Sixtynine degrees Issue 83 Spring 2016 by Fraser Urquhart Media

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FOR THE

STYLE HUNTERS

NEW SPRING COLLECTIONS FOR UP TO 60% LESS. MORE TO LOVE, FROM 17 MARCH.

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UPF DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY Energetic, exotic, eclectic and completely unpredictable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; those sensationally glamorous Ladyboys Of Bangkok are back in the midlands and are ready to whoop it up with a dazzling new production. Coming to the specially constructed Sabai Pavilion at Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH from Friday 1st - Saturday 16th April, with more songs and musical production numbers than you could shake a sequined hip to, you can expect an eclectic mix of movie hits to superstar pop favourites with tributes ranging from Kylie, Katy, Rhianna, Tina and Shakira to Whoopee Goldberg and even One Direction. With two licensed bars and a wide choice of exotically delicious meals freshly prepared by resident Thai chefs the full Ladyboys of Bangkok experience is complete. The Ladyboys of Bangkok 2016 Forever Yoursâ&#x20AC;ŚX Tour will be at The Sabai Pavilion, Market Place, Derby from Friday 1st April to Saturday 16th April . Get your tickets by calling 0871 705 0705 or visit www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk www.69-degrees.co.uk

FRONT

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ALICE LEVINE TO HOST FIRST NOTTINGHAM FASHION WEEK It’s in Nottingham’s 48 Hours of Fashion has grown to become one of the largest and most successful events the city hosts and this year it’s set to be even bigger and better than ever before. The Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), the crew behind It’s in Nottingham, has teamed up with the Creative Quarter to create Nottingham Fashion Week.

This will be the first ever week-long fashion event the city has had and it will see Nottingham’s very own Alice Levine, who is probably best known as a BBC Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, presenting various shows during the week. Taking place from Friday 22 April to Saturday 30 April 2016, Nottingham Fashion Week will be dedicated to showcasing the very best of Nottingham fashion from local designers and independent and national retailers in the city, with various events and activities taking place. On Friday 29 and Saturday 30 April, Nottingham Conference Centre’s Old Museum building will be transformed into the ‘Fashion Theatre’ for It’s in Nottingham’s spectacular Style Show Live, presented by Alice Levine. The 48 hour long event will showcase the latest Spring/Summer 16 trends and collections from a host of Nottingham’s independents and high street retailers.

STYLIST’S PICK With her sights set straight on spring, Kerry at Audrey Stars Boutique has chosen fifties inspired playsuit separates as her take home look. Add primary coloured accessories to make more of monochrome- the red, black and white palette is timeless. Audrey Star’s Boutique, Royal Arcade, Leicester. www.audreystarsboutique.com Top: £25.00, Trousers: £29.00, Belt: £7.95, Bag: £38.00, Bangles: £4.00 - £12.00 All Audrey Star’s Boutique. Shoes: £49.95 Ruby Shoo Eva from Tinfish Shoes

On the other side of the city, there will be style presentations taking place throughout the day on Saturday 30 April at The Contemporary on Weekday Cross. Fashion advice from style experts on such topics as how to buy and wear vintage, the best fashion for different body shapes and advice on wedding wear will be given during the shows. Standard tickets for the Style Shows on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 April at Nottingham Conference Centre cost £5, which includes a goody bag that can be collected from intu Victoria Centre and access to special retailer offers and activities. There are host of other ticketing options including VIP and front row seats – visit www.nottingham. fashion and keep up to date by following on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter - itsinnottingham #NottmFW

HOSTED BY BBC RADIO 1 DJ & TV PRESENTER ALICE LEVINE see all the latest trends straight from the catwalk in thE exclusive live show

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10 YEARS OF FLATPACK Born in a Digbeth pub as a short film night, Flatpack Film Festival has grown into a oneof-a-kind film jamboree. Jam-packed week of screenings, performances, installations and happenings. Kicking off on the 19th April and running until the 24th with a tighter focus on central Birmingham this year, you can expect the usual boundary-defying cinematic fun and games. Venues range from the UK’s oldest cinema to a large multi-coloured inflatable, with Birmingham Museum’s grandiose Gas Hall serving as the festival hub. For details of this year’s programme visit www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

OMG WE’RE TOTALLY LEGALLY BLONDE The award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde, is given a new lease of life in Curve’s brand new show for spring which bursts onto stage between the 11th April and 14th May. When the beautiful and popular sorority sister Elle Woods gets dumped by her boyfriend Warner for a more ‘serious’ girlfriend, she is left with only one logical choice – she packs up her pooch and bags herself a place at the prestigious Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her man. But what she finds there is so much more. Starring X Factor’s Lucie Woods, Holllyoaks Danny Mac and Coronation Street’s Tupele Dorgu, this witty, fun-filled and feel-good production is about following your dreams and staying true to yourself. In Elle’s world, anything is possible and the feeling is infectious. So bend and snap up your tickets today! For tickets visit www.curveonline.co.uk or call the ticket office on 0116 2423595 www.69-degrees.co.uk

I AM SPRING I AM ALL THE THINGS YOU COULDN’T WEAR IN WINTER

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GLAMPERVAN BEAM ME UP FESTIVAL STYLE Hitting one of the many festivals this summer but don’t fancy slumming it in a tent? Then why not get your retro on by hiring a cosy campervan through online portal www. camperbug.co.uk. With a network of over 600 classic campers for hire throughout the UK and Europe; a bit like an AirBnB but for campervans, the site puts potential guests directly in touch with Campervan owners, who maintain their own profile pages and manage the availability of their own vehicle. All guests need to do is register with Camperbug, in order to message the owner, and then check the availability calendar and make a reservation. Then they simply collect their vehicle and drive away! All types of campervan are available to hire from classic split screens, seventies type 25s and modern day Type 5s with short break hire prices starting from around £250. www.camperbug.co.uk

Ever seen those kids with the light up shoes and been majorly jealous? Yeah us too which is why when we saw BEAM shoes light up our twitter feed lately we couldn’t wait to find out more. Founded in 2015 by best friends Serena and Gus who came up with the idea at a festival in Iceland, they soon realised the huge demand for adult light up shoes and have worked tirelessly to create a brand that spreads a clear and worthwhile message: HAVE FUN. These shoes are not for the feint hearted and wearers should be prepared to attract a huge amount of attention and be centre stage, but that’s the point isn’t it? BEAM is all about having fun, losing inhibitions and being spontaneous and creative with your style. You can literally brighten up your wardrobe and take the party with you, wherever you go. Furthermore, BEAM have teamed up with the charities Love Specs and LSU and will be donating £2 for every pair of BEAMS sold meaning you can do a bit of good whilst looking fierce. www.beamshoes.com

WINGMAN

Perfect for your gym bag, Wingman’s new range of multi-functional Shower Fuels can be used for both hair and body and are designed to help men look, feel and be better, quicker! Saving space and making life that little bit simpler, Wingman Shower Fuels come in 3 exhilarating fragrance blends, Cool Mint + Tea Tree, Black Pepper + Spice and Wild Guava + Kiwi all of which are designed to smell great and awaken the senses. Get yours exclusively at Tesco priced at £2.40 (250ml)

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Look great, win big. intu Victoria Centre and intu Derby have joined forces to brighten up your spring/summer. Get fresh new style ideas at our fashion shows at intu Derby on 9 April and intu Victoria Centre on 29 and 30 April. Plus, enter our online competition to win one of two ÂŁ500 intu Gift Cards and a VIP shopping experience at either intu Victoria Centre or intu Derby. Get the full fashion lowdown and enter our S/S16 competition at www.69-degrees.co.uk* *Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

ERFLOWeR D L E : E V I TAKE F

Perfect for spring, elderflower is the ideal cocktail accompaniment.

Edinburg h Gin elderflow er liqueur, £19.50

Delicately sweet and elegant, it adds a fresh, fruity flavour to a range of tipples. Here’s our pick of the bunch from HARVEY NICHOLS.

WINE TASTING WITH SIOFRA O’BRIEN

Chase flower elder 1 ur,£2 lique

Like many meat eaters there are days when I leave my carnivorous cravings to one side to enjoy a great-tasting veggie dish. Perfect with a chilled glass of white wine, it’s a fuss-free indulgence that makes me feel just that little bit more virtuous. Our recent Winter Feast menu featured a delicious cream of Jerusalem artichoke soup which got me thinking, what wine would I choose to compliment its fresh flavours? I plumped for our ownbrand South African Chenin Blanc 14, £12.50. Produced by DeMorgenzon in the renowned Stellenbosch region, this succulent wine reveals floral notes together with subtle aromas of green apple and white peach, leading to a silky textured palate of ripe stone fruits and hints of acacia honey. The perfect meat-free accompaniment!

wards Warner Ed er ow rfl de el n, infused gi £41.50 rflower Tails Elde ngle si Collins il, ta ck co e serv 5 .7 £4 St Ge rm elder ain fl lique ower ur, £ 23

Siofra O’Brien is the Wine Specialist at Harvey Nichols Birmingham. Join her in store every Wednesday to enjoy complimentary drop-in taster sessions from 7pm-8pm. Call 0121 616 6024 for more details.

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BATMAN V SUPERMAN The city of Metropolis has been devastated by a battle between Superman (Henry Cavill) and General Zod (Michael Shannon). Many feel that Superman, going by the human name of Clark Kent, needs to be held accountable for his actions including multimillionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), whose alter ego Batman has been branded as a dangerous vigilante. These two powerful titans soon find themselves pitted against one another by the scheming Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). But before long, Batman and Superman must together confront the deadliest threat of all... Director Zack Snyder's feverishly anticipated thrill ride pairs Henry Cavill with new Batman Ben Affleck for another blast of awe-inspiring comic book action. Catch it on the big screen from 25th March

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CAKE AND SHOES- WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

Northern Cobbler, the English brand that creates handcrafted, high quality, traditional footwear for both men and women, with a witty personality, have launched their new range of sneakers, sandals, brogues and boots for Spring Summer and we’ve fallen for it hard. The fantastic footwear brand, based on Queens Road in Leicester, is quickly getting recognition for quality and attention to detail thanks to the skill and expertise of unique craftsman that use only the best materials. We headed along to their press event to see the ranges first hand, and to taste some of their delicious cakes- that’s right, cakes. Northern Cobbler is half shoe showroom and half coffee shop, a combination we think matches up rather nicely. Just as much thought has been put into their coffee shop as their shoe brand, with the owners working with a baker to create ‘on-trend’ cakes and pastries, like chewy and crisp salted caramel macarons, sweet and nutty pecan slices and much more. So if you’re after a pair of cool new shoes and a cool new hangout, then Northern Cobbler is the one. We also highly recommend their hot chocolate, it’s easily the best in Leicester. Northern Cobbler’s showroom (and coffee shop!) is situated at 104 Queens Rd, Leicester LE2 3FL or you can visit their website to buy online and view the stockists that carry the range at www. northerncobbler.com

www.69-degrees.co.uk

STYLIST’S PICK

We caught up with Lewis Pittaway, from the Harvey Nichols Style Concierge team, to talk about his personal style and fashion favourites. My style adapts to how I feel from one day to the next. One day I’ll dress more casually in my favourite jeans and a slouchy T-shirt; the next I might opt for a smart blazer, shirt and cropped trousers. I get a lot of inspiration from following the fashion weeks and seeing what’s on the catwalks. I also love reading men’s style magazines - GQ and Esquire in particular to pick up inspiration on how to wear those trends. Today, I’ve teamed my favourite Diesel sleeker jeans (£130) with a DSquared2 jumper (£215) and Buscemi hi-top trainers (£565). Working for Harvey Nichols means I’m certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to the latest must-haves and it’s a privilege to be surrounded by the very latest designer pieces. It’s a very exciting time year for us as we are welcoming some great new menswear brands in the coming months that will available in store and online. The Harvey Nichols Style Concierge department is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-7pm and Sundays from 11am-5pm. For appointments email stylist-birmingham@harveynichols.com or call the team on 0121 616 6008.

