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Month: March 2020

Photos and design by Phoebe Moore

Manchester’s study cafés

Written by Phoebe Moore on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Manchester offers a wealth of wonderful cafés that are also perfect study spaces with inspiring and welcoming surroundings in which simply ordering a coffee grants a morning or afternoon in a cocoon of community. Sometimes a change of scenery is what we need for that productivity boost. The various study spaces around campus do fulfill our needs for concentration and focus, and the Ali G provides a 24/7 refuge for the nocturnal grafters among us, however cafés are another great place to indulge in a productive study session. As an avid lover of studying in cafés myself, here are four of my favourites.

Friska

Conveniently located on campus, Friska is a vibrant space which is quieter in the morning whilst in the afternoon the background noise becomes a hive of chatter, subtly accompanied by upbeat funk and electronic tunes. Long desk-style tables make up a third of its table space, all with plug sockets and plenty of space to spread out your study material. The full wall windows give plenty of light, and free WiFi is offered for one hour, however Eduroam should also appear as an option. Be warned – Friska gets busy in during lunch hours, so it is more difficult to grab a seat and the noise levels will increase!

As well as quality coffee in bright yellow cups, you can also treat yourself to breakfast and lunch. A little more pricey owing to its sustainable sourcing, there’s a range of delights inspired by cuisines around the world such as hot wraps, rice bowls, fresh sandwiches, and homemade cakes. With Friska’s loyalty app you can collect rewards for free food and drinks, and sometimes they have student discounts on food so keep an eye on their social media!

Anchor Coffee House

Anchor is an independent café tucked away at the start of the Curry Mile near Whitworth Park and is run by a team of volunteers. The front is reminiscent of the pub Anchor once was with bench seats stretching around one side of the room, all of which have access to plug sockets. The bright modern extension at the back is filled with green plants providing a pop of colour on every table. It’s fairly quiet and WiFi is available although this can be temperamental in the extension.

Anchor has gentle music which compliments the warm, rustic interior at the front to create a comforting and calm space to concentrate. The opening hours are sometimes subject to alteration due to sporadic volunteer shortages so it’s best to check their social media for closing time notifications.

North Tea Power

Located in the Northern Quarter, North Tea Power serves great coffee and a hefty selection of teas and infusions, as its name suggests, but there is also a small menu of all-day breakfast options. Particularly quiet in the morning, it’s a haven of minimalism with an accompanying hushed mix of alternative and folk music. But don’t overlook it’s non-assuming exterior, once you enter you’ll realise it makes for an inspiring and cosy place to study.

There’s unlimited free WiFi, and whilst the small back bench has plug sockets, I would suggest ensuring your devices are fully charged beforehand as the opportunities to charge them are restricted.

Ditto Coffee

Finally, Ditto is found near the Palace Theatre, so not far away from campus, which is a small and bright creative hub with minimalist decor. It’s curiously a sub-company of record label Ditto Music, the world’s largest label service provider, which has worked with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Aitch and Stormzy. Ditto Coffee fittingly combines a love of music and coffee to provide a space for productivity and promoting independent artists – it even has a demo disc dropbox for the chance to secure record deals with Ditto or to play at their in-house live events. The noise level can be a little higher due to Ditto’s position among many office buildings and working lunches and informal meetings seem to be a regular occurrence.

The staff are friendly, sparking up a chat as you grab a hot sandwich, piece of cake, or cappuccino. The one thing to be aware of is the invitation to put away laptops between 12 and 2pm, seemingly to boost their intake of lunch customers due to limited table space, and to encourage conversation. But around these hours a laptop is very welcome!

All in all, embrace the opportunity to try out Manchester’s cafés whilst you study — it might just be your cup of tea!

Opinion: The finicky fight for short films, funding, and finding resources

Written by Georgina Davidson on . Posted in Film.

The creation of a piece of short film, whether fictional or based on fact, can often become a challenging journey through the various demands and abilities to push through difficulties. Pressure on time and resources can have a strong economic impact, whether healthy or detrimental, on these films.

The ability to distribute film has only become more abundantly available – just a quick search can reveal the expansive use of social media, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other online platforms, keen to provide new, original content at faster, regular rates to a wider audience. Gone is the all wielding power of Hollywood and huge economic pressures to create feature length, colossal tales. Frankly, the amount of unnecessary remakes and unrelenting desire of studios to sell out and grow the span of archaic tales appears to be causing audiences to switch off.

Just months earlier during his satirical stint as host of Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais quipped tellingly: “No one goes to the cinema anymore… This show should just be me going ‘Well done Netflix. You win everything. Good night.’ But no, we’ve got to drag it out for three hours.” Of course this is not quite how the award show eventually played out, but it was just one example of a hit back at the Hollywood film industry and its contemporary creators.

There is just something that’s quite tangibly exciting about the potential of Netflix original films and series. At it’s conception there were doubters who could not see the delight of the peppered internet space which offered the opportunity for smaller, lower budget offerings to finally come to light in new and exciting ways — inspiring a new generation of film makers to see the possibilities of film and the potential of their storytelling.

Having made a short film myself as part of my undergraduate degree, I discovered that it was an artistically rewarding and culturally enlightening process, even if it was, at times, tricky to plan for. It took hours alone to film my 3 minute creation. Then there has to be consideration about how different audiences might view and perceive it with regards to distribution. However, as one of my heroes of filmmaking Andrei Tarkovsky once said:

“Relating a person to the whole world: that is the meaning of cinema.”

Using this to guide the way you might consider making film, it kind of clears the pathway a little. Tarkovsky’s words resonate with me because his statement puts the passions, thoughts, and interests of your own individual exploration first. The enemy of creating an engaging film is trying to write for the masses and seeking to tell a story that you think people will like or will garner interest.

Although funding can often be a tricky element to master and balance, it is, however, promising to see festivals, such as Manchester Lift Off 2020, which promote new UK short films and international filming projects. Described as “a unique channel consisting of eleven global cities and an on-demand platform”, this creative network intends to provide unique insight into the possibilities of alternative global distribution by allowing creatives to take their work to the next stage of competing in the wider film market effectively.

The festival is a showcase of some of their latest season of creative projects and is just one of many opportunities to catch some talents that have yet to break through into the wider market. Taking this time to view this work now could provide crucial encouragement and space for the artist to grow, develop and create a network of creators for huge features of the future.

Photo: Mihai Surdu @ Pixabay

Opinion: Can we separate the art from the artist?

Written by Zofia Gryf-Lowczowska on . Posted in Film.

In recent years it feels as though the film industry has been plagued with scandals; the majority involving misogyny and sexual misconduct. However, rather than signifying a surge in sexual abuse, this is actually due to more people, especially women, having the confidence to speak out and report offences. Sexual abuse has long been present in the film industry, but for years it has been hidden under the mask of patriarchy in a sorely male-dominated industry.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last three years, you will have heard of the #MeToo movement. The #MeToo movement, which encourages victims of sexual abuse to speak out by promoting strength in numbers, has played a pivotal role in bringing sex offenders to account. Starting in the film industry, the movement has since taken effect in the spheres of music, science, academia and politics.

