I Pity The April Fools! Wooooosh! April has swung into view just in time for us all to remember what the sun feels like…that’s right, bloody amazing! The sun might have his hat on but it’s still pretty chilly – just try and hold out for a few more weeks and try not to fall into the trap of wearing shorts and flip-flops to the shops yet or you’ll regret it as soon as there’s a light breeze. Plus, noone likes the pasty legs of an over-eager optimist. April also sees the 3rd issue of SY On The Sly, the sister publication of Suit Yourself Magazine – Bristol’s number one independent, quarterly magazine which investigates, uncovers and promotes everything that makes Bristol such a fun, vibrant and altogether amazing place to live. Read away and don’t forget to check out the latest issue of Suit Yourself Magazine, our listings service and our constantly updated blog, all found at: www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk
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3/ I Pity The April Fools 6/ Destination Bristol 8/ £2billion Green Investment for Bristol 12/ SY Meets‌Skins 14/ Spring Cleaning 17/ Auntie Harper A Sly look back at March 20/ The best of Gigs 32/ The best of Art 36/ The best of Clubs 40/ The best of Stage 44/ The best of Cinema A Sly look forward at April 50/ Recommended Gigs 57/ Recommended Art 61/ Recommended Clubs 66/ Recommended Stage 72/ Recommended Cinema 76/ Horoscopes by Mystic Ginger For those of you pretending to work, you can also read the magazine online at www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk or www.bristollistings.co.uk
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Destination? Brizzzzle! Thinking of getting away from it all and visiting a somewhere special for Easter? A weekend in Washington DC perhaps? A visit to Vienna? Maybe go frolicking in Fes? Or how about staying right here in Bristol? With over 800,000 cities to choose from around the world, DK Eyewitness Travel, the best-selling guidebook publisher, has chosen Bristol, yes, our Bristol, as one of their must-see top 10 cities in the world that must be visited in 2009! The news has come as a shock to some but Bristol has been quietly building momentum over the last few years, hoarding accolade after accolade for its sustainability and green credentials, cultural prowess, urban ingenuity and high quality of life. DK Eyewitness in its guidebook particularly mentioned Bristol’s Georgian architecture and historical attractions, its world class art and media centres, the impressive shopping facilities, its ‘green’ appeal, and last but by no means least it celebrated our charming neighbourhood, pockets of individual charm and Bristol’s varied character and cultural offer.
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The other 9 cities on the list in no particular order are: Vilnius (Lithuania) Buenos Aires (Argentina) Seattle (USA) Washington DC (USA) Fes (Morocco) Copenhagen (Denmark) Gdansk (Poland) Vienna (Austria) Cape Town (South Africa) Recent figures show that Bristol is already the seventh most visited city in the UK with some 470,000 overseas visitors in 2007, along with over 7 million visitors from the UK, and this recognition now firmly puts fabulous Bristol on ‘the map’ Makes you proud to be part of it all, doesn’t it? Woop! Woop! www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk
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Big Money for Green Energy and Waste Management Things are moving on a huge scale locally in renewable energy and recycling with projects worth a possible £2billion proposed for Avonmouth alone. These would apparently be paid for by commercial investors and could, if the local, regional and particularly the national energy and waste strategies mix of technologies is right, contribute towards making Bristol much greener as well as creating many jobs. At this stage though the £2billion investment figure is somewhat speculative those in the know say it is a reasonable estimate! The Bristol Environmental Technology and Services Sector project (BETS) established about three years ago to get environmental technologies and services going in Bristol and the surrounding area are naturally intimately involved in all this. They say that nine different projects are being proposed in and around Avonmouth, including green power stations and recycling/waste operations. Full details of all these are not yet publicly available but it’s quite possible that debate will surround just how green some projects actually are and so these projects must be intimately inspected.
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What we do know is that The Port of Bristol already has three wind turbines, Bristol City Council wants to build two more and Wessex Water want four more. There are at least three proposals for biomass power stations burning such fuels as woodchip, along with some interesting ideas for combined heat and power facilities ones where waste heat is circulated and put to some use. The viability of this at Avonmouth however needs exploration - can the heat be efficiently used there? How? Then there are a number of possible ‘energy from waste’ proposals, from pyrolysis/gasification or ‘waste cooking’ plants to conventional mass incineration with energy recovery (electricity generation) – mass burning or other heat treatment of waste is very controversial. There are claims that Bristol is leading the green development agenda and could position itself as the so-called ‘green-collar capital’. There will be ongoing debate about how the scale of green investment matches the scale of the economic, climate and energy security problems though, with some calling for very large ‘green new deal’ plans to create an entirely different kind of economy and society out of the entwined economic and environmental chaos we now have. Glenn Vowles http://vowlesthegreen.blogspot.com
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SY Meets…Lisa Backwell aka Pandora from Skins Skins is so hot right now! It’s the country’s favourite TV show and as a result, it’s making s not Bristol so hot right now! We caught up with Lisa Backwell, one of only 2 cast member chat to be cut last series and the only member of the current cast who resides in Bristol, to everything Skins and Bristol! Woop! What would you like to see happen to Pandora in the next series? How has Bristol and its national perception changed since Skins started? Watch the whole interview here:
http://www.suityours sy-meets-lisa-backw 12
selfmagazine.co.uk/ well 13
Spring Cleaning Now that Spring has officially kicked-off, now is the perfect time to sort out your house. The quickest and easiest part of Spring Cleaning you can do, which will improve your life no end is getting rid of all the clutter, you’ve been hoarding over the last few years. Electrical items particularly we find emotionally difficult to part with but you can ensure they find a happy home by recycling them as part of your Spring Clean. Research shows that on average we each have at least 3 unused electrical items cluttering up our houses. That’s things like old kettles, mobile phones, computers, electric toys, stereos, digital watches, hairdryers, electric toothbrushes, TVs and are you really ever going to use that sandwichtoaster again?