FORBIDDEN F O R E S T Set in the heart of Donnington Park, Forbidden Forest will be taking over on May 1st as they bring some of the best, handpicked DJ’s for a unique one day music event

Created for like-minded music lovers, headline acts include My Nu Leng and Skream and is in association with some of the biggest names around including Kooky, Secret Party Project and Mixmag. Other acts announced include Max Chapman, Joe Quinn, Solardo and local residents from Nowhere, Livewire and Evoke. Set in the heart of the woods it promises nothing but underground sounds under the sun and moonlight sky in the picturesque setting of the Derbyshire Forest. Shuttle busses are being put on across the region and as far as Manchester so be sure to get you ticket and book your place. Your very own SIXTYNINE DEGREES will be there joining in the fun!

Forbidden Forest runs from 2pm till midnight and if you fancy being part of the team they are looking for ticket sellers and promoters! Tickets are available at www.forbidden-forest.co.uk Follow them on social @ForbiddenForest

IN NEED OF A FITNESS AND NUTRITION CHECK? TIME TO SEE DR PROTEIN Dr Protein is an exciting new addition to the buzzing Queens Road area in Leicester. The shop is really taking fitness and nutrition to the next level, offering protein boosts, superfoods and fresh smoothies, alongside leading nutritional brands, all in one place – this is a real first for Leicester. As more and more people become conscious about their fitness and what they eat, Dr Protein is making sure it delivers to your needs. A fully qualified personal trainer is also on hand to offer free advice, create meal plans or arrange one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your lifestyle and regime. What’s more if you have an NUS card you get a 10% student discount! Find out more at dr-protein.co.uk or find them on Twitter and Instagram @drproteinuk Dr Protein, 68 Queens Road, Leicester, LE2 1TU Tel. 0116 2129262

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MORE BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR SIMON SAYS… 2016 35 more bands for Simon Says… 2016 have been announced including Levellers-influenced modern folk band Ferocious Dog, Uptown Ska Collective, formed by The Specials’ bassist Horace Panter with handpicked Leicester locals bringing vintage ska tunes and sexy rock-steady rhythms; and Diesel Park West who will be featuring their seminal 1989 album, Shakespeare Alabama, whihc is listed in the greatest debut albums of all time. The festival held at De Montfort Hall Gardens and organised by De Montfort Hall, The Donkey, Firebug and The Musician, will run on on 23 and 24 July and tickets are on sale now. Weekend tickets at special advance purchase prices, cost £30 for adults, £20 for students, £10 for under 16s and £7.50 for under 10s. Under-5s get in free but still need to book a ticket. Other highlights include Simon Says… first-timers Dayflower who promise to pour honey-drenched pop melodies over a collage of fuzzed-up synths, lo-fi beats, and jangly guitars, and Leicester performance poet Jess Green playing with her band The Mischief Thieves.

T - C R O S S B R E E Z E The first look at an all new range of SUVs from Volkswagen, the T-Cross Breeze is a super mini sized and super cool off road concept convertible that we’re really hoping they actually release. Featuring VW’s new interior design philosophy which is to do without switches with the design concentrated on what really matters. All controls, with the exception of the electric windows, roof and column stalk, being either touchsensitive surfaces or gesture controlled. Find out more at www.volkswagen.co.uk

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Order tickets now at www.simonsaysleicester.com

G R E AT

E X P E C T A T I O N Ss

Celebrating the Midlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative movers and shaker

Kyle Cartlidge, Doubt Adorns The Head That Wore The Crown The Night Before LORES www.69-degrees.co.uk

21 New Art West Midlands (NAWM), a Turning Point West Midlands (TPWM) initiative which explores the current trends of contemporary art produced by recent graduates of West Midland art schools, is returning for its fourth year and bringing new creative faces with it. Hosted by Birmingham City University, 2015 saw 80,000 people attend NAWM and this year Mac Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the Herbert Gallery and Museum, Coventry, will be hosting exhibitions. 43 artists have been selected, by a panel of leading art industry specialists, to showcase their work at the exhibition which is also a competition; there are five cash prizes of £1000 up for grabs…

ROSA DENBY Rosa Denby’s self-portraiture explores the contrast between control and lack of control. Rosa said: “you don’t know anyone as well as you know yourself. I have always had a passion for art. I enjoy it and feel confident and comfortable doing it. I took it at school as a GCSE, then at A level and then I did an art foundation course before my degree.” Rosa graduated from her BA Fine Art (Hons) degree, at University of Wolverhampton, last year. “Art is my whole life. “My technique is random and I am never sure how it will turn out. I will be exhibiting the piece ‘Rosa’, which is a 4ft by 4ft oil painting on canvas, in the Herbert Gallery and I will be exhibiting ‘Three Rosas’, which is a 16inch by 16inch oil on canvas, in the Wolverhampton Gallery. “

Rosa Denby

Rosa first heard about NAWM when they came into university and did a presentation. The work can be viewed at the Herbert Gallery and Museum until April 24 and at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery from March 12 until May 15 2016.

AIMEE mILLWARD 23 year old Aimee Millward’s practice engages with investigating and forming a relationship between the handmade gesture and the use of digital technology within contemporary painting. She will be exhibiting ‘Water Lilies #2 (2015)’ and ‘Nymphéas sur toile #3 (2015)’ at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Aimee Millward www.69-degrees.co.uk

22 Celebrating extraordinary artistic talent from across the East Midlands, the Inside Out Festival focuses on new and innovative approaches to performance and is made up of a vibrant mix of theatre, dance and spoken word. Held at Curve from the 5th to 15th May Inside Out offers a snapshot of live performance that is dynamic, independent, and thought-provoking and will feature free performances and events every day of the Festival in the Inside Out Park; a magical transformation of Curveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire foyer by the award winning arts organisation Metro Boulot Dodo.

INSIDE OUT

Tickets go on sale from March and shows to look out for include both:

JOHN Berkavitch WRONG John Berkavitch has never been as certain as when he was wrong. Following on from the critically acclaimed SHAME, Berkavitch returns to Inside Out with a brand new work of spoken worddance theatre that combines poetry, dance and live illustration WRONG is a story about having a dad and being a dad.

www.69-degrees.co.uk

“My name is Rachael, I’m 36 years old and I’m from Nottingham. I spend my days dodging suffocating visions of nuclear families in show homes and infuriating conversations with my alter ego Barry, whilst trying to ignore the impending doom that I’m running out of eggs. This is a show about all of that.”

Rachael Young I, Myself and Me

Set in a domestic dystopia presided over by a giant cake, I, Myself & Me challenges the notion of a one-size fits all path through life, unpacking the personal effects of social expectation and celebrating the act of sticking two fingers up and embracing your life just as it is.

Find out more at www.curveonline.co.uk or on twitter at @CurveLeicester #InsideOut2016 www.69-degrees.co.uk

Bonington Gallery at Nottingham Trent University: A CREATIVE SPACE WELL WORTH A VISIT Bonington Gallery is an innovative exhibition space situated within the NTU School of Art & Design’s Bonington building on Shakespeare Street in Nottingham’s city centre; it runs a diverse programme of yearround exhibitions and creative events, featuring work and practice by artists, designers and performers from across the UK and internationally. All of the exhibitions at Bonington Gallery are completely free to visit. This spring’s programme features two contrasting exhibitions that span the most traditional of block printing techniques to the very cutting edge of new publishing technology…. Find out more, and sign up for event alerts and updates at www.boningtongallery.co.uk www.69-degrees.co.uk

Image by Andrew and Iain Foxall of Foxall Studio London

Publishing Rooms:

Imprints of Culture: Block Printed Textiles of India 26 Feb – 24 Mar 2016 (open weekdays 10am - 5pm) Imprints of Culture explores the contemporary production and use of Indian block prints. This exhibition shows how block printing, one of India’s foremost crafts, has not only played a role in the ritual life of the subcontinent but also in the creation of visual identity. Integral to caste dress and modern urban style, block prints have been a significant source of revenue through centuries of domestic and international trade. The show includes block prints from leading centres of the craft and includes traditional designs as well as more recent innovations. It has been developed in collaboration with block printers in these areas, as well as fashion designer, Aneeth Arora, and is curated by NTU researcher Eiluned Edwards.

15 Apr – 20 May 2016 (open weekdays 10am - 5pm) Bonington Gallery is delighted to present Publishing Rooms, a commissioned exhibition concept by Andrew and Iain Foxall of Foxall Studio London. Over the past decade, mass-publishing has moved from the print houses into the hands of anyone owning a smartphone. Exploring themes of self-expression, the Bonington Gallery will become a facility for selfpublishing, taking on the appearance of an abstracted newsroom with the functionality of a photo booth. Visitors will be invited to interact with technological and analogue devices designed and implemented by Foxall.

#NTUDEGREESHOW: Save the Date: 4-11 June 2016 In June 2016 NTU proudly host an exhibition of newly emerging artists and designers. #NTUDegreeShow presents a wealth of creativity from graduating students, spanning fashion and textiles, visual arts, visual communications, architecture and product design. NTU’s Art and Design Degree Show is one of the few graduate shows within the UK to simultaneously showcase the work of its final-year students across over twenty course areas, offering the public and industry an opportunity to see the creative influencers of the future. Find out more about the degree show schedule of events and catwalks at www.ntu.ac.uk/degreeshow69 www.69-degrees.co.uk

YEARS AND YEARS www.69-degrees.co.uk

SIXTYNINE DEGREES’ JONATHAN FRASER TALKS TO EMRE TURKMAN FOLLOWING AN EPIC YEAR OF SUCCESS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW GIG AT BIRMINGHAM’S BARCLAYCARD ARENA. It’s a rainy Thursday afternoon and I’m working from home / procrastinating / avoiding the Playstation when I get a call from Emre from Years and Years. The shrill ring of my vintage phone ring tone of course sets off the dog and my first exchange with a member of perhaps THE most successful band of 2015 is me apologising for a noisy pup and him expressing regret at the current lack of dogness in his life. I offer that perhaps life in the music industry is not conducive to pet ownership... “No, unfortunately I had to shoot the dog and bury it in the back garden. Not really.” We move on from discussion about the breed with the biggest bark and actually

start talking about the band. “We’ve had a month off” he explains “and I’ve not known really what to do with myself, being so busy and then you just stop.” A month’s R & R seems more than fair for a band that has literally picked 2015 up by the scruff of the neck and shook every bit of success out of it. Number one single? Check. Number one album? Check. The fastest selling debut in 2015 from a UK signed band? Check. Tour and festival headliners? Check, check and check. Oh and don’t forget about the awards either; 2015 saw Years and Years announced as the BBC’s Sound Of winner.