What the movement brought to light, alongside some of the atrocious crimes committed by prominent members of the film industry, was the systematic failure to bring offenders to justice sooner. Certain directors and producers were able to continuously manipulate the people they worked with and repeatedly get away with sexual harassment. The most famous case is obviously that of Harvey Weinstein, who has since been convicted of sexual assault and third-degree rape and sentenced to 23 years in prison. Since his crimes were brought to light, numerous actors and directors alike have said that, had they known of his crimes, they never would have worked with him.

However, despite this, the film industry continues to celebrate the work of convicted offenders. Most recently, at the annual César Awards in France, Roman Polanski, who is convicted of the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl, was named best director. His most recent film J’Accuse (An Officer and A Spy) was nominated in 12 categories, and won two. This caused several French actresses to storm out of the ceremony, among them Adèle Haenel, herself a victim of sexual harassment.

What’s more, a protest sparked outside the ceremony, with supporters of the #MeToo movement complaining that the movement had not had enough effect in France, especially among French cinema’s elite circles. There are no blurred lines when it comes to Polanski; he’s a convicted rapist, yet the film industry continues to place his work on a pedestal.

This leads us to question whether it is possible to separate art from its artist; that is, with regard to cinema, is it acceptable to watch films created by convicted offenders?

One argument is that art should always be separate from the artist. That is to say, judge a film based on the film alone; the plot, the content, the themes analysed in the film, and forget about who created it. This thesis seems appealing if the argument is reversed; a film plot and dialogue that promotes violence, sexism or paedophilia is unacceptable, regardless of how lovely a person the director may be. Can the same reasoning be applied when the situation is the other way around?

What, in my opinion, most strongly refutes this argument, is the injustice we do to victims of sexual abuse if we continue to celebrate the work of their offenders. Firstly, when we watch films created by offenders, we place our enjoyment of that film above the suffering of the victims. It is as if to say, I am sorry you were raped, but this guy’s film is bringing me two hours of entertainment.

Secondly, films are made to be viewed, and without an audience cinema is a dead art form. Therefore, the act of watching someone’s film is an act of celebration of their art. Thus, by watching films made by sex offenders, we support them both financially and by giving them credit as an artist. It is easy to criticise award ceremonies when they name a sex offender best director, but harder to take responsibility when we feel like watching their film. In continuing to watch films of convicted offenders we undermine movements such as the aforementioned #MeToo and belittle the bravery of victims that have spoken out.

Furthermore, this highlights the higher question of  whether or not it is actually possible to truly separate art from its artist? It is impossible to ignore the fact that personal experiences and circumstances, be it nationality, class or religion, shape the way an artist thinks, and this is reflected in their work. An artist’s life inevitably influences their work, thus there is an intrinsic link between the art and the artist. If not a product of the artist, what is the art a product of?

This leads to the question of, in the case of film, who the artist actually is. Whereas with paintings and sculptors there is usually one definitive person to point to, films are the sum of the work of many people. This is where for me personally the line becomes blurred; if we boycott films produced by Weinstein, do we overlook the work of the actors and directors that made a greater artistic contribution to the film? Similarly, by refusing to watch films starring Mel Gibson, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour battery charge after an incident involving his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in 2011, are we suggesting that he is the real artist behind the film, instead of the director?

What is clearly unacceptable is if we pick and choose when to separate the art and the artist; it is easy for those who have never heard a song by R. Kelly to tell others they shouldn’t listen to his music, but far harder for fans of The Pianist to encourage a Polanski boycott. In order to properly respect the cause of #MeToo and show respect towards the victims of sexual abuse we need to be consistent in our approach.

Overall, in order to make positive changes in the film industry it is necessary to recognise the fact that films are a product of their director, and it is unacceptable to continue praising the work of those that have caused people so much pain. If we continue to watch films created by offenders, we do a disservice to their victims and prohibit movements such as #MeToo from having real effect.

Gym Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash

The unattainable beauty standards of social media

Written by isabellalock on . Posted in Lifestyle.

From teeth whitening kits to a myriad of diets, there seems to be a never-ending pressure to achieve society’s unattainable beauty standards.

One could argue that unattainable beauty standards have always and will always exist. In the 60s models, such as Twiggy, portrayed a very skinny look making this seem desirable and attainable. However, what makes today’s unattainable beauty standards so dangerous is social media. We, as young people, have easy access to any social media platform, such as Instagram and Snapchat. On social media, we tend to compare ourselves to often photoshopped models and celebrities. Despite our awareness of camera angles and other trickery, we still subconsciously believe that beauty is defined by these unattainable standards. A study by Girl Scouts of America discovered 88% of over 1000 adolescent girls surveyed believe the media puts a lot of pressure on them to look a certain way. Instead, be conscious of how you use social media and follow the many artists and activists that are present on these platforms to make it an enjoyable experience, unless you have the willpower to just delete your account altogether!

These standards can result in a lack of confidence, and mean we want to change our bodies. Bigorexia, known as muscular dysmorphia, refers to a body dysmorphic disorder in which someone develops an unattainable desire to be as muscular as possible. According to a report in 2015 by the BBC, one out of ten men who are gyms goers have this disorder. Whilst other factors contribute, such as trauma, genes, and traditional media, social media has made this more common.

From 2017 to 2018, the number of plastic surgeries increased by nearly 250,000 operations, according to a survey carried out. The topic of plastic surgery is controversial, however, the unattainable beauty standards of today have undeniably contributed to this rise in plastic surgery. Both women and men pay lots of money to undergo a procedure to change their body to achieve a ‘perfect’ appearance, and in some extreme cases, people put their own health at risk. In some body-building communities, people have injected cooking oil into their muscles in order to bulk their muscles, which can lead to deformities, as an alternative to actual plastic surgery.

It is clear that today’s unattainable beauty standards are driving people to do anything, even if it ruins their health, to achieve these beauty standards. With the growth of fashion bloggers and social media influencers, there is more emphasis on appearance than ever. We should stop putting value on our bodies, and our appearance and start building each other’s confidence.

Teacup puppies: the unethical practices behind the cute Instagram posts

Written by Kate Jackson on . Posted in Lifestyle.

If you open up your Twitter or Instagram feed, you will no doubt come across a video of a cute dog or a post about a dog doing something heroic sooner rather than later. On the ‘cuter’ side of these social media sites, there has been a growth in the number of accounts focused on teacup puppies – miniature dogs that can literally fit in a teacup.

It’s hard not to be enamoured by these tiny dogs but, unfortunately, like many things social media, this content often hides the harsh realities that these dogs face and the questionable practices that allow these dogs to exist. Some accounts are simply celebrating how cute these dogs are, but unfortunately most are dedicated to selling these puppies. This includes @rollyteacupuppies (above), @teacuppuppyboutique and @mytinypaws.

Teacup puppies are smaller versions of a variety of different breeds that are already very small, including Chihuahua, Pomeranian and Yorkshire Terrier. While at times these tiny dogs are the result of being the ‘runt of the litter’, it is more likely that these dogs are the product of intentional breeding using two undersized dogs. Given how cute these dogs are, it’s no surprise that they are in high demand and can sell for thousands. The large amount of money on offer means teacup puppies are often produced in ‘puppy mills’ – unethical breeders who will produce and sell puppies however they can.

For teacup puppies, this means dogs that are closely related may be used for breeding or the puppies themselves may have their growth purposefully stunted so they can remain their ‘cute’ size.  As a result of these unethical practices, and the nature of being such small dogs, the reality for the dogs behind the Instagram posts is one filled with significant health problems and a lot of responsibility for their owners. 

