VOL: 2 ISSUE: 1 30.09.15
THE COLLEGE VIEW
THE SUSS The lowdown on the best festivals of the summer
picture:
Gigs
Festival Season: 2015 Review Photo Credit: Chai Brady, David Clarke, Google Images., Aoife McCormack, Alana Laverty, Conor O’ Doherty
It is true to say, we have become an island of festivals. Any excuse for a party, piss-up and boogie, and we’re there. If, for whatever reason, you couldn’t attend any of the numerous festivals held over the
SEA SESSIONS
Bundoran, Donegal
Billed as a surf and music festival, Sea Sessions gives the daytime over to the waves, with surfers from all over Europe wowing us with their most tubular moves while punters work off hangovers in various beach sport tournaments. Other typical seaside activities include beach volleyball, tag rugby, ultimate frisbee, as well as surfing and body-boarding competitions. Not to mention the fact that the festival atmosphere is as apparent in Bundoran town as it is on site. Why you should go next year: The festival’s location and size lend to its immense charm – plus,
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summer, never fear. We here at The Suss have gone to the trouble of reviewing everything that went down so you’ll have no trouble deciding where to pitch your tent next year.
BY: KERRI NIC AN TSAOIR, STEPHEN KEEGAN, REBECCA KEANE, FIONNUALA JONES, DÓNAL KENNEDY
there’s no danger of missing any of the action on the tiny festival site as everything is packed into two tents. Highs: Amazing Apples delivered a stunning performance Friday night, while Jape and Cyril Hahn’s sets on Saturday and Sunday respectively enchanted all revelers. Lows: A booking policy that combines the best independent Irish acts with mainstream international DJs didn’t seem to create the kind of cohesive community spirit that keeps you coming back these smaller festivals. Price?: A three day ticket will set you back €130.
ELECTRIC PICNIC
Stradbally, Laois
Is an introduction even needed? With the biggest festival in the country contracted to run until 2023, there’s no excuse not to visit Stradbally in Co. Laois for Electric Picnic at some point in your life. A line-up full of new and also established performers alike, it was hotly anticipated, and tipped to be the event of the summer. Why you should go next year: Aside from a seemingly glowing musical lineup, there are plenty of other activities including the Comedy Arena, yoga and cookery classes. However, for many music fans it means attending
as many acts as possible. Also, expect to spend a LOT of money at the amusements - who can resist bumper cars? Highs: FKA twigs’ rendition of Glass & Patron made up for her cancellation last year. Indie rock gods Blur followed with a ground-shaking set, ensuring hoarse voices and questionable dance moves. 20-year old, Shamir Bailey, made an exhilarating appearance at Body & Soul at 3am, making sure the party lasted well into the early hours. Cover star Florence + The Machine had a little leftover magic from Glastonbury to shower on the survivors Sunday night. Immersed in her own performance, Florence drew an almighty audience to watch her close the show. Lows: Sam Smith’s closing track, Stay With Me
lacked passion and was uninspired. Yawn. A lot of people weren’t happy with George Ezra’s performance either, remarking that it seemed like he was stoned. Hmm. Price?: There’s a whole host of ticket options for EP – early bird tickets are €200, and the installment plan starts at €68.
INDIEPENDENCE
Mitchelstown, Cork
Indiependence is Cork’s main major music festival, having hosted acts such as Bastille, Scroobius Pip and Tom Odell in the last ten years. Admittedly, being on the smaller side, the festival has little else to offer ammenities-wise, other than non-stop music. Despite this, the festival still has many merits – like the fact that you’ll definitely bump into at least one person you know. Why you should go next year: This is, unquestionably, the friendliest festival in Ireland. Given its small nature, community spirit runs deep in Mitchelstown at the time of the festival. When it comes
to things to do, the Beer Hall is home to loads of specially selected craft beers – it’s not bad for a bop either. Highs: Basement Jaxx tore up the Main Stage at this year’s event, giving a typically high calibre performance that sent bodies flailing. Irish twosome All Tvvins also stole the show, with a suitably charismatic, eclectic set. Lows: Indiependence is famously plagued by bad weather, and they upheld tradition in August. Sunday saw plenty of waterlogged tents and runny noses. Price?: The price tiers range from €90 to €119 for three days. Get in early and grab a bargain!
