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Month: September 2017

Manchester’s hidden gems

Written by James Johnson on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Arriving at university and discovering all of the many delights Manchester has to offer excites new and returning students each and every year. Whether you’ve arrived from the sleepy suburbs, a quiet country village, or another major city, sometimes the traffic along the Oxford Road corridor and the fight for the busy pavements can prove to be a little overwhelming.

Adjusting to the continuous hustle and bustle of Manchester’s unique network of social and cultural hotspots ensures you’re never too far from a new experience. We often venture into the heart of the city centre when we’re looking for the best place to get some productive study hours logged or to enjoy a new dining or caffeine-filled afternoon. But, Manchester has some great alternative options to wine, dine, study or relax the hours away, that can be found outside the hustle and bustle. Sometimes heading out of town can serve to refresh you of the city rush and might just be your new favourite place to take the magic bus (or the tram) to. Find some suggestions below and plan your next trip outwards.

Withington

Withington is that special place where the magic bus becomes a little quieter, where you’ll unlikely be finding yourself searching for an available seat. A little further south than Fallowfield, Withington is awash with local eateries, banks, coffee shops, and places you can get a little work done (try the Withington library, open 7 days a week) outside of the library.

Didsbury Village

The jewel in South Manchester’s crown, Didsbury Village is a popular spot for shopping and dining. The abundance of popular stores and coffee shops will be a welcome return to small town suburbia for many. Its relaxed vibe is a great contrast to the rush of Piccadilly Gardens. You can also hop right onto the local tram stop, taking you to the heart of Manchester in under thirty minutes.

Trafford

If you’re a keen shopper, or perhaps just a great Carrie Bradshaw impersonator, you might consider heading west to the famous Trafford Centre, where no shopper can go unsatisfied. Your feet will ache before you’ve reached all of the stores available here and there’s always a plethora of great food to be eaten. Hop onto the 250 from Brook Street West, or onto the X50 from Piccadilly Gardens, and you’ll be there in no time at all.

Media City

Manchester’s innovative and incredibly efficient network of trams is here for you to explore all of Manchester’s outlying suburbs, towns and attractions. Just a short ride away from Piccadilly is Media City UK – the home of the ITV and BBC studios. Travel along Manchester’s infamous shipping canal to a place where any recreational needs are met. The Imperial War Museum is a must-see attraction for historians and visitors alike. Tours of the TV studios are also a highlight, or if this all sounds like too much, maybe just catch a film and hit the shops at the Lowry Centre instead.

Wherever you find yourself venturing to during your time at Manchester, you’ll always be spoiled for choice. Consider heading further afield next time to find your favourite new hangout or take a breather in one of Greater Manchester’s inspired out of town districts.

Preview: Pizza and Prosecco festival

Written by Anokhi Shah on . Posted in News.

The Pizza and Prosecco festival will arrive at Bowlers in Manchester on Saturday 16th of September. From 2pm until 11am, a variety of over 20 different Proseccos including some delightful fizz cocktails will be on offer. At the same time a range of delicious home cooked pizzas from local traders such as Doughboys and The Original Goodfillas will be available as the perfect pairing to the sparkling Prosecco concoctions. All dietary requirements are catered for, including gluten free and vegan options.

The Tiny Tipple Van will be helping you pair each slice of cheesy goodness with the perfect Prosecco, and will demonstrate some innovative new cocktails that you can try at home. Additionally, to ensure each Prosecco you try compliments each slice of pizza, upon entry guests will be handed a Pizza and Prosecco bible.

A variety of entertainment can also be expected including live music and sing-a-longs. As the evening gets cooler guests can snuggle up under soft blankets next to outdoor heaters to watch the live entertainment whilst indulging in the plethora of treats available.

The response to the Pizza and Prosecco Festival has been huge — the Glasgow event sold out in four hours, forcing a second date! Pizza and Prosecco is a perfect pairing and loved by many. This is undoubtedly going to be an unforgettable event. Tickets are on final release from £15.99 and available at https://www.fatsoma.com/pizza–prosecco-festival

HOME Cinema Preview: 15th September

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

Films opening this week:

Mother!

Directed by Darren Aronofsky – Rated 18

A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky — Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream — Mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer, in a potent psychological thriller about love, devotion, and sacrifice.

Click here to book tickets

Victoria and Abdul

Directed by Stephen Frears – Rated PG

The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s rule. When Abdul Karim — played by Ali Fazal — a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favour with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity. Directed with characteristic intelligence by Stephen Frears.

Click here to book tickets

Centre of my World

Directed by Jakob M. Erwa – Rated 15

Based on the bestselling young adults’ novel, The Centre of the World, by Andreas Steinhöfel, director Jakob M. Erwa’s imaginative, candid, and complex film portrays a young man coming of age, discovering his sexuality, and falling in love. Returning home to Germany after a summer away at French-language camp, 17-year-old Phil finds a strange tension has developed between his mother and sister. Unsure of the reasons why, Phil finds much-needed fun and diversion with his best mate Kat. But the seemingly unshakable bond between the friends is tested when mysterious, handsome, new boy Nicholas arrives at their school. Full of admirable energy and verve, Centre of My World is both a compelling family drama and a tender tale of first love.

Click here to book tickets

Kills on Wheels

Directed by Attila Till – Rated 15

Twenty-year-old wheelchair user Zoli, his physically disabled friend, and an ex-fireman, who is also confined to a wheelchair, decide to offer their services to the mafia as a gang of hired assassins. But, as is the way with life, the reality is a little more prosaic…

In his highly original comedy, Hungarian director Attila Till skilfully blends reality with fantasy as he offers a gentle probe into the lives of protagonists living on the edge of society and desirous of things which able-bodied people take for granted. The director was inspired to make his film from his own experiences as a volunteer for the disabled. He explains his motivation: “It was crucial to me to make a movie about disabled people where they finally aren’t played by actors but get the opportunity to act themselves and be the real heroes.”

Click here to book tickets

 

Films continuing this week: 

Wind River

Directed by Taylor Sheridan – Rated 15

Screened to acclaim in Cannes, where director Taylor Sheridan deservedly won the Best Director in the Un Certain Regard section, Wind River is a chilling thriller that follows a rookie FBI agent — Elizabeth Olsen — who teams up with a local game tracker with deep community ties and a haunted past — Jeremy Renner — to investigate the murder of a local girl on a remote Native American Reservation in the hopes of solving her mysterious death.

Click here to book tickets

The Limehouse Golem

Directed by Juan Carlos Medina – Rated 15

In Victorian-era London, an intrepid police inspector — played by Bill Nighy — investigates a series of brutal killings that seem to be linked to a fearsome creature of Jewish legend. Director Medina takes meticulous care to preserve the foggy and unsettling atmosphere of late 19th-century London. With the spirits of both Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper hovering over the proceedings, Medina stops at almost nothing as he rubs our noses in the murk of a London that has itself been a character in many a murder mystery — a tradition to which his film is a welcome addition.

To read Jamie McEvoy’s review of this film click here.

Click here to book tickets

God’s Own Country

Directed by Francis Lee – Rated 15

Johnny, a young sheep farmer from Yorkshire, has sacrificed his own life choices to run the family farm. As lambing season approaches, much to Johnny’s initial resentment, migrant worker Gheorghe is hired to assist. Gheorghe proves he not only understands the farming life, but more importantly, he understands Johnny.

Click here to book tickets

 

Special events taking place this week:

15th September – Dennis Skinner: Nature of the Beast

Directed by Daniel Draper – Rated 15

A feature-length documentary about socialist, trade unionist, and Labour politician Dennis Skinner. Raised alongside nine siblings within a mining village, Dennis has fought for the rights of the working class for over 50-years. Uncompromising in his views, with a set of incorruptible principles, Dennis is both respected and feared on both sides of the House of Commons. Nature of the Beast looks at what lies behind his passion and drive, and tracks his rise from a local councillor to today, where he is one of Britain’s most recognisable politicians — widely known as ‘The Beast of Bolsover’.

