderly and wittily chronicled life and love stretching across four decades, are to play an extensive UK tour in the autumn – their first, as a band, for three years. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Freshly Squeezed 25 Sep, 27 Nov, 18 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Freshly are an 8 piece evolution of
funk, soul, jazz, hip hop and electronica coming out of the South West of the UK. Horn section, decks, vocals, synths and a classic rhythm make up the mashup of old and new school styles. They’ve been bigged up by the likes of the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, Joss Stone and BBC Introducing. For more info, call 01752 260555 Annika Skoogh Trio 25 Sep B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre This dynamic Jazz Trio, featuring the distinctive and soulful vocals of Annika Skoogh, the superb Matt Carter on keys and Al Swainger on bass, expect to hear effortless improvisation, tight rhythms delivered with passion and high energy. For more info, call 01752 242021 Luke Friend 25 Sep The Hub / dbs Live Folk / Indie singer Luke Friend is bringing his Sun & Moon tour to the Hub! For more info, call 07540 432021 Plymouth Art Weekender 25 - 27 Sep Various venues The Plymouth Art Weekender is an ambitious three day event celebrating visual art across the city, promoting Plymouth as a contemporary art destination. Using a mixture of performance, intervention and temporary monuments, three artists have been commissioned to bring together a wide and diverse audience as they respond to aspects of Plymouth’s past, present and possible future. Find out more at www. plymouthartweekender.com One Love w/ Eli & Fur 26 Sep The Hub / dbs Live Eli & Fur are known for their captivating sets, which have seen the duo playing alongside the likes of Maceo Plex, Hot Since 82 and Dusky. Appearing on line ups for Chibuku, Sankeys, Bugged Out,
Digital and Ants, Ushuaia, with their Festival highlights including Creamfields, Leeds Festival, Bestival and the ultimate of all festivals, Glastonbury. For more info, call 07540 432021 Russell Watson 26 Sep Theatre Royal Russell Watson never imagined he would one day be one of the world’s most prominent tenors, selling in excess of seven million albums worldwide. To date there have been nine studio albums, each one winning more critical acclaim than the one before. This concert is a unique opportunity to hear The Voice as you have never heard him before. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Duke Johnson & The Scorchers 26 Sep Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Over the last 20 years Duke Johnson & The Scorchers have become an institution in the live music scene & have rightfully gaining the reputation of one of the best Rock & Roll bands in the UK. For more info, call 01752 260555 Exile’s Video Game Night 26 Sep Exile Plymouth Exile’s second edition of their Video Game Night, in cooperation with Nerdz. co.uk. For more info, call 01752 226305 Moriaty 26 Sep James Street Vaults Local blues rock band Moriaty & punk band Arizona Law are bringing the party to James Street Vaults! For more info, call 01752 267799 Svalbard 26 Sep The Junction Bristol-based Heavy Metal band Svalbard at The Junction, with support Boxkite, Quiet Man, and Helpless. For more info, call 07916 127298
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the big list
Bill Bailey
We Want You To Watch 06 - 10 Oct Theatre Royal Created by RashDash, an award winning company who make theatre combining movement, music and text. The work is a combination of radical feminist ideas explored through an articulate physical style. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 B-Bar Comedy Night 07 Oct, 04 Nov, 02 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Some light relief with the best standups on the UK circuit. For more info, call 01752 242021 Pineapple 08 Oct The Nowhere Inn A night of live punk from Pineapple Plymouth. Support TBC. For more info, call 01752 670592
Fisherman’s Friends 26 Sep Plymouth Pavilions English folk music has enjoyed a renaissance in the last decade, especially in the West Country, with the likes of Seth Lakeman, Jackie Oates, Show of Hands, and Jim Causley achieving widespread acclaim. Now, with Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, the Shanty Man is back in business. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Darcy Oake 27 Sep Plymouth Pavilions Canadian magician Darcy Oake will be heading out on his first ever Nationwide UK tour with a series of thrilling live shows. Emerging in the world of illusion as a new generation of contemporary mysticism he has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting performers in magic right now. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Tribulation 29 Sep The Junction “Any band whose appreciation of music is broad enough to encompass the likes of Dissection, The Misfits, Iron Maiden, The Doors and Type O Negative is unlikely to be interested in recycling other people’s ideas. And as that list of inspirations suggests, Tribulation present to you a record that is both unapologetically ambitious and utterly distinct.” Plus special guests. Tickets £10. For more info, call 07916 127298
October Solo’s Night 01 Oct The Nowhere Inn The Nowhere In are hosting a night filled with local solo talent, including Chris M from The Bus Station Loonies, The Peacock Affect, Dean Hutchinson, and more. For more info, call 01752 670592 Hamer & Co 02 Oct, 06 Nov, 04 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Everything from silky smooth to smokin’ hot jazz music! Rich Hamer, Frank Hamer and some fabulous Special Guests unite to form this sublime band, seamlessly combining Swing, Blues, Latin and Bebop. For more info, call 01752 242021
Taste 02 Oct Barbican Theatre Inspired by the tapestries of Grayson Perry, Taste is a delicious romp of a show with humour, irreverence and playfulness at its heart. Blending dance from Choreographers Sally Knight (Cscape, Kneehigh) and Neil Paris (Fabulous Beast) and writing from Murray Lachlan Young (BBC Radio 2 & 4) Taste explores what defines our identity and ponders the intricacies behind our choices. As refreshing as your perfect cup of tea. For more info, call 01752 267131 Jessica & The Rabbits 02 Oct, 21 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque If you like music with a pulse you have to come and shake a tail feather with Jessica & The Rabbits - they’re sure to make you shake rattle and roll! For more info, call 01752 260555 Alan Carr 02 - 03 Oct Plymouth Pavilions No stranger to yap Alan Carr will be yapping his way around the UK & Ireland with his brand new stand up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life. Box Office 0845 146 1460
Holly Ebony 08 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre The wry, honest lyricism of Holly Ebony’s songwriting evokes the brooding, peaty presence of the Dartmoor landscape she hails from. Sometimes honeyed, sometimes raw, Her powerful vocals as a star soloist in gospel inspired Devon choir, Glorious Chorus have earned her a reputation as a voice to remember. For more info, call 01752 242021 Lost In Space 09 Oct, 18 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre A seven-piece party band, playing a heady cocktail of horn-driven retro grooves, funky ska and folk-stomp. Raunchy female vocals, trumpet, trombone, alto sax, guitar, bass, percussion, augmented with violin, mandolin, flute, clarinet and accordion; a slew of classics from Madness to Gogol Bordello, with a plentiful supply of their own songs thrown in. For more info, call 01752 242021 Escape Committee 09 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Escape Committee are a rockin’ band formed from members of local legends ‘The Diamond Geezers’, playing classic tracks from the 70’s till the present day. For more info, call 01752 260555 Allusondrugs + Brawlers 09 Oct The Junction Double headline show at the Junction with Allusondrugs and Brawlers. Support from Patrons. Tickets £6. For more info, call 07916 127298
Dave Can’t Dance 03 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Dave Can’t Dance - a top tier Disco/Funk band playing an eclectic section of Disco and Soul and Funk classics from the 1970s to present day. For more info, call 01752 260555
Bill Bailey 09 - 10 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Comedian Bill Bailey brings his hilarious songs and quirky musings back to the Plymouth Pavilions with his new tour ‘Life in Limboland’. Box Office 0845 146 1460
Cast 04 Oct The Hub / dbs Live Originally formed in 1992 from the ashes of two of the most legendary and lauded guitar bands of all time, The La’s and Shack, Cast released four albums, the second ‘Mother Nature Calls’ also went platinum, before disbanding in 2001. During that time, Noel Gallagher described watching Cast play live as “a religious experience”, and ‘All Change’ became the biggest selling debut album of all time for Polydor Records. For more info, call 07540 432021
The Retro Gents 10 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque The Retro Gents effortlessly blend Dirty Blues with Indie Rock. A strong flavour of epic riffs mixed with melodic vocals, accompanied by bouncing bass lines and thumping beats! For more info, call 01752 260555 Men In The Cities 13 - 17 Oct Theatre Royal Through fractured snapshots of seemingly disconnected lives, Men in the Cities presents a challenging but radically humane portrait of how
we live now. Winner of a 2014 Fringe First Award. An incendiary piece of experimental storytelling from The Drum favourite Chris Goode – “a theatre maker of infinite talent and infinite compassion” (Guardian). To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Hot Club Of Stonehouse 15 Oct, 11 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hot Club of Stonehouse bring the gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris bals musettes to present day Blighty - appearing tonight in special guitar duo format featuring the searing lead of Dave Jones & the driving rhythm of Julian Isaacs. The band is built around the outstanding Appalachian and old-time inspired vocals of Eliza Acty, clawhammer banjo and guitar from Peter Acty and decorated by intricate melodies from virtuoso fiddle player Stephen Potter. For more info, call 01752 242021 GUN 15 Oct The Junction GUN’s contemporary take on authentic rock gave them an edge over their peers during the late-80s. Formed in Glasgow by the Gizzi brothers, they came to re-invent the rock ‘n’ roll genre. In September 2010, “Taking On The World” was included in Classic Rock magazine’s list of the 150 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time. Support from Vukovi. For more info, call 07916 127298 Dogs On Acid 16 Oct The Junction Boasting members from several legendary Philadelphia indie bands from the past five years such as Algernon Cadwallader and Snowing. Dogs on Acid combine the spontaneity of indie rock with the fun of pop to create songs that are as enjoyable as they are catchy, and promise to stick in your head for days. Support from Doe, £5 entry. For more info, call 07916 127298 Jimmy Carr 16 Oct Plymouth Pavilions “Jimmy’s been described as ‘the hardest working man in comedy’, which, let’s face facts, is not that impressive, it’s like being the ‘Tallest Dwarf’ or the ‘Healthiest Glaswegian’. Really not that big a deal. ‘Funny Business’ is Jimmy’s brand new stand up show. Come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the knob gags.” Box Office 0845 146 1460
Moriaty
Club Fandango Comedy Night 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 04 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque 3 top local comedians followed by Alex Hart who brings members of her band and guest performers to the stage performing both originals and favourite covers that will get you groovin on the dance floor. For more info, call 01752 260555 Kunt and the Gang with Mike Gibbons + Silly Band 17 Oct The Underground Covering subjects as masturbation, paedophilia and sexual fantasies, Kunt and Little Kunt have been working hard to bring the Internet’s most distasteful songs to the live dimension and is visiting Plymouth. Not for those with a nervous disposition. Supported by Cousin Buzz and Harakiri Karaoke. £8 in advance. Mad Dog Mcrea 17 Oct The Hub / dbs Live Join Mad Dog Mcrea for a night that will live long in the memory as they bring their ‘Almost Home’ Tour to their home city of Plymouth! For more info, call 07540 432021 Atomic Daze 17 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Atomic Daze are bringing the 80s are back! An awesome 5 piece band revitalising the best music from this classic era! For more info, call 01752 260555 Funky Llama Club Night 19 Oct Theatre Royal Go wild this autumn with a night of DJs, live music, cabaret and dancing at our Wild West themed, fully-inclusive Funky Llama Club Night. Acts include DJ Dolphin, DJ Joshie B, Luke Lundin, Mike Canning, and many more. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Dan & Phil present the AMAZINGTOURISNOTONFIRE 20 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Since uploading their first ever videos aged 18 and 19, Dan and Phil have become two of the world’s biggest YouTube stars. Their large and loyal following love their creative videos about their observations on the world, hilarious anecdotes and life as flatmates in London. Expect hilarious anecdotes, sketches, internet, some surprises and lots of audience interaction that they
nine will probably regret. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Back To The Future Night 21 Oct The Junction “To mark the date we are officially in the future - we will be showing the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy in its entirety all on BIG SCREEN! Including snacks and a BTTF themed pub quiz!”. Free entry. For more info, call 07916 127298 Rhymewarp with Mama Tokus 22 Oct, 10 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Welcome to the B-Bar’s participatory poetry and spoken word night. Hosted by the inimitable Mama Tokus and bringing you an excellent array of talent, we think every one of these will be a unique experience not to be missed. For more info, call 01752 242021 The Computers 22 Oct The Hub / dbs Live The saviours of soul, the heavy weight champions of rock n’ roll The Computers are going on tour in October and will be playing The Hub / dbs Live on Thursday 22 October. For more info, call 07540 432021 Blowouts Album Release Show 23 Oct The Underground Blowouts release their debut album ‘A Veteran of Sorts’. A year of writing, recording and rehearsing finally see the end result and they’re super excited to share it with you. Featuring special guest Steve Strong and more. £2 entry on the door. The Sherlocks 23 Oct The Hub / dbs Live Following their explosive Plymouth debut back in May 2015 the Sheffield indie rock 4 piece are returning to The Hub on Friday 23rd October. Also playing: The Poet Junkies and Chay Snowden. For more info, call 07540 432021 Metropolis 23 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Based in Plymouth, Metropolis is a quartet of musicians who share a passion for swing and jazz and the great American song-book writers. From Gershwin and Porter to Goodman and Ellington to Nat King Cole and Sinatra we play a wide range of music and styles mostly from the swing, jazz and songs of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even the 60’s. For more info, call 01752 242021 The Bogus Woman 24 Oct Barbican Theatre An African woman arrives in a strange country fleeing for her life, seeking safety and asylum. Despite having committed no crime she is indefinitely confined, interrogated, humiliated and abused. She witnesses the cruelty of the authorities and their casual disregard for an individual’s human rights. This strange country is England. For more info, call 01752 267131 Freddie Flintoff: 2nd Innings 25 Oct Plymouth Pavilions This born entertainer will regale you with hilarious tales and changing room banter with all the behind-the-crease cricketing insights you could want – not to mention a little bit of Elvis and
a couple of googlies. Live on stage alongside comedy writer, producer and podcast partner-in-crime Clyde Holcroft, this hysterical evening with Britain’s most outrageous sportsman is not to be missed! Box Office 0845 146 1460
the big list
Back to the Future
launderette 232 albert road, stoke tel: 563382 56 Wilton street, stoke tel: 562686
Swan Lake 27 - 29 Oct Theatre Royal A timeless story of good, evil and the all-conquering power of love, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is without doubt the most famous of all classical ballets. With its exquisite ensembles, lyrical pas de deux and bravura solos, set to one of the world’s most achingly beautiful scores, it’s essential you secure your seats early. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Sam Baker & Carrie Elkin 29 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre On this tour, Sam Baker will be accompanied by B Bar favourte Carrie Elkin and the Tour entitled “Love Songs and Duets” will include covers of songs they love and a selection of everyone’s favourite originals. For more info, call 01752 242021 Alice Cooper 29 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Having previously celebrated his favourite holiday in style in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Alice Cooper show returns to the UK for two special nights at Plymouth Pavilions (Oct 29) and Swindon Oasis (Oct 30) with blood, guts, gore and some of the greatest rock and roll music in history. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Andy Quick 30 Oct, 17 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre The entertaining and personable frontman of popular local band Land of the Giants. “Warm, bluesy and brimming with soul” - BBC Introducing. For more info, call 01752 242021 Halloween Weekend at Exile 30 Oct Exile Plymouth Two nights of all things spooky and creepy, with music, burlesque, movies! Performing: Miss Von Trapp, Olive Haigh, The Wattingers, and more. For more info, call 01752 226305 Russell Sinclair & The Smokin’ Locos 30 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Scottish born singer songwriter performing with The Smokin’ Locos. They have gained a great reputation for their live shows within the South West. For more info, call 01752 260555 BRB: Watch A Class 31 Oct Theatre Royal Ever wondered just how ballet dancers do what they do? This is your chance to look behind the scenes and watch Birmingham Royal Ballet’s talented dancers in their final preparations for a performance of world class dancing. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Texas Chainsaw Massacre with LIVE soundtrack! 31 Oct Plymouth Social Club This halloween, experience Tobe Hooper’s seminal horror ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ as you’ve never seen - or heard - it before. Members
BuBBles
of Imperfect Orchestra will be teaming up with those pulsating noise bastards, Sly & The Family Drone, to produce a live performance soundtrack worthy of Leatherface’s own boombox. Check Facebook for more details.