Due to their naturally small size, these dogs can be frail and can very easily be hurt by themselves or their owners. They face significant digestive issues due their small stomachs and may have to be fed multiple times a day. There can be heart and respiratory issues, as well as an increased risk of seizures. 

If all this wasn’t enough, teacup puppies are not an official breed and their are no official regulations or guidelines to follow. People who want to buy these puppies may not be aware of the tremendous problems their dog will face or, given the fact that these dogs are almost exclusively bought over the internet, they may very well be scammed altogether.

Not every social media account that posts content with these dogs are puppy mills, and even some accounts that do sell these dogs are not unethical breeders, such as @rollyteacuppuppies. But, that doesn’t change the problems these dogs face. We must be mindful of the type of content that we are engaging with on social media sites as many people will not research the health problems that these dogs face or the unethical practices that lie behind their existence. They will see ‘cute’ and want it – even paying extortionate amounts to get it. 

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the videos and photos as, granted, it is not the fault of the dogs that they exist. But, like many unhealthy breeds, they should not exist and we need to remember that.

There are so many dogs that are in need of love and, as the RSPCA advise, can be visited in person and have their health or history be certified before they are adopted.

If you’re looking to get a dog, why not visit some local shelters and rehoming centres in Manchester such as DogsTrust or Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home?

Greater Manchester comes together to help those affected by Flybe collapse

Written by Joe Manock on . Posted in News.

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has collapsed into administration. The fall of the Exeter-based airline has caused the loss of more than 2,000 jobs.

Greater Manchester partners have come together to support employees affected by the announcement.

The Growth Company and Jobcentre Plus are providing hands-on support to former Mancunion Flybe staff.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has promised that the council will provide expert advice and support services to the employees made redundant.

Andy Burnham said: “We have acted quickly to make sure that Flybe employees in Greater Manchester are able to access the same dedicated support service that was offered to Thomas Cook staff last year. It is incredibly difficult to lose your job like this, so suddenly and with little support. I want to reassure people here in Greater Manchester that we will do whatever we can to help them.

“This is a real blow to Flybe staff and passengers, and right now my thoughts are with everyone affected by this airline’s collapse.”

The measures taken by the Manchester council mirror the response to last year’s Thomas Cook collapse, which jeopardised 9000 jobs.

The collapse of Flybe, which operates almost 40% of UK domestic flights, came less than two months after the government announced a rescue deal. Yet the government stalled on its £100m loan, due to fears of the coronavirus. A plunge in travel demand as a result of the virus proved too much for the airline to cope with.

Flybe’s administrator, the accountancy firm EY, spoke of how the “added pressures” of coronavirus worsened an existing insecure financial situation. Before the outbreak, Flybe was already struggling from the competition with its rival Loganair and rising fuel costs.

First Rail has offered free travel to Flybe passengers and staff. While EasyJet has offered discounted fares for stranded passengers and free flights to Flybe staff so they can get home.

UoM moves towards online teaching amidst coronavirus panic

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester is understood to be moving towards online teaching as universities across the country prepare to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Durham University and Liverpool University are among those ending face-to-face teaching and telling students that from next week, they will not be expected to attend classes. Earlier today, it was announced that all schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland would close over the virus.

An email sent to Durham students says that, starting next week, all classes will be moved online in order to “reduce the risk of immediate infection”. A source from the University of Liverpool told The Mancunion that students on non-clinical degrees will also not be expected to attend lectures and seminars next week.

King’s College London (KCL) have sent an email to students confirming that all exams scheduled for the summer examination period will be changed to alternative methods of assessment, saying they “will not hold conventional unseen exams over this period”.

An email sent to Durham students regarding the Unviersity response to coronavirus. Photo: Nicole Wootton-Cane @The Mancunion

Manchester Metropolitan University have told students that face-to-face teaching will not resume after Easter break, but could halt “potentially sooner, if requested by the government.”

However, university vice-chancellors have told the government that a complete shutdown of UK universities would be “impossible” as it would leave thousands of students stranded.

Speaking to The Guardian, vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England (UWE) Professor Steve West, said: ““My bottom line back to government has been that they can’t treat universities like big schools because we aren’t.

“I’ve got 4,500 students living on campus: some of them are care leavers or estranged from their families and many are international students. We can’t just shut down as they would have nowhere to go.”

Whilst classes are moved online at Durham, the library and university accommodation will remain open.

“The health and wellbeing of the Durham University community and the wider communities within which we sit must be the primary concern of all of us at this time,” reads an email sent to Durham students.

“These decisions have not been taken lightly and are similar to those taken at other leading universities around the world. They are designed to reduce the immediate risk of infection to yourself, our staff and our wider community.

“We know that this may not be your preferred method of learning and that being in classrooms is an important pat of your university experience. However, moving to online learning will help limit exposure to Covid-19 by reducing group activities. This will help all of us as the coronavirus spreads.”

Spencer, a third-year History student at Durham University said: “While I understand the need for Durham Uni to close immediately, meaning moving all teaching online, the fact the Library is being kept open, to me, suggests the uni don’t care about our wellbeing.

“When you compare a seminar room of 10 people, or a lecture theatre of 100 to the Library which can hold 1800 people, it seems obvious which you would close first. The library staying open is simply to stop students complaining and asking for extensions – that is their main worry, not our health.”

The University of Manchester told The Mancunion that their position in response to coronavirus has not changed: “Lectures and seminars are currently taking place as normal, but we are closely following the latest Government advice, and will update students if the situation changes.

“If you need further information beyond this, our relevant staff and student websites are being consistently updated.”

At the time of publication, The Mancunion understands that teaching weeks 8 and 9 will be used as a transition period to move all teaching online. No lectures with a registered attendance of over 100 will be held face-to-face, and smaller lectures will be encouraged to move online.

Authorise Press Shot

Live Review: Gentleman’s Dub Club at Manchester Academy 2

Written by luisabax on . Posted in Music.

Gentleman’s Dub Club have been touring for over 10 years yet the high energy brought to their shows has only intensified – this gig being no exception.

Dressed in their iconic suits, the nine members of Gentleman’s Dub Club bounded about stage with electric, infectious energy that had the whole crowd lost in dance. With no one holding back, we skanked and jumped up to the beats for well over an hour.

I’ve always been astounded by the way dub can make me feel, I’ve never connected to a type of music quite in the same way. I lose myself to the vibrations, which take over my body and feet. I could tell by the vibe of the crowd that they felt the same way. My mate turning to me dazed at the fact they were making this synthetic, magical sound with a couple of instruments.

Playing all their best tracks like ‘Rudeboy’, ‘Earthquake’ and ‘Highs and Lows’, they missed none of my favourites. They then played their track ‘Fire’. Lead singer Jonathon Scratchley screamed at the crowd to bring “more fire”, bouncing around the stage with manic energy. We answered the call shouting and dancing with more intensity and vigour than even I knew I had. And then, like that they were gone. My friend turned to me asking if we should leave but I was sure they’d be back; they couldn’t leave us like this. The crowd waited in anticipation for an encore and they didn’t let us down. The members filed back on stage and we went mental. Then I heard, the two beats that made up the start of ‘High Grade’, my favourite song. They played it as the crowd sung along with them and shouted “pull up”, wheeling up the track when they reached the verse which got us even more hyped. Scratchley then asked the crowd to get as low as they could to the floor, and I was flooded with emotion and delight when everyone joined in. There were grey haired men and women 50 and above, full on squatting and connecting with the music. My legs ached but with the solidarity of the crowd I waited for the beat to drop before we exploded up and skanked out.