Click here to book tickets

16th September – Newton

Part of HOME’s Not just Bollywood Season

Directed by Amit Masurkar – Rated 12A

Having already bagged a major prize at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Newton stars Rajkumar Rao, one of Indian cinema’s brightest acting talents. A seamless socio-political satire, this is a potent work that pits a government clerk against the machinations of electioneering in India’s rural hinterland. Writer and director Amit Masurkar first shot onto the indie scene with the breakout cult comedy Sulemani Keeda (2014) about a pair of struggling scriptwriters. The main lead of Newton, Rajkumar Rao, has starred in numerous critically acclaimed indie films including Shahid (2013), Aligarh (2016) and Trapped (2017) and works predominately in the Indian indie film scene. Newton also stars the hugely talented character actor Pankaj Tripathy in a supporting role. Manish Mundra is the producer of Newton.

Click here to book tickets

17th September – Belle de Jour + Post-Screening Discussion

Directed by Luis Buñuel – Rated 18

Deneuve stars as the beautiful, bourgeois, and bored doctor’s wife, who decides to spice up her afternoons by working at a local brothel where she encounters all sorts of clients and enjoys enduring no end of humiliation. The screening on Sun 17 Sep will be accompanied by a free, informal post-screening discussion led by Maggie Hoffgen, Freelance Film Educator.

Click here to book tickets

17th September – Jungle Fever + Post-Screening Discussion

Directed by Spike Lee – Rated 18

Widely regarded as some Spike Lee’s best work, Jungle Fever tells the story of Flipper Purify, a successful architect who, on the surface of things, looks like he has it all. Until, he sleeps with his white co-worker, Angie, which leads to the beginning of a tumultuous relationship. With a wonderfully nuanced performance by Wesley Snipes in the lead role; a supporting role by Lee; a turn from then rising star Samuel L Jackson; and an unforgettable soundtrack by Stevie Wonder, Jungle Fever remains a film that lives long in the memory and provides hours of debate.

This screening includes a post-screening discussion with We Are Parable co-founder, Anthony Andrews, and founder of The British Blacklist, Akua Gyamfi.

Click here to book tickets

18th September – The Gold Diggers

Directed by Sally Potter – Rated U

The groundbreaking first feature is a key film of early Eighties feminist cinema. Made with an all-woman crew, featuring stunning photography by Babette Magolte and a score by Lindsay Cooper it embraces a radical and experimental narrative structure. Celeste — played by Colette Laffont — is a computer clerk in a bank who becomes fascinated by the relationship between gold and power. Julie Christie plays Ruby, an enigmatic film star in quest of her childhood, her memories, and the truth about her own identity. As their paths cross they come to sense that there could be a link between the male struggle for economic supremacy and the female ideal of mysterious but impotent beauty.

Click here to book tickets

20th September – Ankhon Dekhi + Q&A

Part of HOME’s Not just Bollywood season

Directed by Rajat Kapoor – Rated 15

The multi talented actor, writer, and director Rajat Kapoor’s idiosyncratic masterpiece is one of the key works of the new Indian independent cinema. A heady mix of Bergman, Fellini, and De Sica, this semi-philosophical comedy about family, self-identity, and existentialism, features a career defining performance by Sanjay Mishra.

Also featuring a memorable score by Sagar Desai and lyrics by the talented Varun Grover, the film received widespread critical acclaim on its release. In 2014 the film won three Filmfare awards, Indian cinema’s premiere awards ceremony, including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Story.

Rajat Kapoor has worked across the spectrum of Indian cinema, appearing in hugely popular crossover Indian films such as Mira Nair’s multi award winning Monsoon Wedding, the much-loved comedy Bheja Fry (2007) with Vinay Pathak, while also starring in popular Hindi cinema such as the recent Karan Johar produced Kapoor and Sons with Alia Bhatt. Rajat Kapoor trained at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India and was taught by illustrious filmmakers Mani Kaul and Kumar Shahani. Rajat made his acting debut in Kumar Shahani’s Khayal Gatha in 1989. His directorial output includes Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One (1997), Raghu Romeo (2003), and Mithya (2008).

Ankhon Dekhi was the first film to be produced by Manish Mundra who founded Drishyam Films in 2013. Drishyam Films, an independent production company, has emerged as one of Indian cinema’s most innovative and original new voices, nurturing and supporting new filmmakers and contributing to the increasingly international profile of new Indian independent cinema.

We will be joined by actor, writer, and director Rajat Kapoor for a post-screening Q&A.

Click here to book tickets

 

 

Made in Manchester

Written by Talia Lee-Skudder on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Ah, Manchester. The great city of The North. Home of Oasis, Joy Division, my not-so guilty pleasure Take That, and of course, City and United. Whilst Manchester is world renowned for its music scene and first class football teams, it is now becoming an emerging player on the fashion scene. What’s not to love? It’s considerably cheaper than London — lower rent and lower priced drinks! It’s no wonder that many of the UK’s biggest online retailers are based in our great city; from Missguided to Pretty Little Thing, the Manchester fashion scene is one to keep an eye on.

In addition to their huge online retail presence, Manchester is also home to a number of successful independent designers and brands including celebrity favourite Zeynep Kartal, Forever Unique, and Beaumont Organic.

Zeynep Kartal

Zeynep Kartal first unveiled her collection back in 2013 at Manchester Vogue Fashion Night Out and has since been a sought after designer for celebrities and mere mortals alike. Her signature style celebrates femininity, so expect to see lace and silk, but also leather and fur. Her latest Autumn/Winter 17 collection is predominantly made up of hues of pink: pink fur, pink leather, pink silk. Think less Barbie girl with more sophistication — these looks are timeless. Kartal also includes black and rich emerald green velvet in her collection, for those who want a sultrier look that still exudes femininity. Kartal studied design at Manchester City College, and her showroom is based on King Street. Her A-list credentials include Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, Marina of Marina and the Diamonds, and Pixie Lott, plus her designs have also been featured in Vogue, Hello, and Cosmo. Zeynep Kartal is a credit to the Manchester fashion scene, bringing a high fashion look to our great city.

Forever Unique

The Manchester based luxury fashion label Forever Unique creates affordable, designer fashion, and is a celebrity favourite.  Seema Malhotra, a Fashion and Design graduate from the University of Salford, established the brand in 2008 alongside her husband, Sandeep, and the business has gone from strength to strength. Seema started with a capsule collection of ten dresses; within one week, the designs had sold out. Today, Forever Unique offers over 200 pieces and remains a roaring success. The designs are completely glam with a focus on embellishment, fringing, and figure hugging silhouettes.  Forever Unique is a one-stop shop for dazzling day and evening wear that is unlike anything on the high street.

Beaumont Organic

Beaumont Organic is a luxurious but affordable organic clothing line based in Manchester. Designer Hannah Beaumont creates pieces using the softest organic cotton that will make timeless additions to your wardrobe. After researching the damaging effects that growing cotton has on the environment, Hannah wanted to make a luxury clothing line that is also environmentally friendly. From this, Beaumont Organic was born. Not only does buying from Beaumont Organic equip you with super on trend pieces, you’re also helping the environment! I’ve never heard a better reason to go shopping.

Whether you’ve just moved to Manchester, or you are starting your final year, take full advantage of the amazing and unique shopping that the city has to offer. From window-shopping at the Avenue to bargain hunting in the vintage shops of the Northern Quarter, Manchester really does have it all. Grab your umbrella and fall in love with the endless fabulous shopping opportunities this town has to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Letters to Morrissey

Written by Lily Brittain on . Posted in Theatre.

