LOCAL ANOTHER ROBOT ARTICLES POLITICS / GENERAL ELECTION SCIENCE / HEAD TRANSPLANTS WHAT'S ON THE BIG FESTIVAL LIST APRIL 2015 FREE WIN TICKETS TO VOLKSFEST! 12
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
LOCALA N O T H E R R O B O T
ARTICLESP O l i T i c s / G E N E R A l E l E c T i O N
s c i E N c E / H E A D T R A N s P l A N T s
WHAT'S ONT H E B i G F E s T i V A l l i s T
ApRIL 2015
FREE
WIN TICKETS TO VOLKSFEST!
12
Astor House
163 Notte Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2AQ
01752 531 030
www.thestudenthousingcompany.com
Student Accommodation AWARD WINNING
Visit our SHOW FLAT
BOOK NOW
three contents
C O N T E N T S
16/17
18
20
22
23
32/33
37
38
06/08/09/10: The Big List: A what’s on guide to Plymouth’s best venues, bars and clubs, written by Andrew Girdler
12/13/14: Editor Naomi Girdler finds out about the best local and national festivals to hit up this summer!
16/17: We met up with Another Robot, a local video production company who like to wear boxes on their heads and make creative motion graphics and videos.
18: Resident politics buff Dominic Wallace schools us on what to know about the upcoming General Election.
20: Science queen Lorna Parker talks to us about the groundbreaking news of a head transplant to go ahead next year.
22: Plymouth Uni graphic communication student Jonny Aldrich talks about his final major project and his plans for the future
23: Jetsetter Casey Goddard tells us why teaching English as a foreign language could be an option for any one of us!
24: Naomi Girdler tackles the subject of student retention in the city
26: Plymouth Student Letting and Student Rooms 4 U give us the lowdown on local lettings
28: We tackle the very important issue of alcoholism in student culture, with a little help from Alcoholics Anonymous
30: Naomi Girdler checks out some local pubs and bars to see what’s on offer on the Plain and the Hill
32/33: Owner of LoveDot Pop Up Shop, Enya Richards, follows the history of music and fashion
34: Andrew Girdler shares a great summer recipe of gnocchi bake!
36: Matt Girdler, computing graduate from Plymouth University gives us another game review.
36: Local Marjons student Chloe Smith reviews After the Crash by Michel Bussi
37: Seth Haney reviews a Current, Classic and Local album, featuring local beys Woahnows
37: The Dust Piggies are up to no good, again!
38: Resident agony aunt Ellie Ward tackles your hard hitting problems once again
CHECK OUT THE NEW PLYMOUTH STUDENT
WEBSITE ATWWW.PS-ZINE.COM
Contact PS:07811 [email protected]
Published by Us As One
Many thanks to all who’ve supported and contributed to PS Issue 12.
Editor, Designer & WriterNaomi [email protected]
ContributorsChris Girdler, Andrew Girdler, Dominic Wallace, Lorna Parker, Jonny Aldrich, Casey Goddard, Enya Richards, Matt Girdler, Chloe Smith, Seth Haney, Ellie Ward, Garry Hunt, Mike Bromage & the Dust Piggies
AdvertisingIf you are interested in advertising in PS, please contact us at [email protected] or 07835 495881
Printed byNewsquest Weymouth
The views expressed in PS are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of all information contained in this publication. However, the publishers do not accept any liability for any advice or information included in this publication.
Find us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/
PSzineplymouth
four
Hello!Time flies, doesn’t it?
Spring is probably my all time favourite time of year, the sun begins to show its face, everyone’s getting excited and planning for the summer and it’s time to brush off the cobwebs of the winter and get your holiday garbs on.
We’ve been working hard at Plymouth Student, working on a brand spanking new website for you guys. It has all your favourite magazine articles from previous editions, plus exclusive updates, an archive of issues, an extensive events listing and much more to come! Keep an eye out on www.ps-zine.com to keep updated on the latest goings on in the city.
Our April issue also means our Big Festival List, showcasing the best of local and national festivals, with a great opportunity this year to win tickets to Volksfest, Plymouth’s ‘biggest little music festival’. Don’t miss out on a chance for some free festival fun, right on your doorstep!
I hope you enjoy our April issue, guys, don’t forget to find us on Facebook and let us know what you think! Without you guys, Plymouth Student wouldn’t still be here. All the kudos to you.
Naomi GirdlerEditor
editor’s letter
Another RobotJake Roberts & Adam HowardPhotography by Dom Moore
All rooms owned
and managed by us since 1998
No agents
No admin fees
No deposits
3Rents from £78 per person per week inclusive of all bills and Broadband
3All properties rated ‘A’ Grade by Plymouth University
3All properties within 300 metres of Plymouth University and Plymouth College of Art
3No guarantors required
3Deal directly with us - your landlord!
www.studentrooms4u.co.uk Call 01752 849232
sixthe big list
T H E B I G L I S TWith every new ray of sunshine, the summer gets ever closer. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a great selection of events to check out before you head home for the holidays. From craft fairs to performance festivals, from comedians to burlesque dancers and every genre of music you could wish for. With local country lovelies, Walnut Falcons to indie punk rockers Crooked Little Sons, there’s something for everyone in this little seaside city.
Listings by Andrew Girdler
AprilDerren Brown: Miracle20 - 25 AprTheatre RoyalThe multi-award winning acknowledged master of psychological illusion is back on tour in 2015 with a brand new one-man show, Derren Brown: Miracle. Derren is once again looking forward to the challenge that comes with being acknowledged as one of the world’s most renowned live performers; a dark manipulator of magic and mind control.Box Office 01752 267222
Wave21 - 25 AprTheatre RoyalInspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Wave explores the relationship between a parent and their offspring as they reach adulthood and leave home. It is written for an audience of teenagers and adults with severe learning disabilities along with their companions.Box Office 01752 267222
Cafe Acoustica22 Apr, 13, 27 May, 10, 24 Jun
B-Bar at the Barbican TheatreB-Bars fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen.Details 01752 242021
Rhymewarp23 Apr & 18 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreWelcome to the B-Bar’s participatory poetry and spoken word night. Hosted by the inimitable Mama Tokus and bringing you an excellent array of talent, we think every one of these will be a unique experience not to be missed. Details 01752 242021
Give Up Your Day Job!23 AprThe JunctionGive Up Your Day Job is a super rad art fair full of people selling their hand made wares. Get your favourite zines, prints, comics, arty stuff, gifts and loads more!Details 07916 127298
Racing Glaciers24 AprThe Hub / dbs LiveRacing Glaciers at The Hub. Support from Skeleton Frames and Martyn Crocker.Details 07966 626490
Appaloosas24 AprB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreAppaloosas are a three-piece band from Dartmoor, Devon, who perform music from the Appalachian region of the eastern United States. Details 01752 242021
Boogie Knights24 AprAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Originating from Plymouth, a five-piece Disco funk, soul, big wigs & high boots
band! Details 01752 260555
The Alex Hart Band 25 AprAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Our favourite Southwest Sweetheart brings her band to the stage, performing both her own Westcountry Country originals and favourite covers that will get you groovin on the dance floor. Details 01752 260555
Pyrrhon25 AprExilePyrrhon are a death metal band from New York City. They formed in 2008 after a chance meeting on a subway platform and have been honing their increasingly twisted take on the genre ever since. Support from Department of Correction, Carcinoma and TendrilsDetails 01752 226305
Kayo Dot, Botonist, Steve Strong25 AprThe Junction‘Avant goth’ experimental band Kayo Dot at the Junction with support from Botonist, Steve Strong and more tbc.Details 07916 127298
Walnut Falcons25 AprUnion Inn, SaltashJoin in in the infinite barroom in the sky as cosmic cowboys Walnut Falcons bring their classic country to Cornwall (the Texas of the UK) for the first time. Two set of honky tonk, juke-joint swing and outlaw rockers. Details 01752 844770
Ben Howard27 AprPlymouth PavilionsBen Howard is pleased to announce details of a special South West show at Plymouth Pavilions on Monday 27 April, the final date of his UK and Ireland
arena tour.Box Office 0845 146 1460
The Ingenious Gentlemen Don Quixote of La Mancha28 Apr - 02 MayTheatre RoyalLittle Soldier presents a hilariously inventive adventure of immense proportions, to be taken with a pinch of salt and a handlebar moustache. Inspired by Don Quixote’s wanderings, two feisty señoritas and a downtrodden Englishman embark on a journey through Spain, taking on one of the most accomplished works of fiction ever written. Box Office 01752 267222
Top Hat28 Apr - 09 MayTheatre Royal - The LyricDirect from its tremendous success in London, winning three Olivier awards for Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costumes and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out, this spectacular West End production will be returning to the Theatre Royal Plymouth where it
wowed audiences in 2011Box Office 01752 267222
Plymouth Humanists28 Apr, 26 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreAron Ra Texas State Director of American Atheists and anti creationist campaigner.Details 01752 242021
Cale Tyson29 AprB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreCale Tyson is a singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN. Born in a small town in Texas, he was raised in Fort Worth, the home of Townes Van Zandt and the place where he first heard the classic country sounds that have inspired and enriched his gentle, melancholy, and undeniably whiskey-soaked sound. Details 01752 242021
Hot Club of Stonehouse30 Apr, 19 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreHot Club of Stonehouse bring the gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris bals
Ben Howard
Derren Brown
Walnut Falcons
eightthe big list
musettes to present day Blighty - sultry, insouciant & SWINGING, their authentic Hot Club sound is uniquely anointed with the balmy and incomparable vocals of the divine Miss Becky Brine...Details 01752 242021
Worried Shoes30 AprThe Nowhere InnIndie punk rockers Worried Shoes headline with support from rockers 8 Bit Thief. Details 01752 670592
MayMichael Ball 01 MayPlymouth PavilionsFor more than 25 years Michael has been at the top of his game starring in musical theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway winning critical acclaim, a devoted following and awards for his stage work and recording career, and now he is bringing his 2015 live tour to the Plymouth Pavilions!Box Office 0845 146 1460
Hamer & Co01 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreEverything from silky smooth to smoking’ hot jazz music! Rich Hamer, Frank Hamer and some fabulous special guests unite to form this sublime band, seamlessly combining swing, blues, latin and bebop.Details 01752 242021
Burlesque in the Basement: Burly Birthday Bonanza!01 MayExileSame venue, new name, team burly are back with vengeance celebrating their first birthday! Feat Kitty Kane, Sammy Dodger, Betty Boom Boom, Angelique Dominique and Fantastic Ms Fanny!Details 01752 226305
Dinosaur Zoo01 - 03 MayTheatre Royal - The LyricDirect from the West End, Dinosaur Zoo brings these awesome prehistoric creatures to the stage as you’ve never seen them before! From cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, observe and interact with extraordinary life-
like dinosaurs in this imaginative and hilarious live show.Box Office 01752 267222
The Blue Bottles01 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque None of this cliched sharp suit business – just uncluttered grooves aimed squarely at the dance floor!Details 01752 260555
Blu Funk Allstars02 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque The Allstars create a feel good atmosphere with real music, from old to new in their very own funked up stylie. Full of energy from start to finishDetails 01752 260555
Mike & The Mechanics02 MayPlymouth PavilionsFollowing on from their sold-out UK tour earlier this year - Mike & The Mechanics, who have sold over 10 million records worldwide - announce ‘The Hits Tour 2015’.Box Office 0845 146 1460
Shanty and Howlin’ Lord02 MayThe JunctionShanty are a party-reggae collective from London; they describe their sound as ‘stomping bass, soulful hooks and party vibes’, with influences ranging from Soul, Electronic and Hip Hop, also playing are 5 piece folk rock band Howlin’ Lord.Details 07916 127298
Michael Campari03 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Legendary Rat Pack crooner, Michael Campari with his voice sweet, deep and velvety like melted chocolate he will sends shivers down your spine.Details 01752 260555
Calabrese04 MayExileSteeped in hard rock swing, brash punk energy, metallic bombast and a healthy helping of death rock, the three Calabrese boys established a diehard following and garnered immense critical praise outside of the traditional system. Support TBC.Details 01752 226305
Scordatura & Support05 MayThe JunctionScottish Death Metal bruisers Scordatura have spent years crafting their sound to reach the perfect, bludgeoning experience which they unleashed on the world in February 2013 in the form of ‘Torment of The Weak’. Support from The Florentine Camerata, Warcrab, and Necrosis.Details 07916 127298
Back Down05 - 09 MayTheatre RoyalBack Down is the highly-anticipated first play by Steven Camden, more commonly known as the award-winning spoken word artist, Polarbear. Steven has crafted a must-see coming-of-age story that is both insightful and incredibly funny.Box Office 01752 267222
The B-Bar Comedy Night06 May, 03 Jun, 01 JulB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreSome light relief with the best stand-ups on the UK circuit. Details 01752 242021
Forked: Poetry and Spoken Word07 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatrePoetry to inspire, delight and provoke. Every other month those clever people at Apples and Snakes present an evening of wonderful spoken word performance. Details 01752 242021
Flood07 MayThe Nowhere InnA whole night of music from grunge, rock and blues band Flood.Details 01752 670592
Tango Sonoro08 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreAn exciting band that plays a unique blend of Latin and Argentine Tango music from traditional millings and valses to Tango Neuvo. One of only a few tango bands in the UK dedicated to playing authentic Argentine Tango.Details 01752 242021
Hi-On Maiden08 MayThe Junction
Iron Maiden tribute act Hi-On Maiden are back by popular demand. They are the world’s longest running and ONLY Iron Maiden tribute band officially endorsed by Iron Maiden themselves. Details 07916 127298
Crooked Little Sons08 MayThe UndergroundCrooked Little Sons are on tour and coming to Plymouth to bring your their own unique blend of punk rock and roll! Support from Arizona Law, Paul Armer and Issac. Details 07878 460500
Freshly Squeezed08 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque An 8-piece funk fuelled barnstorming behemoth.Details 01752 260555
The Lincoln House Band09 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Founded deep underground in Lincoln Avenue, Plymouth. TLHB are a bunch of friends making funky vibes to stomp your feet to!Details 01752 260555
Philharmonia Orchestra Live - iOrchestra09 MayPlymouth PavilionsSee the musicians behind Universe of Sound LIVE in concert. Feel the power of a live orchestra in full swing - featuring some familiar pieces, including works by Copland, Verdi and Grieg, and a few surprises along the way. Suitable for all!Box Office 0845 146 1460
The Sherlocks09 MayThe Hub / dbs LiveIndie band The Sherlocks are coming to The Hub with support from The Paisley Strays and Double Denim.Details 07966 626490
Screamin’ Miss Jackson and the Slap Ya’ Mama Big Band09 MayThe UndergroundUK take on the New Orleans street sound, with elements of country, skiffle, jazz and western swing all mixed together. Details 07878 460500
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas11 - 16 MayTheatre Royal - The LyricBased on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys.Box Office 01752 267222 Sam Fearon14 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreA solo acoustic artist who creates a wall of sound with his loop pedal and is not to be missed live. Giving you the music which has influenced him and the music he writes from stories from his life.Details 01752 242021
