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SEPTEMBER 2014
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contents
C O N T E N T S 14/15
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: Plymouth College of Art graphic design students Ash Henderson and Gethin Oliver talk to PS about their lastest awardwinning designs.
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14/15: Plymouth Student were invited to some sweet festivals this year, check out our reviews of Green Man, Knee Deep, Boardmasters and Reading. 16/17: We catch up with Luke Scott Dumper, local alternative folk act, where we talked about getting drunk, having parties and meeting Ben Howard.
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18: We catch up with post graduate Ben Wills, who’s set up his own apparel company influenced by the city and the sea. 19/20/21/22/24: Fresher’s Guide: We’ve taken it upon ourselves to save you the trouble of finding the best things to do, bars to drink in and hang out spots with our guide for all our new students!
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26: PS editor Naomi Girdler and writer Neoma Stanford check out a local wrestling event in Saltash, with a whole evening of chanting, powerslams and impressive acrobatics. 28: Dom Wallace, guitarist of new local post punk/indie band Black Dog, talks about his time in experiencing the local music scene from a brand new perspective.
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29: PS talks to Student Homes In Plymouth about what high quality accommodation they can offer freshers in the upcoming semesters 30: PS meets Chi-Chi Nwuba, a recent dentistry graduate of Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentisty, who became the new face of Africa Fashion Week London after winning an online contest. 32: A new comic book store has arrived in Frankfort Gate! We catch up with owner Stacey Goff on his new venture, The Hive Mind. 34: Emily Walker, editor of online gaming website, GameGrin talks about her relationship with MMORPG World of Warcraft.
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36: Everyone needs their five a day, especially students hard at work, so why not reboot with a sweet smoothie? Recipe by Neoma Stanford. 38: Computing graduate Matt Girdler reviews another recent release, Risen 3: Titan Lords, available on PS3, Xbox and PC.
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38: Seth Hanney critiques another current, classic and local record in his music reviews. 39: New agony aunt Ellie addresses some heavy issues with her first article tackling your problems!
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editor’s letter
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Contact PS: 07811 343335 hello@ps-zine.com Published by Us As One Many thanks to all who’ve supported and contributed to PS Issue 10. Editor, Designer & Writer Naomi Girdler naomi@ps-zine.com Contributors Chris Girdler, Dom Wallace, Andrew Girdler, Luke Scott Dumper, Neoma Stanford, Chi-Chi Nwuba, Emily Walker, Matt Girdler, Seth Hanney, Ellie Ward Advertising If you are interested in advertising in PS, please contact us at les@ps-zine.com or 07835 495881
Hello! Another year and thousands of new faces! If this is your first year in Plymouth, welcome to our lovely little city! However little it may be, it has a lot on offer and for this Freshers Edition, the Plymouth Student team has been hard at work finding out all the essential information for a first year in a new city. Whether you’re looking for the perfect local, some good places to eat or some odd entertainment (see page 26, where my friend Neoma and I head to a local amateur wrestling match in Saltash!) We’ve also compiled the first ever Plymouth Student Fresher’s Guide, which has a breakdown of all the places you’ll want to check out during your stay here. We’re so lucky to have the sea, the moors and some incredible parks within walking distance from our doors, and I will forever encourage people to have an explore! As standard, we interviewed the lovely local alternative folk act Luke Scott Dumper (page 16), meet owner of new comic book store The Hive Mind on page 32 and met up with our beautiful cover model and denistry graduate Chi-Chi Nwuba about her time as The Face of Africa Fashion Week London. I’m super excited about the upcoming year and hope you have the best time during your first year. We’ll see you again in the New Year! Naomi Girdler Editor
Printed by Newsquest 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/ PSzineplymouth
Chi-Chi Nwuba Photography by Naomi Girdler
the big list
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THE BIG LIST Listings by Andrew Girdler I know everyone’s gutted about the days getting shorter, the sun hiding ever more frequenytly behind the clouds and updating your wardrobe from shorts and t-shirts, back to jumpers and thick socks. I know it’s tempting not to leave the comfort of your sofa and that blanket, the cups of tea and the re-runs of friends, but I assure you, you’ll be missing out! There’s no need to be down in the dumps, fill your calendar with these local events and keep that smile on your face!
Example
From huge acts such as Lily Allen and Example headlining the Plymouth Pavilions, to intimate shows in the Underground and The Hub, there’s a lot to choose from and all within minutes of the University.
September The Osmonds 24 Sep Plymouth Pavilions Direct from the USA, the legendary Osmond Brothers, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy, will appear in concert for a limited number of exclusive UK dates in autumn 2014. The Osmonds are unique in their success as a band and as solo performers and have been entertaining audiences all over the world for more than 50 years! Box Office 0845 146 1460 Cafe Acoustica 24 Sep B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre B-Bars fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singersongwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 Thomas Ford 25 Sep B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Thomas Ford returns to the B-Bar with his electrifying 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 Henry IV Part 1 (Part 2 from 26 Sep) 25 Sep - 04 Oct Theatre Royal RSC Associate Artist Antony Sher returns to the Company to play the infamous comic knight Falstaff. He is joined by Jasper Britton as Henry IV and Alex Hassell as Prince Hal. Directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran Box Office 01752 267222
Big Joe Bone 26 Sep B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Big Joe Bone brings his raspy vocals, hard driving harmonica rhythms, bottleneck slide guitar playing and finger-picking skills on 5 string banjos, to B-Bar. Details 01752 242021 Escape Committee 26 Sep Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Escape Committee are a rockin band formed from members of local legends ‘The Diamond Geezers’…Accomplished musicians who know how to whip their audience into a frenzy. Playing classic tracks from the 70’s till the present day. Details 01752 260555 Peter Andre 30 Sep Plymouth Pavilions Peter Andre has announced his first major UK tour in two years. The new tour will see Peter on stage with his band performing all of his hits including ‘Mysterious Girl’ and ‘Behind Closed Doors’ plus songs from his previous studio albums ‘Revelation’, ‘Accelerate ’ and ‘Angels and Demons’. Box Office 0845 146 1460
October Comedy Night 01 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Some light relief with the best standups on the UK circuit. Details 01752 242021 Warren James 02 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre A talented young guitar and banjo player who knows how to excite crowds
across the nation, Warren has toured Europe, performed in the USA and shared billing with some iconic names in the music business.. Details 01752 242021 Hamer & Co 03 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hamer & Co are a smokin’ hot jazz outfit with a difference. Experienced guitarplayers 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 ONE Love 03 Oct The Hub / dbs Live ONE Love is back after a summer break, with a night full of great artists, including Eton Messy, and XYconstant Details 07966 626490 Duke Johnson & the Scorchers 04 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Duke Johnson & the Scorchers have become an institution in the live music scene & have gained the reputation of one of the best live Rock & Roll bands in the UK. Details 01752 260555 Kids In Glass Houses 05 Oct The Hub / dbs Live Kids In Glass Houses say goodbye to their fans in this final farewell gig. Details 07966 626490 The Two Gentlemen of Verona 07 Oct - 11 Oct Theatre Royal Simon Godwin makes his RSC debut to direct Shakespeare’s exuberant romantic comedy. Direct from its run in
Stratford-upon-Avon, the RSC is looking forward to sharing this rarely performed Shakespeare with Newcastle audiences. Box Office 01752 267222 Cafe Acoustica 08 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre B-Bars fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singersongwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 Lee Mack 08 - 09 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Lee Mack, is going back on the road with his first live tour in 4 years. Expect his trademark brand of high energy banter, well-crafted gags and sharp one-liners in one of the most hotly anticipated shows of the year. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Black Dog 09 Oct The Nowhere Inn Four-piece Plymouth post-punk band play the Nowhere Inn with support from Benny James.
Lee Mack
Eric Taylor - Americana Night 09 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Eric Taylor has created a multitude of fans and devotees that are legends themselves in the singer/songwriter realm, artists who have long considered Taylor to be a teacher and a lantern bearer whose time is long overdue. Details 01752 242021 Hot Club of Stonehouse 10 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hot Club of Stonehouse bring the gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris bals 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 Banana Thieves 11 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Banana Thieves are a 5 piece band (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards, 3 vocals and occasional sax) playing an eclectic range of songs and styles.
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the big list Jeeves & Wooster 14 Oct - 18 Oct Theatre Royal The hit West End comedy is now on tour, starring James Lance (Teachers, The Book Group, I’m Alan Partridge) as charmingly incompetent aristocrat Bertie Wooster and John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl, The Producers, The Ladykillers - West End) as his unflappable and ever well-informed valet Jeeves. Box Office 01752 267222 Andy Quick 15 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Andy Quick returns to the B-Bar for another performance. Details 01752 242021 Jim Davidson 16 Oct Plymouth Pavilions New stories and new gags abound as Jim talks us through his views on all manner of taboo subjects. As politically incorrect as ever, Jim explores and discusses the topics of the day with his own unmistakeable, and hilarious eye on the world. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Theo Bard 16 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Inspired songwriter, avid one-man-band busker, and live music obsessive, Theo is to be found in all the most beautiful, unusual and intimate music spots in his own London Town; singing his own uplifting songs, expertly fingerpicking on guitar, while striking out bold beats with his feet. Details 01752 242021
eight biggest names in jazz. Details 01752 242021 United Fruit, The Jerks & Worried Shoes 17 Oct The Underground Glasweigan post-punk band United Fruit visit Plymouth again on their tour promoting single How Long (Change You Into Something Better), with support from two piece noise makers The Jerks and back up from Worried Shoes, a local indie pop band. Alan Davies - Little Victories 18 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Following the sell out success of his long-awaited return to stand up, Alan Davies returns with his highly anticipated follow up show, Little Victories, Davies’ virtuosic story-telling and whip-smart funny bones combine to make this a show not to be missed. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Fascinating Aida 19 Oct Theatre Royal Following a sold-out 2013 tour, three Olivier Award nominations and over 10 million YouTube hits for Cheap Flights (their infamous anthem to budget air travel), Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman continue to celebrate over 30 years of Fascinating Aïda with their terrific new show Charm Offensive. Box Office 01752 267222
off to write his autobiography John is limbering up for his next arena mission, and will be zooming into Plymouth Pavilions for three nights! Rhymewarp/Forked/Festival Special 23 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Welcome 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 Sound of the Sirens 24 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre ‘Sound Of The Sirens’ are a foot stomping, heart-rending, crowd engaging female folk/rock duo whose strengths lie in their passion, conviction and chemistry. Details 01752 242021 Fujalada 24 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Devon based funk band kick out a pulsating mix of original funk & feelgood vibes guaranteed to make you get a wiggle on! Details 01752 260555
Club Fandango Comedy Night 16 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque A hilarious night hosted by 3 top comedians. Details 01752 260555
Northern Ballet’s Cinderella 21 Oct - 25 Oct Theatre Royal Set in imperial Russia at a time when superstitious people believe in the possibility of magic, Northern Ballet’s new adaptation of this classic fairytale sees heartbreak turn to joy as the unstoppable power of young love conquers all. Box Office 01752 267222
Seth Lakeman Oct 25 Theatre Royal - The Lyric Folk singer, songwriter and virtuoso fiddler Seth Lakeman unearthed hidden histories and unsung everyday heroes to commemorate in song for his new album Word of Mouth which stormed into the charts on its release in February this year. The album includes 12 brand new songs including the BBC Radio 2 play listed single The Courier. Seth will be joined by his multi-instrumental band on his October tour playing songs from Word of Mouth and other live favourites.