And if you’re looking for something
completely different...
HEVYFEST
Kent, England
HevyFest takes place across the pond in Kent. Despite dire storm warnings, conditions couldn’t have been better. Back for its seventh year, Port Lympne Reserve in Kent played host to three stages of punk, hardcore and
metal for fans who spent the weekend pinballing between musical acts and the spectacular wild animal park five minutes away. Why you should go next year: Don’t let the name put you off - there’s something for everyone here. All genres are covered here. The afternoon entertainment, home of hopeful up-and-comers, turned up a few pleasant surprises. CHON (with far more in common with Japanese outfit LITE than an all-caps name) kicked Friday off in style, charming
a lunchtime audience with intricate instrumental rock. Other highlights included Milk Teeth’s sharp, modern grunge and the plucky Trash Boat, who dished out infectious pop-punk in chewy, sugary morsels. Highs: Mathcore stalwarts The Dillinger Escape Plan. Taking the festival’s moniker very seriously, the New Jersey natives went straight for the throat with some of their most challenging, brutal work. A freshly reformed Fall Of Troy blasted through their seminal Doppelgänger in
full on Saturday, electrifying a heaving crowd. Lows: Headliners Coheed And Cambria, committed to performing their obscure sophomore album, couldn’t match Dillinger’s frenetic energy. Overshadowing the evening’s advertised main events, HORSE The Band blew the roof off the tent they were unjustly confined to with 8-bit synthesisers, searing art metal and buckets of sweat. Despite all this, at one point, the band’s triangle player rocked out so hard he managed to knee himself in the
eye. Ouch. Price?: Tier 1 tickets are currently at £79 for three day weekend camping. Installment plans are also currently on sale.
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THE HOOSIERS INTERVIEW DCU’s Freshers’ Ball took place on Wednesday night, with English pop-rockers The Hoosiers headlining. Four albums later, frontman Irwin Sparkes knows how to wind interviewers up. Here are his expectations of the Hoosiers’ latest record: “...for the sky to grow dark, and a mighty sound like roaring. Thunder and rushing water just tear the earth asunder, and suddenly, boom there will be, coming down, descending from heaven, our fourth album.” “I mean it gets harder and harder to do a publicity stunt, but I think we’ve managed it, we’ll pull it off this time ... Wait, did you want a proper answer?” Their first album in 2007 was a success: ʻThe Trick
To Life’ occupied the top spot in the UK album charts and garnered two top 5 singles. Fast forward to today, and the fickle business means they’re no longer relevant. Everybody asks the same thing - how do you go from chart toppers to university gigs? “Usually, it’s hard. People ask ‘hey, what happened to that band, where did they go, why did they stop?’ The impetus is always on the band: ‘what happened to you guys? Why did you decide to stop promoting your music?’” “What happened for us, like so many bands, is that the guy that signed us left. And then the bands that he signed tend to follow. New people come in and they want to give all the money
“People ask ‘hey
BY RYAN MCBRIDE
what happened to that band, where did they go, why did they stop?’” and resources to their new acts.” “They don’t benefit, they don’t get any kudos from having a band that someone else has signed. So unless you’re lucky enough, and you move quick enough, to get a couple of albums out in your career, then … yeah. And we took too long as well to record that second album because we were touring.” Their second album, ʻIllusion of Safety’, was
released by Sony, but was considered a failure, having only reached #11 in the charts. The band then went and re-released the album independently and have since stuck to that approach ever since. Coming down from their fifteen minutes of fame has given him context in his life: “The Hoosiers used to be our life. But now there’s been a bit more room for
CRY MONSTER CRY INTERVIEW leasing it, we’ve had messages from people in Japan, Germany, every corner of Ireland saying they loved it,” Jamie says. “When you put that amount of work into something and you don’t know if anyone’s going to listen to it or like it, it’s a fantastic feeling.”