The energy and vibes that Gentleman’s Dub Club bring to their shows is like nothing I’ve ever seen before and astounds me every time, leaving me with a sense of love and unity. They finished the gig with the song and message to “let a little love in your life”. Something I think we could all afford to do a little more of.

4.5/5.

Womanhood in A Thousand Splendid Suns

Written by Shaheena on . Posted in Books.

Set in Afghanistan, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a story of tragedy, loss, war and hope. A theme that permeates the novel is solidarity between two women who are able to empathise with one another.

Following the success of The Kite Runner, Hosseini offers a female narrative of life in Afghanistan through the stories of Mariam and Laila. From Soviet occupation to Mujahedeen rule, A Thousand Splendid Suns uses the historical context as a backdrop to the stories of Mariam and Laila. It explores the Soviet clashes with the Mujahedeen and how the Mujahedeen were hailed as heroes once they had defeated the Soviets, although their rule soon turned sinister.

Hosseini educates the reader on the recent history of Afghanistan, without fixating on this.

The story begins with Mariam, an illegitimate child with a mother who was emotionally abusive and a distant father who marries Mariam off once her mother passes away. Mariam is married to a man who is much older than her, and is thrown into a life of servitude and submission.

On the other side of the story is a young girl named Laila, who is fiery, intelligent and deeply loved by her father. To the reader, Laila represents an optimistic, young and educated future for Afghanistan. As a teenager, Laila falls pregnant by her childhood sweetheart Tariq. However, Laila’s family is soon killed in the war and Tariq disappears. As a clever young girl, Laila knows she must marry immediately and pass off the child as her husband’s.

It is at this point in the story when Mariam and Laila’s stories intertwine. Laila becomes the second wife of a local older man, Mariam’s husband. In a vivid and memorable scene in the book, Laila takes a knife and pierces her finger on her wedding night, in a bid to convince her husband she was a virgin. This act of self-harm in order to please her husband is only one in a series of instances whereby the book reveals how expectations of women are of detriment to the women scrutinised.

Mariam and Laila’s tale of escaping their abusive husband with Laila’s child is one of sisterhood, resilience and bravery. Mariam sacrifices herself so Laila can be reunited with Tariq, as they escape Afghanistan with their child to start a new life in Pakistan.

A timeless classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a book I often find myself returning to. Hosseini writes like a poet, entirely captivating the reader, with quotes that are very relevant to any reader who can identify with the culture. One quote that has resonated with me since I first read the book at fifteen is: “Like a compass needle that always points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.” A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story of two strong women trying to destroy the compass, and outrun the accusing fingers of men.

 

Photo: Sarah Piantadosi

Live Review: Jake Bugg at Mountford Hall

Written by jackgreeney on . Posted in Music.

After recently headlining the ‘Beat The Streets’ homeless fundraising festival in his native Nottingham, Jake Bugg has embarked on a 9-date UK tour, the third of which at Mountford Hall, Liverpool University.

Bugg is hoping to regain momentum in a career that has fluctuated over the years and to that end has signed with Sony’s RCA Records for his as-yet-untitled upcoming album. His previous effort, Hearts That Strain (2017), received generally negative feedback, with NME most notably awarding a two-star review and asking if the “boy wonder has lost his way?”

Since then however, Bugg has changed things up. Now with Andrew Watt on production (well-known for working with Bugg’s friend Post Malone), his latest single, ‘Kiss the Sun’, sounds at once fresh and distinctly Jake Bugg, harking back to the reflective lyricism of his first album and the high energy of the second. It was selected as ‘Hottest Record’ by BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac in November and if the rest of the album is anything like this it will be highly promising.

Not only that, but his collaboration with electronic producers Camelphat for their track ‘Be Someone’, a success measuring by its 20m Spotify streams, proves he is willing to get off the track he has well beaten. Bugg comes onstage to this song, his vocals sitting above a bassy, gradually building house track — don’t think Bugg’s gone pop though. As soon as the show starts, Bugg is immediately at his best with trebly Stratocaster in hand, perfectly paired with his distinctive nasal crooning.

The greatest trick marketers ever pulled was convincing the world Jake Bugg was in any way ‘indie’. This is country, folk, blues-rock, all the things we’ve heard before simply tied to youthful exuberance. As a result, nothing unites old and young like a Jake Bugg show, crowds spanning generations like a politician’s pipe dream. In action, his guitar solos are growing in sophistication and, for all the Dylan comparisons, his voice is arguably better (although not exactly a high bar).

Despite these improvements, the energy of the show overall was markedly inconsistent. There is no question that Bugg is a versatile musician, but constant switches between energetic, band-backed electric guitar and slow acoustic solo-ing created an atmosphere as up and down as Bugg’s career to date. In much the same way however, the best songs shone through, particularly the frenetic ‘Lightning Bolt’ and, best until last, the carefree ‘Two Fingers’.

The lack of an encore, plenty of time before curfew, is a real shame, particularly when some of the set was used to play songs Bugg himself admitted “might not make it on to the album.” Sadly too, for someone who has been performing live for over a decade now, Bugg himself comes across rather static onstage, seeming to be concentrating rather than enjoying himself. With such an excitable fan base, the opportunity to whip the crowd up into a frenzy was sorely missed.

In Jake Bugg’s performance there are certainly promising signs. If his underlying quality is allowed to shine more with a better constructed show (and if the forthcoming album is as good as it’s teased to be), then perhaps this career is heading the right way after all.

3/5.

Black hole ejection behaviour observed by Jodrell Bank telescope array

Written by lukeedwards on . Posted in Science & Tech.

A study based at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, just outside of Manchester, has observed novel ejection behaviours of black holes that further our understanding of these obscure objects.

The findings were found jointly with the VLA and MeerKAT telescope arrays, based in the US and South Africa, respectively. The research team based at Oxford University tracked the ejected material over a period of months.

The observations allowed for a more in-depth understanding into how black holes leak energy into their surrounding environment. Co-lead of the project Rob Fender said: “We’ve been studying these kind of jets for over 20 years and never have we tracked them so beautifully over such a large distance.”

The ejections are moving so fast they appear to be moving faster than the speed of light. This is physically impossible, instead this apparent error is caused by a phenomenon known as apparent superluminal motion.

The outbursts observed were induced by a system, known as MAXI J1820+070, going into outburst in the summer of 2018. The extreme ejection distances from the black hole and the final angular separation is among the largest seen from such systems.

Dr Rob Beswick, Head of e-MERLIN Science Operations at Jodrell Bank stated: “This work shows the power of world-class instruments such as e-MERLIN, MeerKAT and the VLA working in tandem.

“e-MERLIN’s unique combination of resolution, sensitivity and rapid response made it the perfect instrument for this sort of study.”

Galactic black holes such as MAXI J1820+070 are believed to be miniature versions of supermassive black holes that are found at the centre of galaxies. The feedback from these objects is thought to be a vital component regulating the growth of galaxies.

