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Month: June 2018

Review: PLY – vegetarian special

Wood fired pizza seems to be all the rage at the moment. Long gone are the days when a Dominoes would suffice — now it needs to be authentically Neapolitan, hand stretched and made on an open flame for it to satisfy the Northern Quarter millenial mob.

Places like Rudy’s have done this very classically, with simple flavours, all of which pair excellently with a Negroni. However, PLY gives the traditional a modern twist, and it’s this difference that keeps the two in equally high esteem; they provide different versions of something immensely popular.

The team behind the very successful Kosmonaut opened PLY in 2015, and it was an immediate hit. The bases were made out of that 2017-18 buzzword, sourdough, and the variety of toppings combined with the trendy yet comfortable setting were destined to make this a northern Quarter staple.

But there’s always a fear when you go for a pizza as a vegetarian — am I only going to be able to get a margarita? In most places,  the answer is inevitably yes, unless you get something with an egg slap bang in the middle.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
The homemade raspberry seltzer is a must try, especially at £2 — Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

Not at PLY, though.  They now have a dedicated menu for veggie and vegan pizzas (starting from £8) that ranges from pear and blue cheese, to chorizo and butternut squash, with a whole load of other sumptuous options in between.

The pizzas on this menu are actually all vegan. This is because they use a rice-based mozzarella substitute called Mozzarisella which is made from whole Italian brown rice. It also comes in a Blue form, as well as Smoked and a Ricotta. The idea is to create an ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to diary.

They also have some really delicious side plates, that can be ordered as supplements to your meal or as starters if you’d prefer. I opted for the Fennel & Orange Salad (£4.5) and the Beetroot Carpaccio (£4).

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

The salad was such a refreshing start to the meal. It was light, sweet and tart and, to be perfectly honest, I could have had about three plates of it. The beetroot carpaccio was really interesting; the thinly sliced, raw beetroot had a lovely crunch, and the earthy flavours of the root vegetable and the accompanying walnuts was married perfectly with a sweet zing from the balsamic glaze.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

Then, on to the pizza. Oh my, what a pizza. I opted for the pear and blue cheese, and it was incredible. The base had a good amount of char on the crust, which inside was fluffy, salty, and delicious. The topping itself was a very comforting arrangement of flavours, with a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. I’m not usually one for white pizzas myself, but this one in particular won me over.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

I couldn’t leave without at least trying one of the desserts, even though I was fit to burst. I chose the vegan chocolate cake and let me tell you, this knocked every chocolate cake I’ve ever had, vegan or non, straight out of the water. It was divine — soft, gooey, and incredibly rich. I would go back just to have another slice.

Overall, it was hard not to be incredibly impressed. But then, PLY has been so successful since opening its doors, I really shouldn’t have been surprised.

Preview: Isle of Wight Festival reaches its 50th year

The mighty Isle of Wight Festival is back once again, but this time, it is celebrating a very special birthday indeed. 2018 represents the festivals 50th anniversary of its birth, despite being shut down temporarily from 1970-2002 due to it being banned by Parliment.

Back in its early days, the festival saw the likes of  Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, and Bob Dylan. Upon its revival in 2002, it has seen major performances from The Charlatans, Stereophonics, Fleetwood Mac, Biffy Clyro, Florence and The Machine… you get my point. The list is endless and filled with extraorindary talent.

And this year is absolutely no exception to this trend. There’s no easing in whatsoever, with the festival kicking off with one of the biggest bands around right now, Kasabian. As if this wasn’t enough, and you wanted to indulge in some nostalgia, the almighty Nile Rodgers and CHIC will be performing to bring you those ‘Good Times’ and make ‘Everybody Dance’ — see what I did there. Other acts on Friday appearing are Chase and Status, Feeder, and Tom Grennan.

By Saturday, the festival is well underway and in full swing, and the northerners are making their appearances in this lineup. Headlining is ‘our kid’ himself, Liam Gallagher. Following the Manc music theme, Blossoms is also performing on the main stage, which following from their last album will be an incredible lineup.

Balancing out the books a bit the mighty Depeche Mode will also be co-headlining. With over 50 songs in the UK top 50, and 17 top 10 albums in the charts, they have a broad range of tracks to perform. Again, this is another act I am thoroughly looking forward to.

Finally, on Sunday, the lineup is, once again, not one to be missed — no matter the size of the hangover. The Killers, Manic Street Preachers, and even the American beauty herself, Camila Cabello are all performing at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.

While I could list out all of the acts which are going to be amazing, you can just look at the lineup poster for that. Just know that there is truly something for everyone at this years Isle of Wight.

The festival itself seems to be one that is consistently evolving, building upon its heritage, but still keeping it fresh, fun, and new. I am truly excited to be a part of this years celebration, especially due to its golden jubilee. 2018’s event will be bigger and better than ever.

 

Live review: Pangaea, Manchester Students’ Union

As the end of exams slowly rolled on, as did the long-awaited return for Pangaea, the ‘Manchester’ Edition.

With a pretty impressive lineup of A Guy Called Gerald, Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, Anz, and Amy Becker, the northern themed night stuck to its heritage. On cue, rolled in the Liam and Noels, as well as plenty of Magic Bus fancy dress outfits.

This event was celebrating its 10th year, but long-gone are the days when Pangaea flowed from the Student Union to Academy One and everything in between, with smaller rooms all decorated and accounted for with different music in each. Yet, the seemingly ever-shrinking festival, now confined only just to the SU building, still managed to successfully work with what it had.

The upper floor was tastefully decorated with clouds and umbrellas to remind us of Manchester’s glorious climate. But the rain-themed decor did not dampen any mood, with honey bee and honeycombs as far as the eye could see.

Craig Charles & Funk Soul  really brought what it said on the tin: Funk and Soul. Hypnotic rhythms and funky vibes heightened the moods and spirits of everyone.

A Guy Called Gerald similarly blew everyone away. Gerald Simpson, deemed one of the “masterminds of electronic music”, showed his northern roots. As one of the original members of Manchester’s 1990s 808 state, he skillfully and successfully showed the crowd why he is such a master of his art, with his huge anthems such as ‘Voodoo Ray’ showering the crowd with a sense of nostalgia.