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Get a grip! Loose that doomed; “I’m keeping it just in case,” mentality and do something useful with your old electrical items: - Electrical items that use disposable batteries, have a mains cable or need recharging can all be recycled and the raw materials can then be put to new uses; for example, a typical iron contains enough steel to make 13 food cans! They can all be dropped off at local recycling centres. - Or a few retailers will actually take back old electrical items in store. - Or friends, family or charities can put our old electrical items to better use. They can often be sold or swapped online. speak to The Sofa Project, they will love your unused electrical items! Or: www.recyclenow.com www.dontbinitbringit.org
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Check out Suit Yourself Magazine, the sister publication of SY On The Sly. Suit Yourself Magazine is a free, quarterly printed magazine that has been going strong for over four years and can be found in every shop, cafe, pub, club, restaurant, hairdresser, gallery and venue all over Bristol! Suit Yourself Magazine is an independent publication, a voice for all those young at heart, those interested in music, fashion, adventure, the arts, their environment and everything in between. A magazine which investigates, uncovers and promoters everything that makes Bristol such a fun, vibrant, and altogether amazing place to live. Pick it up on the streets of Bristol or read back issues at: www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk
Auntie Harper He’ll diss you to your face
I really wanna get one over on my mate, any tips for something to do to him for April Fools’ Day? Why wait to April Fools day? If you want to get one over on your mate then I wouldn’t waste time in asking a sadistic person like me. If he has a girlfriend then try to get hold of his mobile phone when he’s left it unattended and secretly replace her number with yours. At some unsuspecting moment later that day, send him a text telling him that his girlfriend has thrush....he’ll bloody love it! I was supposed to move in with my boyfriend this summer but he’s being a cockmuncher. What should I do?? I don’t know why you are complaining. If I discovered that my girlfriend was a muffmuncher then I’d think game-on! Maybe you could ask your boyfriend if he’d be willing to share around any of his meat for the privilege of you moving in with him? Is it wrong to stuff my face full of chocolate this Easter when I wouldn’t piss on Jesus if he was on fire? Would your mother be happy if she heard you speak like that? Don’t ever speak like that around your Auntie Harper. I suggest you spend the next 24 hours in front of an alter begging for forgiveness, because you’ll be eating a lot more than chocolate this year if I get my hands on you.
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Kid Carpet Saturday 7th March 2009 @ The Cooler, Bristol Well, last night was my first experience of that odd Bristol phenomenon, Kid Carpet, and it seems he as quite a following! I spoke to at least three die-hard Carpet fans who follow him to all his gigs and who were very keen that I listen to the lyrics and enjoy the gig – and really, those fans summed up the whole atmosphere of the night. The gig was staged at an intimate venue, The Cooler, and Kid Carpet was the last act of three, although his set was disappointingly short, he only played for about half an hour, it was bloody good fun while it lasted! The whole atmosphere was friendly, cosy and fun, Kid Carpet himself was energetic and entertaining, chatting to the crowd between tracks and leaping around like a nutter during the performance, inspiring much mad dancing from the crowd, led once again by Brizzle legend Big Jeff. The tracks themselves were lively, upbeat positive numbers, pretty tongue-in-cheek and a few with some light hearted social commentary - stuff about the credit crunch and anti-capitalism; ‘lets not worry about buying stuff we don’t need’ etc. Basically the message was that we shouldn’t worry, it’ll all turn out OK in the end and in the meantime, let’s have a bloody good dance and a few beers, which I duly did, and it was a bloody good laugh. Kid Carpet is no musical genius, but what he lacks in traditional musical training he matches with novel excitable genius, the man is a legend! He mixes up old classics, from funk to happy hardcore, he spits some pretty good, straight to the point lyrics and is so full of beans that you can’t help but like the fella! www.kidcarpet.co.uk
Natalie Burns
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Animal Collective Sunday 22nd March 2009 @ Trinity, Bristol Hailing from Baltimore, Animal Collective are an avant garde collective of musicians and have been working together since the early part of this decade; however, their latest album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, has proven to be their break into the mainstream and has garnered lofty acclaim from much of the music press. This probably goes some way to explain why tonight’s gig is a sell-out. After the initial issue with the power, Animal Collective got into full swing with songs merging from one to another in a mash of transcendental samples, vocal effects and loops. Tonight’s set featured heavily from the recent album but singles such as My Girls, received the loudest cheer of the evening and seemed to please certain members of the crowd more than the experimental layering of some of the other tracks. Interestingly, Also Frightened was reworked for the live set adding stronger beats and a heavier bass, which made for a much more exciting listening experience. Backed by a laser show and psychedelic slides, it was an event for the senses. Trinity is almost the perfect venue for a group like this; it echoes the uniqueness of the band and allows the music to surround you (just before you were brought back by a yelp from Panda Bear). The closing track before the encore, Brother Sport reminiscent of Orbital or Underworld, built and built to a crescendo inspiring much fistpumping joy. Animal Collective are cross-over at it’s best; they appeal to the experimental dance crowd whilst also pleasing the indie lovers with genre defying slices of techno-pysch-pop genius! www.myanimalhome.net Hazel Goodfellow
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Electric Six Wednesday 11th March 2009 @ Academy, Bristol With Support From: Tragedy Tonight’s gig action at the Academy will belong to the lure of the rock! Second up were the band that completely stole the show tonight - Tragedy. They are a “heavy metal tribute to The Bee Gees” which sounds like it should be horrendous but as these guys strut onto the stage glammed to the eyeballs in glitter and sequins with some fairly fantastic capes and lycra trousers, I was loving it! Tragedy take the most famous of disco songs like Staying Alive and turn them into metal anthems perfect to dance to. There wasn’t one person in the venue that wasn’t won over by the time they left the stage. There was the small matter of the headline act up next though in the shape of Electric Six and, after Tragedy’s warm-up, they hit the ground running. By the third song, the amazingly anthemic Dance Commander, the mosh pit was there to stay and everyone was either dancing or clapping along. Onstage they look like what happens when the socially awkward kids from school decide to form a rock band, but these forty something Americans know how to put on a show and all of their material is perfect to party to! The whole room erupts at the merest scent of the first few bars of High Voltage and explode at the announcement of Gay Bar! They play a couple of tracks from their last album Flashy but mainly stuck to all the crowd faves. They end the night by saying that they always thought Bristol was the best city in the UK to party and let’s face it, it is! www.electricsix.com Stu Freeman
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You Me At Six