Brunel Album Launch15 MayThe UndergroundBrunel release their long-awaited album ‘Smash On’ and are hosting a special celebration at the Underground. Support from Night Motor, Tendrils, Tinnedfruit, and Quiet Man.Details 07878 460500
Kelly Kemp & Support15 MayThe JunctionIndie-folk band Kelly Kemp at The Junction with Ducking Punches, Jake Martin, and Wisecrack.Details 07916 127298
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment15 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreMusicians from the world-renowned Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment bring you Vivaldi to go with your vodka and Prucell to go with your pints and prawn crackers.Details 01752 242021
Malavita16 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Plymouth’s own Malavita blends funk and latin into infectious dancefloor beats. Details 01752 260555
Unit 37 Birthday Party16 MayThe Hub / dbs LiveTo mark their first birthday, Unit 37 are hosting a boat party and a night to remember. Featuring DJ Hype, Spectrasoul and local DJs, this one is not to be missed. Details 07966 626490UB40
Crooked Little Sons
nine the big list
UB4017 MayPlymouth PavilionsFollowing their sell-out UK tour earlier this year, Birmingham’s reggae stars UB40 will embark on a second leg UK tour in October and November 2014 which will see the band play the Plymouth Pavilion in Plymouth on Monday 10 November.Box Office 0845 146 1460
The Woman In Black18 - 23 MayTheatre Royal - The LyricNow celebrating 25 years in the West End, The Woman In Black is ‘a marvellous exercise in tension, spun from perfectly paced storytelling’ (The Independent) that has enthralled over seven million people since its original debut.Box Office 01752 267222
Pioneer19 - 23 MayTheatre Royal - The DrumWinners of a Scotsman Fringe First Award 2014, curious directive (After the Rainfall, Kindness of Strangers) return to The Drum with a multimedia sci-fi thriller, a poignant tale of the first human mission to Mars. Pioneer shuttles you from the Garden of Eden to mission control and onto the surface of the red planet.Box Office 01752 267222
Haunt the Woods20 May, 17 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreHaunt the Woods are a folk band from the Shires of Devon and Cornwall who effortlessly blend classic folk-rock with a more modern and unique sound. Superb songwriting is elucidated by thoughtful harmonies and spot-on guitar licks. With special guest musicians in support.Details 01752 242021
TC & The Moneymakers21 MayThe JunctionTC & The Moneymakers have been making big blues waves on the British blues circuit in the last few years, with their high energy brand of classic hard drivin’ house rockin’ blues. Ft. local legend Vince Lee and support from Russel Sinclair. Details 07916 127298
An Evening with Slaid Cleaves21 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreSlaid Cleaves spins stories with a novelist’s eye and a poet’s heart. Twenty years into his career, the celebrated songwriter’s latest album, ‘Still Fighting the War’ spotlights an artist in peak form. Details 01752 242021
I Love Amp22 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque With musicians hailing from some of the most successful bands in the South-West, the band create a very tight, big sound across a broad range of genres and party tunes.Details 01752 260555
Capsize22 MayThe JunctionFounded in 2009, Capsize are a melodic hardcore band from San Diego, California. Described as calming and crippling, they have support from ’68, Casey and AgelastDetails 07916 127298
Kursa, B2B, Duskky23 May
The Voodoo LoungeIMPACT returns to Voodoo Lounge with big plans! Feat two incredible headliners as well as a selection of the most talented DJs in Plymouth, all playing the biggest bangers that will be shaking the 15k Turbo-sound system. Details 01752 262288
Duke Johnson & The Scorchers23 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Over the last 20 years Duke Johnson & The Scorchers have become an institution in the live music scene & have rightfully gaining the reputation of one of the best Rock & Roll bands in the UK. Details 01752 260555
Fuzz Orchestra23 MayThe UndergroundStarting from radical improvisation, the band achieves to forge a sound which, today, is built on strong rock textures, guitar and drums based, on which a fluxes of outer sounds (old movies, old vinyls, cut ups, noise streams and real time audio manipulations) ties and rages. Feat. members of Zeus!, with support TBC.Details 07878 460500
Jimmy Carr23 May & 16 OctPlymouth Pavilions‘Funny Business’ is Jimmy’s brand new stand up show. Come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the knob gags. Box Office 0845 146 1460
The Roosters24 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque If you love be-bop, rock n’ roll swing, jazz and boogaloo, this is most definitely a night for you, and it’s guaranteed to be a swinging atmosphere from The Roosters! Details 01752 260555
ONE Love24 MayThe Hub / dbs LiveONE Love is back for a summer send off, with a night full of great artists, including Billy Kenny, SG Lewis, Après, Panda, and DJ Darko.Details 07966 626490
Plymouth Fringe Festival25 - 30 MayTheatre RoyalFrom the City Centre to the Waterfront, the Plymouth Fringe Festival is a week long celebration of live performance, featuring the very best in home grown talent from the South West, plus some of the most exciting new theatre companies from across the UK. Over 50 performances will take place in venues across the city including The House, The Barbican Theatre and The Lab at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.Box Office 01752 267222
Barnum26 May - 06 JunTheatre Royal - The LyricThis exhilarating musical follows the irrepressible imagination and dreams of Phineas T Barnum, America’s Greatest Showman. The story of his life and his marriage to Chairy reveals a couple who looked at the world from opposite sides of the spectrum, and also reveals that she was the practical one who made his dreams come true. Box Office 01752 267222
Thomas Ford28 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreElectrifying blues talent in the form of this harp-playing, hard blues singing solo performer. Born in a field 20-something years ago, Thomas Ford is a blues shouter, a guitar picker and a harmonica fire-breather. Details 01752 242021
Arabrot feat. John Doran of Knifedoutofexistence29 MayThe UndergroundJohn Doran, author of the Vice column Menk and editor of The Quietus, comes to Plymouth with his mate Kjetil Nernes of Arabrot to perform a reading of his new book, Jolly Lad, accompanied by the ambient music of Arabrot. Support inc. Steve Strong and Richard Thomas. Details 07878 460500
Jessica & the Rabbits29 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque If you like music with a pulse you have to come and shake a tail feather with this band that’s sure to shake, rattle, and roll. Details 01752 260555
Some Like It Hot29 MayB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreVintage and contemporary swing, played with flair personality and panache. Danceable delights, steamy songs and tantalising tunes!Details 01752 242021
The Cadbury Sisters29 MayThe JunctionLike all the interesting things in life, The Cadbury Sisters come with a secret - their great great grandfather was William Cadbury, the man behind the world famous chocolate company. Their goal is simple; to take the spirit of traditional English folk music, infuse its DNA with contemporary influences such as Bat for Lashes, Daughter and First Aid Kit before disseminating it into the world. Support from Sawtooth. Details 07916 127298
Dave Can’t Dance30 MayAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Dave Can’t Dance have entered their seventh year as Devon’s premier Disco/Funk outfit. They recreate an era where you can experience the 70’s Disco sounds of Kool & the Gang, Sister Sledge, The Trammps, Chic and many more.Details 01752 260555
JuneLemuria01 JunThe JunctionFemale fronted punk and indie pop band Lemuria storm back to Plymouth after successful shows in the past. Based in Buffalo, New York, the trio have been touring their new album “The Distance is So Big”. Support from Dads, Personal Best and Woahnows.Details 07916 127298
David Sedaris02 JunPlymouth PavilionsAfter three sell-out runs in London, two sell-out Edinburgh Fringe Festival stints and a sell-out UK 2014 tour; David Sedaris will once again set out across the UK in June 2015.Box Office 0845 146 1460
The Scandals03 JunThe UndergroundEstablished in 2004, this New Jersey punk rock is four dues who spend more time in the van than their own beds. Support TBC.Details 07878 460500
Little Lapin04 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreWest country singer-songwriter Little Lapin has been making her mark on audiences all over the world, from New Zealand where she was based for five years, to New York where she recently performed the last leg of her acoustic
BuBBles launderette
232 albert road, stoke tel: 563382
56 Wilton street, stoke tel: 562686
serVICe WasHes aVaIlaBle
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1pm
selF serVICe WasHes
7 days per week 8.30am to 9pm last wash 8pm
drY CleanInG aGentsall sIZe
QuIlts WasHed
WANT TO SEE YOUr ADvErT IN
PS?
CALL 07835 495881
fOr MOrE DETAILS
Jimmy Carr
the big list ten
tour. Little Lapin’s highly anticipated follow-up album due to be released in April/May this year promises to deliver more of her infectious indie pop gems. Details 01752 242021
Atomic Daze05 JunAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque A brilliant 5 piece band revitalising the best music from the 80’s! Details 01752 260555
Hamer & Co05 Jun & 03 JulB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreHamer & Co are a smokin’ hot jazz outfit with a difference. Experienced guitar-players Rich Hamer and Frank Hamer perform their own unique brand of music, blending everything from hot to cool jazz using a combination of smooth basslines and groovy rhythms. Details 01752 242021
Moody Blues06 JunPlymouth PavilionsThe Moody Blues - Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge - carry on their magical musical legacy from generation to generation, year after year, and are on their way to the Plymouth Pavilions.Box Office 0845 146 1460
Andrew Jackson Jihad06 JunThe UndergroundAndrew Jackson Jihad has a constantly shifting lineup resulting in wide-ranging sonic textures both live and on record. Andrew Jackson Jihad has obtained much coverage for their lyricism, which often covers themes of social anxiety, poverty, humanity, religion, existentialism and politics. Support from Hard Girls and the Fairweather Band. Details 07878 460500
Almost Blues06 JunAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Almost Blues are a young 5-piece playing a stimulating mix of Rock & Roll and Rhythm & Blues. With hits from the likes of Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jackie Wilson and Ray Charles, the band showcase the best of the 50s and 60s.Details 01752 260555
Anything Goes08 - 13 JunTheatre Royal - The LyricThis brand new production of Cole Porter’s classic, multi-award winning musical-comedy, Anything Goes transports you to the magical age of tap dancing and high society.Box Office 01752 267222
The Solid Life of Sugar Water08 - 13 JunTheatre Royal - The DrumPhil and Alice are in love – familiar, flawed, ordinary love. Phil and Alice are on a journey, but this journey doesn’t have an A to Z. Candid, uninhibited and visceral, this world-premiere from award winning playwright Jack Thorne is an intimate, tender play about loss, hurt and rediscovery. Playwright Jack Thorne recently adapted the cult novel and film Let the Right One In for the stage, which played to sell-out audiences in London’s West End.Box Office 01752 267222
Geoff Lakeman11 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreGeoff Lakeman, a Cornishman who has lived on Dartmoor in Devon for 37 years, has been described as “a stalwart of the west country folk scene and the father of a virtual folk dynasty”. He’s the dad of Seth, Sean and Sam Lakeman, all of whom are nationally and internationally
renowned as performers. Details 01752 242021
The Retro Gents12 JunAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque With a strong flavour of epic riffs mixed with melodic vocals, accompanied by bouncing bass lines and thumping beats, The Retro Gents are not to be missed. Details 01752 260555
Slim Semora12 JunSlim hails from Houston, Texas, with roots in Nashville. He delivers what he refers to as a bone rattling’ blend of “Texakana” music - Americana, rhythm & blues, alt country, rockabilly and folk rock. Influences would be legends like Johnny Cash, RL Burnside, Neil Young, JJ Cale, ZZ Top, Bob Dylan and the like.Details 01752 242021
Russel Sinclair13 JunAnnabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Scottish born singer songwriter performing with The Smokin Locos. He has gained a great reputation for his live shows within the Southwest.Details 01752 260555
Dirty Dancing16 Jun - 04 JulTheatre Royal - The LyricSeen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash-hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.Box Office 01752 267222
Plymouth Business Show17 JunPlymouth PavilionsRun by the team at Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, the biggest business show in the South West makes its way to Plymouth Pavilions to host over 100 exhibitors in its main hall and welcome up to 1000 people through the door.Box Office 0845 146 1460
Soul Legends19 JunPlymouth PavilionsIt’s all aboard the soul train for the show of the year, embarking from soul’s heady Sixties origins. . . steaming, non-stop, through to the present day. . . via everyone’s favourite Seventies and Eighties dance classics it’s the feel good show of the year!Box Office 0845 146 1460
Milton Jones21 JunPlymouth PavilionsMilton Jones brings his hilarious one-liners to Plymouth with his 2015 tour ‘Milton Jones and the Temple Of Daft’.Box Office 0845 146 1460
Carrie’s War23 - 27 JunTheatre Royal - The DrumCapturing the trials and tribulations in the life of a young 1940s evacuee,
Carrie’s War is a fascinating depiction of war through the eyes of a child. An enchanting and unmissable production for all ages. Box Office 01752 267222
Elvis Costello24 JunPlymouth PavilionsFollowing the success of his solo shows earlier this year, Elvis Costello announces a 21-date UK tour called ‘Detour’ in the early summer of 2015.Box Office 0845 146 1460
Alex Gregory & Band25 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreLikened to both KT Tunstall and Beth Orton, Alex has been described as an ‘awesome songwriter with the voice of a slightly naughty angel’ and ‘the darling of BBC Introducing in Devon’. Details 01752 242021
Vince Lee & Becca Langsford26 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreBlues vocalist Becca Langsford, alongside Plymouth’s top bluesman Vince Lee, play a session of country blues, jump blues, swing, gospel and southern soul from the 1920’s to the present day. Details 01752 242021
Vince Lee & Becca Langsford26 JunB-Bar at the Barbican TheatreBlues vocalist Becca Langsford, alongside Plymouth’s top bluesman Vince Lee, play a session of country blues, jump blues, swing, gospel and southern soul from the 1920’s to the present day. Details 01752 242021
If you would like your event featured in THE BIG LIST, email your listings to [email protected]
The Barbican
Southside St
Southside St
Quay Rd
Vauxhall St
New St
Castle St
The
Bar
bica
n
Teats Hill Rd
Mayflower
Steps
The Barbican
Sutton Harbour
Madeira Rd
Hoe Rd
Here
THAINOODLE BAR
Daily Specials
Fresh, funky,
affordable foodNoodling daily
from 12noon
‘til 9pm
Noodles | Music | Coffees | Comedy B-Bar, Barbican Theatre, Castle Street, The Barbican, Plymouth. PL1 2NJ
Orders & Info: 01752 242021www.b-bar.co.uk Open daily from 11am
TheBBar
@BBarPlymouth
bbarplymouth
9 yearsof servingPlymouth’s finest Pad Thai
Slim Semora
twelvethe big festival list
T H E B I G F E S T I V A L L I S T
L o C a LMasked Ball2nd - 3rd May£60 - Porthleven, Cornwall
Located on top of stunning cliffs, in a sleepy Cornish village, the biannual party happens overlooking the sea, combining idyllic views and a summer time festival like no other. The Masked Ball happens twice a year, once on the May Bank Holiday, and again on Halloween, and neither are to be missed. As well as the dawn of Spring, the Masked Ball also brings to 2015 Bonobo, Simian Mobile Disco and Nightmares on Wax DJ sets, Congo Natty, Andrew Weatherall, Norman Jay MBE and too many more to mention, over a vast array of stages. You can party hard on the cliff edge at The Live Deck, enjoy underground music at Shore’s Ditch or should you be so inclined, find yourself at the Big Gay Disco. I don’t think that last one needs much explaining. The May Bank Holiday is fast approaching and tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out the opportunity to have some masked fun in the sun!
