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contents
C O N T E N T S 06/08/10
06/08/10: Dom Wallace gets us ready for a summer of festival fun with his local and national festival guide 11/12/13/14: The Big List: A what’s on guide to Plymouth’s best venues, bars and clubs, written by Andrew Girdler
11/12/13/14
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16/17: Plymouth Student talks to Johnny Smeaton, front man of local folk/indie band The Man Who Loves You. We talk about getting into fights, his boyish good looks and broken campervans 18: We talk to Samual Marsh, Bristol based illustrator studying at the University, about graffiti, designing t-shirts and visits to Mount Edgecumbe 19: Ross Ingielewics, studying illustration at Plymouth University talks to us about his work, his inspirations and his addiction to tumblr
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20: Local third year student Sam Rowe tells Plymouth Student about his art and his influences, and why he chose Plymouth University 22: Roaring South is a final year project by Elliot Phillips, graphic design student at Plymouth College of Art. Featuring a record packed full of local artists, he talks to us about his passions
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23: After the recent release of plans to renovate Bretonside Bus Station, editor Naomi Girdler talks to Dan James, owner of White Rabbit on his fight to save and secure a home for his venue. 24: Local property agent Vicki Vokes helps out all of the postgraduates out there get to grips with what to do about housing after leaving the safety of the student loan bubble 26: Get some spice in your life with our sweet taco recipe!
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27: Emily Walker, editor of online gaming website, GameGrin tackles the subject of sexism in gaming, focusing on the subject of girl gamers. 28: Local Plymouth University student Matt Girdler reviews Windforge, a 2D RPG world for PC
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29: Contributor Seth Haney reviews another current, classic and local record featuring Kelis, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and local lads The Man Who Loves You 30: Guest agony uncle Jake takes some time out of his busy schedule to help you out with your problems
Want to see your aDvert in PS? Call 07989 301331 for more details
editor’s letter
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Contact PS: 07811 343335 hello@ps-zine.com Published by Us As One
Hello! Festival season is upon us!
Many thanks to all who’ve supported and contributed to PS Issue 09. Editor, Designer & Writer Naomi Girdler naomi@ps-zine.com Contributors Chris Girdler, Dom Wallace, Andrew Girdler, Johnny Smeaton, Phil James, Samual Marsh, Ross Ingielewicz, Sam Rowe, Elliot Phillips, Dan James, Vicki Vokes, Emily Walker, Matt Girdler, Seth Haney, Jake Paget
After getting battered by storms, the sea and lots of other horrible weather, it’s such a treat to see the sun finally break through those clouds and give us enough to even get a little sunburnt. I don’t know about you but I’m getting really excited for this summer, and this issue’s festival guide only adds to that. Another great feature we have in this issue is local boys, The Man Who Loves You. Specialising in tales of Plymouth’s night life with some sweet melodies and country influences, we talk to front man JG on his inspirations and his boyish good looks. This issue also features the latest plans for Bretonside Bus Station, that have stirred up a lot of feathers in the local music scene. Dan James of the White Rabbit talks about how the new changes will affect the venue and the community. Anyway, all of us at Plymouth Student hope you’ve had a great Easter and aren’t stressing out too hard over the last semester. Summer is almost here folks!
Naomi Girdler Editor
Advertising: If you are interested in advertising in PS, please contact us at debbie@ps-zine.com or call 07989 301331 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/ PSzineplymouth
The Man Who Loves You From left to right: Jim, Dave, JG and Paul
festival guide
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THE BIG F E S T I VA L L I S T Listings by Dom Wallace
It’s that time of year again, where we all begin craving being unwashed, drunk and screaming in a field full of other people who also haven’t showered in three days. Festival season is upon us and here at Plymouth Student, we’re giving you the low down on some of the best local and national festivals on offer.
May Run To The Sun
May 23rd - 26th / £75
Newquay’s Run to the Sun has recently come under new ownership who promise to bring ‘new beginnings’ and a ‘new dawn’ to the custom VW festival nearing its 30th anniversary. However don’t let its age fool you, Run To The Sun is feeling as young as ever and brings the crowds from all over Europe year after year. The main arena boasts DJ’s Jaguar Skills, MistaJam and Goldie as their weekend headliners. They are supported by acts such as Artful Dodger, Matrix and Futurebound,
Bestival
Krafty Kuts, and Wideboys. The second arena provides an alternative genre featuring artists such as Utah Saints, The Freestylers and Ray Keith. The third stage, ‘Fitz & Giggles’ features a comedy line-up and silent disco after midnight. Run To The Sun is one of the largest VW and dance festivals in Europe so don’t miss out on the party to see the Summer in.
Volksfest
May 23rd - 26th / £75 For its 8th year Volkfest will return to Newnham park. With brand new editions and massively varied entertainment, Volks seems to offer something for everyone whether its music, comedy or a gawk at the VW displays. The first night’s headliners are regulars Mad Dog Mcrea
who will be supported by festival favourites Willie and the Bandits. The second night takes a different tone with chart toppers Razorlight and the Feeling headlining the main stage. The final night takes a step back to the eighties where Bob Geldoff and The Boomtown Rats headline along with Toyah and Heaven 17.
De La Soul, is sure to bring the classics. Other acts include dub reggae band Zion Train, Sam and the Womp, seven piece folk/hip-hop band Dizraeli and the Small Gods, new wave hip-hop four piece the Scribes, self-taught guitarist Lloyd Yates and The People’s String Foundation amongst others.
As well as the main stage, Volksfest’s ‘Jammin’ stage is host to local up-and-coming South West bands such as the new wave hip hop group The Scribes. The centrepiece of the festival is sure to be the dance village new for 2014, featuring a man-made beach, international DJ’s and foam parties.
With more acts to be announced Electric Beach is shaping up to be more than a mini Boardmasters with tickets selling out fast.
June
Glastonbury
June 25th - 29th / SOLD OUT
June 7th - 8th / £27.50
England’s, and perhaps Europe’s, most celebrated festival returns to Worthy Farm, Somerset, with a bang this year offering every musical experience imaginable. With over 100 stages, amongst other venues the festival is sure to please any goer.
Set up on Watergate Bay’s sandy shores, Electric Beach aims to host the UK’s greatest beach party with a multitude of acts and surf events. Expanding this year to a 2-day festival, the Saturday night is expected to be the night to party with more upbeat acts while Sunday represents the comedown with a more chilled out selection.
Already announced headliners are Kasabian and Arcade Fire, with a third headliner being announced in May. Acts include De La Soul, Jack White, Blondie, The Black Keys, Pixies, Foster the People, Lana Del Ray, Jake Bugg, Robert Plant and MGMT. The festival is bound to be bigger and more successful than ever before.
One of hip-hops forefathers Grandmaster Flash is the highlight of the weekend while Maseo, a.k.a Plug 3 from
Appealing to any music lover; this vibrant, unique, hugely entertaining, consistently great festival is an event worth
Electric Beach
festival guide going to at least once in your life. Although tickets are currently sold out, resale tickets will be available between April 24th and the 27th, so mark your diaries if you’re planning on going !
August Leopallooza
August 1st - 3rd / £70 Leopallooza, the self-proclaimed ‘house party in a field’ returns to Bude this year. Taking pride in their unique ethos of great music and a great time with friends, the festival boasts low ticket prices, low bar prices and free camping. Leopalooza features a line-up of up-and-coming bands and artists from across the UK. Electropop band FenechSoler and electropop singer Foxes are headlining the Saturday night while Friday and Sundays headliners are yet to be announced. Also confirmed are Brother & Bones, The Other Tribe, Rae Morris, Arcane Roots, Gnarwolves and more. Featuring multiple stages, including a dance stage, there are over 60 acts still to still be announced. For their 9th year this ‘DIY’ festival offers people out to experience Cornwall’s lush scenery with the mission to throw the greatest house party ever.. in a field.
Boardmasters
August 6th - 10th / £119 Boardmasters is a festival that celebrates Newquay’s surf heritage with its international surf competition at Fistral Beach as well as skate and BMX competitions. Of course the main pull of the festival is its music over at Watergate Bay. This year’s headliners are Chase and Status, Bastille and,
eight unbelievably, Snoop Dogg, or Snoop Lion/Snoopzilla depending on who you’re asking. The main stage features indie rock from bands The Cribs, Peace, Palma Violets, The Enemy, Yuck and more. As well as this Californian punk legends Dead Kennedys and Reel Big Fish are playing as well as a DJ set from Radio 1’s Zane Lowe. Boardmasters also offers a dance/DJ/electronica tent featuring 2manydjs, Duke Dumont and Ben Pearce. More acts are soon to be announced. Minutes from the beach, Boardmasters hosts a great line up with a busy schedule of sports events offering chilled vibes and wild times.
Beautiful Days
August 15th - 17th / £130 Run by folk-rock band the Levellers and taking place in Escot Park, Devon; Beautiful Days offers a non-corporate, community centric atmosphere, featuring great line ups year after year. The weekend headliners of the main stage are Steve Earle & the Dukes, Seasick Steve and annual headliners, the Levellers. The main stage features acts such as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Californian punk band the Dead Kennedys, festival favourites Dreadzone as well as The Undertones. The second stage, The Big Top, offers music from 11 piece folk band Bellowhead, west country folk singer Seth Lakeman, Cornish festival legends 3 Daft Monkeys and more. ‘The whole reason for doing it is that many festivals are shit. We’re trying to get that ‘weirdness’ back into festivals.’ - Mark Chadwick of the Levellers (2003). For its 11th year Beautiful Days is sure to, once again, keep to this mantra.
Reading/Leeds Festival August 22nd - 24th / £205
Reading festival is the world’s oldest popular music festival in existence. Changing over the years the predominantly rock festival has evolved and expanded; now featuring a spread of genres, always attracting a variety of audiences. This year’s line-up consists of not three but four headliners. Queens of the Stone Age and Paramore share the title of headliner for one night while Blink 182 and Arctic Monkeys are confirmed for the other nights. The main stage also features Vampire Weekend, Jake Bugg, Foster the People, Peace and Enter Shikari amongst others. The NME/Radio 1 stage will be headlined by the Courteeners, Bombay Bicycle Club and Disclosure. The stage also features Cage the Elephant, SBTRKT, Chvrches, Metronomy, Temples, Drenge and NERO. The popular dance stage will feature Netsky, a Pendulum DJ set and Flume. With many acts still to be announced, this monster festival is sure to be a blast.
September Bestival
September 4th - 7th / £195 Bestival returns to the Isle of Wight with a ‘desert island disco’ theme this year. Rob Da Banks festival has grown over the last 10 years to one of England’s most celebrated festivals, featuring a mix of dance and indie music, amongst others. The headliners over four nights are the constantly evolving Beck, recently resurrected hip-hop legends Outkast, storming indie rockers Foals and forefathers of disco Chic. Bestival is also host to Busta Rhymes, Paloma Faith, Basement Jaxx, Bonobo, Disclosure, Major Lazer, Temples and more. Bestival boasts DJ sets from Rob Da
Beautiful Days
Bank himself and ‘friends’ including Chase and Status and Annie Mac. According to Bestival ‘it’s not all about the music’; from cabaret to cinema, from musical bingo to life drawing, Bestival features activities of all sorts. The Isle Of Wight’s fancy dress festival is sure to surprise and entertain crowds once again with more acts to be announced soon.