Jonathan Gee 17 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre The Jonathan Gee Trio is ‘a brilliant gem‘ of contemporary jazz piano, and its leader has worked with some of the
John Bishop - Supersonic 22 - 24 Oct Plymouth Pavilions The countdown is on for the launch of John Bishop’s latest national comedy caper! After taking eighteen months
The Sugar Bullets 25 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Explosive 50’s combo three piece are coming to Annabel’s! Details 01752 260555
UB40
A Day To Remember
Gatecrash 25 Oct Theatre Royal Sam’s having a house party. Nothing big, just a few close friends…at least that was the plan until you knocked on the door. Gatecrash the party of the year and immerse yourself in the action by controlling the night through interactive Silent Disco technology. Put on your wireless headphones, grab a drink and get ready for an unforgettable night. Box Office 01752 267222 John Newman 27 Oct Plymouth Pavilions John Newman, one of the breakthrough artists of 2013,who has been nominated for 3 Brit Awards in the Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Single and Best Video categories, has announced his third major UK tour since the release in October of his 300,000 selling debut album ”Tribute”. Box Office 0845 146 1460 The Full Monty 27 Oct - 01 Nov Theatre Royal - The Lyric In 1997, a British film about six out of work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose, took the world by storm! With songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones, this award-winning production is one huge package of laughs and emotion coming to Plymouth! Box Office 01752 267222 Longwave Oct 28 - Nov 1 Theatre Royal - The Drum Two scientists stranded in the middle of nowhere. Living together in a run-down shed. Working together to try and make sense of the strange and hostile world that surrounds them. Playing games and making music to help pass the time. Nothing for company but an old wireless. But as the radio waves begin to rise up around them, will they sink or swim? Black Dog 28 Oct Tiki Bar & Grill Four-piece plymouth indie post-punk band return to Tiki Bar. Support TBC. Details 01752 226305 Paul Potts 29 Oct
Plymouth Pavilions Paul Potts, winner of Britain’s Got Talent Season One, has found worldwide success with his albums, live shows and tours, impressing audiences worldwide with his powerful yet emotive operatic performances.. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Steve James 29 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre If Steve James is well known in the world of contemporary folk, blues and roots music, it’s not because he has a high-powered publicist. He has toured internationally, performing at festivals, concert venues and clubs and offering a variety of music workshops for the sizable “hands-on” contingent in his very loyal audience. Details 01752 242021 Thomas Ford 30 Oct B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Mixing delta blues traditions with nublues songwriting, this one man trio has been hailed as “The rising star of British blues”. Details 01752 24202 Example 30 Oct Plymouth Pavilions Singer, songwriter, producer, occasional rapper and all round king of the club banger Example, is set to release his brand new single ‘10 Million People’ on 5th October. The track has been taken from his top ten album ‘Live Life Living’ which is out now. Box Office 0845 146 1460 The Spyders 31 Oct Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Hailing from the back-streets of East London, The Spyders’ music has been taking the capital by storm for years, attracting crowds of fans to see their massively energetic & acclaimed live shows. Details 01752 260555
November
Sunset Sons 05 Nov The Hub / dbs Live The band who last month supported Fink at the Beach Sessions in Newquay, as part of Boardmasters Festival, will
nine return to the South West this Autumn as part of an extensive UK tour to support the release of their ‘No Bad Days’ EP due for release October 28th. Support TBA. Details 07966 626490 Lord of the Flies 05 Nov - 08 Nov Theatre Royal Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures unites dancers with remarkable young talent from the North East, in an extraordinary adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies choreographed by Olivier nominated Scott Ambler. Box Office 01752 267222 Freshly Squeezed 07 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque An 8-piece funk fuelled barnstorming behemoth. Details 01752 260555 Hamer & Co 07 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hamer & Co are a smokin’ hot jazz outfit with a difference. Experienced guitarplayers 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 Beauty of the Beast Nov 8 Barbican Theatre Beauty of the Beast is a dynamic new full-length work choreographed for Company Chameleon by Artistic Director Anthony Missen. A funny, moving and subversive look at male group dynamics, Beauty of the Beast peels back and uncovers the many faces of man - strength, camaraderie, vulnerability and hostility; and what happens when affiliation becomes identity. Paloma Faith 08 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Paloma Faith will embark on a full UK tour in October and November. Her new single ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ is released on May 12. The song is taken from Paloma’s third album ‘A Perfect Contradiction’, which shot straight to number two when it was released in March, and hasn’t shown any sign of
moving from the top ten since. Box Office 0845 146 1460
the big list Lily Allen
Dave Gorman 2014 09 Nov Theatre Royal The wonderfully innovative comedy mind behind Modern Life Is Goodish (Dave TV), Are You Dave Gorman? and Googlewhack Adventure is back with a brand new live show that promises more of his unique blend of stand-up comedy and visual story-telling as Dave Gorman Gets Straight To The Point*... (*The PowerPoint). Box Office 01752 267222 UB40 10 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Following 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 Edward Scissorhands Nov 10 - 15 Theatre Royal - The Lyric Based on the classic Tim Burton film and featuring the beautiful and unforgettable music by Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, this touching love story tells the bittersweet story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Edward Scissorhands is a parable for our times about the ultimate outsider whose journey builds to an unforgettable finale filled with theatrical magic. The Bartered Bride 11 Nov and 13 Nov Theatre Royal A simple tale of young love triumphing over parental interference, this irresistible comedy abounds with fresh folk-like melodies, joyous Bohemian dances and a mesmerising circus scene. Making a long awaited return, Daniel Slater’s enthusiastically celebrated production captures perfectly the spirit and charm of Smetana’s most famous piece. Box Office 01752 267222 La Traviata 12 Nov and 14 Nov Theatre Royal Profoundly moving
music,
fervent
Basement Jaxx
passion and sweeping drama, Verdi’s La Traviata is widely considered the most popular opera of all time. Violetta is courtesan to the rich, but her superficial world is turned upside down when she falls for the young nobleman Alfredo. But when her past life catches up with her, she is soon forced to sacrifice what may be her only chance of real love. Box Office 01752 267222 Passenger 13 Nov Plymouth Pavilions After a huge 2013, Brighton-born singer/songwriter Passenger brings his signature style to Plymouth Pavilions , familiar to millions as Passenger that topped the charts in 20 countries during 2013. Box Office 0845 146 1460 A Day To Remember 14 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Over the course of the band’s career, A Day To Remember have sold out entire continental tours, landed two Top 25 Billboard debuts and topped the Billboard Indie Albums Chart, and they are bringing their show to the Plymouth Pavilions. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Tony Law 14 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Dive into the zone of Tone for a brand new show of life-affirming, lifechanging comedy from the multi awardwinning nonsense-maker. As seen on Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Alternative Comedy Experience, Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and more. Details 01752 242021 The Retro Gents 14 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque The Retro Gents’ mixture of Funk, Gypsy Jazz, Blues, Folk, Country, Jive, Swing make them different from anybody. Details 01752 260555
Company B 15 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Company B are a “rowdy” jump jive band playing music from all the “Louis” (Jordan and Prima), Bull Moose Jackson, Wynonie Harris and Tiny Bradshaw. Details 01752 260555 Chewing the Fat Nov 15 Barbican Theatre Selina invites you to her own version of a midnight feast: somewhere between the confessions made over coffee at weight watchers, and the sloppy drunken story-telling that accompanies that 3am kebab. She infuses discussion of complex, life long issues with weight with laughter, balloons and a healthy dose of rice pudding to result in something truly vibrant. The Coronation of Poppea 15 Nov Theatre Royal Loosely based on actual events, Monteverdi’s Poppea charts the consuming obsession of Nero for the beautiful Poppea and his ruthless efforts to sway asideanything that stands in the way of their union. Featuring some of the most glorious music you’ll ever hear, Poppea remains to this day one of opera’s most compelling works. Box Office 01752 267222 Jon Richardson - Nidiot 15 Nov Plymouth Pavilions The 8 Out Of 10 Cats star Jon Richardson brings his brand new 2014 tour ‘Nidiot’ to the Pymouth Pavilions. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Bellowhead - 10th Anniversary Tour 16 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Bellowhead are celebrating their 10th anniversary and they are delighted to continue their anniversary celebrations with the announcement of their biggest ever UK tour in November 2014 where
they will be playing tracks from the new album plus all the old favourites. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Time Let Me Play. The Poetry of Dylan Thomas Nov 17 B-Bar With music composed and performed by Keith James, Time Let Me Play is a triumphant and evocative concert with brave and compelling songs. A dynamic and emotional collection of Dylan’s most cherished poems, meticulously set to music by one of this country’s most singular and critically acclaimed performers. Faulty Towers 17 Nov - 22 Nov Theatre Royal Basil, Sybil and Manuel return! Join them for a night of internationally acclaimed comedy, where our winsome trio serve a 3-course meal in a pop-up restaurant in the theatre and you play their restaurant guest. Box Office 01752 267222 Club Fandango Comedy Night 20 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque A hilarious night hosted by 3 top comedians. Details 01752 260555 Escape Commitee 21 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Escape Commitee are a rockin band formed from members of local legends ‘The Diamond Geezers’…Accomplished musicians who know how to whip their audience into a frenzy. Playing classic tracks from the 70’s till the present day. Details 01752 260555 Black Dog - EP Launch 21 Nov The Underground Plymouth based post-punk band launch their debut EP at The Underground. Support TBC.
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the big list
ten
Bombay Bicycle Club Banana Thieves 22 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Banana Thieves are a 5 piece band (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards, 3 vocals and occasional sax) playing an eclectic range of songs and styles. Details 01752 260555
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Dawn French: 30 Million Minutes Nov 23 Theatre Royal - The Lyric Dawn French, the Queen of British comedy, announces her first ever solo tour. The award-winning actor, best-selling novelist and all round very funny lady has written a new show, based on her life and career called 30 Million Minutes. It will consist of various delights and riches, with the odd irksome tribulation thrown in, as Dawn takes audiences through the various lessons life has taught her, and the things she knows for sure. Sirens Nov 24 - 29 Theatre Royal - The Drum Sirens is written - and performed - by six young women, members of the internationally renowned Belgian company, Ontroerend Goed. It is their heartfelt, yet irreverent, feminist manifesto for the 21st century. They describe a new journey of contemporary femininity: their expectations, persisting inequalities, hard-fought rights, self-censorship and everyday abuse. Thomas Ford 27 Nov B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Mixing delta blues traditions with nublues songwriting, this one man trio has been hailed as “The rising star of British blues”. Details 01752 242021 Lost in Space Nov 28 B-Bar Seven-piece party band Lost in Space cause a stir every time they play at the B-Bar so it makes sense they’ve been asked back again. They are a stomping band, with raunchy female vocals, a full brass section, funky bass, rocking guitar and more percussion than you can shake a stick at. Lou Jordan 28 Nov Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Lou Jordan, also known as “Elvis to the Stars” because of his popularity among the celebrity world having performed to the likes of Angelina Jolie, Mickey Rourke, and Patrick Swayze, celebrates all that you would want to remember in a fitting tribute to the King of Rock’n’ Roll. Details 01752 260555
Lily Allen 29 Nov Plymouth Pavilions Lily, who has been touring extensively all summer including playing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, has just finished a short US tour with Miley Cyrus, and is bringing her career spanning show to Plymouth. Box Office 0845 146 1460
December
David Baddiel 01 Dec Theatre Royal David Baddiel takes aim at himself, and examines his strange relationship with the New Lad/Token Jew/Comedy rock’n’roller/Football singer-songwriter that people see him as. A “very funny and thoughtprovoking” (Veronica Lee, Daily Telegraph) meditation on a life lived in – and out – of fame. “Hilarious and weirdly moving” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian). Box Office 01752 267222 Bombay Bicycle Club 04 Dec Plymouth Pavilions With an expanded live line-up to cater to the ever-increasing range and complexity of their songs, Bombay Bicycle Club’s 2014 tour is not only their biggest in terms of venue, but also in terms of sound. Supported by Peace and Sivu. Box Office 0845 146 1460 The Dirty Robbers 05 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque With their 50s and 60s roots sound, The Dirty Robbers have played at festivals and venues up and down the country, and toured abroad. They also recorded a session for Mark Lamarrs Radio Two Show, Gods Jukebox. Details 01752 260555 Hamer & Co 05 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hamer & 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 Elf Dec 6 -13 Theatre Royal - The Lyric Based on the beloved 2003 hit starring Will Ferrell, Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human,
Buddy’s enormous size and poor toymaking abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. Madness 08 Dec Plymouth Pavilions The last couple of years have been incredible for the nutty boys. Last year saw Madness play London’s iconic Alexandra Palace, said goodbye to one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, BBC Television Centre, performed a series of outdoor shows and released their tenth acclaimed studio album ‘Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da’. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Basement Jaxx 09 Dec Plymouth Pavilions With a new album on the way, it is no surprise that hugely established live act Basement Jaxx cannot wait to take their legendary show back on the road. It is with great pleasure therefore that the masters of dance announce a full UK tour that will kick off in November and will take in all the major venues across the country before they finish at London’s O2 arena on the 12th December. Rhymewarp 11 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Welcome 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 Club Fandango Comedy Night 11 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque A hilarious night hosted by three top comedians. Details 01752 260555 Machine Head 11 Dec Plymouth Pavilions Bay Area metal icons MACHINE HEAD are thrilled to announce a UK headline tour for this December. Fans who missed the band on their recent super-intimate 5-date ‘Killers & Kings’ tour earlier this month can now snag tickets for the winter run. Jools Holland 12 Dec Plymouth Pavilions Musical master of ceremonies Jools Holland and his much loved Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced
the run of dates and special guests of their 2014 UK tour. This annual jaunt across the UK will see them travel the length and breadth of the British Isles, bringing their audiencepleasing, foot-stomping ‘big band’ sound to over 50 cities and towns throughout the year. Land of the Giants 12 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque With pumping drums, throbbing bass, scorching guitar, soulful vocals and a rather splendid trombone, Land Of The Giants fuse inspired song writing with a sub heavy dance floor sensibility. Details 01752 260555 Duke Johnson & The Scorchers 13 Dec Annabel’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 The Human League 14 Dec Plymouth Pavilions The Human League bring their new wave hits to the Plymouth Pavilions! Status Quo 15 Dec Plymouth Pavilions The band are delighted that support at all dates will come from Chas & Dave! This tour sees Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andy Brown, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and new boy Leon Cave bringing back their thunderous live show to the nation’s venues. Thomas Ford 18 Dec B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Mixing delta blues traditions with nublues songwriting, this one man trio has been hailed as “The rising star of British blues”. Details 01752 242021 Freshly Squeezed 19 Dec Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque An 8-piece funk fuelled barnstorming behemoth.Details 01752 260555 ABBA Mania Dec 20 Plymouth Pavilions Featuring a special concert presentation, which celebrates the music of ABBA in a respectful and enjoyable way, reviving special memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Join in and enjoy all your favourites including: ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Voulez Vous’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Winner Takes It All’, ‘Super Trouper’ and many more.
student success
twelve
A graphic designer from Plymouth has scored big and bagged himself £1,000 in the process for a live brief competition set by Opta Sports – the biggest contributor of sports data in the world. Gethin Oliver, a graphic design student from Plymouth College of Art, won the competition – which looked for creative and imaginative player comparison infographics – after entering as part of a module on the course. “I was in the shower at the time of finding out I had won. First of all I thought someone was having me on! I didn’t expect to hear back, let alone win,” Gethin said. The judges, a panel of expert graphic designers, selected Gethin’s design for being creative, clear, and clean-cut. “I just wanted to do something where I could present as much information in as clear a way as possible,” he said. “I had never done an infographic before so I thought it would be something that boosted my portfolio and to just try something new.”
GETHIN SCORES A GOAL
Gethin is pictured with his award-winning work with Alex Edney, senior graphic designer at the Perform Group.