November Will Young 01 Nov Plymouth Pavilions ‘The Love Revolution Tour’, Will’s first tour in four years, starts in York on 29th October and runs across the UK & Ireland finishing in London at the Hammersmith Apollo on 29th November. Box Office 0845 146 1460 The Smallest Show On Earth 03 - 07 Nov Theatre Royal The Smallest Show on Earth is a brand new musical comedy inspired by the hilarious 1950s film starring Peter Sellers, spliced with classic songs by Irving berlin (Blue Skies, Shakin’ the Blues Away, Steppin’ Out With My Baby), starring Liza Goddard (Bergerac) and Brian Capron (Coronation Street). To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 A Piece Of Time 03 - 07 Nov Theatre Royal Described as “one of the most interesting theatre makers in the Netherlands”, Nick Steur thrilled audiences in Plymouth last year with his amazing, award winning show FREEZE!. He now goes a step further, bringing to The Drum the first in a series of new, unique performance and theatrical installations that will enthral its audience in an unforgettable collective experience. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Evil Scarecrow 06 Nov The Junction Evil Scarecrow are the finest parody metal band from Nottingham to have written a song about a robot… probably. Planet Loud calls it ‘well thought out and delivered metal… and frighteningly hilarious crowd interaction - creating a chaotic mix that sees Evil Scarecrow win many hearts and become perfect main stage openers.’ Tickets £11 in adv. For more info, call 07916 127298 The Primitive Noise Band 06 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque The Primitive Noise Band is an exciting collaboration between some of the scene’s leading Blues, Rock’n’Roll, Rockabilly and Jazz musicians. The
band plays “good time, hip shakin’, vintage Rhythm & Blues”, delivered with energy and passion. They deliver the perfect blend of raw vintage edge, outstanding musicianship and entertainment. For more info, call 01752 260555 The Lady’s Not For Walking Like An Egyptian 06 Nov Barbican Theatre What do you get if you cross all of the words of Margaret Thatcher’s public speeches with all of the words of every top ten hit by a female artist from the 80s? Drag out your Lycra, your leg warmers and your Greenham Common Songbook. This is the 1980s like you’ve never seen them before. For more info, call 01752 267131 The Alabama 3: Lost and Found Tour 06 Nov The Hub / dbs Live London blues/punk band The Alabama 3 are kicking off their national tour at The Hub! For more info, call 07540 432021 The Riviera Dogs 07 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Riviera Dogs are a five-piece Classic Rock & Pop band playing memorable Movie tunes from the 80’s & 90’s. Music from Kenny Loggins, Toto, Whitesnake, Van Halen and many many more! For more info, call 01752 260555 Electric Swing Circus 13 Nov The Hub / dbs Live After their huge sell-out show at The Hub in January, Electric Swing Circus are back! Join us for a night of vintage swing shenanigans, big beats, heavy bass and soaring melodies! Lady’s and Gentlemen, hold on to your hats, the Circus is back in town! Also performing: There Goes Lizzie and Alex Hart. For more info, call 07540 432021 Russell Sinclair 13 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Russell is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Plymouth drawing influence from many different genres of music. Russell frequently performs with his band The Smokin’ Locos - the personnel, roles and instruments within the band frequently change in keeping with the varied musical styles that are created. For more info, call 01752 242021 Company B 13 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Company B are a “rowdy” jump jive band playing music from all
serVICe WasHes aVaIlaBle Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1pm selF serVICe WasHes 7 days per week 8.30am to 9pm last wash 8pm drY CleanInG aGents all sIZe QuIlts WasHed
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the big list
Boogie Knights 14 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Originating from Plymouth, Boogie Knights are a five-piece Disco funk, soul, big wigs & high boots band! The Waterboys 15 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Irish Folk band The Waterboys are coming to Plymouth for the tour of their eleventh album “Modern Blues”. Are we not drawn onward to new erA 17 - 19 Nov Theatre Royal Are we not drawn onward to a new erA is an awe-inspiring exploration of this crucial moment in our future history. In our quest for progress we have dramatically changed the world we live in. Are our actions irreversible or can we undo them? Like its title, this performance is a palindrome – you will be able to see it forwards and backwards. To purchase tickets, call 01752 267222 Diversity 18 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Five sell out UK tours later with 250,000 tickets sold and countless accomplishments; Diversity have announced their most up close and personal tour yet. The tour will see Diversity performing exclusively choreographed routines based on their ITV special. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Haunt the Woods 18 Nov, 16 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Haunt the Woods are a folk band from
the Shires of Devon and Cornwall who effortlessly blend classic folk-rock with a more modern and unique sound. For more info, call 01752 242021 The 1975 20 Nov Plymouth Pavilions In the lead up to the release of their second album, The 1975 are touring all over the country, playing the handpicked venues they feel are appropriate for their new sound. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Some Like It Hot 20 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Vintage and contemporary Swing. Played with flair, personality and panache. Danceable delights, steamy songs and tantalising tunes! For more info, call 01752 242021 Brit Floyd 21 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Brit Floyd - The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show, returns to Europe in 2015 to present its Space & Time World Tour, its most ambitious show to date; with a spectacular new light show, and an even bigger stage production. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Slayer 22 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release Reign in Blood, and are credited as one of the ‘Big Four’ thrash metal bands along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. Between 1991 and 2004 they sold more than 3.5 million albums in the United States alone, and now they’re making their way to the the West Country! Box Office 0845 146 1460
Keith James 22 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre After more than a decade of continued and dedicated study of much admired Poets and Songwriters: Cohen, Lorca, Drake, Neruda, Blake and Dylan Thomas, Keith is releasing an amazing landmark original Album entitled ‘Always’. For more info, call 01752 242021 Rita Hosking 24 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre “In scorching form” (UK Telegraph), Northern California’s own Rita Hosking sings of forest fires, culture clash, demolition derbies, the working class and hope. From NPR’s Weekend Edition to Bob Harris’s BBC show, Rita is moving audiences around the globe with her stories in song and doubly sweet and sinewy voice, “a captivating performer,” (R2 Magazine.) For more info, call 01752 242021 Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse: Legends 24 & 26 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse have been working together for 25 years. Now, for the first time ever, they will all appear live in a UK tour that promises to revive and revitalise a quarter of a century of classic comedy characters. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Out To Grass 27 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Out To Grass are six experienced musicians who play a fresh and innovative fusion of bluegrass, country, soul and popular song known as badass, delivered with an energy you wouldn’t expect from a band a third their age! For more info, call 01752 242021
Alice Cooper
Sham 69 27 Nov The Hub / dbs Live Punk legends Sham 69 return to The Hub. The band have had a uniquely successful career in the UK, being the only punk rock band to release five Top 20 charting singles, and founding an entire punk subgenre. Also playing: Arizona Law and The Poet Junkies. For more info, call 07540 432021 Beans On Toast 28 Oct The Junction Self described “drunk folk singer” Beans On Toast is playing the Junction. Support from Truckstop Honeymoon and Luke Scott Dumper. £10 Entry. For more info, call 07916 127298 The Banana Thieves 28 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Quickly becoming the south west’s favourite alternative music band, The Banana Thieves play your favourite songs from The Stranglers, James Brown, The Cure, The Clash, Duran Duran, Green Day, The Jam, The Kooks, The Kinks, Gary Numan, you name it!
Dara O Briain 28 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Dara is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, as host of the hugely successful Mock The Week, The Apprentice You’re Fired and Star Gazing Live. Not forgetting his most recent shows Dara O Briain: School of Hard Sums for Dave and Dara O Briain’s Science Club for BBC2. Catch one of the most charismatic, intelligent, fast-talking and downright funny live performers working today. Box Office 0845 146 1460 25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer: The Poignant Moments 29 Nov Plymouth Pavilions The tour, ‘25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer: The Poignant Years’ will be a celebration of the first 25 years of their professional collaboration from Vic Reeves Big Night Out, through Smell of Reeves & Mortimer, Bang, Bang It’s Reeves & Mortimer and Shooting Stars . If you would like to see your event in THE BIG LIST, email hello@ps-zine.com
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the big festival review
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THE BIG F E S T I VA L R E V I E W / Reviews by Naomi Girdler / After a summer of trying out all your favourite festivals across the UK, editor Naomi gives us her thoughts on the best festivals of the year.
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Fat White Family
22 - 24 May Bristol/Manchester/Nottingham When the email came in that I would be heading to Bristol for the day for Dot to Dot Festival, I was ecstatic. And then after being named an ambassador of CAT boots, I was more than a bit excited. CAT or Caterpillar Boots have been well known over the years as reliable, hardwearing work boots, but recently, their reputation has taken a more fashionable turn. In collaboration with London based Camille Walala, a graphic designer and artist, CAT boots now offers a range of exciting new footwear, with funky patterns, fresh designs and eye-catching colours. I was lucky enough to blag myself a pair of the Beet Red Ridge Walala boots, which are already a staple of my festival season wardrobe. And what better way to start it off than with Dot To Dot Festival in Bristol. The festival started off nine years ago in Nottingham, where it still parties hard today, but now the event also visits Bristol and Manchester with a whole host of underground bands under their wings. From London Grammar to Annie Mac, and Ellie Goulding to Foals in previous years, it’s won a 2013 award for being the Best Metropolitan Festival, for good reason. Spanning over 10 venues across the city, this year’s headliners included Saint Raymond, Hudson Taylor, Swim Deep, Fat White Family, Best Coast and the Wytches. I arrived in Bristol after a three hour, sweaty megabus journey that left me with a numb bum and a swirling travel sickness belly, but I was excited to get to the Thekla and start my Dot to Dot experience. Donning my Ridge Walala boots, my favourite Tom Selleck Mostache Records tee and some classic high waisted shorts, I was ready for the unexpected 20 degree heat and beautiful sunshine. Starting off with All Tvvins at the Thekla, a floating boat venue on the River, me and my Bristol pals were entranced by the Dublin boys and their bass heavy, synthy Foals-esque sound. After a quick dance and a tin of strawberry Brothers, we headed to our next destination, the Trinity Centre. I was pretty impressed that after several hours of trekking around Bristol as well as a good time dancing, I still hadn’t gotten any blisters or sore toes from my new CAT boots. The phrase ‘wear them in’ didn’t even cross my mind as I floated on the comfy cushions keeping my toes safe and warm. I couldn’t help checking them out in every reflective surface on the way! After a feast of Thai food, we got down to the Trinity Centre for Fat White Family. Getting overexcited at the Thai restaurant, we’d managed to miss the Wytches, which I was a bit gutted about but the Fat Whites more than made up for it. The Trinity Centre, formerly known as the Holy Trinity Church, is a converted church with two stages, where on the day they had back to back performances, with Best Coast headlining towards the end of the festival. Fat White Family did not disappoint. Vocalist Lias Saudi got the crowd going, taking his top off and rubbing his crotch all over the adoring fans at the front, as they played such hits as ‘Touch the Leather’ and ‘I am Mark E Smith’. The hall was buzzing, with everyone dancing and liquids of unknown origin being thrown around, one can narrowly missing my head. I didn’t care much though, used to big crowds at punk rock shows, what’s a can to the head? As we pour out of the venue, the cool air of the evening was definitely welcomed. A more relaxed vibe was host to Best Coast’s performance, who’s indie rock pop got everyone swaying with summer tunes and cute lyrics
about bittersweet love affairs and living in California. It was getting late, but we were still restless, so found ourselves in the infamous Stag & Hounds pub just down the road from Trinity. There we got the treat of listening to Something Anorak, two cousins from Bristol who specialise in lo-fi indie rock. The broken down drum kit and one guitar set up means for simple tunes, that delivered a lot more. With brash beats and spacey riffs, it’s something that gets you moving even if you were as wiped as I was!
Anyway, despite being a bit on the portly side, Duritz and his dreadlocks killed it and I had a super great time on my own with my £4.40 pint of flat Fosters. The rain hit at about 7pm, and having smashed another litre or so of warm perry we donned our boots and brollies and made for the main stage for the Black Keys. Fuck. My. Life. I’ve waited a few years to see them live and it was worth it. Next up, after another two pints of Fosters, an argument with some prick called Ian and an unexpected boozy proposal to my best mate and future wife: The Prodigy. Soaked to the skin in rain and beer and cider and a few happy tears, Naomi and I danced for what seemed like hours to Fire Starter, Breathe and a bunch more tracks that, again, took me back in time. For want of a less clichéd word, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd danced through the downpour, topping off the best start to a festival I’ve ever experienced without shoving chemicals in any and every available orifice. Declining vodka jelly shots in favour of our slightly broken, and now abandoned, tent, we headed back hand in hand and hit the hay. Day one started at 5am and ended at 3am and was worth every muddy second.
Knowing I had the coach to catch the next morning, we headed back to my friend Freya’s to eat Wotsits and talk about what fun we’d had and I found myself falling asleep on a sofa bed, listening to the sound of drunks down the road. All in all, it was a fantastic day and a super cool festival, and I can’t say thanks enough to CAT boots and their festival diaries for giving me the opportunity to check out some new bands in some very swish new boots. If you’re after some ideal festival loving boots to keep you warm, dry and protected this summer, the Ridge Walala’s are where it’s at. Check them out
Isle of wight / Written by Ellie Ward / 11 - 14 June Seaclose Park, nr Newport, Isle of Wight Perhaps it’s the seeming isolation of being on an island, or maybe it’s the easy access to civilization in nearby Newport that makes the IoW festival seem more like a holiday destination than a survival camp, but from the moment you get settled in, there is an almost palpable sense of vacation about this music festival. To skim over the pragmatics: access to the IoW, though seemingly daunting and pretty costly (expect to pay upwards of £150 for a return crossing with a car during festival season) is easy to navigate, and well organised. This is a well-established festival, and the local travel companies seem to accommodate the annual influx and exodus of face-paint sporting, liverbashing festival goers with enthusiasm and efficiency. Car parking on site was abundant, (though slightly more expensive than some festivals) and was a relatively short walk to the general camping areas. For those of us who struggle to travel light, there was a substantial fleet of handsome sherpas, whom for £20 will take your bags and tents from car to pitch. Despite our reluctance to let our weighty cargo get the better of our strong lady-bods, my best pal Naomi and I caved and hired our own sweaty, very friendly, and sort of sexy man to help us to get our kit off the ground and our tent pegs in the appropriate holes. The camp site was virtually full when we arrived at 3pm on the Friday afternoon, but none-the-less we found a spot to pitch up in the rain, covered our faces in neon and glitter and filled our bellies with slightly-too-warm, cheap, boxed perry. The line-up offered a wide range of musical styles that was reflected in the diversity of the attending demographic. Old and young were entertained in equal measure, and lesser known acts such as The Lion and The Wolf and CC Smugglers managed to draw in decent crowds despite the high-profile headliners… My own musical investigations started with the second half of the Counting Crows’ set on Friday afternoon. I know. Counting Crows. I was immediately transported back to my big brother’s bedroom listening to his cassettes, feeling like the coolest kid in the street – I definitely wasn’t.