Looe Music Festival
September 19th - 21st / £55 Set up in the streets of the quaint town of Looe and on the golden sands of its beach, Looe Music Festival offers high energy music in an idyllic setting. The festival is a non-profit making organisation so all profits go towards the next year’s festival or back to local community projects. Acid jazz/funk group the Brand New Heavies have been announced as the first headliner with two more to go. Other acts already announced are the Scottish bagpipe rockers the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Cornish festival favourites 3 Daft Monkeys, genre spanning multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Jarvis and 2 tone ska revival band The Selector. Others include Hayseed Dixie, Tankus the Henge, Land of the Giants, and more. Unlike a lot of festivals Looe doesn’t offer many, if any, throwaway acts; each act has unique qualities which makes Looe a stand out festival.
win tickets for looe music festival PS has teamed up with the organisers of Looe Music Festival to offer great prizes of tickets for the event (worth £67.50 each) and official festival T-shirts. Two lucky winners will each receive two tickets and two T-shirts for the event, which takes place in Looe in September. All you have to do to enter is e-mail your name and contact number to competition@ps-zine.com putting ‘Looe Music Festival’ in the subject line. Closing date is July 31 2014.
Looe Music Festival is taking to the stage for the fourth year in a row, sporting a fresh new look and promising a weekend of top music and eclectic entertainment from Friday September 19 to Sunday September 21. 90 bands are already signed to appear in 2014, with a whole host of household names, emerging talent and wildly wonderful acts set to grace the stage. To keep it real on the Friday, Devonbased singer-songwriter and film maker Cosmo Jarvis will be performing a set on the main stage supporting pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene and main stage headliners, The Brand New Heavies. On Saturday, London-based band Tankus the Henge will be creating drama with their ‘apocalyptic carnival’ inspired brand of music. Named as one of 2011’s ‘Top Acts to See’ at Glastonbury, they draw influences from many sources, including rock ‘n roll, gypsy music, ragtime and ska. Also playing on the Saturday is world superbike champion and professional
singer-songwriter and pianist James Toseland. After parting with his band Crash, the husband of famous jazz singer Katie Melua is now embarking on his own solo career, in a quintet known as ‘Toseland’. The band’s debut single: ‘Life is Beautiful’ premiered online in April 2013 and they played a well-received acoustic set at last year’s Download festival. The internationally famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers will introduce the festival crowd to ‘bagrock’ having rocked the world from New York to Beijing with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless. To top off a truly international line-up this year, Hillbilly AC/DC tribute legends Hayseed Dixie will be flying in from America to add a ‘rockgrass’ finale at the harbour. For more information, see www. looemusic.co.uk, follow @Looemusicfest or find us on www.facebook.com/ looemusic.
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festival guide
Run to the Sun
VOL KSF EST It’s hard to imagine, given the weather and disruption of the last month or two, that the dark nights and cold wet days will soon be a distant memory, and the days will be drawing out and warming up. With the summer comes the festival season, and Plymouth is home to one of the first of the year from May 23 to May 26. Newnham Park will play host to Plymouth Volksfest, the UK’s largest combined live music and Volkswagen festival! The show is approaching it’s seventh year and has gone from strength to strength over that time, slowly but surely growing and becoming more diverse and family friendly. The May bank holiday weekend will see over 250 live acts, bands, comedians, DJ’s, jugglers, stilt walkers as well as scores of family related activities, including a dedicated children’s area, with all the fun of the fair! Previous years have seen the likes of The Levellers, Stereo MC’s, Seth Lakeman, Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Hazel O’Connor, The Undertones, The Blockheads and scores more of nationally and internationally recognized artists, and the lineup this time round is undoubtedly the best yet. Fans of the 80’s may want to come along on Sunday May 25 to experience our 80’s revival on the main stage, with acts including Bob Geldof with the Boomtown Rats, The Real Thing, Toyah and Heaven 17. If that isn’t for you there really is something for everyone, with a total of six stages over three days and nights you can expect to see Judge Jules, Brandon Block, Mark EG, Nick the Kid and more than another 100 DJ’s in the dedicated Dance Village – with it’s very own man made beach! Comedy and cabaret comes with the likes of Hal Cruttenden (Live at the Apollo), Alex Hart, Marcel Lucont, Balia La Cumbia, Kittys Dolls, The Belfast Busker, Anna Kierle, The Apples, Weapons of sound along with many other comedians, burlesque, world bands, and much, much more! The main stage will be welcoming back local favourites Mad Dog Mcrea, Land of the Giants, Dreadzone and welcoming for the first time from the US Hayseed Dixie, as well as Emma Stephens and Yes Sir Boss. It’s worth keeping an eye on the website, as new acts are added every day – and there’s some very exciting news coming soon on Saturday night headliners! The Live and Local Jammin Stage, sponsored by Radio Plymouth, has more than 40 bands, including DeckaJam, Electric Swing Circus, Josie Ghost, Coda, Baby Head, Becca Langsford and Vince Lee, The Retro Gents and Jeff ‘The Horse’ Horsey. We’re proud to be able to showcase such diverse and locally sourced talent on this stage - the acts appearing really are a credit to the southwest. Since Volksfest started seven years ago the show has taken on a life of it’s own, but originally started as a small Volkswagen show, and along with the music the vehicle
aspect of the show has grown too, we have some of the finest examples of Volkswagens, both old and new attending from all over the UK and Europe! If you’re captivated by the elegant design of a split screen camper, have fond memories of holidays in a type 2, remember breaking down in a Beetle or just fancy watching the Baja Bugs run the off road course there’s a selection that will either rekindle nostalgia, or ignite a passion for these stunning vehicles. You’re welcome to come and camp for the whole weekend, or just visit for the day, either way we’re sure you’ll have a great time, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family. Festivals really are beginning to take the place of the annual holiday, and with a site as beautiful as Newnham Park, it’s easy to see why. With full shower facilities, such great entertainment, and activities, and being so close to the city if you forget to bring anything, it’s the perfect way to spend the weekend with family or friends. Tickets, as well as full lineup information, and answers to many of the questions you might have can be found on the website www.plymouthvolksfets.co.uk Don’t forget to get your tickets as early as you can, and you’ll save yourself some hard earned money.
Lemonfest © Kim Aldis
octane live show, London based duo The Correspondents will also be heading to Lemonfest 2014. With a debut album due in March, and rave gig reviews a common occurrence all signs point to a breakthrough year for the genre-blending band, and their set at Newton Abbot Racecourse is certain to be a festival highlight.
Main stage acts already announced for the festivals’ 5th birthday include headliners Gentlemen’s Dub Club Bristol’s genre fusing electronic outfit The Other Tribe, and South West folk veterans Mad Dog Mcrea.
In other news the Show n Shine will be taking place on the Sunday of the event, at Newquay Cornwall Airport. Early bird tickets are priced at £65 per person with no additional booking fees. Ticket price includes a wristband for the event as well as camping for FREE for 8 nights (you arrive any time on Thursday before, and stay to the following Friday. Early bird caravan bookings are also available ar £105 per person for 3 nights, minimum of 4 ppl sharing. Bookings can be made by calling 01637 851851 (early bird ticket numbers are limited). Read more at www.runtothesun. co.uk
Previous acts at the festival have included Lucy Rose, Ben Howard, Hard-Fi, Reef, Toploader, The Skints, Cosmo Jarvis, Luke Friend and many more; providing an array of local and national talent to keep everyone entertained.
GLAS-DENBURY
Other new additions to this years bill include local band Tourists, making their Lemonfest debut, as well as the ever popular teenage rock band Hysteria who return for the 3rd successive year– both joining the likes of Firekind, Tiny Folds & Shoot The Moon on the Locally Grown Stage.
It’s not all about the main stage however, with live music and DJs performing across the different arenas: including the Lemonfest Locally Grown stage – a showcase for up and coming local talent, The Big Top Dance Tent – with house & electronic DJs until late, and the Rinse:Out Drum and Bass / Dubstep Arena – which has previously featured the likes of Nicky Blackmarket, Sub Zero, and MC Harry Shotta. With tickets starting out at just £16, it’s unbelievable value for unbelievable talent.
RUN TO THE SUN L EMONF EST Lemonfest is a one-day music festival taking place every summer in Newton Abbot, with live music & DJs across five stages, from midday until 11pm. Now celebrating its 5th year, Lemonfest has established itself as South Devon’s premier live music event. Since playing the Lemonfest ‘Locally Grown Stage’ in 2013, Luke Friend has come a long long way. Last year was a significant one for the South Devon singer/songwriter, after rocketing to national fame as one of the stand out contestants on the X-Factor, finishing 3rd in the competition overall. His live performances have gone from strength to strength, culminating in a stunning homecoming gig last month at Torquay’s Riviera Centre. Luke heads off on a UK Arena Tour with the X-Factor later this month, before returning to his roots at Lemonfest on May 31st. Having graced the stage at festivals such as Glastonbury & Secret Garden Party over the last 6 years with their high-
Major Look , Coco Cole, Jay Funk, and host Illaman. The Sunday bill sees Radio One Dance Anthems DJ Danny Howard, Danny Byrd, Kissy Sell Out, Hannah Jacques, Rawkus Noise, Snatch the Wax, and hosts Youngman, and Illaman bring the event to a close.
Newquay’s Run to the Sun (RttS) one of the largest Custom Car, VW and dance festivals in Europe will return this year. This year the venue’s new owners have said they will bring back the festival, a new dawn and a new direction! The dates for 2014 are confirmed as May bank holiday weekend from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th May in Newquay, Cornwall’s surf and party capital. The new organisers, say, “We have been working tirelessly over the last 3 weeks since we acquired Trevelgue holiday park (NOW Newquay View Resort) and the rights to Run to the Sun, we have recently released the first wave of acts for the main arena, so here goes for the first wave of the New dawn!” The line-up of DJs will be accompanied dy dancers and entertainers, and use, organisers promise, some of the most advanced production equipment in the world. More acts are still to be announced, but the line-up so far is: Friday sees the Decade Of Viper Tour roll up with Jaguar Skills, Artful Dodger, Matrix And Futurebound, Brookes Brothers vs Prototypes, Koven, Cyantific, Eddy Temple Morris, DJ Klimax, and hosts Illaman, and Rhymestar. Saturday’s line-up is topped by a special guest (TBA) with support from MistaJam, Krafty Kuts, Wideboys, Mason,
Glas-Denbury is a unique Devon festival with something for everyone. Taking place on Friday July 11 and Saturday July 12 at Fairfield Farm, Denbury, just outside of Newton Abbot, it’s an event that brings together families to appreciate music, entertainment and idyllic surroundings. A truly happy event, one of the friendliest you will ever find, with a wonderful atmosphere – “A little piece of Sunshine” Glas-Denbury boasts a fantastic line-up of local artists and headliners from all over the country including the No1 80s hit band Dr & The Medics, the best of electro swing from Electric Swing Circus, Indie swing from The Fresh Dixie Project, reggae and afrobeat from Hot Dub, energetic ska band Shoot The Moon, global winners of Battle of the Bands Firekind, inspirational blues performer Jay Tamkin and local bands Society Rocks, The New Lights, Empire of Fools and lots more. The acoustic stage features upcoming artist Owen Penrice and musicians from all over the local area and further afield too. The unique fun and mischief of The Magic Hat Stand takes over the Dance tent on the Friday night with their kaleidoscope of radiating colours enticing you to choose a fabulous hat, wear a silly moustache and cover yourself liberally in glitter. The Saturday sees a great line up of DJs including Dialate, Stewart Noise and many more. The Vaudeville & Chill stage features Poetry, Comedians, Ventriloquism, Storytelling and much more, creating a quirky, cool, laid back zone. The best of Devon’s entertainers are on site as well throughout the weekend including Jungle Jim, Elfic the Jester, circus workshops and much more. With great food and bars this is a festival not to be missed! Earlybird Tickets are on sale now. www.glas-denbury.co.uk @glasdenburyfest
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what’s on
THE BIG LIST Listings by Andrew Girdler It’s a new year and Plymouth plays hosts to a mighty array of great events, local gigs, thrilling theatre productions and some great stand-up comedy.