Friday 6th March 2009 @ Academy, Bristol With Support From: Emarosa, The Spill Canvas Well, what a night! 3 outstanding bands who truly blew the place to pieces! They drew in a young crowd who were full of energy making it a very exciting evening. First up, six piece Emarosa from Kentucky, USA started with a bang. The boys were right on it tonight as their beatdowns pounded through the speakers, sending everyone insane on the dance floor. They got the whole room moving, arms and fists flying everywhere. The audience was warmed up nicely for the next act The Spill Canvas. These four boys from South Dakota, USA really picked up the pace as front man Nick Thomas ordered the crowd to start circle pits, jump high and go crazy – so we did just that! As everyone was going mental, you lost balance and got carried with the crowd as everyone’s feet lifted from the floor. They played a very enthusiastic set and
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interacted with the crowd amazingly well. Towards the end of their performance they pulled out a few classics which got everyone singing along. Headlining tonight were the almighty You Me At Six all the way from Surrey! They were the only English band playing tonight but they completely dominated the show. Both supports acts were bigging up the Surrey boys all night during their sets which built up a massive atmosphere which was certainly maintained throughout the show. Both new and old songs were sung as vocalist Josh Franceschi loved the fact the audience were screaming just as loud as him! Chants echoed around the venue from fans screaming for more, clapping theirs hands and stomping their feet, making as much noise as possible to entice the band back on. Their big hits including Save It For The Bedroom were saved for the encore as not one person in the room stood their with their mouth shut! Overall tonight was epic! All 3 bands put on amazing performances that just blew us away and did not fail to live up to their hyped up names. Keep on rocking boys! www.youmeatsix.co.uk Chloe Jackson
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Gojira
Saturday 21st March 2009 @ Academy, Bristol With Support From: Pilgrimz, The Eyes Of A Traitor k. Kicking off tonight were the 4-piece Pilgrimz coming all the way from Copenhagen, Denmar man The crowd were raring to go and so the boys blasted out phat and furious beats, front sang Max demanded the audience to start fights as he jumped down into the pit himself and base, amongst his fans. Pilgrimz received a good reaction from the UK by the very mixed fan for it was nice to see young people, middle-aged people and oldies all gathered in one room one thing; music! Apart Next up Hertfordshire based The Eyes Of A Traitor hit the stage blowing everyone’s mind! times from the 5 people in the room, including myself, who have seen these boys play many inted! before, no-one knew what to expect from this band. They were definitely not disappo The crowd welcomed these boys to their first ever gig in Bristol.
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hotter! As the room continued to get heated, Gojira took to the stage and got things ever one Everyone’s head was moving and hair flying everywhere from people windmilling, not , person in the room was standing still! The 4-piece progressive metal band from Boyonne France really put on a good show tonight. They were a very tight group who got their timings down to a tee! It was nice to see the mixture of people turn up and not just the stereotypical genre of people. the I was pleased to see these bands are still drawing in people with their music and not just look. If only more bands were like this huh?! www.gojira-music.com Chloe Jackson
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Two Door Cinema Club Tuesday 3rd March 2009 @ Louisiana Hailing from Bangor in Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club are representative of a new breed of band that effortlessly assimilate respectable musical influences into a bright, enlightened pop package. Channelling several decades of innovative guitar music with en vogue contemporary flourishes, they make post-modern guitar music that has dual appeal in its comfortableness and the intelligence it hints at. Tonight, at the Louisiana, Two Door Cinema Club play to only a handful of people. They deserve a wider audience given the mass appeal of their music. Sam Halliday’s guitar work sets them apart from other new-wave bands; tight and accomplished, it injects tension and depth into their sound. However, the absence of a live drummer, replaced tonight by an Apple Mac, limits the band’s spontaneity, confining each track to its pre-prescribed duration. New track, What You Know showcases Two Door Cinema Club’s ability to pull off complex, intense and danceable three minute pop songs. It builds, collapses to aid lyrical pathos and then explodes again with an impressive dynamism. The small crowd jerk along to the midsong instrumental breakdowns which conjure up the mathsy, white-funk of Foals. It is these moments that hint at the potential for the band if they were to push into more experimental territory.
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Lyrically, the band delivers more texture and narrative than the inane staccato poetry that currently dominates. The catchy single Something Good Can Work recalls The Born Ruffians with its abundance of yelps and rhythmic shifts whereas the luscious Nineteen evokes fellow countrymen Ash, with its ability to summon up that heady mix of summer haze and confused teenage love. Two Door Cinema Club are caught in a strange dichotomy: on the one hand much of their charm lies in their ability to distil difficult lyrical and musical ideas into frenetic pop songs, yet with the addition of a live drummer and a more expansive approach, they could really stretch the pop mould they operate so effectively within, if not break it all together. www.myspace.com/twodoorcinemaclub Tom Spooner
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Jacanda: Skimming Stones Released: 01/09 Folk-rock, country and jazz bundled together!? Well I never! I looked at the sleeve and thought I’d seen it all before but Jacanda have a certain rawness; a rawness that is articulated by those nostalgic Sunday drives. The pop song format with some delicious instrumental melodies let you loose yourself completely in them. The crescendos are combined with some dramatic solos (especially the saxophone on Shattered) that carefully break the songs up and give the instruments the leeway they need to really take hold. Their talents as solo musicians as well as what they can achieve simultaneously is what really makes Jacanda stand out! Kudos! The lyrics are interesting and combine well within the genres of the album to make one mammoth variety pack! But as the album keeps playing, you are left more with a subdued and sincere sentiment rather than a mass experimentation of each genre, which is the danger. With their obvious talent of making timeless music, these guys are going in the right direction. www.jacandamusic.com Skye Portman
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Dumb Founded: David Shillinglaw
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mythological and human forms has exploded on to the walls of Stoke
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attempts to visually portray how living i
minotaur suits and the vast array of nu
setting for Shillinglaw’s doodle covered
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Laura Snoa
w Exhibiting between Saturday 14th March and Saturday 25th April 2009 @ Here Gallery, Bristol
Here Gallery this month, don’t rush to get your head examined – this is not the first time David Shillinglaw’s colourful chaos of
es Croft’s small but perfectly formed art space. After his success last April exhibiting as part of the collective Them Lot, the
eturns for a solo show every bit as exciting, fun and manic as the first.