S T U D E N T S U C C E S S ! Local graphic design students from Plymouth College of Art have been making waves with award winning artwork
ASH HEATS UP DEMAND FOR ACTION A graphic designer from Plymouth has won a prestigious design award from Sky for his innovative use of heat-sensitive technology. Ash Henderson, a BA (Hons) Graphic Design student of Plymouth College of Art, was spotted by Sky at London graduate show New Designers recently – picking up £1,000 in prize money and a three month internship alongside the ‘New Designers Sky Award’. 21-year-old Ash, who is originally from Grimsby, said: “I was shocked. They said my name but I didn’t hear it properly at first but all of my course mates just started jumping on me. “It was overwhelming. I didn’t expect it at all.” Ash picked up the prestigious prize for his final year project ‘Now You See Us Now You Don’t’ – an interactive developmental
experience for children aged four to 10 aimed at highlighting the plight of endangered species. The piece uses heat-sensitive, ‘thermochromic’ materials that, when warmed with human body heat – or a hair-dryer as he used at New Designers – reveals a colourful hidden message beneath. The message then slowly disappears as the materials cool, which Ash uses as a visual demonstration to the user about the risks of not caring for the some of the world’s most endangered species. Kamal Gohil, programme leader for BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Plymouth College of Art, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Ash for gaining recognition from a company like Sky on a national platform. It’s a big achievement. “Ash loves to experiment with ideas and play with design. A few
times those experiments failed but for him that was a good thing. He was able to understand what went wrong and rectify it. It didn’t stop him. He continued finding new ways to tackle the issue. “His project was very innovative. Through risk-taking and finding new ways of problem-solving he’s come up with something fresh. He’s applied materials in an exciting form of visual communication.” Ash, who says he immediately fell in love with Plymouth and its coastline when he attended an interview at the college three years ago, plans to pitch the idea to zoos around the country. He hopes that the fun and interactive element of his design work will capture the interests of children and help them engage with teaching.
Win a meal worth £100 at Holland’s Retro Bar and Diner
Plymouth Student has teamed up with Holland’s Retro Bar and Diner to offer readers a chance to savour the delights of this recently-opened all-American diner. Situated in Frankfort Gate in the West End of the city centre, Holland’s is just a few minutes walk from the university campus - and offers mouth-watering American-sized meals at down-to-earth prices. The winners of this special PS competition will receive a voucher worth £100 for a meal at Holland’s Retro Bar and Diner. All you have to doo to stand a chance of winning is e-mail competition@ps-zine.com and put Holland’s in the subject line. Closing date is October 31 2014. The first e-mail drawn from those who entered will receive the £100 voucher.
NEWLY-OPENED DINER IS ALREADY A BIG HIT Holland’s Retro Bar and Diner, one of Plymouth’s newest eateries, has only been open for a few months - but it already has a regular following of customers, many attracted by their extensive gluten free menu. The all American-themed diner and bar not only offers great food, but also live music and a unique dining experience. As expected the menu at Holland’s Retro Diner and Bar features American-sized portions with an excellent variety of home-made burger dishes, ribs, steaks and chicken dishes. Top of the list is the giant New York, New York - certainly not for the faint hearted. With three 8 oz burgers, two rashers of bacon, two eggs, melted cheese and peppered mushrooms (plus fries, of course) it has become a Facebook challenge to down the monster in the quickest time. The current record IS NINE minutes! The latest challenge to be added is the Empire State - a tower of chicken, bacon, burgers and eggs - not completed by anyone yet! A range of American (of course) beers and wines are available, along with the usual selection of soft drinks. Milk shakes made with ice cream and a selection of fruit, cream or biscuits are extremely popular - and are now also available to take-away.
Holland’s Retro Diner and Bar 22-24 Frankfort Gate, Plymouth Tel 01752 415229 www.hollandsdinerplymouth.co.uk
Weekday opening is currently Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 8pm, Saturdays till late and Sundays from 11am to 8pm. Big American breakfasts are served from 9am. There’s live music once a month featuring local rock and roll and rockabilly bands with plans to increase music nights to fortnightly and eventually weekly. There’s a charity Halloween fancy dress party coming up with music from Devils Deuce raising money for victims of domestic abuse and St Luke’s Hospice - details on the website.
festival reviews
fourteen
Words by Naomi Girdler / Photography by Dom Moore
KNEE DEEPGREEN MAN
Knee Deep Festival, based in a field just outside of Saltash, is an idyllic festival with a real sense of community and welcoming atmosphere. With a circle of crate-chairs for hang outs, a whole tent dedicated to arts and crafts (shoes off please), yoga sessions and a colourful and exciting line up, the festival decided to have its final year be a big one. My first experience of Knee Deep was in 2012, I had noticed the line up featured the New York born folk singer/songwriter, Willy Mason, was in attendance. Being a fan for years, and never imagining the opportunity to ever come so close to my door as this, immediately snapped up a ticket. That year was an incredible experience, with other acts including Tall Ships and Jon Phonics, and KD 2014 didn’t disappoint. My Friday kicked off fairly early, with a rainy coach ride from Plymouth Train Station, to a field by a farm, full of tents. After setting up the tent in the drizzle and making festival friends, the sun began to shine and that’s when Knee Deep truly hypnotises you. With the loud riffs delivered by Eagulls to the tribal beats of Flamingods, there was something that everyone could dance to, and the party continued in the Jam tent later on in the evening. With a stand up piano, sofas and hammocks outside should you need a power nap, there were only friendly faces in the crowd. Plymouth based musical collective, Lightworks kept their grooves going late into the night, but by that point, I must admit I had found myself distracted by the teepee with the fairy lights. After a quick coffee, a spray of dry shampoo and a vigorous tooth brushing to get rid of any wine stains, and my saturday had begun. It’s definitely an idea to take some extra money to make the most of Knee Deep’s dining options. With everything from vegetarian savoury crepes, to pulled pork wraps, there’s something to satisfy even the fussiest eater. That however, is not me. Even after dipping into some pot noodles, I couldn’t say no to vegetable curry and some cheesy chips at midnight.
Parlour took the first slot on Stage 1, getting the day started on a high with psychedelic vibes and post punk flavours, their infectious rhythms had me excited and inspired. It was a day filled with arts and crafts, hanging out with the neighbours and nursing the hangover in the hammocks, with an evening that followed full of insane talent and new sounds. Islet, a psychedelic pop four piece, who also red-light as sonic adventurers, connected with the audience with their explosive performance, inviting all that watched them to enter into their world for a brief moment. Kate Tempest followed with a boisterous set, rapping out vivid stories and finishing her encore with a captivating spoken word piece. Dancing into the next day, Koreless topped off the evening with a mixture of cataclysmic dub and ambient electronica, kickstarting the heart beat of the party in time for last party in the Jam tent. Islet
In a hazy blur of flashing lights, tripping over tent guide ropes and overheard giggles in the dark, I eventually found my tent and the welcoming embrace of my sleeping bag. Easily my favourite festival of the summer, and I’m gutted that this is the end, but I’m sure the fun will continue. Thanks Knee Deep. Peace!
Every festival I’ve ever been to has involved a situation where Google Maps has been our saving grace, u-turns are a standard and those moments of panic in your belly where you’re desperate not to miss a single second of the next few days ahead of you. I was determined to avoid that this time round with my bag packed and ready the night before, a bag of hearty supplies (four pot noodles, six breakfast bars and some crisps, naturally) and jumped up bright and early on Friday morning, ready for an adventure. Yet despite all that, myself and my best friend Ellie found ourselves sat in traffic, chain smoking and listening to Doug Stanhope on CD. At least we weren’t lost, I guess. Green Man Festival was our destination, located in an awe-inspiring valley surrounded by the Black Mountains in Wales. The perfect surroundings for a weekend of face paint, a glittering line up of acts, a tantalising selection of food on offer and the most welcoming atmosphere I’ve ever experienced surrounded by strangers. With headline acts Beirut and Neutral Milk Hotel, I knew I was in for a real treat, and that was only the main stage. The weather was kind to us in 2014, my last experience at the site in Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons was a far sight messier. Trudging through swamp-like conditions in my trusty silver wellies and battling the rain was replaced with warm rays, light breezes and the occasional shower to cool you down. Inevitably, this makes the whole experience more enjoyable (and the toilets only slightly more bearable), but it really allows the three day event to show it’s true and beautiful colours. Friendly faces covered in glitter, vibrant artwork, interactive sculptures, the rural setting of fields, mountains, rivers and trees that sparkle at night are just some of the many charms of Green Man. If that doesn’t make you fall in love with Green Man, the line up certainly will. My weekend started on the Friday night, where I found myself with a bag of wine in my backpack, singing along to Mac DeMarco before very naughtily sneaking backstage to meet the man himself. I must admit, that night was a bit of a whirlwind involving conversations about Lucy, time travelling and parallel universes, sharing whiskey out of the bottle, eating sour cherries, quoting Wayne’s World and Spinal Tap, and ending up watching Caribou
backstage with a lovely Brighton based shoe gaze band called Michael A Grammar. I got into my sleeping bag with a very big smile on my face that night. My Saturday was spent recovering and applying a concerning amount of face paint. I find the second day of a festival the perfect opportunity to adjust and embrace your new surroundings. After exploring, I found myself spending most of my day in or around the Nature Nurture Spa, where all weekend they hosted yoga sessions, a vast array of workshops (bushcraft, mindfulness and awake your inner goddess to name a few…), a Women’s Sacred Space and a choice of holistic healing therapies. Green Man really does cater to any audience with areas for the Little Folk, Babbling Tongues for the aspiring poets and the Walled Garden for those looking for a more intimate performance, plus more. There’s something about waking up on your last festival day, knowing that by that time tomorrow you’ll be nursing the festival blues, amongst other self-inflicted symptoms. I had my list of ‘must-sees’ and ‘might-sees’, as well as the customary burning of the Green Man, my day was going to be busy. I listened to Bill Callahan, alone, sat on a grassy knoll, I joked with friends at First Aid Kit and danced along to the erratic sounds of Neutral Milk Hotel. I witnessed the fury of fire at the burning of the Green Man, and felt myself sway with the crowds on my way back to my tent.
I left Wales with the mixed emotions of anticipation to get home and shower, and the inner conflict of wanting to stay there forever, however, reality is so much better knowing there’s somewhere to escape to once a year, hidden away behind some majestic mountains in an idyllic valley. What I’m trying to say is, Green Man is my happy place.
fifteen
festival reviews
Words by Andrew Girdler
R
E
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Every weekend for the last fifty years, Little John’s Farm in Reading has become the gathering place for thousands of music lovers, bringing bigger acts every year. With 9 stages set across the huge arena and hundreds of acts spanning every genre you could name, Reading Festival is truly an unforgettable festival experience. With my bag packed and full with as many breakfast bars as I could find, Reading Festival started by leaving Plymouth on an early Thursday morning to board a five hour coach journey to the festival. After arriving, our journey was shortly followed by a tiring two mile walk to an available camping spot; passing excited festival goers setting up their teepees and tents in anticipation of the weekend’s music. After setting up our tents, starting a fire and unpacking our bags, I enjoyed the first nights sleep, making use of a backpack full of food as a rather comfy pillow. Soon after waking up on the sunny Friday morning, my friend, left out at home, called me to break the news of a Jamie T surprise set. I headed into the arena, to be greeted by a plethora of rock bands such as Drenge, The Orwells, and Queens of the Stone Age; but to contrast the heavier theme of the day there was the indie pop of Vampire Weekend, the psychedelic riffs of Temples; not to forget the aforementioned, ‘one man Arctic Monkey’, Jamie Treays.
D
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Letters’ from their most recent albums. The set was complemented by a fascinating light show beneath the blue tint of the NME tent. After seeing band after band with nothing but a toilet break in between, Friday was ended with Palma Violets’ rowdy set followed by a large amount of pizza, a nice spot on the grass and a great view of Queens of the Stone Age. Friday was the perfect start to the weekend. Starting the saturday morning with a healthy dose of hot chocolate and some Rivita, we headed straight back into the arena, with an extremely exciting line-up awaiting us. After filling up on extortionately priced pasta and Arctic Monkeys
exploring the arena’s shops and other food stalls, I saw Cage The Elephant and Royal Blood play impressive sets to surging crowds in the NME tent in the afternoon. As the day went on the mass excitement for Saturday’s headline act, Arctic Monkeys, grew steadily. During the wait for the headliners, we saw English indie band Peace play a lunchtime set on the sunny main stage, playing their old riffheavy tunes to their new funkier songs.
Queens of the Stone Age After a brief break at the tent, excited and covered in glitter, sporting a glam theme, we headed to the main stage to watch Jake Bugg and secure our spots for Arctic Monkeys. During Bugg’s 45 minute set he played songs from both albums, finishing with an extended version of ‘Lightning Bolt’.
Other than meeting three quarters of Palma Violets, the highlight of Friday, and possibly the whole weekend for me, was Metronomy’s prodigious set, with peculiar synth numbers as well as heavy guitar songs from their debut record with hits such as ‘The Look’ and ‘Love
After the almost hour long wait for Arctic Monkeys, they finally took the stage, starting with the single, ‘Do I Wanna Know?’, from their latest album ‘AM’, followed by ‘Brianstorm’. During their set they played huge hits from every album including ‘When The Sun Goes Down’, I Bet You Look Good
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GBOARD
On The Dancefloor’, ‘My Propeller’, and Old Yellow Bricks, before frontman Alex Turner announced ‘I love you Reading’; after which they played ‘I Wanna Be Yours’, a love song inspired by punk poet John Cooper Clarke. The band retired backstage until they were begged back onstage for an encore, starting with ‘One for the Road’ and ending on a fan favourite, ‘R U Mine?’. After an unforgettable day, we headed back to the tents for another night. We crawled out of our tents on Sunday ready for the last day, with only a few bands left on my ‘must-see’ list, including soul collective Jungle, indie rock band The Horrors, and gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello. Sunday afternoon largely consisted of exploring the arena’s shops and stalls, relaxing, and watching Jungle play a phenomenal set in the NME tent. Later in the day I saw The Horrors whose set was made by an mesmerising light show, with lasers, smoke, and strobes filling the tent; making the performance extremely memorable. After seeing The Horrors, we went back to the tent in preparation for the last act of the weekend. After my face had been turned into something that would be fitting on a Bowie album cover, we made it back to the arena in high spirits and saw Gogol Bordello, which was a exceptional gig full of energy, crowdsurfing, friendly faces, and dancing. With the weekend ended on a high note, we made our way back to the tent for the final night. In the morning we packed up our tents on an extremely rainy Monday morning, then walked a muddy distance to our coach back to Plymouth. It was only on the coach did I realise that Reading Festival 2014 was likely the most eventful, memorable, and enjoyable weekend of my life so far. If you’re not sure what festival to attend in 2015, I couldn’t recommend Reading enough.