London Grammar
Keep an eye on your local music venues, Plymouth Pavilions, the Theatre Royal and it’s Drum Theatre as well as your student union, local museum and galleries for all the latest exciting goings on in 2014.
May National Theatre Connection Festival 2014 29 April - 03 May Theatre Royal, The Drum Each year the National Theatre asks ten writers to create new plays for performance by young theatre companies all over the UK. Connections celebrates great new writing for the stage with the talent of young theatre-makers. Box Office 01752 267222 Lord Of The Flies 30 April - 03 May Theatre Royal, The Lyric Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures has created some of the most successful shows of the last 25 years, and now the company unites a cast of New Adventures dancers, in an adaptation of William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies. Box Office 01752 267222 That Groove Thang 01 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Performing a mixture of covers : jazz, pop, rock, reggae, soul, funk but giving everything a really modern twist with a bit of a lounge spin. Details 01752 242021 ONE Love 01 May The Hub / dbs Live A night full of great artists, including Eliphino, Panda, Darko, Jello and more. Details 07966 626490 Rinse-It presents Wilkinson 02 May The Hub / dbs Live Drum & bass producer Wilkinson brings his hits such as “Need To Know”, “Take You Higher”, and “After Glow” to The Hub. Support by Mr Nice, Re-Defeat, Dom Jay, and many more. Details 07966 626490 Black Jack Davey 02 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Black Jack Davey, an evening of irish music and wit. Supported by DJ Murray. Details 01752 260555
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Hamer & Co 02 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hamer & Co are a smokin’ hot jazz outfit with a difference. Experienced guitarplayers Rich Hamer and Frank Hamer perform their own unique brand of music, blending everything from hot to cool jazz using a combination of silky smooth basslines, powerful improvisation and groovy rhythms. Details 01752 242021 ReZonance 03 May The Junction Female-fronted band ReZonance, known for their rock cover setlist including hits from Arctic Monkeys, Blondie, The Beatles, Queen, Muse, and many more. Details 01752 222886 John Butler Trio 03 May Plymouth Pavilions John Butler Trio are pleased to announce their European tour to celebrate the release of their new studio album, Flesh & Blood on February 3rd, 2014. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Duke Johnson & the Scorchers 03 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Duke Johnson & the Scorchers have become an institution in the live music scene & have gained the reputation of one of the best live Rock & Roll bands in the UK. Details 01752 260555 Rockafella 04 May The Junction Energetic Plymouth based four piece cover band Rockafella play storming rock tunes from the 90s through to today, modern classics, forgotten gems, and more with a few twists. Details 01752 222886 Comedy Night 07 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Some light relief with the best stand-ups on the UK circuit. Details 01752 242021 Propeller - The Comedy of Errors 07 - 10 May Theatre Royal, The Lyric Edward Hall’s all-male company will have you rolling in the aisles and leave
you breathless with disbelief with their adaption of Shakespeare’s smartest and most farcical play, The Comedy of Errors. Box Office 01752 267222 Sizwe Banzi Is Dead 07 - 10 May Theatre Royal, The Drum It’s 1972 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Sizwe Banzi’s passbook gives him just three days to find work. No work and he’ll be deported. That was four days ago. Genesis Future Directors Award winner Matthew Xia directs this Tony-nominated play, featuring astonishing performances from Sibusiso Mamba and Tonderai Munyevu. Box Office 01752 267222 Hot Club of Stonehouse 08 May 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 Details 01752 242021 Freshly Squeezed 09 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque An 8-piece funk fuelled barnstorming behemoth. Details 01752 260555 Propeller - A Midsummer Night’s Dream 09 - 10 May Theatre Royal, The Lyric Fresh, funny and beautifully lyrical, Propeller’s multi award-winning production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Box Office 01752 267222 Boogie Knights 10 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Originating from Plymouth, a five-piece Disco funk, soul, big wigs & high boots band! Details 01752 260555 InME 10 May White Rabbit InMe are an English alternative rock band who have to date released five highly successful studio albums, spawning a number of Top 40 UK singles and years of touring and playing great shows and festivals around the UK, Europe and the
world. Details 07916 127298 Elvis Presley - On Stage 11 May Plymouth Pavilions Using the latest technology, Elvis performs via state-of-the art video screens singing lead vocals backed by a live band, singers and an orchestra. Together, this multimedia creation puts the audience inside an Elvis Presley concert presented exactly like one of his classic live performances in a Las Vegas showroom. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story 12 - 17 May Theatre Royal, The Lyric Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a cast of phenomenally talented actors and musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to fame, to his final legendary performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Box Office 01752 267222 Pulled Apart By Horses 13 May White Rabbit After whetting appetites by showcasing new material at an intimate London charity show late last year, Pulled Apart By Horses now announce an extensive UK tour for this Spring – their first since February 2012. Cafe Acoustica 14 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Our fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 Cape Wrath 14 - 17 May A Minibus at the Theatre Royal Third Angel presents a story of family, of
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what’s on
twelve fellow travellers, of whisky and chocolate, and of the longest bus journey in Britain, told to an audience of just 14 in each performance. Cape Wrath is heartfelt, moving and funny. Box Office 01752 267222
S C IS C R E E N S E RI E S AT P E N I N S ULA AR T S Peninsula Arts presents the popular SciScreen series, which returns in May with Paul Verhoeven’s action packed Starship Troopers. SciScreen uses film to open discussion and exploration of science, where members of the scientific community introduce cult sci-fi, followed by an open debate and discussion with the audience. The screening of Starship Trooper takes place on Friday May 16 in the Jill Craigie Cinema in the Roland Levinsky Building. Starship Trooper is set in a distant future where humankind has colonized numerous worlds throughout the galaxy and becomes embroiled in a war against giant bug-like aliens. The 2009 film Moon is the next up in the SciScreen programme on Thursday June 26. Moon is set in a not too distant future where lone astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is coming to the end of a three year stint monitoring a mining operation on the Moon. With only his computer GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey) as company, the isolation is beginning to get to Sam. After an encounter with a too familiar new recruit, Sam begins to question whether his employers have been entirely honest with him, or could this be case of paranoia after such a long time away from home? Other films presented by Peninsula Arts in the next few weeks include A special screening on Thursday May 8 of 1960s British horror classic The Sorcerers, featuring an introduction and discussion with author and horror expert Jonny Mains, whose new book explores the controversial history of the film. In the film, horror stalwart Boris Karloff (Frankenstein) plays a scientist, who together with his wife controls the mind of a young man in an attempt to relive their youth. It’s not long before the couple’s experiment descends into something far more dangerous, driving the young man to crime with disastrous results. A special screening of More than Honey (2012) on Friday May 9 will be followed by a discussion on the decline of bee colonies with local MPs, MEPs and a Green Party representative. For more information on films and other events from Peninsula Arts visit www1.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsulaarts or call the Box Office on 01752 585050
Andy Quick 15 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre What a treat to welcome back the always excellent Andy Quick for his first B-Bar show of the year. Details 01752 242021 Escape Commitee 16 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Escape Commitee are a rockin band formed from members of local legends ‘The Diamond Geezers’…Accomplished musicians who know how to whip their audience into a frenzy. Playing classic tracks from the 70’s till the present day. Details 01752 260555 Desolated 16 May Tiki Bar & Diner Metal band Desolated bring their intense live show to the Tiki Bar Details 01752 226305 Evita 19 - 24 May Theatre Royal, The Lyric With more than 20 major awards to its credit, telling the story Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status. Box Office 01752 267222 Paul Hollywood - Get Your Bake On 20 May Plymouth Pavilions Get Your Bake On will see Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood demonstrate recipes, reveal some of the secrets of being a TV chef and take the audience on a journey through his life in baking. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Psychic Sally Morgan 21 May Plymouth Pavilions Sally is the nation’s most successful psychic and tours the world bringing her unique talents to tens of thousands of devoted fans. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Forked - Performance Poetry 22 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Forked presents premium performance poetry and spoken word entertainment, courtesy of Apples & Snakes, England’s leading organisation for performance poetry. Details 01752 242021 Brooke Sharkey & Adam Beattie 23 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre A rare double headline show with two amazingly talented young musicians, Brooke Sharkey and Adam Beattie will be bring their brand new songs out on the road with them for your pleasure this summer. Details 01752 242021
Banana Thieves 23 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Banana Thieves are a 5 piece band (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards, 3 vocals and occasional sax) playing an eclectic range of songs and styles. Details 01752 260555 Rockin the Joint 24 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque ‘Rockin’ The Joint’ are a popular three piece band, well established on the national rock and roll scene. The band consists of vocals, guitar, drums and the all essential ingredient for authentic 50’s music - a slap bass. Details 01752 260555 Roaring South: The Blowouts, The Jerks, Head of Programmes, Guns under the Table 25 May Tiki Bar & Diner A release show for the Roaring South compilation, showcasing a selection of the bands featuring on the record that will be available at the gig before anywhere else. Catchy & melodic punk rock from The Blowouts, - Noisey 2 piece punk & roll from The Jerks - Country jams form Head Of Programmes - Heavy & driven riffs from Guns Under The Table For more details, see page 22 Klaxons 28 May White Rabbit Neo-rave meets indie-rock from this London band, who merge guitars with synthesized sound to create their unique acid-rave sci-fi punk-funk sound. With influences ranging from Bowie to KLF, Klaxons’ sound has been setting fire to dancefloors across the country. Details 07916 127298 Nels Andrews 28 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Originally from New Mexico, now based in Santa Cruz California Nels Andrews has spent the last decade wandering, gathering songs and singing them all over the globe, sharing them around campfires, coffee shops, clubs, festivals, and living room floors. Details 01752 242021 Thomas Ford 29 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre
Thomas Ford
Klaxons
Electrifying blues talent in the form of this harp-playing, hard blues singing solo performer. Born in a field 20-something years ago, Thomas Ford is a blues shouter, a guitar picker and a harmonica firebreather. Details 01752 242021 Cambion 29 May Tiki Bar & Diner A southwest metal band formed in late 2009, Cambion strive to set themselves apart from the genres of metal to create their own individual sound. Details 01752 226305 Bury Tomorrow 30 May White Rabbit Southcoast Metalcore quintet, Bury Tomorrow, play a collision course combination of both aggressive and melodic metal, complimented by an intense live show. Details 07916 127298 The Jack Ratts 30 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Founded in the sunny sea side town of Bournemouth in 2009, this small group of friends dabbling in banjos, mandolins & accordions, eventually evolved in to a regularly gigging & fully focused six piece band. Details 01752 260555 Little Mix 30 May Plymouth Pavilions Little Mixers get ready for The Salute Tour, coming to Plymouth Pavilions in May 2014. All tickets sold out Diz Watson 30 May B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Three years after they married, in 2006, Ruth and Brookln Dekker started making music together in their then home city of Chicago, inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, Grandaddy, John Martyn, Jose Gonzalez and Elbow. Details 01752 242021 The Retro Gents 31 May Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque The Retro Gents’ mixture of Funk, Gypsy Jazz, Blues, Folk, Country, Jive, Swing make them different from anybody. Details 01752 260555
