Who's Jack April

FOR THE REST OF US

ISS 47/APRIL

/ ABOUT Who’s Jack Magazine is part of a range of platforms that all come under the company Who’s Jack Ltd. This is the magazine and it is a monthly glossy both in print and online that covers art, fashion, film, music and general London and life. We aim to be attainable just as much as we are aspirational and never to talk down to our reader, you.

We are what you’ve been waiting for.

Jack Loves You More.

/ HOW TO GET INVOLVED Whether you are a band, a brand, a designer or simply want to tell us about something, get in touch.

General enquiries can be sent to: press@whos-jack.co.uk, contributions can be sent to: contributions.jack @googlemail.com, finally, advertising enquiries can be sent to: magazine@whos-jack.co.uk.

Who’s Jack also likes a good collaboration, event or campaign. We can work with you or for you.

Get in touch.

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/ FROM JACK

Now that we are swiftly moving into the summer months whether the weather is taking some time to catch up or not we have been trying our hardest to ditch the big coats for a more transitional leather jacket and going out every now and again in shorts. We think now however that this might have been a bit over eager.

Luckily we have been otherwise distracted from a lot of the weather this month due to puppy sitting the adorable Lily in the office, a toy poodle that very much enjoyed being part of the team for a week. We have also waved goodbye to our London pale skin and waved hello to a fair bit of fake tan in favour of a night out in Essex to see just what we are missing since the whole office is addicted to The Only Way is Essex. Now that we are back in London however we are missing the Essex a bit (don’t tell anyone).

We had excitement in the office recently, as soon after our Oh Land cover shoot the lovely lady got her first airplay on Radio 2 with her single Wolf and I we knew we were onto a good thing.

So now onto next month. See you in May. Lu x

/ ISSUE 47 . APR / 2011 FASHION

MUSIC

8. Fashion For The Boys Pockets, the best kind, the worst kind.

10. Solo Boyd Alexander shoots Shaina Danziger 18. Jack Loves Heritage Research, Sportsgirl and English Trinketry.

22. Purikura Pink Girly underwear for the summer.

29. Old Master Style The Turban.

31. Softly Does It Indoor playsuits and sexy undies.

39. Degrees of Separation This month, Kate Moss.

42. Fashion Pick of The Month

44. Music Review One Liners and Lesser Knowns James and Matt talk new bands, good bands and bad bands.

45. The Naked and Famous Think about getting naked.

48. Oh Land Our Cover star talks ballerinas and her new life in music.

55. Rory’s Band Column The best of who we are watching, insider knowledge that we’re putting out there.

56. Music Pick of The Month

FILM

ART & DESIGN

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58. Mark’s April Film Round Up The films you want to spend your money on this month.

62. DVD’s and 10 Films With..

This month it’s a look at 10 films with angry monkeys.

63. David Leon How he prepares for his most challenging roles and his new show, Vera.

66. Robert Sheehan The star of Killing Bono and Misfits talks to Mark about how Nicolas Cage likes to draw willies and of course, Killing Bono.

69. So You Think You’re a Film Maker?

If you have a short film of feature film, how do you get it seen?

70. Film Pick of The Month

72. Art Spotter Eleanor looks at this months gallery, The Drawing Room and the growing interest in drawing.

74. Artist Introductions Photographer Dan Wilton.

76. The Process New feature looking at artist’s processes, those used to create. This month, Cathie Pilkington.

78. Art Pick of The Month

LIFE & LONDON 80. Beauty : Mommy Dearest Luke looks at Mothers Day make up.

82. Dating : Online Guy Georgina gets desperate and gets online.

84. Perks and Perils New column from Tamlin introducing us to his ever and never changing life.

85. Being Royal Adam takes a walk in Royals shoes checking out the most Regal places in London.

88. Boxing As Boxing gets increasingly popular we have a chat with Lenny from the Islington Boxing club to see how easy it is to get involved.