This year’s been full of new experiences for Cry Monster Cry. The first came in March, when the Sutton twopiece - brothers Jamie and Richie Martin - released their first album ʻRhythm of Dawn’. “We didn’t know what to expect,“ Jamie tells me. We spent three years recording
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From the way Jamie talks of his phone ʻlighting up’ after their performance on the Imelda May Show the album and in that time, aired, it’s clear that the band are enjoying havthe sort of momentum that we’d built up went away and ing the momentum behind them again. Single Atlas we were a bit nervous that people had forgotten about has racked up 140,000 us. But once we released it, Spotify plays at the time of writing, and Jamie says it was something that took that despite initial misgivoff.” ings about the streaming platform, he came to After such a long time embrace it as a marketing in the studio, have they tool. “Those 100,000 plays, been happy with the rewe wouldn’t have gotten sponse to the album? those elsewhere.” “Within a week of re-
balance. That’s taken some getting used to.” “You could live in this little bubble, but it’s not healthy to do that. You could end up with a slightly distorted world view if you take it too seriously. You could end up destroying yourself, and I don’t even mean just drink and drugs, it can just mean that you struggle to relate.” “At the end of the day, this is rock and roll, right?”
BY STEPHEN KEEGAN
On their current Irish tour, they haven’t been shy of venturing outside the larger towns, with dates scheduled in Clonakilty, Roscommon and Carrickon-Suir. “We did some dates with Mick Flannery, and he was playing these really small, cool places in Cork like DeBarra’s… they were completely sold out, and never in my life have I showed up as a support band with the venue packed, and that just showed us that those small pockets of Ireland are really where you want to be playing.” A headline performance at the Button Factory is scheduled for October 23rd, and the band won’t be afraid to expand their show to suit that bigger stage - they have a live
“When you put that amount of work into something and you don’t know if anyone’s going to like it, it’s a fantastic feeling.” drummer, bassist and keyboardist on call. “Every gig is different and you have to take the time to change the setlists and even sometimes rework the songs to suit the venue,” Jamie says. “It’s important that you get across as much as you can from every song in each venue. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth doing.”
Feature
BY CONOR JACK MARTIN
The reality of your TV Reality television has
become a staple television genre for many people around the world. We love to watch other people’s experiences for a number of different reasons. It is the ultimate form of escapism, but somewhere along the way we’ve lost the true essence of reality. Situations are manipulated to exaggerate reactions and emotions, enticing the viewer to watch more - even if all realism is lost in the process. The shows may be entertaining for a short while but eventually, one must question the authenticity of these programmes and re-evaluate what we’re doing watching them. The X-Factor is a prime example of how unauthentic reality shows have become. Every year they’re looking for ‘something different’ - something which the show rarely delivers. A sob story is not part and parcel with the audition process. An out-of-tune but
‘emotional’ performance of a Whitney Houston song follows. Cheryl cries: they sail through to boot camp. Change the record, Simon we have seen it all before. It has gotten to a stage where the show no longer genuinely auditions people. Instead, producers scout for potential talent prior to the show, before inviting them to audition. It’s also important to remember that the episodes and auditions are highly edited, either to show off the best or the worst in a contestant. More air time is given to the contestants who the producers feel have the potential to make the show money. The predictability of what type of contestants we know we’re going to see has become monotonous - not to mention the emphasis placed on the judges and their relationships with each other, something which shouldn’t be relevant if it’s ‘all about the talent’. In
the past, during live shows they’ve played up to the cameras, sparking controversy to promote the show, as well as further their own careers. The entertainment value has plunged over the years because history has repeated itself. This simulated stardom that reigns supreme burns out and the more deserving winner disappears. This inventive behaviour creates attention that fades away after their first single release - Ben Hae-’where are you’-Now? Past contestants have gone on to forge successful careers - often the ones that did not win the show in the first place, (see Olly Murs, Rylan Clarke). The X-Factor is a huge platform to propel yourself into the media but it in no way produces successful popstars or musicians. If The X-Factor allowed us to see more than their scripted VT’s before their live show performances, stronger connections could be made with the contestants. This is where Big Brother succeeds - allowing us to see more than a media persona necessarily - because we can track their words and actions 24/7. That being said, Big Brother isn’t touted as a talent show. All you need is