Pangaea was full of excitment around every corner, much like the the place we call home. Hats off to all that were involved, you did a cracking job. What a send off!

Interview: Jamie Lawson

Currently sat at an Airbnb just north of Dublin.

“Its been a good year ya know. I’ve done a good tour of my own of the UK and Europe, and now I’ve been on tour with one of the biggest pop stars on the planet! That’s not too bad eh?” laughs Jamie Lawson whose just embarked on a Stadium tour with the one and only Ed Sheeran, since being signed with Ed’s record label Gingerbread Records.

“The great thing about Ed is he lets me do what I want to do. I’ve made two records with him already and working on a third, and he never says ‘oh you should do this’ or ‘don’t do this’ he’s always very encouraging making the record I want to make. I think that’s one of the reasons he signed me, is because I know who I am as an artist and what we want to make and create, which are amazing records. he’s very positive and great to work with.”

I ask Lawson if he’s got any more exciting plans coming up after, and he laughs that can anything be more exciting than the stadium tour that he’s doing now, which is a fair point I’ll admit.

He goes on to explain that he’s not having a break after this either, even though there are a lot of days off during this tour, because it is just so huge and it takes ages to move the big stages from city to city, so there’s plenty of time off, rehearsing new songs for the next record. He explains that his band are set up in the next room eagerly waiting for him to finish these interviews (sorry!) so that they can get rehearsing and practising and trying new things for the new music.

Jamie Lawson’s music is wonderfully put together and the lyrics are stunning to listen to, I ask him about his process of writing lyrics. “I don’t know, these things are inside and they want out. I’ve always used singing from a young age as a way of purging, for use of a better word. I’m not very good at talking or reaching out about feelings, so I tend to put all of those emotions into songs and elaborate on that and make it bigger. I like to find interesting imagery and new ways of making that come to life.”

Jamie doesn’t have any least favourite songs to perform: “If I didn’t like the song I wouldn’t perform it, it’s that simple really”. But for favourites, “I would think maybe the first song of the set ‘Fall Into Me’ it’s a really good way to get people up on their feet and joining in and getting involved.” ‘Ahead of Myself’, which is the final song of the set, where Lawson tries to get the crowd to sing harmonies, “is fun to do and to hear.”

He doesn’t really get nerves either, he explains: “I just never got it, the only time I get nervous is when there are TV things because I feel like I don’t have control over that, but gigs and performing things like that dont seem to bother me that much. I mean its like all things, the more you do it the easier it gets, and there’s not a huge amount of opportunities to do television but that’s the thing that gets me the most.”

I ask Jamie what his best advice would be for people who are just starting out. “You’re in Manchester right? Manchester has a great songwriter scene, honestly one of the best i’ve ever been a part of, so, if you’re a songwriter, get out and watch as many others as you can, meet as many others as you can. Don’t be afraid to say hello to anyone ever. Write as much as you can and dig as much as you can too. My favourite nights are places like the Whisky Jar in NQ, they have great songwriters nights and I still play there now when I get the chance, and I’m never the best! But just keep at it and at it and at it, keep gigging as much as you can. ”

 

Festival review: Primavera Sound 2018

Chvrches

Lauren Mayberry put on a spellbinding display as the synth-pop Glaswegian trio lit up the Seat stage on Thursday night. A spectacle of mesh and elegance, the singer brought the tracks to life, ‘The Mother We Share’ and ‘Leave A Trace’ particular highlights in the edgy set.

 

Jorja Smith

Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

The singer has just turned 21, but already has the world in the palm of her hand, evident as she crooned through each ballad with majestic effortlessness. She did look mightily regal in her emerald gown, demonstrating a multi-faceted artistic personality, as she surprised the masses with her politically charged album track ‘Lifeboats’, tackling not only heartbreak but the sense of hopelessness faced by youth in Britain.

 

Haim

Who knew Haim were this brilliantly bonkers? Face-melting guitar solos, chilling harmonies and a drum finale to end all encores placed Haim as one of the most interesting and diverse acts on the Primavera bill.

 

Arctic Monkeys

Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Rocking a white suit like no other man could and peering coolly over his tinted aviators at the Primavera masses, Alex Turner delivered what could have been a solely gripping one man show, but which had the advantage of the band’s phenomenal union of sound behind it. The new material which is undoubtedly experimental surprisingly blended sublimely into the setlist of Sheffield brawls and Turner’s heartache, tinging the set with a retro tint which freshened up the Monkeys sound with a newfound completeness.

 

Vince Staples

Photo: Primavera Sound Press
Photo: Primavera Sound Press

One of the many rappers to be represented at the festival this year, Compton-born Vince Staples showed Barcelona how Americans get down. The energy in his set was not only tangible but infectious, as the heavy bass and vibrant hype rippled through the crowd to evoke a party atmosphere.

 

Tom Misch

Groovy and relaxed, Tom Misch is everyone’s favourite new musician, and a surprise appearance from Loyle Carner for much-loved ‘Crazy Dream’ only increased the hype. Tom’s set didn’t need pyro or special effects – the instrumentals spoke for themselves as the sun set over the marina. His saxophonist sister Laura made the performance close to home for Tom, and the easy funk of his melodies got the crowd feeling the holiday spirit.

 

A$AP Rocky

Photo: Primavera Sound Press
Photo: Primavera Sound Press

Fireworks weren’t only in the air following A$AP’s late-night set, which bounced unexpectedly well off Alex Turner’s magnificent finale on the opposite headline stage. Commanding the stage single-handedly in a jailer’s boiler suit, A$AP delivered track after track with an ice-cool demeanour and rockstar thrills. ‘Everyday’ featuring the vocals of Rod Stewart was the highlight of the set, unsettlingly piercing the Barcelona night.

 

Skepta

Believe it or not, but bringing out A$AP Rocky for the live performance of ‘Praise The Lord (Da Shine)’ was not the only highlight of Skepta’s set. Alongside other appearances from Jesse and members of Boy Better Know, the energy erupting from Skepta’s set was proof that even at 2am, after the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Mr Rocky himself, British grime is the best in the game. Tracks from his latest album Konnichiwa caused a storm whilst new material offered a fresh perspective on the king of the genre.