MASTERS
This year, beachside music and surfing festival Boardmasters, was cut short. With the usual image of the festival being a sunny summer weekend, unfortunately, this year it was ruined by torrential rain and extreme winds. Our journey started with a morning train to the festival, passing through the large fields and beaches of Cornwall on the way. When we arrived in the lovely town of Newquay, we queued up for a shuttle bus headed straight to the festival. On arrival at the festival we picked up our wristbands, and set off to the campsite to find our friends who had already spent their first night there. With a quick set up of our tent, we ventured into the arena to get a feel for the place, and as soon as you get in, you’ll notice how beautiful Newquay is. Stages set on the green cliffs off of Fistral Beach, a constant view of the sea, and the huge arena lit up with smiling faces and rides contributes greatly to the positive atmosphere of Boardmasters. The music, surfing, and skateboarding events aren’t the only entertainment provided, with a small stage disguised as a pub hosting comedians as well as small bands, guitar shops, and sheesha bars to name but a few. As the day went on we decided to dive into the music, and after unfortunately missing The Cribs, we stuck around for Zane Lowe’s DJ set, during which he played genres ranging all the way from classic hip-hop, disco, and indie rock, which made for an enjoyable set. Afterwards we wandered the arena for a while as the weather started to take a turn for the worse, with rainclouds moving in and the wind getting stronger, we wrapped up warm and hoped it would improve. It was not long before the storm really kicked off that rapper Snoop Dogg took to the stage to be greeted by thousands of adoring fans. After about five songs the weather got so unbearable that we decided to retreat to our tent, watching 15 minutes of grossly named Brooklyn punk band Cerebral Ballzy on the way. When we reached our tents we changed out of our sopping wet clothes and said goodnight. By the morning our tents had leaked through the point of puddles underneath our feet, and upon hearing the news of the final night of the festival being cancelled, we decided to pack up and leave. Boardmasters had a lot of promise to be a fantastic and memorable festival, but was spoiled by no fault of the organisers; maybe I’ll try again next year.
Snoop Dogg
luke scott dumper
sixteen
L U K E S C O T T D U M P E R
Interview by Naomi Girdler
seventeen
I went to catch up with Luke, a local folk singer songwriter who’s been on the local scene for the last few years, dominating stages with his intense vocal range, loud personality and a 12 string guitar to accompany him. Luke, who’s in his second year of a music degree at Plymouth University gets the interview started over a pint of Tribute in the Nowhere Inn. PS: So how’s life? LSD: Good! What with starting my second year this year, I’m looking forward to the next stage of my life. I’ve got plans for touring, and I’m currently writing my second album. I’m working on an exciting new hardcore band with members of bands Ameythst and Cheating Jack Ketch. I wanted to do something heavy and it’s been three years since I’ve been in the scene. With some epic heaviness, we’re looking for some new sounds. PS: So what led you to be the punk rock, folk singer/songwriter performer that you are today? LSD: Loads of things! I mainly did it for a laugh, and that’s how it all began. I used to get stupid drunk and play away, repeating riffs and improvising on the spot. I used to make a lot of lyrics up and never write them down and these little impromptu performances were, I guess, helping me let off some steam. I was just learning though, you know when you get a new phone and you’re still getting used to it, that was what guitar was for me back then. It was only when in a conversation with an old friend of mine, he questioned me why I was just doing it for a laugh and for real? That’s when it hit me, ‘just do it!’ From then, it was making posters and booking gigs and experiencing actually writing songs and working on an EP. As I’ve recorded more and you can see how many people listen and download, it began to make me realise that people were listening, not just my mates, there’s someone out there that likes my stuff! I told myself I’d release an album by the time I’m 27, so I’m right on schedule. If I don’t plan, then I just forget! PS: How has your new album been received? LSD: Really cool! I’ve learnt things along the way, like not releasing a single before the album, etc. The record has had no negative feedback though, and some good reviews, but I just was loving the experience of recording a studio album, with proper mastering and some real structure. You know, working out which songs should sit where, that song’s more upbeat, whereat that’s a bit more sad. There’s a real psychology behind it!
luke scott dumper
There’s something to be said about being on the UK scene, I’ve always wanted to leave something after me, my stamp on the world. Writing and recording also documents different chapters in my life and helps me through different situations I’m in and I can definitely say I’ve matured as a musician. PS: You’ve done a couple videos, as well as some new ones from your album, do you get much of a say in the content, or do you go with the flow? LSD: Recording the videos was great fun, I’ve filmed and done my own in the past, you know, Windows Media Player back in the day! But it’s always been part of my schedule, to record music videos because I’m aware of how much of a powerful tool they can be. If I wanna check out local music, then I’ll be looking up their videos on Youtube. For example, with girls&4guyfightnights, acoustic can often be perceived as bland, so I wanted to ‘rock it up’ a bit! I told Robbie Doran, my film maker pal, what scenes I wanted, such as skateboarding and a party and some slow mo shots and so he began to write a structure and it went from there.
"GIRLS&4GUYSFIGHTNIGHT WAS
BASED
ON
A
REAL
EVENT. I N AL L H ONESTY I WAS
REAL LY
DRU NK
AND
BEI NG A BIT OF a DI C KH EAD" I’m fairly used to it though, I do a bit of acting myself, and I recently starred in a short film called Knives, around 5 minutes long, as well as doing the music for the soundtrack on the ol’ banjo! Think Dead Man’s Shoes crossed with Trainspotting. You can find it on vimeo at vimeo.com/93370250
PS: What local bands would you recommend to readers? LSD: Worried Shoes, Steve Strong, Woahnows, Boxkite, Seconds Alive, The Man Who Loves You and most certainly, Patrons. I’m obsessed with their new EP, sometimes I end up listening to it 6 times in a row and then drunk texting their guitarist Mark saying I love it haha! PS: Your songs have a real story telling nature to them, what inspires the tales behind the folk? LSD: I really like to write about other people! I like to think my songs tell a tale in a fly on the wall perspective, however girls&4guysfightnight was based on a real event. In all honesty, I was really drunk and being a bit of a dickhead. It must have been about 6 or 7am, and I decided to start on a group of four guys when on my way home. I just saw them and blatantly targeted them, and thought it’d be a good idea to take on all of them outside the Junction on Mutley Plain, hah! I didn’t win, I definitely got my head stomped on and I walked home like a wounded animal. I don’t know what the fuck I was doing, they were huge! I ended up finding my way to a girl’s house and arrived at her door covered in blood and what I later realised was a broken rib. I like to think of it as a bit of a party anthem haha! It was definitely written for the party goers, a banger to stick on as you get ready to go out.
PS: Who would you say influences you and your music? LSD: I’m a big fan of Ben Howard, I’ve seen him rise to fame, from the small time venue shows to the arena gigs. I once met him at a gig, and found the balls to go talk to him and give him a copy of my album. He took it from me, but then discarded it on a table shortly afterwards only to be picked up by a fan of his, who didn’t seem pleased with it either, haha! Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Another influence is Frank Turner, who I knew from his time with Million Dead. I really like his punk background and I find the songs so beautiful. I’m also massively influenced by Thom Weekes of Gnarwolves fame. I first met him 6 years ago at a Dirty Sunday Penzance show, where he played some solo stuff. He was my local Frank Turner with his hardcore background, and then I see him headline the main stage at Reading Festival with the boys, it’s a good feeling. Joses Gonzalez is an influence of mine, without sounding too cliche! One big motivation is being part of a local thriving scene, when someone you know goes on tour it inspires me to keep going, to keep writing, to keep emailing promoters and send my EP to labels.
Despite a lot of people calling my music folk, I like to think of it as alternative folk or acoustic. Folk has a very strong story telling nature to it, so I do feel like I have to tell stories, and that’s not always just written about me. It can be taken quite metaphorically so anyone can relate to it. PS: So what does the future hold for Luke Scott Dumper? LSD: As I said before, working on a new hardcore project, as well as playing banjo with a band called Black Friday which is new and exciting. It’ll be nice to get into the pub scene and have some fun without worrying about hitting all my high notes! I’ve had a little electronic/techno side project on the go too called Top Banter that takes influence from Public Service Broadcasting, with mash ups and samples. As for LSD, I’m playing at Calstock Festival on the 25th of October, but keep an eye on my Facebook page, or check out www.lukescottdumper.com Heeeeeeyyyy!
black spot apparel
eighteen
BLACK SPOT Interview by Naomi Girdler
A PPA R E L Plymouth Student talks to Ben Wills, recent graduate of Plymouth University’s Illustration course, who tells us about his new clothing line, Black Spot Apparel. PS: Hi Ben! How’s life? BW: Hello! Good thank you, unpredictable, but that seems to make things more exciting. PS: Last time we spoke to you, in last year’s Fresher’s edition, you were a student studying Illustration at Plymouth University. What’s changed for you in a year? BW: It sounds cliché but that really did feel like yesterday, cant believe it was a year ago now! I hadn’t really had as much experience in terms of illustration/ creative commissions for various clients. I made a big effort to get some freelance work under my belt before graduating, worried that I would be lacking in experience if not. The briefs and projects I got involved with definitely helped me learn a lot, but also helped balance out university module work with “real life” work, it’s easy to forget about the outside world whilst being a student. I’ve recently started getting much more interested in areas of graphic design that border on illustration and how it can be applied to clothing. I’m a firm believer in using traditional drawing mediums, but have started to try and replicate the crisp and graphic lines created on a computer with pen and ink. Drawing graphic images by hand I find have a much more authentic and raw feel to them than say using digital software, this is something I try to include with some of the designs in Black Spot.
designs, then spent a long time looking for a source of quality, comfortable and fair trade garments that look good also. I find the process of developing the clothing into a finished product therapeutic and fun. Being originally from Essex, I was frustrated not being near scenic beaches or sea, so it’s kind of a way to ease that frustration and physically replicate my passion. The printing and sewing by hand thing is really important to me, its more personal and each piece of apparel is treated with attention to detail that wouldn’t happen in a factory or sweatshop. It also means I can inspect the individual items closely for any minor print defects etc before having them ready for purchase.
these special places and not ruin them. I’ve started using organic and biodegradable materials because of this, and hoping to work with various charities that keep the sea and coastline clean. The sense of quality in the clothing and knowing its been sourced ethically is also really important to me. Most consumer goods often have the familiar sight of “Made in China”, I understand why this is but I like things to be made in Britain that have a sense of quality to them. As a result of this, I started sourcing apparel manufactured in Britain that hasn’t been made in a sweatshop abroad. PS: Do you have any advice, tips or tricks for anyone out there thinking of starting their own apparel company?
BW: I have an online store but I will soon be changing this and developing it more… www.blackspotapparel.bigcartel.com
BW: It’s early days for me still so I may not be the best person to give advice, but the biggest thing I’ve realised is the importance of making the company relevant to your own interests. It makes every aspect of the clothing more sincere as its something important to you and your ideas, not some one else’s.
My illustration work can be found here www.benwillsart.com
Also make sure you have fun with it!
I like to get involved with various pop up stores and fairs around the country, usually in the south west or south east area, the best way to keep track of these is on my twitter page updates….@BlackSpotAprl
PS: What does the future hold for yourself and Black Spot?
PS: How can people buy your clothes? Do you plan on doing any craft/clothing fairs?
BW: I’m working on some new designs for the winter and hoping to collaborate with other creative people soon, from photographers to artists and graphic designers.
PS: How have you found the challenge of self employment? PS: So tell us about Black Spot Apparel! You say that the majority of the processes involved are done by hand? BW: Black Spot Apparel is an idea I had during my second year studying. One of the main reasons I came to Plymouth for my degree was because of a fascination/passion for the sea and surfing. This subject often influences my illustrations, but I wanted to try and create more of an idea and lifestyle behind this passion. With this in mind, I started carefully working on various
BW: It was pretty daunting labelling myself as “self employed” with HMRC, but so far things have been good, every day is a challenge though and nothing seems to be certain. PS: What inspired you to undertake this venture? BW:The sea and lifestyle that comes with it is the main inspiration behind this brand, but also taking care of the environment that surrounds it. The coastline around the south west is amazing, I think it’s important to try and preserve
I’m also hoping to get involved with various festivals next summer and have a pop up shop there, Boardmasters and Glastonbury are high up on the list but we’ll see what happens! It is still very early days, but if things go well I’d love to have a small shop and bay window camper to tour various pop up stalls over the country. I like the mixed up combination of sea, city and surrounding countryside Plymouth has, for me this makes it unique and special offering different things. Thank you again for featuring me!
nineteen
freshers guide
FR E S H E R ’ S G UI D E Here at Plymouth Student, we like to help the new faces in the city really make the most of their time here. Despite it’s small size, Plymouth has so much to offer in terms of bars, clubs, restaurants and hang out spots and we’ve decided to do all the work for you, with our exclusive Fresher’s Guide.
NORTH HILL
North Hill, the prime spot for drinks, dancing, eats and hangs, with the Hill offering most of the night clubs in the city to you all in a neat little row.
Jakes T iki Bar and Grill Mouse Trap
40-42 North Hill, Plymouth, PL4 8ET. Tel. 01752 672218 Very popular with students (they get to play pool free!), this bar is right opposite the main uni campus in the middle of the North Hill drinking and partying strip. Various drinks are available for £1 on Thursday “pound a pint” night.