Photo: The Mancunion.

24 hour study people and the Ali G

Written by lottienorton2 on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Most universities have at least one designated 24 hour study spot, here at the University of Manchester we have the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, commonly known as the Ali G.

There are many benefits to 24 hour study spots, mainly because they create an accessible learning environment for students at all times of the day. They’re particularly useful for individuals who prefer to study in the evenings, as the Ali G provides them with a comfortable working environment if they do not wish to study at home.

However, by providing 24-hour study spots are universities encouraging a lack of work-life balance, and therefore perpetuating poor wellbeing? I think yes.

There has always been pressure on students to do well in their academic studies, but the expectations of millennials seem to go a step further. There is now immeasurable pressure as the message seems to be to not only achieve but also to overachieve. This can lead to overworking, as well as keeping up with a myriad of activities to build our CVs to be considered employable.

Stress can induce insomnia, anxiety, headaches, acne and even effect our eating to name a few. Such affects have been demonstrated in studies including one by Uni Health which reported that 80% of those in higher education have had symptoms of anxiety. And the NUS carried out a survey which found the 9 in 10 student experience stress during their university education, and highlights further the poor wellbeing of students.

The issue with 24 hour study spots is that there is no shut off point or enforced ‘home-time’. If you have the ability to study into the early hours of the morning with no one making you leave, there is the risk of over-working yourself and burning out.

So, should universities be doing more to ensure the wellbeing of their students? We’re all guilty of sometimes procrastinating but when stressed I’m sure many of us are also guilty of not taking enough breaks.

I think universities could help encourage better wellbeing for students by implementing measures to tackle this, for example pausing computers after around an hour of working for 10 minutes to ensure their users take breaks, especially as it is detrimental to our eye health to look at screens for several hours in one go.

Likewise, university cafés are overpriced and not open 24 hours. This encourages those studying in these places to either skip eating or buy something quick and cheap like snacks from vending machines – I’m not saying we shouldn’t buy snacks but do people feel like this is their only option without breaking the bank, instead of buying a meal. The university should implement affordable meals to support individuals using these study facilities.

It is important to work hard whilst at university but not at the expense of your wellbeing. Take breaks, make sure you’re eating and sleeping properly. Stress can be made more manageable by exercising regularly and creating a timetable. If 24 hour study spots work for you, that’s great but do not study at the expense of not sleeping. If you don’t want to break the bank consider taking snacks or a bring dinner with you to fuel your studying. Remember, you will study better if you’re looking after yourself.

Let’s Get Away: London

Written by heidylo on . Posted in Lifestyle, Travels.

As someone who grew up in Asia, London seems like a distant fantasy that I would only see on a TV screen. Now that I have moved to the UK, London is finally within my reach being just a two hour train journey from Manchester. Two years ago, I visited London for the first time and I fell in love with the gorgeous architecture, and recently I had the chance to go back. Needless to say, it is still as beautiful as I remembered.

On Friday morning, I took a train to London, which cost me £50.20 for a return ticket with a 16-25 railcard. I was going with a friend and we stayed in the Premium Inn in Kings Cross for £36 each. There are cheaper hotels and hostels available but since it is only a 15 minute walk from Euston station, we thought it was worth it for the convenience.

The highlight of our trip was definitely the St Dunstan in the East Church Garden located near Bank Street. If you love nature, gothic architecture, and history this is the place for you. The church was built around 1100 and was damaged twice by fire and bombing in 1666 and 1941 respectively. Right now, it serves as a public garden and provides a beautiful green space in London for everyone to enjoy a quiet moment or to snap a quick scenic picture. Since it is located near Bank Street, it is easily accessible by tube and is only a 5 minute walk away from the station. There is no entrance fee and it is open all year around except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and is perfect for anyone who wants escape the busy streets of London momentarily.

If you are an art lover, Cecil Court is the perfect place to spend your day. There are art galleries and tons of second-hand bookshops making this the perfect place to go if you wish to get lost in the world of culture and be transported back in time. And for Harry Potter fans, some say this lane was the inspiration behind Diagon Alley. There are shops with unique trinkets and art pieces – be mindful not to spend all your budget on them! Not to mention, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery are less than 5 minutes away which are great places to soak up some culture, especially as these have no entrance fee.

Photos courtesy of Heidy Lo and design by Phoebe Moore
Photos courtesy of Heidy Lo and design by Phoebe Moore

You will probably be hungry after all this, but not to worry because there are a lot of different cafés and pubs around Cecil Court and Covent Garden. I had the pleasure of trying the most delicious cookies from Ben’s Cookies. However, if you are not in the mood for cookies, how about pancakes and all-day breakfasts? The Riding House Café located on Great Titchfield Street – near Oxford Circus tube station – and offers amazing buttercream pancakes as well as traditional English breakfasts. The environment is airy with natural sunlight shining through the windows, a great place to just sit, unwind and enjoy good food.

There are so many amazing spots in London and it impossible for me to talk about them all. What I will say is that reading what I wrote about London is nothing compared to being there and seeing everything with your own eyes, so if you get a chance to explore London, take it, I promise you will not regret it.

Photo: Blake Crompton

Live Review: OHHMS at Satan’s Hollow

Written by Blake Crompton on . Posted in Music.

The was my first gig of the new decade and let’s just say it was an optimal start: in between constant emails concerning coronavirus, essay deadlines and general oddness, last Saturday was eventful. With full nights at YES, Sisters of Mercy in town, and Deco Records putting on a grand bill at The Peer Hat we arrive at an early show… OHHMS.

OHHMS, known in the prog-metal circuit and gracing the ArcTanGent 2020 festival among others, are a Kent based 5-piece with a “layered on thick” approach to their sound, and an astonishing live vigour. Known in the underground scene for the drama of their songs, most notably seen in ‘Subjects,’ sung from the perspective of a captured laboratory animal, containing harrowing moments through all the acts described. They are a force to be reckoned with.

I personally was giddy about this gig for a number of reasons. Firstly, the opportunity to describe a different kind of venue, Satan’s Hollow. I have never been in before, a virgin of the establishment, so I was very happy to be christened by watching OHHMS. Sandwiched between Chinatown and the Gay Village, along a side street and up a metal staircase reminiscent of an Addams Family museum tour, you are transported to the world of 2000s metal music, Tenacious D music video sets and very charming Satan themed… everything!  An actual giant devil, arms outstretched, points to where the DJ booth is, cobwebs in every direction, and of course, the stage in the centre of the venue with a giant OHHMS banner facing out to the audience with Orange amplifiers all set to optimum volume, already shaping up to be a grand night based on presentation alone.

But looks aren’t everything. In this case it doesn’t build the hype to what occurs next, the main support band, Hundred-Year-Old Man, come out, embraced by light and poised in a slow build of sound, eventually reaching a crescendo of brutal screaming, harmonic distortions and atmospheric sounds pummelling through the audience. Whilst they only play three songs (totalling approximately thirty minutes) they have absolutely made a grand impression.