Gary McNair’s solo piece Letters to Morrissey is not exactly what one would presume from the title. Needless to say, The Smiths are a running theme throughout, with the iconic lyrics of the British indie rock band being spoken numerous times on stage. A powerful backdrop of striking luminous images of Morrissey with the steady murmur of his hit songs eases the audience in, adding to the feeling that you are truly immersed into a young boy’s life and the multitude of emotions contained within the letters to Morrissey.

However, this poignant piece of theatre is so much more than just a 15-year-old boy writing doting letters to an icon. McNair expresses the power of music through this theatre piece; presenting a lonely young man living in a ‘shite town’ and pondering many different things about his life and the somewhat dark and complex issues he is faced with.

In this sense, the audience is presented with a character that is almost instantly likeable, with his sharp wit and laughable teenage angst. Numerous characters all effortlessly presented by McNair flow perfectly with the captivating storyline. The audience learns as the characters do and each shocking turn or event is ever more powerful.

Twists and turns of the story make for a gripping piece of theatre, with some particularly whimsical moments coming from the office of Mr McKinnon and the looming sign, reading: ‘Do one thing every day that scares you’. This phrase becomes somewhat darkly ironic as the play unravels, particularly in relation to the unfortunate fate of young Tony.

The raw honesty delivered by the ‘boy with the thorn in his side’ reflects the brutal honesty of telling the story from a young boy’s perspective. The array of characters come to life beautifully on stage, it’s somewhat hard to believe that one actor is capable of such vast character changes so convincingly and effortlessly. The 65-minute run-through without an interval was the perfect way for this play to be performed. In the same sense that the lives being portrayed continued, the audience continued to be lulled into a sense of fascination alongside the events taking place.

This beautifully crafted piece of theatre highlights not only the intensity of experiences at young ages, but I also felt it reminded the audience of the power of music, reminding us all of how infatuating and powerful it can be. Not to mention how much we recall adoring an icon of ours, whether that be a 1980s musician or someone more close to home. As the play drew to a close, I began to understand just as the protagonist had, how much power the minute things in life seem to possess, and how this can shape one’s life for what seems like an eternity.

The success that Letters to Morrissey enjoyed at Edinburgh Fringe over the summer is sure to be continued after such a fantastic opening night. McNair and director Gareth Nicholls are certainly a pair to look out for. This was a thoroughly enjoyable piece of theatre.

Letters to Morrissey is at Home until Sat 16th September. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Wakefield Trinity 16-18 St Helens: Saints clinch victory at Wakefield and hang on to play-off hopes

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Sport.

Justin Holbrook’s side came from 14-6 down with 18 minutes to play to beat fourth placed Wakefield Trinity by two points, thanks to a duo of late tries from Theo Fages and Jonny Lomax.  Saints knew that the fixture was a must-win, and the side showed a resilience which they have been lacking all year.

After an early try from Wakefield winger Bill Tupou, and a penalty kick from Liam Finn, Saints drew level when forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook touched down.  Chris Chester’s Trinity then pulled ahead with a second try from Tupou and a hat-trick of kicks from Finn, but Fages gave Saints a glimmer of hope when the young full back was set free by prop Alex Walmsley.

Mark Percival followed up with a second conversion, before kicking for Lomax to go over for St Helen’s final try of the night.  The decision went to the video referee, who awarded the four points. Percival then scored the decisive two points with the subsequent conversion.

Walmsley missed the late surge by his team as he left the field following Fages’ try, to watch the birth of his son.  Fortunately, Saints did not appear to miss his presence.  Holbrook will be delighted with the resolve and vigour his side showed as they appeared to be heading for a costly defeat, after playing catch up for 76 minutes.

They now are level with Wigan Warriors, who will play their game in hand against Hull FC.  A victory for the Cherry and Whites would see them rise to fourth place, pulling two points ahead of St Helens and one ahead of Wakefield.  However, it remains very tight with two games to play in the Super 8s, with the three aforementioned teams desperate to grasp the crucial final qualifying spot.

Next up for St Helens is Huddersfield Giants on Friday 15th September, and Wakefield face a tough trip to the KCOM stadium a day earlier.

Man of the match: Jonny Lomax

It was hard to spot a star man amongst a determined and zealous Saints side, but Lomax proved to be the saviour with his dramatic late try.  Mark Percival deserves high praise for his superb kicking, but Lomax was heroic with his diving touch down.

Review: American Made

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

American Made sees Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman reunite in an adrenaline-fueled tale of former Trans World Airline Pilot Barry Seal. Had this been a work of pure fiction, writer Gary Spinelli would be slammed for the unrealistic twists and turns the plot takes. But the film is surprisingly grounded in truth. From smuggling drugs for Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel to running guns for the CIA to Central America, Seal’s story was destined for a big screen portrayal.

His initial descent into smuggling was to add excitement into an otherwise humdrum life, whilst also earning some extra money for his family. As so many true story rise/fall films before this, the protagonist begins chasing the American dream before their greed leads to their inevitable downfall.

After a few years, Seal has so much money that the local bank dedicates a vault solely for him yet this does not stop him from continuing. The question as to why is left perpetually unanswered, is it more money, notoriety, thrills? Even his passion seems to slowly die as time progresses.

Eventually, he is arrested in a ludicrous scene in which every law enforcement agency in America raids his hanger at exactly the same moment, with one member from each helping to take him. The events that follow include a Presidential intervention, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, and the charity Salvation Army. Any attempt at an explanation would be fruitless in a bizarre climax to the film. One that leaves both Seal and I questioning our sanity.

Very quickly, the repetitive formula of the film became monotonous and tiresome. He’ll get caught in an act red handed but miraculously escape every time with a smile, while simultaneously digging himself a little deeper into the crime world.

Equally frustrating was the incredible wealth Seal accrued without spending it on anything more lavish than putting in a pool. Part of the thrill of similar films such as The Wolf of Wall Street was seeing Belfort’s drug fuelled escapades. The craziest moment during Seal’s free time comes when he takes a shot of Tequila at a garden party.

American Made offers up little to show the consequences of his actions, fuelling both a drug war in Miami and a rebellion in Central America. His pivotal role in the rise of the Medellín Cartel will have indirectly cost the lives of thousands but this isn’t mentioned. Alternatively, Liman could have made a critical political commentary of Reagan’s reign or the CIA but opts not to. Instead, he relies on the charm of Cruise and a breakneck narrative pace to disguise the lack of any real underlying meaning. The journey is undoubtedly an entertaining one, but American Made, like Liman’s last project The Wall, is destined to be forgotten.

Peculiarly, director Liman has a person involvement with the resulting Iran-Contra scandal. His father Arthur L. Liman was chief counsel for the Senate investigation into the events and questioned Colonel Oliver North in the public hearings — a man who appears late on in the film.

Lemn Sissay launches university scheme to boost number of black males in legal sector

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

A first of its kind, the Lemn Sissay Law Bursaries take into account applicants’ race, gender and socio-economic background.

The School of Law’s Black Lawyers Matter project was set up in 2016 by a group of academics, community leaders, and legal practitioners upon discovery of some 1200 undergraduates, only 14 UK-based Black males of African and Caribbean heritage were registered on law and criminology courses, and of these none were from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Working with community organisations, schools, regulators and legal and criminal justice professionals, the project aims to address black and minority ethnic under-representation in higher education and the professions – as well as to promote the relationship between the University and Manchester’s African & Caribbean communities.

The Lemn Sissay Bursaries specifically aim to address the obstacles faced by male students of African & Caribbean heritage who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. It will offer eligible applicants an annual grant of £3,000, funded by the School of Law.

“I am immensely proud to have these bursaries named after me, as I fully understand how difficult it can be for people from my background to advance in life,” said Lemn, who grew up in care. “One of the main goals of the university is social responsibility, which makes it unique in the UK. It does an awful lot to inform communities who may feel university isn’t for them that the opposite is true, through public engagement work and schemes like this one.”