June London Grammar 01 June Plymouth Pavilions London Grammar are excited to announce their show will be supported by Rhodes and Nick Mulvey. All tickets sold out Happy Days 02 – 07 June Theatre Royal, The Lyric The cult television series is back with Happy Days – A New Musical. Written by Garry Marshall the creator of the original series, the show features Ben Freeman as Arthur ‘The Fonz’ Fonzarelli, Heidi Range from the Sugababes as Pinky and Cheryl Baker from Buck’s Fizz as Mrs Cunningham who are fighting to save their favourite diner from demolition. Box Office 01752 267222 Pests 03 – 07 June Theatre Royal, Off-site Pests is a new play from award-winning Vivienne Franzmann. Pink loves Rolly. Rolly loves Pink. And Pink loves getting bombed off her face. Sisters from the same nest. Both trapped in a tiny rotting world. Both cuffed to a past that refuses to release them. One wants out. The other needs her in. Trouble is that when you complete each other, you’re nothing on your own. Box Office 01752 267222 Comedy Night 04 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Some light relief with the best stand-ups on the UK circuit. Details 01752 242021 Jamie Yost 05 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Jamie Yost is a singer-songwriter from Plymouth who has already impressed us greatly at a couple of our Cafe Acoustica nights and is now coming back to play his first headline show at the B-Bar. Details 01752 242021 Appaloosas 06 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Appaloosas are a three- piece band from Dartmoor, Devon playing Americana, Old-time American and Appalachian music. The band features Appalachian and Old-time inspired vocals from Eliza Acty, clawhammer banjo and guitar
thirteen from Peter Acty and intricate melodies from virtuoso fiddle and mandolin player Stephen Potter.Details 01752 242021 Gareth Malone 08 June Plymouth Pavilions Get ready to sing from your seat as Gareth Malone and Gareth Malone’s Voices invite you, the audience, to be part of their 14 night tour next year. Following a nationwide search earlier this year for accomplished young singers, Gareth Malone, has assembled the country’s finest young talent and together they will embark on their first UK Live Tour in May and June 2014. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Pygmalion 09 – 14 June Theatre Royal, The Lyric BAFTA award-winning Alistair McGowan stars as Henry Higgins in this new revival of Shaw’s play in its centenary year. Directed by Tony award-winning David Gindley, this exploration of gender and class is one of Shaw’s most popular plays inspiring the hit musical My Fair Lady. Box Office 01752 267222 Cafe Acoustica 11 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Our fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 The Grenaways 12 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Cornish band The Grenaways take their name from one of North Cornwall’s hidden treasures, and this is highly appropriate as it’s just what they are themselves! Details 01752 242021
Lost In Space 13 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre 7-piece party band Lost in Space cause a stir every time we have them at the B-Bar so it makes sense that we’ve asked them back again. They are a stomping band, with raunchy female vocals, a full brass section, funky bass, rocking guitar and more percussion than you can shake a stick at. Details 01752 242021 Haunt the Woods - EP Launch 13 June The Hub / dbs Live Up and coming Folk-Rock band celebrate the launch of their first EP “Out There” at the Hub. Special guests include Phat Bollard, Sound of the Sirens, and more to be announced. Details 07966 626490 The Kindness of Strangers 17 - 21 June An ambulance leaving from TR2 It’s 7:03pm on the front-line of the NHS ambulance service. Sylvia is on her last shift. Lisa is on her first shift. The two women patrol the city streets, encountering the full spectrum of human experience. A once in a lifetime journey into the world of the paramedic, where the audience is invited into the back of moving ambulances to witness all that comes with a night shift. Box Office 01752 267222 Singin’ in the Rain 17 – 28 June Theatre Royal, The Lyric Direct from the West End this acclaimed production of Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of the first Hollywood musical when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies and some of its stars behind. The show includes screen star Maxwell Caulfield as studio boss R F Simpson and Coronation Street’s Vicky Binns as the ‘uniquely voiced’
starlet Lina Lamont. It also features 12,000 litres of water which rains on and floods the stage during the famous title sequence number which is filtered and treated before being recycled for each performance. Box Office 01752 267222
what’s on
Dawn French
Andy Quick 18 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Andy Quick returns to the B-Bar for another performance. Details 01752 242021 Rhymewarp 19 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Rhymewarp is the B-Bar’s brand new 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. Details 01752 242021 Tango Sonoro 20 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre An evening of tango music and dance. Lyrical melodies, syncopated rhythms and stronglyaccented dynamics make this music exciting and diverse. Details 01752 242021 Cafe Acoustica 25 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Our fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 Thomas Ford 26 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Thomas Ford returns to the B-Bar with his electrifying blues talent in the form of this harp-playing, hard blues singing solo
performer. Born in a field 20-something years ago, Thomas Ford is a blues shouter, a guitar picker and a harmonica fire-breather. Details 01752 242021
irksome tribulation thrown in, as Dawn takes audiences through the various lessons life has taught her, and the things she knows for sure. Box Office 01752 267222
Jeff Leach 27 June B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Esquire’s ‘favourite festival comic’ brings his energetic, refreshingly honest stand-up to the stage after undergoing a lifestyle overhaul. He tackles the fragility of being a modern man, fears surrounding fatherhood and the perils of pining for fame with intelligence, wit and a relentless stage presence. Details 01752 242021
Thriller Live 30 June – 05 July Theatre Royal, The Lyric The spectacular concert Thriller Live comes to Plymouth direct from the West End where it’s in its record-breaking fifth year. The electrifying audio and video experience presents more than two hours of non-stop hits from pop to rock, soul to disco, celebrating the 40 years of Michael Jackson’s musical history. ox Office 01752 267222
Dawn French: Thirty Million Minutes 29 June Theatre Royal, The Lyric The award-winning actor, best-selling novelist and all round very funny lady has written a new show, based on her life and career, called 30 Million Minutes, which will consist of various delights and riches, with the odd
If you would like to see your event featured in ‘The Big Llist’ then send us an email at hello@ps-zine.com with some details! We don’t bite!
barbican theatre
fourteen
I m pe r m a nence D a nce T he a t r e
Inspirational live dance comes to Barbican Theatre, Plymouth - In May, Plymouth’s vibrant Barbican Theatre brings powerful and unique performances from two South West dance companies. Impermanence Dance Theatre are a company who tour like a band; popping up at festivals, theatres, pubs, outdoors, on film and everywhere in between. Each time Impermanence Dance Theatre perform, the piece is unique; never before shown and never to be seen again, creating an ecstatic live event full of beauty, poetry, physical mastery and humour. The company is developing a unique strain of dance theatre, where movement draws on a combination of technique and theatricality, mixed with visceral live music. Impermanence are delighted bring their 2014 piece to the Barbican Theatre. Through a combination of cabaret like vignettes and intricately crafted scenes,
this performance will act as a prism, refracting humans and human experiences to create a poetic story that talks of love, hate, jealousy, fear and everything else the human condition has to throw up. Karla Shacklock Company is based in Bristol and run by award-winning Artistic Director and Choreographer Karla Shacklock. Karla has toured her own work throughout Europe and performed internationally with various dance, circus and physical theatre companies. The Buttercup and The Crutch is a highly electric double bill. Raw, charged and universally resonant, The Buttercup is a simple yet
powerful story about hope, expressed through the body and a series of everyday, continuously transforming, objects. Using live music and set against a constantly shifting visual landscape, Karla gives a physical and evocative performance and bravely bares her soul as she breathes life into The Buttercup. The Crutch depicts a highly intense relationship between two bodies, two beings. Through extremely physical contact work, a vocabulary, which swings from violence to tear jerking tenderness, a pounding live score and a huge pile of crutches, the duet explores what it means and how it feels to be
there for someone at a time of crisis. The performers decide the structure of the work live in the moment of performance, meaning that each performance is completely unique. Barbican Theatre is delighted to bring these to innovative companies to Plymouth. Impermanence Dance Theatre will be performing their 2014 piece on Friday May 9 at 7.30pm and Karla Shacklock Company will be performing The Buttercup & The Crutch on Saturday May 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets for each performance cost just £9 for students, over 60s and under 16s or £12 full price. Come along as a group, and when you buy 10 tickets the Barbican Theatre will give you the 11th for free! To book tickets for these or any other of Barbican Theatre’s performances, go to www.barbicantheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01752 267131.
the man who loves you
sixteen
Interview by Naomi Girdler
THE MAN WHO LOVES YOU
seventeen
Plymouth Student catches up with JG, frontman of The Man Who Loves You - an indie folk four piece with charming lyrics, country vibes and a love for our little town by the sea. So who are you and what’s the story behind The Man Who Loves You? Well, we’re JG, Dave, Jim and Paul and we’ve all been in various bands together over the years. I sing and play guitar, Dave plays guitar, Jim plays drums and Paul is on bass. The Man Who Loves You started out as more or less a string quartet with a guitar, banjo, mandolin and ukelele which as you can imagine was very folky. Eventually I realised that I needed more of a rhythm section, so Paul, who only learnt bass to play with Head of Programmes on tour, joined the band, followed by Jim on drums. We’d always appreciated each other’s music and being a song writer, he’s pretty sympathetic about what songs need, and sometimes that can be just simple drumming. The material is songs I’ve written over the years, 90% of which are shit songs. I’ve got quite a high filter for myself. Not saying that these songs are brilliant or anything! We’re quite a folk based band, but I think we’re developing more into indie folk now and I think the next record will be a lot more country. We play a lot of shows in pubs so I’d say we can be quite pub rock, inspired by the likes of Chas and Dave and Ian Drury. We like to mix it up for longer sets, with covers and originals, but they’re mainly country covers of songs I like. Where did the name come from? It comes from the name of a Wilco song. It’s my solo persona but I think it works well as a band name too. Funny story though, we once played at the Marina Bar and when asked the name of our band, some lads thought we were a gay band. I have no problem with that though, I’m very sympathetic of the gay community. You had your debut album launch on Valentine’s Day at Last Shop Standing, how did that go? Was it well received? It was great! I like intimate gigs and we knew by playing in a smaller place, we’d be able to fill the room haha. When the event was out on Facebook though, I saw the list of people going getting bigger and bigger and at one point I wondered whether we were going to be able to fit all of them in! Unfortunately, that was when the big storm was hitting so a lot of people got stranded or couldn’t make it in. The album was actually recorded two years before the launch and has been on Bandcamp for that time, and we’d planned to launch it on various different occasions but when the Valentine’s Day show came along, it just seemed appropriate. We would have released it sooner, but we went on a small tour around the country in Jim’s parents camper van. We were playing in Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter, Birmingham, London and Bristol, but we broke down and had to use all the money we had saved to fix the van.
the man who loves you
What’s the creative process involved? It’s mainly songs written by me, but we all work together to arrange the songs. I don’t feel like it’s a project that’s exclusively mine and it’s not like it’s me and a backing band. Three of the guys are songwriters so it’s good to get creative input. I’m pretty easily manipulated by ideas though, so if it sounds good, we’ll go with it. Who influences you? My biggest influence I’d have to say is Darren Hayman, of the band Hefner. He was around in the late 90’s to early 00’s and even after that band disbanded, he still continues to make music. I actually once did a cover of one of his songs, and did a little video for it on YouTube. I’m not sure how, but he was pointed in the direction of the video and eventually found me on Twitter. What was great is that he invited me to London to the Hangover Lounge to open for him, based on that video. With him being one of my greatest heroes, it was a big moment for me.