When OHHMS finally enter the scene, it is quite humbling, no grand entrance nor light show, just them picking up their instruments, a “Hi, We’re OHHMS” and a brief message before it is clear to why there was no flashing display. They immediately launch into ‘Firearms’ and it is a sight to behold; the sheer force like a tank crashing through your living room. The band came into life: the front man broke down the mic stand into the ground like a crazed gravedigger, the bassist lunged whilst lifting his bass over his head and through the air not missing a beat, both guitarists stationed at either side of the stage, like guardians to the gates of hell, whilst the drums are unleashing an irregular marching beat.

Into the set it only gets more and more intense with new and more feral songs, coupled with classics of the OHHMS discography, including ‘The Magician’ and ‘The World’ (from the album The Fool). These songs, played live, bring a whole new definition engraved in the brain of each and every audience member, screaming along and moving with each peak and trough of the set, until it’s grand finale.

One of their earliest contributions to the world, and one of their best, reining in at around 22 minutes, ‘The Anchor’ is compromised of three acts, each gradually more awesome than the last, and ends in the entire band collapsing into crushing waves of ferocity (and the bassist climbing a pillar like a pole dancer whist raking his bass against it). As the final moments echo out with “SAIL ON!”, I cannot think of a better way to end this set, even with an early half-past-nine finish before a club night, OHHMS showed their mettle (pun intended) and we hope to see them back in Manchester Soon.

4/5.

International Women's Day photo: Markéta Machová at Pixabay

International Women’s Day: now and then

Written by Serafina Kenny on . Posted in Lifestyle.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a worldwide celebration of women’s achievements held on the 8th of March every year. It consists of festivals, conferences, arts and culture shows, charity events, exhibitions, and, in some instances, protests.

All the events are intended to “Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality”,  according to the official IWD website. It has become an important opportunity to raise awareness for women’s rights and equality, to raise funds for charities that focus on women’s issues, and to champion women.

It officially began in 1911, inspired by previous smaller scale events organised by socialist parties in New York City and Denmark. It was initially a Communist holiday, even merging with the first Bolshevik revolution in 1918.  IWD was used to push for female suffrage, with protests and demonstrations taking place all over the world to fight for votes for women. 

In the 1970s, a group of second-wave feminists took up the holiday and used it to protest for equal rights, equal pay and equal opportunities, making it into a day for activism in Europe and North America too. IWD grew in public awareness once the UN celebrated it for the first time in 1975, with the introduction of annual themes in 1996.

The celebrations have gotten bigger and bigger every year, with many governments and organisations making special arrangements for the day — Google produces a special Google Doodle each year, and in 2011 the Australian government released a commemorative coin.

Closer to home in Manchester, there were plenty of events to get involved with this year for IWD. 

The University of Manchester’s very own Feminist Collective put on live performances and a market of female artists and entrepreneurs at Hatch on Oxford Road. On the day after IWD, they also hosted an afternoon of guest speakers, tote bag making, and coffee in the SU’s Hive with a collection of sanitary products for Manchester Foodbank.

The Pankhurst Centre, located next to St. Mary’s Hospital, threw a variety of celebrations for the day in aid of the Pankhurst Trust, their parent charity. A book launch, flag making workshop and choir performance were all held in the house where the iconic Manchester suffragette family, the Pankhursts, lived.  

The Manchester Walk for Women was also a notable event for the third year in a row; hundreds turned out to march from Victoria Street to St. Peter’s Square to celebrate Manchester’s women. This was followed by pop-up performances and stalls in the Square hosted by Manchester Central Library for networking and further celebrations, and definitely something to look out for next IWD!

The fifth annual Women in Media Conference also happened over the weekend of 7th-8th March, with inspirational panels and workshops on all aspects of the media industry, such as ‘Women in Conflict Journalism’ and ‘Building Your Brand’. There were also some important speakers at the event, such as actress and feminist activist Nicola Thorp and Dorothy Byrne, head of news and affairs at Channel 4. 

It’s important to think about taking action for equality throughout the year, and SU Women’s Officer, Ayla Huseyinoglu, has asked people to sign a petition, to get better protection from Greater Manchester Police for students against gender based and sexual violence in honour of IWD, which you can do here:  http://bit.ly/30X9EZu

With such a variety of inclusive and fun events in Manchester alone, International Women’s Day continues to be a positive and empowering celebration more than 100 years since it began.

Women's Rights Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

Being a man should not make you worth more

Written by Aisha Al-Janabi on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Achieving equal pay for equal work is only solving part of the problem, but we need more women to be hired into higher paying jobs to reduce the gender pay gap as well.

Often equal pay and the gender pay gap are used interchangeably, but there is a fundamental difference which needs to be recognised. Equal pay means that for the same job any employee will receive the same pay, whilst the gender pay gap calculates the difference between the average or the median (middle) earnings of men and women. The gender pay gap is able to highlight the difference between employment of men and women, and shows more men are in higher paid jobs causing their average earnings to be significantly higher. It’s about time we consider why women are not getting these higher income jobs and implement the necessary changes to ensure this gap narrows and becomes non-existent.

One small change made in 2017 is that organisations with more than 250 employees need to publish their pay gap statistics, which will hopefully put pressure on companies to improve. In the University of Manchester’s 2018-19 report it showed that the average hourly wage gap is 18.4%, meaning that for every £1000 earned by a man, women will, on average, earn £816. And, shockingly, almost twice as many men get bonuses, which are 74.7% higher than those earned by women. Having a penis does not make you worth that much more.

One reason behind this pay gap is that 62% of the top quarter of jobs at the university are dominated by men, whilst women are in the majority in the lowest salary bracket. This trend is a common theme amongst many employers, and should make us consider: at what point are women getting prevented or deterred from achieving these positions? And why aren’t more men getting hired for jobs in a lower pay bracket?

Genitalia does play its part in exacerbating the gender pay gap especially as current policies and facilities surrounding support with childcare, and maternity leave are inadequate; women will have to take time off work for the physical recovery they deserve and need. Sometimes I wonder if employers assume women of a certain age will inevitably have children, preventing them from being a viable candidate for various positions, even as a result of an unconscious bias.

We are still socialised to believe that women should be responsible for the housework and childcare. Iceland challenged societal norms by introducing nine months parental leave to be shared between parents, but with an enforced three months for mothers and three months for fathers. This impacts men’s careers as well, which will hopefully mean women will be on more even footing and will encourage fathers to get more involved with day-to-day childcare. A study showed that this improved dad’s confidence when looking after their children because taking leave meant they were forced to spend time with their newborn child, which is an important and undervalued benefit of shared parental leave.

This is only part of the problem and only effects those with children, but it does prevent women from considering or being considered for these higher paid jobs. Troy Vettese writes for n+1 that most undergraduates in many countries are women, meaning gender imbalance is becoming a less significant factor throughout education and suggests we finish our education with the same qualifications. Instead, we need to look to employment and workplaces to understand the barriers that halt women’s career progress. Having better representation of women in these decision-making positions will mean they are able to influence how companies work, and make them a better environment for women to work in. Dame Helena Morrissey told the BBC: “Personally I feel it is very hard to engineer the closing of the gap, because even if you attract women in, if they are not happy in the industry they will leave.”

I highly recommend looking through https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/ as this provides a valuable insight into the basic statistics of the pay gap provided by employers, some of which are quite shocking. It’s time we smash this glass ceiling once and for all, we’ve been waiting long enough.

Women’s T20 World Cup: A perfect ending

Written by timbenson on . Posted in Sport.