“It is a privilege to be part of this project, which will widen participation and improve the relationship with the local communities who often never benefit from the resources of universities,“ said barrister Tunde Okewale MBE. “This is something that would have benefited me had it existed when I was studying law. I believe that it will help to improve and increase the diversity within the legal industry, as well as facilitating a more open and transparent dialogue about racial inequality in higher education.”

“This initiative signals an important step in progressing with our local communities and partner organisations to ensure that people from all backgrounds feel a sense of ownership of and belonging to The University of Manchester and its cultural institutions,” said senior lecturer Dr Dawn Edge, The University’s Academic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The bursary will be launched at an event which will feature debates with Greater Manchester Black & Asian Police Association, youth workers, and musicians about combating the recent rise in violence, cuts to local services, the role of the police, and making our communities safer. Attendees will also be able to get expert advice on making an application to the University, working there and accessing its cultural institutions.

The event will take place from 6-8pm on Wednesday 13 September at the West Indian Sports and Social Club, Westwood St, Manchester M14 4SW.

University of Manchester ranks 54th in the world

Written by Amy Wei on . Posted in News.

Times Higher Education (THE) have released their 2018 global university rankings. The 54th spot on the table is shared by the University of Manchester and the University of California, Davis.

Manchester ranked 56th in 2016, and 55th in 2017. The university’s improvement in THE’s rankings is accompanied by overall improvement in performance by UK institutions. For the first time in the 14-year history of the table, both of its top two universities are from the UK — the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, respectively. 23 of the 24 Russell Group universities feature in THE’s global top 200.

Queen’s University, Belfast is the only Russell Group university to not appear in the list of the world’s top 200 universities.

The University of Manchester is the seventh best ranked university in England. It is also the second highest scoring English university based outside of London, after the University of Cambridge. In the University’s strongest department, Business and Economics, it ranks 22nd globally.

Uncertainty after the Brexit Referendum resulted in a drop in UK universities’ rankings in the QS 2017 survey. THE’s new table indicates that confidence in UK universities is stable again.

THE’s global rankings assess more than 1000 institutions worldwide, using 13 indicators intended to determine the universities’ international reputation. The size of the international student body, international research partnerships, and international research citations are all used as indicators.

The University of Manchester’s main area in need of improvement is their student to staff ratio. At 14.6, the University’s ratio is high compared to other Russell Group universities. The ratio at the University of Cambridge is 10.9. At University College London it is 10.5.

The potential loss of EU research funding after Brexit threatens UK universities’ performance in future global rankings, including the University of Manchester.

The UK government has made one of their core Brexit objectives to, “seek agreement to continue to collaborate with European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.” The Department for Exiting the European Union published a paper last week declaring intentions to form stronger research ties to the EU post-Brexit than the EU has ever had with a non-EU country. If these negotiations fail, research quality at UK universities is expected to decline.

 

Album: ‘A Deeper Understanding’ – The War on Drugs

Written by Will Baldwin-Pask on . Posted in Uncategorised.

“They don’t make ‘em like this anymore” is an expression that can describe few bands better than The War on Drugs.

Their 2014 breakthrough album Lost in the Dream channelled American heroes like Springsteen, Petty and Dylan to propel the fringe indie band to being classic rock revivalists, universally swooned over by waves of critics and brand new fans. They’re the band that got your pothead mate into rock music and your dad back into listening to the radio.

And now they’re back with A Deeper Understanding, hoping to build on their success to become one of the best bands around.

It takes just over 24 minutes to get through the first four songs on the album. Luckily, the start the band gets off to is incredible. Singer/guitarist Adam Granduciel, who sits in the creative driving seat of the band announces their return with the carefree “I don’t know / I’ve been away” on opener ‘Up All Night’.

The misleading blasts of drum machine and punky bass line fade gradually, and the song settles into a gorgeous daze that resembles previous album opener, ‘Under the Pressure’. This is followed by ‘Pain’ which closes with a loud and lucid guitar line that has the sublime quality of an ocean-bound sunset or some shit. With each song, the band reach out and hug the listener, reassuring them that they are indeed back and, yes, brilliant as ever.

Then comes ‘Holding On’, by far the ‘poppiest’ they’ve ever sounded. I have to admit, being released as a single back in June, this took a while to grow on me, but now within the context of the full album it makes complete sense.

The bouncy Casio hook and pounding guitar-drums partnership make it catchy, even danceable. Granduciel, not blessed with the best of voices, grasps at the high notes in the chorus with such confidence the listener has no choice but to sing along appreciatively. This is windows-all-the-way-down, volume-all-the-way-up driving music. This is the sound The War on Drugs have cultivated but with an even brighter punch.

These songs also show a band expanding their instrumental vocabulary. Synthesisers, organs, harmonicas, glockenspiels and slide guitars add even more depth to the dream structures the listener is thrown into. Granduciel has obviously been working on his guitar solos to contribute to this. They appear much more frequently and are more isolated on this record.

Aside from improving his screeching technique, the guitarist has found out how to make them as uplifting as possible. On power ballad ‘Strangest Thing’, the band builds and builds until dropping out to let a ‘Comfortably Numb’-esque heart-wrencher tear the song — and the entire record — wide open, producing the best moment of the whole hour. It’s a moving, single-tear occasion usually reserved for when watching Pixar on a comedown.

It comes as no surprise that these strong starting four players in the album were all released as singles in the build-up. The test then becomes whether the other six reinforcement songs can keep up with the pace. ‘Knocked Down’ slows right down to first gear, but doesn’t quite have the power to put a lump in your throat.

A lurch into fourth follows with ‘Nothing to Find’, which attempts to recreate old classics ‘Ocean in Between the Waves’ and ‘Baby Missiles’ but ends up sounding a bit like a friendship montage from an ‘80s film.

‘Thinking of a Place’ offers redemption, a sprawling highway of a track that the majority of vegan cafés have had on repeat since its first release in April. At 11 minutes, it is so pleasantly long that fans have been said to shut their eyes when listening, believing that Trump’s Presidency will be over by the end of the song. Caressing piano falls, a desert-howling guitar solo and a constant ol’ country strumming remove any risk of getting bored however; in the end, one is left wishing it would go on for just 11 minutes more.

As the album moves into its final act, it shows exhaustion. After a song as beautifully deflating as ‘Thinking of a Place’, it’s hard to get in the mood for even more and the last few tracks end up feeling fairly unimpressionable. The drummer’s favourite formula of kick-snare-kick-snare becomes plodding, whilst Granduciel’s lyrics are filled with boring imagery and overcooked expressions of romantic sadness (“Love is a bird I can’t even see / Even in the darkness right in front of me” on ‘You Don’t Have To Go’).

The band’s previous two efforts, Slave Ambient and Lost in Dream, did a good job of keeping some of their best cards ‘til later. A Deeper Understanding is front-loaded with them though. Ultimately the album comes off as out of balance, perhaps just a few songs too long which, frustratingly, holds it back from being an outstanding work.

Nevertheless, there is much to be in awe of here. The band have lost none of their knack for mind-blowing soundscaping and the few new things they try work very well. In many ways the band demonstrate improvement and succeed in adding to their growing canon of indie-Americana belters.

At the very least, A Deeper Understanding will earn The War on Drugs the high festival billings they deserve and will give listeners enough shivers and heart-squeezes to remain one of the most exciting bands in the world today.

7/10

Review: The Limehouse Golem

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Film.

In an age where the big screen rarely sees period dramas, The Limehouse Golem is a breath of fresh air. Combining crime with the gothic, this cinematic re-telling of Bill Ackroyd’s story is a mystery which – with a ‘15’ BBFC certificate – packs a punch with its morose murders and mutilated victims.

Bill Nighy leads a superb cast as Inspector John Kildare, who is assigned to the case of the ‘Limehouse Golem’ (the name taken from a monster in Jewish folklore), in order to spare the blushes of Scotland Yard poster boy Inspector Roberts, whose pursuit of the Golem has been unsuccessful.