Roundabout
2-4 Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AQ. Tel. 0871 951 1000 With cheap drinks, pool and wi-fi, this popular pub at the bottom of North Hill (near the Drake Circus shopping mall) is a magnet for freshers out to meet new people and for the city’s 20-something socialisers.
8 Drake Circus, North Hill PL4 8AQ. Tel. 01752 226305 Themed around the Tiki bars of Germany, Tiki Bar and Grill doesn’t just offer a great bar and venue but also a great selection of hand made burgers and other delights.
Cuba
Carpe Diem
50 North Hill Plymouth, PL4 8EU. Tel. 01752 255250 Not the cheapest bar on the student strip, but this is the place to go for something a little more sophisticated – cocktail “artists” mix and muddle classic and new creations from scratch and for those able to splash the cash, premium champagnes are available.
Skiving Scholar Caffeine Club
Bread and Roses
Sherwell Arcade, North Hill, Plymouth, PL4 8LH. Tel. 01752 672 116 One of the liveliest bars on the North Hill strip. Good choice of cocktails, poles for uninhibited dancing and incentives for girls to get their kit off!
5 Regent Street, Plymouth PL4 8BA Tel. 01752 252323 Fast food heaven since 1997, Jakes provides take away food all day and all hours, providing top quality food to students, shoppers and town go’ers alike!
62 Ebrington Street, Plymouth PL4 9AF. Tel. 01752 659861 A community run social enterprise pub, it also runs as a community hub and arts space with cafe and bar, with live music and events.
46 Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX Tel. 01752 263910 An exciting 24 hour cafe with great food, fantastic coffee and a great cocktail menu on offer.
Pop Up
Voodoo Lounge
1 The Moneycentre Precinct, Drake Circus PL1 1QH. Tel. 01752 262288 A friendly independent cafe/ bar with a nightclub/live music venue, with a variety of events on the regular to suit anyone. With a juke box, pool table, 2, Sherwell Arcade, Plymouth, large beer garden and a great PL4 8LH. Tel: 01752 659518 selection of drinks, you can’t Next to Cuba, this is another 34 Gibbon Street, Plymouth, go wrong. favourite haunt in student PL4 8BZ. Tel. 01752 604466 party land, with an upstairs As the name suggests, this dance floor, a lounge area with one’s mainly for students who bean bags and a heated outdoor are the main target of its cheap area for smokers. Specialises drinks, loud sound system and lethal “Terminator” concoction. in lethal bombs and shots.
mellow mood, it’s the perfect place to hang with some friends over a few pints.
45 Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX. Tel. 01752 672116 Upholders of the party principle, Pop Up offers a place where you can express yourself around like minded people and party the night away.
1 Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AU. Tel. 01752 603473 A friendly, student orientated bar where drinks are cheaper than some of the more upmarket venues nearby (you get what you pay for!).
O dd B a r
36 Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AB Tel. 01752 226696 A small student bar, hidden next to Bac Bar, Odd Bar lives up to it’s name with interesting wall features, clocks and art filling out the basement. With it’s small capacity it’s great for intimate live music.
Bac Bar
Bang! Bang!
F resher and Prof essor
James Street Vaults James Street, Plymouth PL4 6EQ Tel. 01752 267799 The only pub on campus, open 7 days a week, it’s a haven for music and beer lovers. With a
38-40 Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AB Tel. 01752 659868 Despite being small, Bac Bar offers 2 bars in 1 with the Rum Bar, with £10 bottles of flavoured rum for you and your mates to share. With lots of drink deals, it’s a student staple for a North Hill night out.
freshers guide
twenty
CIT Y CENTRE/UNION ST group together to watch a big match.
North Hill, the prime spot for drinks, dancing, eats and hangs, with the Hill offering most of the night clubs in the city to you all in a neat little row.
a friendly relaxed atmosphere, with an extensive bar range of popular beers, ales and spirits. They also serve a large range of home-made dishes.
A late night pub with a dance floor – not the most salubrious drinking den in town and don’t expect a warm welcome from the hard bitten bouncers!
Revolut ion
1 Derry’s Cross, Plymouth PL1 2SW. Tel. 01752 666 138 One of Plymouth’s most popular nightspots at the “posh end” of Union Street! It’s a low key bar and eaterie by day which throws itself into the heart of the city’s nightclub scene after the sun goes down.
Ref lex & F lares Jesters
39-43 Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 3LU. Tel. 01752 220878 Mmm – what can we say about Jesters pub/club? It’s a magnet for marines and matelots and is one of the city’s long established clubs. Maybe the best way to get a feel for the place is to visit the club’s web site and read the “Steve’s soapbox” rant written by one of the family members who runs the place. Enough said!
Walkabout
5 Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 2SU. Tel. 01752 825 650 Near Revolution, this is the place to go for some Aussie ambience, live sport, two-forone deals on selected drinks all day, cheap pub grub, DJs and live bands. A Boomerang card gets you 20% off all food.
19 Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 2SU. Tel. 01752 254 520 A cheap and cheerful Wetherspoons at the “better end” of Union Street. A family friendly pub by day with low cost, reasonably tasty pub fare on the menu. There’s a pleasant outdoor area popular with city workers wanting to relax with a summer sun downer. Bouncers man the doors when the sun goes down and the place turns into a nightclub (always busy at weekends).
65 Union Street Town Centre, Plymouth, PL1 3LU. Tel. 01752 248 532 Just a few doors down from Jesters, you’ll find The Clipper – a 24-hour pub where you’ll find hardened drinkers spilling out of the door at 8am.
MINT
T wo Trees
30 Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 3EX. Tel. 01752 269700
2A Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 2SR. Tel. 01752 600 800 Open every Friday and Saturday, Mint brings something new and fresh to Union Street, with great drink deals for students and a guaranteed party every weekend!
The Minerva Inn
31 Looe Street, Plymouth PL4 OEA Tel. 01752 223047 The oldest pub in Plymouth, opening in 1540, with low ceilings and narrow hallways, the Minerva Inn holds a real charm that includes a friendly atmosphere, a cracking juke box and even a ghost sighting or two!
The Dairy
25 Bretonside, Plymouth, PL4 OBB. Tel. 01752 319067 Originally a Co-op dairy, this is the place to get cocktails in pint sized bottles! Eat in or take away brunch, snacks, smoothies and milkshakes. Twofor-one cocktails before 8pm and live music every Thursday.
The Clipper
Varsit y
33 Derry’s Cross, Town Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2SW. Tel. 01752 257235 Alongside Walkabout, here’s another bar favoured by sports fans. It offers several large screens with Sky Sports and a VIP area if you want to get a
Union Rooms
18 Union Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2SR. Tel. 01752 667171 A stone’s throw from Kularoos, here’s a fun night out for all lovers of “chart and cheese”. It has the feel of a ‘70s and ‘80s disco – oh happy days!
The Walrus
Athanaeum Street, Plymouth PL1 2RH Tel. 01752 604039 Situated near the picturesque Plymouth Hoe, The Walrus offers
THEATRE ROYAL
Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR Tel. 01752 267222 Not a pub or a club but definitely worth a mention, the Theatre Royal offers a huge range of entertainment to suit all tastes. With two theatres, The Lyric and The Drum, showings of peformances, dance, spoken word and comedy are shown around the year.
twenty one
MUTLEY PLAIN
Goodbody’s
49 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6JQ. Tel. 01752 668888 A 24-hour jazz bar (Saturdays and Sundays) and diner with a weekly pub quiz and drinks promotions on Mondays and Fridays.
Fortescue
37 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6JQ Tel. 01752 660673 With a selection of guest ales and ciders, as well as a cracking roast every Sunday, the Fort caters for a wide clientele with a laid back and traditional pub vibe.
Mutley Plain is a small high street off of North Hill. Surrounded by student housing, you’ve got your KFC, 24 hour shop, Dominoes Pizza and a fair few pubs to enjoy too.
The Mannamead
61-63 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6JH Tel. 01752 825610 Named after the ancient fields around the location of the pub, this Wetherspoon pub offers everything you’d expect, with consistent food, a great collection of drinks at competitive prices and some interesting regulars!
The Junct ion
15 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6JG. Tel. 01752 665895 Open mic nights on Mondays, local bands on Wednesdays and Thursdays and crowd pulling gigs at the weekends. Not the kind of place where you need to fret about the dress code!
Caffé Sol
The Hyde Park
88 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6LG Tel. 01752 601446 Newly refurbished and with ales brewed at their own microbrewery, it’s 150 year history has been kept intact but with a modern twist. Boasting quality food and fine wines, it’s a crowd pleaser!
The Dog and Duck
25 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, 15 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6JG PL4 6JG. Tel. 01752 229496 Tel. 01752 221453 A cosy student café by day - with A popular watering hole with a Mexican style snacks and lunches colourful array of regulars, this - which morphs into a livelier traditional spit and sawdust pub cocktail bar by night. offers a wide choice of bitters, ciders, beers and a happy hour!
freshers guide
ROYAL WILLIAM YARD
Just outside of Stonehouse, the Yard has been transformed from disused Royal Navy buildings into restaurants and cafes.
Seco Lounge
12-15 Mills Bakery, Plymouth, PL1 3RP. Tel. 01752 229375 In a stunning waterside location at the Royal William Yard, overlooking the River Tamar and the Cornish countryside, this bar attracts from breakfast time until well after dark despite being more out of town than others mentioned before. It’s family friendly with lots of board games to keep restless kids occupied, offers tasty (though quite pricey) tapas and is without doubt the best place in town for a sundowner on a summer evening.
Las Iguanas
Ground Floor, Brewhouse, Plymouth PL1 3RP Tel. 01752 226609 Get into the spirit of Latin America at Royal William Yard with Las Iguanas, suitable for all ages and tastes. With a gluten free and veggie/vegan options, and a kids menu for the little’un’s, there’s no lack of options in this exotic and exciting restaurant.
Unde r g r o u nd
15 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6JG Tel. 07878 460500 With a 175 person capacity, craft beers and a punk rock vibe, the Underground hosts a variety of alternative nights to suit all tastes. With posters adorning the ceiling, an old pirate friend guarding the cellar and a bottle bar hosting a great selection of booze, there’s a lot to love within this little venue!
Wagamamas Prezzo
Unit 1, Mills Bakery, Plymouth PL1 3GE Tel. 01752 261120 With it’s beautiful waterfront location, Prezzo offers guests stunning sea views and a chance to dine in one of the town’s oldest industrial buildings. A family friendy restaurant with a host of Italian cuisine to choose from, it often has specials menus and coupons for those on a tighter budget. Perfect for a visit for when the folks come down to inspect your new digs.
Brewhouse, 8 Royal William Yard, Plymouth PL1 3QQ Tel. 01752 663200 Sitauted right on the harbour, with beautiful views, Wagamama boasts a great selection of tantalising Japanese cuisine, as well as a unique dining experience. Modelled on the Ramen bars popular in Japan, food is cooked to order and arrives as soon as it’s ready, so tuck it while it’s hot!
freshers guide
twenty two
THE BARBICAN Vauxhall Q u a y Pizzeria and Club
chain so expect the usual range of very reasonably priced pub food and cheap drinks. It’s tucked down a little alley off Southside Street next to the Little Vauxhall Gin Distillery and has a large Quay, Plymouth, outdoor seating area. In case PL4 0EY. you’re wondering, the rather Tel. 01752 252110 odd name comes from the giants Formerly View 2, this small of local legend. nightclub and eaterie boasts a wonderful waterside location overlooking Sutton Harbour on Plymouth’s historic Barbican. There’s a balcony and outdoor terrace with heaters – a great place to sit and watch the boats and the world go by.
Lavish
H20
11 The Parade, Barbican, Plymouth. Tel. 01752 436725 Formerly known as Fatties, The Loft and The Quay Club, this nightspot in the heart of Plymouth’s Barbican is on two floors with a large dance floor, three bars and lots of seating areas.
48 Southside Street, Plymouth, PL1 2LD 01752 225656 Located half way along the Barbican’s main street, this deceptively large club offers cocktails and 50% off drinks on student only nights. It’s open seven nights a week with resident DJs playing R&B and chart hits.
Boasting some of the oldest buildings in the city, The Barbican has a great nightlife and something for everyone amongst boutiques, ice cream vendors, fish and chip shops and award winning restaurants.
velvety Parisian Boudoir with ribs or seafood chowder) and fine wines and champagnes, the some great live jazz and blues Aspen Ski Lodge (complete with performers. moose heads and bear skins) and the First Port lounge area. VIP booths and tables are available and students benefit from cheap 11 The Parade, entry and drinks on certain Plymouth, nights. PL1 2JL. Tel.
L i v e Lo unge Black Jacks
B-Bar
Barbican Theatre, Castle Street, PL1 2NJ. Tel. 01752 242021 Now for something completely different – this delightful little bar and theatre is tucked away at the top of a flight of steps alongside the Barbican’s Tourist Information Centre and appeals to those with slightly “alternative” tastes. The reasonably priced noodle boxes are delicious and you can enjoy some truly talented acts which perform on the bar’s tiny stage. The theatre showcases new talent and experiments with performances which range from weird and whacky to really wonderful.
01752 672127 A live music venue which showcases new and established acts performing everything from rock and indie through to jazz, blues, salsa and soul.
T h i r st
14 Vauxhall Street Plymouth, PL4 0DF. Tel. 01752 262259 A crisp, modern bar and club which bills itself as the place for Plymouth’s “more refined party crowd”. More of a 20-somethings place than a cheap student hangout, it offers a chill-out room with comfy sofas and the 250-capacity Dark Room for late night dancing.
Annabel’s
The Three Crowns
12, The Parade, The Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2JL. Tel. 01752 229 324 Good pub grub and a glorious place to sit on sunny days – plenty of outdoor seating overlooking all the boats and bustle of Plymouth’s gorgeous Barbican.