Could there be a more perfect stage? The hosts in the final, a record attendance, International Women’s Day, Katy Perry proving that she’s been a lifelong T20 badger (Confirmation… test cricket is dead). This was a final worthy of what was an unprecedented tournament.

Australia lifted the World Cup for a fifth time in front of more than 86,000 supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, dismantling an unbeaten Indian side with a ruthless fielding performance. The tournament favourites, Australia, were the worthy winners and their dominance in all formats is a testament to the emphasis placed on women’s cricket in the country.

The atmosphere was refreshing; there was no crowd abuse, no ‘sledging’, and spare a thought for England and South Africa who conducted themselves so gracefully having had their hopes of reaching the final cruelly thwarted by rain. You cannot imagine any international women’s side needing a PR saving documentary anytime soon, despite the temptation of Cricket Australia to deliberately cheat in the hope of Amazon lining their pockets with cash.

All bad jokes aside, the tournament highlighted the ever closing gap between the international sides. Pakistan toppled the 2018 winners West Indies in the group stages, and nearly had the favour returned to them by World Cup debutantes Thailand, whose smiles and spirit reminded everyone of the reasons we play the game. Coupled with good performances from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the tournament was always competitive and the future looks bright for the women’s game.

The four favourite teams had mixed fortunes. India were fantastic right up until the final, their group stage win against Australia saw Poonam Yadav bowl the spell of the tournament, her flighted leg breaks unplayable as she collected three wickets in eleven balls. England seemed somewhat muddled throughout the tournament, unable to decide on their best batting order, but Nat Sciver showed her class with the bat and whose to know what would have happened had their semi-final not been washed out. Moreover, South Africa unearthed a rare talent in Laura Wolvaardt, whose 50 against Pakistan was one of the innings of the tournament, whilst Australia maintained their composure following the injury to their star player and the Don Bradman of women’s cricket, Elysse Perry.

Finally, the tournament was special in that three of its stand out performers were 20 or younger. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr (19) impressed with both bat and ball, England’s Sophie Ecclestone (20) was their most prolific bowler taking eight wickets at an almost unheard of economy rate of 3.23, and as mentioned before Laura Wolvaardt (20) lit up grounds with her expansive stroke play.

Sometimes, World Cup finals can seem a bit over the top. The fireworks and thumping music can take away from the intensity of the game, but, in this instance, at such an integral stage in the development of the women’s game, it needed to be a spectacle. What a spectacle it turned out to be.

My week on Huel

Written by tomreynolds on . Posted in Sport.

Huel is a meal replacement drink that offers its users shakes that are nutritionally complete and fast to make. Huel claim to have made a product that has exactly the right amount of protein, essential fats, carbohydrates, vitamins & minerals. The product is for everyone but is popular amongst amateur athletes, especially since the launch of ‘Huel Professional’, which is specifically aimed at sportspeople. I was interested to see what it was like, so went onto the website and ordered two bags. Although I spent £40 on the bags it is made clear that each individual meal only costs £1.32. 

I received an email saying I was now a ‘Hueligan’. My initial plan was to only consume Huel over a two week period, but that changed after a friend alerted me to the potentially hospitalising effects of going from a diet of whole food to a completely liquid diet. So I decided to gradually increase my Huel intake over two weeks to avoid any painful stomach cramps. 

I started Hueling as soon as the package arrived and was initially disappointed with the taste and texture of the meal replacement. It tastes a little bit artificial and the texture is thick and lumpy. 

Having gradually increased the amount I consumed each day I realised I was beginning to feel more tired than usual. I would feel full after having Huel for breakfast or lunch but after a few hours I would begin to feel drained and unfocused. After a brief look online I realised I wasn’t the only person on the diet who was experiencing this. I wondered whether it was the change to my diet or perhaps something was missing from the Huel that I was normally getting from other foods. I found this disheartening as Huel is advertised as a product with the perfect balance of nutrients, so I had been expecting to feel energised and healthy. 

After a week it was time to try cutting out all solid food and have a day just consuming Huel, this was not something that they necessarily recommended but I wanted to try it, having read someone had survived on it for six months without any solid food. 

I had four separate portions over the day and managed fine, but was longing for food by the evening.

As I was beginning to get slightly bored of having the same meal over and over again I was introduced to Huel’s food recipes. It turns out that they have developed a vast range of dishes that can be made using the powder as an ingredient. Fans of Huel had developed a variety of recipes; from Huelmous (Hummus) and pitta to Huel Cross Buns.

I was also told about ways to make the shakes more exciting by blending fruits with it or adding things like cinnamon or Huel’s own flavourings. However, I found doing all this may slightly detract from the convenience and speed that makes Huel what it is.

I decided to make the Huel pancakes, but as I ate them I came to the underwhelming conclusion that a diet of normal food is better than a Huel based diet. 

However, that does not mean I don’t feel there is no room for Huel in my life, as a quick breakfast or light lunch it works fantastically, taking less than a minute to prepare. Moreover, you can’t be too critical of Huel who have created healthy, vegan meals that plenty of people swear by. But as a full meal replacement, it isn’t for me.

Photo: Vled Music Festival @ Flickr

Line ups, Locations and Living it Up: A 2020 Festival Guide

Written by Bella Fleming on . Posted in Music.

Best Kept Secret 

Beekse Bergen, Netherlands

12th to 14th June 

Headlined by The National, The Strokes and Massive Attack, this years edition of Best Kept Secret is not one to be overlooked for lovers of indie music. The line up is perhaps one of the most diverse and yet solid offerings across Europe, sprawling the various genre blends from electronic, alternative, rock and beyond. A festival that can stage so many critically acclaimed acts from the lat 20 years is exciting. Where else can you match quality acts, stunning locations and all alongside upcoming bands such as Black Midi and Fontaines D.C.? If you are tired of fighting through the mud and rain this festival could be the one for you.   – Cameron Taylor

Parklife

Heaton Park, Manchester

13th and 14th June

A staple of Manchester, for 2020 Parklife has packed its eight stages with an almost frenzied, genre-bending mix of acts. Saturday’s main stage follows Charlie XCX with Giggs and Jorga Smith with Tyler, The Creator. Not only does it bring world renowned music to Manchester for the weekend, the festivals clean up team works with local authorities to bring Heaton Park’s beauty back the following week. This year promises to be the biggest ever and upwards of 8,000 festival goers will experience the joy and cacophony this year.   – Jack Burnett

Folk and Boat Festival

17th to the 21st of June

Middlewich

Only forty minutes from Manchester, this small town of around 14,000 people have seen some big bands come through their festival. Organised around the canals flowing through the town, featuring live music in the towns many pubs, this year’s line-up features artists such as Scouting for Girls and Toyah. With each night situated around a theme this is far from your average small-town festival and certainly worth looking into.  – Reece Richie

2000 Trees

9th to 11th July

Cheltham

By far the best festival I have ever attended, from small humble begins, with camps of the best UK bands of the last 20 years establishing camp (Literally there is a Camp Reuben, and a Camp Frank Turner, who headlined it on many occasions). With it blossoming into a large scale is now one of the most successful festivals, whilst maintaining focus on the independent music scene in history, has a phenomenal line up including: emo legends “The Get Up Kids”, anti-folk icon “Beans on Toast” and Bristol’s own “The St. Pierre Snake Invasion”, this is a fierce line up for an awesome festival experience.  – Blake Crompton

Houghton

King’s Lynn

6th to 8th August

Last year extreme weather conditions meant that the festival was called off last minute. Some acts like Giant Steps would only find thisout after they had already made the long trip to King’s Lynn. Co-founder Craig Richards is optimistic, saying that this learning curve means that missing the 2019 instalment “only deepened his commitment to making this festival the unique celebration of music, art and good times that it is”. The first announcements, Ricado Villabos and Helena Hauff, are a testament to the eclectic, genre spanning lineups the festival is famous for and this year is crucial for Houghton to cement its reputation from years past.