hen you’ve come to the right place. Dumb Founded addresses the complex interaction between us and our environment and
in this confusing world of ours forms our individual identities. David Bowie lyrics compete for attention with human figures in
umbers and symbols would be a Bletchley Park code breaker’s wet dream. The cellar of the Here Gallery acts as the perfect
d pieces as its cavernous depths imbue his work with the mysterious power of prehistoric cave paintings. Paint and pen spills
menagerie of symbols, numbers, words and characters have escaped from the confines of their frames.
eaning, each piece convincingly conveys the medley of ideas that run through the human imagination at any given point.
re also aesthetically beautiful. Shillinglaw’s partiality to certain teal, turquoise and sunshine yellow hues as well as his use of
’ signs, books, doors and scraps of wood as canvases give his work the feel of a lovingly made child’s collage.
endency towards the naïve – in his rendering of childlike sausage fingers for example – and the overwhelmingly chaotic, this
so showcases Shillinglaw’s carefully crafted black and white illustrations. By using interlocking body parts that appear as
’re straight out of a freakish biology textbook, larger beings are constructed, often complete with signature minotaur horns.
s sense of humour and his characters’ charisma create mesmerising artworks whether in anarchic mixed-media or tidy ink.
as Shillinglaw well knows, the quest to define the human condition is not as easy as a straightforward painting, but his
ieces successfully portray just how complex, messy and surprisingly beautiful the concept of identity really is.
dshillinglaw.co.uk
ad
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Monkey! Flash! Light! Friday 20th March 2009 @ Thekla Featuring Sets From: Feadz, Duke Dumont, Plimsouls, Contort Yourself, Stereo 8 One of Bristol’s best loved house and electro club nights was back with a bang this Friday as Monkey! Knife! Fight! returned to Thekla for a £4.99 extravaganza. With a little helping hand, in the form of a bursary from Smirnoff, the lights were turned out and every punter was issued with their own torch for a night of fun and debauchery. Smirnoff are awarding bursaries to club nights and promoters who are offering exciting and innovative approaches to partying as a part of their Night Vision initiative. Bristol’s very own M!K!F! was nominated by the likes of Rob da Bank, James Barten, Don’t Panic and Primary Talent and this is no real surprise as after 4 years these guys have really mastered the art of throwing a fantastic party!
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The extensive line up of DJ sets included Feadz, Duke Dumont, Plimsouls, Contort Yourself and Stereo 8 and they all pumped out excellent beats and remixes which had the crowd heaving and getting sweaty on the dancefloor. The music offered some dirty bass lines and party tracks which you can’t help but sing along to, and it’s impossible to keep the feet still! On a night that the Thekla was packed to the rafters, the absence of lights served mainly to disorientate the inebriated and add a sense of unanimity to everybody. Other than the occasional blinding of the eyes from time to time, the torches seemed to provide a never ending source of amusement for those on the dancefloor. Monkey! Flash! Light! increased to a feeling of claustrophobia in the relatively small venue and proved to make the night an altogether much more intense experience. www.myspace.com/monkeyknifefightbristol Jessica Penock
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Shit The Bed 8 Friday 6th March 2009 @ Lakota, Bristol
Featuring Sets From: Benga, Blackmarket, Youngsta, Fearless, Chef, Gemmy, Sinden, Ratpack, Fake Blood For those not acquainted with some of the cruder lexicon of today’s youth, ‘shit the bed’ is nifty piece of slang used to express delight and a certain element of surprise – something you’d proclaim if, for example, you found out that your sister’s new boyfriend was an AAA pass-wielding Erol Alkan. Or when, say, you discovered like many of Bristol’s chuffed bass lovers, that the phenomenal quartet of Benga, Sinden, RatPack and Fake Blood were due to headline Bristol promoters The Blast’s latest Lakota dancefest. Those unaware of this auspicious configuration could clearly see that something big was a-brewing as Stokes Croft filled with both hardened ravers and the bright-eyed youngsters that this night above others seems to attract. Once inside Lakota’s grimy walls, all were let loose like children in a rather ill-advised sweet shop, with every nook and cranny hiding yet another excruciatingly tasty beatmaker. Right at the top, a sweaty and predominantly male audience frantically moved to the pumping bass of Nicky Blackmarket, Youngsta and Fearless. Hench regular Chef and Punch Drunk’s Gemmy kept dusbters well and truly entertained, the latter right into the early hours of the morning.