Volksfest22nd - 25th May£95 - Newnham Park, Plymouth
Hidden by an old tungsten mine and industrial estates is Newnham Park, the home of Volksfest for the past eight years. With humble beginnings as a Volkswagen enthusiasts haven, it’s grown to be the local colossus that it is today. Growing every year, we’re now treated to acts from live music, to stand up comedy, cabaret and live dance acts and DJs. Never far from sight, and true to it’s name, the endless displays of Volkswagen vehicles still hold centre stage. As for the main
stage however, this year you’re treated to such acts as Ocean Colour Scene and Wilko Johnson, with blasts from the past including Atomic Kitten and East 17 and never forgetting the local legends of Mad Dog Mcrea and Land of the Giants. There’s something for everyone and families are welcome and encouraged. Bring your nan, bring your dog, they’ll have a blast too.
Freedom Community Festival26th - 31st MayFREE - Freedom Fields Park, Plymouth
Every year since 2000, a host of volunteers have made it their mission to bring a community festival to a little park just off from the city centre. Freedom Community Festival is a free festival, attracting up to 3000 attendees last year with over 30 bands over 6 days and 6 locations. This year will not differ. With local giants, Andy Quick’s Flying Orchestra, Dub Class, Bus Station Loonies, Waterboarders and Worried Shoes, as well as the ever growing acoustic tent, I promise something will take your fancy. As well as live music, they’re hosting events all week encouraging people to get involved with local projects and charities, supporting the community in the area, the team have worked hard to include those from all walks of life. Yourselves included.
Lemonfest30th May£20 - Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon
This one day marathon of acts is back for it’s sixth year at Newton Abbot Racecourse, featuring headliners such as The Subways, Rosie Lowe, Dub Pistols, DJ Yoda and Beans on Toast. What it loses with it’s day long span and small scale, Lemonfest makes up for in diversity of acts, a range of stages to suit everyone’s taste and final touches such as locally sourced ales and ciders, a street food market and a silent disco. Allowing the festival to cultivate the best local
bands, stages such as the Locally Grown, hosted by BBC Introducing allows for live broadcasts and interviews to keep you busy too. At just £20 for the day, or for an extra tenner you can stay overnight, there’s not many excuses to not hit up this local lovely.
Glasdenbury10th - 11th July£45 - Fairfield Farm, Denbury, Devon
Situated on a dairy farm, not far from Newton Abbot, Glasdenbury is a family friendly down to earth festival in a field. With a friendly atmosphere on site, as well as a load of surprises to put a smile on your face, the line up isn’t all about the music (although, it’s still pretty good.) With poetry and spoken word, cabaret and workshops for all ages, there’s enough to keep you busy in between acts on the main stage. With Matt Owens (of Noah & the Whale fame), the Jay Tamkin band, Jessica and the Rabbits, The Rocker Covers, Moriaty and more, there’s an abundance of genres to choose from and maybe even some new ones to introduce yourself to. As well as food stalls, traders, bars stocked to the brim with real ale, ciders and cocktails, you can continue to fuel your dancing amongst the daisies at Fairfield Farm.
Three Wishes Faery Fest19th - 21st June£99 - Mount Edgcumbe House & Country Park, Cornwall
Now, what would be the West Country without a little faery magic? There’s been tales of pixie activity in Devon for many years, so to celebrate this quirky folklore is 3 Wishes Faery Fest, hosted by Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park. With just a short ferry ride a few skips from Royal William Yard, you can find yourself in a world of the Celtic Faerie Clans. It’s a BYOW occasion (Bring Your Own Wings) as it’s time to brush off
your wand and embrace the legend. As well as live music from Peatbog Faeries (of course!), Professor Elemental and 3 Daft Monkeys, there’s also a faery market, walkabout performers, workshops, talks and a bar. On top of all that, on the Saturday there will be a Guiness World Record attempt for the largest gathering of fairies in one place! Pack your wings, your wand and your tutu, it’s going to be a sprite-ly weekend!
Port Eliot 30th July - 2nd Aug£165 - St Germans, Cornwall
Dubbed one of the most original and bohemian festivals in the UK, Port Eliot seems to be growing in popularity year to year. Since it’s birth over a decade ago, it’s seen the likes of Kate Winslet, Jarvis Cocker, Dominic West, Martin Parr and Ralph Steadman pass its gates and the fun doesn’t stop there. The line up includes such greats as Andrew Weatherall, Matthew and Me and Stealing Sheep of which you can all enjoy in the grounds of the Earl of St Germans Cornish estate, the oldest continually inhabited dwelling in the UK. The festival allows you to explore the House itself too, with exhibitions in the basement, tours of the historic rooms and conversations in the Round Room. With it’s upbringing in spoken word and literature, Port Eliot redefines what a festival is, providing inspiration, broadening the appeal and expanding to those who wouldn’t have given a literary festival a thought. One to check out.
Boardmasters5th - 9th Aug£129 - Watergate Bay/Fistral Beach, Cornwall
A combination of live music, surf, skate and BMX contests and all the usual fun filled activities a festival has to offer, Boardmasters is going from strength to strength. With last year boasting a line up featuring Snoop Dogg, Chase & Status and Bastille, this year has had a lot to live up to. Bastille return with the dons of dance Faithless as well as sets from The Darkness, De La Soul and Seasick Steve. This beachside festival is one to mark on the calendar, especially if you have any interest in extreme sports and
/ Listings by Naomi Girdler /
We give you the lowdown on the best festivals to hit up this year, from down the road to across the sea, there’s something for everyone.
Volksfest
Glasdenbury
thirteen the big festival list
coastal hang outs. Taking place over five days on a cliff top location overlooking Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, there’s also a variety of bars and fairground rides to choose from on site.
Boomtown Fair13th - 16th Aug£155 - Matterly Estate, nr Winchester
Rising from the underground in 2009, BoomTown Fair has fast become one of the wildest and most inspirational independent festivals on the UK circuit. Starting as a humble village fair, it’s become the sprawling creative metropolis that it is today, with a diverse mix of genres to suit everyone’s tastes. With a variety of different districts, playing host to a line up full to the brim with talent, including the likes of Stephen ‘Ragga’ Marley, Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello as well as DJ and dance acts from across the world including Squarepusher, Noisia, Infected Mushroom and DJ EZ. By creating their own city where only their rules apply, BoomTown Fair creates a unique experience for the average festival goer where you can be completely immersed in the BoomTown attitude and I promise, you’ll make memories to cherish for years to come.
Beautiful Days21st - 23rd Aug£135 - Escot Park, Devon
With humble beginnings in 2003, the festival, managed by the Levellers is
getting bigger and better. Spanning across six stages with a family area for the little ones, the festival features a number of big names. From the pop punk stylings of Dropkick Murphys to the classic alt rock of the Happy Mondays, to the quirky gypsy punk from Gogol Bordello to the rhythm and blues of Wilko Johnson, Beautiful Days is a corporation free zone, yet tickets still sell out every year in advance. As well as a strong line up, the festival also hosts a walkabout theatre, site art installations, comedy, theatre, family camping, food and craft stalls, a healing area, play areas and real ale bars run by Otter Brewery. An intimate little festival, celebrating independence and cultural exchange.
Looe Music Festival18th - 20th Sept£110 - Looe Beach, Cornwall
The last of the summer festivals, for three days of September, the little town of Looe in South East Cornwall gets hit up with big music, manic entertainment and a smattering of culture for good measure. The festival transforms the sleepy seaside town, beach and streets, giving locals and visitors all over the world a chance to mingle and enjoy the show. With titans Johnny Marr and the Proclaimers claiming the headline spots, local legends Mad Dog Mcrea and Geoff Lakeman continue the celebration of home grown talent. With 90 bands over five stages, you won’t find lazy, Sunday summer grooves, it’s all about eclectic high energy music, delivered back to back. Finish your festival season with a bang and give this one a go.
N ATI o N A LThe Great Escape14th - 16th May£59.50 - Various Venues, Brighton & Hove
Europe’s leading festival for new music, The Great Escape has grown in reputation as being the place to be to discover the newest and hottest talents on the UK scene. Headliners include Alabama Shakes plus the The Strypes, Kate Tempest plus George the Poet and Skepta & JME, the full line up however is huge and a great place to find out about new acts in an
intimate setting. With the set up in multiple venues, it’s never going to be the same vibe twice, so cram in as much as possible. The Alternative Escape, the Brighton Dome shows, secret gigs, club nights and spontaneous collaborations all add to the festivities and make this weekend in Brighton one not to miss.
Isle of Wight Festival11th - 14th June£195 - Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight
With it’s history stemming as far back as the late 60’s, and with such giant headliners as Bob Dylan, The Who, Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix back in the day, it’s no surprise that the Isle of Wight festival still holds such a huge following today. The festival is still the behemoth it was then, with this year’s line up including Blur, Fleetwood Mac, The Black Keys and The Prodigy to name just a few. And if that isn’t enough to get you going, there’s Groove Armada and Paul Oakenfold in the Big Top for all those with dancing on their minds. Luxury camping (or glamping as it’s grown to be known) is always an option to make the most of this momentous festival. Don’t be put off by the ferry journey, make it across the water for a bloody great party.
Download12th -14th June£205 - Donington Park, Derby
Now one for the metalheads, punks and rockers. Download is the place to be if you’re into loud, angry and shouty music. The rock festival giant has been active since 2003, taking over from the Monsters of Rock festival that made it’s home in Donington Park spanning the 80’s and the 90’s. Download has hosted some of the biggest names in rock including Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden and AC/DC to name just a few. With headliners Slipknot, Muse and Kiss, this year continues the tradition of hard and heavy, with little to no let up. Motley Crue, Judas Priest and Marilyn Manson fill out the line up, but it’s hard to ignore such a huge mix of artists spanning over four stages and three days. Don your black eyeliner, patch up your jackets and pull on the New Rocks, it’s almost time!
Glastonbury24th - 28th June £220 - Pilton, Somerset
What would festival season be without Glastonbury? Easily one of the most popular festivals of the year, with an ever growing following and now almost the size of a city, Glastonbury is one hell of a live music event. Beginning back in 1970, where the entrance fee was £1 (including some free milk from the farmers), to becoming the colossus it is today, Glastonbury has become a contemporary gathering for all sorts of arts, from of course, live music, but also dance, comedy, theatre, circus and cabaret. Headliners this year include Foo Fighters, Kanye West, Florence and the Machine, Patti Smith, Deadmau5, Future Islands and many many more. If you can get your hands on a ticket (make sure to watch out for the fake ones!), then this will definitely be hell of a ride.
BoardmastersThe Great Escape
Isle of Wight Festival
Glastonbury
Boomtown Fair
Port Eliot
fourteenthe big festival list
2000 Trees9th - 11th July£72 - Upcote Farm, nr Cheltenham
Featuring some of the best new and underground British music, 2000 Trees is an award winning festival with a focus on a friendly, intimate atmosphere and live music. Started by six friends in 2007, who had grown tired of paying out the nose for festivals decided to create a festival all about value for money as well as an opportunity to raise awareness of environmental issues. With five stages, a trader village and the hugely popular headphone disco, this year’s headliners include Deaf Havana, Alkaline Trio, The Subways, We Are The Ocean and Idlewild. As well as all that lovely stuff, there’s also some amazing food and locally produced ciders, ales and lagers - the best weekend of your summer guaranteed!
Latitude16th - 19th July£200.50 - Henham Park, Suffolk
Ran by the same brilliant minds behind Reading and Leeds, Latitude Festival is said to be similar to continental music festivals, with a comprehensive list of musicians, bands and artists across four stages. Wander from film to music, comedy to literature and theatre to poetry, set in fairylight-lit woods, by a lake and featuring a flock of multicoloured sheep, this festival really is a cultural highlight of the season. With Alt-J and Portishead dominating the headliners, other acts include Caribou, Manic Street Preachers, Jon Hopkins and SBTRKT. With it’s 10th birthday this year, there’s no doubt that Latitude will make this one to remember.
Green Man 20th - 23rd Aug£165 - Brecon Beacons, Wales
Easily my favourite festival of the year, based in a valley by the beautiful mountain range of Brecon Beacons, Green Man is more like your own intimate party amongst family and friends than a festival. Having seen giants such as First Aid Kit, Modest Mouse, Mac Demarco and Mogwai there in the past, I was elated to hear this year’s line up consists of Super Furry Animals, Hot Chip, Goat and Public Service Broadcasting. Not limited to live music, but also spoken word, comedy and literature, as well as workshops, fun and games and an Enchanted Forest, Green Man is a hidden gem amongst other mainstream festivals. And who can forget the burning of the Green Man on the last night?! I highly highly recommend it!