 

Lorde

Photo: Primavera Sound Press
Photo: Primavera Sound Press

Damn, this girl can dance. Backed by stunning choreography, Lorde smashed her Saturday headline spot with grace and tangible passion. From a mirage of twirls and fancy lifts, her most iconic tracks shone through with performative bite. Lorde expertly demonstrated her prowess not only as an all-round performer, but as a headliner.

 

Dekmantel

Taking over the decks at the Desperados stage on Saturday afternoon, Dekmantel residents caused a sand storm on the beach stretch of Primavera. Disco-infused sets with unexpected track drops made for exciting listening, prompting carnival-esque excitement at the seemingly unpredictable nature of the tunes.

Live Review: Taylor Swift

Following the release of her 6th album, reputation, Taylor Swift brought an extravagant show to the Etihad Stadium.

For her first stadium show in Manchester, spectacle was at the forefront. This ranged from massive dance routines, to pyrotechnics, to giant visual displays.

The best example of this came during ‘Look What You Made Me Do’. Taylor Swift performed alongside 30 dancers and an elaborate throne-like stage setup, before a 50-feet-tall inflatable snake burst out during the song’s climax.

Out of context, some of these more spectacular moments of the set may come across as ridiculous, but they totally worked. Transitioning between the main stage and a smaller B-stage at the other end of the stadium, Taylor performed her new single ‘Delicate’  from a cage on a zip line, much to fans’ delight.

Once there, she was joined by support acts, Camila Cabello and Charli XCX, to perform the pop anthem, ‘Shake It Off’. Meanwhile, dancers wearing brightly coloured costumes moved their way through the crowd as a rainbow of confetti descended from up high.

Yet, the show did have its quieter moments. Harking back to her country roots, Taylor brought out an acoustic guitar to play a stripped-down version of ‘Dancing With Our Hands Tied’. While this was an intimate part of the show, it was made more poignant by Swift dedicated the song to the “incredible resilience” Manchester showed following the Arena attack last year. Since both she and Ariana Grande share many young fans, some of whom would have been at the Arena last May, the short tribute created a palpable reaction at the Etihad.

Yet, if there was a problem with the show, it was with Swift’s song choice. Songs from her latest album Reputation featured heavily during her set. While the album is far from bad, her previous two albums, Red and 1989 have much better songs on them. Of course, you heard songs like ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ and ‘Blank Space’, but all bar one of the songs from reputation was played. Surely it would have been better to cut a few tracks from her current album to make way for songs like ’22’?

Yet, even the song choice couldn’t bring down the joy that Taylor’s show brought. Ending with a medley of ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ and ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things’, the finale of the show saw Taylor Swift performing on top of a working water fountain as fireworks brought the night to a close.

Each audience member was given a bracelet, which would light up during the show, creating beautiful light displays throughout the performance. They would glow for days after the final song had played. Just like the bracelet, the show would glow in people’s memories long after Taylor Swift had left the stage.

8/10

Review: G30 – A Memory Maze

No one can really understand the suffering that a person goes through when they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. We can hear personal accounts or know someone in our lives who are affected by the disease, but a lot of people will not understand how Alzheimer’s can affect your life so significantly.

However, Ivan Kovalov and his indie project, G30 – A Memory Maze, attempts to reveal to its players a small glimpse into the life of someone who does. Dealing with human memory through complex puzzle-solving levels, the player’s objective is to unravel the character’s past and discover why this person’s afraid of the people around them.

The puzzle-base mechanics are structured around one jigsaw picture and one word, which are both surrounded by multiple circles. When moved, the circles change the puzzle’s structure through combining different symbols and colours. As the player spin the circles, more words are added to form phrases that sometimes do not make sense, or reveal different perspectives on that one word, until a sentence forms that brings you further into the story. Whilst you are unraveling one story through these sentences you discover that specific words are highlighted, and when unlocked, they fill the gaps of another story, adding depth and clarity to the overarching narrative.

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photo: Mancunion

However, before the whole story is revealed, the most difficult part of this game is the puzzle’s complex way of revealing the words, because it is a very frustrating experience. In terms of the gameplay, you can find yourself spending a long time trying to put the puzzle pieces together to form an image and more than likely find yourself repeating the same moves and struggling to find a solution. Eventually, when you do solve the puzzle, it seems to be the product of luck rather than the intention of moving the circles the right way. If you do not figure out the mechanics, then it will come across as a ‘trial and error’ gameplay.

Despite the stresses that come with this, the way in which the game is designed is minimalist in terms of the aesthetics. This makes the gameplay feel simplistic and straightforward at the start of the game, but, in later levels, the style of the graphics is too simplistic with little explanation of how each level is different. Nonetheless, this does not effect how bold the game looks with the array of colours set against black and the simplicity of the circles and pictures, which complement each other well in this game.

photo:Mancunion
photo:Mancunion

In the second story, which is told through the highlighted words, you will find that when you finish there may still be gaps in the story. The only way to find these missing words is to go back to each level and find the words by solving the puzzle a different way, or spinning a circle one way instead of another, and the process can become repetitive and frustrating.

However, that might have been Kovalov’s intention when considering this story is from the perspective of someone with Alzheimer’s. Going into this game, I didn’t have an in-depth understanding of what Alzheimer’s can do to a person. From this game, my understanding is that someone with a cognitive disorder sees family, friends, and society differently, as if they are strangers. The memories the person shares with these people are distorted, and that it is a frustrating process of trying to remember what you’ve lost. From the story, it seems that they believe the whole world is turning against them and wanting to control them.

 

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photo: Mancunion

 

This project was self-developed by Ivan Kovalov, who alone created the game design, coding, art, and music of the game to capture this other life. Despite the moments where the gameplay was a difficult and prolonged experience, Kovalov has masterfully created a game that will teach you to always appreciate the moments that those with a cognitive disease struggle to do, to take moments slowly and to appreciate everything and everyone. The game is beautifully designed with such a powerful message to tie everything together, to explain what G30 really means, and to help you understand the significance of words.

7/10

Live Review: James Bay

James Bay returns to the UK after the release of his interesting second album Electric Light. After hearing lead singles ‘Pink Lemonade’ and ‘Wild Love’, I was certainly confused about the direction that Bay has chosen to take as a follow on from such a successful, raw and lyrically-rich debut.