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With such exciting adventures to be had upstairs, you would be understood, but probably not forgiven, for missing the fabulous four in Lakota’s main stretch. Those that braved the squeeze were rewarded with Croydonite dupstep maestro Benga, who kicked things off with his signature fusion of dub and grime. To follow was an eclectic set from genre-blending Sinden, whose catholic remixes of Basement Jaxx, Bjork and Mujava and a brief stint backing MIA on her Kala tour have made him a highly sought after man of the moment. Next up was a history lesson from legendary old skoolers Ratpack, who led Lakota to moments of euphoric nostalgia – despite most being too young or just too mashed to remember the first time round. Just as clubbers had recovered from a customary laser assault from Ratpack’s MC Evenson Allen, they were confronted head on by a bonerattling set from the enigmatic Fake Blood. Although the quest to identify this mystery man has almost subsided (most sources seem to have settled for The Black Ghosts’ DJ Touche), interest in his painstakingly crafted mixes and masterful splicing is still at its peak. As he twisted vocals from the likes of Little Boots and The Kills to pronounce “Fake Blood” – done by minutely chopping up the original vocal then reordering it to form his own tag – the crowd upped their excited gurns to shouts of applause. Apart from minor grumbles that some would have liked to see Fake Blood on a bit earlier, the night more than lived up to its ridiculously strong line-up. Keep a close eye on what The Blast boys have got planned next; chances are they’ve got a host of other spectacular DJs hidden up their beat-savvy sleeves. www.myspace.com/theblast_bristol Laura Snoad
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Don John
Showing between Tuesday 10th and Saturday 14th March 2009 @ Hippodrome, Bristol Whether you’d regard yourself as a fan of theatre or not, if you’ve never witnessed the utter brilliance of Kneehigh live then you’ve missed out. They are a Cornwall based theatre company that break down all the boundaries of conventional performance and think so far outside the box it is but a forgotten speck on the horizon; whilst all the time remaining completely accessible and utterly engaging. Their latest show, Don John, is no different. The action follows the rebellious, carefree and irresistible Don John (an extreme version of John Travolta in Grease) living life in the fast lane. He burns through town after town clad in leather, chalking up a list of drink and drug fuelled nights and bedded women, leaving his mark wherever he goes. He is the vessel for all our desires, but also our fears; becoming violent, dangerous and ultimately alone.
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His mindless, selfish and ruthless existence is starting to catch up with him though and as he seduces a venerable Christian girl and a bride-to-be, what will the repercussions be? Will he care? And who will be left to pick up the pieces? This is classic Kneehigh – emotional and exciting, sexy and suspenseful, provocative and passionate and all with a weaving and absorbing storyline. The action happens all at once; powercuts, gunshots, electric shocks, stag parties, sex, rape, explosions‌all boiled together in the cauldron of the glamorous Hippodrome. The breathtaking set is a fantastic mix of abandoned circus and derelict dockyard full of character, the stage strewn with huge, steel shipping containers. The action imaginatively takes place all over it, often at the same time; high, low, inside, outside and throughout the stalls and auditorium. By the end of it all, you are left breathless but utterly, utterly fulfilled and entertained. Right now I can’t think of a better, consistently brilliant theatre company out there than Kneehigh. A must see. www.kneehigh.co.uk
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Hedda Gabler Showing between Tuesday 24th March and Saturday 4th April 2009 @ Alma Tavern, Bristol “What a beautiful act!” said Hedda Gabler, whilst pondering the death of her ex-lover after handing him the gun. Ironically, the events that happen in this play are far from beautiful; however, the Teatr-Grodek company execute the play superbly. The play was seamlessly modernized and re-scripted for today’s audience and the set, lighting and music were simple, allowing for the acting to take centre stage. The intimate space of the Alma Tavern’s theatre enhanced the realism of the play and put the audience right into the action, making it seem so much more real. The characters around Hedda were so convincing that I couldn’t help but squirm in my seat when they obeyed Hedda’s every word and let her get away with everything. The portrayal of Hedda was chilling; as we watch the story unfold it was difficult to understand her motivations. The flyer (like much criticism for Isben’s play) describes Hedda Gabler somewhat ambiguously; part heroine fighting her entrapment within society and part lunatic. However, the portrayal of Hedda in this production was not so blurred. Hedda was consistently manipulative, often psychotic and very unlikeable.
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To say I liked the play would be like saying I ‘enjoyed’ watching a documentary about the Holocaust but what this play taps into is that odd human fascination and desire, to try and understand what makes a human-being do such heinous acts. Hedda Gabler is a play that offers up various reasons to why she wishes to manipulate and destroy, but nothing is concrete. It allows you to exercise your analytical brain, often left covered in dust by television and films. For a change, the audience are asked to answer the why and how. With this introspective look at humanity, the play mirrors works from Anton Chekhov and is very similar to Strindberg’s Miss Julie. If a fan of these, then dust off your thinking cap and get some tickets while these guys are still in Bristol. www.almataverntheatre.co.uk Freya Morris
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Genova Screening between Friday 27th March and Thursday 9th April 2009 @ Watershed Genova, or La Superba as it is also known, is a beautiful Italian city, rich in culture and framed by sea. It is the perfect location for this ‘superba’ film by Michel Winterbottom; a haunting tale about guilt, love, loss and the way in which situations define us. A family thrust into a different way of life by an unlucky accident, looks to a new city for a fresh start, Genova. Full of narrow paths and unfamiliar surroundings, the handheld camera work and voyeuristic shots do well to create and continuous atmosphere of creepy uncertainty and portray the family’s vulnerability. Colin Firth plays loving father, Joe who, through his own maturity and strength, holds his family together. Willa Holland plays Kelly, the older sister who falls into the Italian underbelly in a typical teenage manner, riding motorbikes, smoking cigarettes, having sex and lying to her family and Pela Haney-Jardine plays Mary, the younger daughter,
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haunted by the ghost of her guilt she prevails as the films main character. Her paintings and lonely excursions home offer spine-chilling tendencies, but Mary isn’t scared so why should we be? She is younger than most of us after all. Jardine is a star in the making, her scenes of hysteria are played authentically and she does not over indulge in her age as many other child actors might. Like the other characters, the film shows the intertwining of new life, in times of grief and frailty this family chose to move on and while they never forget about the past. Mary’s guilt is buried in a final scene, which pulls at the heartstrings. A sad and interesting way at exploring family life, this film is not to be missed. www.watershed.co.uk Kayleigh Cassidy
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The Age of Stupid Screening between Friday 20th March and Thursday 2nd April 2009 @ Watershed At school, there was a generalisation that most children in the western world did the opposite of what they were told: They hated brushing their teeth, taking showers and going to school, which in light of Franny Armstrong’s new docu-film, The Age Of Stupid, is arguably a good thing. It saved water, petrol and irrelevant materials, like the packaging for the toothbrush‌I jest, but they seem to be minor factors in the growing concern about global warming and the terrorising changing climate of our planet – the integral theme of this film. Despite a heavy intake of facts and figures within The Age Of Stupid, the structure of the film and its cross over with animation, engage the audience rather than bore them. To sleep during this film would be a punishable crime, an acceptance of your own suicide. My favourite part was just a drive away from Bristol, or a long long long long walk if you want to be energy efficient; Piers Guy is a wind farm developer in Cornwall. The film maps his efforts to get Britain to be more energy efficient and use alternative resources in order to sustain our planet; however, locals were opposed to his efforts with silly arguments such as the wind farms would spoil their view, a view that will ironically be gone soon if the temper of the weather continues to rage.