However, leads begin to materialise as Kildare finds a book which appears to have the scrawled journal entries of the eponymous killer. Four suspects fall under the scrutiny of Nighy’s inspector: philosopher Karl Marx (the one and only); real-life novelist George Gissing; Victorian performance artist Dan Leno; and the only fictional accused – John Cree. The snag is that Cree has recently been found dead, and his wife, Elizabeth Cree, is accused of poisoning her husband.

Kildare believes ‘Lizzie’ to be innocent, and regularly seeks her help as she waits on death row, believing her deceased lover to be the Golem. The rest of the story is a race against time, as the inspector – accompanied by Daniel Mays’ Constable Flood – seeks to unmask the Golem before Lizzie hangs.

Bill Nighy was always going to be in his element here. He assumes the role of Inspector Kildare with tenacity and charm – a part which was originally going to be played by the late Alan Rickman. Oliva Cooke is equally impressive as Lizzie Cree and Douglas Booth is hilarious yet brooding as the eccentric performer Dan Leno. Other big British names complete an excellent supporting cast, such as Mays, and Eddie Marsan as the unnervingly friendly ‘Uncle’.

For those unfamiliar with the original story, the inclusion of Karl Marx may come as an odd shock, but Henry Goodman does a terrific job of playing the Prussian philosopher. Morgan Watkins’ fleeting portrayal of English novelist George Gissing is less convincing, yet commendable nonetheless.

The pursuit of the murderer is slow-burning and is littered with graphic, somewhat theatrical ‘re-enactments’ of the Golem’s crimes, imagined by the protagonist with a different suspect as the killer in each vision. The twist is rather predictable, yet Kildare’s revelation and the toll it takes on him is what makes The Limehouse Golem’s ending so effective.

The film is doubtlessly one of the better Victorian ‘gothic’ adaptations to be released recently (2007’s Sweeney Todd and 2009’s Dorian Gray were disappointingly dire). However, some will find that the crime is just not compelling enough. None of the suspects are really given enough screen time for there to be any real element of a progressive investigation – instead, all of Kildare’s significant leads come from Cooke’s Lizzie.

Perhaps we have been spoilt with the array of superb Scandinavian murder mysteries such as The Killing and thrilling American crime-dramas like True Detective. Still, the fact remains that throughout the film’s entire narrative there are only two credible suspects, and at times I found myself just longing for the investigation to be over and done with.

The theatrical feel of the movie will divide audiences – for some, it will feel too much like a stage performance. It is this tone which makes the film thrive during the scenes in the Limehouse Music Hall, where Leno and Lizzie perform. There is also the occasional feel of a TV drama, and some viewers may find themselves wishing the story had been adapted as a series for the small screen, as opposed to a cinematic production.

Nevertheless, director Juan Carlos Medina and screenwriter Jane Goldman have produced an authentic and spirited film which Ackroyd will most definitely endorse.  It is a return to form by Nighy after the disappointing Dad’s Army movie last year, and rising star Olivia Cooke is terrific. It is the acting which is ultimately the film’s pièce de résistance, and occasionally its saving grace, amidst messy timelines and anti-climax. Despite never really breaking new ground, The Limehouse Golem is an entertaining adaptation of a Ripper-esque tale with a feminist twist.

3/5

Top 5: Foreign language films

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Film.

5.         Delicatessen (1991, France)

Sweeney Todd meets Gilliam’s Brazil (1985) in  Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s post-apocalyptic, cannibalistic French black comedy.  This foreign language film is set in a decrepit apartment building in a dystopian France where the ground floor butchers is ran by a murderous landlord.  He lures budding employees through job adverts into his shop, whom he then kills and uses as a cheap meat to sell to his customers.

However, when his daughter Julie falls in love with the butcher’s latest potential victim — the failed circus clown Louison (Dominique Pinon) — she seeks help from a group of rebels named the ‘Troglodistes’.  Consequently, all-out war ensues between the revolutionary faction and the homicidal landlord, with the central lovebirds caught in the crossfire.

Delicatessen is a stylish and innovative caper which merges constant giggles — the “squeaking spring” scene is hilarious — with the grotesque and dark.  Love and vegetarianism emerge surprisingly as the film’s dominant themes, and the feature was the perfect debut for director Jeunet.

4.         Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror / Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922, Germany)

Before Christopher Lee’s Dracula, and the consequent flood of sexy, cliché-ridden ‘vamp-dramas’, there was F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.  Not to be confused with the 1979 Werner Herzog remake (albeit similarly impressive), Max Schreck is absolutely terrifying in the film which firmly established vampirism on the big screen.

Cited by many critics as one of the scariest films ever made, Nosferatu is a nightmarish, expressionist work in which protagonist Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to visit a new business client named Count Orlok.  However, after darkness falls, Hutter suffers horrible night terrors whilst staying at Orlok’s castle, as well as noticing strange puncture-marks on his neck upon waking.

The age of the film might deter some, but I cannot emphasise enough the true horror and ingenuity of Murnau’s German horror.  The hollow yet piercing eyes of Schreck’s eponymous vampire will play on your mind way beyond viewing.

3.         City of God / Cidade de Deus (2002, Brazil)

Dubbed by many as the Brazilian Goodfellas (1990), City of God was nominated for 4 Oscars at the 2004 Academy Awards, and was unlucky to leave empty handed.  Director Fernando Meirelles set his electrifying tale of gang warfare, love and coming-of-age in the unforgiving environment of the Rio de Janeiro favelas.

Centred on Alexandre Rodrigues’ Rocket, it follows the young Brazilian boy and his proximity to the local gang-life.  The erratic and explosive Li’l Zé (Leandro Firmino) is disconcertingly tyrannical as an equally juvenile resident of the slums who unlike our protagonist, longs to be involved in the hoodlum lifestyle.

The film spans the 60s and 70s, showing Rocket’s transformation from infant into aspiring photographer, whilst chaos and crime rise to unprecedented levels in the favela.

City of God is exhilarating and charming, and for a foreign language film which offers such a gritty and unfiltered portrait of life in the Brazilian slums, is uplifting and visually stunning.

2.         Amores perros (2000, Mexico)

Amores perros marked the directorial debut of Alejandro González Iñárritu, known now for Oscar magnets Birdman (2014) and The Revenant (2015).  This Mexican drama/thriller – marketed in the US as “Love’s a B*tch” – is split into three different stories, which are all seemingly connected by coincidence and fate.

The first is titled ‘Octavio and Susana’, the former played by Gael García Bernal, and the latter his character’s sister-in-law, who he is in love with.  In order to gather funds for the pair to elope and leave Susana’s abusive husband Ramiro, Octavio becomes involved in the dog fighting business with his brother’s dog Cofi, leading to altercations with local crime-lord and dog-fight tyrant Jarocho.

As tensions rise to boiling point with Jarocho, Octavio is involved in a car collision, and it is this accident which joins together the two succeeding stories.

Amores perros is a powerful anthology in which love and canines (“Amores perros” literally translates as ‘love is dogs’) act as the glue between the film’s characters and events.  Powerful, spirited yet tragic, Iñárritu’s Mexican masterpiece is a deserved Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner.

1.         Spirited Away / Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (2001, Japan)

Studio Ghibli are responsible for some of the greatest and most enchanting animated films to be released on the big screen, and Spirited Away tops the pile.

Directed by Ghibli veteran Hayao Miyazaki — the man behind several other classics by the studio, including My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and Princess Mononoke (1997) — Spirited Away is a fantastical tale which tells the story of the young Chihiro, voiced by Rumi Hiiragi.

Upon moving to a new home with her family, she discovers a secret, magical town which is occupied by various weird and wonderful creatures, overseen by the sinister witch Yubaba.  After Chihiro’s parents are taken by the sorceress, she is helped by the enigmatic Haku to confront Yubaba and find them, so she can return to the real world.