" T he truth is, I ' ve never been punched in the nose for sticking my face into someone else' s business"
Edwin Collins and David Richman complete the Holy Trinity of influences for me. My favourite record of the year, yet to be beaten is by Robert Ellis, which I think is a great example of contemporary country, that’s a big scene in the US. I’m really influenced by country music, I like the literal and impersonal writing style and I think the future for TMWLY is going towards being more country. It’s taken this record to address my own songwriting and allowing me to get more personal with my lyrics. I think I’d like the second album to be more like that. They always say the second album is more difficult than the first, so we might release an EP in the meantime with all the ‘leftover’ songs that are older but I don’t think would suit the new style. Your songs do well to tell a story, but I have to ask, are they based on real life experiences? Did you really get punched in the nose for sticking your face into someone else’s business? The truth is, I’ve never been punched in the nose for sticking my face into someone else’s business. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s actually just the plot from the Wedding Singer, haha! There’s a point where he gets punched in the face and says to Adam Sandler’s character, why don’t you write a story about it?
So I did. I don’t condone any violence, I generally avoid all confrontation. I’m not a strong man, I’m a lover not a fighter. How do you maintain your boyish good looks? Uh, I don’t. I think it’s all in my genetics. I get ID’d a lot so I agree with the boyish bit. What local bands would you recommend to people who like your music? There’s not a lot of bands similar to TMWLY in Plymouth, but there’s still a lot of awesome people who make lovely music. Head of Programmes, I like them. Thomas Ford, or any of the Langsford clan are great. Moriarty are another one that I think are really good. I recently found an alternative country band from Exeter I really like, called Count to Fire. I have to mention Frankie and Debs too. There’s also a great acoustic night at the B Bar on the Barbican, run by Jessie Mullen. There’s a great guy who sings down there, who I think is Russian and all I know is he’s called Demetri. Just him and his electric guitar, and you can eat noodles while you listen to some good music. What more could you want? There’s a great little scene in Plymouth, sometimes it feels like we’re involved in a whole other dimension. I think we’ve developed a mental complex because we’re so cut off from the rest of the country. That works in our favour at times though, it’s a really supportive and original place. What does the future hold for The Man Who Loves You? Definitely some new songs, but we’re all very busy working with limited time and limited money. We have a few local shows booked, in Saltash, Ivybridge and further out in Penzance. I’d like us to go on tour but there’s nothing concrete yet. I need to get more involved in networking and the organisational side of things, Jim organised our last tour and I don’t think it’s fair to make him do that again! I’m very keen to get a couple of records out, so an EP and a second album perhaps. I also really want to do a World Cup record, rewriting the song Ambush to feature football lyrics. Dave’s not up for it, but I’ll just re-record the vocals if I bloody well have to. Find the boys on Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp.
student submissions / samual marsh
eighteen
S AMUAL MAR S H
Who are you and what are you all about? My name is Sam Marsh. I am from Bristol and I currently study Illustration at Plymouth University. I would say that I’m an Illustrator, but I also enjoy creating animations, filmmaking and clothing design. Illustration is such a broad craft of different elements, I like that it’s continuously evolving and being re-defined. What made you go into illustration? I was really into super hero based animations and comic books as a kid, and I still am… but I always had a love for art. It was only when I did my one year art foundation at Bath College that I realised illustration was the subject for me! What made you choose Plymouth University? Plymouths print facilities are pretty impressive, but I chose Plymouth because of the courses attitude to Illustration. It looked like the perfect way to nurture my creativity, I’m still really glad I chose to study here! How would you describe your style? That’s a difficult one! I work in a very tight detailed way using ink… but often I will do really messy loose stuff for a few weeks after completing one of these crazy detailed drawings. It takes a lot of ninja-focus to spend hours on end inking. Most of the work I put out to the public would probably fall under “anatomical ink illustration” … but I do projects with strange materials to! This year I made my own paint pigment and did some paintings in local caves
around Plymouth. Working around the tides was a pain!
of opportunity to play with visual metaphor in these industries as well as having a lot of fun!
Who/what influences and inspires you? I grew up in Bristol surrounded by Street Art, I feel fortunate to have been immersed in the street art culture that the city has to offer! I have a love for clothing design, which was a culmination of graffiti and skate influence (They’ve both had a long history of using clothing as another way to spread imagery and ideas). Street artworks by Roa and Phlegm are incredible; take a look if you don’t know them!
What advice would you give to other aspiring illustrators? I’d say find a course that seems it can nurture your creativity and then put the time and effort in. Don’t be afraid to take risks with your work, learning is where the experimentation is… and this always feeds back into your main working practice!
I’m also a huge fan of Edo period Japanese wood block prints, along with Edo anatomical illustrations. The Surrealist and German Expressionist movement has also been a big inspiration to my work. What three words describe your work? Lines, Dots, Time What tools do you prefer to use to create your work? I love using dip pens and home made reed pens. You get a really interesting quality of line that you don’t get from more mechanical pens. I use traditional pens in my personal practice a lot. What is your ultimate goal as an illustrator? I’d love to get a job doing clothing designs for the brands/ music groups I respect… or within the extreme sports industry (drawings for skate decks, surf boards and snowboards)! There’s a lot
What do you get up to when you’re not drawing? “Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school “… In my spare time I’ll hang out with mates, watch films, documentaries and a lot of cartoons (I’m finding Adult Swims “Rick and Morty” really funny at the moment). I like catching a boat from Plymouth over to Mount Edgcumbe when the weathers good too. It’s a great spot to relax! How do we keep an eye on your art and upcoming projects? For the Chance to Win free Prints/ T-shirts give my “Sam Marsh Illustration” facebook page a “Like”. I upload pictures of works in progress for all of my current projects along with cool bits and bobs that I find inspiring. My Official Illustration website is: www.sammarshillustration.com Im also on Instagram as “ sam_marsh_illustration”… Follow me to see studio-based shenanigans!
nineteen
student submissions / ross ingielewicz
R O S S Ing i e l ew i c z
W h o a r e y o u a n d w h a t a r e y o u a l l a b o ut?
and stories I’m interested in, I read a
H i , I ’ m R o s s I n g i e l e w i c z a n d I ’ m a l l about
lot of old folk tales and fairytales, and
d r a w i n g p i c tu r e s t h a t w i l l p r o b a b l y make
I
y o u u n c o m f o r t a b l e a n d s a d , o r l a u g h . Maybe
actually quite personal, I reference a lot
illustrators?
both?
from things around me, or from memories
Just keep drawings, even through the bad
or people I’ve met, even though the final
drawings. The worst thing you can do is
output might seem quite distant from that,
give up. And always bite the bullet and
I try and incorporate a lot of symbolism.
talk to people, you need to let them know
l i f e , i t ’ s b e e n p r e t t y c o n s t a n t s i n c e I was
I
you’re there!
r e a l l y y o u n g , a n d I k i n d o f d i s c o v e r ed or
particularly
r e a l i z e d w h a t i l l u s t r a t i o n i s w h i l e doing
I’m a bit of an avid fashion follower, and
What
m y A - L e v e l s a n d I k n e w i t w a s e x a c t l y what
I think that filters quite subconsciously
drawing?
I wanted to do.
into my designs.
At the moment drawing is all I seem to do –
W h a t m a d e y o u c h o o s e P l y m o u t h U n i v e r sity?
What three words describe your work?
I love to read, run and spend more hours
I k i n d o f en d e d u p h e r e b y a c c i d ent, I
Melancholy, theatrical and stylish, maybe?
than I should pouring over tumblr.
r a n d o m l y t o i l l u s t r a t i o n c o u r s e s ( I don’t
What tools do you prefer to use to create
How
r e c o m m e n d t hi s ! ) - b u t I l u c k e d o u t and
your work?
upcoming projects?
ended up on the course here.
I love drawing and working with pencil and
If you’re interested you can follow my work
graphite, which probably sets the tone for
over at rossingillustration.tumblr.com, or
How would you describe your style?
my work. I then colour and collage drawings
on facebook.com/rossingillustration
I ’ d s a y m y s t y l e i s k i n d o f t o r n b etween
together in Photoshop.
(My
What made you go into illustration? I’ve
always
been
drawing
throughout
my
love
illustrating
really
love Park
stories.
watching
My
films
Chan-Wook’s
work’s
too
work.
–
I’ll just see the next few months go! What advice would you give to other aspiring
And do
you
get
up
to
when
you’re
not
haha! But when I finally do get time off,
w a s a l a t e a p p l i c a n t a n d a p p l i e d k ind of
being
quite
moody
and
dark,
but
also What is your ultimate goal as an illustrator?
t o g e t h e r t o o s o m e t i m e s – h a h a , I ’ m a mass
I’m a bit uncertain at the moment, which is
of
scary as I’m coming to the end of my degre e
I
like
working
with
lines.
we
keep
website’s
an
up
eye
but
on
your
still
a
art
and
work
in
progress but rossillustration.com is where
q u i t e c o m i c a l a n d l i g h t - h e a r t e d ? T h ey mix contradictions.
do
– haha! I want to keep on making pictures and working with stories. I also want to
Who/what influences and inspires you?
develop my design skills and possibly work
I ’ m r e a l l y i n f l u e n c e d b y m y s u r r o u n dings,
within publishing in the future; I suppose
I’ll be maintaining my portfolio soon!)
student submissions / sam rowe
twenty
S R
Who are you and what are you all about? I’m Sam and I’m an illustrator and third year illustration student at Plymouth University. What made you go into illustration? It was like a process of elimination. What I was doing and what I wanted to do just fit better into what you’d call illustration than anything else. What made you choose Plymouth University? It’s by the sea. And also because it has the best studio space and the best tutors and just the best illustration course I visited. How would you describe your style? I don’t think I can say I have a style, really. I work in loads of different ways. I guess things that often crop up are me trying to balance traditional media (usually pencil or charcoal) with digital stuff. It seems like that combo is the way to go. Who/what influences and inspires you? A big bunch of stuff. How things look, how things feel. Stuff you can’t explain with words,
AM O W E
how things sound when you hold them up to your ear, what light does, science and physics in general, people. It’s a cliché but more or less anything can. People-wise, the well known ones are people like Shaun Tan, Sam Weber, Sam Wolfe Connelly, then it’s people like Kaye Donachie, Victor Senbei, Victo Ngai, CRCR collective, Zack Dougherty. There’s literally hundreds. What three words describe your work? Movey, drawey, noisy What tools do you prefer to use to create your work? Pencils and paint and charcoal and stuff like that, usually on paper. And then Photoshop for still images and some animations, Flash for harder animation, AfterEffects sometimes for video stuff. I guess I try to use what’s appropriate. Learning something new always pays off later. What is your ultimate goal as an illustrator? It’d be great if people came to me for my work instead of the other way around.