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Set in the year 2055, the film is directed at us and narrated by a very solemn archiver, played by Pete Postlethwaite, who seems to be continuously lying to his tears that want to trickle (wouldn’t want to waste water). He is stuck in a hopeless future, whereas we are rooted in the progressing present, and we have the power to change his doomed fate. This seems a tad far fetched but is educating and interesting, leaving the ending up to the audience. The end? www.watershed.co.uk Kayleigh Cassidy
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PJ Harvey & John Parish Saturday 18th April 2009 @ Anson Rooms, Bristol Polly Jean Harvey, the Westcountry’s finest female vocalist hits the road again with long time collaborator John Parish in support of their second joint album, A Woman A Man Walked By. See what progressive country rock delights they’ve come up with this time by heading down to Bristol Uni. www.pjharvey.net
Bristol Based Singer/Songwriter Night Tuesday 14th April 2009 @ Start The Bus Featuring Performances From: Alex Taylor, Suzy Conrad, Harry North Free Entry Alex Taylor’s incredible debut album ‘Auchenflower’ features some of The UK’s top players including Jim Barr (Portishead), Leo Taylor (Hot Chip) and Dan Moore (Phantom Limb). The youngest son of jazz legends John Taylor and Norma Winstone, Alex Taylor is truly a troubadour of world-class standing, amazing both acoustically or with his band. Already compared to the likes of Damien Rice, Muse and Jeff Buckley, be prepared for an energetic and passionate vocal performance. Support comes from two of Bristol’s biggest riding talents on the scene Suzy Conrad and Harry North. Suzy music has been described as 60’s folk pop while Harry is a bit like John Coltrane sharing a train ride with The John Bulter Trio…the vibes of the contemporary fusion. www.myspace.com/alextayloruk
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The Rumble Strips Monday 6th April 2009 @ Thekla, Bristol With Support From: Eugene McGuinness First formed in deepest, darkest Tavistock, Devon, this exciting 5-piece have calved themselves some respectable elbow room in everyone’s indie-pop playlist and are great fun to see live. Their second album, the Mark Ronson produced Welcome To The Walk Alone, comes out this summer. We caught up with the band to ask how the latest record came together: “I spent allot of time listening to a huge range of music like Harry Nilson, Billy Joel, Chet Baker, Nick Cave, Hall and Oates, Clyde Mcphatter. Some things I knew from before and some things I just came across and liked the sound of. Anytime I got a bit lost I would listen to Kings of the Wild Frontier by Adam and the Ants or the best of the Pogues to remind me what I liked about music.”
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How did Mark Ronson come to produce it? Who approached who? “Island asked us to do a remix of Back to Black for an Amy Winehouse b-side. Because we had never done a remix it seemed easier to play the song our way as a band and then put her vocal back on top. He then asked me to come and sing our version with him at the Electric Proms. After that I did some other gigs with him and we supported him on his UK tour as a band. The whole working with him thing grew quite organically. At first he was going to do a few tracks on the album, and as we all got to know each other and gave him the demos we were working on, it ended up being the whole album!” What do you feel he’s brought to the album? “I think Mark pulled the sound of the album together really well. The whole recording process was very live and the sounds were sorted out before we played so we could hear how it was going to more or less sound. I think this gives it a very natural feel.” www.therumblestrips.com
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Phil King – Album Launch Saturday 25th April 2009 @ Colston Hall Bar, Bristol Phil King is as good as they come. If it’s engrossing acoustic guitar complimented with a powerful, soulful voice you’re after, then Bristol’s long time Mr. Nice Guy is an absolute must! This special gig in the Colston Hall Bar official celebrates the release of Phil’s eagerly awaited second album and you can whet your appetite now buy purchasing his new single, The War I Cannot Win, on iTunes. www.phil-king.net
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Other Recommended Gigs for April in Bristol Little Boots
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Friday 3rd April 2009 @ Academy
Wednesday 22nd April 2009 @ Thekla
Mango Factory
Fightstar
Friday 3rd April 2009 @ The Prom
Thursday 23rd April 2009 @ Bierkeller
Starsailor
Friendly Fires
Sunday 5th April 2009 @ Academy
Saturday 25th April 2009 @ Anson Rooms
Eagles Of Death Metal
Gomez
Monday 6th April 2009 @ Academy
Sunday 26th April 2009 @ Academy
The Wave Pictures
The 1990s
Monday 13th April 2009 @ Thekla
Tuesday 28th April 2009 @ Academy
Kill It Kid Tuesday 14th April 2009 @ The Fleece
Art For Africa Thursday 23rd April 2009 @ Attic Bar, Stokes Croft An auction/raffle on the night gives you the chance to get your hands on some amazing art from Mr Jago, Retro Boy, Cheba, Lokey, Cheo and many more! 100% of profits go to Temwa, a Bristol-based charity supporting sustainable community development in Malawi, Africa. www.temwa.org
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Jade French Showing between Thursday 23rd and Wednesday 29th April 2009 @ Photographique, Baldwin Street Jade French trawls the streets of Bristol with her camera-phone looking for quirky objects and environments that challenge our perceptions of beauty. Most of her work is very up-close shots of things that are not considered of great aesthetic value and usually ignored yet through her lens take on a strange beauty, mystery and appeal. “I am fascinated by the minute detail of rusty, neglected, weathered urban objects; when observed up close and out of context, they reveal surprisingly beautiful, evocative images.� www.clikpic.com/urbanincidental
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Other Recommended Art for April in Bristol Eye Colour
space Gallery Friday 10th until Wednesday 16th April 2009 @ Centre , of our eye, we add colour with the “i” of our imaginations We do not only perceive the colour of things via the emotions and our past history. www.centrespacegallery.com
Future of Sound/Light and Interesting Sounds
ni Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2009 @ Arnolfi nd tors and visual artists come together for a packed weeke An international collective of vanguard musicians, anima porary sound practice. of events, workshops and talks that explore contem www.arnolfini.org.uk
Montpelier Art Trail
s Spaces, Montpelier Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2009 @ Variou open eiler focused art trail is a weekend of open houses, Hosted by the Bristol Art Fringe, this new, very Montp in to enjoy to your heart’s content. Expect fantastic works studios, open workshops and open venues for you . churches, cafés, public spaces and peoples’ homes www.bristolartfringe.org
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Duvet Vous? with The Notorious Duvet Gang Saturday 11th April 2009 @ Chesters This April marks the 10th anniversary of the Bristol house event Duvet Vous? This funky, jacking night looks set to possibly be the best in a number of ever growing events hosted by The Notorious Duvet Gang over the past 12 months. The group’s new venue, Chester’s on Frogmore Street, will play host to a number of as yet unconfirmed home-grown and overseas DJs on Saturday 11th April but past guests have included Kinky Movement and US legend Johnny Fiasco among many others. This relatively small, intimate venue doesn’t have the capacity of some of the group’s larger nights at Lakota, yet seems to capture the close friendly vibe that goes hand in hand with the jacking house scene. Those already in the know won’t miss this for love nor money and I strongly urge those who aren’t to come and see what all the fuss is about.