Saturday was sponsored by exploration, cherry beer, The Lion and The Wolf, an awkward PR stunt by Pharrell Williams, and BLUR. After the rain, the festival site was a bit of a mess. Food was on the agenda in a big way. We opted for cheap and cheerful-ish, and went for one of the many pizza vendors, but there were loads of food options available; the usual festigrub you crave when you have a festihangover: burritos, chips, burgers, thai, vegetarian, pizza…you get the idea. To our (my) delight, after lunch we stumbled across a moderately pretentious champagne bar where, opting for the cheapest possible fizz, we drank a bottle of Pinot Grigo spumante in the sun before heading to the main stage. Pharrell..oh Pharrell…with the exception of a couple of NERD bangers, his set was a disappointment at best. Outshone by a granny in a PVC corset strutting her stuff on stage, Pharrell used a tasteless display of affection towards a disabled child to win over the hearts of the crowd. Fortunately, the PR stench soon lifted when Blur took to the stage, blowing everyone away with their seamless two hour set. Communal excitement peaked when Phil ruddy Daniels took to the stage and faultlessly reeled off the lyrics to Parklife in all their grubby Brit-pop glory. Tear count increased and I might have pissed a bit with excitement. Day two: incredible. Our final day on site lead us back in time to a wartime bunker via the intoxicated tearooms: a small and hidden venue to which access was only granted to those present during the sounding of an air raid siren. We laughed, danced, sang an array of ‘Knees Up Mother Brown’ style ditties
The Bunker
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the big festival review
Latitude Festival
Blur
to the festival. On the recommendation of Latitude, I decided to check out BlaBlaCar.com – a lift sharing website. You buy a seat, phone numbers get exchanged and in return you get priority parking at the festival. Words of caution from my mother reverberated around my brain… “Don’t get into cars with strangers” – what was I doing? This guy could be an axe murderer for all I know. Paul, originally from Ireland wasn’t. In fact, he was an absolute legend. Within minutes we both had new nicknames (Navigator for me, B-sides for Nem), discussed the destructive nature of Catholicism and agreed that women should rule the world. We liked Paul. According to Google Maps, the journey from London to Beccles, near Southwold should have taken two and a half hours… we finally arrived seven and a half hours later… Traffic was manic and even with all our strategic B road tactics, we only just managed to get to the press office to pick up our tickets. Having frustratingly missed some of my favourite bands, me and Nem threw our pop up tent up, and headed to see Alt J.
then ran away to the Bohemian Woods. Sitting on a cushion overlooking a wishing tree, surrounded by shishas and boho types, we reflected on the vast diversity of options available at IoW festival. We hadn’t even made it to the Hard Rock Stage, nor spent a great deal of time at The Big Top, highlighting the cliché that life (or this festival) is what you make of it. Every person’s tastes are catered for, not just musically, but also in terms of accommodation options, food, and non-musical entertainment. Isle of Wight festival was brought to a close with the dons of British American pop/rock, Fleetwood Mac, with goddess Stevie Nicks practically floating on stage with her full length lacy black dress, complete with bat wing sleeves and her superstar attitude to match. Can you tell that I’m a little bit in love with her? Mick Fleetwood held up the rhythm section with one of the loveliest grins in modern music, which made up for the fact that Lindsey Buckingham has aged quite dramatically and now sports what looks like a vagina for a neck. Of course, they played Rumours and of course, they nailed it. Despite feeling that Blur had stolen the show the night before, Fleetwood Mac lived up to every expectation and was a once in a lifetime moment that will stick with me forever. Our Isle of Wight festival experience ended with a night drive back to Plymouth, chemically enhanced with lots of caffeine and some new study drug that I’m not entirely convinced wasn’t just pharmaceutical cocaine. With plenty of chatting nonsense to keep our sleepy minds awake, we reminisced over the past weekend and vowed to return to the small island off the southern coast. Overall, IoW is a fantastic festival, if not a little mainstream. Ignore the extortionate travelling costs, and enjoy the Top 40 artists, you’ll be making memories at this festival that will last for years.
L a t i t u d e 16 - 19 July Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk Latitude 2015 was quite the adventure. Having never been, nor even entered the idyllic county of Suffolk, I was excited to see what it had in store for me. What I wasn’t expecting was the collective 26 hours of travelling that weekend to and from the festival. Traffic is a bitch. Nem, one of our regular contributors and my oldest friend, and myself began our journey on a cramped megabus to London. After a brief stay with her Dad near Streatham, we threw our ridiculously heavy festival bags over our shoulders and headed to Liverpool Street Station to meet our lift
Alt J, oh Alt J. Your records are great and your music is fantastic, but please don’t ever play live again. Out of tune harmonies, out of time guitar and a slack attitude to match, it was quite the disappointment. Who knew that autotune and coherent lyrics were actually necessary to enjoy this band? Having been a fan of the records and not wanting to destroy what was left of my respect for them as musicians, we followed the loud bass coming from the Radio 6 Music tent, courtesy of the man, the legend, Jon Hopkins.
With hours of being sat in a hot Jeep behind us, it was clearly necessary to dance some of the travelling off. Complete with strobe lights and dancing hula hoopers, Jon Hopkins was a treat for the eyes and the ears. Melodic and atmospheric electronica filled the tent, with enough drops to keep the bass heads happy and enough spacey beats to keep my head in the clouds and my feet moving without my knowledge. It was the perfect end to a stressful day. Nem and I awoke the next day to a cackling lesbian couple in the tent next to ours, who began the day by doing one of the most middle class things one can do at a festival; take iPad selfies by their tent. After a quick nap in the sun, we decided to head to get some breakfast, and with Nem being vegan that meant hummus and falafel. Apparently that’s the only thing vegans eat. If you’re not vegan however, the food and drink choices available were extensive. Spoilt with curries, burgers, pizzas, smo othies, milkshakes, noodles and more, there’s something for everyone. If you’re on a tight budget (like us), you can still get a hearty meal for around a fiver, which will keep you full for a few hours! Starting off in the poetry tent, with bellies full of falafel, we experienced the glorious Brigitte Aphrodite, a punk poet, musician and feminist showgirl, who’s new project My Beautiful Black Dog tackles the stigma of mental health with lots of glitter and exuberant word play. Exploring the realities of depression with references to hiding from your friends, panic attacks in the shopping mall and drinking too much wine, her performance was funny, hopeful and entirely relatable. Wandering around, it was clear that Latitude is not only a creative and fun-
filled festival but it’s also set in a picturesque location, with a lake to swim in, woodland to play in and loads of space to grab some rays. The organisers had put a load of effort into making the space look pretty with loads of bunting, colourful picnic benches, pink sheep and artwork everywhere. It’s a very photogenic place. Latitude has a lot more on offer than just music though, with poetry, comedy, live theatre and spoken word holding its own every year. Situated next to a makeshift bus stop was the Human Zoo Theatre Company, who, three times a day, would perform their piece called Monotone Man. A mime based, physical theatre performance, it explored the concept of ‘brightening up your life’, physically and metaphorically through colourful costumes and props. The Monotone Man however remains in his black and grey suit, frantically avoiding the colourful and stubbornly avoiding their progress. It was such an absorbing show and a perfect way to break up your day of music and booze. In terms of music however, there was just so much on offer. We caught Jose Gonzalez, Laura Marling, Benjamin Booker and loads more, all in the space of a day. It was during this time that the sun was high up in the sky and the factor 50 was being applied vigorously. Allowing us some time to relax and enjoy some music, I found myself people watching. There’s a whole range of festival goers that hit up Latitude every year. Don’t be put off by the hordes of families, they’re not party poopers. You will often see half cut parents dragging reluctant kids to their feet in order to dance. We did our best to avoid the ‘youth’, who were either enjoying their first time on MDMA or instead, heavily sun stroked and dehydrated. Either way, their desperately cool dancing in order to get laid couldn’t be ignored.
Marcus Brigstocke As the afternoon was upon us, we treated ourselves to some musical misery with Sun Kil Moon, alter ego to Mark Kozelek and the Red House Painters. Beautiful guitar pieces and train-of-thought lyrics about serial killers and the first girl he kissed was a sombre way to spend the afternoon, but after missing him at Green Man Festival last year, I wasn’t about to mess about. To cheer ourselves up afterwards, we headed to the packed comedy tent, catching the last ten minutes of Sara Pascoe’s set and settling in for Marcus Brigstocke. Having enjoyed his comedy on Radio 4 and TV, I thought he’d be a good one to check out. I wasn’t wrong, and found myself in hysterics over subjects such as political party stereotypes and the casual seven and a half hour commute from London to Latitude (glad to know we weren’t the only ones!) as well as a dramatic retelling of his first testicular examination. Latitude really knows how to mix it up, in every aspect of entertainment. Finally, the sun began to set, and we made our way back from a packed Catfish and the Bottlemen performance to the main stage for Portishead. I’m a massive Portishead fan, taking inspiration for their music in my own creative projects. To hear Dummy, Portishead and Third played live, alongside anti-Tory and psychedelic visuals was an absolute treat.
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It was only when Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame joined Beth Gibbons on stage to sing The Rip, that I pretty much died and went to heaven. I was gutted to find out that we’d missed Radiohead’s secret show later on that evening, but unfortunately that can be the nature of the beast with secret shows at festivals.
The Flower of Fire at Bestival
What a fantastic weekend though. Latitude 2015 was absolutely incredible and I really hope I get the opportunity to go back next year. If you’re into music, comedy, poetry and theatre, or just one of those, you’re in for a treat.
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30 July - 2 August Port Eliot Estate, St Germans, Cornwall Nestled in the hills of St Germans, Cornwall is Port Eliot Festival. Formally known as Elephant Fayre or Lit Fest, Port Eliot is fast becoming one of the most creative and upcoming festivals of the year. With the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Harper Simon and Jakob Dylan performing at the festival over the years, it’s quickly turned into one of the hottest spots in the UK for emerging creative talent. A super easy 20 minute drive from Plymouth, or a convenient 20-30 minute journey by train, Port Eliot is the perfect local festival for those who want a slightly different festival experience. With some of recent history’s best festivals being focussed almost exclusively on the music, Port Eliot breaks the mould with a focus on art, theatre, dance and comedy. You can visit the Bowling Green to sit and listen to Ralph Steadman or Dom Joly talk about their life and art, or you can visit The Park to watch some stand up comedy by Shaun Hughes or Sara Pascoe, or just enjoy the dance and theatre troupes that can be found around the grounds, dressed as forest nymphs and mermaids.
traditionally used to numb the mouth for amateur dentistry. Your lips and tongue tingle likened to sherbert, sour lemons and popping candy. A really unique experience and a suitable end to the festival. Sat on that hill, surrounded by cushions with a full belly and a light head, I understood what Port Eliot festival really is. Everyone is friendly, polite and talkative, I only overheard two fights, and one was over the queue at a Portaloo and another about how one man’s partner just wasn’t supporting him in his pursuit for creative enlightenment. It’s very relaxed and people are encouraged to get knee high in the muddy bed of the River Tiddy. The food options available are incredible and I indulged myself accordingly, bonding with my friend Phil James over Grumpies pies, two blokes from Cornwall, making meat and veg pies served with mash and gravy. The whole affair is very relaxed, security isn’t hot and heavy which I think worked in the festival’s favour. You’re trusted to not be a dickhead and in my experience, it totally worked. For a unique experience, a taste of local goodies and a chance to rub shoulders with the rich and famous, Port Eliot is the place to be. I had such a fantastic weekend, and I can only hope that I’ll be given the opportunity to go back again next year.
B e s t i va l Don’t get me wrong though, there’s always the low hum of music coming from various tents. With the line up playing host to indie folk Villagers, post punk ladies Stealing Sheep, local beys Fishermans Friends and DJ Andrew Weatherall, you can be treated to stages next to the water, right by the house, hidden in the woods or sprawled over a hill, drenched in sunshine. The location is mind bogglingly beautiful. You’ve got Port Eliot house and the nearby church, two domineering Grade I listed buildings, as well as the rich expanse of the local grounds which are home to several outbuildings and exquisite natural landscape on the edge of the estuary, which plays host to Brunel’s nine arch Romanesque viaduct.
Playing in the river bed
10 - 13 September Robin Hill Country Park, Downend, Isle of Wight
trip, where all your friends are seeing and hearing the same weird shit you are. Future Islands’ frontman Samuel Herring’s performance complete with energetic dancing, intense eye contact, death metal screams and flying limbs was everything I could have hoped it would be. Tame Impala played a set that had it not been for their presence on stage could have easily been their record, impeccably tight with a friendly and loving vibe coming from their crowd. Little Dragon burst onto the Main Stage on the Saturday afternoon too, with leading lady Yukimi Nagano nailing every note all whilst looking flawless in a gold and red ensemble. I was blown away and left buzzing after every act.
Duran Duran confetti finale
The Isle of Wight is an odd little place, it looks pretty dated and tired and is a haven for OAPs and underage pregnancy. However, once a year, a festival takes place that turns the small island off the south coast into a colourful world of adventure, music and magic. That’s right, it’s Bestival. Held at the idyllic Robin Hill Country Park, Bestival stretches across the 88 acre theme park where you can play in the Ambient Forest, rave any hour of the day at HMS Bestival or even get married in the Inflatable Church. I’d never been before, but hadn’t heard a bad word about the festival running up to it, so I was excited to see what curators Rob da Bank and his wife Josie had in store for me. This was also the first festival I’d been to with more than a couple people and by the time we’d all arrived, we were a group of 20 strong, camping on top of a hill in the Pink campsite, pretty much as far away as you can get from the Main Stage without sleeping in the car park. However, the 20 minute walk to the main arena was worth it to not potentially have my tent set on fire, my stuff nicked from under my head and to be able to sleep through the night. Depending on how you want to spend your weekend, remember that Red and Green have a lot of through traffic day and night and Black is apparently bedlam, so choose wisely!
Now, unique music, idyllic setting and immersive creative vibe aside, Port Eliot is pretty fucking posh. Myself, Dom Moore and good pal Emily Dymond enjoyed a game of posh name bingo with the winner coming in hot with Guthfrey, Cassius coming in at a close second. You could buy contemporary cast iron chimineas, handmade rainbow shoes and Prosecco a steal at only £16 a bottle. That being said, I’ve got no problem with hanging around in the realms of the upper middle class. My friend Alanna managed to win a picnic for 10 courtesy of Rick Stein’s son, Jack. The bubbly was flowing, slabs of meat, salads and vegetables adorned the table and as a special treat, we were introduced to electric daises. Known as the toothache plant, they were
Headlining this year were The Chemical Brothers, Duran Duran and Missy Elliot, with Big Top headliners coming in hot with Tame Impala, Future Islands and FKA Twigs, but even if none of that tickled your fancy, the plethora of music to choose from was insane. This was my fifth festival of the year, but I hadn’t seen as many bands as I did the weekend of Bestival, maybe not even combined. From the likes of dubstep prince Skrillex and soul musical collective Jungle, to Sheffield based alt rock band Drenge and psychedelic babes Pond, to Bonobo produced soul queen Andreya Triana and Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods, I had every musical desire fulfilled and even had my knee give way on the Saturday night from all the non-stop dancing. It was hard to not go all out at every performance, the quality was insanely high. No-one performed a bad set in my opinion. Chemical Brothers smashed out an hour and a half set that was less like a gig and more like a kaleidoscopic
With the capacity at 79,000, it was the biggest festival of my summer and with so much music, theatre, DJs and activities such as hip hop yoga and 80’s aerobics going on, it’s hard to see and do everything. However, I do recommend saying hello to the fluffy alpacas, getting lost in the woods, catching the Carnival Parade on Saturday and hanging out by the Flower Fire when the temperature drops with the sun. Also, make sure you climb to the top of the hill in the Slow Motion field too, the view from the top once the sun has gone down is like looking over a city of colour. Absolutely breathtaking. If you want a one of a kind festival experience, Bestival is the festival you want to be hitting up. Embrace the island, indulge yourself and take lots of friends - you’re guaranteed one of the best weekends of your life. It’s safe to say I’ll see you again next year, Bestival.