“It’s been amazing for sure. I can’t even begin to describe it but it all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye for us as we just didn’t stop and everything was brand new and super exciting for the first time. It all just went by in a flash and you’re left thinking ‘What the hell happened in 2015?’ There was so many things that we ticked off our bucket list you know? Looking back and it sounds crazy, I mean we played Glastonbury, had a number one single and a number one album, we went to America and all that sort of stuff. So 2015 was.. well it’s going to be hard to top that one. Everything does seem to have happened very fast for you, when did you guys actually get together? Mikey and myself have known each other for around five years

but the three of us have only been making music as ‘Years and Years’ for the past two and half to three years.

And that’s how we met Olly.

So how did you all actually meet?

“ Uhh yeah! I mean it’s funny as about a year and half ago we were supporting Clean Bandit on their O2 tours and then straight after we didn’t take a break and then supported Sam Smith just around the time he was blowing up.

Well I actually met Mikey online, on a musician’s website. We were chatting and then decided to meet up and see if we wanted to make music together, and we did. Then a few months later Mikey met Olly at a house party, it was Olly’s party actually. Olly wanted to join the band but Mikey wasn’t so sure about it. Anyway he sort of got drunk so stayed over and slept on the couch and in the morning he heard Olly singing in the shower and liked what he heard so was like ‘why don’t you come round to mine as Emre is coming over and we can jam and see where things go’.

And now you’re going into playing arenas- is that a lot to process?

Because of that we played to big crowds, big venues and stuff, something we’d never done before. I mean before that we were playing to pubs and stuff around Manchester. So this time, in a few months we are playing Wembley, and I don’t really know what that is going to be like. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be insane; a bit of an outer body experience. It should be great! www.69-degrees.co.uk

Are you going to shift it up a gear, can we expect big elaborate sets, fireworks, dancing pandas, you know the works? Yep to the Pandas! We’re doing a joint venture with Cirque du Soleil, ice machines… no I don’t really know what we’re going to be doing! We’re actually working on some new stuff right now for the coming year. We’re going into the studio in the next couple of days to work on a couple of new songs and we’ve got rehearsals next week to try out the new show. Making it bigger, better and stuff like that. It’s definitely going to be a step up and when we do the show we want it to be really special as we want the fans to see something www.69-degrees.co.uk

new, something that we haven’t done yet. So we can expect some new material in the show? Yeah, there’ll be a mixture of some new stuff, maybe a cover or two and a song or two from the deluxe album, some of the extra tracks but we are working on some new things now so we’ll have to see how that pans out. If you come to the show and there isn’t anything new then you’ll see how that one worked out! I guess there’s a lot of pressure to create as ‘Communion’ has done so well. Your sound seems universally popular, why do you

think that is? Oh gosh, that’s a hard one, I have no idea. I mean Olly is a wonderful singer; he’s got a lovely voice and that’s the type of thing you can’t fake; he is a great singer. The songs are very melodic but also I think people value honesty: these are songs that haven’t been concocted in Simon Cowell’s lab somewhere. We’re just friends who make music and I think people respond to that. I also think that the lyrics are quite honest as well which is quite unusual for a pop song. I guess it’s all of that however a good hook always helps I find. We try to make music instead of a song and luckily we get bored quite easily so we are

29 “I WAS ON A DATE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY STARTED PLAYING ‘KING’ AND I GOT QUITE EMBARRASSED” Is it the collaboration and creation stuff that still excites you the most or is it the performance side of things? They are very different things and they make you feel very different ways. I still love the making of the music and the creative side even though it can also be one of the most frustrating things but when it happens it’s really satisfying.

always messing around in the studio and hopefully we try not to do the same thing twice. Do you all bring different influences to the table; are you all quite different in your approaches? Yes for sure. We all have quite varied tastes in music but all three of us have bonded over certain things as well. Like Olly is obsessed with 90’s R&B and I love some 90’s R&B a lot like Timbaland. Me and Mikey love a lot of guitar and Indy music like Radiohead and odd stuff like that but then I remember we all went to a Little Dragon gig and we also like Caribbean dance hall music as well as bands like Disclosure and stuff.

But then once you’ve done that, the touring is a different thing all together. If the crowd are into it, everyone comes together and is just having a great time. It’s a different vibe; it feels like more of a house party and is more enjoyable even though you’re playing the same songs night in, night out. If you catch the right crowd, and the right mood you see it from their eyes, and it’s really enjoyable. Do you still get that slightly weird feeling when you hear yourself on the radio, in a club or walking past a shop doorway or something? Yeah, it’s kind of weird. I was on a date a few months ago and they started playing ‘King’ and I got quite embarrassed. It’s funny cos most times I hear us on Heart FM late at night when we’re coming back somewhere on the bus but I get a lot of friends texting me saying “oh I just heard you in the airport” or “I just heard you in the…” it’s weird because it doesn’t feel like It’s us, you know?

So can we expect an album two from you in 2016? Is that on the cards? Urrmm, I don’t think so. We are definitely expecting to start working on album two this year but I doubt it will be coming out this year as we’ll be touring nonstop and then we’ll start recording and writing. So it will probably be next year, unless we have some sort of crazy creative spurt on the road, but I doubt it as it’s not that easy on the road. That’s right as it’s not just the UK that you’re touring… Yeah we are going to Europe and America, and we’re going to Japan and I think we are going to the US twice this year at least. We are actually doing our own US tour at some point but beforehand we are actually supporting Ellie Goulding around the US in a few weeks’ time which is going to be mental as she’s playing some absolutely huge venues so we’re going to be really busy! So more ticks on the bucket list then? Oh yeah there’s going to be plenty of ticks! Years & Years will be playing at The Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham on the 1st April. For tickets visit theticketfactory.com

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street style

her style

hair and beauty

his style

STYLE LIST

THE TREND EDIT: TIME TO UPDATE THAT WARDROBE. WE LOOK AT THE BIG TRENDS FOR 2016 INCLUDING TOP TEN TRAINERS FOR HER, GROOMING FOR GUYS AND A LOOK AT THIS SEASON’S BIGGEST HAIR TRENDS.

OUTFITS BY BLUE INC

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Nyle Dimarco is an actor, model, winner of the final season of America’s Next Top Model. The first deaf contestant to be part of the show, DiMarco doesn’t consider himself to be disabled by deafness and sees his media profile as an opportunity to bring awareness to Deaf culture. DiMarco wears raw silk smart-vest, Couture sweater-shirt in a cashmere, wool, and denim blend all by GSb Men’s Couture with inbuilt tap-and-share smartphone readable technology to aid communication or even enabled to pay for dinner. Find out more at www.j-nacustomgsb.com

O’leary WENT OF OUTERWEAR, SIAN VE MADE THEIR R CE FI OF S’ EE GR DE NG TRENDS HA THE SIXTYNINE PEOPLE AT ET TO SEE WHAT SPRI ONTO THE HIGH STREALKS AND TO SEE WHAT’S EXCITING THE TW S. WAY FROM THE CA SHION; THE RETAILER THe FRONT END OF FA

StreetStyle

aliSHA

All Saints Sheepskin Jacket: £698 Jumper: £138 Jeans: £88 Boots: £178 (All All Saints)

Inspiration: Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Jourdan Dunn + Kendall Jenner Favourite Trend for Spring: Plaid, light colours, leather, denim + shirts

Topshop

grace

Topshop Bomber - £45 Levi Jeans - £60 Adidas Trainers - £55 Warehouse Jumper - £38 Inspiration: A dark colour palette with a staple item piece Favourite Trend for Spring: Coluettes + heeled boots

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Pilot Chicago Redskins NHL Jersey - £29 Levis Jeans £75 Saucoug Grids - £54 Inspiration: College drop out Kanye West + ASAP Nasty

MIGUEL

Favourite Trend for Spring: Layers, Beige, Khaki + Pastels

NATHAN

Pilot

Nike Jacket - £115 Nike Trainers £70 Nike Bottoms - £80 (All Pilot) Inspiration: Black Favourite Trend for Spring: White CP Jacket

laura Urban Outfitters Primark Dungarees £15 Manki Top - £10 Asos Boots - £28 Urban Outfitters Necklace - £10 Inspiration: The 90’s, Wolf Alice + The Spice Girls Favourite Trend for Spring: Dungarees, Chord + Ralph Lauren Shirts

gemma All Saints Leather - £328 Dress - £188 Shoes – £248 (All All Saints) Inspiration: Louise Redknapp + Billie Faiers Favourite Trend for Spring: Florals because they’re groundbreaking

tyrell Urban Outfitters Adidas Jacket - £55 T-Shirt £22 Jeans - £38 Shoes - £225 (All Urban Outfitters) Inspiration: Hip Hop Favourite Trend for Spring: Light colours

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36 1

HER STYLE

GUCCI SS16

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TRENDIN

37 Me-wow The pussy bow is back! This fancy feline accessory is gorgeously feminine and is perfect to switch up your style. Pair with a wide leg trouser to be a total tom cat.

2 4

Denim Domination 7 9 5

Denin has and will always been part of our staple style pieces and spring sees embellishment, print and distressing – prepare for double denim domination! 10 11

1. Outfit by GUCCI SS16 Catwalk. 2. Elvi plus size mustard box top with black tie, £55, Elvi. 3.Bow Blouse, £26 Dorothy Perkins. 4. Pastel Pleat Detail Blouse £32, ASOS. 5. Miss 14 Selfridge cream lace black ribbon neck tie dress, £45. 6. Claudie Pierlot T Shirt, £90 Selfridges. 7. Ted Baker Olia Bow Tie Crepe Top, Bright Blue £89. 8. Jacket £14 , Skirt £14, Hat £4, Primark. 9. River Island distressed jeans £42. 10. Topshop denim shirt dress, £40. 11. Bandeau, £28 Topshop. 12. Lee mini dungaree £105, House of Fraser. 13. Saint Laurent Denim Pumps £390 Harvey Nichols. 14. Denim playsuit £24.99 New Look. 15. Denim embroidered jean, £39, Glamorous.

38 The Bomb Bomber jackets are no stranger to our style diaries. Keep lightweight for sports luxe or blow everyone away with bold print or patchwork detailing. 1

Keeping it casual, this is sports luxe without the sports! Labels such as Diesel Black Gold and Louis Vuitton are adding a utilitarian flair to their spring collections.