Given that the industry is currently saturated in synth and electronic beats, I have absolutely no objection in Bay lending himself to experimentation. Just as everyone knows, an artist has to evolve to some extent particularly when consolidating their reputations with the tricky second album. Unfortunately, Bay hasn’t cracked it.

Having said that, there are no criticisms I can declare concerning his vocals or artistry. James Bay possesses no facade with regards to his talent. Counting the use of over three different guitars throughout an 80-minute show, Bay’s vocals resonated beautifully in an equally stunning venue at Manchester’s Albert Hall.

Bay’s voice has strengthened, and he has grown oodles of confidence as a performer since Chaos and the Calm, but I do worry this confidence is etching into the realms of cockiness. A trait I would never have imagined the man who stood on Brighton’s seafront and played ‘Clocks Go Forward’ so effortlessly, enveloping YouTube viewers in an endearing warmth and distinct yearning for love.

I take zero pleasure in making such comments about an artist that defined a large part of my 2015 alongside the likes of Hozier, but 2018 has brought an unexpected twist that I am struggling to get used to. Having said that, Bay’s performance of Us did make for a sensual, tear-prickling performance due to its slightly more stripped back production compared to its album counterparts.

It cannot go unnoticed that Bay’s performances of songs such as ‘If You Ever Want To Be In Love’, ‘Craving’ and ‘Best Fake Smile’ were undoubtedly favoured by the audience who, I have to admit, remained entirely enthusiastic throughout his set. But there was a definite aura surrounding Bay’s performance of the Chaos and the Calm treasures because quite frankly, they were exhibited with more passion and authenticity.

The glimmers of older songs with the new only starkly contrasted the sheer difference in song-writing that James Bay has concocted over the past three or so years. I can’t help but feel as though Bay isn’t being true to himself. Too much over-production, too much commercialisation and too much lack of honesty in self-reflection now perhaps frame the contemporary Hertfordshire born Bay.

I’m craving something I can feel James.

7/10

Tramlines Festival 2018

Bursting with tons of live music across the weekend, Sheffield’s Tramlines festival is spread across four fantastic stages (including one stage that will be themed to the legendary Leadmill club) and the huge main stage which will all be located in Hillsborough Park this year. The festival has an incredible track record for hosting awesome artists, with the likes of The Libertines, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Dizzee Rascal having previously been on the line up.

So with the festival fast approaching, let’s take a look at the top ten artists you won’t want to miss over this jam-packed July weekend:

1. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Of course I had to begin my list with this truly distinctive band fronted by a true northern legend. Collectively, these birds have been flying high since 2011 and they don’t show signs of coming down anytime soon (bad jokes aside).

Their latest album Who Built The Moon? is yet another trip in an almost completely different direction to their previous offerings. Plunged into a whimsical world, we float dreamily through the rather poignantly placed ‘Beautiful World’ to the solid upbeat drum beats of ‘She Taught Me To Fly’.

Playing the main stage on the Saturday with a mix of old and new they are sure to draw in a huge crowd so make sure you get there early if you want to have a good chance of seeing these guys! To be honest I’m just really excited to see what kitchen utensils,Charlotte (the fantastic French vocalist with the scissors!) can smuggle into the festival! We love the notion of scissors as instruments. Chip chop!

2. Blossoms

Speaking of great northern bands, Stockport’s Blossoms will also be playing the main stage on Saturday and they are most definitely worth a watch. Their latest album Cool Like You, released in 2016, is a synthy spectacular which transitions brilliantly from their initial guitar heavy self titled album.

Always a festival highlight, these guys seem to have perfected an incredible combination of crowd-pleasing anthems, whilst still keeping with a strong sense of their roots through their lyrics and style. New tracks such as ‘There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’ are so infectiously catchy that before long you’ll be singing it constantly (I have had this song stuck in my head for weeks)! Their set will also include plenty of acoustic tracks which will be perfect for relaxing and taking in the atmosphere in between the hits. It will definitely be exciting to see how Blossoms change up their set this year.

3. Tom Grennan

A newcomer who is making a massive mark on the soulful independent artist world is most definitely Tom Grennan. He stormed the path with the playful tune ‘Royal Highness’ which gives an insight into Grennan’s cheeky persona and has an ultimately charming tone that will continually grown on you.

His highly anticipated debut album Lighting Matches will be released on 6th July but Grennan’s cool charismatic character has already started to really shine through. Tracks such as ‘I Might’ and ‘Sober’ are always real standout performances that stand testament to his strong vocals.

Having just completed a successful tour of a variety of venues across the UK, Grennan is set to continue onto a much larger tour. I would highly recommend catching his set on Sunday at The Leadmill Live stage as it could well be one of the last opportunities to see this artist on smaller, more intimate stage. For sure, Grennan is one to watch!

4. RATBOY

Are you ready for pure riotous energy and the wildest crowd of the day? If not, then you’d better steer clear of Jordan Cardy and co. as they bounce into the headlining set on the Leadmill stage on the Saturday. Following their great success at a number of festivals over the last year RATBOY released their debut album SCUM. It is a punk/rap manifesto, fusing high energy and unwavering enthusiasm with angsty, outrageous lyrics.

The result? A set full of crazy tunes that could sweep even the most relaxed festivalgoer into the frenzy, as proved at their sold-out Manchester Academy gig in February this year. (It is pure madness but intoxicatingly fun all the same!) Seriously do you have anything better to do? Go see these guys!

5. The Sherlocks

This four-piece band from Yorkshire is already a strong indie favourite with a number of beautifully anthemic tunes that will surely warm up the crowd nicely at the main stage on Saturday. With successful tracks that you’ll quickly recognise such as ‘Was it really worth it?’ it is no surprise that they sold out a number of shows across the UK in recent years.

The Sherlocks are becoming a real staple within the indie band category and have a well established fan base that are sure to be in full swing by the time they perform. They’ve been gradually releasing singles since 2014 but their debut 2017 album ‘Live for the moment’ is the first time the band has honed their sound into a single collection of guitar-heavy tracks with a gritty, indie-infused drum beat. Worth a watch if you’re about!