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/ Words by Naomi Girdler / / Photography by Tim Cresswell /
seventeen
Antimatador, well, what can I say? They are a monolithic force to be reckoned with. Made up of eight legendary musicians in their own right, together they create a fusion of funk, soul, drum and bass, dub and so much more. They speak of peace and love and drinking and girls and they’re on a path to greatness. Editor Naomi Girdler meets up with Simon (trumpet), Dan (saxophone), Myron (vocals) and their manager, Tim to talk about MTV Crashes, controversy, the Plymouth music scene and what the future holds for the gargantuan group. PS: To those who don’t know who Antimatador are, can you break it down a little for me? S: To quote our website, since it’s the one thing we’ve all agreed on: Antimatador are an 8-strong laden, horn heavy outfit from the South West of the UK, fusing hip hop, funk, jazz, electronica, soul, rock and drum and bass. PS: It’s hard to define your music simply by one genre, you could say jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, dub, drum and bass, and so much more! How do you guys define yourselves? D: We’ve gone through many different genres, there’s a whole Facebook stream about it, trying to define ourselves. M: I’m anti label. I think labels are weak. I think if you start saying you’re this or that, you start to limit yourself. S: You’ve just got to see us live. M: We like making joyous sounds. S: Overwhelmingly, our music has a message of positivity and acceptance and unity, and occasionally, anger and girls and beer. There’s an angry side, there’s a few love songs and a drinking song, but mostly; peace and love. M: There are times when you could say it’s not working, it’s not that it’s not working, it’s just relative. When you’re messing with such a mass of genres, you wonder whether people will actually like it, but sometimes you just have to be a maverick. Take that chance. S: We have some tracks that are both jazz and drum and bass, and there’s a part of us that goes “Will people like us?” “Will the radio want to play it?” but then another part of you us like “Fuck it”, we’re writing what we want to write. I suppose more to the point, it’s the only music we can write! It’s just how we sound. T: I wouldn’t want to work with you guys if you weren’t outstanding musicians on your own anyway. Each of them in their own field are ridiculously good, and could play in their own band, and often do! PS: You’ve had a really successful summer of shows, including MTV Crashes and local festivals, as well as a great single launch with ’Find Your Way’, are you pleased with how the summer went for you guys? S: It’s been ace, things have really taken off in a positive way. It’s been a mad old year, putting in the ground work, working really hard and that’s starting to pay off now. We were on Radio One last week. D: Spotlight picked us up due to the MTV Crashes gig, that was quite funny. S: Luckily for us, when James Santa at BBC Introducing first heard Find Your Way, he said it was the best thing he’d heard on the show since he took it over. So we’ve got some good local support, which is absolutely invaluable, considering we’ve only been going a year. And even though we’ve been working hard to make things pick up, essentially, we’re still nobodies. What we need are people to get behind us. I think what we do as a band, the message and the product is good enough, it should go somewhere. People knowing Plymouth as a place for music is quite a long way away from happening. We want to be the people to change that. If not us, then I don’t know who! PS: There was controversy with how the MTV Crashes local stage was curated, what were your thoughts on the matter? S: We thought about it a lot. I think the most important, and what we’ve come to conclude, we need to turn it all into positivity. A lot of people share the same sentiments as some of the articles that were written and some of the statuses shared, but what we need to do, rather than try and find someone to blame, is to ask the question, what can we do to change things? What’s really important though is people realizing how many good and original bands there are in Plymouth, and perhaps there needs to be some kind of unofficial collective. Of course, if that happens, we’d be right behind that. D: The problem is with music is that it’s so emotional and personal,
that you can’t really say much without someone getting upset about something. There was a lot of talk about cover bands but if you say the wrong thing, everyone gets upset. We don’t want to make enemies! S: There’s a massive place in ‘mainstream’ Plymouth culture for the original bands to have a platform, it’s important for them to be heard. T: I think what the whole fiasco showed was that there’s a load of people out there that are massively passionate about music in the city. S: We had a great time at MTV Crashes, we played a good show and ended up selling 80 CDs, so it’s obvious that people want live, original, local music. There’s that live music night that goes on at the Piazza, and it’s fairly obvious that it’s the same person handling that event as it’s the same bands regurgitated every month, and it seems to me that whoever’s putting on these shows isn’t putting much faith in the audience. It’s like they can only handle safe cover bands, but gauging the reaction of the crowds at MTV Crashes, they can clearly handle something more far out! T: The problem with the council is there’s no commercial understanding, it doesn’t matter to them if there’s 10 people or a million. They’re ticking a box by just putting the show on. If they get two people there, it doesn’t make a difference to them, but that’s what’s gonna end up happening if they keep putting the same bands on over and over again. M: The thing with Plymouth, which is unlike other cities such as Bristol, is there are no different areas with different genres of music. There’s not that street or place where you can find bands that you’re into. On the stage at MTV Crashes, there were some great original bands performing that I thought ‘Wow, these guys are awesome!’ but there’d be no way I would have found out about them locally without that event. That’s a problem. Our paths don’t really cross.
We want to want to do what the United Nations have been failing to do all these years and genuinely unite people! PS: You filmed your music video to ‘Find Your Way’ in the Palace Theatre, or Dance Academy as it’s also known. How was that experience? S: It was awesome! D: It was cold. M: It was wet. D: It was really cool to find out that they were rebuilding it, pretty much straight after we were done recording in there. We weren’t just breaking into a derelict building. It was through its rebuilding that we got in there really. S: We just know we probably shouldn’t have been in there, but we did it and it worked out okay. The police did get called, the council got called so we did the work as quickly as we could and got out. M: It’s always more rock and roll to be in an arrest-able position, but people did know what we were up to. D: We had film cranes and thousands of pounds worth of sound equipment, so if they’d told us to get out there and then, that would have been difficult. M: Obviously it’s not something you just recommend doing. It was the history of the building that made it so attractive to us. It’s always meant something to Plymouth, whether it being the Palace Theatre or Dance Academy, we wanted to be part of that. T: It’s almost fulfilling its purpose by having us in there. It’s been sat there without any music rattling around its eaves, for what 10-15 years, so to fulfill its purpose, as a venue was a real pleasure. D: We filmed with the guys from CocoBeam. They were great, they turned up with a ton of gear and were up in the eaves taking shots.
antimatador
M: We’re really happy with the results and after lots of sharing online, it seems to be getting a good response. S: I think for a lot of people it was the first time anyone had seen us together as a group, if they hadn’t seen us live before. I don’t think many people were expecting it to look that good, or sound the way it does. M: I really like that about this band, it challenges you. PS: What are your thoughts on the local music scene, and what other local bands are you into? S: There’s absolutely no reason at all why Plymouth can’t be a giant within the mainstream music scene. The bands in Plymouth are awesome, for example, Woahnows are killing it. That band is hungry. D: Moriarty too! There’s only two of them, absolutely mental. Haunt the Woods too, I remember seeing those guys when they were just a rock cover band but now they’ve really evolved. M: Poet Junkies too, they absolutely blew me away. S: There are some great bands in Plymouth, but there are hardworking bands and there are good bands. A lot of the debate, that’s happened in the last year, somehow we’ve ended up at the forefront of it. That’s no bad thing; we’ll take one for the team. If the scene needs a voice, we’ll be there. M: We would like to play everywhere, if we can. We want to want to do what the United Nations have been failing to do all these years and genuinely unite people! What you do need, in a city like this, is one or two bands, regardless of genre, to explore. To be internationally or nationally renowned is important to the development of a city’s music scene. It prompts people to go ‘I wanna see what else that city’s hiding’ and we need that. That’s how the world works. People aren’t going to search for the music unless they have a reason to search for it. T: It’s a shame that there’s still that mentality that bands from down here cant break into the mainstream because of where we’re physically located. It’s like a lot of people can’t get past Bristol, but that’s not a reason to stop playing and doing what you love. PS: Where did the name come from? S: We ummed and ahhed for time. We just couldn’t choose, especially with eight of us. At the end of the day though, band names don’t mean shit. It’s the band that matters, and it’s the music that makes it. However, there are still some names that have too many connotations we had to try and stay away from. It was when we were almost at our wit’s end that someone suggested matador. We all thought, that’s a strong word, liking it. Obviously there’s going to be a bunch of bands called Matador though, so when Antimatador was suggested, it was a Holy Fuck! moment. It works on a lot of levels, you can think of us as anti matador which is fine, I always get some sort of pleasure from these guys getting gorged by angry bulls. You deserve that, motherfuckers. We’re totally against animal cruelty. But matador also means a Lebanese rocket launcher used for destruction and slaughter, so the name fits as we’re against war and cruelty and bullshit. You can also hear it as anti matter door, which is essentially a black hole, so the theme of space has played a part in our artwork too. T: It also fits well with what you guys play and sing too. It’s slightly politicized, but it’s also clever and scientific and it keeps us grounded knowing we’re all just made of star dust. M: And no-one else is using it, so that’s always a plus! PS: What are your plans for the future? S: We’ve got a few plans for proper music videos, not just live sessions, so keep an eye out for those. We’ve also got our tour in November, so we’ll be announcing some shows soon. M: We’ve got our album ready to launch too. S: There’s also a bunch of bands and artists that we want to collaborate with. Such as Joss Stone, and we were lucky enough to have Mr Scruff watch our set at Kendal Calling. Everything seems to be growing and everyone seems to be keen to get involved which is really exciting. D: There should be some awesome remixes coming out as well. Hopefully Mr Scruff will play those as well. You can find more information about Antimatador and what they’ve been up to on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AntiMataMusic or visit the website at www.antimatador.co.uk
eighteen
politics / jeremy corbyn
JEremy CoRbyn: TeRROrist
/ Words by Lorna Parker / I never sang my school song. For one, it was mostly in Latin, but really I just wasn’t that into singing in public. I wasn’t scrutinised by the teachers for not belting out ‘Sine Labe Decus’ at the top of my voice, nor were any negative inferences made about my character. Wayne Rooney has been clocked on numerous occasions keeping his trap shut at the beginning of an international game, but the press don’t slate him for it. Then why would they? It’s not in anyone’s interest to assassinate the character of such a national treasure; after all, Wayne Rooney generates an abundance of subnewsworthy vomit that bares no consequence to our lives, so why waste Tory propaganda print space on someone who poses so little threat to the Conservative political agenda... The 15th of September marked the 75th anniversary of Britain’s finest hour in the Battle of Britain. Side by side, Jeremy Corbyn and his fellow dignitaries attended a memorial event to mark the occasion, each showing their respects, be that through singing about the Queen or standing in silence, to the lives lost on that fateful day in 1940. The British mass media, however, have taken a different stance, spewing out outrageous claims that Corbyn showed a lack of respect to our nation because he chose not to sing the National Anthem, instead choosing to stand in reverent silence. As the House of Commons vote in a £4.4bn cut to Tax Credits, the Tories need a scapegoat, and so continues the torrential and abhorrent slander of the new Labour leader: a man who has indisputably transformed the political landscape of Britain from one of apathy to one which engages even self-professed non-political folk in political discussion and debate. In response to Corbyn’s landslide election as the new Labour leader, 10 Downing Street promptly Tweeted (Tweeted, for fuck sake!) "Labour Party is now a threat to our national security, our economic security and your family's security.” Lacking any real substantiation, and feeling more like a personal attack than a public warning, this can probably be ignored for the time being. I’m sure if we were a nation in immediate danger we wouldn’t be informed in under 140 characters, at
least one would hope. Some recent attacks on Corbyn have alleged that Jez is associated with and supports holocaust deniers, terrorists and anti-Semites. Some have connected him with Sinn Fein, whilst others have attacked him for his contacts with Hamas and Hezbollah. The latter stems from Corbyn’s overt support for Palestinian Rights and his patronage of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, whilst the former is linked to Corbyn’s involvement in backing political engagement with Sinn Fein back in the 1980s. Though taboo at the time, negotiations with Sinn Fein lead to their eventual dissociation from the IRA, an act which was instrumental in the IRA’s agreement to a ceasefire in the 1990s. Corbyn was right to support controversial negotiations then, and he is more than likely right in doing so now.
believes to be wrong with no concern for how this may endanger his reputation as a politician. Conversely, despite the common consensus that Corbyn is a lefty trouble maker, his views have more often than not been in-line with those of Joe Public, and the eventual outcomes of the debates in question have often been consistent with the views expressed by Corbyn in the first place. For example, he actively supported the ANC in South Africa in their plight to end apartheid when the majority of MPs, the old milk snatcher included, remained largely supportive of the Apartheid government. More recently, Corbyn opposed the 2003 Iraq invasion, acting as chair of the Stop The War coalition, and to this day maintains the stance that former PM Tony Blair should stand trial on charges of war crimes in the event that the Chilcot report reveals evidence that Blair broke international law when UK forces were given the instruction to invade Iraq. Be they alleged, confirmed, or otherwise, Corbyn’s connections with countries and groups that pose a threat to the UK are not driven by a desire to endanger lives, but provide a channel by which we can engage in conflict resolution. Corbyn believes in resolving problems without reaching straight for the nearest bomb; he is a grown-up, and as such believes in talking about problems, and not just setting them on fire. He’s not a threat, he’s just not a trigger happy coward. Corbyn’s consistency in his beliefs, and seemingly innate desire to act in a way that is morally right puts him in a totally different league to any other politician I have encountered in my lifetime, and his empathy and compassion for ‘the common man’ is unprecedented. Corbyn is no more of a threat to national security than his knitwear is newsworthy. He is an outspoken, animal loving proponent of striving for a better world, and he should be celebrated. So who gives a damn if he didn’t sing the bloody national anthem? I certainly don’t, and neither should the rest of the country.
Jeremy Corbyn has consistently gone against the institutional grain, openly opposing what he
*Disclaimer: The views presented in this article are definitely ours. #JeremyCorbyn4PM
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graduate spotlight
twenty
Brought to you by
THE GrADuATE JoUrNEY It’s that time of year again when the focus is on the new faces entering Plymouth and often graduates can feel a little left out. However, this doesn’t mean that they haven’t been up to some exciting projects since they left education. Local graduate community support agency Upgrad, founded by two graduates, have been working hard to create a space for
DoM MOOrE
www.dommoore.co.uk @dommoore.co.uk
Tell us a bit about yourself, Dom! My name is Dom Moore. I studied photography at Plymouth College of Art at FE level on a National Diploma in Photography and then at HE level on a Foundation Degree in Photography. I am now self employed as a photographer, specialising in commercial and portrait photography. Why did you choose to remain in the South West and in particular Plymouth? I never really had any intentions to leave to go to places like London or Bristol. All of my friends and family are down in the South West. Most of my close friends also work here, either for themselves or in a creative industry as part of a team. In recent years I have grown to appreciate the natural surroundings, being on the doorstep of Dartmoor and the Devon and Cornwall coastline. Its exciting and challenging basing yourself somewhere which is up and coming culturally and creatively, I’d rather be part of a growing city then fighting my place in an already well established one. What would you like to see for graduates in Plymouth? There needs to be better support networks, those who can assist in developing business plans. Plymouth definitely needs more spaces that can house graduates in creative spaces, as well as hot desking. It goes without saying there needs to be more jobs and positions available in Plymouth. What difficulties/hardships did you find once you had graduated? Having an affordable space to work from other than home! With regards to being a successful graduate, what top tips do you have? Definitely getting your foot in the door whilst studying, that’s the time to be making the most of the resources at college/uni and trying to gain as much experience as possible.