luck to enter this infamous house. After sixteen years, viewers have seen a multitude of personalities, but most have had no staying power in the media. Big Brother auditions a selection of people, but with every year they know exactly who they want. Previous series have depicted aspiring models, actors, journalists, singers, while others have shown people who work average jobs. With contestants being cherry-picked by producers, it’s not entirely authentic. That being said, it’s a lot more ‘real’ than other reality shows. Take MTV’s Ex On The Beach and Geordie Shore, both of which pull huge numbers of viewers. Shows like this take a break from filming midway through production, meaning participants aren’t cut off from the outside world. Big Brother has produced memorable characters such as the late Jade Goodie, Nicky Grahame and most recently 2014’s winner Helen Wood. Contestants like the ones mentioned showed that allowing actual reality into reality television is the way forward. More authentic shows allow us to form better connections with the contestants and improve our overall enjoyment of the
show. Many contestants have come and gone, such as series nine winner Rachel Rice. She won because she was nice and lived on the fence. This year’s winner Chloe Wilburn will most likely do what she did in the house - disappear into the background. Both are winners - just ones with no lasting impact. Big Brother, like The XFactor is only a platform for reality stars. They cannot create long lasting careers because once their series ends, that’s it. The stars need to forge careers away from their shows or either stay on our screens within that show. Although Geordie Shore lacks authenticity with regards to how they film the show, the characters are successful in their own right. They’re popular because the show grows and evolves with time: the mantra stays the same, but we see character development. Character development and time are key to a reality show being authentic and enjoyable - it adds to our emotional attachment to the show. We invest our time in the same people, doing slightly different things, with the same people but it works better than a fresh cast of people annually.
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Travel My dream job in the USA
O
n May 29th, 2015, myself and three of my best friends embarked on what can only be described as a trip of a lifetime. We were flying to San Francisco like hundreds of other Irish Students on a J1 Visa. I can honestly say choosing to go on a J1 was the best decision I have ever made. We had our accommodation booked before we flew to the States. A fraternity in Berkeley, California was where I was going to spend the next three months of my life and nothing could have prepared me for the rollercoaster adventure I was about to experience.
BY AOIFE MCCORMACK
There were 30 fraternity brothers and 14 Irish students living in the house for the summer. There was never a dull moment with frat parties every weekend, camping excursions, pool parties, rollercoaster rides and rafting trips on American River. A week after I arrived in Berkeley, after handing out dozens of résumés, I spotted a job on a website called Localwise. It was a custom event invitation company called Twig & Fig. They were looking for someone to help create and assemble the invitations. I sent them my résumé and they got back to me immediately offering me a paid trial for the next day. I went and met the owners, Suzie and Serge, who are two of the most talented and kindest people I have ever encountered. They explained to me what I was expected to do, told me I had to pay excel-
“I was working 40 hours a week making well above minimum wage doing a job I absolutely loved.” lent attention to detail and I would have to be able to work well under pressure in order to meet deadlines. This all sounded good to me so I began to work on the invitations. The invitation was a candle encased in a beautiful white lantern. They were for a 40th Birthday Party and Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon were among the guests invited. An order of 200 invitations like this would cost the client around twenty thousand dollars. I
finished up at 6 that evening and I was offered the job. I couldn’t believe my luck. During my time there I made event invitations from wood, glass, metal, faux fur, crystals and mirrors. I was working 40 hours a week and making well above minimum wage doing a job I absolutely loved. It was such a rewarding job and enjoyable at the same time. After 10 weeks of working, the only thing left to do was to go traveling and spend some of my hard
Welcome to Dublin: What to do in the capital
earned cash. I went everywhere from Huntington Beach to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and finished up the adventure in the fabulous Las Vegas. It was the perfect ending to what could only be described as a perfect summer. My job was definitely the pinnacle of my J1 experience and while that may not be the highlight for most students, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
BY ALANA LAVERTY
Some cheap and cheerful things for students to do while living in Dublin.
