Celebrating Queerness, Live Music, and Living in LA : An Interview with Pale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie 34

then they let me back in.” Despite any challenges experienced, she clearly spoke with a fondness when recounting the band’s early days. “Having that independence and meeting new people for the first time and living by myself was just a really eye opening learning experience.” Having both grown up and studied in Manchester, the band acknowledges the city’s many successful musicians, adding: “it gives you almost like a legacy to compare yourself to and live up to.” Baron-Gracie names artists including Joy Division and The Smiths as examples of Manchester’s musical prestige. As my time wrapped up with the Pale Waves frontwoman, I wondered if she had any insight for our readers who might want to follow in her footsteps. She had only one thing to say, a piece of advice she believes her band has always understood: “expect to work your asses off.”

By Matthew Fogarty

Creatives of Beeston

Student life in Nottingham typically revolves around the university’s campuses, the city centre, and the biggest student accommodation hub in the city, Lenton. Yet, Nottingham is formed of many other neighbourhoods and towns that hold numerous attractions. Beeston, directly next to University Park Campus, is full of art and creativity. Amelia Brookes provides insight into the best spots to quench your artistic side and highlights the creatives living in the town.

Beeston is an area of Nottingham where many students live in their second and third years. Not only is it an area of plentiful student housing, but it is also an area of community, artistic talent and many different stories just waiting to be handed to the next person wanting to listen.

Yesterday, I went to the People of Beeston Art Exhibition, created by artist Matthew Lyons, displaying the likenesses and different lives of the residents of Beeston. I found this exhibit both poignant and engaging. You can see many avant-garde features of art in places like the Tate Modern and Nottingham Contemporary - but how often do we find art that celebrates people for people, showcased by smaller artists?

It was a cloudy autumnal day, steeped in leaves. When I arrived to look at the exhibition only fifteen minutes before closing time. The atmosphere was peaceful and calm. Locals of Beeston were there, marvelling at the paintings and whispering between themselves “I know her.” Followed by a chuckle. “Isn’t it funny seeing people that we know?”

The subjects of these paintings were depicted at their workplaces or homes, posing for the artist who embodied each of his subject’s distinct personalities in his work. Often, in art, people lose sight of the person they are portraying in favour of their artistic vision, looking for a muse instead of a complete person. However, in this collection, information about the individuals depicted stood at the side of the pictures, with their names, occupation and personal history. There were also some artist’s notes about the process of painting them, how the faces were formed on the canvas and the subjects’ views about their depictions.

To me, this was almost a surprise, but I adored this personal addition. It further cemented what I saw as I walked through Beeston: that this was a place built equally on community spirit and individual contributions. I could see Beeston’s passion for art through its shop Artworks and the sheer amount of paint, pastels and other art supplies they had in stock - there was enough to supply a city, let alone a small town. I also noticed art workshops advertised in the windows and even sustainable products sold by local and national businesses!

There’s often a problem in bigger towns that students and locals don’t necessarily get along or that they are displaced from each other and cannot see eye-to-eye. Yet the cheerful and welcoming atmosphere around the town gives me no doubts that locals are not the only people enjoying the creativity in Beeston. In fact, Beeston is a very student-friendly town as demonstrated by the inclusion of students in the local art scene and discounts at creative shops for them. In particular, Artworks and Pot n Kettle (a creative space that many students already know about) offer student discounts.

When I left that church hall on Monday, I was stunned by not only the exhibition’s beauty but also how many people had turned up to show support for the painter. There’s plenty for an aspiring artist in Beeston. Whether it be drawing in Cartwheel Coffee or painting at a local art class, I wait patiently for more from the creatives of Beeston.