Street Chic

6 9

1. Urban Renewal Vintage Surplus MA1 Black Bomber Jacket £49 Urban Outfitters. 2.River Island printed bomber 10 £180. 3. Marks and Spencer Limited Edition Jacket £59. 4. Hunter Printed bomber jacket £240, House of Fraser. 5. Patterned bomber, £29.99 New Look. 6. Criminal Damage Ballin Top £40.Lipsy. 7. Koral Activewear Dual printed Infinity jersey jacket £230 Harvey Nichols. 8.Black Longline Top £24, River Island. 9. Zoe Karssen Palm tree joggers £120 House Of Fraser. 10. Diesel Black Gold SS 16 Catwalk.

TOP TEN TRAINERS 1

1: Converse X Missoni printed trainers, £70. 2: Saint Laurent distressed trainers, £350. 3: Golden Goose Deluxe Brand Superstar distressed trainers, £270.

SATISFY YOUR SPORTS-LUXE CRAVING WITH TREND-SETTING TRAINERS. FROM NEOPRENE AND METALLIC TO DESIGNER COLLABORATIONS, FASHION-FORWARD KICKS ARE TOO COOL TO KEEP ON TRACK. MELANIE PRYOR, WOMENSWEAR MANAGER AT HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, REVEALS HER NEW SEASON MUST-HAVES.

4 4: Filling Pieces suede trainers, £140 5: Adidas X Stella McCartney knitted mesh trainers, £220. 6: Valentino lace trainers, £460. 7: Stella

McCartney metallic

glitter trainers, £340.

8: Charlotte Olympia Kiss Me leather trainers, £345. 9: Converse gold coated trainers, £65. 10: Kenzo tiger print trainers, £175.

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, EITHER IN STORE OR VIA THE NEW STYLE CONCIERGE SERVICE. www.69-degrees.co.uk

HER HAIR:

Meet the Team THE ORGANIC EXPERIENCE

FIVE TRENDS FOR SPRING

By Taylor Morgan

WET

Completing the eighties fashion flashback, make sure you use plenty of wet look gel and comb with fingers. For a fresh from the beach look, braid hair, add gel and then unravel.

LOW BUN

Top knots are out, and low buns are in; just twist and clip to suit your mood. Loose and low keeps things causal and cool.

PIMP YO DO

Spotted on the catwalks of D.V.F and Saint Laurent during fashion week; add accessories and embellishment to pimp yo do. Tiaras, feathers, or if you’re totally spring then get floral.

MEATY TUCK

Tuck it up and follow designers like Dior by tucking into scarves, chokers, ribbons and even cable ties- ok don’t do the cable tie thing; what’s that all about?

HIGH PONY

Ever popular thanks to its chic simplicity. Accentuate with a strong bow and a contoured makeup look.

JENNI

From a young age I wanted to be a hairdresser. I love being in a salon environment and creating trends and fashion. I look forward to a positive future at The Organic Experience.

BONN

I am a stylist and also the curly hair specialist. I enjoy advising customers how to get the most out of their curls and I love being able to change their look completely.

CRAIG

I’ve been hairdressing for over 12 years, and I’m absolutely obsessed with colouring! I’m usually recognised for getting up to mischief and for my honesty, which can sometimes get me into trouble. I like to think I have an eye for detail, which is why I was put forward for London Fashion Week this year.

NATE

I love meeting new people and making them feel great about their hair with a traditional trim or complete restyle, and being able to colour with no damage is amazing. I’ve worked in many salons including locations such as Birmingham and Gran Canaria but I became obsessed with The Organic Experience straight away.

LEICESTER ORGANIC 7-18 SILVER ARCADE, LEICESTER LE1 5FA TEL.0116 326 1161

WWW.THEORGANICEXPERIENCE.CO.UK www.69-degrees.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

With the right tools to hand you will be capable of creating a masterpiece. Get the basics right and you are guaranteed a professional finish every time. So whether it’s curlers, tweezers or every brush imaginable, here are the must-have products from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM to ensure the most stylish cosmetics case.

3 4 5 7 6

1: Estée Lauder sculpting eye shadow brush, £22. 2: Hourglass double ended complexion brush, £52. Hourglass No7 finishing brush, £48. 3: Laura Mercier tweezers, £18.50. 4: NARS lash curler, £15. 5: Rodial brush case, £100. 6: Shiseido lip brush, £20. 7: Shiseido pureness oil control blotting paper, £18.50. 8: Sisley foundation brush, £36.50. 9: Valentino Animali Fantastici cosmetics case, £230.

VISIT THE BEAUTY HALL AT HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM AND DISCOVER THE LATEST MAKEUP RANGES FROM LEADING BRANDS INCLUDING DIOR, ESTÉE LAUDER, LANCÔME, SPACE NK, HOURGLASS AND YVES SAINT LAURENT. www.69-degrees.co.uk

42 1

His STYLE

DOLCE & GABBANA SS16 www.69-degrees.co.uk

TRENDIN

43 Chinoiserie

Bring out your oriental side with this contemporary take on Chinoiserie. Expect silky prints on everything from jackets to trainers.

3 4

Pinstripes

Autumn Winter gave us bold checks and now spring is all about stripes. Big, bold and dramatic, mix horizontals with verticals for added pinstripe polish.

13 7

1. Dolce & Gabbana SS16 catwalk. 2. Maharishi Line Tiger Original Trousers £205 Cruise Clothing. 3. Valentino Green Japanese-print shirt £585 Harvey Nichols.4. French Connection_pisco printed £90. 5.John Lewis Placement Wave Organic Cotton T-Shirt, Navy £18. 6. French Connection koko linen floral £40.7. DOLCE & GABBANA cotton polo shirt £265. 8.GUCCI Floral-print skate shoes £405 Harvey Nichols. 9.Mantaray Long Sleeved Floral Shirt £36 Debenhams. 10. Stripe Blazer £200, Stripe trouser £150, Topman. 11. Primark Kimball Stripe Jacket £15. 12. Asos Bleached Out Shirt. 13. Topman Bronze shirt £28. 14. Gant Rugger Pinstripe Coach Jacket £195 Cruise Clothing. 15. Fred Perry Bretton Stripe Tee £35.

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44 5

Distressed Denim Ripped, patched, bleached, and basically destroyed. Denim has and will always be a staple when it comes to men’s fashion, but spring runways have shown that the more lived in your denim looks the better! 2

Pac-a-mac

Perfect for April showers, the Pac & Mac is back. Light and waterproof, the structured mac is the must have jacket for your spring wardrobe. 7 6 10

1. DSQUARED2 Kenny Twist slim-leg jeans £365. Harvey Nichols. 2. Distressed Jacket Asos 3. Levi’s distressed acid wash denim jacket £90, House of Fraser. 4. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Express Yourself Denim Sneaker £37.99. 5. Outfit by Topman. 6. Whistles Orange shell jacket £135 Harvey Nichols. 7. Stutterheim Stockholm Mint raincoat £175 Selfridges. 8. Waterproof jacket £89, Topman. 9. Rains Yellow Jacket £75 Urban Outfitters.10. Lawson marble jacket £110, French Connection. www.69-degrees.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

HANDS FREE! No longer the preserve of the outdoorsy-type, backpacks are the most stylish way to lug your gear around this season. Now a catwalk favourite, we saw them take centre stage at Louis Vuitton, Dsquared2, Wooyoungmi, Fendi and Balmain. Luxe leather and statement prints to sparkling chrome hardware and embroidery detail, we reveal the top ten SS16 must-haves from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM.

Alexander McQueen sailor and skull canvas backpack, £915

Giuseppe Zanotti grained leather backpack, £1,210

Givenchy printed nylon backpack, £800

McQ Alexander McQueen canvas backpack, £290

Kenzo embroidered backpack, £170

Gucci nylon backpack, £730

McQ Alexander McQueen embossed leather backpack, £530

Gucci monogrammed backpack, £745

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS AT THE MAILBOX, VIA THE NEW STYLE CONCIERGE SERVICE OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM.

Paul Smith nylon backpack, £350

Yeezy Season 1 suede and leather backpack, £485 www.69-degrees.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

GROOMING HEROES From niche beard oil to men-only face packs, here’s all you need to be the perfectly presented gent this season. Harvey Nichols Private Shopping Manager JOHN PAUL McGUIRK shares his superstar products for a hard-working grooming routine. alleviate dry and damaged skin as well as boost hydration.

8: Lancôme Ultimate

4: des Garçons 1: Comme Wonderoud EDP,

£87 (100ml): Blending a tantalising concoction of woody scents from oud to cedarwood, this will ensure you’re hitting all the right notes Ford 2: Tom For Men

Skin Revitalizing Concentrate, £110: After months of wintery weather, it’s time to call in the big guns. This formula nurses dry skin back to health and is excellent both pre- and post-shave. Close 3: Dermalogica Shave Oil, £25.85:

This ultra-smooth shaving oil creates a barrier that encourages razor glide while allowing for maximum visibility while shaving, making it ideal for grooming around goatees and moustaches. www.69-degrees.co.uk

Starskin Leading Man Hydrating Mask, £8.50: Slap on this rednessreducing face mask, specially formulated for male skin, to cover up those telltale signs of too many late nights.

Creed Aventus EDP, £175 (75ml): Modern, dynamic and masculine, the Aventus brew is bursting at its sweet-smelling seams with fruity and woody notes.

6: Rodial Dragon's

Blood Eye Gel, £45: A multitalented blend of rose water, arnica and hyaluronic acid de-puffs, soothes and refreshes tired eyes, and protects from further damage.

Dr Jackson's Face Oil, £30: 100% natural ingredients help improve skin tone and elasticity,

Cleansing Gel For Men, £22: Give your skin a much-needed, post-winter deep clean. Easy to use, this gel will leave you feeling fresh and super clean.

9: Espa Brightener,

£36: Lighten up gloomy skin with this clever formula that perks up skin tone while antioxidants nourishes and protect for an instantly fresher, healthier finish. No89 Shaving 10: Floris & Beard Oil, £25:

A power-packed oil for an exceptionally smooth shave. It can also be used to gently condition, strengthen and stimulate your beard, nourishing the skin underneath and promoting growth.

PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS AT THE MAILBOX OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM

SPECIAL FEATURE

CREATE A FRESH LOOK FOR SPRING aT BULLRING Spring is the perfect time for men to give their wardrobe a refresh. Bullring, Birmingham’s premier retail destination, has something to suit all male needs. Whether it be a key piece such as a bomber jacket or something more bold there are luxury and high street retailers with trends straight from the runway. This season, the classic and understated style continues to be a favourite, with top brands such as Diesel, Pretty Green and Tommy Hilfiger offering a range of simple options from shirts, jackets, trousers as well as statement pieces with a splash of safari print and a pop of floral. With sports all over the screens, guys will be glad to know the athlesiure trend isn’t going anywhere, find the latest and greatest sports apparel at Lacoste. For those wanting a one stop shop for all their needs, Bullring is home to one of only four iconic Selfridges stores, with clothing, footwear and accessories from an unbeatable line-up of designer names from Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs to streetwear names including Trapstar and Hood by Air. If shoppers need some extra guidance with their fashion finds, stores including Topman and River Island have styling suites equipped staff on hand to help incorporate this season’s must have looks to any wardrobe. Simply make a booking and be in the safe hands of a stylist. With all that retail therapy, shoppers are sure to work up an appetite. Bullring has a great range of eateries with dining options inspired from around the world, including thai inspired cuisine from Chi Kitchen, and Italian delights at Jamie’s Italian.