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[Regular Club Nights] Monday
Tuesday
Pool Competition – Win £50 bar tab.
9 Ball Pool Competition – Win £50 bar tab.
Wednesday
Academy Bierkeller The Cooler Elbow Rooms Mr Wolf’s
Every 2nd Tuesday – Weapon of Choice – Live graffiti. £3
Native
Run – Drum & Bass. £4/£5
Open Mic Night
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ramshackle – The UK’s biggest alternative night out. £3/£5
Phuct – Punk, metal and rock to make your spine tingle. £3/£5
Ooompah – Boozy mayhem, pefect for Stag/Hen parties. £5.50
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday – Beat Surrender – Live bands and indie DJs. £4/£5
Espionage – Live bands and sixties funk and soul DJs. £4
Klub Kute – Classic and new indie. £4/£5
Crunchie – Party music. Free
By The Pool – Part music. Free
Alternate - Empathy, Byte, Tape, Monterpiece, The Blast. Techno, house, D&B.
Western Soul – Live bands and DJs.
Grass Roots – New and old reggae. Free
Oceana
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Monday Night Chill
Shipwrecked – Student Night
Poker League
Po Na Na
Fatpoppadaddys – Funk and indie classics. £2/£3
Queen Shilling
Treason – Bristol’s only gay alt/indie night. £2
Wednesday Wannabe – Karaoke. £2
Start The Bus Syndicate Thekla
Propaganda – Massive indie night. £3/£4
Gorilla Audio – Indie/pop. £2/£3
[Regular Club Nights] Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Come Play – Themes, live acts.
Commercial RnB, Garage, Pop/ Rock, Dance.
Over 21s.
UK Club Culture – Under 18s.
The Shisha Mashup – Musical mash but free shisha! £1/£3
Soul A-Go-Go – Funk and soul. £3/£4
Po Na Raa – Collars up, cocktails down. £6
Shagtag – Student night. £2/£4
Camp as Tits – Themed chart and dance. £3/£5
Alternate – Glow, Core, Sale, Switch. Dance and funky house.
Bat Cave – Alternative mash-up. Free
Alternate – Wriggle, What A Drag. Alternative.
Alternate – Beef, Juke2000. Alternative.
Voodoo – Dance and old school.
Death From Above – Indie, electro. Free/£3
Alternate – Fruity Antics, Shoestring, Hospitality, Play, Monkey! Knife! Fight!, Blow Pop. Liquid D&B and electro.
Socialism – Indie, electro, punk. Free/£5
Sunday Roasted – Dance and cheese. Free
Sandi Toksvig Wednesday 22nd April 2009 @ Holland House Hotel, Redcliffe Hill To raise money for Bristol’s acclaimed theatre company Show of Strength, the hilarious
broadcaster, comedian and writer, Sandi Toksvig, will be performing a brand new stand-up comedy show inspired by England, Shakespeare and St George. Despite critical acclaim and big audiences for recent shows like Trade It?, Trading Local, An Audience with Mrs Guppy and The Wills Girls, the Bedminster-based theatre company has faced a year of struggle because of funding delays, uncertainties and setbacks. Sandi Toksvig, the chair of Radio 4’s The News Quiz and panellist on Whose Line Is It Anyway
For You?, has generously offered to help the company to turn its financial situation around
and Have I Got News
by appearing for free in a topical new show written specifically for the night during a fund-raising dinner at the Holland House Hotel on the eve of St George’s Day and the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birthday. Tickets for the benefit cost £75, including a champagne reception, three-course dinner and Sandi Toksvig’s show with all money going to Show of Strength. www.showofstrength.org.uk
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Antony and Cleopatra
Showing from Thursday 26th March until Saturday 2nd May 2009 @ Tobacco Factory Theatre stagings of some of the The 2009 season marks ten years of Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory’s full-cast the brutal and brilliant greatest plays ever written at the most exciting studio theatre in the West and to follow ; an intensely personal and Julius Caesar, we can now look forward to the legendary tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra moving story set against the sweeping backdrop of classical history. (great nephew and adopted With Rome’s future about to be secured under the rule of the young Emperor Augustus love affairs in history, that son to the assassinated Caesar), Shakespeare turns to one of the most notorious between the Roman, Mark Antony, and the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. more about the world Often viewed, mistakenly, as a clash between races or between East and West, it is actually and fatally incompatible of men and the world of women. Masculine Rome and feminine Egypt call on different its power in the Eastern Antonys, a tension that will destroy both him and Cleopatra and see Rome extend Mediterranean. Students go to any performance of Antony and Cleopatra 2for1 – Wizard! www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com
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Other Recommended Stage for April in Bristol The Lost World Friday 3rd until Sunday 19th April 2009 @ Bristol Old Vic An exciting and thrilling adventure for everyone over 5. On an expedition to reveal the secrets of Maple White Island, Professor Challenger discovered a lost world where prehistoric monsters still roam free – dare you enter it?! www.bristololdvic.org.uk
The Devil You Know… Tuesday 21st until Saturday 25th April 2009 @ Alma Tavern Theatre Actors Workshop presents three English folk tales based on The Mermaid of Zenor, The Stones of Stanton Drew and Mr Fox Goes A-Wooeing. Three short physical plays performed each evening. www.almataverntheatre.co.uk
Prototype Sunday 26th April 2009 @ Tobacco Factory Theatre Prototype is an informal event that gives Bristol’s theatre-makers the chance to show you what they’re working on. Each evening showcases a handful of extracts from new pieces from the funny to the strange and from the highly polished to the rather spontaneous. Hang around afterwards for the chance to have a say on what you’ve seen. www.theatrebristol.net