Near perfect, Miyazaki’s 2001 Oscar winner is a moving, beautiful fairy-tale, with a certain degree of darkness which allows it to transcend age groups, entrancing both toddlers and adults.  It now acts as a nostalgic and stunning reminder of the age of hand-drawn animation, before CGI and 3D usurped the paintbrush.

Interview: Mallory Knox

Written by Katie Shepherd on . Posted in Music.

It may be early afternoon on the first day of Reading Festival, but the huge crowd around the main stage is filled with anticipation for the act about to step out onto the stage. The band is Mallory Knox, a five-piece from Cambridge, and they are returning to the festival for a third time, more fired up and more at home than ever before.

Facing the glare of the unusual August bank holiday sun, it was evident from the moment they took to the stage that this band has grown closer to, and more comfortable in, their own sound. Delivering a winning setlist combining their earlier two albums Signals and Asymmetry with this year’s release Wired, the crowd was instantly ignited with enthusiasm.

This was echoed by Sam Douglas, bassist and vocalist for the band, as we chatted just an hour after their set: “The crowd was insane for this time of day, first day of the festival. That was probably the biggest crowd we’ve ever played.” He also reflected on their first performance at the festival back in 2013, confessing that he felt it had been “a little too early” for them to have played the main stage. “This year it felt like we were ready. We’re ready to try and prove our point.”

Walking out to face a crowd with the need to prove that you deserve your place there might easily be incredibly daunting for any band, but not Mallory Knox. “You go into a tour show and you’re safe in the knowledge that no matter what the crowd is yours, whereas at a festival you know not everyone there is there to specifically see you, so you feel like you’ve got to prove a point. You’ve kind of got to get them on side. And I feel like that’s always been a good thing for us. We like that. We kind of thrive off that pressure. I feel like we’ve accomplished something. I feel like we’ve achieved what we wanted to today.”

Behind such a triumphant performance, however, was an important and raw message – one which has always had undertones in Mallory’s music, but which takes an even greater focus on the new album. Mental health issues are becoming more pressing, but also fortunately more openly discussed. Mallory Knox are a band that are tackling the subject head on. Sam himself has struggled and professed the importance of opening up about it: “I remember when I wrote ‘Better Off Without You’, I kind of wrote the lyrics subliminally, and I read it back and I was like ‘Wow, I don’t know if I wanna put that out there’. But then again I thought if I’m going to rewrite the lyrics then I’m lying to myself. I’ve always said that a song kind of tells you what it should be about, it kind of brings something out in you, so I had to stick with it.”

“It’s a weird thing because I went through a few things with my mental health, but there’s some days where you feel proud to talk about it, and there’s some days where it’s like ‘Fuck off, I don’t wanna talk about it today.’ But we set ourselves up for that.”

It’s not just raw lyrics that create Mallory Knox’s intense and unique sound; the band takes this same bare-all approach to every aspect of their music process. “It’s all very raw for Mallory, we are very much a rock band. We write all of our songs all five of us in rehearsal, there’s no computers. We ain’t even playing with our in-ears when we play live, it’s all very old school. I guess that’s how we embrace the lyrics on this record too. Like, ‘fuck it, let’s just go down to the bare bone.’”

There seems to be something about music that makes it such an effective platform to discuss difficult and personal topics such as mental illness. “For me, when I was a kid and I had people like Blink and Alkaline Trio – bands I grew up with – finding out they’re not invincible either means you find a connection with them.” Sam mused, “You realise your favourite people in the world are vulnerable. You can watch films and get that same kind of feeling, but they’re acting at the end of the day, and with musicians 90 per cent of the time they’re writing something that means something to them. I think that’s why people have such a strong connection with music. All I can do is what my heroes did and write songs that mean something to me, and if they mean something to someone else then that’s fucking amazing.”

Having surely left the majority of the crowd eager to know what the future looks like for Mallory Knox, Sam was quick to feed the flames with talk of new music. “The new stuff we’re writing now is very much an example of what direction we feel like we’re going in, but we’re still new to that side of the music as well so we’re just constantly evolving and constantly growing.” He stresses the importance of this in the future of the band: “you can put as much as you want into it but it’s never going to be the finished article. You always feel you can do something more in two years time… It’s never quite the finished piece, that’s why you keep doing what you do. If you settled on the best, you wouldn’t have to do it anymore.”

Preview: Alston Bar and Beef launches in Manchester

Written by Anokhi Shah on . Posted in News.

Calling all steak and gin enthusiasts; get ready for some exciting news!

Construction has begun this week on the Corn Exchange’s newest venue, Alston Bar & Beef. First opening in Glasgow, this will be the first restaurant of the award winning brand on English soil.

The venue is set to open in autumn this year and will bring the highest quality steaks in the UK to Manchester. It will build on the success of the Glasgow venue which has the biggest selection of gins in the city. It also hopes to incorporate Manchester’s rich food and drink heritage.

Alston Bar & Beef will be the first venue in Manchester to showcase Tweed Valley steak on its menu. The beef is selected from the top one per cent of Scottish beef and dry hung for world class flavour. Additionally, a selection of bespoke gin-infusions created in-house will be on offer. Each gin will be created using a unique blend of botanicals, some of which will have been foraged from the Manchester area.

The General Manager of the new addition to Manchester’s thriving food and drink scene said: “We’re confident that when we open in autumn we will provide the perfect addition to Manchester’s buzzing restaurant and bar scene. We look forward to serving up the best steak and gin on offer in the city”.

As well as the premium menu on offer, the interior design of the restaurant is set to be a showstopper. Guests will enter the venue via a feature staircase and be greeted by a bespoke bar, the restaurant space will draw the eye to a 10m wide mural feature which has been specially commissioned by a Manchester based street-artist Tank Patrol. The interior will draw upon the heritage of the Corn Exchange location and the culture of the city of Manchester.

Alston Bar and Beef will certainly have steak and gin lovers waiting in anticipation for palate paradise to open in the heart of Manchester!

PVRIS Album Review: AWKOHAWNOH

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

PVRIS’ second album All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell (or aptly can be shortened to AWKOHAWNKOH) has a far more mature sound than their often brash and intense previous work. The pop-rock group from Massachusetts have moved towards a synth and electronic tinged rock sound instead. This doesn’t, however, mean they have left behind the moody aesthetic themes which form a part of the bands’ original image.

Since the trio debuted their first album White Noise back in 2014, they have gone from success to success. Touring with the likes of Bring Me the Horizon, 30 Seconds to Mars and even rock superstars, MUSE earlier this year.

All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell opens with the previously released single ‘Heaven’. This song well-reflects the different aspects of what the band bring to the following tracks: catchy guitar riffs, bold and assured vocals, with a nice addition of gentle instrumental to finish. Leading lady and singer Lynn Gunn has flawless, silky vocals which flow from track to track. This makes the album sound masterfully polished and cleverly thought out. Tracks, Anyone Else and Winter have a much more tender tone to them. Nevertheless, there are still flashes of aggression scattered in the album. This is especially true for ‘No Mercy’, which is probably the heaviest song on the album. This is immediately contrasted with the breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful track ‘Separate’.

The concluding song of the album, ‘Nola 1’, has a uniquely different sound when contrasted with the rest of album. It has jingly guitar riffs giving it an indie dance feel. Could this be the new direction for PVRIS?

There are ambitious moments on the album but overall it isn’t anything too striking. The album feels dulled down compared to their other work. Nonetheless, the combination of hypnotic vocals with the complex layered sounds creates a seductive and mesmerizing overall tone. This is not the last we will be hearing from PVRIS, and will no doubt continue to grow and collect even more successes in the future.

The AWKOHAWNOH tour starts later this year, and are performing at the O2 Apollo in Manchester on the 28th November. Tickets can be found here: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/PVRIS-tickets/artist/1913602

7/10

Album: The Moods – Missing Peace

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

The Moods are not like anything you’ve ever heard before. The 9 piece Manchester group who have been around since 2014 combine elements from electronic, reggae and rap music to create something rather spectacular. They have managed to establish some of the most original music to be on the Manchester music scene currently.