V Festival22nd - 23rd Aug£189 - Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire
Originally the brain child of Pulp’s front man Jarvis Cocker, V Festival was put on due to the fact he wanted to play two outdoor venues in two days. V Festival was born. The perfect choice for those who like to spend their time in the Top 40, headliners include Calvin Harris, Kasabian, Sam Smith, Stereophonics, Olly Murs and The Script are all gracing the stage this year. Spanning over the two parks simultaneously, swapping over the weekend, there’s no excuse to miss your favourite act. With sponsors including MTV, Coca Cola, Carling and Smirnoff, you’re guaranteed to find freebies and attractions to suit everyone.
Reading Festival28th - 30th Aug£205 - Richfield Avenue, Reading
Being the world’s oldest popular music festival still in existence, Reading has had it’s fair share of musical phases over the years, now settling with rock, alternative, indie, punk and metal dominating. Definitely not family friendly and with eight stages and a line up boasting Mumford and Sons, Metallica and The Libertines, this year is set to be a banger. Selling out year after year, there isn’t much for me to say that you probably don’t already know about Reading festival, but keep an eye out for the silent arena, the ActionAid tent, cinema and funfair.
Leeds Festival28th - 30th Aug£205 - Bramham Park, Leeds
Leeds Festival, Reading’s sister festival, will be taking over the August Bank Holiday weekend by storm with the same huge line up as Reading. Spanning over three days, this is another classic festival to dominate the summer season. Again, enjoy the ActionAid tent, the silent arena, cinema and fun fair, but also make sure you find time for some 5-a-side football and some great DJ sets at the Piccadilly Party with XFM.
End of the Road4th - 6th Sept£195 - Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire
The award-winning End of the Road, specialising in alternative music, such as folk rock, alt country and americana is hosting another huge year of music this year. Running over four stages in the idyllic location of the Larmer Tree Gardens, you can look forward to Sufjan Stevens, Tame Impala, War on Drugs, Future Islands and Laura Marling. Easily one of the most beautiful festivals, it’s not unlikely to be joined by peacocks wandering the area, as you take some time off in the healing field, get competitive in the games area, settle down for some light reading in the library in the forest or chill out in the film tent.
With a capacity of 11,000, you’re treated to an intimate atmosphere with a family friendly vibe.
Bestival10th - 13th Sept£195 - Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
Another legendary festival hosted by the Isle of Wight is Bestival. Running for just over 10 years, it’s blagged itself a number of awards from Best Major Festival to Best Dance Event. Bestival, despite being considered a ‘major festival’, is considered quite alternative and diverse, offering a large selection of vegetarian foods; a dress up tent and a ‘secret stage’. There’s so much going on at this festival it’s easy to forget the epic line up they have in store this year, with headliners including The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Duran Duran and Tame Impala, and DJ sets from the likes of Rudimental, Skrillex and Annie Mac. As well as the huge line up of acts, you can also get married in their inflatable church, take part in the fancy dress Guiness World Record attempt or enjoy comedy theatre, short plays, mind-expanding musings and hotly tipped sketch shows in the Amphitheatre.
Reading Festival
End of the Road
Latitude
Green Man
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o N v i s i t www.ps-zine.com
sixteenanother robot / post graduate spotlight
ANotHEr
roBOT
/ Words by Naomi Girdler /
seventeen another robot / post gradaute spotlight
PS: So who’s Another Robot and what are you guys
about?
AR: We’re Jake and Adam and Another Robot is
a video production company, that specialises
in promotional videos, music videos, motion
graphics, for anyone that wants it really! We
work a lot with other businesses in the city as
well as being part of the Knowledge Collective,
which is basically just a a group of people with a
number of different skills, working together. We
also work with Dom Moore, a local photographer,
who also is part of the collective.
PS: You’ve done a number of different things,
from corporate videos to festival sessions to
music videos, how does the work compare and what
do you enjoy most?
AR: They’re all different, but I think it’s best
when you get a project that sort of meets in the
middle. We get some really creative projects,
such as working with Artory recently, where we
get the opportunity to push the more creative
side of things, something that we don’t always
get to explore in the more corporate aspect of
our work.
We’ve done sessions for Knee Deep Festival for
a couple of years now, as well as working for
Leopallooza Festival, which has been great.
Getting to go to a festival for free isn’t bad,
but also getting to meet all the bands and get
an exclusive look at what they do is really
cool. Unfortunately, both of those festivals are
taking a year out, but there’s plenty of fields
down here, I’m sure we’ll find somewhere else to
get involved in.
PS: So how was Another Robot born?
AR: We both met here, at Plymouth University,
studying the same course, Media Arts, and it
stemmed from there really. We started working on
a lot of projects together and then doing bits
and pieces here and there, and it snowballed
from there. It seemed to lead into a great
working relationship. At uni, you start to fit
into certain groups and begin to find yourself a
little. You’ve also got so much extra time on
your hands and the freedom to be able to work on
projects and be creative. You get to know the
people that like the same sort of things you do
and you learn quickly who you can work with and
who you can’t.
PS: Where did the name come from?
AR: Oh, we didn’t talk about what we were gonna
say for this one! We should have thought of that.
We always try and make up a different story
every time, but I’ve forgotten to make one this
time! You’ve caught us off guard. In all honesty
though, I don’t really know where the name came
from. When we started out, we sat down and began
throwing things out there. We didn’t necessarily
want to have something that was just video studio
or something like that, we wanted to be a bit
different and to stand out a little.
PS: What inspired the robot heads?
AR: We know we needed head shots, but we wanted
to remain anonymous. It was an idea just to chuck
some boxes on our heads. We’re hiding away from
something, we’re building the mystery.
PS: You’ve worked with a lot of different
businesses and artists, who continues to inspire
you?
AR: Well, all the guys we work with in the office
at the Knowledge Collective have really helped
from the start. Since they were already an
existing business, they helped set us up, and got
us a few projects to sink our teeth into. It’s
grown from there and now we work in the office
with them which is great. The mutants, of Mutant
Labs, a game design company work in the same
building as us, and we’re great friends with all
of them. We don’t necessarily work with them a
lot since they’re so different to what we do but
we know that if we ever needed different skills
on a project, we’ve got potential collaboration
there. It’s just nice to bounce ideas off of
people in different fields to you, but still in a
creative way. That way you can get some different
angles and ideas.
Another artist we’ve worked with is Susan Austin,
who has developed an underwater wheelchair, and
is currently in the process of developing a flying
wheelchair. We’ve worked with her in the past,
editing her videos, helping her produce some
of her content. She goes off around the world,
demonstrating her inventions, the underwater one
is being demoed in Egypt I think! She straps on
a GoPro and films it all, then we get the chance
to sit down and work with her to see what we can
turn it into.
We’re really into the idea of collaboration
though. It helps our creativity to bounce ideas
off people, even if it’s helping someone with
something that we’re not going to be involved
in. Working in video tends to be massively
collaborative to start with, because you tend
to work with a number of different people and
it’s often part of a campaign or as part of
promotion, so you often have to collaborate to
come up with ideas to suit everyone. Good ideas
stick with you, even if it’s about something
completely different, you can rework and rehash
it and it can turn into something great. You can
always recognise a good idea, no matter what field
it’s in.
PS: What does 2015 hold for Another Robot?
AR: Well, we launched our new website in January,
which was exciting, but as for the rest of the
year, just keep growing really! 2014 was great,
we managed to come into an office environment and
started to secure a few more contracts within the
city which is good, so continue that momentum
really. We need to fuel the creative side of
things as well, because even though it is a
creative business, it’s still a business! That
can bring you down a little bit, so that’s why we
try to do stuff with festivals and bands. There
might not be the most money there, but it allows
us to fuel our creative side. Keep our souls
happy and help us sleep better at night.
PS: What advice would you give young people
in your situation? Thinking of setting up a
business, getting into a notoriously difficult
industry, etc.
AR: Just do it! Oh wait, that’s someone else’s
catchphrase. But no! Just do it! A lot of people
say they wanna do this, or wanna do that but
until you try it and get stuck in, you just don’t
know. It’s hard, ridiculously hard, it’s taken us
a long time to get to the level where we are now,
where we’re happy and comfortable and we know we
can keep pushing on. It doesn’t mean anything
without hard work.
If you’re thinking of getting into videography
and media, I’d say just make as much as possible.
It doesn’t matter who it’s for, or if you’re
trying to get into music videos or corporate
promotional videos, everyone’s going to look at
what you’ve made in the past. Keep making things!
If it’s what you wanna do, you’re going to enjoy
making them anyway. The average person isn’t
going to look at your one best piece of work,
they’ll look at the fact you’ve been out there
week in and week out trying to create something.
If you’ve got a back catalog of ten projects, as
opposed to one good one, that can sometimes look
better, like you’re spreading your effort out a
lot more.
YOU CAN ALWAYS RECOGNISE A GOOD IDEA, NO MATTER WHAT FIELD IT'S IN
eighteenpolitics / the general election
THE GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE
More than three million people between the ages of 18 to 22 will have their first opportunity to vote come the 7th of May, although according to YouGov only around 41% of this group will cast a vote. With myself falling into this category as a first time voter, I can wholly relate to the lack of interest in politics expressed by the youth and the disillusion felt towards modern politics. However for all voters this election poses an alternative to the traditional two horse race seen in previous years, as parties such as the Greens
or UKIP step up to the political platform. From Westminster to Plymouth the political floor is more crowded than ever and whether it’s your first vote or not, the time has come to vote for a party you can personally relate to, rather than a lesser of two evils.
However in the run up to a general election, it can be hard to see through the veil of the consistently changing and contradictory world of politics as it is seen and absorbed by people on so many
different levels. Each piece of the picture whether an article, a petition, a piece of political satire, etc. has its own bias and spin which can mound into an incomprehensible mess of personal opinion; where media logic dictates I shouldn't vote Labour because David Milliband probably looks better eating a bacon sandwich than Ed. Therefore to get back to the reality of the situation, it is best to look over what each party is, what they offer and what they have done.
C O N S E R V A T I V E S‘’Strong leadership. A clear economic plan. A brighter, more secure future.’’ - Conservative Party Website.The Conservative led coalition has achieved a lot of things over the past five years, although many would argue these things are not necessarily great. The NHS is on the brink of falling apart and the dread of privatization looms over it, quantitative easing has seen a massive redistribution of wealth directly into the pockets of the 1% (about £600 billion). Consequently the welfare state has been awfully damaged; throwing many into poverty or uncertainty about their future, thus the rise of food banks. However according to polls the Conservative Party are still the most trusted to manage the economy.
Key Pledges:• Eliminating the deficit.• Cutting taxes by raising basic and higher rate starting points.• Helping people to own their own home and have financial independence in retirement.• No housing benefit for 18-21 year olds.• Providing an education system that helps children reach their potential.• Holding a referendum on Britain’s EU membership.• Replace Trident to maintain continuous at sea nuclear deterrent.• Reform strike laws, including on the transport network.• Restore police and agencies’ access to the communications data they need to fight terrorism and organised crime.
Local Candidate - Oliver Colvile:‘’I have been working hard to tackle the problems that we face to make Plymouth Sutton and Devonport an even better place to work, live and raise a family.’’Oliver Colvile, age 55, is the Conservative party’s current representative in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency. Educated in Stowe private school Colvile has worked for the Conservative Party since he was 21. Colvile has outlined 6 main pledges if re-elected and his first is on transport. As well as campaigning for the A303 to be duelled fully, he expresses the importance of improved rail networks for ‘businesspeople’ to come from London and work in the city before 9am. His second pledge is to continue his work towards higher levels of employment in marine engineering research which he first attempted by the signing of the ‘City Deal’ which will supposedly transform Plymouth’s South Yard for industrial and commercial use. He plans to further this by campaigning for a Marine Energy Park to be built in Plymouth. The security of the armed forces in Plymouth is Colvile’s next pledge with protection of heritage
and servicemen at his priority. To do this he shall fight to secure armed forces based in the area within historic sites such as Stonehouse Barracks and continue to campaign for a new warship to be named ‘HMS Plymouth’. His fourth pledge is to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower leaving Plymouth and use this occasion to attract tourists and increase economic growth. His fifth pledge is about heritage and the restoration of the North Corner Pontoon. And his last pledge is to fix the potholes plaguing Plymouth’s drivers.
L A B O U R‘‘Britain only succeeds when working people succeed. This is a plan to reward hard work, share prosperity and build a better Britain.’’ – Labour Party ManifestoHaving grown up under Brown and Blair’s New Labour, the animosity held against the Labour party is of no surprise. With the move towards the centre ground in 1997, red and blue seemed to merge and the left leaning workers party had become something else. Two wars without conclusion and a financial crisis have stained Labour’s reputation, however under Milliband the party has seemed to distance themselves from Labour’s last existence. Whatever your personal opinion on Milliband is, he is no Blair.
Key Pledges:• Cut the deficit every year, no extra borrowing for manifesto commitments.• Make it illegal for employers to undercut British workers by exploiting migrants.• Extra £2.5bn funding for the NHS, to pay for 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 GPs.• Cut university tuition fees by £3,000.• Freeze energy bills until 2017 and give energy regulator new powers to cut bills this winter.• Raise an extra £7.5bn a year by cutting down on tax avoidance.• Raise the minimum wage to more than £8 by October 2019.
Local Candidate - Luke Pollard:‘’My priorities are simple: Jobs, housing and defending public services.’’ Luke Pollard is the Labour and Co-operative Parliamentary Candidate for this election. He was born and lives in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency and studied at Exeter University. Pollard worked for ITV in Plympton making children’s TV programmes before getting a job working for David Jamieson and then standing for Labour in the 2006 local elections and as a candidate in South-West Devon during the 2010 general election. On his web page Luke speaks of Plymouth’s ‘‘enormous potential to create more jobs, attract more tourists, have better transport, more homes and better shops and culture.’’ He goes on to say that
he believes Plymouth is being let down by the Conservatives through austerity highlighting the need for a government who recognises the potential in Plymouth. Pollard asserts his belief in social justice and equality, and believes in public ownership of services such as railways and the NHS. Furthermore he wants to bring focus to the South West as an area of opportunity in contrast to the Tory-led concentration on London and the South East. Pollard supports campaigns such as Cross Out Cancer, The Tax Evasion and Tax Dodging Bill, Vote Bike (cycling campaign) and a cross party campaign for a new Type 26 frigate to be named ‘HMS Plymouth’.