86 and 88 Vauxhall Street, Plymouth, PL4 0EY. Tel. 01752 260555 A stylish nightclub which is a cut above the rest with its quirky cabaret shows (everything from burlesque and belly dancing to risqué comedy and some great live bands) and a disco on the top floor where the resident DJ plays Soul, Motown, R&B, Funk and Retro classics.
Oceana The Gog and Magog 57-59 Southside Street, Plymouth, PL1 2LA. Tel. 01752 264160 This is part of the Wetherspoon’s
Barbican Leisure Park, Plymouth, PL4 0LG. Tel. 0845 293 2864 A huge club at the eastern end of town, across the water from the Barbican quayside. Take your pick of the Reykjavik ice house with crystal effect walls, the New York Disco (think Saturday Night Fever), the
right on the water, enjoy the Barbican’s atmosphere.
Cap’n Jaspers Cider Press
7 Quay Road, Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2JZ. Tel. 0871 951 1000 Real ales and decent cider in a good old fashioned boozer which was here long before most of the other newbies which have sprung up either side of it along the quayside in recent years. There are regular live gigs, a DJ at weekends and a big table for dancing on!
Whitehouse Pier, Plymouth PL1 2LS Tel. 01752 262444 Serving fine food to the people of Plymouth since 1978, the small shack based on the waterfront of the Barbican offers a choice of burgers, 60p tea and the infamous half a yard of hot dog.
Barbican Bar Rakuda B l u es 11 Quay Road, Plymouth PL1 2JZ Bar and Tel. 01752 221155 G r i l l Open 7 days a week, Bar Rakuda
8 The Parade, Plymouth Tel. 01752 257345 A cosy little café and music bar in a lovely quayside location. Good food (try the American
doesn’t just offer student deals, great drinks and acoustic live music, but also a fine selection of baguettes, paninis, salads and a mini Greek meze selection. With seating
8-9 Quay Road, Plymouth PL1 2JZ Tel. 07714 001991 Bringing you top live acts, including local legend Black Jack Davey with big ol’ Irish sing-a-longs, stories and banter, the pub offers an energetic and exciting atmosphere.
Kitt y O’Hanlons
5 St Andrew’s Street, Plymouth PL1 2AH Tel. 01752 661624 Known as the Irish haven for Plymouth, with regular appearances from local folk legends Mad Dog Mcrea, the pub has history running back hundreds of years with its location on St Andrew’s Street, one of the oldest thoroughfares in the city.
PLAY
142 Vauxhall Street, Plymouth PL4 0DF Tel. 07554 006617 Play nightclub is Plymouth’s newest independent club with a spacious and stylish contemporary design. With a VIP lounge, a bar and a club room with outdoor smoking area, it’s shaping up to be the new place to be on the Barbican.
fresher’s guide
twenty four
HIDDEN GEMS it offers beautiful views of Plymouth Sound and the city from the lantern room which, along with the rest of the building, has been painstakingly restored to its original glory.
Being a student in a new city, you often get sent to the same places over and over again, bars and clubs with cheap booze. Plymouth has far more to offer though, here’s some of our favourite hidden gems.
to sit, read, draw or watch the fish play. Don’t miss out on the Day Plus Pass which means you can come back for a further year free of charge, a must for anyone looking for something to do on a day off.
The T errace
Maderira Road, Plymouth, PL1 2NY. Tel. 01752 603533 Tucked away on a cliff face of Plymouth Hoe, The Terrace is a great place for beautiful views while you wine and dine. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and with a fully licensed bar, it’s a great place to make the most of the weather (when it rears its head!)
Parade Ant iques
Mount Edgcumbe
Cremyll, Torpoint PL10 1HZ. Tel. 01752 822236 Accessible by the Cremyll Ferry (found leaving in Stonehouse), Mount Edgcumbe is a beautiful country park with 865 acres of land to explore. With exquisitely kept gardens, the majestic House on the hill and coastal walks, have a picnic, go for a hike or roll down the grassy knoll, just make the most of this idyllic park.
27 New Street, Plymouth PL1 2NB. Tel. 01752 221443 Found in the back streets of the old Barbican, Parade Antiques is a treasure trove for antiques, memorabilia and bespoke items. Even if you’ve run out of your student loan, it’s worth a visit to marvel at the huge barn full of items to peruse. It’s truly a magical little place.
Dartmoor
It wouldn’t be right to talk about the gems of living in Plymouth without mentioning Dartmoor. Accessible by car and bus, the many tors of the Moors are worth climbing, exploring and enjoying, whatever the weather. With ancient walls still standing, rare birds and butterflies, vast woodlands and wild Dartmoor ponies, it’s easily one of the most beautiful living, breathing, working landscapes out there.
Plymouth Pavilions
Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF. Tel. 0845 146 1460 The city’s largest arena, with a 4,000 capacity, the Pavilions is where you’ll be seeing some of the biggest acts to pass through the city inside the arena. Host to festivals, live music acts, the Plymouth Raiders basketball team and comedians, it really is a hub of activity to keep an eye on.
Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AJ Tel. 01752 304774 Situated right in the heart of the city centre, and just opposite the University, the Museum and Art Gallery is spread over two floors with a variety of permanent and visiting exhibitions. With a cafe and a shop, and a huge events list updated regularly, and of course, free admission, you have no excuse not to take a look around.
Last Shop Standing Record Store Bretonside Bus Station, Plymouth, PL4 0BG. Tel. 01752 651109 Hidden in the bus station, Last Shop Standing serves music lovers throughout the city with new and re-releases on vinyl, CD and tape. The shop also offers rehearsal space in the evenings for local bands, so take note if you’re in need a place to jam.
Smeaton’s Tower
Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2NZ. Tel. 01752 304774 The iconic lighthouse sitting high on the Hoe’s promenade is one of the South West’s most well-known landmarks. Standing at 72 foot high,
P lym o u th C i t y M u se um a nd A r t G a l l e r y
Nat ional Marine Aquarium
Rope Walk, Coxside Plymouth PL4 0LF. Tel. 0844 893 7938 You simply can’t miss the UKs largest aquarium, found across a moving bridge on the edge of the Barbican. With over 400 species of animal, there’s all types of exhibits to explore, and some really tranquil places
wrestling
twenty six
S. Richards Photography
S A LTA S H S U M M E R S L A M Words by Neoma Stanford The wrestling started as a joke, as all good journalism should, and ended with a ride in a van across the Tamar bridge. A few months ago the posters started to show up around where I live – on the phone boxes and in the shop windows and in the bus stops and on the doors of the public toilets by the park. I tore one of the posters down one day and tacked it to my bedroom wall. Six faces stared back at me on a day-to-day basis for months, one with a mask, one with sunglasses, one with a ginger beard, and one man who’s hands were clawing at his own cheeks in some kind of (failed) attempt at conveying insanity. Certainly a jumping off point. On a Monday, or maybe a Wednesday, Naomi and I decided we should go to the wrestling – get high and go to the wrestling. So when the day arrived we took a bus over the bridge to Saltash, and even though it’s technically not Cornwall it felt a bit like a holiday. I tried to go for a wee in an alleyway but no luck. Come to think of it, maybe it was the excitement. We’ve already contacted the promoters about press passes and when we arrive a punchy blonde girl assures us that we are welcome, that we can sit anywhere we like, and that there will be a chance for interviews after the show if we so desire. We do not. We march straight back out of the building without really absorbing anything, and hunt for a quiet spot to smoke and no doubt get into the right head space.
The building is like a social club, in fact, it is a social club. Yes, Saltash Social Club; a hive of activity. Tiny plastic chairs everywhere, and what seems like hundreds of small children but is probably only about thirty. Children in wrestling masks, if you’ve never witnessed it, check it out, it’s really quite disconcerting. Even more intriguing than that is the dads. Fully grown men wearing wrestling masks, wrestling t-shirts (or no t-shirt at all) and expectant grins on their faces is a horror rivalled only by the actual wrestlers themselves.
"WE FIND OURSELVES JOINING IN AS GROWN MEN THROW EACH OTHER ONTO THE FLOOR IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS REFERRED TO AS A POWERSLAM" We’re pretty sure we see ‘sausage nuggets’ on the menu behind the bar and speculate for a moment about what this could mean – nugget shaped chunks cut out of sausages, or sausages in the shape of nuggets? Who knows? Who really cares? The wrestling has started and the ring announcer looks an awful lot like Ron Howard. One of the wrestlers has entered with his ‘girlfriend’ and they’re having an ‘argument’ – all eyes on them. The fighting is fake – obviously – but you wouldn’t know it listening to the sounds of the audience who’s chorus of oohs and ahhs fill the room.
Neoma Stanford, a recent graduate of Creative Writing and Literature at Marjons, enjoys little dogs, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and boat parties.
We find ourselves joining in a little as grown men throw each other onto the floor in what I believe is referred to as a powerslam. The first wrestler’s girlfriend goes off with the other guy because (I surmise) she refuses to be seen going out with a loser, she’s obviously yet to learn that her new boyfriend is a loser too, just a different kind of loser. The best bit is probably the girl on girl fight. There’s no aerial drops or loud bangs, but there is a shed load of attitude, and even a bit of hair pulling. You can’t fake that shit. It’s hard for us to comprehend how the wrestlers from previous fights haven’t learnt that they aren’t allowed to intervene, surely after all the times they’ve been told they would know by now? But no, they can’t help but keep getting involved. One of the men shouts “tramp” at a lady wrestler and inspires the children in the crowd – now eagerly banded together at the front – to do the same. They point fingers and shout “Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!” It’s pretty horrendous. At one point one of the wrestlers is thrown into the audience by his counterpart and the crowd is only too keen to give him a good whack themselves. So if you’re interested in punching a wrestler in the shoulder or back of the head then this is definitely the place for you. If you’ve never been to watch amateur wrestling, you should go, it really is a weird and wonderful experience. Catch the next show on October 5th at he Exeter Lemongrove.
twenty eight
local music
Inside the P lymouth music scene Words by Dom Wallace As venues are closed down all around us such as the White Rabbit, which is making room for Theo Paphitis’s luxury underwear brand, and minimal focus given to hardworking bands around Plymouth you may ask ‘’what is the music scene in Plymouth?’’ or ‘’how the hell are Mad Dog the biggest band to come out of Plymouth?’’. The answer to the former will be hopefully be answered in this article and the answer to the latter is because they’re great and you’re not Plymothian if you don’t think so. My short experience of playing in a band, our first gig being June 22nd at Tiki Bar, has revealed to me a certain parallel between two vastly different musical experiences within Plymouth. The parallel exists between lesser known acts that charm the pubs and clubs along Mutley Plain and North Hill and the Council organised corporate rubbish that rears its head every so often in an attempt to put Plymouth on the ‘musical map’. My personal experience of this was playing an open mic night at the Junction on the same night as MTV Crashes. Expecting the night to be dead, we were pleasantly surprised with the decent amount of people who turned up to see my band amongst the other highlights of the night. These included the Junctions infamous Vic who turns up every Tuesday night to tell his tales of woe and joy and Worried Shoes whose unique sound should be the forefront of alternative rock in the UK, and I don’t say that lightly. Unfortunately Plymouth has a limited amount of musical attention, meaning they, amongst others, will be largely underappreciated as the musical highlight of the year comes from MTV Crashes. An event boasting a narrow definition of ‘music’, meaning our city was graced with mundane chart-toppers in a pitiful attempt to culture our ‘ocean city’. The rate in which a band can grow here is severely limited due to the 183 mile distance between here and London, however the personal appreciation and enjoyment out of the process of making and performing music in Plymouth is hugely rewarding. This is something I’ve discovered after the arduous task of getting past my own egotistical dreams of grandeur. Performing original music live is always a personal risk as you expose your inner most
thoughts to a crowd of unsuspecting friends and strangers who 80% of the time have come down to see you as an excuse to get drunk. However there’s definitely a shared affection for music that Plymouths inhabitants sometimes channel and the difference between the o2 arena and a sticky floored basement venue become minuscule. At the time that is.
“T he r e I S A N U N D E N IABL E SHARED ENT HUSIASM F OR MUSIC IN P LYMOUT H WHIC H ST EMS FROM VARIED INFLUENC ES T HROUGH MULT I P L E S UB - C ULT UR E S " Nevertheless a group of artisans on a student’s wage or less can become volatile as amps melt and strings break. Especially so considering the average annual income in Plymouth doesn’t even qualify for repaying student fees. Luckily enough certain venues are able to take some of the weight of the shoulders of musicians. Geoff Heap, events host at the Junction, offers his own amplifiers and drum kit as a permanent part of the Junction’s stage and it’s these sorts of opportunities that help to propel amateur bands into gigging. Furthermore certain showcases of local talent are regularly organised such as the recent Level Up day (31 August). Unfortunately these brilliant events do not experience enough attention for the quality of music offered. What Plymouth could benefit from is a dedicated source for information featuring a range of original, local, quality up and coming bands every weekend for a cheap price. Where experience and popularity isn’t an issue as new musicians learn the ropes and crowds of varied ages can experience, and enjoy live music.