DANIELLE TWEEDIE
danielletweedie.tumblr.com @danielletweedie
Tell us a bit about yourself, Danielle! My name is Danielle Tweedie and I studied Textile Design at London Metropolitan University. I’ve recently moved back to the South West, working part-time and also working as a freelance illustrator. I run an online shop where I sell my own illustrations and take part in various makers markets around the country. I’ve got some exciting collaborations lined-up for the future with some local designer/makers, so looking forward to delving into those very soon! Why did you choose to remain in the South West and in particular Plymouth? I’ve lived in London for the past four years and decided that it was time to move back to the South West (which I never thought I’d do!). When I finished my BTEC at Plymouth College of Art, there wasn’t a lot going on in Plymouth, but since moving away it’s really blossomed as a creative city. There’s a really tight knit community of creatives here who are continuously working together to get Plymouth recognised as a creative city in the South West. I’m lucky to have a very supportive group of creative friends here, so there’s always the opportunity to work together, collaborate with each other and share ideas/creative skills and help one another out. What would you like to see for graduates in Plymouth? There definitely needs to be some kind of creative workspace for graduates to go to once they’ve finished university – somewhere they can meet like-minded individuals and be part of the growing community here. When I finished at PCA, I felt like my
graduates to call their own. Applying through Plymouth City Council, the community interest company have been interviewing ex-students from a variety of backgrounds in hopes for a successful application to access this new space. Since there’s such a concentrated population of students in our little ocean city, it’s vitally important to include and encourage the
dynamic graduates that are coming out of our institutions. You can keep an eye on the progress of the application on Upgrad’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/upgradsouthwest. There is life after university, even though it may not seem like it now, and in Plymouth, it’s truly exciting!
only option was to move to London where the better opportunities are, but the competition is much higher there. If you want to work as a freelance designer/maker and you’re good at what you do, you don’t necessarily need to move away from Plymouth to get the work.
to adjust to not having the same resources you had access to at university, but perhaps within that, there is an opportunity. This highlights a gap in the market. If you don’t have access to those resources, there are many also without. By creating these resources you may be instigating opportunities for yourself and others.
What difficulties/hardships did you find once you had graduated? I found that most textile/print design jobs I wanted to apply for were looking for people with a minimum of two years’ experience, which is frustrating when you’ve spent the last three years in education, specialising in your preferred creative field to get your ‘dream job’. Universities should work together with established businesses to offer graduates the opportunity to get on the job ladder. If students intend to start their own business, there should be that financial/creative support from the university, to help you get started.
With regards to being a successful graduate, what top tips do you have? My advice to any students or graduates within Plymouth is to make a conscious effort to integrate into the city. There are plenty of places and people in Plymouth that will help you, you have to use them. Secondly, passion will take you a long way, so make sure you are involved with things you are genuinely interested in.
With regards to being a successful graduate, what top tips do you have? Depending on what you want to do once you graduate, try to become recognised by your personal style of working and promote yourself as much as possible. Once people create that link between you and your work, more people will talk about it. Collaborating with others, even if they are involved in a different creative field will expand your own creative thinking and promote your work to a wider audience. From this, more collaborative opportunities can arise and your client list with continuously grow.
JOSHuA BLACKWELL
grafischenblackwell.com @blackwellgraphics
Tell us a bit about yourself, Joshua! Hello, I’m Joshua Blackwell. I studied graphic design for two years in London, before returning to Plymouth College of Art for my final year. I now work as a freelance graphic designer. I’m a co-founder and creative director of l*ghtw’rks, a Plymouth based record label. I’m also the designer for the Bread & Roses Community Arts Pub and I created the branding for Upgrad. I also work for many other clients both locally and internationally. Why did you choose to remain in the South West and in particular Plymouth? I moved back to Plymouth to finish my degree, and there were a few reasons for returning. In a city the size of London you can begin to feel pretty swallowed up, you may be working on something brilliant, but 10 other people will be working on the same thing elsewhere in the city. After moving back down to Plymouth I realised how collaborative everyone is here. In a slightly smaller place people have to come together to make things work and I’ve benefited hugely from that sort of atmosphere. I’ve remained in Plymouth following my degree because it seems clear the city is in a period of growth. I’m not necessarily referring to an economic growth, but what I’ve seen in the past two years is a huge surge of belief and pride in the city’s culture. Plymouth is developing a cultural character that it has never seen before, and I want to be part of that change. What would you like to see for graduates in Plymouth? The city needs more immersive social environments, places such as the Bread & Roses. These resolute businesses create genuine opportunity for networking and collaboration. We need to see more of the Bread & Roses, Karst, Radiant and Upgrad, they aren’t just businesses but projects. A project has aims and goals that affect real people in real ways. Since the recession, business for business’ sake is dying, businesses have to become projects, and although not many politicians see that yet, most people do. What difficulties/hardships did you find once you had graduated? My time since graduating from university hasn’t been without hardships. It’s difficult
GEorGIA O’CARoLAN
georgiaocarolan.co.uk @georgiaoc
Tell us a bit about yourself, Georgia! My name is Georgia O’Carolan, I am 21 and recently graduated from Plymouth University. I did a joint Honours BA course in Fine Art and Art History, so half of my degree was practical and hands on and the rest was working in the library and spending lots of time in books and pouring over images. As a graduate I now have two jobs, I work for the Bread and Roses pub but I also work for the Zone which offers confidential support services for young people aged 13-25. My role is to enable young people to tap into their best selves and help them get themselves to where they want to be, that might be cooking, it might be working on self-confidence, and they direct the kind of coaching they want. I love it! Why did you choose to remain in the South West and in particular Plymouth? I have always been struck by the palpable and vibrant DIY culture in Plymouth that is proliferated and nourished by the super dedicated music and arts scenes dotted around the city. The truly wonderful parts of life in the city are the things that people in Plymouth have created here and as such there is a real sense of community. Plus the location is truly divine, I love to walk so being able to get to the wildness of the moors, to a beach or to the cool of the woods in Mount Edgcumbe. What would you like to see for graduates in Plymouth? I have a particularly lucky bunch of friends, many of whom are now involved in graduate’s projects with Karst or Ocean Studios and have been given support and a free studio space. However although this gives them the opportunities to sell in the interim, they have little help making sure their bellies are filled and getting a decent roof over their heads. What difficulties/hardships did you find once you had graduated? I’m really lucky that my arts practice (lino cutting) is something I can do which a roller, some ink and using the fleshy part of my palm to apply the pressure to print. So graduating and losing access to the print rooms hasn’t been too inhibitive to me continuing that. The main difficulty I have is interlaced with wider issues of employment which is linked to the government. If there was more access to support and more support for employers to offer full time hours my life would be easier (but I really love both my jobs so fortunately it’s not a chore and there is always coffee to help me!) With regards to being a successful graduate, what top tips do you have? Pester everyone! If you want to be it, whatever it is, find the people who are involved and tell them about yourself and tell them your intentions. Show up! If you can be around the place or the people you want to work for just being present makes a massive difference, they will remember the person who is always there. I have consistently been struck and inspired by the way that people will want to help you and give you advice and contacts, utilise their kindness and one day you will be in a position to dispense that help yourself.
twenty two
fashion
/ Text and images by Michael Neale /
aSIaN STrEet StYle Top: HUF Trousers: Urban Outfitters Sneakers: Y-3 Tote Bag: Models Own
Asian influence is seen everywhere in fashion, be it high end or streetwear. When scrolling through street style photos from the various fashion weeks, you’ll always see the likes of Eugene Tong (Style Director at Details magazine) killing it. Asia has always been a major influencer in streetwear with brands such as Y-3, BAPE and Comme Des Garcons Play constantly showcased in street style photos. Here I have styled a mixture of high end, streetwear and high street brands.
Starting with a lightly branded HUF long sleeve. HUF is an American skate brand founded by skateboarding legend Keith Hufnagel. Combined with high street giant Urban Outfitters, the pattern of the trousers go hand in hand with the minimal design of the t-shirt. Finishing with a street style classic, Y-3 sneakers. Giving the look a more high end feel however it’s not a huge statement piece that shouts in your face, therefore allowing the look a low key, comfortable everyday vibe.
fashion
twenty three
From THe SoUth West to SW4 On the crazy, bustling streets of Notting Hill, amongst thousands of people I managed to pap these original clothes hangers. Giving me a few moments of their time, they stood out from the masses of crowds and became mini stars. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @thefashionjargon / Text and images by Millie Bennett /
Rhoda, 30, London “Cutting Edge” Top: Boohoo Collutes: Primark Boots: River Island Shades: Primark
Jean, 24, France “Came Cool” Shoes: Vans Jacket: H&M Shorts: H&M
Lucy, 19, London “Dark Grungey” Jacket: Topshop Top: Urban Outfitters Skirt: ASOS Hat: ASOS Necklace: Bali
Luke, 24, London “Monochrome Grunge” Jacket: River Island Trainers: Adidas Jeans: Topman
H o W
TO
D r E S S
Plymouth College of Art Fashion, Media and Marketing student Rhian Davis gives us her top tips on getting the most for your money! Get a job in retail: I know some people dread the thought of working but f you have a few spare hours a week and you don’t already have a job, try and get part time work in a retail store. Most retailers do zero hours or low hours contracts, meaning that it wouldn’t compromise your studies but also allows you to get amazing discounts, and in some cases uniform allowance. This gives you the opportunity to pick up some of the latest on trend garments on the high street for a fraction of the price! Also, if you are lucky enough to get a job within Drake Circus, they offer a discount card to receive discounts in certain stores within the mall. Win. Apply for an NUS card and UNiDAYS ID: Most people are already aware that a massive percentage of retail stores in the city offer student discount. However, what some people don’t know is that in some cases you can get more discount with UNiDAYS than NUS and vice versa. This is because at the end of the day, they are rival companies. Some times one will offer 10% off whilst the other is offering 20% or even more! Sign up to their emails too, I know they’re annoying and clutter up your inbox, but it’s worth it in the end. Compliment/complain: Now, this wont be one for everyone and I only mean complain within reason, not because you fancy a freebie. However, I once had a bedding set bought from a local store, the colour ran whilst I was asleep (weird isn’t it) it ruined my clothes and even dyed my hair blue! So, I wrote a strongly worded letter to their customer service team along with some images and they quickly sent me a hand written apology
F o R
L e S S
letter with a £20 gift card for their store and a cheque to get the colour out of my blonde locks! I was never expecting anything like that; I just wanted a bedding set. But a lot of companies value your feedback. A friend of mine once bought some makeup from a well known brand and wrote a really lovely review on the product because she loved the way it made her feel, so now they send her samples for her to review! Don’t be afraid to complain but don’t be rude, often in retail stores some clothes are marked or missing a button, so do ask if there is anything they can do for you but don’t be rude. Be sale savvy: Most retailers have four big sales a year; Summer and Christmas are by far the biggest along with two mid season sales which tend to be Spring and Autumn time. I always find the best time to stock up on fashion staples that you will always need. For example, I find the best time to get black leather boots or coats, is the Christmas sales. You might not get that much wear of them then, although we do live in England and it is bound to rain, but I always tend to get them for less than 75% off. I did this last year; I bought a pair that cost me £15 and now the same pair is in store again for £65! Also if you wouldn’t consider buying it at full price DO NOT BUY IT just because it’s cheap. BIG no no. It’ll be one of those impulse things that will sit in your drawer and you’ll never end up wearing, forever guilty of that one. EBay and Depop: If used properly, these two little apps could be your best friend. One mans trash is another mans treasure, as Macklemore says. It’s an absolute treasure trove and because most of them don’t have to pay for a store, they sell their products a lot cheaper and many stores like Boohoo, Motel Rocks and more have outlets on here so you can bag a bargain. It also gives you the opportunity to make a few pounds but watch out for scammers.
With great clothes brings great confidence and you will be needing stacks of that in the first few weeks of university, especially during Freshers’ Week! Nobody knows what you used to wear before you came to Plymouth. You can be whoever you want to be, reinvent yourself if you want to, but make sure you look good in the process.
There is more to life than clothes, but for many people fashion is in the forefront of their mind. Moving away from home for the first time can bring many worries; meeting new people and exploring a new city to list just a few. So what you’re wearing may not be the first thing on your mind but it’s a way to make an impression. I mean, before you have even had time to speak your clothes are saying things about you.
3, 4, 5, 6, 7. North Hill: The Mecca of all student drinking. Drink deals every night and the (almost) 24hr fast food
1, 2. Mutley Plain: The Mutley mile is something that every respecting student should do at least once in their life, except pub golf and Crayola. But, if you want to see live bands and drink good ales head to The Junction and The Underground, two of Plymouth finest live music venues. Think punk rock DM’s and faded pastel locks.
Plymouth has everything you could want. From rock clubs to cocktail bars to house and techno until 6am. Across the city you can choose from chart toppers or the underground music scene, but you certainly don’t want to be walking into the Bread and Roses wearing your best mini and heels best saved for Oceana. So here is the lowdown of what is where and what to wear.
9, 10, 11. Ebrington Street: Fast becoming Plymouth’s trendy hotspot with great new independent businesses popping up all the time. Such as Prime Café, where you can expect to sip on your coffee and dust the organic cake crumbs from your copy of Crack Magazine. If you skip in your brogues just along the road you will find the Bread and Roses, a community led organisation. Drinking local beer, listening to local talent and admiring art from one of their many artists in resident is normal practice. Being the trendy hotspot, having
8, 14, 15. Culture: The arts may not be your first port of call so early in the term, but be sure to download the Artory app.
joint with the friendliest staff. North Hill is kind of like the 80’s when it comes to fashion… ANYTHING GOES!
16. Factory: Plymouth’s premier underground music venue calls for some on point clobber which you could
13. Voodoo Lounge: This is where things get a little bit interesting. Being so close to North Hill, anything goes, but expect outrageous creatives pushing the boundaries of fashion and individuality.
12. Oceana: With five bars spread across two nightclubs playing commercial music, this is a place for heels, dresses, shirts and shoes, but with tasty drinks deals, make sure you can walk in those six inches. Beware; there is a dress code. No sportswear.
the ability to grow a beard and know what is happening on the streets of Hoxton would be a plus, but it’s not necessary.
/ Words by Enya Richards / Illustration by James Rae /
So with all this knowledge you’re ready to go out and make those lasting first impressions. Make your look your own and remember, one of the most important things is, never lose your smile.
17. The Barbican, Annabel’s: Life is a cabaret old chum, come to the cabaret! Think music, think dancing and think cocktails. It is dress to impress if you want to get into the kingdom of night time pleasures.
no doubt get in their sponsor Minerva on Ebrington St, not forgetting to wear a pair of comfy shoes so you can move to the groove until the lights go back on in the early hours. Factory offers a range of nights from V*v*fy, Blokhaus Lightclub, Lateral, Beat and 45 Live, bringing you the best in all things underground. There’s even a regular student night from the UPBEAT crew!
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I’ve always wanted to shoot with Elliot, he’s always reminded me of some sort of ‘90’s’ lost child, away in his own world and I admire that. Unlike other models, Elliot needed no directions - which makes me think one thing. Clothes can be bought, but style is natural and cannot be obtained. You either have it, or you don’t.
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/ Text and images by Luke Mullane /
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twenty eight
minerva streetwear
/ Interview by Naomi Girdler /
M I N E R V A ST REET WEAR
Situated on Ebrington Street is sparkly new streetwear store, Minerva. Originally on Exeter’s Fore Street, owner Dan Rowbotham took the plunge to move to the Ocean City at the beginning of August, celebrating the new venture with local DJs, pizza and beer. Editor Naomi talks to Dan about the move, what the store has to offer and what he thinks of Plymouth.
why the move to Plymouth and how have you found it so far? D: There’s a few reasons why I moved the store, I have a lot of existing clients here and I felt it was time for a change of scene. Ebrington Street is a great location for independent local businesses. The reception has been great so far so I hope it continues.
provided the booze. Dom Moore took some photos of the night which you can find on our Facebook page and Another Robot shot some footage of the shop before the night kicked off.
PS: What is it that you like about Plymouth? D: Plymouth’s got a strong community of creatives living here who support and collaborate with each other a lot. There’s lots of independent shops and cafes popping up around the city and I think it’s got a lot of potential for graduates and young creatives hoping to start their own businesses.
PS: What brands do you stock in store? D: We like to switch up our brand selection and add new lines as much as we can, we’re currently stocking the following, Stussy, Carhartt, Wood Wood, Soulland, Dickies, Polar, Saucony, The Quiet Life, Parra, Levis, Belief NYC, Crawlers, Kiko, Shore Projects, Grand Scheme, Maiden Noir, Life’s a Beach, Pointer, Rains, Poler Stuff and more.