What advice would you give to other aspiring illustrators? Do what you want because someone will want it. Never stop drawing, it’s never worth it. Learn as much as you can all the time. What do you get up to when you’re not drawing? I like longboarding and music, sometimes listening sometimes playing. I like spending time with people because I really like people. How do we keep an eye on your art and upcoming projects? Well the easiest way is to just pick up any phone and scream my name into it. You’ll automatically be put through to me. You can also look at my blog and my website though, if you’re in a quiet place like a library or something. samdraws.com samrowedraws.tumblr.com
roaring south
twenty two
ROARING SOUTH
We interview Elliot Phillips on his final year project, a release of exclusive local songs on vinyl as well as a launch show at Tiki Bar on May 25th. This is what he had to say for himself...
So tell us a little about yourself and Roaring South? Well, it’s basically a compilation of punk/rock/hardcore music that I’m releasing as well as designing and printing all the artwork for. A lot of the bands are from Plymouth with a few from further afield thrown in for good measure. It started as a brief from my college but I’ve tried taking it a lot further and to actually make something happen with it. So the album is now getting pressed on vinyl and I’m currently hand printing all of the covers and posters for it in my bedroom from a hand cut piece of lino. It’s a lot of work but I love it. What inspired you to create a project based on local music? I’ve been buying records and going to gigs since I was about 12, mostly as a result of my dad owning a record shop and promoting punk gigs in Newport for around 30 years. When you’re around something for that long it definitely rubs off on you. I’ve always wanted to be more involved with music but lack any kind of talent musically, so promoting and releasing music is something that’s crossed my mind from time to time. The final project for my course seemed like an ideal platform to do this from as I have a lot of time to put into this. From a artistic perspective, what inspired the artwork for the project?
When I was gathering ideas to put forward to my course leader for assessment it was around the time that we were getting hit with pretty bad storms. Restaurants and railway lines being swept into the sea was all that was on the news for weeks and so you couldn’t ignore it. I felt that the connotations and imagery of storms fitted quite well with the loud and abrasive style of music that I wanted on the compilation. As a result all the artwork and the title of the album are all based on storms. Who's featured on the record? The Blowouts, Crows-An-Wra, The Jerks, Silent Front, BRUNEL, Guns Under The Table, Woahnows, Milk Teeth, Boxkite, Patrons, USA Nails and Head Of Programmes What do you think of the local music scene? I’ve only been here for 2/3 years but I have seen some incredible bands, local and touring. Plymouth seems to get missed out quite a lot as bigger promoters and tour managers seem to think people will just travel to Bristol. A lot of credit is due for the venues and promoters here for getting as many great bands to play as they do. There’s a lot going on with local music as well which is great, that’s what this album is about, showing just how incredible the local music scene is. Also there’s a few record shops here in Plymouth which I think is important as they’re vital to a music scene.
How can people get more involved and support local bands? Just be present and be interested. If you hear or see a band and don’t know them then check them out online, they’re bound to have stuff on Bandcamp or Facebook and if you like it then turn up to a show. One thing I’ve found is everyone here is really friendly and enthusiastic about music. Getting to a show or to a record shop is the best way to get involved, with other people, you’ll learn a lot. You're having a launch event in May, tell us a little about that? Yeah, the idea for this came after really, I’ve been trying to push this project as far as I can and having a launch event with some bands from the record playing seemed like a logical step. Ben at Tiki bar has helped out a lot with that side of things, we’re going to try and make a big thing of it and have an all day event so keep the 25th of May free. Where can we find more information about the Roaring South? I’ve been updating my design blog about it quite a lot over at www.elliotphillipsdesign.tumblr.com and you can find links for the store and facebook event there.
twenty three
save the white rabbit
S AVE WH ITE R ABBI T
Dan James Owner
On the 25th March, the Plymouth Herald released an article about a new leisure complex being built in the place of Bretonside Bus Station. In the £50 million bid, it would renovate the area and introduce a new cinema, shops and restaurants, relocating the coach station to Mayflower West car park. Hearing the news, patrons and supporters of the White Rabbit, a 400 capacity venue, situated in the heart of the bus station, knew that this could spell disaster for the club. People began taking it upon themselves to make their voices heard with petitions and articles to save their favourite music venue from being destroyed and forgotten. In this time over 3000 people have signed a petition online to save the White Rabbit, which encouraged Dan James, owner of the White Rabbit, to get into talks with the council as to what was going to happen when these plans begin. We sat down with Dan to find out more.
Bretonside, it’s needed it for a long time. The council, though, need to be careful. There are very few pieces of culture left in this city and the South West really needs more venues. If Plymouth had a 1000 capacity venue, it would really encourage more promotors and agents to send more bands down this way. Through bands and tours, Plymouth gains visitors and contributes to the economy and with so many students in the city, there needs to be a night and social life that makes them stay, with alternatives to Oceana.
a reason for that, they have the range of venues, ranging in sizes for different types of bands. Most of them like to book shows six months in advance and they won’t want to book anything if they’re unsure as to whether they’ll even be a building to play in! What can your average music lover do to help the Rabbit? We need to make the council see what an asset this place can be to Plymouth’s culture. There’s been a
So what do you think the future holds for the White Rabbit? We’re in a meeting soon with local MP Tudor Evans to talk about funding and various strategies. I’m aware that sometimes in life, things come and go and even if I can’t save the White Rabbit, someone else will take it and make it happen. There’s a lot to consider and lots of obstacles to overcome such as environmental health, licensing, health and safety.
Proposed plan for the cinema complex
So what is going on exactly? Well, it’s all quite up in the air. The most information I’ve had is the article that was released in the Herald about the new council development. We’ve been in talks with the council, who said they will help us relocate, but they have no real obligation to rehome us since we’re an independent business, not a charity for example. They will help us by giving us rates relief - cheaper business rates - but it’s up to us to find the building. We’ve been in talks with our local MP, but it’s a case of when the deal goes through, it’s all signed and agreed, that’s when we’ll get six months notice to move along. What would you need to restart White Rabbit? Once we’ve found a premises, we would need funding to help sound proof it, build toilets, create a stage, put in fire exits etc, but we really don’t have the money. We would definitely need extra help. What do you think about the redevelopment of Bretonside in general? I totally agree with the redevelopment of
what’s going on. This is going to be a community effort and we’re not afraid to ask for help. It’s great to know there are people out there who are willing to fight for this cause, but everyone needs to remember that the venue is just four walls. The life and soul of this place is what’s worth saving and it can be moved and it will adjust to change. I really do embrace change and if we can find a suitable location to move to, we can make things better and preserve the Rabbit’s spirit under a new guise.
I just want to thank everyone who’s supported White Rabbit during this time, the overwhelming response from the community has been amazing and it’s given us a massive reason to continue with this. Keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground and by working together, we can make the changes we want to see happen. What’s your opinion on the music scene in Plymouth? Why is it so important to save it? There’s a load of local talent and young bands and there’s a great pride that comes with that. When young bands start out, there’s a load of government funded colleges and rehearsal spaces with grants for musicians, but there’s a lack of support for the venues that are the next stage of that process. Bands need to know that there’s a platform for them to make use of all that hard work and encourage more bands to work hard and get touring, locally, nationally and internationally. And if you look at Devon and Cornwall, the main locations near Plymouth that get all of the attention from promoters are Bristol and Exeter. But there’s
petition set up online that currently has over 3,000 supporters but we could always do with more. There’s also been a testimonials Facebook page set up where we’re encouraging anyone who’s had a good night with us, played a show, or just gotten really drunk and made a fool of themselves to share their experiences, to help support our campaign for relocation. It’s not just us though, there’s a whole load of independent businesses in Bretonside that need your support, such as the Last Shop Standing record store. It’s hard enough in this economic climate to set up your own business and I think the council needs to address this, rather than encouraging more and more chains to set up their franchises here. Keep checking the White Rabbit Facebook page, we’ll do our best to keep everyone informed as to
To do your bit to help save the White Rabbit, sign the online petition at www. change.org/petitions/tudor-evans-savethe-white-rabbit-plymouth Or to add your own testimony, visit the White Rabbit Testimonies Facebook page at www. facebook.com/whiterabbittestimonials Any news, updates and gigs listings for the White Rabbit can be found on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ rabbitgigs
life after university
twenty four
just left uni? Words by Vicki Vokes Leaving university? Where do you live now? For around ten thousand students in Plymouth, university is nearly over and it’s time to be a grown up! The prospect of finding a full time job and a new home can be scary at the best of times, but putting both together at once can feel daunting. Let’s take a look at your options… Buying your own house (for a great guide, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/house-buying-guide) - for most graduates, this could be a long way off. In a nutshell these are your initial costs: • A deposit of £5000 plus • Mortgage arrangement fees - approx. £1,000 • Valuation fee - £300 • Legal fees - £500-8000 • Stamp duty - depends on the value of the house. Over £125,000 and you’ll need to pay a percentage • Surveys - £400-£700 • Removal costs - free (with help of family or friends) or £100 upwards • House repairs - depends on the condition of the house you are buying. • Furniture and extras - if you currently have nothing, you’ll need everything from beds, sofas, kitchen equipment and even carpets. If you have the cash to cover all of the above, bear in mind that buying a property can take a long time. Living with parents - some of us would rather eat our own feet than go back to living with our parents (no matter how much we love them). You’ve just had a few years away from them at uni and it was fantastic! It’s great to go back on Sunday with a black bag full of dirty clothes for Mum to wash and iron, have a big roast and wave goodbye at the end of the day. You could go home, get stuffed with food by Mum, help your Dad with the DIY and garden (believe me that’s what I did). But do you want to rehang your clothes in your childhood wardrobe and sleep on the single bed where you once practiced kissing your pillow? Some parents will charge you rent, while some of you
are lucky and get to keep all your monthly wages. If you are expecting your parents to give this money back to you when you do decide to move out (to help with any deposits), think again! They keep it! Renting - you could get a few friends together and look for your own house to rent (you may have already done this in a group while at University). You will need to contact estate agents, get references, have a guarantor, pay fees, deposits and first month in advance. Depending on the property, (furnished or unfurnished) you’ll need to get certain furniture, beds, sofa, table and chairs, white goods (fridge/freezer, washing machine) etc. You’ll also now need to pay council tax. To save money, you can switch gas and electric providers once in. It’s probably best to organise a cleaning rota to make things fair (you don’t want to always be stuck cleaning the bathroom every time because no one else will do it). House share - A lot of young working professionals are considering house shares because they can’t afford to rent a whole property on their own (a one bed flat in Plymouth City Centre will set you back around £500 a month, add in gas & electric, council tax, water and that’s around £700-£800 a month and you’ve not bought any food yet)! Remember the night your mate Nick drank so many jager bombs? He woke the next morning covered in dirt, asking what had happened. He went box-dooring. He hid in a box and you had to ring the door bell of a house, they answer, and he pops out of the box naked. On one of these times, he tried running away, jumped over a fence, clipped his foot, went head first into a flowerbed. Nick is a really good mate and is the life and soul of the party, but would you want to be with him every day? House shares can be really helpful, you are moving in with strangers so you don’t need to worry if you’ll fall out with your oldest buddy because she’s a bit OCD on cleaning and you don’t care that there’s a ring around the bath when you have a soak (like really?!). You can save money in the meantime…or spend it on takeaways and alcohol (your choice). The point is, you have more money left at the end of the month to do what you want to do.