L I B E R A L D E m O C R A T S‘’A stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling every person to get on in life.’’ - Liberal Democrat Pre-ManifestoFounded in 1988 the Liberal Democrats are a relatively young party in comparison to the Tories and Labour and became part of the coalition government in 2010. While many saw the Liberal Democrats as the change they were looking for, it is clear now that Cleggmania did not live up to the hype. However, it’s hard not to feel sorry for Nick Clegg as the promises he made on tuition fees and other subjects were quickly swept under the rug by the Conservatives.
Key Pledges:• Balance the budget fairly through a mixture of cuts and taxes on higher earners.• Increase tax-free allowance to £12,500.• Guarantee education funding from nursery to 19 and qualified teachers in every class.• Invest £8bn in the NHS. Equal care for mental & physical health.• Five new laws to protect nature and fight climate change.• £3.5bn extra for mental health.• Guarantee qualified teachers, a core curriculum and sex education in all state schools.• Give 16-21 year olds two thirds off all bus travel.• Double renewable electricity by 2020, aim to decarbonise the power sector by 2030, leading to a zero carbon Britain by 2050.
Local Candidate - Graham Reed:Born in Southampton, Reed was educated at Stirling University where he gained a BA in History and Politics. He worked as a technical salesman in Australasia and then a glassblower, once again at Stirling University, before starting his own business which trained school leavers in glassblowing. He was elected as a local councillor for Stirling Council where he successfully improved local
waste collection services, banned those selling alcohol illegally to under 18’s and eased planning restrictions to encourage the reuse of redundant rural buildings. Reed has been a campaigner for causes such as women’s rights, child welfare, help for disabled groups and care for the elderly. Reed is committed to local decision making and supports the move to give more control to local communities. Furthermore he is committed to better education and training in the manufacturing sector as well as social inclusion and fairness for all.
G R E E Np A R T y‘’Real Change’’ - Green ManifestoGreen Party’s roots stem from the 1970’s ecology party but have since expanded their environmentalist message under their leader Natalie Bennett; now fighting for not only a greener world but for a fairer society capable of supporting everyone’s needs. Distancing themselves from the politics of the past they believe in a future that works for the common good. Since gaining their first MP in 2010, Green Party’s membership has grown significantly and are now the third largest party in the UK, having over taken the Liberal Democrats.
Key Pledges:• Publicly funded, publicly provided health service free at the point of use.• End austerity and restore the public sector, creating jobs that pay at least a living wage.• Work with other countries to ensure global temperatures do not rise by more than 2C.• Scrap university tuition fees.• Return the railways to public hands.• Make mental health a greater priority.• Increase the minimum wage to £10 per hour by 2020.• Ban “exploitative” zero-hours contracts.• Close taxation loopholes and crack down on tax avoidance.• Introduce a financial transaction tax (a “Robin Hood” tax) on banks.
Local Candidate – Libby BrownGreen Party’s candidate in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency is Libby Brown. Educated at Plymouth University and still in her early 20’s, Brown represents two minorities severely underrepresented in Westminster - both females and the youth. Brown claims her reason for standing is due to the disengagement in politics, specifically the young, and believes politics shouldn’t be for just the elite few but for everyone. Already having gone up against the likes of Oliver Colvile and Luke Pollard during local debates, Brown has proven her ability to fight for what she believes in;
striving to prove Green Party is a viable alternative offering fairness and equality for all. Plans for Plymouth would include: securing employment and a vibrant economy by putting local people and businesses first rather than multinational corporations, preservation of open green and public spaces, sustainable transport, warmer homes and resilient and healthy communities, sustainable food systems amongst others.
U K I p‘’Believe in Britain.’’ - UKIPThe UK Independence Party, set up in 1993, was put in place to campaign for the immediate removal of the UK from the European Union. The right-wing, nationalist, eurosceptic party represent a mis-guided anger against mainstream politics and are dedicated to making Britain a post-war traditionalist society characterised by extreme prejudice and hypocrisy. The sooner this election over the better, just so I don’t have to view the two monstrous yellow and purple eye sore’s overlooking Exeter Street.
Key Pledges:• Rapid referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.• Control immigration.• Powers for voters to recall MPs.• Extra £3bn a year for the NHS.• No tax on the minimum wage.• Scrap Sex and Relationship Education for children under 11.• Cut foreign aid budget by £9bn per year.• Repeal the Climate Change Act 2008.• Scrap fees for poorer students taking degrees in science, technology, maths or engineering.• No new subsidies for wind farms and solar arrays.
Local Candidate – Roy KettleRoy Kettle, 59, is the UKIP parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport. Originally for Derby, he has experience in finance and the private and public sector. Furthermore he is a previous business owner ran a large transport cafe in the midlands. Kettle believes immigration to be the cause of wage deflation in the UK and claims immigration is the cause of strain upon local services including housing. Kettle also believes a crumbling infrastructure is putting a strain on jobs and wants further contracts awarded to the region by the government, specifically Devonport Dockyard, ‘’as a matter of urgency’’. Kettle praises the work of Plymouth University, however criticises the scrutiny they have recently come under, claiming it “is damaging the reputation of an excellent university”. He brings further attention to the subject of transport links into the county and around Plymouth, criticising the Labour party for failure of local infrastructure.
/ WOrDS BY DOMINIC WALLACE /
twentyscience / head transplants
Sergio Canavero. Insane? Unethical? Brilliant?! Whichever way you look at it, if the Turin based neurosurgeon gets his method right, he’ll have changed the world, as we know it. By 2017, Canavero claims he will have mastered the art of head transplantation, and he already has a body ready to take the hit in the name of science.
Reactions from the both the public and the scientific community range from one of excitement and curiosity, to one of disgust and outrage at the ethical implications of the procedure, with most people sitting somewhere in the middle in a haze of stunned disbelief. Many members of the scientific community outright refuse to comment on the issue, dismissing the concept as completely outlandish and unethical, but the concept of head transplantation, or in fact any transplantation, is not a new one. The arguments that accompany experimental procedures are forever changing in line with the development of new and successful treatments; essentially we’re all glory supporters and our ethical beliefs are not as concrete as one might think.
Many of the key criticisms of the proposed procedure, other than the fact that Canavero is yet to reveal details of how precisely he intends to successfully overcome the longstanding issue of spinal cord reattachment, revolve around the 100% fail rate in previous transplant attempts in animal studies. Though it should be noted that some of the animals in historic transplant attempts did go on to survive for a while, they cannot really be considered successful on account of the eventual, and to speculate, probably painful and drawn out death. So in brief, here is a history of (some of) what’s been done so far:
The earliest reported attempt at head transplantation was by Charles Guthrie in 1908. Guthrie attempted to graft one dog’s head onto the neck or another, creating a two-headed dog. Weirdly, the second head was attached to be facing the existing head, reportedly to give the impression of ‘intimacy’. Amazingly once linked up to the host dog’s blood supply, the second head did demonstrate some signs of life: dilation of pupils and twitching of the nostrils, however the second head never had fully restored brain function.
In the 1950s, Vladimir Demikhov, considered to be a pioneer in transplant surgery, repeated the experiment, successfully
transplanting the entire head and upper body of one dog onto that of another, demonstrating again that ample blood flow from the host body could, to some extent keep the parasitic brain functioning. It has even been reported that in one attempt, the second head bit an experimenter. However in all Demikhov’s studies, the host dog survived no longer than a few months; supporting the attached half-dog drained the host dogs’ life forces, killing them slowly.
Fast-forward to the 1970s, and Dr Robert White made great advances with the procedure. White successfully managed to transplant the head of one monkey onto the body of another. The recipient body remained ‘alive’ though was paralysed from the neck down due to the severing and subsequent failure to reattach the spinal cord to the new brain. The head of the newly created monkey showed strong signs of cerebral function; vision, hearing and even the ability to taste remained intact. However once again, the monkey survived for only 9 days, during which time it was reported to maintain an expression of absolute terror on its face.
The fear reportedly expressed in the face of the monkey was no doubt very real. Human and animal studies have provided strong evidence of our sense of self, our sense of embodiment, being strongly linked to our body movements. Though processed in the brain, bodily feedback is essential for enabling someone or something to experience a sense
of being, of existing; the poor monkey was just a head, and he knew it.
In all then, it seems that despite the undeniably vast advances in neurological and anatomical knowledge that have come from these studies, none of them have been a resounding success in terms of their therapeutic application, unless of course the desired outcome is death.
The key flaw, other than all the painful deaths, in all previous head transplant attempts has been the lack of ability to restore nervous system function. But what if Canavero has figured it out? What then? Many people are already reaping the rewards of life saving organ transplants that were once considered to be beyond the realms of possibility. Consider, for example, a failed drug overdose resulting in a life-saving liver transplant. Imagine waking in hospital, relieved to be alive, full of remorse and then your liver shows signs of imminent and fatal failure; the outcome of successful transplantation is not just restorative, it’s life changing. It’s the physiological basis for post-traumatic growth and repair on a level much more profound than just a biological one.
Canavero proposes that successful head transplantation could mark the beginning of the end of death by terminal cancer, of major bodily trauma taking the lives of those with fully functioning brains, of ALS (remember the ice bucket challenge?!). At this point the idea seems nothing short of insane, but once upon a time Albert Einstein, Nikolas Tesla and many other greats were considered madmen. It’s both terrifying and brilliant in equal measure, and whilst most will struggle to get on board with the idea, the amount of media coverage Canavero has had over the last month highlights the fascination we humans have with the weird and the gruesome and the impossible.
Do we want him to fail? Surely not, because doing so will bring about yet more death. But success will bring about a world of ethical complications; where will we draw the line? Will the rich and famous be attaching their old heads to sexy cadavers? Will the NHS soon be funding body transplants for sufferers of body dysmorphic disorder? The possibilities are endless, and with them come a multitude of arguments both for and against the procedure. For now, we can only stand back and watch, because maybe, MAYBE, something quite brilliant is about to happen.
LOST yOUR H E A D ?
Demikhov’s dogs
Psychology student Lorna Parker tells us the history of head transplants as millions react to the news of a human subject volunteering for the cause.
twenty twostudent submission / jonny aldrich
PS: How’s life?JA: Life is good, I have currently just started my Final Major Project of my last year at Plymouth University. Also the running of Design Society is going very well we have already had six guest lectures, two portfolio review workshops, one film screening and one exhibition with more events planned in the future.
PS: What is it that you’re studying, and where?JA: I am studying Graphic Communication with Typography at Plymouth University.
PS: What made you choose Plymouth University?JA: A combination of the place, facilities and the course. Plymouth as a city is great, not too big and not too small, plenty to do but never too overwhelming. The facilities at Plymouth are brilliant, we have the second largest collection of metal and wood type in letterpress and a wonderful studio with breathtaking views situated on floor 7 of the inspiring architectural masterpiece, Roland Lewinsky Building. No other university I applied too had such a nice building to work in. All of this combined together made for an easy choice when compared to other universities. I have also had a keen interest in typography since learning about design in school and this course was perfect as it also allowed you to specialise in the 3rd in either branding and identity, editorial or information design.
PS: What does your course involve? What’s your favourite thing about it?JA: I basically solve problems through design. My favourite areas are branding, identity and packaging, which includes designing logos, typography, promotional materials, everything and anything related to brands, but I can also design for editorial such as books or magazines and information design such as the tube map is a famous example.
PS: How would you describe your style of work?JA: My style is quite paired back and minimal with an emphasis on type, but it depends on the project. I am also a perfectionist and will always get annoyed
at bad spacing of any kind, white space is key to this so that the design can breath and doesn’t become overcrowded. I have always believed that an idea should be communicated in a post it note for maximum efficiency. Design should be interesting to look at but also easy to understand so that anyone can relate to it.
PS: Who’s your favourite artist?JA: I have many favourite graphic artist from past and present, everyone is inspired by the greats such as Saul Bass famous for movie posters and title sequences of the 50’s and 60’s or FHK Henrion the pioneer of corporate identity in the same period. But I am also inspired by new designers like Andre Beato and Alex Trochut two wonderful typographers or Noma Bar famous for his minimalist double meaning illustrations or Hey Studio from Barcelona the list goes on.
PS: What inspires you?JA: Great design inspires me the moment when you wish you had thought of that idea, friends in industry inspire me with their stories of success, the will to win a design award and my own personal ambition to succeed in the world of design.
PS: What’s your plan for when you graduate?JA: Go to London, simple as that, I believe that the best design in the world resides in London and I want to be a part of it. I was once told if you think your good enough go straight to London, gain experience, once you have London under your belt you can go anywhere in the world with design. I want to work for the best branding, identity and packaging agencies in London and then see what happens.
PS: What’s your experience been as a student in the city of Plymouth?JA: Great city lots of opportunities you just need to go and get them, meet people, discover new places, ask questions you never know what you might find. I have discovered new clients, freelance work and much more through just being in Plymouth. Just take everything in your stride and treat everyone with respect, enjoy
yourself and you might find a friend coming back to you for your advice and help.
PS: Can you tell us what’s good to do in Plymouth?JA: I’m a designer so I enjoy going to art and design related things. The Bread & Roses art pub is great, lovely friendly atmosphere, great drinks, people and events. Design Society have an exhibition coming up at the pub on the Tuesday 21st April for a week. There is always something do in the various pubs, bars, venues and galleries. Check out Plymouth Arts Centre too thats where we held the first ever Plymouth Film Festival and lastly download the app Artory, its a guide to art, design and music in Plymouth and you can even earn points to win free things like drinks and food at the various venues across Plymouth.
PS: What do you get up to you in your spare time?JA: When I’m not running Design Society, working at university or doing freelance work you will either find me in the pub with friends, £1 a pints and 2-4-1 cocktails are the normal affair or watching endless amounts of TV at home, I’m a proper fanatic, recently House of Cards, Suits and Elementary.