PS: What’s your work background? D: I’ve always worked in retail, mainly streetwear and sneaker orientated. PS: What made you decide to start your own streetwear company? D: I wanted to offer a more selective collection of streetwear brands, hand selecting key products. We also support and work with local creatives, promoting their own products in our store and providing a platform for them. PS: You were originally based in Exeter, but recently took the plunge and moved to Ebrington Street,
PS: You had a party to celebrate the opening of the new store, how was your evening? D:It was a pretty good night! It was nice to get all my mates together, eat pizza and have a few beers. Joe Darch and Simon Scullion (part of Lightworks at The Factory) played a couple of sets and Bread and Roses
PS: How can we keep an eye on what you’re up to online? D: You can follow us on our social media, www. facebook.com/Minerva.streetwear or instagram.com/ minervastreetwear - also check our website out and sign up to our mailing list for exclusive offers and news at www.minervastreetwear.com/
phil james / dewerstone
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Plymouth Student likes to keep dynamic and growing business on our radar, so when we heard about Dewerstone and the sweet outdoor sportswear apparel they’re producing, we only wanted to know more. Editor Naomi caught up with Phil James, freelance illustrator and Dewerstone’s prime screen printer. PS: So tell me a little about yourself? What’s your artistic background? PJ: I’ve had a fascination with the process of creating artwork from an early age, ever since my first introduction to art back in secondary school. I remember my first day when my art teacher asked us “What is art?” We all answered with all the standard responses, “Painting” “Drawing” etc. He told us all that we were wrong, they were just avenues in which to express art. “Art is a process, a means to a cause” he told us. He then proceeded his explanation on the subject by walking over to the window of the classroom and with his bare hands pushed the entire panel out of its frame and sent it crashing two storeys to the pathway below. “That was art” he said. Ever since witnessing this, I have been obsessed with art. I use to paint a lot through my A-levels, specifically influenced by German expressionism. The likes of George Grosz and Otto Dix were my new found heroes and all I wanted to do was express my emotion, whether it was excitement or frustration. I was then introduced to traditional photography shortly after. We built a darkroom in a cupboard, ordered our chemicals in and let the magic happen. It was amazing! I ended up studying photography at the Plymouth College of Art and throughly enjoyed the process of creating and making photographs with great guidance from fellow peers and lecturers. After uni was over, I found myself retracting from photography as a platform and returned to illustration, creating images that I couldn’t through using a camera. PS: How are you finding being a freelance artist? PJ: It’s great, you can always find work to do, some paid, some not, but when an idea comes up that your excited about, money shouldn’t put you off. That said, paid work is always welcome haha, any freelance artist will say the same. It can be a struggle
/ Interview by Naomi Girdler /
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to make people aware of the amount of hard work, time and dedication it takes to work as an artist. If they don’t want to pay you, then see if there is something else that they can offer you. If they don’t want to offer anything, then they are not the client you’re looking for as a developing artist. No matter where you work, or what you do, if you aren’t getting something out of it that helps you grow as a person or increases your skill set, then move on to something that will. PS: When did you start working for Dewerstone and what is your role there? PJ: I started working for Dewerstone late October 2014. They had a screen printing position going, something I had previously taken interest in whilst working for another company as an artwork and screen technician. After having the interview, I was made aware that Dewerstone weren’t just a small clothing company looking for a screen printer, but a business built up from the ground by two wonderfully enthusiastic and hardworking guys who just want to travel, create and have fun. After initially starting out as a screen printer, I now design, print and polish some of the products we have to offer from start to finish. The guys have helped me get to where I am today, not only as a working creative, but as a person as well, of which I am ever thankful for. PS: What’s Dewerstone all about? PJ: Dewerstone is a local outdoor lifestyle brand. It started with two guys printing and designing in a garage on Dartmoor right next to the famous climbing spot, the Dewerstone. The company and its associates are all interested in outdoor activities. We are avid climbers and often participate in other activities such as kayaking, surfing, SUPing, hiking, slacklining and travelling. We work hard and we play harder. The brand reflects our interests in these sports and we want people to join in! PS: You have a climbing wall at work, how’s that?! PJ: Yeah! We are very lucky to have a very talented climber and builder on the team. We decided it seemed a good idea to dismantle the wall and bring it to work with us, you know, nothing
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like having a good climb on your lunch break or after work. We will be starting climbing sessions up again soon, so anyone can come by and have a go. Our unit is right next to a river with a huge natural pool next to the car park as well so we like to set slacklines up across the water and jump/swim in it for hours. We had a summer party recently with live music from local artists, climbing, swimming all happening simultaneously, felt kind of like an old Blink 182 video! They’re definitely a fun crew to hang with. PS: What exciting things do you and Dewerstone have coming up? PJ: My illustration work has been coming along nicely. I have a new collection of prints and a new little label/collaboration project ready to launch for our local christmas fair, Native Makers in November. I’m really excited to show people my new work and plans for the year to come. With Dewerstone, we’ve recently come back from Exeter after doing some sponsorship for the UK’s only Deep Water Soloing competition and we’ve just released a new range of wooden sunglasses. We have a whole bunch of new clothing/print designs for our autumn/winter range coming soon as well so its been pretty busy recently. PS: Where can we keep in touch with the Dewerstone crew? PJ: You can keep in touch and up to date by visiting our website www.dewerstone.com It has a blog and links to our Instagram and Twitter which we update regularly with our products and adventures. We will also have our climbing sessions open again where you can come by watch and have a climb, slackline over the water or just chill out and watch some climbing films at the bar. PS: How can we find your work and buy it? PJ: You can catch me soon at Native Makers in November as well as at pop up fairs. You can also see and buy my work at www. philjames.bigcartel.com and can keep up with my ongoing work on the instagram (@the_mundane_narrative) and facebook. com/thephiljamesnarrative.
mayflower apparel
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M AY F L O W E R A P P A R E L
/ Interview by Naomi Girdler / Continuing our Fresher’s Fashion theme, Plymouth Student met up with Ryan Sellick, owner and creator of Mayflower Apparel. We thought we’d see what he’s been up to and to find out more about Mayflower Apparel, its roots in Plymouth and what the future holds for the local clothing company. PS: How would you describe Mayflower Apparel to someone who’s not heard of it? R: Mayflower Apparel is an independent clothing line from the heart of Plymouth bringing great quality garments from t-shirts to patches to people around the world, with a great range of alternative designs from tattooists and graphic designers. PS: What made you want to start the company? R: I have always been into the tattoo culture and I used to see so many talented artists with such great designs. I used to think to myself that they would look awesome on a t-shirt! So since then I started speaking to some amazing designers and made a start on the first steps towards what Mayflower Apparel is today. PS: What is your background? Are you a student? Do you
have experience in running a clothing company? R: I currently work full time alongside running and owning Mayflower Apparel. I did a few years working as a tattoo apprentice which helped me understand more about design work, which prepared me for Mayflower Apparel. I’ve never had any past experience of running a clothing line, I took my time and learnt everything that I needed to know along the way. Sometimes I made mistakes, but I learnt from them and it’s part of progressing.
work for Mayflower Apparel.
PS: It’s easy to see the influences of Plymouth throughout, what’s your history of the city? R: I was born and raised in Plymouth and it’s where I have always lived. Since I was young, I have always been so intrigued by the history of the city as there is so much! That’s where I got the name for the clothing company, from the ship Mayflower, which set sail from the Mayflower Steps.
PS: What does the future hold for Mayflower Apparel? R: We’re putting the finishing touches to our new range which will be released throughout the year as well as re-stocking all sold out items. We’re working on our new site as well as having a few stalls at some upcoming events. Mayflower Apparel is getting bigger and more popular as time goes on and we have so much planned for next year already.
PS: Your t-shirts resemble traditional nautical tattoo designs, is that something that is a direct influence? R: I have always been into nautical designs since I started tattooing, always drawing anchors, ships and Smeatons Tower. The city itself has had a big influence on me in all my
PS: Where can we find you online? R: You can find us at our online store www.mayflowerapparel. bigcartel.com. or to get in touch via email mayflower_apparel@ hotmail.co.uk or check instagram @mayflowerapparel Facebook @mayflower apparel
PS: You offer other items such as hoodies and beanies, do you have any plans to extend that line in future? R: We are always planning in advance; constantly looking at new garments and accessories for the rest of the year. We’re currently releasing something new every few months. Last week our shipwreck patch went on sale and already it has become very popular and selling well.
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texas chainsaw massacre / advertorial - unity lets
TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASS ACrE / Interview by Naomi Girdler /
Halloween is fast approaching and I know I’m already thinking about what costume I’ll be making and what spooky games to play with friends, but more importantly, where am I going to get drunk dressed as a zombie? Chris Bailey of Imperfect Orchestra Projects has the perfect night planned, hidden behind North Hill, and to the low buzzing hum of a chain saw motor. It’s a live viewing of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre complete with interactive live soundtrack. I caught up with Chris to find out more. PS: What inspired the Texas Chainsaw Massacre project? C: At the beginning of July I re-watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s a bastion of American Pulp Horror films and one that everyone just ‘knows’ is great, but it’s one I had neglected to revisit for about 10 years. Anyway, so on the recent viewing I realised how incredible the soundtrack actually is, and how much it reminded me of sounds I have made just whilst clattering around my own kitchen. It also made me think of my friends in Sly & The Family Drone in the way different drone elements were layered up to create really unsettling atmospheric sounds. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as being an iconic american horror film, has a soundtrack that is a revelation to musicians and non-musicians alike. The soundtrack, like the rest of the film was very DIY and done on shoestring, in part by Tobe Hooper (director) himself and sound designer Wayne Bell. The soundtrack taps into the
avant garde and the ‘concrete’ music of the period and really creates something very unique. It’s essentially made though, by two guys experimenting with sounds. Some of those sounds are ‘junkyard’ or ‘household’ items, including pots and pans, mental fans and cheap drum cymbals. Some of the sounds are electronic: synths, filters, studio feedback and looped noises. So, when I watched it I realised that it was something that COULD be recreated and reworked in a live environment.
PS: What can people expect from the event, and Sly & The Family Drone? C: The event is supposed to be something unique. It’s a live collaboration between members of The Imperfect Orchestra and Sly. We’re working at making it semiimprovisational because we wont have played together beforehand but we do have a good idea of the ways in which we will be working. Musically, the idea is to use the original soundtrack as both a template and an inspirational jumping off point which we can play with and develop throughout the performance. There will also be an expectation of audience
participation with foley sounds percussion being accessible to all.
and
As for Sly & The Family Drone, nobody can expect what will happen when they play. There will be drones, atmospherics, underwear, real ale, and hypnotic drumming patterns. This will be something different and already semi-structured because of the nature of the performance but the direction it moves in and the dynamics created will only ever be decided on the night. PS: For those who haven’t experienced the legendary OUF!, why should we stick around for the afterparty? C: The essential thing to know is that it’s a party that doesn’t stop until the last man/woman is down and out. Garage rock, punk, dance, electro, surf, psych, they’re all usually on the playlist. The drinks are cheap, just like the thrills. It’s a night that has been out of action for a long time and it really is good to have it back. The buzz for it is huge already and there hasn’t been a halloween one before so this will be off the (meat)hook. PS: What if you haven’t seen the Texas Chainsaw Massacre? C: If you’ve not seen the film before then you’re a full blown Leatherface virgin and no one but your mother will take ANY responsibility for you if you faint or vom. Buy your ticket today for £10 from bit. ly/1Nc4ZZ0!
UNITING PEOPLE WITH PROPERTY Unity Lets is a family run business with more than 20 years’ experience in Plymouth and a company promise of ‘uniting people with property.’ From its spacious offices in the heart of student land at 96 North Hill, the Unity Lets team now oversees 150 properties accommodating more than 400 students. As one of the city’s leading professional resident and student lettings specialists Unity Lets offers everything from student rooms to student flats and whole student houses. It has properties from one to 13
bedrooms, with prices from as little as £65 per week inclusive of all bills.
established to provide a much better service for both tenants and landlords.
There are no deposits and no admin fees to pay with Unity Lets, who also offer late night viewings to suit student timelines.
The company’s website is updated daily with new properties in prime locations added on a regular basis. It has a dedicated maintenance team, ensuring that any repairs are dealt with promptly and efficiently.
The story of Unity Lets started in 1994 with a small lettings business, initially focusing on property renovation for the rental and sale market. Over the years the business continued to expand while relying on third party letting agencies, until in 2010 Unity Lets was
Unity Lets also provides the popular Unity Card – a loyalty card specially for students in Plymouth, providing discounts in the best cafes, bars, takeaways and other establishments in the city.
Unity Lets also employs students on a casual basis to do promotional work for the company, including distribution of leaflets, and provides a referral fee to students who recommend their properties to others. So if you’re looking for a new pad and want a landlord you can rely on, find Unity Lets in their student lettings office on North Hill. For more information visit Unity Lets website at www.unitylets.co.uk, call them on 01752 223354 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ unityletsplymouth
NO AGITE LIM
LE TO AVAILABULL TIME F ALL IN N, TRAINING O I EDUCAT ENTICESHIPS &APPR
UTHS PLYMO T BUS S LARGE ORK NETW
Available on at our Travel Centre on Royal Parade, City Centre plymouthbus.co.uk/geton *
against adult equivalent
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last shop standing records
Editor Naomi met up with Chris Muirhead, owner of the recently closed Last Shop Standing Record Store. He’s since began a record label, Last Shop Recs and we thought we were overdue for a catch up...
PS: So last time we spoke Last Shop Standing was being booted out of Bretonside in light of the new cinema development - what’s changed since then? C: Strangely enough there doesn’t seem to be much development of a cinema in Bretonside…. But from our point of view we have been trying to find a new shop for the store to get set up in – and despite having had a few really good options come and go for various reasons, we are determined to try and find somewhere we can afford or move in with someone that could share shop space with us if it’s the correct location. That has been where Tom has been focussing his efforts and I have been setting up the label Last Shop Recs, which shall be releasing vinyl only releases of our favourite UK artists. We have teamed up with Sam Reynolds that runs a small new label called Quarantine Music to put the records out and spread the cost.
Mutley Plain, how was that evening for you? C: This was basically a really good party at The Junction, with Badcore Horns, Worried Shoes warming everyone up and then Simon’s special event at the end. He got a load of brass players together and they learned the song Clash from the record and played the whole piece live. This was then filmed and used as the ending of the video which they premiered on the big screen after the performance. That was really something, and I have heard they may very well be doing it again sometime for anyone that may have missed it….
work out the best way to package his record and start organising another amazing launch night. The album itself feels like a culmination, he has been working solidly throughout the years and everything he has released up till now has been of a very high standard; but this release has seen him relax a little more into it and it has created a laid back but quite stunning blues record. He is lucky in that he has so many great players as friends and they help him out here and there as well. There is even a full band song on there…. We are not holding back again on the packaging and hope to do the album justice and deliver a record he can be really proud of.
LASTSHoP STANDING rECoRDS
PS: Your first release was Simon Dobson’s debut album Euneirophrenia, how was the process of putting that record together? C: It was a long process, and took about a year; from getting the test pressings done to working out how to transfer the artwork into deluxe vinyl packaging to then having to wait a few months for the job to get pressed and then begin the build up to the launch night; it didn’t seem that long but it was about a year. We didn’t want to rush it though and there is a lot to learn, and a moose tonne more to learn.