Whatever you decide to do, have a think about it first and ask for help from people you trust. Don’t get ripped off. There are always ways to save money, not pay fees and get people to do a lot of the work for you. Just be honest about what you need from your next house, housemates, friends, parents. Keep safe, Vicki
Letting Solution Partners We find YOUNG WORKING PROFESSIONALS rooms in shared houses. We find out all about you, your interests and match you to the relevant home. We rent rooms from £350 a month in Plymouth. This is fully inclusive.
What can you expect renting from us?
• Broadband • No estate agent fees • Recently decorated with a stylish modern look • Thoroughly cleaned before you move in • A cleaner to come in regularly to clean kitchen, bathroom and all communal areas • All bills included (gas & electricity, water, council tax) • Flat screen televisions and leather sofas in most properties • Furnished room (bed, chest of drawers, cupboard) • Kitchen fully stocked with cooking items, crockery, cutlery etc. • Easy contact with one of our agents • Swift response for any queries or problems • A friendly and professional service • Really friendly households. • • • •
Moving in a few months time?
Let us know what you require Where do you want to live, City Centre, Mutley, Keyham, Stoke etc.? How many people would you share with? 3, 4, 5 What you expect to live near (ie. local shops, bars, restaurants, workplaces etc.)
If you are interested in a new house share, text “Rooms” to 07760 547343 Like our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lettingsolutionpartners
food
twenty six
e v e r y - j u a n l o v es t a cos It’s not quite summer yet, so get some heat into your life with this great taco recipe! Beef can be swapped for veggies or veggie mince for all you plant lovers out there.
B E E F Ingredients: 500g mince 1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon dried red chilli flakes 6 tablespoons tomato puree 12 flour tortillas or taco shells vegetable oil, for frying salt and pepper to taste To serve 1 iceberg lettuce, shredded 2 tomatoes, finely chopped 2 tablespoons grated cheese 1 avocado, diced soured cream Serves 6
TA C O S Method: 1. Dry-fry the mince in a frying pan until brown and crumbly, stirring occasionally and breaking it up with a wooden spoon. 2. Add the onion, green pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir in the herbs and spices; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the tomato puree and mix well. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Place a little of the mixture on each tortilla and roll up, or spoon into the taco shells. Secure tortillas with a cocktail stick. If using tortillas, heat the oil in a frying pan and then fry the rolls quickly until golden. Serve with your choice of accompaniments and enjoy!
chips chips with dip cod haddock hake plaice china sole lemon sole scampi
1.80 2.30 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.00 3.75
2.50 3.00 4.10 4.10 4.10 4.10 3.60 4.35 3.40
sausage jumbo sausage fish cake
0.75 1.50 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 1.80
1/2 chicken chicken nuggets veggie fritter pea fritter onion rings
3.00 2.20 1.40 1.20 1.40
baked beans curry sauce mushy peas faggot gravy dips for chips roll & butter pineapple fritter banana fritter can of drink
0.75 0.90 0.90 1.10 0.60 0.50 0.45 1.40 1.40 From 0.75
All prices correct at time of going to press
GIRL GAMERS twenty seven
game grin / female gamers
Words by Emily Walker
the faces behind the voices are posted up so others can see what they look like. Unfortunately, many photos come under vicious scrutiny due to the content inside them. Criticism can occur for many reasons, from things like having a full face of make-up, to wearing a low-cut top, from the expression on the person’s face, to the angle at which the shot is taken. Reactions to these fluctuations also range, from the purely complimentary, to the more worrying aforementioned slut shaming. If the pic is not seen as appropriate, she is deemed a slut, a fake gamer, an attention seeker, pathetic, embarrassing, deserving of the verbal abuse, bringing it on herself even. Ironically, with a hobby in which you are very rarely visible to others, on social media it appears to dictate whether or not you are allowed to call yourself a gamer. In the past, society has seen women fight for their right to game, with gaming seen as a primarily male-dominated hobby. Whilst this is still relevant today, the rise of female gamers has also brought about some interesting issues in itself. Recently, I have begun to notice a real discrimination against women who game; and it comes from other women. It seems strange to think that women who enjoy playing games would discriminate against others who share the same love and passion for this huge entertainment industry. I’d like to, within the confines of this article, explore how and why this happens, the possible reasons behind it and why it needs to stop. First off, let’s take a look at some of the ways this discrimination is occurring. Interestingly enough, rather than taking place in the virtual game worlds in which we play,
it is happening in the ‘real world’ and often through the medium of the internet, in particular, social media. Slut shaming. We’ve all heard it, it’s a hot topic at the moment, and the discussion around the issue is both divided and vigorous to say the least. At the moment I am regularly seeing slut shaming going on in the gaming community, and it is almost exclusively instigated and perpetuated by women. The way it is manifesting itself is often through the publishing of photographs. Whether the photograph be of a woman who appears to be playing a game, or of a comparison of two different women normally provoke different responses; I will address them both. Firstly we have the self-portrait. Often seen on a community or group who have formed due to shared love of gaming,
Moving onto the second-part of photograph issues, we go from the socially shunned inappropriate photographs to comparison photographs, which categorically state what is acceptable and what a female gamer should look like. Regularly these come with actual bullet points on not just physical attributes but how a gamer girl behaves not only in the virtual world of games, but outside of that as well; women falling outside of this category are not real gamers, they suggest. So we can see how this discrimination is taking place, but why is it happening? Why is it that women are feeling the need to call out and demean their peers, to shame and slander people who love what they love? As previously mentioned, the gaming industry has historically been, and to a certain extent still is, male dominated. That means women have had to prove themselves as adept at the hobby, they themselves feeling discriminated against by the masculine majority. Games like Call of Duty and Halo, which emulate wars, shooting, and situations that, in the real world, would be tasks of great physical output, have had increasingly female numbers, with them proving that they too can master these particularly masculinely perceived titles.
look down on the housewife for her more supposedly more feminine life choices? No. Should the housewife feel embarrassed for her decisions? No. Both have taken different paths in life depending on their own personal goals and interests; neither one is a lesser human for it. It is this attitude that really needs to be extinguished, because left unchecked it could cause serious damage, snowballing and affecting the opinions of generations to come. Particularly in the case of slut shaming, I am often reading remarks that I almost cannot believe are being written. Women are beautiful and sexy and if women who feel beautiful and sexy want to put that out there then they should be able to without the backlash of hate that seems to come hand in hand with it. If you look at sites like Suicide Girls where hundreds of incredibly sexy, tattooed women, many of whom love gaming, and take part in nude photo shoots that contain references to their hobby, you can see these women are empowered, and deserving of your respect. This behaviour can be witnessed all over the Internet from a teenager’s Vlog channel on YouTube, to reader comments on some sombre news article. A woman’s lack of a professional photographer to direct them and edit their photos does not result in their being unworthy of your respect. You cannot determine a person’s sex life from a photo, and why is that even being brought up? People have sex, people enjoy sex, people need to get over this, it has no relevance on whether someone is a ‘real’ gamer. Women who post attractive photos of themselves are not objects craving attention, they are confident people who want the world to see who they are.
Really, women should be embracing each other for their differences and getting along regardless of whether they choose to spend their gaming hours on Battlefield 4 or Candy Crush Saga. Throwing hate and rage around because of the way a woman chooses to present herself physically (which has absolutely Women should be no relevance on the way one embracing each other plays a game), or the mediums for their differences through which she chooses to and getting along entertain herself is misogynistic regardless of whether and sexist, regardless of your they choose to spend gender.
There appears to be desire for women to prove their mettle, to bring gender equality by matching the skill of male gamers. What makes this so fascinating is that when you pick up your controller, or sit at your their gaming hours PC and enter the virtual realm on Battlefield 4 or Attempting to shame someone there isn’t really any need for Candy Crush Saga who is comfortable being herself these perceptions. Everyone is through this public medium of automatically equal. You are all the internet does nothing except on the same playing field, the shame the people doing it. The differing physical attributes of being a man or a woman are no longer relevant here. This question that begs to be asked is why they feel enough place is about brains, logic, puzzle solving and reflexes, and of a conviction to comment, let alone use such obviously yet we still bring in social constructs of women needing to emotionally-charged remarks. It seems like this sort of compete for and fight to gain equality with men because roused response has to come from somewhere deep within that psyche that games are male-dominated has been where personal insecurities and jealousy reside. Perhaps a longing to be liberated like these women they disapprove drilled into our brains. of so much, to be free from a lifetime of being limited by their It is this type of game; the ones perceived as masculine, own self-doubt could be the reason for this hate speech, that seem to be the main prerequisite to qualifying as a albeit an unwarranted one. “real” gamer. Women that choose to play other games due to personal preference are then being mocked for not In a culture that has only really come into prevalence in the meeting the mark, playing titles that aren’t “proper” games. past couple of decades with the creation of the internet, Why is it that by choosing less ‘masculine’ games, or being and social networking, we are the first generation having into more casual ones it disqualifies people from achieving to deal with issues like this on a virtual level. It’s important that we take the time to sort them out now and learn to be ‘gamer’ status? tolerant and accepting, so that generations to come have Let’s look at it from a different angle. There are two women, something positive to build upon. Gaming is great, let’s help one focuses on her career, is a head player in a large keep that way. business in a largely male company, and the other decides to be a housewife, and stays at home to raise a family. Article courtesy of GameGrin.com Is one better than the other? Should the businesswoman
game review
Game review by Matthew Girdler, computing student at Plymouth University
PC WINDFORGE / developed by SNOWED IN STUDIOS
I’ll preface this review by saying that before playing Windforge my experience with the 2D sandbox genre consisted of a whopping 37 minutes stumbling around in Terraria, not really understanding the point of the game. However, having spent around 10 hours with Windforge, I can say that I now certainly understand the appeal of the genre, even if this RPG-infused title is lacking in many departments. The events of Windforge take place in Cordeus, a steampunkinspired world where clusters of land float in the sky, and whale oil is the primary source of fuel - think Dishonored crossed with Skyward Sword. However, the supply of whale oil is running thin and a new energy source needs to be found in order for the population to survive. There are legends of a previous civilisation which thrived using a different energy source, but investigation into the people, known as Aetherkin, is forbidden by law and taboo. As the player, it’s your job to seek out a new energy source and save the people of Cordeus.