As a DCU student
you have no excuse not to visit the Botanic Gardens. Make the short 15 minute walk from campus and you will be well rewarded with one of Dublin’s hidden gems. From ginormous glasshouses and vegetable gardens to art exhibitons; this place has it all, and all for free! Bring bread and make friends with ducks on the pond before strolling to the streams to find some fish. Their café boasts healthy, delicious food and they serve a mean mocha. Upstairs you can find a gallery displaying
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plant inspired art. Instagram worthy photos guaranteed. Another journey well worth making is from Howth to Greystones via DART. Try to avoid rush hour and pay €4.40 for a return. Pick a seat, get comfortable and put on your headphones. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views of Dublin Bay accompanied by your favourite playlist. You will pass through the Aviva before finally hugging the cliffs from Bray to Greystones. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful and a wonderful way to spend a few hours regardless of the weather. On your return journey stop off in Dun Laoghaire;
Dublin’s boutique seaside town. Walk the pier, have a peek around the shops and enjoy lunch on the waterfront. Don’t leave Dun Laoghaire without paying a visit to the holy grail of ice cream shops; Scrumdiddlys. Their wall echoes what you were already thinking: “You can’t buy happiness but you can buy ice cream and that’s kind of the same thing.” With over 2,400 combinations, some of the best ice cream and service Dublin has to offer; they have every topping and sauce under the sun available. Go for the ‘Scrumnoffee’ with fresh bananas and caramel sauce; you won’t
regret it. There is nothing quite like nightlife in Dublin, but if you don’t feel like traipsing around Temple Bar or tripping around Coppers, fear not there is more in store. If you’re in the mood for a laugh head to the Laughter Lounge on the quays or the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield has cool late night movie screenings. If all else fails you can’t go wrong with O’Neill’s Bar on Church Lane off Westmoreland. Great atmosphere, drinks, food and live music. It’s away from
crowded Temple Bar but is a 100% authentic Dublin pub with a lovely rooftop terrace. Enjoy yourself in the second friendliest city in the world.
Make your college a home from home The big move to Dublin is over, lectures have begun and college life has well and truly started. Although the hustle and bustle of it all is a great distraction, it can be difficult for some people to settle in. It’s completely normal for students to feel homesick at some point after they move to college. It doesn’t usually last too long but it can be an awful experience if you’re really missing certain people or things. Sadly, clicking your heels and saying “there’s no place like home” isn’t going to help you. However, there are ways to tackle your homesickness so you can enjoy college even more. Make your room your own Having a new room is a great way to reinvent yourself and start anew but it’s also the key to making yourself feel comfortable at college. Decorate your room with things from home: pho-
BY AOIBHEANN DIVER
BY AOIBHEANN DIVER
Despite what some college students might think, cooking tasty and healthy meals can actually be very simple and convenient if you put your mind to it. All it takes is some imagination and a few ingredients which can be bought in Aldi or Lidl. These bolognese pepper pots are so easy for you and your new roommates to cook and they will go down a treat at dinner time.
stagetecture.com
tos of friends, teddy bears, posters and cushions. A trip to the home section of Penneys with your new roommates is the perfect day out and bonding experience. Cushions, blankets and quirky decorations will make your house your home in no time. Don’t wait for the phone to ring Stay in touch with family and friends at home but don’t overdo it. Sitting in and waiting on a phone call from mammy will do you no good. You have to get out of
Irish Coffee and Tea Festival
Ireland is definitely fond of its tea and coffee. Despite stereotypes, we drink even more tea than the UK, ranking third in the world for the amount of tea consumed per year.
Image credit: allrecipes.com
DIY
your comfort zone and branch out if you want to move forward in life. There are so many social events going on in DCU all the time, as well as more than 120 clubs and societies for you to join. Go home at the weekend If you find that you still miss home, then just hop on the bus and go home at the weekend. Because we live in Ireland, we have the luxury of being just a bus journey from home. As the year progresses, try to stay up in college every second weekend.