We spent a lot of time in the pub scribbling ideas down and working out how best to reflect the music that Simon has created in this extraordinary record into the physical packaging. Then there was working out how to pay for it and how to move forward without eating out of bins too much. PS: You also hosted his launch party at the Junction on
PS: Do you have plans to reopen the store at any point? C: We would love to, Tom has been working away behind the scenes getting in touch with people and organising things for the potential new store and I can’t wait for him to find the right place at the right price and actually give Plymouth back its new releases record store. Until then you can help support us by checking out what we are releasing and buying yourself a Limited Edition record from Last Shop Recs or a t-shirt and basically keeping our motto in mind at all times…
PS: How can we keep an eye on what you’re up to? C: Check out www.facebook.com/ TheLastShopStanding or visit www.lastshop.co.uk We really couldn’t have asked for a better launch night, it was packed, people bought records, and the show was superb. PS: What plans do you have for future releases? C: Next up we have Thomas Ford’s ‘A Shoulder to Cry On’ which we would like to have out by Christmas. I am splitting the release with Sam again and we have had a few beer mat meetings with Simon (aka T. Ford) as we
I’m also always posting stuff on Facebook, don’t really use Twitter but have a mailing list that you can get on if you like getting a once a month update on what’s happening, just drop me a line at chrismuirhead1982@ gmail.com or message me on the old Facebook. Drink Beer | Fight Crime | Buy Records
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advertorial - slice a pizza / upper 38
Bubbling cheese, fresh vegetables, locally sourced ingredients, all transformed into the world’s favourite food: pizza. But wouldn’t it be nice to save money and buy pizza by the slice? Well, now students and young people of Plymouth, you can finally do just that.
SLicE A pIzZA
Slice A Pizza opened in mid-February and serves pizza by the slice with toppings to suit all tastebuds. Freshly handmade and stone baked, with the option of eating in or taking away, you can choose from a classic magherita, the meaty pepperoni or try something a little different with hoisin duck or goat’s cheese and sundried tomato. guarantee you quick, hot food on the go. Positioned conveniently in the Armada Centre in the city centre, only a short walk from the university campus, Slice A Pizza offers the perfect alternative to the meal deals of the supermarkets and boasts fresh pizza everyday made on site. Grab a slice to go or get it delivered to your dorm, with Slice A Pizza offering a competitive take-away menu to challenge all the national giants.
Perfect for a quick snack in between lectures, Slice A Pizza works on the same concept that America has been doing for years, the option to buy pizza by the slice. With the modern world moving at a faster pace than ever before, this has started to change our eating habits. The sit down lunch is fast disappearing and more often people are eating at desks or shovelling down food in their limited lunch breaks. Whether that be a whole pizza or just a cheeky slice, Slice A Pizza can
It’s not just pizza that they’ve got sussed, however. Pop down to the Armada Centre store for healthy salads and fresh ciabattas as well as waffles and ice creams for those with a sweet tooth. With a great selection of drinks, snacks and American candy in store too, you can complete your American pizza experience without leaving the building. And to top it all off, Slice a Pizza works hard to keep their business energy efficient, with food and general waste being 100% recycled by local businesses. Support local business and enjoy a slice of pizza all at the same time. Go on, you can’t say fairer than that. Visit Slice-A-Pizza in the Armada Centre or check their Facebook at www.facebook.com/sliceapizzaplymouth
U P P E r Students are guaranteed a warm welcome, relaxed atmosphere and top quality hair styling and beauty treatment at Upper38 in North Hill. The unisex hair and beauty salon has gone from strength to strength since it welcomed its first customers just over four years ago. The salon is the brainchild of former fitness instructor Lulu Bunch, who saw the potential of the former motoring school premises, located in the heart of student land in Plymouth. “I could see the potential of the building and set out to create something special not only for students but also for customers of all ages,” said Lulu. “We believe we have created something quite unique at Upper38 in terms of décor, service and a welcoming relaxed atmosphere.” The enthusiastic and creative team of more than a dozen stylists offer both traditional and modern styles of hair. They are all fully qualified and regularly attend workshops and in-house training sessions to ensure they can use the latest techniques with some
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of the best products on the market to achieve the best possible results in terms of cuts and colours. Students qualify for a 10 per cent discount on all cuts and can also take advantage of a free beer with every hair cut if they’re feeling thirsty after a day’s studying. There are two dedicated barbers’ stations and a number of staff have been trained in the increasingly popular cut throat wet shave. Appointments can be made online via the Upper38 Facebook page, although there is usually a stylist available at all times for walk-in appointments. The beauty salon in the lower ground floor offers a range of treatments, including nails and waxing, full body wraps, massage, facials, make up and spray tanning. It’s popularity is underlined by the fact that bookings need to be made at least a week in advance. A recent addition is the availability of treatment by a sports therapist two days a week. Upper38 is actively involved in the student life of the city, organising charitable fund-raising events and in the past has built strong links with a number of the clubs and societies at Plymouth University. The salon is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, with late nights until 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturday 9am to 5pm For more information visit www.upper38.co.uk or go to the Facebook page or call 01752 228422
bread & roses / the underground
BREAD & ROSES EBRINGTON ST.
Situated in the heart of student land on Ebrington Street, the Bread and Roses pub is a pub with a difference. Born through community ownership, it caters to the local community with a variety of events, projects and in house artist residencies as well as real craft ales, organic ciders, fair-trade wines, luxury top shelf spirits and locally sourced, organic food served throughout the day. Opening back in 2012, the pub has gone from strength to strength, with a huge variety of activities to be enjoyed by all. With local artist residencies, gigs, poetry readings, workshops, monthly clubs and discussion groups, the pub embraces all tastes in music, all aspects of arts and offers a place where artists and artisans of all genres can display their work or share their creativity. Coming up soon, the Bread and Roses plays
THEBREADANDROSES
host to ‘The Bread and Roses Selection’ opening on the 26th September until the 26th of October, showcasing select works from the Plymouth University Degree Show 2015. After the success of last year’s exhibition in creating opportunities for graduates in the city, the opening takes place as part of the Plymouth Art Weekender. This is just one of creative events that the Bread and Roses plays host to as with their art critique group twice a month, and David Strang’s Art Consortium, which is all about making music and art through lesser known tools - for example, one session ended up with synthesisers made out of tin foil! There’s a lot going on at this pub, with a great range of events available for those of all interests. Check out the Bread and Roses Facebook to keep an eye on upcoming festivities!
thirty eight
The UNDERGROUND Mutley Plain
UNDERGROUNDVENUE
It’s been a little while now since the legendary White Rabbit in Bretonside closed its doors and left the city of Plymouth one venue short of a good time. However, despite its cozy size and Mutley Plain location, The Underground (along with sister pub The Junction) has been working hard to make sure that live shows aren’t a thing of the past.
Duck pub next to the Sainsburys on Mutley.
If you’re into grunge, hardcore, rock, indie, emo or anything other genre particularly alternative and ‘heavy’, The Underground is where you’re gonna wanna be most nights of the week. With a capacity of 175 at a squeeze, you can prepare yourself for intimate shows and up, close and personal performances in the venue situated underneath the Dog and
Featuring a range of craft beers, tasty ciders and real ales at reasonable prices, it’s a good place to get wasted and save a few pennies with cheeky cans on the cheap for when your wallet starts to run dry. Also, if you’re a promoter looking for a venue, The Underground is free to book, so get in touch through their Facebook today to avoid disappointment!
The Underground was taken over a year ago by ex Jack Chams manager Ben who has worked hard to stock the tastiest booze, book the most dynamic shows and continue the punk rock ethic that withheld the White Rabbit for 10 years and Jack Chams for 3.
forty
purposeful futures yoga
P U R P O S E F U L F U T U R E S Y O G A / Words by Ellie Ward /
Recently, my editor Naomi and I had the pleasure of being invited to take part in a yoga class under the instruction of Purposeful Futures Yoga instructor, and all round lovely human, Emma Corkey. Brimming with positivity, Emma greeted us outside the planned Greenbank venue to inform us that an admin error had pushed the class out of the studio and into the park. Praying for the rain to hold off, and suppressing the residual social anxiety of my youth, I diligently followed the pack to the park where we de-shod and set up our yoga mats.
hearted approach made for a great class. The class allowed everyone involved to work to their own ability, and included a number of opportunities for us to ‘freestyle’ on the mats. Again, this had the potential to be off-putting, but Emma’s contagious tranquillity seemed to alleviate any insecurities any of us may have had about bending and stretching on a mat in Freedom Fields Park, and we all threw some pretty good shapes.
Emma teaches vinyasa flow yoga; a dynamic and energetic approach to yoga practice, which aims to strengthen both body and mind. This style perfectly complements Emma’s teaching style, which is informal and comfortable. Actively encouraging meditation as part of each class, Emma draws on her traditional training in India to create a class that takes a philosophical and holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Having been practicing yoga myself for a decade or so, reading about Emma’s philosophical approach to yoga did trigger a number of preconceptions about what to expect from the class. My experience has taught me that some of the more traditional yoga instructors can be intimidatingly serious; something which, in my opinion, can actually ruin the whole yoga experience. However, Emma’s class was not the concentration camp I expected, and her free and light
If you’re interested in giving yoga a go, or if you’re a seasoned veteran looking for a new outlet, don’t hesitate to give Emma and Purposeful Futures a chance. Find out more at www.purposefulfutures. com or check out our exclusive student voucher offer on page nine!
forty two
food
CURRY TO FEED A CROWD V E G E TA B L E C U R RY Recipe by ANDREW GIRDLER 1 large potato, diced 1 small butternut squash, diced 1 aubergine, diced 6 tbsp tikka masala paste 3 tbsp vegetable oil 2 onions, sliced
680g-700g jar tomato passata 400g can of coconut milk 2 red peppers, sliced 2 courgettes, diced coriander leaves, to serve rice or naan bred, to serve
M ethod Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 45 mins • Serves 6 1. Heat over to 200C/180C Fan/ Gas 6. Toss the potato, squash and aubergine with 2tbsp curry paste and 2tbsp oil in a roasting tin. Season, then roast for 30 mins. 2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Fry the onions in the remaining oil in a large pan until soft and golden add a splash of water if they start to dry out. Stir in the remaining curry paste, cook for 3 mins, then add the passata, coconut milk and
100ml of water. Simmer for a few minutes 3. When the vegetables are roasted, tip them into the sauce with the peppers and courgettes. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender. Scatter with coriander and serve with rice or naan bread. TIP: If you’d miss your meat, feel free to fry and add chicken or beef during stage two of the recipe.
chips chips with dip cod haddock hake plaice china sole lemon sole scampi
1.85 2.35 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.00 4.00
2.55 3.05 4.30 4.30 4.20 4.30 3.60 4.60 3.50
sausage jumbo sausage fish cake
0.80 1.60 1.10
burger in bun cheese burger 1/4 burger 1/4 cheese 6oz burger 6oz cheese burger chicken burger veggie burger
1.50 1.70 2.50 2.70 3.00 3.20 2.40 1.90
1/2 chicken chicken nuggets veggie fritter pea fritter onion rings
3.00 2.20 1.50 1.30 1.50
baked beans curry sauce mushy peas faggot gravy dips for chips roll & butter pineapple fritter banana fritter can of drink
0.80 0.90 0.90 1.20 0.60 0.50 0.45 1.50 1.50 From 0.75
All prices correct at time of going to press
forty four
game review / film review /book review
Game F ILM BOOK review review review
by Matthew Girdler, computing graduate from Plymouth University
by Chloe Smith, creative writing student from Marjons
by Chris Muirhead, owner of Last Shop Standing Records
PAPERBACK
PS4/PC/MAC/LINUX ROCKET LEAGUE
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E
ZYGOT E POEMS
/ developed BY PSYONIX / PUBLISHED BY PSYONIX
/ GUY RITCHIE
/ richard thomas / PUBLISHED BY cultured llama
The score is 3-3 with 10 seconds left on the clock. I clear the ball upfield. My teammate storms up behind to bounce it across their goal. I begin my run-up from the halfway line, boosting for extra speed. Just as the ball drops below the crossbar, I double-jump to soar over my opponents and nod the ball in, sealing our victory. It’s moments like this that make Rocket League one of the most exciting multiplayer games in years. The sequel to the relatively unknown PS3 game Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered BattleCars, Rocket League is a physics-based, vehicular football game for PS4 and Windows. For Top Gear fans, think the car football episode on steroids. The controls are simple to pick up, but hide a surprising amount of depth. One tutorial introduces you to the basic car handling, followed by an advanced tutorial which teaches more difficult techniques such as front-flips, side-flips, bicycle kicks and aerial hits. There are also drills to help you practice shooting and goalkeeping. After plenty of training against the competent AI in season mode, you’ll be ready for multiplayer, where the game really shines.
Communication is key to a good Rocket League team, so this is best with a party of friends. If you’re playing without a headset, the developers have included some chat shortcuts - assigned to the directional buttons - which can be used to coordinate with your team or just comment on the match. It’s much more enjoyable in voice chat though - I can’t remember the last game I played that caused so many cries of delight and frustration from my teammates. And frustration is abundant. For every satisfying, perfectly executed moment of skill, there are 10 aggravating near-misses. The game never feels unfair, though; if something goes wrong, it’s probably your own fault. This means you’ll be constantly trying to improve your skills to create more of those awesome moments. It’s a big part of what makes the game so addictive. Another source of addiction is the customisation system. You can fully personalise your paint job, and choose from a number of car models, decals, hats, antenna toppers and rocket trails. At the end of each match, you’re randomly rewarded with a new item. To keep things fair, changes are purely cosmetic, but designing and showing off your car is great fun. While the first game failed to attract a big audience, Rocket League was made free for PlayStation Plus members on its release, which, combined with cross-platform play between PS4 and Windows, has created a thriving community. If you’re only interested in single-player games, you might want to look elsewhere, but for an addictive, challenging and exhilarating multiplayer experience, look no further than Rocket League
Fast-paced, action packed, and wittingly humorous; The Man from U.N.C.L.E brings together some of the latest and greatest of acting potential with the likes of Henry Cavill and Alicia Vikander gracing the big screen in this iconic production by Guy Ritchie. With big hits under his belt with the likes of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. – there are high expectations to be found for his latest piece of work.
What purpose does poetry serve to its writers and readers today? Is it an archaic and elitist cubbyhole collective of people sneering and selfcongratulating behind the backs of readers of Dean Koontz and watchers of the dreaded telebox; by people we secretly suspect have as little true understanding of Shelley or Keats or Plath as everyone else that isn’t currently doing a PHD?
Napoleon Solo is our main protagonist – a suave, selfassured, all-American agent with endless amounts of charisma that brings instant likeability. Cavill fully embraces this stereotypical persona with a flawless American accent that, coupled with his extensive knowledge and boundless confidence, brings to the fore the audiences archetypal characteristics of a film generated CIA agent. Solo, when faced with his enemy-come-partner Illya (Armie Hammer), brings sharp witticisms to add effective humour to the unsteady relationship that slowly balances itself out throughout the film. On the other hand, Illya initially gives the impression of a combative KGB brute with a persistence to complete the mission at hand. It is Hammer’s characters collaboration with both Solo and Gaby (Vikander) that helps him to develop, building strong lasting relationships with the two and allowing him to contain his deep-seated emotions surrounding his shameful past.
Possibly; Is it the embers of a form of literature being kept alive by people desperate to define themselves in what they do not do – i.e. watch a lot of tele and talk about ‘football’ or ‘shopping’, a little like knitting clubs or battle re-enactment societies? (n.b personally I love both of those things)
The relationship between Illya and Solo shows the constrained affiliation that the Americans and Russians held for each other; both trying to surpass the other to prove their capability and superiority. Stuck in the middle is Gaby, a strong-headed and stoic individual who does not give in lightly to the part she must play whilst hiding her own secret from the two agents. Sarcasm radiates from Vikander’s character bringing quick and effective light-hearted, laugh out loud humour that adds immensely to the telling of the narrative. It is her strained relationship with Illya that ultimately brings about his development changing him from the pig-headed, diligent agent found at the beginning to the more genial, caring man found towards the end.
Maybe; I haven’t got time to search on the internet for some interesting facts about when poetry was the rock and roll of its time; I don’t have the heart to list out how important it once was as a method of recording emotions and passions before the mass serialisation of modernity made such a form of doing so seem somewhat fleshy lipped and selfaggrandising.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I found it entertaining, humorous and actionpacked. The blend of actors helped to define the film bringing charisma and grade ‘A’ acting alongside credible, developing characters with likeability. Bags of laugh out loud scenes added a light-hearted feel to the film targeting a wider audience and providing a memorable cinema experience.