Their new album Missing Peace is released on the 29th of September. The Moods are kicking this off with an album launch at the iconic O2 Ritz in Manchester on the 8th September. This is being followed by a huge 15 date UK tour stretching through till November.

Missing Peace gets going with ‘P.O.P (Profit over People)’. Its up-beat and fast paced nature sets the bar for the rest of the album; they are very clear about their message and what they stand for right from the start. The group cover a huge amount of topical and political news, discussing things like police brutality, inequality and homelessness that surrounds the world, such as in the lyric: “The Government we trust hangs us out to dry, the system is corrupt we can’t disguise the lies.”

This trend continues as the album is full of crisp beats, synths and crashing symbols such as the like of ‘Black Triangle’ and ‘Speaking in Tongues’. Missing Peace is filled to the brim with cleverly catchy thought out rhymes sprinkled with beautiful melodic tunes. Each track has a completely unique feel from the previous, and it is clear The Moods have experimented with a range of techniques throughout the album, which generates an element of excited uncertainty.

The Moods released lead single ‘Joy’ from their album earlier in June which was the soundtrack and inspiration for a short film, that was produced and filmed around Manchester. The emotional film which can be found on YouTube; it stars singer and actor Steve Evets who plays a man who is tragically killed, and shows the effect his death has upon others.

The album finishes with title track ‘Missing Peace’ opening with familiar reggae sounds and trumpet riffs running through the entirety of the track; remixed with super sonic lyrics is a lovely mixture of the unusual but strangely entrancing.

This album has struck the right balance to inflict the listener with their messages, made by the people, for the people. Not only this, they have created infectious rhythm and to anyone listening will make them lose themselves in the music.

7/10

Summer 2017 Review: Westeros vs. The West Wing

Written by Will Baldwin-Pask on . Posted in Opinion.

It is that time of year again when Game of Thrones hands us back our lives. And I hope you’ll agree this was the weakest season to date. The fact that it moved everyone on from talking about that ‘Love Island’ tripe was the best thing about it.

In fact, the biggest show on TV was eclipsed by a darker, more turbulent drama series this summer: American politics in 2017.  Viewers have recently experienced levels of shock that HBO spend millions conjuring up.

Since mid-July, when the new Thrones season began, the level of White House theatrics has been as incomprehensible as the absurd distances everybody is somehow capable of travelling in Thrones at the moment. God knows what type of Lannister-style urination games Donald Trump plays with his daughter there now – eat your heart out Lewinsky.

In fact, I’d argue the great Game of Thrones, with all its fantastic, take-it-too-far drama, has finally been surpassed by the madness of our own reality. Here are just a few ways the West Wing has outstripped Westeros:

A Song of Ice and Fired

There have been a few occasions this season when the writers of Thrones spared a significant character, despite earning their reputation and arguably their popularity for being ruthless with killing off the main guys.

Between the first and last episodes meanwhile, Trump dramatically reshuffled his team to a staggering degree. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was sacked at the end of July, whilst alt-right talisman and villainous chief strategist Steve Bannon was booted three weeks later.

The highlight of course was the four day stint of Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, whose rapid, heroic ascendance was robbed in a way that would make Prince Oberon envious. Sadly, Scaramucci’s introduction drove out fan-favourite Sean Spicer, whose hilarious blend of belligerence and ineptitude will be sorely missed.

In Thrones, a whole bunch of main characters avoided deaths that could have been brilliantly upsetting for audience members. The fact none of the seven major bloke characters died in ‘Beyond the Wall’ whilst battling the army of the dead was a tad ridiculous. How on earth Jaime Lannister survived confrontations with a dragon and the Mountain is beyond me.

Alas, it really felt like the writers were holding back on the protagonist mortality in a way they have not done previously. It used to be the case that no one was safe in the Game of Thrones script. Perhaps they need some advice from Mr Trump on the art of letting people go in outrageous fashion.

No, really, Winter is coming…

Some have speculated that Thrones offers a description of an unknown but devastating threat — the white walkers — reflecting the issue of climate change in our world. It seems Jon Snow, the less whiny Al Gore of the Game of Thrones world, is starting to turn the tide of opinion. This is great news.

Back on earth however, leaps backward are being made. Trump’s anti-environment policies have given portentous insight into the President’s neglect for a planet in need of dramatic, proactive attention. It’s a tragic coincidence that, on the same weekend the final episode aired, in which a captured wight is presented to Cersei Lannister to convince her of the threat they pose, a devastating natural disaster struck Texas and Louisiana.

Scientists are arguing that Hurricane Harvey has been exacerbated by global warming and see it as indicative of how climate change can worsen such events. Whilst Cersei seems willing to act on the terrifying reality she faces, Trump is unlikely to do anything over the next three years but deregulate business at the expense of the environment, roll back the EPA’s budget and follow through withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.

As Westeros prepares for the Great War, the last stand between living and dead, the real world looks on as the American President turns his back on our potential doom.

White Marchers and the Army of the Dead-wrong

The White Walkers only really appeared in the penultimate episode this season. A week before airing, America was dealing with its own troublesome whites, only these ones carried Confederate flags and lynching torches.

Like a Spike Lee film, racial tensions simmered in the summer heat, as white nationalists engaged with protesters resulting in one woman’s death. The ‘post-racial’ America that Barack Obama’s election supposedly gave birth to was conclusively chocked out by the current President’s refusal to condemn neo-Nazis.

Instead of raise an army of the dead, these walkers resurrected archaic, racist ideas that America was supposed to have outlived by now. Scary as the White Walkers are, the revived confidence of white supremacists in a nation led by a man who refers to them as “very fine people” is even more worrying.

As the Wall in Westeros finally succumbs, the Mexico border wall is prototyped, soon to cage in a country at war with itself over its demons of prejudice, brought back into discussion by the current Presidency.

“Fire, Fury … the likes of which this world has never seen before”

Dragons are cool, sure. But we in the 21st Century have something better. Nukes. And not just three, but many scattered across the world.

Danaerys’ used her dragons properly in this season, to lethal effect, and the moral navigating to get there was by no means brisk. With Trump however we have a man proud of his nuclear arsenal and the threat it poses, and a North Korean counterpart who seems crazy enough to want to pick an arms race with him.

The two have been egging each other on, teasing mass genocidal destruction like it was deciding who should knock-and-run. The rhetoric heats up, military activity rises and the problem shows no sign of going away.

At the end of the season as the White Walkers killed and claimed a full-grown dragon for themselves, ‘Thrones’ showed what could happen when the most destructive weapon in the land falls into the wrong hands. With Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un engaging in a game of big-boy battleships, it’s hard to deny humanity has somehow found itself in an even more fatally exciting predicament.

It was a shorter-than-usual seven weeks for the Game of Thrones audience but possibly the longest seven weeks ever for Donald Trump. As this Presidency produces mental moment after mental moment, everyone’s favourite TV show has struggled with a strained plot, overburdened with characters and stories, under-provided with source material from George RR Martin’s original narrative.

In the end, the summer was stolen by Trump, who distracted everyone with the stress he so easily piles on the world. Not even the bloodied magic of Game of Thrones could provide escape. The final season of what will go down as possibly the best TV show ever is due for 2019; hopefully by then it will return to its old standards, or there is no more Trump to compete with.

Or North Korea just go ahead and put us out of our misery.

St Helens 16-26 Wigan: The Warriors keep play-off hopes alive in derby victory

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Sport.

After the disappointing defeat to Hull FC at Wembley the previous weekend, the Cherry and Whites confidently surged to a much needed victory against local rivals St Helens.

Two early tries from Oliver Gildart appeared to sucker punch Saints, who were fired up upon the debut of full-back Ben Barba.  Justin Holbrook’s side were consequently playing catch up for the full game, failing to ever draw level.