PS: Anything else you’d like to add?Plymouth Film Festival was one of those projects that came to me because I met the right people at the right time in my first year. Two recent film graduates and now friends and clients of mine asked me to brand the inaugural Plymouth Film Festival. The identity needed to capture the rich film history of Plymouth and promote the festival on an international scale, to compete with other high profile film festivals. Great project to be a part of and would never of happened if i didn’t meet people and go and find it.
Want to find out more? Check out jonnyaldrich.co.uk, or find him on Twitter and Instagram @jonnyaldrichFor more information on the Design Society, check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/designsocietyplymouth
J O N N y A L D R I C H
twenty three tefl teaching
TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
What’re you going to do after University?
I used to get scared of that question and I still
don’t know the answer! But, right now, teaching
abroad works. Currently, I’m headed to Madrid
to get more experience as a foreign language
teacher. I was there last year being paid €1600
before tax on 20 hours a week. It’s been an
incredible experience and is either a career
move or a very fun stop-gap.
If you feel that, after leaving university,
you’ll find it tough to get a graduate job. If
you’re worried about employment, this vocation
is in need of professionals. As a native English
Speaker (and other languages are in demand)
you will not struggle to succeed as a foreign
language teacher.
I don’t think Teaching English as a Foreign
Language (TEFL) is the answer to graduate
employment, but it’s a damn good way to get paid,
get experience and, most importantly, remain a
hedonist.
Teaching might not be for you, sometimes it
includes long hours, difficult students, endless
bureaucracy and always puts on trial your ability
to be patient. But, sticking with it can lead you
to a job that’s always available, a way to travel
and make a not-immodest income.
Shop around for a course
The best way to start if you have no teaching
qualifications is to find a course. The best courses
will offer you teaching experience. Others will
be just online. There’s no real rule in the TEFL
world that says you need experience. I only did
an online TEFL qualification and was able to teach
after two weeks training by a private company -
then they employed me. As easy as that.
So, you can get heavy discounts on sites like
groupon for online courses. But I think the most
solid step, followed by many, is to get some form
of on the job training. If you have some spare
cash I’d consider the far more serious CELTA and
DELTA programmes. These are elite. If not, an
internship similar to the one offered by Hand’s
on TEFL. Some companies will offer just to pay
you and train you - so shop around.
Where you decide to teach could be a mix of
personal preference and cold hard economy. If
you have lots of cash after uni, I know some do,
then go to a country with a good exchange rate
and low cost of living. If you have no dollar in
your pocket, consider going somewhere where you
get paid in money worth taking home. It really
does vary, some courses will pay you enough so
that you’re just living abroad, but searching
can yield some well paid opportunities.
If you know a second language it’s worth trotting
off to that particular country and brushing up
on your skills, language industries are still
well paid and worth the investment. Aside from
teaching you can try translating, giving tours,
or working regular jobs. Honing second languages
opens many doors for graduates.
Importantly, you don’t have to know the language
in which you are teaching. This is more true for
when you’re teaching higher levels. Many TEFL
opportunities rely on the applicant not knowing
the language, that’s how I got a job offer in
China, Spain and Thailand. Students learn better
if they can’t use their mother tongue.
As for the short and the sweet, go abroad! Get
some experience and have the time of your life!
You don’t need to know the language, just get
some TEFL qualifications and teaching experience
and you’re well on your way.
/ WOrDS BY CASEY GODDArD /
TEACHING ENGLISH AS A fOrEIGN LANGUAGE ISN’T THE ANSWEr TO GrADUATE EMPLOYMENT BUT IT’IS A DAMN GOOD WAY TO GET PAID
twenty fourstudent retention
There’s a lot that comes with being a student, that often most aren’t
prepared for. Despite the growing list of benefits for students in this
country, from student discounts, tax allowances and the comfortable bubble
of ‘all bills included’, students are faced with a lot of issues that are
often overlooked by the government, the general public and institutions.
With issues such as low housing standards, a continuing lack of support
due to budget cuts and a breakdown of communication with the institutions
and the employers, it can be hard for a student to feel prepared for the
big bad world when their course is finally over.
Student retention is a nationwide
issue, but when a city with a fifth
of it’s population is made up of
students, it’s obvious how important
it is for the local economy to continue
to feed jobs and opportunities to the
thousands of fresh faced graduates.
With Plymouth University boasting one
of the largest in the country, and
Plymouth College of Art poised to
receive university status in the next
year, the city is set to swell with
students over the next few years.
With the help of bodies such as NUS,
students are better equipped now more
than ever to understand and defend
their rights, but often a feeling of
isolation can creep in once the graduation caps have hit the ground.
With Plymouth University scoring an 89% success rate of employment or
further study after attendance, and with the University College Plymouth
St Mark and St John scoring a whopping 93%*, it’s clear to see that the
opportunities are out there, but just not on our doorsteps. Local recruitment
agency Upgrad, who specialise in helping recent graduates get on the career
ladder, have been working hard to make opportunities more accessible.
Utilizing the mobile generation, Upgrad send you text and emails to alert
you of upcoming jobs available to you, as well as assisting a network of
graduates, supporting local businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship
and enterprise. Being graduates themselves, they know the struggles of day
to day life once the university is no longer your second home, and it can
often be a struggle faced alone. If you would like to receive updates, text
UPGRAD to 66777.
Two graduates who have been working hard against all odds are Emily
Dymond and Rosie Drake-Knight, the brains behind local craft market Native
Makers. After the success of their festive market in December, they’ve
decided to expand further to the
Devonport Guildhall for a summer of
arts and crafts on June 6th. Rosie,
Textile Design graduate of Falmouth
University told us “On graduating,
both Emily and I faced the struggle
of finding a suitable selling platform
in Plymouth, so we decided to create
one ourselves. Native Makers is
specifically designed to support
young, local artisans.” Illustration
graduate of Plymouth College of Art,
Emily says, “The popularity of our
first market was unimaginable. We knew
that Plymouth was missing an event
like ours, but we had no idea how
great the attendance and feedback
would be.” If you would like to know
more about Native Makers, find them on Facebook or email nativemakersdevon@
gmail.com
There is a life after education, and that’s so easily clouded by revision,
exams and deadlines. With the help of Upgrad and Native Makers, we can
change the scene of graduate life to better benefit us all. The future is
ours.
*Statistics taken from http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/jul/04/which-graduates-are-finding-work
FINISHED UNIVERSITy? N O W W H A T ?
Emily Dymond (L) & Rosie Drake-Knight (R)
twenty sixalcoholics anonymous
Drink and university went together wonderfully for
me. I would go into college and make my way to the
bar at midday. The premium lager was cheap and I
had a student bank account, credit cards, a cheque
guarantee card, and a large overdraft limit. The
world was my oyster!
Unfortunately I rarely made it out into the world -
I was usually in one bar or another; and when I did
make it out, the evening wasn’t complete until I’d
got drunk.
Although I say that drink went well with university
in general, it didn’t go very well with lectures.
Once I’d got into the bar and had a pint, the idea
of going to a lecture seemed incredibly boring. The
bar was so warm and cosy, and the people so friendly.
And anyway, it was months until exams: rock ‘n roll!
I felt cool because I was such a heavy drinker, and
all my musical and literary heroes were too.
I read Jim Morrison’s biog over and over; and I
loved hearing about Hendrix, Coleridge, Hemingway
and Bukowski. Alcohol was the fuel of my ‘genius’.
My academic life was nil, but my social life was
the tops. I was popular, and I listened to the best
music. I had no time for the people who couldn’t keep
up with my drinking because of academic commitments.
They were squares and boring. You only live once -
burn out don’t fade away!
Sometimes, on hangover mornings, I would worry that
maybe I should be doing more work and spending less
money. I was in the student bar every night spending
£20, drinking enough to give me a throbbing head,
and saying and doing things that I usually regretted
the next day.
My so-called ‘genius’ usually involved a few drunken
mumblings to other students in pubs, trying to
persuade them, by direct or indirect means, that
I was special. I wrote songs, and talked crap. The
more I embarrassed myself, the more I lost my self-
esteem, and the more I depended on drink to make me
feel at home in social scenes.
One hangover morning I decided not to go to the
student bar at lunchtime. But on the way into
college, my head began trying to persuade me to go to
the bar. I was telling myself that it would be okay,
and that maybe I’d just have one pint and then go to
my lecture, or that I had plenty of time to get my
work done, or that ‘what the hell - have some fun!’
But another part of my head was telling me not to do
it: I knew that once I had one pint, I would not be
able to stop, and that I would then drink through
the day, and wake again with a massive hangover and
another lost 24 hours. I found myself walking to the
bar doors at midday. I stood at the doors and had a
massive internal battle. I thought I must be going
mad to be at such odds with myself - I was very
confused. I wrenched myself away from the bar, and
went to the student medical centre to ask for help.
I began to see a psychiatrist but, amazingly, I
wouldn’t talk to him about the root of my problems,
my drinking!
I persuaded myself that I didn’t have a serious
drinking problem (an amazing dishonesty - inspired
by my desire to let nothing interrupt my habit.) The
volume I drank increased, and the results became
worse: violence, self-mutilation, police cells,
morning drinks, isolation from friends and family,
intense paranoia.
When eventually I tried to stop drinking, I failed,
and only managed three months sober. I tried again
and again, but would always end up defeating myself:
picking up a drink through some trivial excuse that
had no bearing on the pain the drink eventually
caused. Each time, just before relapsing, my head
would fail to recall the immense suffering that
drink had caused me in the past. Even a baby can
learn to avoid a flame, but here I was, in my late
teens, and totally unable to avoid the very thing
that was ruining my life.
I had to retake my first year and my second year,
and I only made it through one term of my third year
before finally admitting that there was no point in
continuing my degree until I could find a way to stop
drinking. My despairing mother put me up again, and
I began going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, aged
22.
At the meetings, recovered alcoholics were describing
how they stopped drinking. After a few visits I
realised that I was an alcoholic, and that alcoholism
was a disease! I wasn’t a bad person, just a sick
one. But there was good news and bad news.
The good news was that there was an AA program of
recovery which could give me a daily reprieve from
my drinking problem. The bad news was that unless I
did something about my alcoholism, it would kill me,
painfully. I would continue to poison myself, unable
to stop - even to the point of death. Heart disease,
Cancer, Alcoholism - yes it does belong in the list.
AA members will show newcomers how they did the AA
recovery program. They do this because it helps them
to stay sober! Not because they’re do-gooders...
Although highly skeptical at first, I was taken
through the program (divided into 12 “Steps”), and
while doing the 12 Steps, I lost the compulsion to
drink.
After doing the AA recovery program my life turned
around astonishingly rapidly, and I returned to
Plymouth University, getting the highest finals marks
in the department, and winning a prize. I have now
just had my third Christmas and New Year in sobriety.
Instead of dreaming of writing, I am now a published
poet, and a publisher of others.
I am doing a higher degree, and have just started
to get my research published. I can now use my
intellectual, literary, musical and social talents
to their fullest. My earning capacity has gone up,
while my alcohol spending has gone down to zero, so
I’m just discovering the joys of disposable income.
And I have finally returned to my family and friends.
Stuart K talks about his experience of student drinking culture and how destructive it really can be
B I N G E GENERATION
MAY 20 // LEMON GROVE
MAY 27 // LEMON GROVE
MAY 19 // CAVERN
MAY 20 // UNDERGROUND
MAY 06 // THE HUB
AUG 05 // MARBLE FACTORY
MAY 04 // EXILE
SEP 23 // THE HUB
MYTH CITY
RICHARDS / CRANE
twenty eightstudent lettings / advertorial
Plymouth Student Letting have been providing quality student accommodation
in Plymouth for nearly a decade.
Plymouth Student Letting provide a professional and personal approach offering
affordable accommodation to hundreds of satisfied students every year.
The company represents landlords who know
and understand the needs of providing
quality student accommodation, managing
around 80 properties ranging in size from
studio apartments to 11 bedroom homes.
All the properties are within walking
distance of Plymouth University and
Plymouth College of Art, with all-inclusive
rents from £80 per week.
Sergio Shemetras, who heads up Plymouth
Student Letting is an experienced and
respected property expert.
He said:“At Plymouth Student Letting we
like to maintain good quality student lets setting the standard in today's
student accommodation. We are a student focused letting agent with a clear
understanding of students and landlords demands and needs.
“We are here to help and advise all tenants and landlords on making the
right decision. We recognise that dealing with maintenance issues is a top
priority which is why we have our own online support system available 24/7
where tenants can report any maintenance issues and be kept informed of its
progress. “We also offer students regular cleaning of the communal areas, and
an all-inclusive package which includes the cost of TV Licence and high speed
internet package, meaning students do not have
to worry about any bills.
Plymouth Student Letting’s high profile office
is located just minutes away from Plymouth
University on North Hill, providing easy
access to all students. The company also has
dedicated property managers to deal with the
day to day management of properties for both
tenants and landlords.
The company is a member of the UK Association
of Letting Agents and is also registered with
the Deposit Protection Service registering
tenants deposits with the only Government-
authorised custodial scheme keeping tenants
deposits safe.
Properties are currently available for September 2015. To find out more visit
www.plymouthstudentletting.com or download the Plymouth Letting app from the
Apple Store.
P l y m o U t h sTuDeNT LettINGS
Student Rooms 4 U have accommodated thousands of students in Plymouth since
1998.
What sets Student Rooms 4 U apart from many other
letting agencies, is that they own and manage the
properties themselves - which means students have the
benefit of dealing direct with their landlords, rather
than having the inconvenience of going through an
intermediary.
With no agents involved, Student Rooms 4 U have found
that their students appreciate being able to speak to
them directly about any issues they have. In turn,
Student Rooms 4 U take considerably more care of
maintaining their properties to the highest standards.
Student Rooms 4 U offer attractive terms for students
with no admin fees, guarantors or deposits required
and all-inclusive rents which include gas, electricity, water bills,
Broadband and many other benefits.
All of Student Rooms 4 U accommodation is rated Grade A by the University
of Plymouth - and has been ever since the university introduced the rating
system some years ago.
Student Rooms 4 U currently accommodate just under 200
students in properties ranging from one bed apartments
to 15-bedroom houses - and all are located within 300
metres of Plymouth University and Plymouth College of
Art.
Student Rooms 4 U is part of a family-owned group of
companies, including Sunnybanks Homes, which is a
well-respected property development and construction
company. The group also includes a residential
lettings business and a Cornish holiday village.