Pieces called ‘Onscreen Debut’, ‘She Craved Pineapple Chunks’, ‘Tu Rooms, Pt. Wonn’ and ‘The Shoes’ see the writer describe and scurry through the landmarks we all relate to when thinking about a new family. And they do so with a brisk enthusiasm that is reflected in the language; she will ‘lie in the* sun blinking and pooping’ ‘those eyelids heavy with a Milliunn questions and Innewmurabul possibilities’ amongst a ‘blast of bus-stop hieroglyphs’; and through the first third of the book we follow a slightly awe struck and possibly unsure protagonist as he cautiously unravels his responsibilities and duties alongside a tiny human that is trying to unravel her firsts of everything. Richard Thomas
For our assumptions about these kinds of things are just that, assumptions. It is probably true that quite a lot of people that enjoy poetry also enjoy a very comfortable jumper, real ale and a good sit down. But what actually sets them apart from those that may be sitting down to the Daily Mail is their deep appreciation of the sanctity, array, insanity, beauty and jumbled world of the written word. And in this love of language they sometimes have to get it out and swing it about a bit - to show the world how bloody important it is. And I for one salute the men and women that do so. In Richard Thomas we have a determined lover of the written word, a writer interested in the malleability and phonetics, as well as the totemic and inviolability that persists throughout our use of language. In acquiring his new slim volume of poems I first noticed how soft to the touch the book is; the matt lamination is tactile and seems to roll around and around in the hands like foxglove or an old slipper as you hold it.
Light and dark becomes a significant filmic device in order to highlight secrecy and villainy throughout the film – reflecting the time period during the Cold War and the tension between USA and the USSR, the strained relationship between Solo and Illya, and the evil intentions of a secret criminal organisation threatening to disrupt the already fragile allegiance between the two superpowers. The association between the two central characters is highlighted further through Ritchie’s use of screen splitting – a technique frequently used during action scenes to display the way in which Solo and Illya work together though clearly at odds regarding their affiliation.
writer clearly adores; and in the writing there is a hue or background of constant devoting. But at the forefront, an odd mixture of hope, self doubt, determination and wonder.
Richard’s first book – ‘The Strangest Thankyou’ was an expansive exploration of nature and many of its beasts and wonders, its 56 pieces varied in content and theme as if written by a fawn that had just escaped its mother’s orbit to explore a place beyond its home for the first time. In ‘Zyg*te Poems’ we see a skilful focussing on mainly one specific subject, and as suggested by the title of the collection, that subject is the result of the authors mating with another person, put more specifically his little girl. The collection begins with ‘Zygote Poem’, which introduces you to the poet’s use of phonetic language and the repeated motif of the asterisk; I found the asterisk intriguing, but even on repeated readings have yet to fully fathom its significance throughout the book. It seems to clip onto sentences or words with a coy and shy bleat. Blowing up the corner of the page with its breezy fingers, as a little girl, tugging on someone’s trousers, imploring they follow her somewhere. The poems meander through the pregnancy, the birth and the arrival of a little person that the
Not to belittle these very carefully crafted explanations or ignore the already recognisable metre that threads its way through his work; but I personally find the meat of the book appearing when Thomas applies this honesty of the situation inward and pauses in his doting. Pieces like ‘Health Visitor (Shape Caller)’, ‘Urinating Clinical’, ‘In Light of recent Mind’ and ‘Surtralleene’ where he pores over his social anxiety and the landmarks of traversing mental illness, that are just as important in a person’s life as those of his nest. It is here as well that the use of phonetic language finds its true place, implying as it does throughout the collection that drooling baby-talk, I prefer where it reflects on the author’s own reaching for answers to the questions raised by what he sees as his fallible qualities or the hopelessness of his situation: ‘Tehn Fouzund meetings and Sehvun Fouzund appointments and all of * them at Wonce in ugly am algorithm.’ There are small political statements as in ‘Karma’ and comical insights into the inevitable aspects with ‘Advice on Changing the Moarning Nappy’; the book is tied up with a satisfying meander back through the poems via the intriguing asterisk motifs. As a second pace into the world of publishing, Thomas has honed and developed his personable and accessible style by showing an ability to concentrate on fewer aspects of his life and the world around him, whilst avoiding laying the template of his earlier writing on the subjects at hand. It is a quiet celebration of fatherhood, a tentative prodding of personal ailments and a sure step towards what will hopefully be a furthering of his burgeoning craft. He is often found at public readings and I advise you searching him out, the telebox deserves a rest every now and then.
MUSIC
forty five
music reviews / dust piggies both playing and feeling on this record that most bands never get close to.
REVIEWS by Seth Haney
CURRENT KNOCKIN’ BOOTS / JULIO BASHMORE
“Umuntu”, the bass lines throb, the kick smashes and the samples reel around my head on constant loops, leaving me dizzy and always hitting the repeat play. This is dance music that sets a precedent and throws enough clever angles to reward deeper listening.
CLASSIC I’m a zealot for dance music. In the last five years, I’ve found the seductive grooves of a drum machine and synthesizer far too alluring to ignore. Living in Plymouth makes that hard and I take great solace in hiding away with my headphones, imagining how great the music I’m listening to must sound like on a thumping sound system. Julio Bashmore may be from Bristol but that feels like a million miles away to me. Each new release from him over the last few years has brought a big, silly grin to my face and has made my steps a little lighter. The man has a way with a groove. Some of the best dance music ever made exists in single track form. Having a whole album of stompers like this is a great remedy to the forthcoming winter. From “Holdin’ On” to “Rhythm Of Auld” to
SILENT ALARM / BLOC PARTY
A debut alarm should feel like a manifesto, one that the band writes starving and hungry, ready to communicate with the world. Look across the the big bands of the rock n roll pantheon and you’ll find them all there, still sparkling, regardless of age. Bloc Party didn’t disappoint with Silent Alarm. Opening with the thundering, eager to speed from the gates clatter of “Like Eating Glass”. The vulnerability of Kele Okereke’s voice lending each successive song the emotional weight of yearning that the lyrics so often convery. To be frank, there’s a maturity of
Together with the masterful recordings of Paul Epworth, everything feels in its right place without anything feeling amateur or dated. Other albums from ten years ago may feel like a snapshot of the previous decade, Silent Alarm will still sound impressive in another ten years. Don’t get me started on the decline of Bloc Party, that’s another rant for another time. With this record, they aimed high and propelled fast.
When it comes to Blowouts, it’s hard to see where they fit in the scene. They label themselves as post-punk and yet, on this record, sound like a band who have spent a long time pouring over records forged in the tepid fires of post-Britpop. The album opens with the strong intent of “Stop Loss Policy” but alarm bells ring as the title track throws itself around like an Arctic Monkeys cast off, much without the lyrical wit. The punky strains of “On A Roll” hint at what this band could be capable of, as do “Kill Your Darlings” and “237” but too often, the record sags with heartbroken tales and an obsession with war imagery that seems hackneyed after 45 minutes.
LOCAL A VETERAN OF SORTS / BLOWOUTS
In 2015, Plymouth bands are a mixed bag of genres, ideas and excitingness. It’s a buoyant scene that I thoroughly recommend dipping into. Take yourself to The Junction or Underground on Mutley Plain and you’ll soon find yourself rubbing shoulders with Plymouth’s musical alumni.
This is a decent attempt at making good music, across all points. A little more grit and a wider lyrical palette could have raised this record to something special. As it stands, “A Veteran Of Sorts” provides some strong foundations for their next few records to build on.
w w w.dustpiggie s.com
agony aunt ellie
forty six
Ellie likes tea, cats and tie-dye. She doesn’t like snakes and when her friends are sad. We thought that was the best criteria for an agony aunt we’d ever heard.
If you would like Ellie to help you with some of your problems, email us at hello@ps-zine.com
AGONY AUNT ELLIE I’m really excited to be starting my new course this year at Plymouth Uni, I’m passionate and ready to throw myself at my work. My only concern is that I’m really shy. I find social gatherings awkward and I’m rubbish at small talk. I know I have to make friends as I’m moving from my home town and I don’t want to be alone for three years! Got any advice? I feel your pain, I really do. Leaving your pipe and slippers to join the ‘real world’ and hang out with strangers is pretty daunting. Sure, we’re social animals, but we’re all instinctively driven to stay with familiarity and shut out anything or anyone different. There will be THOUSANDS of people in your position. Even those already living in Plymouth will be unlikely to know anyone on their course, and believe me if they do, they’ll struggle to get to graduation without falling out over toilet roll or milk or an awkward threesome... It’s great that you intend to make your work a priority, but if that’s all you focus on it’s a shit time guaranteed, and you might as well save yourself the debt, let yourself go completely and distancelearn from your folks house…Seriously, go home, eat cake and shut the curtains. £30,000 of debt is not a laughing matter, and there is no point fucking your financial situation for the sake of three miserable and lonely years. OR you can stick on a new hat (metaphorical or otherwise) and join the masses. This is part where the protagonist in this sorry tale learns how to socialise! ONE: Realise that you are not the only shy person on campus. Everyone is terrified, some people are just better actors. TWO: Tell yourself you’re not shy and eventually you won’t be. It really does work. Tell yourself each morning, and however many times you need to throughout the day that you are confident.. Think Cool Runnings… ‘I see pride..’ etc… Failing that you can kiss a lucky egg, but that might not get you many friends. It isn’t the 90s anymore you know! THREE: Join in, even if you don’t want to. If you’re invited out, say yes. If you’re not, go out anyway. The rules are different in the early days of uni life; invitation not required, everyone gets to party! This means pub golf and fancy dress and Chuckle Brothers and societies and socials and the SU. This means abandoning any fucks you previously gave, sticking on your best drunk smile and letting go of any ‘I don’t do fancy dress’ hang-ups you might have had. You do now, and you’re going to do it like you mean it. You need to push your boundaries. You’ll possibly spend a large proportion of your first year with a hangover and a lingering odour of boozy regret, but part of uni life is preparation for the miserable world of adult responsibilities, and you should get this stuff out of your system while you still can. You won’t become best mates with everyone, but you don’t have to. There are people out there who are just like you, and once you find them you can put down the moustaches and banana costumes and hang out somewhere quieter. In the meantime though, wear that power hat and walk onto campus like shyness is a thing of the past. Because it is. You can be anyone you want to be, and you’re going to be just fine! I moved in with a new housemate, a girl I knew through some friends. Everything seemed fine at first, we had stuff in common like music and anime, but then she turned into a
total bitch. She’s really selfish and manipulative, she uses my stuff without asking, she gets moody when my friends are round and worse of all, she owes me money I have a feeling I’ll never get back. She’s nice to my face, but I know she talks about me behind my back. What should I do? Tricky. Tricky tricky tricky… It’s a regular case of not knowing someone until you’re faced with the JOY of living with them, and my instinct is to tell you to run away and never look back. It sounds like the dynamic has shifted to one of blissful cohabitation with a friend to that of an abusive relationship, and as with any abusive relationship, the answer is generally to get out of there. This, however, is easier said than done when you have tenancy agreements and what-not to contend with, so perhaps a house meeting might be a good idea in the first instance. The key thing to remember is to avoid being passive aggressive. This will only aggravate the problem, and like any infection, scratching it will only make it last longer and increase the likelihood of weeping… Play it cool and calm and collected, breathe deep, and get ready to be direct with your housemate. The easiest, though probably least painful, things to address are the superficial ones. Eating your food, using your stuff, owing you money etc… What she’s doing ise unreasonable, and you have every right to raise the issue with her directly. It really is as simple as saying ‘please don’t use my things without asking.’ The problems arise when you either a) ignore the issue, thus reinforcing the behaviour, or b) give her some sob story about WHY she can’t take your things and spend your money. For example, ‘I’m not being selfish but….’ NO! This will not help. This makes you look weak. The simple fact is that it’s YOUR shit that YOU paid for and YOU want to keep it. You could be a fucking millionaire and you’d still be under no obligation to give her a penny. C’est compris? You don’t have to argue about it. You tell her and you move on. The manipu-bitching might be a more sensitive issue. Whilst ownership of possessions can be easily cleared up, trying to explain to someone that their behaviour is the cause of your misery is something that requires a little more tact. This said, it’s not something that can be ignored. Again, the direct approach is probably your best bet. Ask her why she doesn’t like you having visitors, but before you do, perhaps try to figure out whether any of her behaviours might be in reaction to your own. Are you bringing people home all the time, or late at night? Are your friends doing things that your housemate isn’t comfortable with? Telling her that she ‘is’ manipulative and selfish isn’t going to help either; she’ll probably cry at you or start name calling, and that will make the living situation even less agreeable. A far more tactical approach would be to calmly explain that when she behaves in a certain way it makes you feel uncomfortable, and that the behaviour in question may be interpreted as being selfish/manipulative/bitchy etc…Speaking in the third person in far more diplomatic, and your housemate is less likely to feel under attack. It’ll also help with your essay writing. Subjectivity = BAD; objectivity = A*. You may find that little bit of patience and tactful addressing of the issues will be enough to iron out the creases and allow you to live harmoniously. You may also find that you hate the bitch, in which case I refer you back to my initial statement. Don’t be a
martyr. Some people are just incompatible, and if after trying to discuss the problems like grown-ups you still see no improvement, it might be wise to just cut your losses and look for somewhere else to live. Good luck! I had a relationship a few years ago with a girl, but unfortunately it ended, however we stayed friends. I still love and care for her deeply and she gives me the impression that she feels the same way, stays over a lot, and I want to make her happy so I do her shopping and make her breakfast. But there’s another guy on the scene. They’re not dating but they’re very close and a lot of people mistake them for a couple. It hurts me because I see them together a lot. What should I do? Cut. Her. Out. She’s playing you. She’s almost certainly sleeping with her ‘friend’. You’re a mug. Walk away now and don’t even think about calling her. Ok, a little harsh perhaps, but neither of you will get a clear sense of how you feel about each other if you’re hanging out all the time. I suspect you already know how walking away will make you feel, so like the loyal Labrador that you are, you stay. But is it loyalty? Or are you in fact staying on the scene in hope that you’ll act as some kind of erection repellent? You’re fucking cock-blocking. Not a smooth move. Here’s what I think: You’re BOTH playing each other. She needs to feel wanted, so hangs around the ‘safe bet’ who buys her things and strokes her hangovers away. She doesn’t WANT you, she just needs the security of having someone. You know she doesn’t want to commit to you, but to keep her where you want her you act like Captain Commitment and wipe her arse at the drop of a hat. Come on guys! You’re prolonging your own agony by going around in circles. Do you really think that if someone special came along and swept your ex of her feet you’d even get a look in? You’re being used, and you need to let her go. You say you love her? If that’s the case then let her find her own way. That’s REAL love. No expectations, no conditions, no symbiotic arrangement. Love isn’t a business deal, and if you really do love her, then you’ll turn away and let her live her life. She doesn’t want to commit to you right now, and you have to accept that. And then there’s your life! Fucking go and live it! Imagine the freedom of not pining for someone. Imagine the clarity of knowing you did the right thing; that you can let things be and just live for yourself! The funny thing is, and this is not me offering you any sort of promise or false hope.., but the funny thing is, is that life has a way of figuring things out. Partners reunite after years of drifting, whilst some separate after years of denial. Paths criss and cross, and with no real effort lovers find themselves in the arms of ‘the one.’ That’s how love happens. That’s how it grows. Laissez-faire, laissez-passer. Leave her alone and see where she wanders. If it’s back to you then you have your answers. If it’s not, you also have your answers. Go and let life happen. You only get one, and living it in someone else’s shadow is cold and dark and miserable. What will be will be. Be strong and good luck!