6. Jake Bugg

Another favourite that will be headlining one of the bigger stages at Tramlines this year is Jake Bugg. With the success of his first album still very much in our minds and highly praised by critics, The Nottingham lad is likely going to be a hit with crowds. With the classic ‘Lighting Bolt’ and ‘Trouble Town’ still firmly within his repertoire, it’ll be a treat to hear them played alongside tracks from his newest album ‘Hearts that strain’, where they belong, out in the open air. Fancy a break from the bands? Then be sure to check out Jake Bugg as he takes to the “T’other stage” on the Saturday.

7. King No-one

Though another four-piece band from Yorkshire, these guys have a distinctive, alternative edge about them. Their tracklist sweeps through a variable mix of upbeat, guitar-led single releases which will really set off the festival spirit nicely. A track to watch out for is definitely their 2016 release Alcatraz which has a strong 80s undercurrent running directly through, aligning beautifully with frontman, Zach Lount’s glittering vocals. Expect a mixture of sweet summery guitars and electronic funk from this lot at The Library stage this year.

8. Pale Waves

Pale Waves are an NME award-winning alternative indie band with a steadily growing base of avid fans. Another runaway success from the Dirty Hit record company (The 1975, Wolf Alice etc.) these guys are making great ‘waves’ across the indie music scene. Their quirky sense of style and staging will leave you dumbstruck; they truly make great use of the stage space and lighting to create an experience of the band that is visually stunning.

Their lead singer, the captivating Heather Baron-Gracie’s delicate vocals and haunting lyrics, sit oddly well amongst the upbeat eltro-infused sound. Overall, the band seems to have been fully embraced for their juxtaposition of style and sound and if you have the time in your schedule, I would recommend checking these guys out! Without doubt it will be a unique performance.

9. The Magic Gang

This four-piece indie gang know how to write a good song. Simple as that. The Magic gang are taking over and it is so easy to see why. Seeming to appear from nowhere, you’ll be forgiven forever so gently being swept up in their sunny, upbeat lyrics and overall relaxed tone. Their recently released self-titled album has an incredibly ageless quality that breezily flows through each track from the indie infused opening drum beat of ‘Oh, Saki’ through to the jazzy piano tunes that seep from ‘Take Care’. These guys will be eager to show the crowds at Tramlines just what they’ve been missing from their summer playlist. Don’t forget to check them out at The Leadmill live stage on Friday!

10. Fickle friends

Fickle friends are an electronic, experimental five-piece from Brighton who are set to storm the “T’other” stage on Saturday. A fan favourite track is ‘Glue’ which is filled to the brim with energy and enthusiasm. It really showcases what the band is about: electronic synth sound and ever-present bass line, filtered through a smokescreen of neon light and a powerful punch of flamboyant style.

Their 2018 debut album You Are Someone Else gives their energetic vocalist, Natti Shiner, a chance to lend her beautiful almost effortless vocals to every track with real heart. The tracks ‘Wake me up’ and ‘Brooklyn’ also provides a sweet summer infused remedy amongst the resonating heartbreak of their lyrics. If you fancy a dance then check out Fickle Friends on Saturday at The “T’other”stage. Be there!

So overall very exciting stuff! If you fancy checking out the festival for yourself, Tramlines 2018 will be around from Friday 20th July to Sunday 22nd July 2018. Get your Tickets now!

 

Drug testing available at Parklife

Manchester’s night-time advisor Sacha Lord confirms on-site testing labs at Parklife Festival.

Lord — who runs Parklife Festival and founded The Warehouse Project (WHP) — believes all big UK clubs and festivals should include drug testing labs and sees “no negatives” in doing so.

Forensic testing at festivals was triggered by the death of Nick Bonnie who collapsed in 2013 after taking roughly 15 times the standard recreational dose of MDMA at WHP.

A charity called The Loop will be working this weekend and warnings will be posted on social media and on LED matrix boards.

Confiscated drugs and those who hand a small amount in are tested and after a short while they can identify what is in the pills or powder. With no suggestions of confiscation or arrest, The Loop gives individual ‘harm reduction interventions’ on the dangers of taking them.

A warning has already been issued on a potentially lethal batch of blue ‘Punisher’ ecstasy pills after the two deaths at Mutiny Festival, Portsmouth two weekends ago.

Parklife organisers have urged festival-goers to “act responsibly” and “look after each other” in a recent Facebook post.

The Loop has previously operated on-site drugs testing at festivals including Love Saves The Day and Secret Garden Party.

According to the charity, some 90 per cent of revellers have never received specialist drugs advice before using its service.

But its work has been criticised by some who claim on-site testing encourages drug use at festivals. Melvin Benn, Festival Republic’s Managing Director says that determining whether the drugs are within ‘normal’ boundaries is dangerous as it doesn’t take into account the dosage, whether it will be mixed with other drugs or alcohol, nor does it indicate someone’s receptiveness to that drug.

“Like Carmen, but more moonshine”

I didn’t choose to come out: it sort of happened by accident. I was mincing around the house to sumptuous crescendo’s of Puccini’s Tosca when it happened: my housemate walked in on me. “You like classical music?!” She asked, alarmed. I hung my head, turning down the music as my cheeks began to burn: “I do.” No longer was I a closet classicist; I had been outed.

Classical music can get quite the bad rep, especially at University, where anything the least bit middle class, like eating prosciutto ham, is likely to get you branded a Tory (the student equivalent of being a pariah). It is this elitist reputation that Manchester based arts collective The Opera Shack are trying to shake off: with their unique formula of interspersing key scenes in opera with spoken word narrations aims to break down the stereotypes surrounding the art form and to re-contextualise works into more relevant and engaging settings for audiences today.

You might not know you know it, but you probably know Carmen, the Opera Shack’s up and coming production. Based on a 19th Century French novella by Prosper Merimée, Bizet’s Opera is perhaps one of the most iconic in the classical canon, boasting not just one but two really famous arias: the Habanera and the Toreador’s song. It’s music tells the story of a passionate romance between the naive soldier, Don José, and a fiery gypsy that traditionally causes him to desert and undertake a life of crime, debauchery, and freedom. Told afresh, The Opera Shack’s production envisions the tale set in 1920s prohibition, a world of gangsters, flappers, and moonshine.