Students benefit from a responsive maintenance service
and 24 hour emergency line, so Student Rooms 4 U are
always on hand if needed. The group has a team of
directly employed staff and contractors which enables them to deal with any
maintenance issues quickly and efficiently.
For more information visit www.studentrooms4u.co.uk or call 01752 849232
S T u D E N T R o o M S 4 U
thirtypub & club reviews
EXILENOrTH HILL
THE JUNCT IONMUTLEY PLAIN
Originally known as the Tiki Bar and
Grill, Exile has taken on a new name
and a new ethos. Still with the vintage
hawaiian tiki bar feel, this small cafe
and venue based on the Hill has loads to
offer.
From early in the morning, till late in the
evening, it operates as a cafe, serving
quality homemade food, with a vast array
of options for
vegetarians and
vegans alike. With
a chilled out vibe
and friendly staff,
this is the perfect
place to pick up
a quick lunch in
between lectures.
I highly recommend
the bagels!
At night however, the bar takes a
different turn, playing host to a variety
of art, culture and music events. From
stand up comedy and acoustic shows, to
art events and vintage music nights,
there’s not just the bar upstairs but
also the intimate venue downstairs. Bands
from all over the world have graced the
small non-stage of all kinds of genres,
as well as burlesque dancers, magicians
and cult movie night aficionados. With
a delectable cocktail and drinks menu,
Exile offers everyone’s favourite poison
at a reasonable price.
Be sure to keep an eye on their Facebook
for upcoming events.
The White Rabbit has moved home. Situated
on the junction of Mutley Plain, the
aptly named The Junction is now the place
to go for live music and good times.
Having dealt with the realities of city
redevelopment, Dan James was without a
night club and the city was without a major
player in the music scene. Fast forward
and the Junction has been reinvented.
Loads of great
drink deals,
providing a night
out on a budget,
with live music
and classic pub
fun such as free
pool and darts. A
range of beer, craft ales and ciders pumps
decorate the bar and a wide variety of
speciality spirits don the back shelves.
With a weekly pub quiz, Saturday night’s
Funk and Disorderly club night and stand
up comedy alongside a huge range of live
music genres being booked on the regular,
it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on
their Facebook for upcoming events.
Sister pub to the Underground, there’s
often show after parties over the road,
so don’t fret - the party doesn’t end
when the doors close at the Junction. Pop
in for a pint or check out a local band,
the Junction is fast becoming one of my
favourite drinking holes.
EXILEPLYMOUTH MUTLEYJUNCT ION
plymouthbus.co.uk/geton*against adult equivalent
NO AGELIMIT
PLYMOUTHS
LARGEST BUS
NETWORK
AVAILABLE TO
ALL IN FULL TIME
EDUCATION, TRAINING
&APPRENTICESHIPS
Available on at our Travel Centreon Royal Parade, City Centre
thirty twofashion
Fringing in the swing era
Rave culture
Jimi Hendrix
As a practice of expression, a way to individualism, and of course a
form of art; it’s obvious that music and fashion are closely linked.
Just as listening, dancing and singing along to our favourite song,
fashion does the same thing. Wearing an outfit you love makes you
feel confident and happy. Music and fashion are the two biggest
things in my life to put that cheesy grin and bubbly mood back into
my day.
Looking back at the last five and a half decades and how trends and
styles have changed is evidence enough to un-pin the question of
music influencing fashion and culture. In the swinging 60’s, there
was a strong fashion blend of Beatle mania and the summer of love,
with hippy culture being brought through to the 70s, until the likes
of David Bowie and Kiss made Glam Rock and male make up a prominent
theme. The 80s are where things get wild. All fashion do’s and
dont’s were thrown out of the window. Anything goes and boundaries
were pushed to the limit and can easily be known as the most
eccentric era to have influenced fashion with New Romantics springing
to mind. The 90s saw the injection of Vintage Grunge with a big
help from Kurt Cobain and Gwen Stefani in her No Doubt days. With
the other side of the 90s being pushed along with a Hip Hop style,
baggy clothes and chains taken from artists such as J5, Mos Def and
Charizma. Rave culture has been influencing kids through the 90s and
today, not only through style but practicality. With trainers for
comfort and UV to ensure you’re not lost in the rave, well at least I
think that was the original idea before the whole club cottoned on.
Music and clothes are an expression of our mood, as I type this
I’m sitting in an oversized patterned shirt and baggie shorts I
CLASH OF CULTURESEnya of the Lovedot Pop Up Shop talks about the long term relationship of music and fashion and their influence on eachother
thirty three fashion
Adam Ant
Gwen Stefani
Kurt Cobain
Big L
purchased while travelling. The music that is aiding my creative
flow is the soulful Jazz and Blues beats of the American greats such
as Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. Relaxed mood, relaxed music, relaxed
clothes, it just fits.
Now we’re into 2015 where music and culture are so diverse from
city to city that people can really express themselves and their
feelings. Today we are blessed to be able to take style and influence
from all eras and trends. It’s the beauty of our generation, we
aren’t swayed by music as much as in the past, we pay homage to
times passed and keep the music, style and fashion alive. We are
the privileged who can pick their chosen decade, what feels right
to them. We do what we want, listen to what we want and wear what
we want. We have the freedom of expression, use it.
Enya is the owner and creator of Lovedot, a vintage, retro and customised pop up shop that is held monthly at the Bread and Roses pub. Inspired by her mum’s wardrobe, fashion is Enya’s one true love. She loves to collect, create and customise and encourages all to do the same. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grab some bespoke pieces and check out the next event. Find Lovedot on Facebook or visit lovedotclothing.wix.com/lovedot
CLASH OF CULTURES
thirty fourrecipe
chips 1.85 2.55chips with dip 2.35 3.05cod 3.70 4.30haddock 3.70 4.30hake 3.70 4.20plaice 3.70 4.30china sole 3.00 3.60lemon sole 4.00 4.60scampi 3.50
sausage 0.80jumbo sausage 1.60fish cake 1.10
burger in bun 1.50cheese burger 1.701/4 burger 2.501/4 cheese 2.706oz burger 3.006oz cheese burger 3.20chicken burger 2.40veggie burger 1.90
1/2 chicken 3.00chicken nuggets 2.20veggie fritter 1.50pea fritter 1.30onion rings 1.50
baked beans 0.80curry sauce 0.90mushy peas 0.90faggot 1.20gravy 0.60dips for chips 0.50roll & butter 0.45pineapple fritter 1.50banana fritter 1.50can of drink From 0.75
All prices correct at time of going to press
VEGGIE GOODNESSGNOCCHI AND TOmATO BAKE
1 tbsp olive oil1 onion, chopped1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped1 garlic clove, crushed400g can chopped tomatoes500g pack gnocchi
handful basil leaves, tornhalf a 125g ball mozzarella, torn into chunksPrep: 5 minsCook: 25 minsServes 4
1. Heat grill to high. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then soften the onion and pepper for 5 mins. Stir in the garlic, fry for 1 min, tip in the tomatoes and gnocchi, then bring to a simmer. Bubble for 10-15 mins, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi is soft and the
sauce has thickened. Season, stir through the basil, then transfer to a large ovenproof dish.
2. Scatter with the mozzarella, then grill for 5-6 mins until the cheese is bubbling and golden.Serve.
mETHOD
RECIpE By ANDREW GIRDLER
thirty five imperfect orchestra
I settle into my seat, two rows from the
front, in the darkened theatre of the
Plymouth Arts Centre in order to watch
a live performance by the ever talented
Imperfect Orchestra. I’m here to watch a
showing of Tamar, a 30 minute film directed
by Imperfect Cinema organiser Allister
Gall, accompanied by a live presentation
of the score by the orchestra.
Commissioned by the River Tamar Project,
the film combines original footage shot
by Russell Cleave, Richard Gorman and
Allister Gall, a host of school children,
and unique and exclusive footage from
Claude Endicott, a butcher who filmed life
in and around Plymouth from the 1920s to
the mid 1960s.
I squirm in my seat, I’m nervous. There’s
something oddly tense and suspenseful
about a live soundtrack performance,
similar to the art of theatre, where at
any moment, you and everyone in the room
is aware that a mistake could be made, a
moment could cause the entire thing to
fall apart. Not that I think it would,
the musicians in front of me seem calmly
confident, united in the nerves of the
moment. I scan around and see hammers
lain on the floor, blocks of wood, pieces
of metal and a vast array of instruments,
featuring a cello, a harmonium, two
percussionists and a plethora of guitars.
The lights dim and the archival footage
begins to flash in front of me, and I’m
completely immersed. Comparisons of then
and now provide an incredible perspective
on the city where I’ve grown up, with
captivating footage of the building of
the Tamar Bridge, and rare footage that
goes as far back as the 1920’s, compared
to modern day Plymouth. Footage taken
from shaky school children’s hands mixes
in with the well thought out and executed
footage of the Imperfect Cinema team and
Mr Endicott, showcasing the river in a way
that I’ve never seen before, from mining
and industrialisation, to the dockyards
and warships to the rural beauty of the
Sound that we are so blessed with.
Influenced by DIY punk rock ethics,
traditional folk and modern instrumental
post-rock, the score itself follows the
themes presented in the footage, and
I’m taken on a journey through eras of
Plymouth past. The building of the Tamar
Bridge accompanied by the shattering
tones of metal on metal and knees up folk
dancing guiding footage of local patrons
all add to the sense absorbing treat of
the performance.
I don’t want it to end. I’m completely
captivated and half forget that the music
I’m listening to is being produced in
front of me, as the two art forms weave
seamlessly. I find myself a little overcome
with emotion as the credits begin to roll
and I see the musicians beam to each other
that they got through it together. A sense
of homegrown pride swells and I clap so
hard my hands sting. Truly a feat of local
talent and glorified so aptly with the
mixture of archival footage, live music
and the great spirit of collaboration.
Search for Imperfect Cinema on Facebook
to keep up to date with their latest
projects.
I m p E r F e C t
O r C H E S T R A/ Words by Naomi Girdler /
thirty sixgame review / book review
GAMErEvIEW
by Matthew Girdler, computing graduate from Plymouth University
PS4/XBOX ONEBOrDErLANDS: THE HANDSOME COLLECT ION/ DEVELoPED BY GEARBoX SoFTWARE/ARMATURE STUDIoS/IRoN GALAXY STUDIoS
/ PUBLISHED BY 2K GAMES
So far, the PS4 and Xbox One have been pretty disappointing in terms of new franchises. Instead, we’ve seen countless ports of PS3 and Xbox 360 games making their way to the new consoles. Now, we’re getting another remaster in the form of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection which brings the loot-driven FPS action of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! to new-gen consoles. While the trend is getting pretty annoying, this is a great package for those who missed either of the games last generation.
In case you’ve never tried it, the Borderlands series is a one-to-four player FPS/RPG hybrid with a focus on loot. Set on the cartoony, Mad Max-inspired planet Pandora, the series sees you playing as mercenaries in search of the ‘Vault’ - a legendary cache said to contain alien technology. Each character comes with their own unique ability and weapon specialisations. The line-up of characters changes in each game, but they generally follow the RPG class archetypes (Warrior, Hunter, Rogue etc.)
One of the series’ main selling points is its obscene number of guns. With millions of unique, randomly-generated weapons varying in elemental effect, damage, rate of fire, scope, reload speed and more, you’re pretty much guaranteed to never get the same gun twice. Experimenting with new guns is seriously addictive, whether you’re finding out which weapons work best against a particular enemy, or just discovering a new personal favourite.
From pulling off skull-exploding headshots, to watching a chest intricately unfold and absorbing its goodies; everything in Borderlands pushes those endorphin-releasing buttons in my brain. The ability to sprint endlessly - and reload while doing so - will make you wonder why all other FPS games don’t follow suit. Starting with an unlevelled character, the core gunplay isn’t as immediately snappy as, say, Call of Duty, but this only improves as you progress. This is yet another addictive aspect of the game, and it’s easy to get into the ‘one more quest’ mindset.
Set in-between Borderlands and Borderlands 2, The Pre-Sequel (get it?) is pretty much more of what we’ve already seen, except with new characters and a different setting. This new setting is Elpis, Pandora’s moon, and it brings along with it some gameplay changes. Elpis lacks any atmosphere, meaning you’ll have to maintain oxygen levels by running over air pockets. You’re also able to jump extremely high thanks to the reduced gravity, and swiftly follow it up with a damaging stomp. Neither of these features revolutionise the formula, but they never get in the way, either.
Although it’s designed with co-op in mind, I’ve always enjoyed playing Borderlands alone.
It’s just my preferred way to play games. For the sake of the review, I left my game open to matchmaking throughout my playtime in the hope that I could try out playing co-operatively. Unfortunately, no one ever joined. I don’t know if this is a matchmaking issue, or a general lack of players. Borderlands is better with buddies, though, so you’re better off playing splitscreen or getting a party going with people on your friends list.
Along with the new hardware comes a graphical upgrade, although this is no revolutionary change à la GTA V; the games simply run at a higher resolution, and, generally, a smoother frame rate. I say generally because things still get choppy during when there’s a lot of action on-screen, particularly in The Pre-Sequel!. Given the extra processing power, I would’ve liked both games to run at 60fps, as is the norm for HD remasters. The games still look great, though; the cell-shaded visuals are bright and colourful, and environments are varied and detailed.
As someone who played the hell out of Borderlands, got through most of Borderlands 2 and played none of The Pre-Sequel!, I’m probably the ideal audience for the remaster, but omitting the first game seems a strange decision - I’m sure there are plenty of PS4 and Xbox One owners who would like to start the series from scratch. The downloadable content helps to fill this void though - adding hours of great quests and four additional Vault Hunters. Anyone who played these games last generation can import their characters to the new consoles, although this doesn’t work cross-platform, meaning I was unable to bring my 360 characters to the PS4.
I have a few issues with Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. Besides the inconsistent frame rate and the exclusion of the first game, I found it mildly annoying that I was unable to switch between the two games without restarting the application. Those niggles aside - with tons of exciting content and great gameplay, The Handsome Collection is easy to recommend for those looking for some addictive, loot-collecting action on their new-gen console.