twenty eight ship (more on those later) and told to find an artefact in a nearby temple. This brief sequence acts as the game’s tutorial and introduces you to the mining, combat and platforming mechanics. Unfortunately, it also presents the primary loop of Windforge: navigate a maze-like temple; kill mindless enemies and overpowered bosses; collect an artefact; escape; repeat. It makes for a pretty monotonous experience, which is certainly not helped by the idiotic AI that alternates between standing still while you shoot them and running back and forth while shooting frantically. At least the platforming is kept interesting by the grappling hook, which is always satisfying when used correctly. As mentioned earlier, the game features many RPG elements such as quests, towns, and levelling up. In typical RPG fashion, some of the game’s quests boil down to ‘fetch item x, bring it to y’. These types of missions aren’t fun at the best of times, but in Windforge they can become outright infuriating. After fetching the required object to complete the mission, heading to the right NPC in order to complete the quest becomes a challenge of its own. You see, the world map is made out of square chunks, each separated by a loading screen. The game includes an objective marker system, but it only points you towards the square you need to go to. This becomes extremely frustrating when a quest simply tells you to talk to a character with no description, in a large, labyrinthine town. To travel around the world, you’ll use your custom airship. This is the area in Windforge seems to try to differentiate itself from other games in the genre, but for the most part the mechanic is underwhelming. The game’s trailers and screenshots paint the air combat out to be an exciting and important part of the gameplay, but in reality there’s no point in it. You’ll come across many AI-controlled aircrafts while you’re exploring the sky, and for the first few encounters I chose to fight back (they always shoot you on sight), either targeting their ship’s weak points with my gun turrets, or jumping aboard their ship and taking them down at close quarters. However, I soon realised there’s no reward in doing so; I hoped that I would at least be able to salvage some of their ship’s parts and use them to upgrade my own, but you’ll be lucky to find as much as some ammo from your fallen foes’ corpses.
Despite the sandbox nature of the game, I spent very little time actually building anything. Perhaps that’s due to my lack of creativity or experience in the genre, or it could be the fact that the game has a slight 2.5D look that makes precise mining and building a lot more difficult than the traditional pixel art approach of Terraria. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not After you’ve made your character, you’re dropped into a floating impossible, just enough of a nuisance that, combined with the fact that
I only used it for transportation between areas, I never saw the need to upgrade my ship. The main source of enjoyment for me was just the RPG-esque grinding through temples and upgrading my character to become a badass. The thing which it is sorely missing is multiplayer; throughout the game, I couldn’t help but think how much more fun it would be with a friend to bring on temple raids, compare ships with and battle against. A brief look at Windforge’s Kickstarter page told me that the project didn’t make enough money to reach their multiplayer stretch goal, which is a shame, because without it the game just doesn’t feel complete. I have mixed feelings about Windforge’s story; on the one hand it’s commendable that Snowed In Studios have chosen to implement one into a genre that makes it easy to simply drop the player in without context, and I am partial to the steampunk theme. On the other hand, the story is told quite boringly through text and still images, and there are no memorable characters to speak of. The game is pretty bland graphically, too, and there’s not much variety to the environments on offer. The audio doesn’t fare much better either, with barely noticeable music loops that are repeated ad nauseum. Windforge is the shadow of the game that it should have been. There’s plenty of systems here that should be great, but the package doesn’t quite come together - primarily due to a lack of multiplayer, but also due to a number of design issues. Those who prefer their sandbox games as a solo experience will likely be thrilled with the RPG elements, while others should probably steer their airship clear of Windforge. Courtesy of GameGrin.com
MUSIC
REVIEWS
twenty nine
music reviews
abruptly and ultimately, the record seems a little
so many other artists peddle. It’s the tortured,
*cough* undercooked.
obsessive, whiskey soaked love that happens in the still night.
A shame as Kelis has a cracking voice and it seems that she’s very much capable of knocking
The opening track, ‘Do You Love Me’ comes
out bangers. It’s disappointing that she’s just not
swaggering through the speakers like a drunk
up for the job of making a whole record full of
stalker who’s on the verge of breaking his
‘em.
restraining order. The tension is built further by the tangled spiritual arrangements of ‘Red Right
by Seth Hanney
Hand’ and the dark ruins of ‘It Ain’t Gonna Rain
CURRENT
Anymore’.
FOOD
By the later nineties, Cave would be seen on
/ KELIS
MTV smashing Kylie Minogue in the face with a rock. As violent as that was, he was certainly no
Ninja Tune / IRIS
Having peaked early in her career with
CLASSIC
intergalactic mega-hit, ‘Milkshake’, it’s always
LET LOVE IN
struck me that Kelis has struggled to make the
more menacing as was on this record.
/ NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS
same impact with subsequent offerings. With
MUTE
‘Food’, she certainly has the courage to step away from the radio baiting a little and take some time to re-invent her sound with the edgy-
There’s a lot of nostalgia for the mid-nineties
but-not-quite-edgy producer, Dave Sitek. Whilst
right now. It’s not justly deserved as, like any
a lot of Sitek productions tend to sound like
decade, there was a lot of bilge water released
a side-project of his band, TV On The Radio,
into the mainstream. However, one album that
there’s enough here to *cough* make a meal of.
seems to have missed the throwback-fest. Maybe, for obvious reasons as you peel back
‘Jerk Ribs’ is easily the strongest track on the
the layers within.
LOCAL
T HE MAN WHO LOV ES YOU / THE MAN WHO LOVES YOU
record, with an Afrobeat pulse to die for it. The sly groove of ‘Hooch’ is a mid-record wonder
It’s the magnificently dark, high water mark from
but also serves as the precipice for the rest of
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
the record. Quality control seems to slide very
love that Nick offers isn’t the sweet nectar that
Typically, the
Plymouth has a real dearth of great, inspiring pop bands. There’s enough righteous punk and angry metal that it seems to drown itself out in
the noise. The Man Who Loves You very much break those rules and it’s a real welcoming sound. Having played around Plymouth quite regularly for the past few years, it’s great that they’ve had the opportunity to hone their sound before getting into PMC Studios to knock out a record full of joyous playing and some of the cleverest lyrics you’ll hear this year. Opening salvo, ‘West Coast Hip-Hop Is Not For Me’ reads like a manifesto for the record, with plenty of sly references to what lies within the record. ‘I Got Punched In The Nose For Sticking My Face Into Other People’s Business’ is a wordy title for a beautiful country hoe-down that is a great advert for the bands playing, the solid rhythm of Paul Carpenter and Jim MacGregor and the sweet playing and singing of Dave Babbage and frontman JG Smeaton. Honestly, this is your new favourite Plymouth band. I promise.
agony uncle jake
thirty
AGONY UNC L E JA KE This is my friend Jake, a writer from London. This picture was taken shortly after he had drunkenly fallen on his face while giving a girl a piggyback rirde. Despite all that, we think that he’s qualified enough to have a stab at your problems this issue.
If you would like Jake or our resident agony uncle Ross to help you with your problems, send us over an email at hello@ps-zine.com
I’m moving out of halls this term, and I have to find somewhere to live by September. I’ve got two options, I can either move in with a bunch of my lad mates or I can move in with my girlfriend. Lust says girlfriend, head says mates. What should I do?
crazy. I don’t want to tell my girlfriend, but her mum seems to have the hots for me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s an attractive older lady, but it kinda freaks me out. What should I do?
This time of year is a stressful one for all first years because now you have to leave the comfortable womb your university provides for you. This is halls: the warm, sticky, overpriced, well-guarded, party house that every channel four researcher dreams of. But now its time to pack up your boxes of souvenirs from nights out and clean the semen from the lamp shade. What you need to worry about now isn’t whether or not you’re going to get your deposit back because of that carefully hidden burn mark in the carpet, but it is who to live with. Getting the balance right is the most difficult thing.
I’m confused, aren’t all families a bit mad?
Your predicament really is just about balance. You say you have two options ‘lads’ or girlfriend. Lets first deal with living with the ‘lads’. I have a few questions for you. Do you like running out of toilet paper, stepping in piss or mould in places you didn’t know existed? Also what is your view on genital warts? Ok, this is a rather one-sided view on living with people who self identify as ‘lads’, however you never hear great stories about all-male households. This is all about balance; too much spunk will never make for a nicely balanced living environment.
Ok her mother might want to lay eggs in your anus (or however crazy you imagine sex to be with her would be) but I assume things are as crazy with your girlfriend. At the end of the day you are dating her not her family. Did you not grow up with your father bitching about your mother’s family?
Now, living exclusively with your girlfriend. Sadly this isn’t a rosy affair. You may not run out of toilet roll and hopefully you don’t have to worry about genital warts. Sadly you now have other factors to worry about. The devolution of your relationship is your really worry. Your girlfriend waking up in the middle of the night waking you up by hitting you in the head with a pillow because you did something mean to her in a dream. Often living with a girlfriend could be seen as an opportunity to fuck all the time however it normally turns in to fourteen hours of arguments, ten minutes of fondling. I’m sure this doesn’t sound ideal to you.
A few years ago, I came out as a lesbian to my family. Thankfully they’ve been really supportive and understanding, which has really helped me in the time of my life where I’m discovering who I am. I now realise though, that I feel like I should be a male, not a gay female and want to love women as a man. However, I’m a little unsure as to where to go from here. Have you got any advice for me?
If I were you, I would have a good rethink. How about moving in with your girlfriend, but in separate rooms and with other friends. Still keeping the romance alive but having buffers for when the endless repeats of Gossip Girl (or something more current) gets too much. A friend of mine’s parents have been together twenty-five or so years but never lived together, so moving in with someone isn’t necessarily the only way to keep a relationship strong.
I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for almost a year now and everything’s going great. She’s beautiful, intelligent and supportive but her family are basically
My aunt once said to me, the most important family is the one you create for yourself. Not the people you are related to but the freaks you keep as friends. This means if your Uncle Kevin smears his shit on the wall it doesn’t mean you have to go to the pub with him. If your mate John does the same thing, you do have to go to the pub with him because you chose him as a friend.
Just don’t fuck her mum.
My first admission of my failures as an individual here is that I am not a psychologist nor do I have any such experience in the field what so ever. I am simply a cheap writer who happens to be old friends with the editor and I really didn’t want to write the next chapter to my book so I decided to write the article for a regional magazine. I wish I knew a great answer for this but I feel this is a deeply personal matter that will take a long time to work at. However I do feel time is the most important thing. I guess you might already wear men’s clothes and walk in a butch manner but if not, maybe you should. Also stuffing your underwear with a small pair of socks may give you an indication of how most men feel. On top of all of this I think a conversation with your GP is very much needed because they can point you in the direction of places that could help you.
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