For more information on events, offers and activities at Bullring, visit www.bullring.co.uk. www.69-degrees.co.uk

CRITICAL L

THE 1975 BARCLAYCARD ARENA, BIRMINGHAM 22 MARCH 2016 www.seetickets.com www.69-degrees.co.uk

LIST

FROM THE SMALL SCREEN TO THE BIG STAGE, CONSOLE TO CLUB, IF IT’S WORTH SEEING,HEARING OR DOING, THEN IT’S HERE...

TRAVELLER

THE A LIST

AUDIOPHILE

SOCIAL

LAST WORD

74 www.69-degrees.co.uk

TRAVELLER KNOW YOU WANTED TO VISIT… THE CITIES YOU DIDN’T EVEN BUDAPEST, A DYNAMIC CITY OF THERMAL BATHS, COFFEE HOUSES AND RUIN BARS. Immerse yourself in one of Budapest’s amazing thermal spas, sourced from the natural warm spring waters below the city. Many of the baths are over a century old and are architectural masterpieces. Mud baths, spa treatments and hydrotherapy are popular among locals and visitors alike. Each bath has its own character and feel, so dip your toe into more than one – but be sure to book, as you can imagine, they are very popular! The Gellert Baths are the most famous, but why not give the Rudas or Lukacs Baths a try? Look out for Spa Parties too- a club night in a spa- perfect! The city is bursting with cool bars and coffee houses but make sure to add some ruin bars to the top of your ‘mustsee’ list. Old abandoned buildings are now home to unique and quirky ruin bars. Many have outdoor gardens and a series of connecting courtyards, each playing a different genre of music, so are great for exploring with a glass of fruit brandy in hand. A good place to start is Szimpla, said to be the original and best ruin bar. www.69-degrees.co.uk

The original ruin bar Szimpla and Szechenyi Spa party

51 The Old Town has been enveloped in regeneration for years and has blossomed into the heart of the city’s nightlife, filled with bars and restaurants. There are so many novel and quirky bars to visit but a couple of our favourites are: Bicicleta, a bar decorated with disused bicycle parts; and Laboratorul de Cocktailuri, designed in the style of a mixologist’s laboratory Fratelli Club with cocktails served BUCHAREST,THE cITY OF sURPRISES. in conical flasks. For a daytime jaunt, be sure Don’t be fooled into thinking Bucharest is anything like to pop into Cremeria Emilia which offers the best the city we’ve just mentioned due to the fact it shares homemade cakes and ice cream in town! a very similar name, because you couldn’t be more wrong! While Romania’s capital might not immediately If you’re a bit of an art lover, The Royal Palace, housing jump to the top of your bucket list places to visit, you the National Art Museum and some of Rembrandt’s might want to give this up and coming city a chance. impressive work, is a great place to spend an afternoon. It might make you work a little bit harder to find the Continue your peaceful adventure in Cişmigiu Park charm, but it’s changing fast and really starting to put where you can enjoy boating on the lake and a itself on the map. refreshing drink in one of the summer terrace cafes.

SOFIA, THE REVITALISED AND REJUVENATED CITY. The city is perfectly designed for the avid explorer, with most of the city’s sights in easy walking distance of the centre. Unless you want to ski or hike that is, then you’ll have to take a short bus ride from the city into Mount Vitosha. The mountain is part of the National Park and is worth a visit if simply to take in the great panoramic view of the city. You might even catch a sighting of one of the bears that reside there! If hiking isn’t really your thing, Zest restaurant is a must-visit, offering panoramic views and healthy Mediterranean food from the top floor of the Suite Hotel. There are a host of other restaurants offering delicious Balkan-infused cuisine in the city, with the majority opting to source home-grown ingredients. Vodenitzata is the place to go for traditional Bulgarian dishes and has lots of vegetarian options on the menu whilst Romance is a haven for anyone with a sweet tooth, offering a selection of sugary treats. Sofia is full of Soviet architecture but make sure you get out and explore because there are some rather green and leafy parts to the city, speckled with handsome mosques, monuments and churches. The Aleksandar Nevski

Cathedral has been named one of the most aweinspiring pieces of architecture in the Balkans, dusted in gold leaf and built in memory of the Russian soldiers who died fighting for their country’s independence. Borisova Gradina is a great place for a stroll and to soak up the great outdoors.

Sofia by night and the PM Club

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Madrid, the Spanish capital with a vibrant charm Whilst everyone immediately thinks of Barcelona as the go-to Spanish city, there is a new hot spot drawing the cosmopolitan crowds: Madrid. Unfairly overlooked in the past, the sunny metropolis of Madrid is the new place to visit. The city not only boasts the title of one of Europe’s culinary capitals, but it is also home to more bars than any other city on earth. The tapas here is like no other and is so popular with visitors and locals alike that going out for tapas has become a tradition. Head to La Latina neighbourhood and do tapas the local way – hitting up multiple spots along Calle Cava Baja, sampling the best dishes each place has to offer. For the ultimate tasting experience, head down to Mercado de San Miguel, a stunning market with wrought-iron and glass walls selling fresh produce and incredible gourmet tapas dishes. ‘The Golden Triangle’ is at the heart of the buzzing art scene that Madrid boasts. The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía National Museum proudly display famous works from Spanish masters including the likes of Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya, as well as Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. That said, don’t feel like you need to pay an entrance fee to experience contemporary art in this city. Adopt a slower pace, keep your eyes wide open www.69-degrees.co.uk

and truly absorb the wonders that the streets of Madrid have to offer. Whether that is in tiny plazas dotted along little streets, or derelict car parks, the city is brimming with creativity. For something a little different, discover Matadero Madrid, the city’s former slaughterhouse that has since been transformed into a centre for visual and performing arts.

FA C T F I L E Pick from a choice of fourteen flights a week from Birmingham Airport to Madrid with one of four top European airlines – Iberia Express, Norwegian, Monarch or Ryanair. Flights will be operating every day of the week apart from Saturday. Fly to Sofia and Budapest with Wizz Air, the largest low cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, from Birmingham Airport. Flights to Sofia start on 27th March and will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays. The route to Budapest is currently in operation but the summer schedule will commence from 27th March with flights switching from Tuesdays and Saturdays to Wednesdays and Sundays. There will be two airlines operating to Bucharest this summer from Birmingham Airport. Both Wizz Air and Blue Air will be running the route. Flights with Blue Air will start on 29th March whilst Wizz Air will be flying from 22nd May. The flight time is just over 3 hours from Birmingham Airport. Book now to any of these amazing city break destinations at www.birminghamairport.co.uk/ let-me-book’

SPRING GLEAMING As I sit and write this, I’m feeling more relaxed than I have in a while, thanks to some Mother/ Daughter time at Malmaison Birmingham writes Tarah Tomes. Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse to shut the laptop, turn off the phone and spend some quality time with my mum… and this year, we had the perfect day! If you need some ‘time out’ from real life and muchneeded RnR, head down to Malmaison for another great spa offer – Spring Gleaming. As we arrived at my favourite Birmingham hotel, we walked straight into the sumptuous spa. The aroma, alone, was enough to relax my shoulders and have me heading for the relaxation room. Once our robes and slippers were on, we started the day with a lie down in the dark and comfortable relaxation room, where we were given a glass of bubbles to enjoy whilst looking at the lunch menu. Once we had decided, the lovely spa team took our orders, ready for us to enjoy after our treatments. After kicking back and relaxing, we were both called into our individual treatment rooms. Malmaison’s treatment rooms are intimate, aromatic and relaxing… the magic trio for this day of pampering. Natalie, my therapist took me through my trouble spots – those typical stress shoulders had been playing havoc again – and began my 30-minute Espa back massage. After which, I then had a fantastic express facial, where she looked deep underneath my skin. Just in case you’re wondering, my skin is mostly normal albeit dehydrated in a few patches. The good news, though, is that I have no signs of ageing, which I’m pretty happy with as I approach 30. With the facial scrub working its

way deep beneath my skin, I then drifted into a light sleep as Natalie began an intensive head massage. An hour later, I emerged from the treatment room feeling relaxed and cured of my daily stress, as did my mum who had an equally fantastic experience with her therapist Wallis. Although I later learnt that they were much chattier so apologies to Natalie; I was too busy snoring to make conversation. We upgraded our package to use the spa so after another hour enjoying Mal’s sauna and hot tub we showered and put on our comfy clothes to go and enjoy lunch. It was a nice touch pre-ordering and meant that we didn’t have to wait too long, although we filled the gap with a nice bottle of wine. Having chosen from Mal’s Winter Prix Fixe Menu, the starters included spiced butternut squash soup, pan-fried black pudding, goat’s cheese soufflés and a festive pork and pistachio terrine. My mum and I opted for the soufflés and terrine, and followed it with a cod and shellfish stew, and duck cassoulet. We felt right at home and the Malmaison team were so good to us that we hadn’t noticed the hours pass. It truly was a calm and enjoyable experience – the perfect way to brush away our problems and have a proper mother-daughter catch up. Don’t worry, though; the spa offer that we had is still running until 31 May 2016, so you can have your taste of the action. Check out ‘Spring Gleaming’, which includes a delicious lunch and glass of fizz, accompanied by a one hour treatment of your choice: aromatherapy full body massage, aromatherapy facial, express facial and back massage, salt scrub back massage, Jessica Deluxe manicure, or Jessica Deluxe pedicure. For just £60, this really is a spring treat!

To book your Spring Gleaming Spa visit call 0121 246 5008 and quote spa sixtynine. Malmaison, The Mailbox Birmingham. www.malmaison.com

FRISCO STYLE and has rica’s most iconic city’s San Francisco is one of Ame the to p tri a k too athan Fraser a vibe all of its own. Jon in rt hea his t lef ted Airlines and ‘City by the Bay’ with Uni San Francisco.