110 Above

Leicestershire

13th to the 16th August

100 Above is set in the backdrop of the picturesque Gopsall Hall Farm. In its 11th year, 110 Above never fails to showcase the biggest bands of the indie rock industry in a more intimate setting. It is an incredibly small festival, at an affordable price, making it effortlessly easy to discover your new favourite band. In 2020, The Amazons and Sundara Karma take centre stage, joined by the likes of up and coming rockers Sports Team and the fiery YONAKA. Moreover, the line-up is great in highlighting the newest artists on the scene, such as The Mysterines, Paris Youth Foundation and Alfie Templeman.  – Jess Foster 

ArcTanGent

Compton Martin, Somerset, near Bristol, England, UK

20th to the 22nd August

This festival, since its inception has been the premier prog, heavy and all-around abnormal music moment focusing on the more experimental outskirts of heavy music. With the likes of SWANS, Raketkanon and The Samuel Jackson Five preforming this year. Once a small muddy field near a farm at the onset of 2010s, is now a large-scale experience rich in the niche and zany slices of UK music festival, and one of the best representatives of underground music internationally. An ideal place for the fuzz heavy and spaced out of all musicians.

Green Man Festival

20th to the 23rd August

Breacon Beacons, Wales

Nestled in the quiet scenery of the Brecon Beacons, Green Man is definitely one of Wale’s hidden gems. This year’s stellar line up includes the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, Caribou, Mac Demarco and Parquet Courts. Whether its up-and-coming indie bands, alternative folk or heavy dance music, Green Man’s line up always has something for everyone. Just remember to pack your wellies.

End of the Road Festival

Wilstshire

3rd to the 6th September

One of the later festivals in the summer and the perfect one to round off the festival season, it runs from the 3rd to the 6th of September. You can relax in the gardens during the day with anything from up-and-coming Indie-rock and Folk artists to well-known legends as you enjoy the award-winning food, views and the occasional peacock. Headlining this year, the festival boasts of Pixies and King Krule whilst being brave enough to welcome back Warmduscher after an infamously wild set two years ago. It’s the perfect small festival to discover new bands during the day and then do karaoke with them at night.  – Fiona McCudden

 

no attribution needed

Coronavirus creates uncertain sporting outlook

Written by Kate Jackson on . Posted in Sport.

The immediate future of international sport is on uncertain ground after several sporting events, matches and tournaments have been cancelled, postponed or are under threat of being cancelled following the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

The virus, which has now been deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has lead to significant disruption to the end of the footballing season in particular.

The biggest impact was initially seen in Italy due to the recent lockdown of the country’s borders, with all outdoor gatherings banned and social spaces such as cinemas and museums being closed.

After dozens of matches were cancelled or postponed, Serie A has now been officially suspended until the 3rd of April. It has also been announced that Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani has tested positive for the virus.

Similar measures have been implemented in the French and Spanish leagues. Ligue 1 matches will be played behind closed doors or will be limited to 1,000 people in attendance until the 15th of April, while in La Liga all matches have been suspended until the 5th of April.

In the UK, while the government has not implemented a ban on sporting events or large gatherings, the footballing authorities in England have suspended football at all levels until the 3rd of April at the earliest. This includes the Premier League, the English Football League, and the Women’s Super League and Championship. The Scottish FA have cancelled domestic games indefinitely while the Wales FA have suspended games until the 4th of April.

The first match on English soil to be affected was the scheduled Wednesday night Premiere League fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal. The game was postponed as a result of Arsenal players coming into contact with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, following their Europa League defeat against the Greek team.

Marinakis revealed he had contracted COVID-19 the day before Arsenal’s game with Manchester City, which led to the announcement that the game would be pushed back. Arsenal said in a statement that the players were self-isolating as a precautionary measure but that the 14-day period would be ending on Friday.

Since then it has been announced that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the virus, with West Ham personnel who came into contact with him at last weekend’s fixture undergoing a period of self-isolation.

Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi has also tested positive for the virus and many other clubs in the Premier League have reported that a player or a group of players have reported feeling unwell and will also undergo a period of isolation. This includes Watford, Everton and Bournemouth.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have now welcomed the decision to suspend the footballing leagues: “We have been in regular dialogue with both the leagues and have communicated direct concerns from PFA delegates and senior players on behalf of their respective squads. The leagues shared these concerns.”

With announcements about leagues being postponed or being played without crowds being announced on a daily basis, there was some concern over whether or not it is right for matches to be played without fans in attendance.

Gary Neville believes games should not be played behind closed doors and that postponing games is the only fair decision for the authorities to take. He said on Twitter: “I do NOT support matches played behind closed doors. If it’s necessary to shut down stadiums the associations must find a way of delaying the season and playing the games when it is safe to do so to protect the revenues for clubs that require this income to survive.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also questioned the notion of playing games behind closed doors: “Does football work without spectators. If the people can’t come there is no sense. We will follow what we have to do but I wouldn’t like to do it without the people.”

While at the moment all leagues are just suspended rather than cancelled, fans may be concerned that, should things get worse, there is a chance that competitions could be cancelled altogether.

It is also unclear what the timeline will be in the lead up to the 2020 European Championships this summer. The tournament is under a lot more pressure than a typical Euros given that the event is set to take place at locations across Europe rather than in the one or two countries that it usually is.

The first match is currently scheduled to take place in Rome but the current stance of UEFA is the tournament will go ahead as planned: “EURO 2020 will kick off on 12th June 2020 in Rome. Uefa is in touch with the relevant international and local authorities regarding the coronavirus and its development. There is no need to change anything in the planned timetable. The issue will be kept under constant scrutiny.”

Uefa have announced, however, that there will be a meeting on Tuesday the 17th of March to discuss postponing this summer’s tournament.

Outside of football, there are significant concerns over what will happen with the Olympic Games in Japan, which is set to start in July.

There has been recent controversy with the Tokyo 2020 organising committee after it was suggested that the Olympics could be postponed for one to two years by a member of the board, Haruyuki Takahashi. The President of the committee, Yoshiro Mori, promptly called a press conference to refute Takahashi’s comments and to reiterate that the plans for the upcoming Games were unchanged.

“There is no plan now to change our plans. I have spoken to Mr Takahashi and he has apologised. He certainly said an outlandish thing.”

While the committee are planning to go ahead with the Olympic Games, the virus is spreading at such an alarming rate that the future is very uncertain when it comes to summer sporting events.

The spread of the virus has also led to events being affected in other sports such as golf, with five European Tour events and three Challenge Tour events being cancelled; MotoGP, and the rescheduling of Argentina Grand Prix; and in tennis, with the upcoming Fed Cup finals being postponed.