More than just a night of spectacle, the production’s musical director, Abi Kitching, and the director of the Opera Shack, Emma Doherty, believe Opera can be a force for good. They both shared with me their thoughts on the role Opera plays for young people today:

Abi : “Art and music has a really positive impact on our wellbeing and is deeply important in society because of the way it can make us think and feel. Opera is no exception. […] I also think creativity provokes creativity and it is so valuable to go and watch a piece of performance art and then digest it afterwards, preferably over a pint. Because opera, particularly in the high-end opera houses, is less popular now, the debate around seems to have also decreased. But it’s really positive to see opera companies popping up and giving audiences lots to talk about.”

Emma: “The Opera Shack team are dedicated to the accessibility of art, particularly in a climate of cuts, and we believe arts education and participation are integral to the well-being, empowerment and development of all people. This belief is integral to our ethos and we strive for our work to directly impact the communities we are working within. Alongside regular performances, in the future we hope to run workshops in various settings including schools, youth groups, and centres for those in temporary accommodation, using our performances to engage and empower people from all walks of life.”

“I don’t believe that music should ‘belong’ to any group of people – particularly not just those who are the ones making it professionally – we all have a right to music and the arts and its up to those creating it to reach out and share it with anyone and everyone who wants to engage. Opera doesn’t need to be stuffy and elitist and old-fashioned, it can be funny, exciting, and touching and that’s what we try to depict through our productions.”

The Opera Shack places a particular importance on Carmen’s role. Reinvented as a jazz singer for a speakeasy that acts as a front for prohibition defying gangsters, Emma was determined that Carmen’s sexuality does not override her violent fate: “More often than not when I read about Carmen, the language used to describe the protagonist is quite alarming: the calculating femme-fatale, the temptress who manipulates her prey, Don Jose, leading to his unfortunate downfall.

Instead, in this production I chose to explore Carmen’s story as an example of domestic violence – a depiction of manipulation, possessiveness and aggression – engaging a protagonist who we witness become isolated and fearful. Through my work with Manchester Rape Crisis, I’ve seen first hand the impact of domestic violence on survivors. The message we aim to highlight in this production is that violence against women and girls does not reflect on the victim, no matter how flirtatious, sexual or seductive they are. “

In the light of this, a percentage of the proceeds will go toward Manchester Rape crisis. Despite the potentially challenging take on the infamous Carmen, the audience can look forward to a lively and enticing performance by Manchester’s rising stars from Royal Northern College of Music and The University of Manchester. Performances run at the Kings Arms in Salford, 19:30 – 21:30 on the 14th-16th of June, and tickets range from £6 (concessions) to £12 for adults. Audience are encouraged to wear their best twenties attire. Don’t miss this new, exciting and topical take on a age-old classic!

Find out more at theoperashack.co.uk or on Instagram @theoperashack

Carmen @ the Opera Shack. Credit: the Opera Shack.
Carmen @ the Opera Shack. Credit: the Opera Shack.

Review: Shoryu – vegetarian special

Piccadilly Gardens has had a tough time keeping its reputation afloat; The Manchester Evening News recently explored why the council has supposedly found it so difficult to make it a place Mancunians actually want to go.

Places like Shoryu though, are giving it their best shot to turn its reputation around. Its launch in winter 2016 was met with a warm reception, and it seems to have gone from strength to strength ever since.

The restaurant prides itself on their tonkotsu ramen; it’s a fatty pork stock that hails from Hakata in Japan, served with straight ramen noodles. It’s extremely rich, salty, and delicious, but quite rightly would make most vegans and veggies turn away in search of something a little more up their alley.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
The white natural – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

But Shoryu’s vegetarian options are not to be sniffed at (although they do smell delicious). They offer two ramens:  the first is the ‘white natural’, which has a base of tonyu soy milk and is filled with tofu, kigure mushrooms, bamboo shoots and seaweed. The second is the ‘spicy vegetarian’, which is essentially the white natural with an extra fiery kick, and some tenderstem broccoli added. I obviously had to try both.

The spicy vegetarian really packed a punch. The chilli is warming and you can definitely feel it hit the back of your throat, but it isn’t so overwhelming as to completely dull the flavours of the vegetables within it. My only slight qualm was with the tofu, as it’s something that’s notoriously unpopular, but can be made to taste absolutely delicious if well marinated. Whilst the tofu in both soups was cooked to perfection, it tasted quite bland.

The white natural had the same issue, but the broth itself was exquisite. The soy gave the impression of a rich tonkotsu, but I felt much less bloated after it than if I had had the meatier alternative.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Black sesame tofu (not for the faint hearted) Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

My partner and I also had some sides. He insisted on trying the black sesame tofu, which sounded amazing but I have an extreme aversion to anything remotely gelatinous, so silken tofu is something I can’t really abide by. He assured me it was delicious however, if only for people who have a penchant for interesting textures. There was some toasted sesame on the top of it which provided a crunch to balance the softness, and had an excellent and complex flavour to it. Who said vegetarian food had to be boring?

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Vegetable tempura – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

I, however, opted for the far safer option of vegetable tempura. The batter itself was light and crispy and perfectly cooked. The vegetables included the more classic sweet potato, but also tenderstem broccoli, which I’d never had in tempura batter before. It worked incredibly well; the batter clung to its flowering head and provided varying texture. It also came with a vegetable croquette, which was definitely a fancier version of one you might find in Iceland, but it was a croquette nonetheless; it’s hard to make what is essentially a rounded ball of potato taste that exciting. They were all served with curry salt, which gave the whole dish a depth that it may not have otherwise have had if only served with soy sauce.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Matcha cheesecake – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

What really made this meal though was the dessert. We opted for the matcha cheesecake and the chocolate matcha sundae. Matcha is typically quite bitter, but in both desserts it was paired beautifully with its sweeter counterparts. The sundae was a particular highlight; it was refreshing and light, whilst still feeling somewhat indulgent. It’s the perfect treat for a summer’s day. The cheesecake was a final delicate finish to the meal.

Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Matcha chocolate sundae – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

Overall, I think my high expectations of the rest of the Shoryu menu left me somewhat wanting when it came to their vegetarian options. However, the desserts were incredible, and definitely worth a visit just for them. I’m Shoryu will love them!