Debutant Barba was donning the badge of The Red V for the first time, after serving a 12 match suspension which had been carried over from his failed drug test in the Australian National Rugby League.  Despite marking his debut with a try in the 21st minute following a mazy run, he had a catastrophic opening to the match. His wayward pass was cut out by Joe Burgess who released Gildart, leading to the second of Wigan’s tries in the first five minutes.

Fan favourite Anthony Gelling went over to score early in the second half, but it was George Williams — making his 100th appearance for the Warriors — who dealt the knockout blow, touching down a minute later.  Williams finished the game with five conversions, and was responsible for over half of his team’s points in a game which was a must-win for the Lancashire side.

Skipper Sean O’Loughlin was fantastic, and Sam Tomkins carried on a rich vein of form, epitomised by an excellent last-ditch tackle on St Helens winger Regan Grace.

Wigan now stand one point behind fourth placed Wakefield Trinity, and two points behind Challenge Cup champions Hull FC.  Their hopes of play off qualification are much brighter than those of Saints, who are three points behind the last qualification spot, with Salford Red Devils and Huddersfield Giants breathing down their neck.  With a mere three games left to play in the Super 8s, things are looking desperate.

Saints’ next game is against Wakefield.  They would be doing both themselves and Wigan a massive favour by emerging victorious against the West Yorkshire side.  Wane’s side have the opportunity to avenge their cup final defeat, travelling to the KCOM Stadium a day later.  Whilst the Warriors can possibly afford to drop points in one of their remaining fixtures, Saints coach Holbrook is well aware that his team must win all three.

Man of the match: Sean O’Loughlin

The Wigan Warriors veteran once again proved why he is a club hero.  One of several players who were suffering from illness in the days leading up to the game, the Wigan captain was outstanding and typically ruthless.  He played for a straight 56 minutes before being subbed off, and then returned to instil calm in his side, keeping them on course for a vital and hard-fought triumph.

Reading & Leeds 2017

Written by Katie Shepherd on . Posted in Music.

I’ve heard a lot of people say that Reading and Leeds just “aren’t rock anymore”. Certainly, you could look over the names like Eminem, Glass Animals and Giggs high up on this years’ line up and struggle not to agree with them. I suppose that in comparison to the festival’s early years as Reading Rock Festival, it was certainly a more eclectic mix this August bank holiday.

And yet, I would argue that rock was profoundly abundant at Reading and Leeds this year.

Rock was in the moment Muse brought out Brian Johnson and performed AC/DC’s hit Back in Black, and it was in Eminem as he united what felt like almost all 90,000 festival goers in chanting “fuck Trump”.It was in the politically charged energy and anger that ignited almost every stage with declarations of love and acceptance and unity in the face of current social climates. It was everywhere. Hell, even the cheesy fries in Green Camp were oozing with rock.

Because seeing rock as a genre is, let’s face it, outdated. But that doesn’t mean rock itself is. And as the boundaries of genre have dissolved over the years, rock has evolved to encompass so much more than white men on electric guitars. It has always been more than that.

My weekend began at the main stage with Mallory Knox, whose latest album has seen the five-piece delve further into the depths of personal struggles and mental illness, but to come out more polished and certainly more at home on the main stage than ever before. The Cambridge boys were followed by Rat Boy, whose nineties vibes and exceptional energy left nobody doubting that he deserved his spot on that stage and on everyone’s playlists for a long time to come.

The main stage later hosted Two Door Cinema Club, who rather underwelmingly preceded Bastille, who in contrast, proved to have grown exceptionally since their performance on the same stage just two years prior. The band’s latest release Wild World stole the show with songs like Blame, Send Them Off! and Currents not only invigorating the crowd but providing particularly poignant moments lyrically.

It wasn’t just the music, however, but the concept running through the set that made Bastille a stand-out performance of the weekend, with their news-reporter and Theresa May look-alike glaring down at the crowd throughout, reminding us all of what it is we really are fighting against. It was barely subtle anti-right wing narrative delivered with vocals so silky and energy so joyfully contagious it could have convinced your tory nan to vote Labour.

One of the highlights of my weekend at Reading was actually a mid-afternoon set on the Radio 1 Extra stage, as San Francisco’s George Watsky made his Reading and Leeds debut. The rapper owned the tent and every one of us in it, commanding our energy with his flawless high-speed rapping, his witty and bitingly relevant lyrics and fresh talent. From the growling Woah Woah Woah to the bouncy Sloppy Seconds the crowd was captured, and the chants of “Watsky” that continued well after the set ended were a testament to his performance. An artist that is wholly deserving of any and all success that comes his way.

Whilst Kasabian were the Friday night headliners, I decided to wrap my day up with old favourites You Me At Six over on the NME stage. The band, who have been going on for thirteen years now, proved once again that they know exactly how to remain timeless, inspiring a gorgeous cocktail of vigorous enthusiasm and whole-hearted unity amongst a tent of strangers. Even when faced with technical difficulties, the band did not falter, instead leading the crowd in an acoustic rendition of Loverboy; “see, we don’t need power” Josh Franceschi said, and he was right. It was a beautiful moment.

The evening fell into a pool of moonlit partying and a magical, albeit occasionally concerning lack of restriction, before the sun dragged Saturday in. Along with its blue skies and hungover teens, Saturday came through with performances from The Pretty Reckless and PVRIS on the main stage – a band exactly where they are meant to be.

Loyle Carner was the highlight of the NME stage on Saturday, pulling in an impressive crowd for someone that released his first album just six months ago. This did not seem to phase him however, as he delivered a powerful performance that perfectly balanced between the catharsis of his lyrics and the exuberance of their execution.

Korn, too, gave an eager crowd a set to remember, but it was of course, headliner Eminem who truly ordered our excitement. I had, in truth, prepared myself to be disappointed by him. After all, how could anyone – Eminem or not – live up to that kind of hype? But, he actually did.

Now I don’t know if the sheer amount of wine I had consumed beforehand had anything to do with this, but I can only tell you that Eminem was the most fun I have had in a long while. His return to stage saw him on form, with a crowd-pleasing set-list dominated by Curtain Call and hits like Love the Way You Lie and Not Afraid, supported by his band D12 and female vocalist. There was something excitingly empowering, too, about his performance, not least in Mathers’ impressively unifying “Fuck Trump” chant. “I don’t want to cause any controversy so I won’t say no names…” he said archly, “but this motherfucker Donald Trump, I can’t stand him.”

Perhaps the only thing more magical than being a part of a crowd of thousands furiously yelling their hatred for the president, was being a part of a crowd of thousands singing Wonderwall with Manchester’s own Liam Gallagher on the Sunday night. The crowd were sold immediately, however, by Liam’s parka, retro sunglasses and appropriately rocky Rock N’ Roll Star as he commanded the crowd through a solid setlist that sewed the older Oasis tracks in with his latest solo work perfectly.

Sunday hosted another surprising highlight of the weekend, Halsey, who brought her sultry vocals, effortlessly sexy stage presence and powerful showmanship to the NME tent late that evening. From the haunting Gasoline to the drama of the more recent Heaven in Hiding, I was in awe of her talent; this woman is not wrong, she can put on a show. A show enough to rival the majority of performances across the weekend, and one you absolutely must see if you get the chance.

Closing the weekend for Reading, and the first night of the festival for Leeds, was Muse. They were captivating from the second they stepped on stage with latest single Dig Down. Entranced by the stage effects and bewitched by Matt Bellamy’s vocals, the crowd was theirs. The set was filled with unmissable moments, though none were as stunning as when the band brought out Brian Johnson with a brilliant performance of Back in Black. A winning pairing of Uprising and Knights of Cydonia provided a poetically apt and empoweringly defiant end to a weekend that proved music is, as it always has been, at the heart of a movement for all.