I started this book on March 25th 2015 – the day that Airbus A320 careered into the French Alps leaving no surviving passengers. Coincidence? Definitely not. But there was a strange and unsettling feeling that settled over my knowing that I was about to embark on a journey with similar situations.
Recently published, After The Crash is a contemporary thriller novel by Michel Bussi; a novel set in 1998 exactly 18 years after a plane travelling from Istanbul to Paris crashed into Mont Terri leaving only one survivor – a three month old baby dubbed Lylie. In the aftermath of the event, Lylie is pushed and pulled by the uncomfortable uncertainty of who she really is as two families come forward to claim her as their own; one is wealthy and upper-class, the other is poor and humble. Is she Lyse-Rose de Carville or Emilie Vitral? Throughout the novel, we follow in Marc Vitral’s footsteps as he scrutinises the investigative journal of one Credule Grand-Duc, a private investigator hired by the de Carville family to uncover the truth of Lylie’s parentage and return her to her rightful place.
Bussi opens the novel through the use of a prologue where the reader is immersed in the terrible tragedy of the crashing plane. From the point of view of a flight attendant the reader finds themselves amidst a plane struggling for control as a storm commands the sky above the French Alps. Towards the final moments before the inevitable destruction of the plane, the reader is made aware that there are in fact two babies aboard the plane. Bussi doesn’t hold back, throwing the reader straight into the mystery by suggesting that the flight attendant “thought she could hear another baby.” I love this technique, and from experience it is a common one used amongst thriller novelists such as Lee Childs. By placing an intense, high
energy scene before the main narrative the reader then starts questions, drawing them in and requiring them to read further in order to answer those questions – something I myself fell for!
I loved Bussi’s approach to the structure of his chapters, beginning each chapter with a time and date stamp that sets the reader in place of the character. Given the role of Grand-Duc as a private investigator, it gave me the feeling of someone being questioned on their whereabouts in order to understand a series of events or of someone writing a diary. I felt this was quite effective given some of the events that do take place within the narrative.
I have to say I couldn’t really fault Bussi on his approach and writing style with this novel. I felt they all melded together to fit perfectly with the themes and genre creating a seamless piece of work that is gripping, intense, and surprising. I’d recommend this book for anyone looking for a good mystery to dig their teeth into.
BOOKrEvIEW
by Chloe Smith,creative writing student from Marjons
PAPErBACK/EBOOKAfTEr THE CrASHMICHEL BUSSI/PUBLISHED BY WEIDENFELD & NICoLSoN
Michel Bussi
thirty seven music reviews / dust piggies
MUSIC rEvIEWSby Seth Haney
The rush to find big summer hits is just as pertinent as the similar fuss around December’s number one. While Pharrell Williams has dominated the previous two years with his focus group pleasing pop, it’s time to move on and get into something a little bit deeper. Something with a little more soul. Something that doesn’t sound so fucking plastic and disposable.
Chaz Bundick has produced chilled out, beat driven music since 2009’s ‘Left Alone At Night’ EP and although his last record ‘Anything In Return’ felt like a career high, he’s taken a surprising side-step in his style. Previous records have been dance heavy and featured plenty of dancefloor fillers. On ‘What For?’ Chaz filters the nuances of dance music through a live band sound and presents a record that is dizzying in its glory.
CUrrENTWHAT fOr?
/ TORO Y MOICARPARK RECORDS
It’s rare for any band to find themselves in a position to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. Bands get fed up with each other, get bored, get married, overdose on their egos and mountains of grade A pharmaceuticals. Grateful Dead have barely squeaked by, their de facto leader, Jerry Garcia, passed away in rehab in 1995. 2015 finds the remaining members saying a fond farewell to the band and bowing out gracefully with a clutch of US shows in the summer.
1970, however, was a whole different trip for a band that had burnt themselves hard in the white light of the LSD party scene that saw
CLASSICWALKINGMAN’S DEAD/ GRATEFUL DEADWARNER BROS.
It feels timeless in its hazy, sunshine inflected sound and there’s plenty of interesting instrument choices to keep each track feeling fresh. The warm clavinet of ‘Lily’ gives way to a laid back groove while the phased guitar of ‘Buffalo’ combines with soaring synths to soundtrack your best days of BST. You light the BBQ, I’ll bring this beaut over on vinyl. I want to party with y’all to this record.
I asked Tim from Woahnows if I could get a copy of this record and he said, “If you hate it, please don’t give it a bad review!” That made me feel like a monster. I’m passionate about music and I love all genres. Some music jumps out and grabs me by the throat and
them at the centre of everything psychedelic in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury scene. They decamped to the country and broke out the acoustics and pedal steels to produce a beautiful country record full of songs about the devil, whiskey and dangerous women.
‘Workingmen’s Dead’ highlights a band in transition, a band ready to surprise and a band willing to take risks. There’s plenty of golden moments on this record that make perfect sense after a few cold beers and a little light smoke. It’s an album that invokes the spirit of the old west, fractured through a band mind that REALLY went out there. Happy fiftieth, dudes.
leaves me gasping music, other music gives me a limp, cold sweat handshake and I want nothing more to do with it. I’m an opinionated motherfucker and I have your best interests at heart. Listen or don’t listen to me, that’s your choice.
You’ll really do yourself a disservice by ignoring this record though. That’s a stone cold promise. I’ve already raved in this pages about this awesome Plymouth band and it’s been amazing to watch them become tighter, stronger, and leaner. Amazingly, after the departure of bassist Dan James, Tim and Wherly laid this record down together and there’s not a dull second in its fast paced thirty minutes.
‘Watching Accidents’ is a highlight of the record, an insanely catchy riff is driven by full-bloodied drumming to produce a song that transcends the pop punk genre and propel the band to a great guitar band that not only shines on record but will kick your ass live, too. Buy two copies of this record, you’ll wear the first one out by overplaying it.
LOCALUNDErSTANDING AND
EvErYTHING ELSE
/ WOAHNOWSBIG SCARY MONSTERS
www.dustpiggie s .com
Ellie likes tea, cats and tie-dye. She doesn’t like snakes and when her fr iends are sad. We thought that was the best cr iteria for an agony aunt we’d ever heard.
thirty eightagony aunt ellie
Dear Ellie I’ve been suffering from social anxiety for years now,
but recently, it’s been getting worse. I want to hang out with
friends, but I find that even when I do, my paranoia and anxiety is
making my life miserable. I’m constantly plagued with thoughts
about whether anyone actually even likes me, as well as the
constant monologue of self-doubt about things I say. I just feel
like a massive loser. What can I do?
I’m really glad you’ve come to me with this problem. Though I can’t
give you a quick, magical fix (as much as I’d like to!) I can give you a
few strategies to try to get you through this tough patch and get
you back to being the social animal that Mother Nature intended
you to be. Anxiety is a totally natural emotional state that everyone
experiences at some time in their life. Think exam preparation, or
looming deadlines or breaking up with that person who is JUST
TOO KEEN. Anyway, I digress. When anxiety becomes persistent
and disabling it becomes a clinical disorder; the treatment options
for which are generally proven to be effective. So first step, and I
want you to do this TODAY, is to make an appointment with your
GP. Daunting, I know, but from what I have seen, GPs are highly
adept at managing and treating anxiety disorders, and contrary
to popular belief they don’t want to turn you into a drugged-up
zombie; they are there to help you…they WANT to help you. The
likelihood is that your GP will refer you into the local mental health
team for assessment and treatment, or alternatively you can self-
refer into one of the local teams (details below) or access therapy
via your college or university. So many options! Unfortunately there
is generally a depressingly long waiting list for these services, so
here are a few things you can do to try to keep afloat before the
experts get their hands on you: STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS! This
doesn’t just mean trippers and uppers and downers and gurners
and all the other ‘ers’. Caffeine has been shown to increase state
anxiety in people who DON’T have an anxiety disorder and alcohol
is a depressant, so for someone in your position, it’s probably best
to stay away from these things too. Sorry!
EXERCISE! No gym membership required. A 20 minute walk every
day will do two things: firstly it’ll get your happy little endorphins
flowing, forcing you to think more positively even if you don’t want
to. Secondly, it’ll challenge you. Anxiety needs to be challenged, and
it’s hard and it’s shit, but unless you want to spend your whole life
in a perpetual state of FOMO you need to work at it. Tell yourself
every single day that YOU ARE NOT A LOSER. Because you are not.
It just isn’t true. I cannot express strongly enough how important it
is that you work at loving yourself for who you are. Start today. Start
immediately. No amount of asking other people for reassurance will
help you with this one. Again, it requires work, but you’ll get there.
Three little things right there that could make a big difference to
how you feel. Attack it from all angles and don’t let it win because
you are better than that. You deserve better than that. Stay strong
and don’t give up! I hope this helps you to get back on track.
Plymouth Options Depression & Anxiety Service –
www.plymouthcommunityhealthcare.co.uk – Tel: 01752 435419
The Zone - www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk – Tel: 01752 206626
Plymouth & District Mind Association - http://www.plymouthmind.
org.uk – Tel: 01752 513694
Dear Ellie I’m drowning in debt. I’ve been a student for two years
now, and without a job I’ve had to rely on my credit cards to get
through the tight times. This also includes a pretty hefty student
overdraft and a few payday loans that I can’t afford to pay off. I
stay up far too late at night worrying about it, but I have no idea
where to start or who to turn to. What do I do?
You’re not the first and you won’t be the last, that’s for certain, but
with student loans and tuition fees already at an all-time high, any
additional debt accrued by students does give me a bit of a sick
feeling in my stomach. Not because you took out the credit, you
understand, more so that students are expected to choose between
having no money for 90% or their time at university, and working
themselves to death trying to maintain some semblance of a stable
financial existence. It’s a lose-lose situation, and is something that
NUS are forever challenging.
First up, can you ask your family for help? It’s sometimes worth
sucking up your pride and just being honest. There is no shame in
admitting that things have got out of hand, and believe me, with
the interest you’ll accumulate on the payday loans, you’ll get a much
nicer reaction now than you will in 12 months when they send round
the big boys to break your legs and sell your mum. If you can get
those settled, the other more legitimate debts should be easier to
manage.
Double check with your bank that your overdraft is interest free.
This is standard across student accounts and saves you guys a
lot of money, particularly when they stretch into the thousands.
Assuming it is interest free, it might be sensible to ask your bank
manager whether you can increase your overdraft in order to pay
off a credit card or two; you’ll consolidate your debt and you won’t
pay any interest on it until the end of your course. The alternative
would be to transfer your credit card debt onto a 0% interest credit
card. There are deals out there if you look hard enough. If you can’t
even manage the minimum payments and using your overdraft to
clear some debt isn’t possible then there are a couple of free money
advice companies out there (details below) who can talk through
your debts and often negotiate minimal payments with creditors;
they may even be able to get some of your debt written off, but
don’t count on it. Finally, speak to the student support team at
your university. There are grants available to students who are
struggling, just be prepared to hand over a mountain of paperwork
and fill in a big old form.
In regards to your current spending, it sounds like you might need to
tighten the purse strings. Easier said than done, but where there’s a
will there’s a way. Swap nights out for nights in, use online auctions
instead of high street shops and eat a shit load of pasta. Pasta is
CHEAP.
You won’t be in this position forever, and frankly, it’s part of fight!…
the workload is only half of it; the rest is survival.
Check out the links below for more support, and good luck!
Money Advice Plymouth - http://www.moneyadviceplymouth.org.
uk/ - Tel: 01752 208126
Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau - http://www.plymouthcab.org.
uk – Tel: 03444 111 444
Dear Ellie My mum and dad split up about a year ago, but are
still married. We still all live together, but they sleep in separate
rooms now. They don’t really argue anymore, they barely speak
to each other and I feel totally stuck in the middle. I’m an only
child so I don’t have anyone I can really confide in about this,
since no-one else is dealing with it. How can I get my parents to
understand how horrible this situation is to deal with?
My instinct is to give you some slightly fluffy ‘time heals everything’
advice here…but actually that’s probably going to be as effective
as telling you to wax seal a bottle of your own piss, throw it into
the sea and wait for your parents to find it and decipher the hidden
meaning of your mental breakdown. So here goes…
Your parents already know how horrible you are finding the
situation. They’re still human, although probably emotionally
skeletal at this point, and they know that what they are doing is
going to be hurting you. Unfortunately, there is little that they
can do to make things easier for you. Playing happy families will
only send out mixed signals, and despite being an adult yourself,
this could still cause you a great deal of confusion and distress. For
whatever reason, your parents have decided to remain cohabiting
and if they are able to do so without ripping chunks out of each
other then I would consider this to be fairly positive. Though the
subtlety of the silent tension weighs heavy on your shoulders, it is
the lesser of two evils.
In terms of how you manage the situation, I would say that it is better
you concentrate on your own coping strategies rather than expect
any changes from your parents. You are an adult yourself, and as
such you have the power to make choices and positive changes in
your own life that will make your feelings more manageable. Having
a ‘panic button’ is a great way to help to alleviate distress in this kind
of situation. Not a literal button with sirens and flashy lights and
bells, but an escape plan for when things get too much. This can be
as simple as a planned route for a power walk, or an agreement with
a friend that you can go and visit any time you need some space.
When young children are struggling to manage their feelings, they
often create a den or a safe place; a concept that is no different to
the panic button and just as effective.
Insofar as your relationship with your parents is concerned, you
should work on accepting the idea that what was once a unit is
now two individuals and treat them accordingly. Perhaps making
arrangements to spend some quality time with them separately
would be a good first step. You’ll get some one-on-one with them
and you’ll probably find that you learn a lot about them; they’ll be
glad to know you still care, and as much as you might feel angry
about their separation, it will help you to re-establish a strong bond
with both of them individually.
If you feel that there are things you really need to say in order to
move on with your own life, you could always write a letter to your
parents, though it is important to consider how they might react
to this and the impact it could have on your home environment.
Sometimes writing a letter can be cathartic in its own right, and
sending it may not be necessary. If all else fails, the counsellors at
Relate may be able to offer you some guidance, perhaps in the form
of family therapy or mediation.
It’s a difficult situation for everyone involved, and I sincerely hope
that things become easier for you. Good luck.
Relate Plymouth - www.relateplymouth.co.uk – Tel: 01752 213131
I f you would like Ellie to help you with some of your problems, email us at [email protected]
AGONy AUNT ELLIE
Related Documents