Ubisoft confirm Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

After the recent Walmart leaks and the likes of Bethesda having to cash in on the buzz with their announcement of Rage 2, not to mention having just dropped the proverbial atom bomb that is Fallout 76, it feels like E3 is already here and we already know a great deal about what’s in store.

Thanks to a leak from French website JeuxVideo, we can add another would-be reveal to that list with the next installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise: Odyssey. The leak came in the form of a photo taken of some merchandise: a key ring featuring Spartan-esque helmet, as well as the full packaging, complete with title and a new variation on the iconic Assassin’s insignia.

Screenshot: Arcticblue @ JeuxVideo
Screenshot: Arcticblue@JeuxVideo

This leak comes after a long period of speculation over the next title in the series, with many having already posed the suggestion of ancient Greece in light of the numerous references in Assassin’s Creed: Origins — the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria, not forgetting the more direct references to Alexander the Great himself — as well as Liam Robertson of ComicBook.com reporting that sources had been toying with the idea of Greece as early as 2015.

According to Robertson, Greece was initially going to feature in Origins, but the decision was made to save it for the next game as it would enable them to more deeply explore a period rich in history and culture. As alluded to, some references were made in the most recent title, with both Alexander’s tomb and shield featuring in the narrative, suggesting that Ubisoft were intentionally pointing players in the right direction long before any of this information dropped.

As you can imagine, this most recent and convincingly substantial leak sent the internet into a veritable frenzy and since the proverbial cat had already been let out of the bag, Ubisoft elected to make an official announcement.

Mere hours after the keychain leak began circulating around the web, Ubisoft posted a 5-second clip apparently alluding to the iconic “this is Sparta” scene in 300, showing what looks like one heavily-armoured Greek phalanx kicking another off a cliff, before promptly confirming the official title and simply captioning it: “See you at E3!”

For many, this reveal was doubly-surprising given the fact that after the less than impressive Unity and Syndicate, Ubisoft had remarked that they planned to take more time between installments, as a 2-year break clearly seemed to pay off with Origins, both critically and financially.

Photo: BagoGames@Flickr
Photo: BagoGames@Flickr

The release date has not yet been confirmed, though E3 might change that. However, it appears Odyssey is now being touted for a late-2018 release (as opposed to the original 2019 launch window tipped by Robertson and the like).

Of course, nothing is confirmed as of yet, but if there is one thing to be sure of it’s that we’ll hear more about it at E3.

 

Bethesda announce Fallout 76

Finally, after years of speculation, Bethesda released the official trailer for Fallout 76: not an Obsidian-developed game, not a remastered version of Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas, but a completely new game. News first started to spread about a new Fallout game earlier this week, followed by a Twitch livestream that went on for 24 hours. Bethesda then released a short trailer announcing that their new game will be centred around Vault 76.

What we know about the game so far, from looking at the trailer, is that the player takes on the role of a Vault Dweller from Vault 76, 25 years after bombs dropped (which we can find out from the Pip-Boy’s date). Unlike other vaults where the aim was to carry out social and psychological experiments, this “control” vault’s main task was to occupy 500 people, then 20 years after the bombs dropped, the Vault doors open to allow residents to venture out after the nuclear terror.

Fans of the franchise would have first heard about Vault 76 in Fallout 3, where you discover on a terminal in the Citadel that the Vault is located around the DC area of the Capital Wasteland. Some fans have also pointed out that Vault 76 is referenced in Fallout 4 at the very beginning of the game where the news anchor on the television announces that the ‘welcome-home promotion’, which included vaults such as 76, prompted Vault Tec to create 100 more because of its success.

Multiple sources, such as Kotaku’s news editor Jason Schreier, have suggested that Fallout 76 will be an online-survival RPG, which was apparently a feature that was supposed to come with Fallout 4 but never went through. Whilst some are happy to see that Bethesda are experimenting beyond creating typical RPG games, others would have preferred to see a remastered Fallout 3, especially for its 10th anniversary since its release.

A key scene in the trailer is the decorations around the Atrium that celebrate Reclamation Day, the day that supposedly the doors open and the vault dwellers venture out to reclaim and restore America. If Fallout 76 is going to be an online-survival RPG, then from the trailer, the general idea of the game may be that each player is a Vault Dweller from Vault 76. Presumably, you can then venture out into the Wasteland exploring new areas, fighting mutated creatures — and possibly different factions and players — whilst Vault 76 will act as a hub for the player to return to.

Whilst the news surrounding the game is very limited, Bethesda are going to have a very interesting E3 showcase this year with Fallout 76 and Rage 2, and if you’re one of the brave few that wants to watch E3 live, then make sure to tune in at 2:30 AM on June the 11th to watch Bethesda’s press conference.

Community Festival returns to UoM

The University of Manchester is welcoming back its annual Community Festival on Saturday 16th June. Its aim? Showing the general public what happens behind the scenes at the university.

Visitors will have the opportunity to get hands-on with some of the university’s research. There will be the opportunity take part in live experiments, interactive demonstrations, musical and dramatic performances, as well as a historical campus tour. Attendees will also have the chance to meet staff and scientists.

One highlight includes a workshop about Delia Derbyshire, a pioneer of electronic music and the woman behind the world famous Dr Who theme.

A university spokesperson said: “We are so excited that our annual Community Festival returns in 16 June. We look forward to inviting our local neighbours onto campus to meet us, find out what we do and have a fantastic fun day out.”

For more information about the Festival, go to the Community Festival website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the programme.

Formula One series set to return in 2018

Months before its release, Codemasters has announced on their official Twitter page the release date of their latest installment in their FORMULA ONE™ series, F1 2018, for August the 24th 2018.

Fans have been speculating when they would find out the date, ever since the release of F1 2017 in August of last year and its critical success.

“We were delighted by the reception that the highly-acclaimed F1 2017 game received, and are extremely excited to be able to further build on such a strong starting point with F1 2018” said Paul Jeal, F1 Franchise Director at Codemasters, “We cannot wait to unveil more details on features we know our fans will love”.