WHERE TO GO

San Francisco is perhaps the most European like of American cities thanks to its mixture of distinctive architectural styles. The cinematic trolley cars trundle between historic districts such as Fillmore, where you will find designer boutiques, art deco bars and the Doubtfire residence (yes we went there too) and the infamous Castro, home to human rights hero Harvey Milk and the scene of gay liberation in the seventies. Other essential areas to explore include Haight Ashbury; the origin of San Francisco’s historic hippie subculture and China Town where gaudy furniture stores crammed with carnival glass mix with restaurants and gift stores with an Asian association. Buy a MUNI passport to ride the trolley all day or, if you’re not big on public transport then make sure you download the Uber app to your phone- it makes travelling round the city incredibly easy and is great value. A great way to explore the city is by bike. (www. blazingsaddles.com/san-francisco) We took a ride by the city’s harbor and beach before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and a downhill ride to Sausalito. Take the ferry back to the city and www.69-degrees.co.uk

stop off at the Ferry Plaza food market at Pier 1 or take a ride on the carousel at Pier 39. Whilst at the waterfront take a trip to the island of Alcatraz, the former prison home of some of America’s most hardened prisoners. Incredibly evocative, we’d recommend booking a nighttime tour in advance. (www.alcatrazcruises.com)

WHERE TO STAY

Winner of the 2015 Tripadvisor certificate of excellence award, Kimpton’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel is perfectly placed in Union Square. Easily identified by its Beefeater dressed doormen and with a trolley car line right outside, the Sir Francis Drake oozes individuality and style. Rooms are well sized and eclectically appointed and for those looking for fun the top floor Starlight Room offers evening entertainment and a Sunday Drag brunch. Fabulous! www.sirfrancisdrake.com

WHERE TO EAT

One Market – 1 Market Street, San Francisco. CA 94105 onemarket.com A stylish and sophisticated restaurant offering an open exhibition kitchen with a special “Chef’s Table,” a wood-fired grill, private dining rooms, and a luxurious bar. It’s also home to the best steak I’ve ever had. John’s Grill- 63 Ellis Street, between Stockton and Powell, San Francisco CA94102 www. johnsgrill.com John’s Grill is a slice of Old San Francisco style full of dark panelling and period furnishings. Well priced steaks, seafood and pastas are on offer along with an extensive cocktail menu. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. The Farmers Market is foodie heaven and a great place to grab a lazy brunch on Saturday morning. Make sure you stop in at Wise Sons Jewish deli to grab one of their amazing Reuben sandwiches: I’m literally drooling at the memory of it!

HOW TO GET THERE

We flew to San Francisco in style with United BusinessFirst and enjoyed flat-bed seats as well as a multi-course menu. United Economy customers benefit from personal ondemand entertainment on board as well as complimentary beer and wine as part of a new inflight dining service, whilst United Economy Plus offers up to six inches of extra legroom. From Birmingham Airport, United Airlines offers nonstop service to its hub at New York/ Newark Liberty International Airport, with connections to San Francisco and over 300 other destinations across the Americas. Return fares in United Economy from Birmingham to San Francisco via New York/Newark start from £789.64, and fares in United BusinessFirst start from £3931.64 (including taxes, January 2016). For latest prices, visit www.united.com or call 0845 8444 777.

www.69-degrees.co.uk

THE A LIST NG? WHY AREN’T YOU ALREADY GOI WHAT’S ON, WHEN, WHERE AND

American Idiot @ Curve, Leicester 19th March —26th March www.curveonline.co.uk @New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 10th -14th May www.atgtickets.com Green Day’s explosive, award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot, blasts on tour, direct from a hugely successful London run. The story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world, American Idiot features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. See our interview opposite!

www.69-degrees.co.uk

AMERICAN AMELIA

MARY POPPINS

@ Birmingham Hippodrome 9th March – 23rd April www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Amelia Lily burst emphatically into the music industry when she blew the X Factor judges away at auditions and you can still hear the powerful rock twang that knocked Gary Barlow for six when Lily sings Letterbomb in the Green Day musical American Idiot, which hits the Midlands this spring. Any thoughts you might have of an X Factor finalist believing their own hype should be dropkicked out of the window right now. That’s not Lily. Far from it. There’s nothing jaded or egotistical about the Middlesbrough native, a rock-loving, pink-wearing, silver blonde ball of positivity who recognises she’s “really lucky to be able to do what I do.” What she’s doing now is a far cry from the sanitised, tightly controlled world of Simon Cowell. American Idiot is not your average musical theatre production. For a start it has grown out of a concept album by a massive US rock group, the songs brilliantly reworked to fit the stage. It delves into a dark and murky world, following three young male friends trying to cope in a world torn apart by the anguish and uncertainty created by 9/11. Drink, drugs and the army are all used as coping mechanisms as lives disintegrate during their attempts to numb the pain. Anything Goes, it is not. “If you don’t want your typical, everyday musical,” Lily tells me, “come and see us. There’s nothing like American Idiot around at the minute. And the storyline! I’ve never seen a show like it.” You’d be forgiven for thinking that American Idiot might have a very specific audience. “Before we opened, we thought it was either going to attract lots of Green Day fans or musical theatre fans, but we had a huge range. Throughout the show we had 80-year-old ladies in the audience who came out absolutely beaming about the show. My Nana loved it.” Lily, who sits opposite me wearing an AC/DC T-shirt and sporting a phone cover more pink and fluffy than it should be legal to possess, plays Whatsername in the guitar-thrashing production directed by Racky Plews. “She’s such a cool character,” Lily says. “Her outfit’s cool. Her hair’s cool. She’s a rebel at heart. One minute she’s happy, the next she sees her partner at gunpoint. To get into the character every night and every day is hugely challenging but I love it. I’ve become more confident as an actress.”

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present the multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins. The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.

SING-A-LONG-A GREASE

@ Belgrade Theatre 11th March www.belgrade.co.uk Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a T-bird or a Pink Lady but never quite felt cool enough to pull it off? Well, now is your chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening where you are the stars and remember GREASE is the word…

BIG GIRL’S BLOUSE @ Warwick Arts Centre 11th – 12th March www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Touring will undoubtedly bring an new element of the unexpected into the mix; new theatres to get used to, get ins, get outs, new cities to get lost in, different audiences. The thought of it excites the young actor. “I’m looking forward to it,” she smiles. “I get to be on the road with my boyfriend [costar Steve Rushton]. It’s what we’re used to, touring as musicians. Steve and I have toured the world together. Doing a theatre production is going to be slightly different, but I can’t wait.” www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk www.69-degrees.co.uk

58 THE GREAT GATSBY

Who knew what being transgender was in the 1970s? Not Kate’s family. To be fair, crispy pancakes had only just landed in the Midlands so she had her work cut out. The path to becoming a woman doesn’t always run smooth and with a lifetime of coming out, Kate has had to use every trick — theatrical and otherwise — to get by.

@ Loughborough Town Hall 15th – 16th March www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

HANGMEN

@ Phoenix 12th March www.phoenix.org.uk

In his small pub in the northern English town of Oldham, Harry (David Morrissey – The Walking Dead, State of Play) is something of a local celebrity. But what’s the secondbest hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging? Amongst the cub reporters and pub regulars dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, his old assistant Syd (Andy Nyman – Peaky Blinders, Death at a Funeral) and the peculiar Mooney (Johnny Flynn – Clouds of Sils Maria) lurk with very different motives for their visit.

IPHIGENIA IN SPLOTT

@ The DOOR at The REP 15th -19th March www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Effie’s life spirals through a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day – untill one night gives her the chance to be something more. Inspired by the enduring Greek myth, Gary Owen’s powerful drama drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings. Effie will break your heart.

JACKIE THE MUSICAL

@ Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 15th March – 19th March www.belgrade.co.uk Once there was a time with no mobiles, no online dating and no Facebook, when teenage girls waited with bated breath by the letterbox

www.69-degrees.co.uk

for their weekly issue of Jackie Magazine. In Jackie The Musical we revisit those heady days, and tell the story of a recent divorcée who seeks advice once more from the pages of her old Jackie annuals.

THE BODYGUARD

@ De Montfort Hall 15th - 26th March www.demontforthall.co.uk The Bodyguard, the award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film, is heading to Leicester in 2016 starring three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron. Direct from its smash-hit West End run, the show is coming to Leicester for two weeks only!

Recreating the sights, sounds and feel of America’s ‘Roaring Twenties’ as seen through the eyes of Nick Carraway, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece is a brilliant portrayal of a society obsessed with wealth and status. This exciting new production features fabulous live music alongside the timeless language of Fitzgerald’s Great American novel to create a truly fresh and inspiring theatrical experience.

MCM BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON

@ NEC 19th March – 20th March www.thenec.co.uk Brought to you by the team behind MCM London Comic Con, the third largest comic con in the world, Birmingham Comic Con is a weekend-long celebration of all things great and geeky. Birmingham Comic Con also incorporates Memorabilia,

GRAEME OF THRONES @ De Montfort Hall, 22nd April www.demontforthall.co.uk

Direct from sold out shows in London’s West End, Graeme takes you on his own unique journey through the Seven Kingdoms. Unhappy with how his beloved books were realised for the TV series, he has taken it upon himself to show you how it should have been done. He doesn’t quite have the same budget, or as many cast members, or the performance skill required, but he’s sure George would approve – and that’s what matters. Featuring a family tree wider than The Wall and more subplots than anyone can follow, it’s a rollercoaster ride of beheadings, incest and war.

TUE 10 - SAT 14 MAY

AGE 15+ AGE 14+

MON 18 - SAT 23 APR

TUE 24 - SAT 28 MAY MON 18 - SAT 23 APR

THE JUDY GARLAND STORY WED 1 - SAT 4 JUN

TUE 21 - SAT 25 JUN

0844 871 3011

(BKG FEE)

GROUPS 10+ 0844 871 3031 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

(BKG FEE)

60 the leading UK collector’s show. Memorabilia features a brilliant line-up of film stars, sci-fi favourites and TV personalities, as well as a wonderful array of stands packed with everything from rare and imported collectables to fun toys for the kids

KANO

@ Rescue Rooms 22nd March www.rescuerooms.com

MAC MILLER

@ O2 Institute, Birmingham. 28the April, www.o2institutebirmingham.co.uk

KANO returns with his most important body of work to date. The 15-track album Made In The Manor was recorded in London in 2015, recorded by Fraser T Smith, Rustie, Mele, Mikey J, Blue May, Zeph Ellis and Swifta Beater, and is released by Parlophone on 19th March.

GET CARTER

@ Belgrade Theatre 22nd March - 26th March www.belgrade.co.uk Set in a hard and uncompromising world of 1960’s Newcastle rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence this adaptation tells the story made famous in Mike Hodge’s seminal film starring Michael Caine in the lead role.

With his first album Mac Miller became a grassroots rap megastar. With his second he bared his weird soul and was praised for it. His 11 mixtapes boast a couple bucket lists’ worth of collaborators, from Bun B and Kendrick Lamar to Rick Ross and Juicy J. And in the same year that he toured the U.S. backed by a psychedelic soul band, he rapped all over Europe with Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. and Twitch stars as they participate in live Q&A sessions and interactive activities. See full line up.

about growing up, growing down, and why farts will always be funny.

RUSSELL KANE

@ Rock City Main Hall 1st April www.rock-city.co.uk

@ Nottingham Playhouse 29th March www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

INSOMNIA57 – THE UK’S BIGGEST GAMING FESTIVAL @ NEC 25th March – 28th March www.thenec.co.uk

Love playing video games, or watching people play them online? Insomnia57 is the latest installment of the UK’s biggest gaming festival, A complete celebration of gaming culture with awesome activities for gaming enthusiasts of all ages. The show offers visitors the chance to play an impressive selection of both new and vintage games, and to watch their favourite online YouTube www.69-degrees.co.uk

Are you 16-years-old, yet feel 21? Are you 40, but tragically faking 25? Or maybe you’re full-on 80 years, with the heart of three oxen and the sex drive of a bonobo chimp. Don’t worry: this is normal. No one is ever the ‘right’ age – it’s is the beauty and the curse of being a real person. In this brand new show, Russell Kane unleashes another blisteringly-funny, award-winning stand-up performance

SIGMA

English drum and bass duo Sigma consist of Cameron Edwards and Joe Lenzie. They met at Leeds University at drum and bass nights. Their 2010 collaboration with DJ Fresh, “Lassitude”, peaked at number 98 on the UK Singles Chart. Their single “Nobody to Love” topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming their first UK number one. Follow-up single “Changing”, featuring Paloma Faith, also got to number one.