There is an undeniable shared enthusiasm for music in Plymouth which stems from varied influences through multiple subcultures. These sub-cultures tend to overlap regularly especially so when you witness your mum’s middle aged friend moshing with a punk flutist and a barefoot hippie. The expectance of a dedicated, lively and regular music scene stems from these sub-cultures but it seems promoters give more focus to acts from other parts of the country. In all honesty, bands from other locations are nothing but positive for the scene here but promoters tend to use all of their time and resources on these bands rather than helping the struggling local bands who are left to fend for themselves in terms of promotion, which can seem to be an insurmountable task for many. In a more positive light, Plymouth does feature a range of fantastic live acts whose activities can be followed on Facebook. Some personal favorites of mine include noise-rock band Wyfofbath whose terrifying stage presence is absolutely mesmerizing as your ear drums are thundered upon and your muscles quake. The powerful blues-rock influenced Karabelas, a local three piece, is one of the more unique and professional sounds in Plymouth. The howls of Worried Shoes have kept people moving throughout the summer with their mixture of light and darker tones. And finally the ingeniously named Sexy Offenders who are a valued aspect of Plymouths popular punk scene with their ‘no guitarist policy’ leaving a void filled by a flute and saw player, making for some crazy noises and a riot of a time. Although inexperienced and struggling to find our place, my band Black Dog have not been disheartened by our experiences. Whether the music scene is struggling or not, it’s the people of Plymouth and their ‘why not?’ attitude that keeps us coming back for more, as well as the pleasure of working with such inspiring and enthusiastic musicians, hosts and sound techs. Black Dog are a post-punk indie band who can be found on Facebook. Our upcoming gigs can be found in the listings segment of the magazine.
twenty nine
student homes in plymouth
STUDENTS GET TOP QUALIT Y ACCOMMODAT ION WITH STUDENT HOMES IN PLYMOUTH With one of the biggest student populations in the country, Plymouth has inevitably attracted a growing number of companies offering student accommodation.
located in the Mutley, North Hill and North Road East area,” said Julie, “which means they are all within easy walking distance of the university and city centre.”
They include big national names such as Unite and the Student Housing Company who have a significant presence in the city.
Having started with just one property, Student Homes in Plymouth now has a portfolio of 13 properties - varying in size from flats suitable for two students
students, mostly from the UK but also from overseas. They offer all-inclusive rents, which includes all bills and broadband. Unlike most letting companies they do not take a deposit - but do charge for any damage that may be caused. All of their properties are ‘A’ graded by Plymouth University reflecting the quality
But for one Plymouth family, offering quality accommodation for students has become a real labour of love.
Julie, “and between us there is always someone available should any problem arise. “We’ve had over 50 testimonials rating us 10/10 on the Accommodation for Students (AFS) website and were delighted to be the first landlords in Plymouth to awarded the AFS National Landlord of the Month.” Recent testimonials include: “I have had the pleasure of living in Julie and Stuart’s houses for 2 years and can say that I have never had better landlords. The houses are very well kept and if anything needs fixing they are very quick to get it done. I would highly recommend them!! 10 out of 10!!”
Julie and Stuart Harris have owned and run student houses in the city for more than 25 years - and have established an enviable reputation for their company, Student Homes in Plymouth. The business has grown rapidly over recent years and the couple’s son Sam is now heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the enterprise. “We have seen really big changes in the market since we started out in the 90s,” said Julie. “When we first started the business our properties were mainly in the Peverell area. But over the years it has became obvious that students want to live as close to the university campus as possible.
to houses for up to 11, which are let on an individual room basis or to groups of students.
of the accommodation and the thought and investment put into their property and maintenance programme.
“As a result all our properties are now
The company now accommodates more than 80
“We’re a really hands on business,” said
“I think I struck gold finding this house! Nice and spacious, modern kitchen and bathroom - with a wonderful shower! The house had no issues, and anything that needed doing Julie, Stuart or Sam popped over and sorted with no fuss. They even bought us light bulbs when we didn’t need them, just in case we should. This house is so close to Mutley, bus routes, the train station and uni. Couldn’t fault the house or the landlords at all. Great communication between us and them.” For more information contact Student Homes in Plymouth on 07966 347971 or visit www.studenthomesinplymouth.co.uk
face of african fashion week
thirty
T HE FACE OF AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON
London in a poll which attracted thousands of votes from all over the world. ‘I worked as a volunteer in the event’s press office last year, and loved it,” said Chi-Chi. “So when the competition for the Face of Africa Fashion Week London was launched in March, I decided to enter - never expecting to win!” Originally from Nigeria, Chi-Chi moved to the UK with her family as a child and came to study in Plymouth four years ago.
Chi-Chi Nwuba was earlier this year voted the Face of Africa Fashion Week London and represented the event between August 7 and 9 at various press conferences and photo-shoots - as well as appearing on the catwalk as a model. Chi-Chi, who studied dentistry at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, was voted as the Face of Africa Fashion Week
“I loved my time in Plymouth,” she said, “and made lots of friends - especially from the River Church which I attended during my time in the city.” Chi-Chi now lives in Kent, but returned to Plymouth in July for her graduation ceremony. Alongside her career as a dentist, she wants to help promote fashion designers from Africa.
2015 96 NORTH HILL, PLYMOUTH, PL4 8EX
the hive mind
thirty two
T H E H IV E MI N D Comics! Remember when you were a kid and comics were the answer to everything? Still throbbing from a visit to the dentist? Comic. Need to kept occupied during a flight? A few comics. It’s the school holidays and your parents have run out of things to do with you? A lot of comics!
one as big as Cage’s - but he’s an avid collector too. If you want to find out more about the fascinating world of American comic books then a visit to The Hive Mind in Plymouth’s West End is a must. Proprietor Stacey Goff is a selfconfessed comic book fanatic. Now aged 35 his interest in comic books goes back to the age of 15 when, as a fan of the movie Aliens, he discovered that publishers Dark Horsehad launched a series of comics based on the movie. He was hooked! Stacey said: “My local shop in Exeter kept back my favourite adventure comics and I’d travel week in week out from my home in Axminster to get them.”
For many, the obsession may not have ended in childhood. These days, a passion for comic books can be worn as a badge of honour. Many celebrities boast that they have big ones - comic book collections, that is. Probably the biggest of the lot was movie star Nicolas Cage - his entire comic book collection sold at auction for more than 1.5 million dollars. TV presenter Jonathon Ross doesn’t have
It soon became clear that just one title was not enough for this budding geek and so his love for Spiderman was born. From there he discovered the wonders of X-Men, Hulk and others and his passion just grew and grew. After moving from East Devon to Plymouth some 10 years ago he wanted to carry on collecting, but arrived just after the closure of the city’s main
comic book shop. “I was distraught,” said Stacey, “but then I heard that a couple of the staff were opening up a new shop selling games and comic - and I quickly became a regular customer.
comic book collectors to take out subscriptions for their favourite titles. It gives them total peace of mind and means they won’t miss any editions.”
“I ended up helping out at the shop and in 2012 took over the comic book side of the business completely, renaming it The Hive Mind as a nod to the Aliens title that started it all,” added Stacey.
The Hive Mind is always looking to purchase and exchange, offering a 10% discount on all orders of graphic novels. “We will beat any new graphic novel price compared with other outlets,” said Stacey.
His new larger shop at 2, Frankfort Gate opened just a few weeks ago and has literally thousands of the most popular and collectible comic books in stock ranging in price from just 50p. He imports latest issues from the USA, with Spiderman, Batman, X-Men and the Incredible Hulk among the favourites.
The Hive mind’s opening hours are 10am to 5pm Mondays and 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. Visit Facebook: The Hive Mind Plymouth for all the latest news. Tel 07847 508104
The Hive Mind also stocks a big collection of sophisticated grown-up board games including favourites such as Walking Dead, Games Flux and ‘the insanely popular’ Magic the Gathering. The Hive Mind’s customer-base embrace all age groups and includes a growing number of regular customers who subscribe for copies of their monthly titles. Stacey said: “We encourage
Find The Hive Mind at 2 Frankfort Gate, Plymouth PL1 1QD
world of warcraft
thirty four
ME AND WORLD OF WARCRAFT
At 16, World of Warcraft offered a lot to me, fun, a chance to meet new people and an expansive gaming universe like none I had ever encountered before. I’d never previously played a massively multiplayer online game so the charm of running around a world where there were actually other humans, strangers I had never met and could interact with, in game, was intoxicating. When I first started playing, it was due to being fascinated by my boyfriend at the time and his account. I can still remember the excitement I felt when I watched him play it for the first time, running around the super-dangerous Redridge Mountains. I created a character called Maggie on his account (a human paladin) and thoroughly enjoyed every second I got to play her. I even went over to his house when he was at school so I could spend time levelling her up. We broke up as many young teenagers inevitably do and due to a terrible dial up connection at my parents house there was no way I could get and play the game
for myself. It was around this time that I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism, and my life was changed considerably. The condition and the course of treatment that I was on meant that my already chaotic adolescent hormones became even more so and a lack of understanding or real support from my friends or teachers made life miserable to say the least. One of the biggest things I struggled with at the time were anxiety and depression. My parents (thankfully) decided that getting me a computer and internet connection capable of running World of Warcraft would give me something to look forward to every day as I struggled to see the light at the end of the thyroid tunnel. I can honestly say that it was the best thing they ever did for me. Through World of Warcraft and my new paladin, Emsey, I made some amazing friends and joined a fantastic guild full of accepting and welcoming people. I was able to be myself and openly talk about my problems to those who due to the diversity of the online family I had joined were more mature and experienced than my peers at school. I was never made to feel crazy for being over-emotional or a drama queen for having panic attacks when thinking about leaving the house. WoW and my guild, Fellowship of Light became my solace, somewhere I felt safe and the only place I felt happy. Throughout my 3/4 years of dealing with hyperthyroidism before it finally normalised, I turned to WoW and my friends there whenever I was in need. Even on my insomniafilled nights where there were few online, I would travel around Azeroth and enjoy the escape from my real world. Since I had such an emotionally-charged introduction into the game I developed a real connection and even gratitude for it. I would definitely not be where I am today without its influence in my life. Several years on, I’m 26 and I am still playing. Despite several breaks here and there I have always come back because, well, WoW is my home. Last year I was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid, which came about after having my son. It’s a rocky road and I have a much better support system now but it’s really nice to have that sense of security that is World of Warcraft ready and waiting for me should I need it.
Emily Walker is a lover of gaming and penguins. She’s also editor of GameGrin.com where her years of gaming experience has finally paid off!
thirty five
RESTAURANT reviews
by Neoma Stanford
CAFFEINE CLUB 46 Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX Tel. 01752 263910 Caffeine Club is great because it’s so close to the uni and the art college, as well as the pubs and clubs of North Hill. The atmosphere is lovely; it feels like a relaxed bar with music and cocktails, but also serves coffee and food. In the daytime students find this to be a good place to grab some food and study, while at night it’s somewhere you can go and have a few drinks. The décor is amazing, check out the mural upstairs on the lefthand wall – trust me, you can spend hours looking at that thing. There’s a selection of foods to choose from including burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs, as well as an extravagant cocktail menu and creative milkshakes from £2.99. One thing I would recommend trying is the salads. The prices all appeal to students and are fairly reasonable. Also appealing is the outside seating which is particularly good in the summer when you want to get something to eat or drink but don’t want to be stuck inside. Since Caffeine Club is conveniently open twenty four hours a day and is so close to the uni, you have no excuse not to pop in.
GOODBODY’S 49 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6JQ. Tel. 01752 668888
If you haven’t already heard or been to Goodbody’s then chances are you are a first year student from some distant town. If so, welcome to Plymouth! We’re sure you will have visited within the next few weeks on the recommendation of friends anyway, but if for some reason this doesn’t or hasn’t happened, let us educate you. A greasy spoon with a twist, Goodbody’s is the place to go when you’re in need of a hangover cure in the form of a massive breakfast for only £3.95 and a pint for £2.95. There’s also a great selection of deals, these vary from week to week but usually include a meal and a drink for around £6.00. If you’re feeling particularly thrifty there’s even a Groupon voucher. It’s open twenty four hours, so whether you’re just finishing your night out and in need of sobering up, or recovering from the night before, Goodbody’s is always there for you. The
restaurant reviews
student houses
menu is nothing short of colourful, including the infamous ‘gutbuster’ milkshake, American style oversized portions, and wonderfully inventive breakfasts such as the Indian breakfast, the sunnyside-up steak breakfast, and the champagne breakfast. As well as the food, this is a great place to come because the atmosphere is brilliant. If you’re venturing in on a night out, be prepared for some giggles at your fellow drunkards ordering way too much food and generally making fools of themselves. The booths make it an excellent place to sit in relative privacy with friends and the walls are covered in all sorts of weird and wonderful artefacts so you’ll never be short of something to look at. Lastly, its ideal location on Mutley Plain means that it’s near to the pubs, as well as being right in the heart of Plymouth’s student community, so there’s no excuse not to pay it a visit!
SECO LOUNGE 12-15 Mills Bakery, Plymouth, PL1 3RP.
NCED •FRIENDLY EXPERIE TEAM TO HELP YOU
Tel. 01752 229375 A visit to Seco Lounge feels like a trip to a restaurant in Covent Garden in a way; it’s location in Royal William Yard boasts spectacular views and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Plymouth. If you’re seeking out a venue for a dining experience – rather than just a meal – then this is the place to come. There’s a great variety of foods, from bacon buttys and breakfasts with a twist, to tapas. Don’t get me wrong, these are not Goodbody’s prices, but they’re certainly not unreasonable. A bacon butty will set you back £3.25 and there’s a selection of panninis for around £6.50. The staff are all pretty accommodating and there are vegan and gluten free options on the menu. The relaxed atmosphere, beautiful décor, outside seating and free wifi make this an ideal place to come and sit with your books or laptop and study in a friendly environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Grab a drink and some food and sit outside with a view of the waterfront, surrounded by the breathtaking former Naval buildings, and relax. This is also a great place to come for a dinner party with friends. There’s a private dining room available for hire called ‘The Wardroom’ which seats 80 people and has its own bar and toilets, perfect for a birthday party or initiation evening. P.S. Students, if you’re looking for a job to juggle with your studies, these guys have a high turnover of staff and are always looking for new waiters and bar staff.
ANCE N E T IN A M E S U O H IN • T TEAM -24/7 CALL OU OVIDED R P K C A P E M O C L E W • ED
IR •NO DEPOSITS REQU
PW P P 0 6 £ M O R F S E IC R P •
01752 225995 44 Drake Circus Plymouth
Spec iali in go sts o quali d t acco mmo y datio n
BOO K NOW
www.drakehomes.co.uk
recipe
thirty six
S U P E R SMOOTHIES Recipe by Neoma Stanford
Reenergise and revitalise with this easy to make and delicious smoothie. Raspberries are a great source of fibre and Vitamin C. Bananas contain vitamin-B6 and are a source of magnesium and potassium. Spinach is amazing, we should all be eating much more of this than we do and smoothies are a brilliant way to get this into our diet. It’s full of iron, potassium, vitamin-A and omega 3 fatty acids – all round goodness! The green tea is a powerful antioxidant and improves immune system functioning. These ingredients come together to make a smoothie that’s healthy and filling.