It certainly seems that Codemasters have listened to their audience, making significant changes in the career mode, fixing problems such as F1 2017’s crashes and bugs in the game or major issues with research & development, as well as the ironic issue of the McLaren’s Honda Engine breaking down.

The developers may improve on gameplay, revive the Young Driver Tests from previous games that some fans missed in later games, or even trigger unscheduled car failures to make the gameplay spontaneous. Hopefully with their latest installment, they are able to release the game with these issues taken into account.

“We are also adding more classic cars, again listening to our fans as to which of the historical F1 cars they would most like to virtually drive next”. Last year they brought in cars from McLaren, Renault and Red Bull, spanning from 1988-2010, and for the first time, incorporated them into the career mode. Many fans predict that classic cars such as the Brawn GP 2009 car, or cars from earlier decades such as the 1978 Brabham BT46 and the 1954 Maserati 250F will make a surprise appearance. What’s for certain is that this year, we can expect the developers to venture beyond what they achieved with F1 2017.

The information available at the moment is limited. In terms of an official trailer, nothing has been released yet by the British developers. What fans can definitely expect are more details to come in the next month at E3 2018, possibly a teaser trailer and more details on their improvement of the career mode. For now, gamers eager for the release of this game should return to F1 2017, stay tuned for the Canadian GP on the 10th of June, and follow Codemasters for more information as this news develops.

Repealing the 8th: What the vote for “YES” means to the women of Ireland

On the 25th of May Irish history was changed with the Republic’s landslide referendum victory for a “YES” vote to repeal the 8th amendment on the criminalisation of abortion.

The death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012 was the catalyst for legal reform surrounding abortion in the country. Halappanavar, 31, died of sepsis in the University Hospital Galway after being denied an abortion for a pregnancy in which doctors estimated that miscarriage was inevitable. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was passed after her death. For generations, women were literally dying, and it seemed no one was listening.

Flickr @ William Murphy
Flickr @ William Murphy

I spoke to some of the women from Autonomy, a women-led collection of creative writing published by New Binary Press of which the profit goes to the Together For Yes campaign in Ireland.

Editor of Autonomy and Chair of Cork Together For Yes, Kathy D’Arcy, told me that “sometimes stories about real human experiences have the power to change people’s hearts and to make them understand, where even hard evidence fails.” Being able to humanise an idea which has been so politicised for generations is important to the understanding of what it means to be pregnant in a country that criminalises, and demonises, abortion. Autonomy brings us one step closer to understanding the real experiences of women in Ireland. By reading the anthology, which I urge everyone to do, one witnesses women demanding back the power and conversation over their bodies.

“If you still wonder if it’s alright to force someone to stay pregnant against their will, please read the stories in this book with an open heart. It’s time to stand up for our women” D’Arcy said.

The anthology covers an array of issues concerning the 8th amendment. ‘Dystopia’, a poem by Elaine Feeney, contemplates the dangers of unregulated and illegal abortions. One powerful stanza reads:

“There is woman and organ, uterus, brain, lung, skin, heart. They can do good, or sometimes they can kill her.

“Till you all know this we will carry sharpened blades in our apron pockets.”

Before the 25th of May, importing and taking abortifacient medication could lead to the woman’s arrested and possible sentencing of up to 14 years in prison. It’s almost unbelievable to think that in the last three years Ireland has legalised same-sex marriage (the first nation to do so by way of referendum) and voted to repeal the 8th amendment.

The political and social scope of the country is in the midsts of revolutionary change and liberalism in direct opposition to its conservative history. It was only in 1993 that same-sex relations were decriminalised, the same year that condoms were no longer defined as a contraceptive and could, therefore, be deregulated. It was only two years later a public referendum decriminalised divorce.

As the granddaughter of a divorced Irish woman, and the great-granddaughter of an Irish woman who hid her teen pregnancy from the world and was forced to watch her daughter grow up pretending she was her sister, votes for women’s rights in the country are a vote for women being able to take back their bodies, take back their lives, and fight for the equality they have been hungry for, for generations.

Aoife Inman, the author of ‘The Contaminating Agent’, a short story for Autonomy, and current postgraduate History student at the University of Manchester, said that a vote for yes: “made more than just history… It was also a beautifully emotive moment for so many people across the country whose personal stories has been so closely affected by the cruelty of the Eighth Amendment, which was something really moving to be a part of.”

But a vote for yes isn’t the end of the affair, says Inman. “Importantly, this vote is just the first step in claiming back ownership of our bodies in Ireland. Now that the Eighth has been repealed it is important that safe, fair legislation is implemented as swiftly as possible to fully institute change.”

Flicker @ William Murphy
Flicker @ William Murphy

Kira Kalsi, a politics and modern history undergraduate at the University of Manchester, originally from Ennis, Ireland, told me that she has had nightmares of pregnancy since being a teenager. “I can’t impress upon anyone the fear that we’ve lived under: an unplanned pregnancy is scary for anyone, never mind the added complications of restricted health care, and lack of options” Kalsi states.

“I really hope this, coupled with the marriage vote three years ago is the beginning of Ireland shedding its traditions of state-sanctioned abuse and oppression. Even though I no longer live in the country, I’m still incredibly invested in its social progress!”

The landslide victory for the Together For Yes campaign has put extra pressure on the UK government to address abortion in Northern Ireland, where the UK 1967 Abortion Act establishing legal abortion was never applied. In February earlier this year, a United Nations committee found that “the UK violates the rights of women in Northern Ireland by unduly restricting their access to abortion.”

Dawn Butler, the Labour party’s shadow women and equalities secretary, tweeted: “The government must act to ensure that women in Northern Ireland have the same rights as women across the rest of the UK.

https://twitter.com/DawnButlerBrent/status/1001039888236666881

“Labour is calling for the government immediately to begin negotiations with political parties in Northern Ireland about legislation to extend abortion rights.”

Labour’s shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti has dubbed the vote for “yes” in the republic of Ireland as a “feminist test” for the UK government.

Catherine O’Kane, a third year Manchester Metropolitan Student studying Mathematics and Education Studies, originally from Northern Ireland says: “It’s time for Northern Ireland to change too, the South have seen to do the right thing so Northern Ireland should do the same.”

To purchase an e-copy of Autonomy, click here.