AVENUE Q

@ Loughborough Town Hall 4th – 9th April www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk Following five years in the West End, sell-out runs worldwide and a smash hit tour in 2014 (packed with mischief, bad behaviour and political

80’s INVASION

FEAT. BIG COUNTRY, MIDGE URE, NICK HEYWARD & CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT

Friday 11 March

THE BODYGUARD THE MUSICAL Tuesday 15 - Saturday 26 March

VINCENT SIMONE & FLAVIA CACACE IN THE LAST TANGO Monday 25 - Wednesday 27 April

SEAN LOCK KEEP IT LIGHT Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 May

JAMIE RAVEN Saturday 18 June

SIMON SAYS... 2016 FEAT. THE WONDER STUFF Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 July

62 incorrectness), this Tony Awardwinning show is hitting the road once again! Avenue Q is an irresistibly charming musical which tells the story of the loveable characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues. Hilarious, cheeky and uproariously entertaining with a terrific batch of songs, Avenue Q is the musical like no other - part flesh, part felt and packed with heart.

REHEARSAL FOR MURDER @ New Alex 4th – 9th April www.atgtickets.com

A new play brimming with black humour, celebrating the strong friendships of a group of men living in a Nottingham hostel. One of the residents, Wayne, is finally moving into his own flat, forcing his friends to examine their own lives over Jaffa Cakes, Special Brew and a bit of a sing song.

SHAZIA MIRZA - THE KARDASHIANS MADE ME WINTERWALKER: THREE KEEPERS

@ Deda Derby 23rd April www.derby.uk.com Welcome to Flounder Rock Lighthouse, where three men live and work, with only each other and the seagulls for company. It’s Young ‘Arry’s first day- he’s dreamt of a life of adventure, so long as he can bring his teddy. Wise Old Tom and uptight Dick are there to teach ‘Arry the ropes, but he’s pretty hopeless. When the storm of the century threatens Flounder Rock, will the lamp shine true? Will disaster strike? Will they run out of biscuits?

CITIZEN KHAN

@ Genting Arena 6th May www.gentingarena.co.uk

Following the phenomenal decadelong success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which sold over two million tickets and continually played to packed houses around the UK, Bill Kenwright presents a new production from the pen of the legendary award-winning writing team Levinson and Link, whose work includes the mystery series Murder, She Wrote and Columbo.

Adil Ray is bringing the much loved self-appointed community leader, Mr Khan to the Genting Arena stage for one of only three Arena performances in May 2016.

MARK WATSON

@ Loughborough Town Hall 14th May www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk Mark Watson (multi-award-winning star of numerous TV shows and his own cult Radio 4 series) is back on the road with the follow-up show to www.69-degrees.co.uk

MADE UP

@ The DOOR at The REP 14th to 21st May www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Made Up is a heart-warming play about friendship and the faces we show the world. It has been made in conversation with women in the North East of England and in collaboration with a skilled make up artist. It combines spectacular visual transformations with funny and touching performances. It is close up and 3D especially for you.

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL @ Motorpoint Arena 10th June

The days get shorter, the nights become longer and we find ourselves mourning the passing of yet another incredible festival season. Snuggling up with a hot water bottle and nothing but memories of mosh pits, mates old and new, camp site parties and seeing your favourite band play the set of a lifetime.

CUTTIN’ IT

KINGS

@ Nottingham Playhouse 20th – 30th April www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

the highly celebrated Flaws.

@ The DOOR at The REP 14th – 18th June www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Te e n a g e r s Muna and Iqra get the same bus to school but they’ve never really spoken. Muna wears TopShop and sits on the top deck gossiping about Nicki Minaj’s latest beef, while Iqra sits alone downstairs in her charity shop hand-me-downs. They were both born in Somalia but come from different worlds. But as they get closer, they realise that their families share a painful secret.

63 AUDIOPHILE

by SIAN O’LEARY

E S S E N T I A L D O W N LO A D S JACK GARRATT - PHASE Winner of the Critics’ Choice category at the 2016 BRIT Awards, BBC Sound Poll of 2016 and apprearing on MTV’s Brand New 2016 shortlist, Jack Garratt’s debut (double) album—a wildly determined, psychedelic production—justifies the reason behind his recent major award winnings. The juddering electro-R&B of “Worry” and “The Love You’re Given” showcase a skillful use of space and silence, while “Surprise Yourself” and “I Couldn’t Want You Anyway” gently reveal Garratt’s inner-troubadour and an ability to move hearts, minds, and feet. KANO- MADE IN THE MANOR UK Grime MC Kano’s follow up to 2010’s Method to the Maadness features production from Rustie, Fraser T Smith, Melé, Mikey J, Blue May, Zeph Ellis and Swifta Beater across 15 tracks while Damon Albarn, Wiley, Giggs and JME all appear with vocal spots. THE 1975- I LIKE IT WHEN YOU SLEEP, FOR YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL YET SO UNAWARE OF IT When lead single ‘Love Me’ was unveiled late last year, it challenged all

preconceptions about the band led by Matty Healy. But the whole album – ludicrously titled ‘I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’ – will make you think and reassess even more than that song did. The 17 tracks’ 75 minutes are no easy listen, but the album is hugely eclectic - there’s everything from semi-rapping to post-rock instrumentals and acoustic tearjerkers.

Broadway musical, love letter to Los Angeles and celebration of his band’s mighty achievements all at once. That’s not to say this is a nostalgic retread of past glories: “Victorious” is a blistering pumped-up anthem, “The Good, the Bad and the Dirty” adds some attitude to the party while “LA Devotee” is an electro surf into another majestic chorus.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO -DEATH OF A BACHELOR

Lissie, is an American folk rock artist and My Wild West is her 3rd studio album and is a wiser and more self-assured offering that signifies both a new beginning and a return to Lissie’s Midwestern roots that’s sure to leave you pondering as to the beauties and mysteries of life.

Recorded just before his wedding, Brendon Urie bids farewell to bachelordom with quite the blowout. A turbo-charged romp through his box of tricks, it’s an album that sounds like a spectacular

LISSIE – MY WILD WEST

www.69-degrees.co.uk

64 AUDIOPHILE by KISS FM’s CHARLIE HEDGES

CHARLIE'S ANGELS SONNY FODERA I caught up with Sonny last week on the phone who was over the moon to be named the man behind the new Defected in The House Mix CD; the gig came about because he was on the plane with the Defected label owner who was casually chatting to him and then said ‘how do you fancy mixing the next one.’ Very humble and with a great year ahead, Australian DJ/ producer Sonny Fodera has also just released his ‘In The House’ Sampler boasting two original tracks - ‘Shake’ and ‘Go Get It’ - and a mash-up of Mystic Bill’s ‘Invisible’. He is arguably one of the most exciting house producers to look out for this year. FRANKY RIZARDO FT TESS LEAH COME INTO MY LIFE Signed to Black Simma Records this is not only my favourite track at the minute but quite possibly my favourite remix of an 80’s classic ever! Revamping the 1987 Joyce Sims ‘Come Into My Life,’ Netherlands producer and DJ Franky Rizardo is set for a hit and is definitely one to watch in 2016. 99 SOULS GIRL IS MINE (DANNY HOWARD REMIX) It’s one thing getting the likes of Pete Tong to support your tracks but when one of the members of the original group does too you know you’re onto a winner. 99 Souls take on a Brandy and Monica anthem

here making it a credible club and radio track. 99 Souls took it upon themselves at the end of 2014 to self-promote their debut single and with the help and support from massive DJs and reaching #1 in the Shazam Chart it was only a matter of time before the guys got signed. KAY SILVA SUBMISSION After a busy 2015 of gigs and making and testing out some new material, Kay Silva shows us exactly what this UK tech and house producer/DJ is all about. Kay is definitely one to look out for this year . GOING DEEPER & SHVEZ – MAKE IT RIGHT Joe’s first single that crossed over onto the airwaves

sampled the vocals of Montel Jordan with ‘This Is How We Do It’ and playing again with the 90’s sound, he manages to bring it up to date alongside the current house music sound. This track has already had lots of support from the likes of Oliver Heldens, Don Diablo and Nicky Romero so looks set to be a hit for sure! PAUL HARRIS FT ANGEL MORAES TURN IT UP Former ‘Dirty Vegas’ member Paul Harris returns with Turn It Up. Paul, if you guys didn’t already know, has a Grammy award under his belt for best dance album with his former group and has been given a number of accolades with his solo projects too. His new single also showcases the sounds of one of the best DJs and underground producers of today ‘Angel Morales’ which shows the collaboration producing a dark underground track.

Charlie Hedges Presents Monthly Podcast Soundcloud: bit.ly/CHPMay iTunes: bit.ly/ CHPiTunes For more Charlie Hedges www.facebook.com/charliehedgesfriends twitter.com/charliehedges www.soundcloud.com/charlie-hedges www.69-degrees.co.uk

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E L R O W One of Barcelona’s biggest parties came back to Birmingham and The Rainbow and SIXTYNINE degrees’ resident party animal Lilith Hunt-Sheppard went along to experience Bollywood, Elrow style.

A sellout night, the crowds were as well dressed as the venue with a Bollywood theme bringing some sunshine and spice to a cold winter’s night. One thing that always strikes us with Rainbow is the vibe, it takes us back to some of the best parties in Ibiza where the only things that really matter is the music and dancing- perfect for Elrow. Elrow will be returning to Birmingham on May 29th at Rainbow Venue with their next big night; The Trip. We will definitely be seeing you there. Find out more at facebook.com/ The Rainbow Venues Images by Khris Cowley

SIXTYNINE SOCIAL

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CHUTNEY IVY

What do you get when you mix traditional Indian cuisine, modern dishes and the Michelin Guide? Why you get Chutney Ivy of course. For the past year, the Leicester based restaurant has gained much recognition within the food industry, having been recommended within the prestigious Michelin guide yet again for 2016, and being nominated, shortlisted and ultimately named runner up for the best Indian restaurant in the Midlands at the British Curry Awards.

REVOLUCION The sunshine and rhythm of Havana arrived on Nottingham’s Market Street with the opening of Revolución de Cuba, the city’s latest restaurant and bar serves up an authentic range of freshly prepared and cooked Latin-inspired foods during the day and the evening. From light lunchtime Tapas to the famous hearty Ropa Vieja, a classic Cuban meat stew of shredded lamb in a rich tomato and pepper sauce, the extensive menu offers a variety of Burritos and Hamburguesas and customers will enjoy de Cuba’s guacamole – a speciality with www.69-degrees.co.uk

Their menu, which we were lucky enough to sample, is put together by General Manager and co-owner Shaf Islam, who wanted to set his restaurant aside from the cookie cutter Indian restaurants you find all over the Midlands. His inspiration comes from various places, from travelling to different countries and sampling the local food, to even eating other cultural dishes right here in the UK. His crispy duck samosas are in fact inspired by his favourite Chinese dish- crispy duck pancakes and the creamy Jingha Rowshne king prawns were dreamt up when Islam attended a friend’s wedding in France. His passion for food is clear with every mouthful, and with innovative dishes like pumpkin bhuna and sea bass masala, it’s no wonder that the restaurant is receiving rave reviews from customers and food critics alike. The food is cooked from fresh, using many ingredients from Leicester Market and Chutney Ivy will happily cater to anyone’s spice tolerances, whether adding or subtracting the heat! Chutney Ivy can be found at 41, Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1TR 0116 251889

CUBA

its own secret ingredients freshly made on site.