Serves 2 1 Punnet of Raspberries 1 banana About 3 big handfuls of spinach 1 cup of green tea (chilled) The juice of half a lemon 3 teaspoons of chai seeds
Blend and enjoy!
chips chips with dip cod haddock hake plaice china sole lemon sole scampi
1.85 2.35 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.70 3.00 4.00
2.55 3.05 4.30 4.30 4.20 4.30 3.60 4.60 3.50
sausage jumbo sausage fish cake
0.80 1.60 1.10
burger in bun cheese burger 1/4 burger 1/4 cheese 6oz burger 6oz cheese burger chicken burger veggie burger
1.50 1.70 2.50 2.70 3.00 3.20 2.40 1.90
1/2 chicken chicken nuggets veggie fritter pea fritter onion rings
3.00 2.20 1.50 1.30 1.50
baked beans curry sauce mushy peas faggot gravy dips for chips roll & butter pineapple fritter banana fritter can of drink
0.80 0.90 0.90 1.20 0.60 0.50 0.45 1.50 1.50 From 0.75
All prices correct at time of going to press
game/music reviews
thirty eight is attacked by a horde of undead minions. After this brief dream sequence, which acts as a tutorial, the unnamed protagonist enters an ancient cave where he is struck down and killed by a Shadow Lord, a powerful being from the underworld. He’s brought back to life by an eccentric witch doctor, albeit without his soul, beginning his quest to regain his essence and quell the undead forces.
Game review by Matthew Girdler, computing graduate from Plymouth University
PS3/XBOX/PC RISEN 3: T ITAN LORDS / developed by PIRANHA BYTES /PUBLISHED BY DEEP SILVER
The combat’s mix of melee, guns and magic brings to mind that of Fable 2, but it’s handled much less elegantly here. Where Lionhead’s RPG had smooth, responsive combat, Risen 3 prioritises animations and defensive play to the point that most battles are spent blocking and evading while watching your near-invincible party member deal out the damage for you. It’s basically manageable (but still not fun) when there’s just one or two enemies, but any time you’re up against a big group you can expect every one of your sword swishes to be interrupted while it’s just winding up.
Risen is a series that has been trucking along for a few years, holding a loyal but relatively small fanbase. Now the latest title, Risen 3: Titan Lords, has arrived. But have German developers Piranha Bytes finally done enough to hit the big time? Well, the answer is... Probably not. It provides an enjoyable experience, but doesnít change the formula enough to gain the mainstream appeal of similar titles.
Magic isn’t handled in the traditional way; instead of having mana that regenerates over time, spells scrolls are singleuse, and can be bought or found in the world. This made me reluctant to use them until I really needed to, and as a result I barely used them at all. When I did use the spells they were destructive and pretty, but there’s no real lock-on mechanic, making it difficult to actually hit your enemy with them. Thankfully, things get better later when you gain items and spells that can be used whenever you like, provided you leave them enough time to recharge.
For the uninitiated, Risen is an old-school third-person RPG in the vein of Dragon Age and Skyrim, albeit on a smaller budget to those franchises. The first Risen title featured a generic medieval setting, but 2 saw a more swashbuckling theme, complete with eye patches, peglegs and parrots. Risen 3 continues this approach, spinning a tale of piracy, dark magic and the underworld.
Risen 3 also changes things up with its levelling-up system; rather than earning XP which increases the level of your hero, you gain Glory by completing quests and defeating enemies. Glory can be spent on increasing your attributes at any time, as long as you have enough to do so. It’s a minor change, but being able to pop into the character screen and tweak my hero whenever I wanted nicely streamlines the process.
new abilities such as blacksmithing, distilling, intimidation, and riposting, you’ll have to talk to instructors scattered around the world. Each instructor offers a different set of abilities, and there’s no way to know who can teach what without going and talking to them, which is a massive pain when you’re looking to improve a certain aspect of your hero. It’s unfortunate, because I generally enjoyed the routine of hopping from island to island, exploring new lands and completing quests. This is probably where Risen 3 is at its best; there’s lots of interesting level design, quests and characters to find throughout your travels. On the graphical side of things, Risen 3 impresses. From gloomy underground mines, to lush tropical forests and white sandy beaches, the gameís environments are detailed and varied. Character models are a significant improvement over its predecessor, and animations are fluid. The UI is also snappy and clean which makes sorting through loot quick and simple. Risen 3 suffers from a clunky combat system, some extremely cheesy voice acting and a number of small bugs, and yet I kept finding myself drawn into the game’s atmosphere and sense of adventure. Its fantasy tale never ventures into uncharted territory, but remains enjoyable thanks to a beautiful and varied world, solid questing and interesting level design.
The game opens with our gruff hero on a pirate ship as it The game’s skill system isn’t as good though. In order to learn
MUSIC
REVIEWS by Seth Hanney
Despite production duties from Dangermouse and Paul Epworth, there’s no sense of urgency or innovation on this record. I feel like that Bono and his gang are happier to hire “Yes men” to help foster their stillborn ideas to the world. There’s no merit afforded to this record. U2 have killed the idea of an album being special and hardworked for. Giving this record away for free proves this.
CURRENT SONGS OF INNOCENCE
the dreariness of their surroundings and make music that sounded vital and cosmopolitan. While many of the trappings of this record: slap bass, strings, trumpets became the cornerstones for a lot of 80’s pop, this is the rosetta stone. “Many Happy Returns” and “Tears Are Not Enough” are deeper cuts of this album that reward in the unfamiliar and help make the record feel like a well thought out and sequenced snapshot of a time in pop where ideas and hunger were all it took to make timeless music.
/ U2
ISLAND
Unless you’re a militant Android user who eschews news of Google’s competitors, you’ll know that Apple recently dropped a U2 into every iTunes account for free. Instead of it being the grandest benevolent act of a company reliant on slave labour and poor work conditions, it felt like being haunted by a long forgotten bowel movement as it crawled slippery, wet and brown from the toilet. Sure, there have been points in U2’s career where they’ve seemed relevant, passionate, even ahead of the curve. Go and listen to Achtung Baby if you don’t believe me. Those times are long behind them now. Old age and complacency gets most bands in the end, U2 just live up to the cliche.
CLASSIC LEXICON OF LOVE / ABC NEUTRON RECORDS
You’ve heard at least one song from this album, I promise you. The two bangers on this record are the big 80’s singles, “Poison Arrow” and “The Look Of Love (Part 1)”. 1982 was a very long time ago, I don’t need to tell you this but in this hyper-airbrushed era, there’s a novelty, naivety and sheer-bloody mindedness that you don’t hear in pop music from 2014. Hailing from Sheffield, ABC were one of many bands that sought to shake off
LOCAL GNARWOLVES / GNARWOLVES BSM RECORDINGS PURE NOISE RECORDS
Having decamped from the South-West to Brighton, Gnarwolves slip into to this local review section by being a kind-of local band as there were no other albums to review.
These punks serve up the kind of hardcore pop that you’ll hear at any local alternative venue on a Tuesday night. Hardcore punk is more of a to-do list than a rebellion these days. I find myself ticking of the elements you would expect to hear: fast bits, check, breakdowns, check, gang vocals, check, swearing, check, songs about drinking and smoking, check. It would be nice to hear a hardcore record that used some imagination to break out of the shackles of the genre. A relatively short running time, natch, means that the record zips along in no time and it didn’t make me want to go back listen again. This is alternative music in the 21st century. No real sense of dangerous rebellion, it’s a string of empty cliches that don’t really reflect anything. That’s sad. Gnarwolves, stop gazing at your fucking navel and write a record that truly says something. I dare you.
thirty nine
agony aunt ellie
If you would like Ellie to help you with your problems, send us over an email at hello@ps-zine.com
agony aunt ellie Ellie likes tea, cats and tie-dye. She doesn’t like snakes and when her friends are sad. We thought that was the best criteria for an agony aunt we’d ever heard. Me and my boyfriend are entering into the next phase of our lives which involves us having a long distance relationship. Our relationship is great, we have always had our independence and we always have a lot of fun when we’re together. We vow to talk regularly on the phone and will send each other photos of our days. My only worry is that things may get more difficult as time goes on. Have you got any advice? My opinion: Long distance relationships (LDRs) are fantastic. Seriously. I’m delighted that you and your man already lead independent lives (that’s half the battle already won), and I think it is super great that you are confident enough in your commitment to each other to take this next step on your own individual journeys. Round of applause for the young couple who might actually manage to sustain an ADULT relationship. Just wonderful. It sounds like you have already discussed ways in which the two of you can keep up contact, and remain involved in each other’s lives. LDRs are probably the only area of human social contact where we can actually benefit from otherwise socially inhibiting ‘social’ networking sites. Sharing photos of your days, talking regularly and using video chat apps will make you feel connected, despite the physical distance between you. Keep it private though, yeah? No-one likes their news feeds to be clogged up with endless ‘I love you’ memes. Gross. I guess the most important piece of advice I can offer is this: Get used to the idea that sometimes you will feel lonely. And when you are lonely, the offer of a cuddlefuck from a well-meaning ‘friend’ can be pretty appealing. These waves of temptation will come and go, but caving in won’t ever substitute the person you are really missing. In fact, it’ll eventually end the relationship. Choosing convenience over true love *vom* isn’t a good idea, and it’ll end in tears. Many, many tears. If you can’t cope with the lack of regular physical contact, GET A CAT. Time will tell whether the relationship will work. So long as you remain honest with each other about how you are feeling and communicate openly, then you guys should do just fine. Your paths will cross again, and you can settle down when you are old and boring, but for now, be young and follow your dreams. Love will find a way. It always does. I’m worried about my best friend, he began taking drugs to help him stay awake for some intense deadlines at uni,
but he seems to be indulging more and more often. All his money gets spent on cocaine, he never seems to leave his darkened room and I’m all up for having some fun but I think it’s going too far now. What can I do to help him understand that his habit is getting out of hand?
since and has promised it would never happen again. I’m all over the place and I don’t know what to do, I want to forgive him and give him another chance, but then again every time I think about it, it leaves me feeling really awkward and upset. What should I do?
The short answer is: with difficulty. Soz! The thing about cocaine is, it’s a bit moreish. A lot moreish. Unless your friend already recognizes that it’s time to stop hanging out with Charlie, you have a big ol’ fight on your hands. A fight which you have every right to bow out of sans judgment. Our obligations to our friends extend only so far as our own limits will permit. In short, unless you are prepared to stand in the way of hurricane Shitstorm for this guy, then step the fu*k away and let someone else deal with him.
I’m really glad that you have sought some advice on this. It’s a really brave thing to do. It’d be super easy to tell no one and act like this never happened, but it has and it needs to be dealt with properly. So well done! Firstly, there are a few things you need to avoid doing:
If, however, you are hell bent on helping your friend, which is no less admirable than it is brave, maybe start by saying nothing at all. Situations trigger cravings, so try hanging out somewhere new or different that he hasn’t already associated with getting high. If things have gone too far for such a gentle approach, then an intervention might be necessary. Call on his family or close friends to back you up and tell him outright that his behaviour needs to change. Depending on how far you are prepared to go to help him, it may be necessary to take away his bank cards and cash and car keys for a short time, while the coke fog clears. Do not try to fix this on your own, and do not expect any gratitude. You will fast become the villain in this, and until his cycle has been broken, and rationality prevails, you may well be un-friended on the grounds of being the stealer of the fun! You are not. You are brilliant. He is very lucky. Addiction is a messy game, and above all an illness. Your compassion alone might not be enough to fix this, and you could end up getting badly hurt in the process.
1) DO NOT under any circumstance defend his behaviour. Regardless of the factors which lead to the incident, it is inexcusable, and the more this is hammered into his skull, the more likely it is to stick. (Disclaimer: Please don’t use an actual hammer. That would be very silly indeed, and the resultant brain damage would probably impair his memory anyway. Or he would die.) 2) Having explored the options, should you decide to forgive his actions and continue with the relationship, do not use the incident as a tool to win future arguments. The only way you will ever move on from this is if you BOTH deal with it and flush it away like a horrible shit. Because this is shit, and nobody should be holding onto a shit. Ok? Good.
* Doug Stanhope
No one, regardless of how angry or drunk they are, has the right to hit another human. It’s just not very nice. I don’t doubt that your boyfriend is remorseful, but words are just words and I would hope that he is prepared to demonstrate through his actions that this will never happen again. A good first step would be to explore your issues through relationship counselling. It may sound daunting, but it would give you both a neutral space to talk honestly about your feelings with the support of a counsellor. Relate ( www.relate.org.uk) can offer you specialist help and support. Additionally, encourage your other half to access some anger management through his GP. Not only will this be a really helpful way for him to explore his own difficulties, it’ll also reinforce his promise that this won’t happen again, and will offer you the peace of mind that your boyfriend is as committed to your relationship as you seem to be.
So recently myself and my boyfriend had a heated argument, and during a shouting match, he lashed out and hit me. Everything went quiet before he began apologising, he knew what he’d done was wrong. He hasn’t stopped saying sorry
Some people do change, but don’t assume that your boyfriend will be one of them. It is really important that you give this some serious thought before committing to continuing with the relationship. Hope this helps, and good luck with everything.
You have a choice to walk away from this, just as your friend can choose whether or not to continue abusing narcotics with such Stanhopian* flare. Maybe pointing him in the direction of professional advice would be the safest bet. Try www.harbour. org.uk for more advice and local support. Good luck!
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