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Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Showing between Friday 3rd and Thursday 9th April 2009 @ Watershed
Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale of terror, first published in 1886, has inspired countless screen adaptations but none has ever matched the achievement of the very first sound version. Mamoulian’s sensual and stylish masterpiece is startlingly frank in its portrayal of Jekyll as a man tormented by sexual frustration who shocks the scientific community by claiming that man’s good self can be separated from his evil self. Steeped in the atmosphere of Victorian London, this stunning psychological horror features an Oscar-winning performance from Fredric March as the elegant, civilised doctor who transforms himself to terrifying effect. www.watershed.co.uk
Crimes of Passion
Various events showing between Saturday 11th and Tuesday 14th April 2009 @ Cube The creative chaos that is the Crimes of Passion street art exhibition hits the Cube in
full on party mode. Expect a thrilling evening of independently made short films documenting graffiti
art around the world including the Bristol premiere of highly acclaimed graffiti and street art documentary, Bomb It, and cult hip-hop and graffiti fairy tale, Wild Style. Expect films from Brazil to Bristol, trains to tagging and everything in between. In addition to the celluloid delights, several of Bristol’s graffiti artists from the exhibition will be jamming together and creating a live piece of art on the night. www.cubecinema.com
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Other Recommended Cinema for April in Bristol Slumdog Millionaire Showing from Friday 3rd until Thursday 9th April 2009 @ Watershed For anyone who missed in first time around, here’s another chance to catch the film that dominated the Oscars this year - 8 awards! Now that’s just mental! www.watershed.co.uk
Notorious Tuesday 7th April 2009 @ Cube One of Alfred Hitchcock’s classics, this romantic thriller features a cast to die for including Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. She is an American agent with an assignment to marry the suspected head of a post-WW2 spy ring and get the goods on everyone involved. www.cubecinema.com
In The Loop Showing from Friday 17th until Thursday 30th April 2009 @ Watershed This intelligent, political farce skewers US-UK relations with acid wit and terrifying resemblance to actual recent events. With support from James Gandolfini, Steve Coogan and Peter Capaldi, In the Loop brilliantly and hilariously opens a window to the snake pit of international diplomacy and bureaucratic opportunism. www.watershed.co.uk
The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2009 Saturday 18th April 2009 @ Watershed Encounters Short Film Festival presents a unique opportunity to see two programmes of the Animation and Live Action Short Films nominated at this year’s Academy Awards, including the winners La Maison en Petits Cubes (Pieces of Love,Vol 1) and Spielzeugland (Toyland). www.watershed.co.uk
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Aries: Don’t count your chickens this month – if you don’t know exactly how many you have per square foot, it doesn’t count as animal cruelty. Taurus: You may be forced to stand up for yourself this month. You can only sit in an armchair for so long before you get bedsores. And you will have to empty the wee-bucket. Gemini: This month, you will taste like chicken. Cancer: As Neptune ascends this month in perfect alignment with Pluto, all you need is to be struck by lightning at midnight and you will become the new Lord of Darkness. Lucky thing. Leo: Love matters look set to become complicated this month when surprise DNA test results have hilarious consequences. He’s your brother! Oh my days. Mystic is laughing anyway. Virgo: You did a very nice job of living last month, so I am going to trust you to get on with next month while I have a word with the headmaster in the broom cupboard. Libra: Romantic pressure reaches a head this month. So that will be nice for you. Don’t forget to say thank you afterwards. Scorpio: Stay focussed this month by making your movements slow. I hate it when my pictures come out blurry. You are too beautiful for that. Sagittarius: Temptation is everywhere for you this month, so why not be a bit naughty and get those shoes you want. Or slip that rat-poison in your dad’s tea. You know you want to. Capricorn: Spoil yourself this month. A good way to start might be wrapping yourself in razor wire and having a roll around. That’ll spoil you – and the carpet. Aquarius: Tesco is very unlucky for you indeed this month. I would stay at least two hundred feet away at all times. That leaves the Sahara, or the bottom of the sea. Pisces: Relations between you and the man you lives in your cupboard become strained this month. Haven’t met him yet? You will…
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April Issue Editor: Matt Whittle matt@suityourselfmagazine.co.uk Executive Editor: Faye Penfold faye@suityourselfmagazine.co.uk ne.co.uk Design & Illustration: James Penfold penfold@suityourselfmagazi in whole or in part All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of Suit Yourself Magazine. ations distributed
Suit Yourself Magazine and SY On The Sly are independent public throughout Bristol. Advertising Enquiries: faye@suityourselfmagazine.co.uk
Contributors for April Issue: Freeman, Stu Kyle Brown, Natalie Burns, Sam Butler, Kayleigh Cassidy, Anna Morris, Freeman, Hazel Goodfellow, James Harper, Chloe Jackson, Freya Glenn Vowles, Jessica Pennock, Skye Portman, Laura Snoad, Tom Spooner, Matt Whittle