The Nottingham Revolución de Cuba complements its food offering with a carefully crafted drinks menu; specialising in rum. An enviable selection of premium cocktails and assortment of rums add to the soul of the Cuban party that is heightened by live music during the day and evening. Weekly salsa lessons and regular networking events will also be on the menu, find out more at revoluciondecuba.com/bar/nottingham

ALL DAY BRUNCH LAUNCHES EVERY WEEKEND AT GAS STREET SOCIAL After the successful launch of the weekend brunch menu last summer at Gas Street Social, it seems Birmingham’s bright young things haven’t been able to get enough of the classic brunch dishes, unlimited toast, sharing breakfasts and Bottomless Bellini, which were served up until noon every weekend in the popular Mailbox restaurant. The relaxed, industrial chic of GSS, combined with informal yet super friendly service makes it a great spot for some serious chilling out. With a good selection of brunch cocktails, including a Bostin Bloody Mary and Full English Breakfast Martini, it’s the Bottomless Bellinis that seem to have got everybody talking. You can enjoy two hours of unlimited Bellini for just £15 per person when ordering any dish off the brunch menu. It’s no surprise then that the restaurant is regularly fully booked before midday with groups of friends making the most of the free flowing Bellini to wash down their Eggs Benedict, Bacon Pancakes and Full English.

But the two-hour brunch service just wasn’t cutting it for those of us who like their lie-ins long at the weekend. Their customers asked, and Gas Street Social listened and are delighted to announce that their weekend brunch menu is now available all day! You can now enjoy your fry up well into the afternoon with all breakfast and brunch dishes served from 10am until 5pm every Saturday and Sunday. The All Day Brunch menu also features some great lunch time options such as Flat Iron Steaks, Moules Frites, Club Sandwiches, juicy Burgers and a great selection of veggie choices. The Union hand roasted coffee with freshly ground beans is worth a stop off alone! And yes, we’ve been reliably informed that those famous Bottomless Bellini will be flowing all day too – get there before 3pm to take advantage of the full two hours, the last Bellini is poured at 5pm!

WIN!

To celebrate the launch of the new All Day Brunch menu at Gas Street Social, we have a fantastic prize to get you and your friends together for some serious brunching! Enjoy a delicious brunch, with Bottomless Bellinis, for you and five friends any weekend at Gas Street Social. www.gasstreetsocial.co.uk

Competition T&C’s: Table must be booked in advance for maximum 6 guests by email to book@gasstreetsocial.co.uk Booking is subject to availability. One dish from the bunch menu per guest Bottomless Bellini for 6 guests, all guests must be over 18 Any additional food / drinks will be payable on the day

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DISCOTECH Discotech has been a firm favourite in the Derby now for a number of years. Their monthly nights pull are quite a party for the clubbers in the city with previous guests include Andre Crom, Sonny Fodera, Adam Shelton, Acid Mondays, Inland Knights, Ceri, Jamie Trench, James Barnsley. They have just released part 001 of their 2016 line ups including Buckley TrueSelf Lee Clarke () and for their 4th Bithrday celebrations One Records Subb-an. One thing is for sure with Discotech expect nothing but great vibes, brilliant people and forward thinking house music. All powered by VOID Soundsystems. www.discotech.info or on social: discotechonline

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BBQ LOW'N'SLOW

From wood burning US imported Smoker

RIBS. PULLED PORK. BEEF BRISKET BBQ CHICKEN. JUMBO WINGS HUGE AMERICAN BURGERS MILKSHAKES. CRAFT BEERS

Find us on Facebook

@jimsmokehouse

www.jimsmokehouse.co.uk T- 01159 241742 38 Goosegate, Hockley, Nottingham, NG1 1FF

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FOOD REVOLUTION Revolution has always been a firm favorite with visitors to Nottingham’s Cornerhouse bars but did you realise it now boasts a full and extensive food menu? SIXTYNINE degrees’ Lilith HuntSheppard visited to try it- she’s a trooper is our Lil.

I must admit, for as long as I have been a fan of Revolution, I had never tried the food, so when I was invited down to sample the menu I jumped at the chance. Despite arriving in the early evening there were plenty of people already dining so the atmosphere was bustling and lively. Taking our seats my dining partner and I decided we should get into the spirit of things and got started straight away with the cocktails! Eden, my dinner guest for the evening, went for the Gin based Raspberry and Lavender Sour, I went for something with a bit more kick and had the rum based It’s a Rum Ting. Mine was particularly moreish and as it contains Wray and Nephew rum, potentially lethal too. As we looked through the menu, we were really impressed with the choices available. Both feeling a little fishy and having never having tried Lobster before, I went for the Lobster Ravioli with creamy ricotta and pesto while Eden went for the Seafood Provecal and crusty Ciabatta. Everything arrived www.69-degrees.co.uk

beautifully presented and smelling incredible. The portions were just the right size and everything was cooked beautifully; my ravioli was delicious and had just the right amount of filling inside. I loved that added tang of the pesto. As for Eden’s Seafood Provecal, it was bursting with color with plenty of seafood to get stuck into. The Ciabatta was lovely and crusty and perfect to mop up any last bits of sauce.

As our plates were cleared our thoughts quickly turned to desserts. Any sensation of feeling full vanished when I saw the Nutella Fluff served with a Blueberry dipping sauce. Oh my word…. It certainly was the sweet treat I hoped it would be! As our evening drew to a close, the bustling yet relaxed atmosphere of Revolution continued with the restaurant staying busy all through the night. We loved the food at Revolution: tasty, unpretentious and you are always guaranteed great service. Whether you wanted to go for a tasty lunch or a nice relaxing evening meal, Revolution Cornerhouse ticks all the boxes. Revolution, The Corner House, Foreman St, Nottingham, To book a table call 0115 9598072 or visit revolution-bars.co.uk

THE B FACTOR Awards season moved to Leicester when the entire Barrie Stephen Hair team came together at The Case Restaurant to celebrate a year of successes and 20 years of the Barrie Stephen brand.

Staff members from across all four salons joined press and celebrity guests Stephen Webb and Chris Steed from Channel 4’s Gogglebox who crowned Jadie Simpson Stylist of the year in the Barrie Stephen B Factor awards. Look out for the newest Barrie Stephen salon on the block, B Styled, which opens in the city this March. www.barriestephenhair.co.uk

SEND IN THE CLOWNS Performers, promoters, staff and guests celebrated a hugely successful Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival at the official End of Festival Party at The Cookie. Following 18 days of amazing comedy shows across the city guests gathered at The Cookie to unwind after a jam packed festival schedule and mark the growing success of the city’s comedy scene. With more further comedy coming up following the Festival, full listings can be found at www.thecookieleicester.co.uk

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L AST WORD NORMA JEAN MARTINE

One of Universal’s newest sensations Norma Jean Martin, has been snapped up by McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet, to be the sound of their spring campaign with the release of a new version of George Michael’s Freedom’ which will form part of the group’s Spring/Summer marketing campaign. SIXTYNINE degrees caught up with Norma Jean to talk about her musical and her style influences How did you start as an artist? I’ve always sung, ever since I could remember. When I was about 14 years old I started writing songs. Professionally, my career started when I moved from Nashville to London in 2011 and that’s when I started working with my manager and writing for my debut record that is due out this year. Who and where do you get your musical inspiration from? I grew up near the original location of Woodstock, so I went to a lot of those kinds of concerts as a kid. Since I’ve moved to England I’ve of course gotten into all the British music I never really knew about before like The Smiths and Oasis. So who are your musical heroes? Carole King. Sheryl Crow. The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. Noel Gallagher. Nina Simone. Janis Joplin. Ani Difranco. Neil Young. Joni Mitchell. Bob Dylan. Led Zeppelin. Freddie Mercury. Chris Martin. Max Martin. Matt Bellamy. Jack White. Amy Winehouse. Where do you get your style inspiration / do you have a style icon? I always say my style is a three way cross between Marilyn Monroe, Edie Sedgwick and Debbie Harry. Marilyn and I, for one, share a name, Norma Jean, so even though she is a tough act to follow, I always felt an affinity with her. Basically I always go for three things: Class, dirt, and a hint of sexy! Is your style a reflection of your music? How so? I would say my style is definitely a reflection of my

music. I straddle a line between clean-pop and rock-alternative, single charts and coffee tables, and emotional love songs and hedonistic bangers. I’m not one to be put in a box and I feel like my style is that as well. My music has the same three guidelines as my style. I feel like I always need that balance, otherwise it’s not me. How has your style evolved? I used to wear a lot more colour and crazy patterns. I grew up dressing quite “faux hippie” in high school and university. When I moved to London I reluctantly bought into the funeral look and I haven’t turned back since. Instead of heading towards the crazy patterns in a store, I head towards the black and white section and look at the shapes there are to offer, and go with what suits my body best. A lot of style is confidence. Do you like to mix high-street and designer? Definitely. That is the sort of balance I need in my wardrobe. One of my favourite high street brands is French Connection. I really love their bodycon dresses. They fit me in the same way Alexander Wang’s dresses do but they are much more affordable. I love shopping at old vintage markets. London and Berlin are two of my favourite cities for that. I also really enjoy outlet malls so I guess it’s pretty fitting that I’m involved in McArthur Glen’s campaign So how did that come about? The head of marketing for McArthur Glen heard my voice and saw the music video for my song “Animals” and decided that I would be perfect fit for the campaign. When they got in touch and asked if I would sing “Freedom” it felt so right. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The worst thing someone can ever say is “No.

To find out more about McArthurGlen Designer Outlets and Norma Jean Martine visit www.mcarthurglen.com/uk/east-midlands-designer-outlet www.69-degrees.co.uk

Fourteen flights a week to Madrid. No bull. No kidding. We’re now offering fourteen flights every week to Madrid and you can fly with one of four top European airlines Iberia Express, Norwegian, Monarch or Ryanair. Whether you’re going for a stag/hen do, some retail therapy or simply a long weekend, few other capital cities can offer what Madrid does. World-class art museums including the famous Prado and Reina Sofia. A thriving nightlife as there are more bars here than any other city on earth. A rich culinary scene with food from every Spanish region on offer, and you could also dine at the world’s oldest restaurant. A taste of traditional Spain, with its flamenco shows, smoky bars and tapas restaurants. And for those who do like a bit of bull, there’s Plaza Toros Las Ventas – the home of bullfighting in Spain.