Ingredients • • • • •
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Minced meat Cooking oil Large peppers Onions Bolognese sauce (Aldi has very nice, cheap sauces) Cheese (for sprinkling
Method • • •
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Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Heat a little bit of oil in a saucepan. Cook the meat in the saucepan until it has fully browned. Chop up the onions
BY CONOR O’ DOHERTY
to offer, including; Bewley’s, Robert Roberts, and smaller Irish companies such as Niks Tea. The festival, which ran from September 11th to 13th, was hosted in the Industries Hall of the RDS. The festival promotes the place of coffee and tea in Ireland, It makes sense, then, that the Irish Coffee and Tea while giving the opportunity to smaller businesses to Festival was a success this meet and network, offering year, with over 60 different a platform for companies to exhibitors displaying some of the finest tea, coffee, and show their work. On entering the festival, artisan delights Ireland has
there was a host of stands greeting visitors, stretching back to the opposite end of the long room. With too many samples to count, there was a hum of excitement among visitors. Insomnia coffee featured a stand with a team of baristas teaching basic latte art to visitors free of charge. The experience was a hit, with a constant queue to get a quick demonstration from the ever smiling and patient team.
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and cook them in the same saucepan for 5-10 minutes. Add in the bolognese sauce and mix together. Allow to simmer for a few minutes. Cut the tops off of the peppers and scoop out the seeds inside. Pour the bolognese into the pepper pots. Grate some cheese and sprinkle it on top of the pepper pots. Place in the oven for 5-10 minutes so that the cheese on top is melted. Serve on a plate with some pasta or a side
The Food Village proved a favourite, featuring several gluten free options of treats and snacks, while Chez Emily had Irish handmade Belgian chocolate to offer. Taste of Kenya coffee also featured a stand at the festival, offering a host of rich Kenyan coffee, a smooth coffee known for its ease of drinking. Overall the rich atmosphere of multicultural flavours and skills made for a well-rounded experience, with the festival expected to return next year.
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Fashion
BY AOIBHEANN DIVER & RHEANNA WATERS
Street Fashion with Style Soc Style Soc hunt down DCU’s most stylish students.
Nyasha Chitombo: “I really like shopping in Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and Tola Vintage. I would describe my style as random and comfortable and my style icon is definitely Rihanna.”
Nutrition Myths Life is full of misconceptions that just won’t go away, and food is no different. Despite the advancements in food science and nutrition over the past 25 years, there are still a plethora of nutritional information and facts about food that are simply not true. Here’s five myths about food we’ve all heard that have been debunked by science.
Myth: Skipping breakfast is bad for you: While it’s true a nutritious breakfast is the perfect way to start the day, skipping it won’t have any adverse effect on you. It’s widely
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accepted that omitting the meal from your day can slow down metabolism and cause weight increase, but researchers at New York’s Columbia University last year proved this to be untrue. The research paper concluded that: “In overweight individuals, skipping breakfast daily for four weeks leads to a reduction in body weight.” Myth: Microwaving food kills the nutrients: Students rejoice, while most people believe that one of the most popular kitchen appliances will zap the food of its nutrients, the opposite is true. Using the microwave correctly is
Aoife McCormack: “A good coat is an essential for every wardrobe. I love my sheepskin black coat from Topshop, where I also bought this dress. I think big knits are going to be the next big trend.”
Aimee Crawford: “I love shopping online on websites like Asos. There is much better choice online and you have more time to think about what you’re buying.”
BY DAVID CLARKE one of the most nutritious ways to cook food as the microwave creates the perfect environment for the food to retain its vitamins and nutrients. Food scientist, Catherine Adams Hutt said that; “the best cooking method for retaining nutrients is one that cooks quickly, exposes food to heat for the smallest amount of time and uses only a minimal amount of liquid.” Myth: Coffee is bad for you: Everyone loves a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning to kick-off their day, but for years health experts insisted coffee should be
avoided. It supposedly caused heart related illness and studies in the ‘80s claimed the drink could increase the risk of cancer. None of the above are true, and new research shows that it can make you feel happy, decrease the chances of type-2 diabetes and is packed with essential nutrients. Myth: It takes seven years to digest chewing gum: We’ve all been told by our parents at some stage not to swallow gum because it’ll be stuck in our system for seven years, which of course is false. It’s true that we can’t actually digest the gum, but it
doesn’t just sit there. Its fate is almost identical to any waste product in your body and it follows the same route out. Myth: Salt is evilWe’re always told too much salt is bad, but scientists are suggesting not enough salt could be equally as dangerous. The problem with salt is that there’s huge amounts of it in prepackaged processed foods that people rely on too much. Cutting down on these meals would go a long way to preventing the damage that we normally associate with salt.