92. Shit Lit Kiss Me Quick, Danny Miller.

92. Hi, I’m New Here Esme introduces herself as one of our new columnists.

93. Bank Holiday Travel Thinking of getting away for the Bank Holidays? We have a couple of suggestions for you.

94. Life and London Pick of The Month

/ TEAM JACK / CONTRIBUTORS

Editor : Louise O-F louise@whos-jack.co.uk

Dept Editor : Laura Hills laura@whos-jack.co.uk

Film : Mark Williams mark@whos-jack.co.uk

Illustrator: Avril Kelly

Fashion: Terry James Lynch tjl@whos-jack.co.uk

Comment : Adam Roan Henderson adam@whos-jack.co.uk

Music : James Lynch james@whos-jack.co.uk

Film Online : Matt Hamm matt@whos-jack.co.uk

Photographer: Boyd Alexander

Stylist: Natalie Dale

Dating : Georgina Childs

Make Up: Luke Stephens

Photographer : Jay Mclaughlin me@jaymclaughlin.co.uk

Styling : Faye Heran faye@whos-jack.co.uk

Art: Eleanor Davidson

Styling : Jo Bevis jackstylist@gmail.com

Music: Rory Broadfoot

Columnist : Tamlin Magee

Columnist: Esme Riley

Stylist : Tory Turk

Illustrator : Anna Stiles

Stylist : Zoe Kozlik

Photographer : Tom Bunning

Photographer: James Lincoln

Cover Image : James Lincoln // Want to see your work in Jack? Contributions : contributions.jack@googlemail.com The Jack-Father : Edward Fitzpatrick // Who’s Jack Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part with out the permission of Who’s Jack.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the opinions of Who’s Jack. Who’s Jack Ltd can not be held responsible for any breach of copyright arising from any material supplied. Who’s Jack, 93 Barker Drive, Camden, London, NW1 0JG

Photographer: Lorna Roach

jack / STOCKISTS NORTH

WEST

Camden Blues Kitchen: 111 - 113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN www.theblueskitchen.com The Old Queens Head: 44 Essex Road, Islington, N1 8LN www.theoldqueenshead.com The Hawley Arms: 2 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8QU www.thehawleyarms.co.uk The Lexington: 96-98 Pentonville Road, N1 9JB www.thelexington.co.uk The Keston Lodge: 131 Upper Street, N1 1QP www.kestonlodge.com The Lock Tavern: 35 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AJ www.lock-tavern.co.uk Shock and Soul: 46 Essex Road, Islington, N1 8LN www.shockandsoul.co.uk The Westbury: 34 Kilburn High Street, NW6 5UA www.westburybar.com Rokit: 225 Camden HIgh Street, NW1 7BU www.rokit.co.uk LCB Surf Store : 23 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 7RU www.lcbsurfstore.co.uk Edinboro Castle: 57 Mornington Terrace, NW1 7RU www.edinborocastlepub.co.uk Joy: 21-22 Upper Street, N1 0PQ www.joythestore.com

Rough Trade: 130 Talbot Road, W11 1JA www.roughtrade.com The Electric Brasserie: 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED www.electricbrasserie.com Mau Mau Bar: 265 Portobello Road, W11 1LR www.myspace.com/maumaubar Portobello Music: 13 Allsaints Road, W11 1HA www.portobellomusic.net Smash: 268 Portobello Road www.sandmcafe.co.uk Defectors Weld : 170 Uxbridge Road, W12 8AA www.defectors-weld.com Size? - (in London stores): 200 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 1LB www.size.co.uk

SOUTH Bar Story: 213 Blenheim Grove, Peckham, SE15 4QL Bullfrog: 20 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 9BJ www.bullfrogs.co.uk The Rest Is Noise: 442 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 8EJ www.therestisnoisebrixton.com Joy: Clapham Junction Station, SW11 1RU www.joythestore.com Banquet Records: 52 Eden Street, Kingston, KT1 1EE www.banquetrecords.com

EAST Paper Dress: 114-116 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AY www.paperdressboutique.blogspot.com Vintage Store: 182 Brick Lane, E1 6SA The Lazy Ones: 102m Sclater Street, E1 6HR www.thelazyones.blogspot.com Beyond Retro: 110-112 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ

58-59 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JY www.beyondretro.com The Book Club: 100 Lenard Street, EC2A 4RH www.wearetbc.com Beyond Retro: 110-112 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ

58-59 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JY www.beyondretro.com Behave: 14 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR LCB Surf Store: 121 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 7DG www.lcbsurfstore.co.uk Rough Trade East: Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL www.roughtrade.com The Victoria: 110 Grove Road, Mile End, E3 5TH www.thevictoriae3.com Junk: Old Truman Brewery,

Grey Eagle Street, E1 6QL Elbow Rooms: 97-113 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS theelbowroom.co.uk Bar Music Hall: 134 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AR www.barmusichall.co.uk Rokit: 101 Brick Lane, E1 6SE www.rokit.co.uk Rough Trade: Old Truman Brewery,

Grey Eagle Street, E1 6QL www.roughtrade.com Absolute Vintage: 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR www.absolutevintage.co.uk GShock Shop: Old Truman Brewery,

Grey Eagle Street, E1 6QL www.g-shock.co.uk Smiths of Smithfield: 67-77 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ

www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk (weekends only)

CENTRAL Beyond the Valley: 2 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RD www.beyondthevalley.com 55 DSL: 10A Newburgh St, W1F 7RN www.55dsl.com Chateau Roux: 17 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RZ www.chateauroux.co.uk Tatty Devine: 44 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9EP www.tattydevine.com The Sun and 13 Cantons: 21 Great Pulteney Street, W1F 9NG Candy Cakes: Monmouth Street, WC2H 9EP www.candycakes.com Size? - (in London stores): Carnaby Street, Soho, W1F 7DW www.size.co.uk Size? - (in London stores): 37a Neal Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9PR www.size.co.uk Fopp: 1 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LL www.foppreturns.com Mint: 20 Earlham Street, WC2 H9LN www.mintvintage.co.uk Sanctum Hotel: 20 Warwick Street Soho, W1B 5NF www.sanctumsoho.com The Hospital Club: 24 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9HQ www.thehospitalclub.com Beyond Retro: 58-59 Great Malborough Street, W1F 7JY www.beyondretro.com Sanctum Hotel: 20 Warwick Street, W1B 5NF www.sanctumsoho.com Joy: 1620170 Wardour Street, W1F8AB www.joythestore.com Volcom: 7 Earlham Street, WC2 9LL www.volcom.com Joy: 11 The Market Building, Covent Garden www.joythestore.com Rokit: 42 Shelton Street, WC2 9HZ www.rokit.co.uk Wesc: 53 Neal Street, WC2H 9PR wesc.com Miyson: 3 Lowndes Court, off Carnaby, W1F 7HD www.miyson.com

Also with online orders of Urban Outfitters : www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk See an up to the minute list of stockists online, if you would like to stock Who’s Jack contact: press@whos-jack.co.uk All stockists have magazines delivered once a month in the first week of each month. We would advise getting to stockists early as they go quick.

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Photo: Vincent Skoglund

Featured colorway

PLATTAN AUBERGINE Models: TANTO MEDIS

Available in 12 colors:

Feature 3.5mm standard microphone and remote.

www.urbanears.com hello@urbanears.com

Fashion.

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James Lynch

FASHION FOR THE BOYS James tries to help dress the male, and this month concentrates on the problem of men’s pockets and their contents.

What do you keep in your pockets on a day-to-day basis? Wallet? Mobile phone?

Anything else? I can imagine that most men would keep at least some, if not all of these items on them at any one time; an Oyster Card (with or without holder), a Swiss Army Knife, a receipt from the pub you were in last night, a bunch of keys (half of which are completely redundant), a bottle opener, spare change to the sum of approximately £2.64, a chapstick that’s covered in fluff, a half empty pouch of tobacco, some loose filter tips and one single chewing gum pellet lodged in the bottom of it’s wrapper.

But what if there was a practical and stylish solution to carrying all these essentials around without stretching out the pockets of your neatly ironed new chinos? Well, there is and they have been around an embarrassingly long time: the humble Parka. The necessity of a mans pockets can be overlooked easily, especially in the exclusive world of men’s tailoring but the need to find a home for everything all at once is not just addressed but solved by these coats that carry their military heritage into the battle for male practicality. Boasting massive pockets across all styles available, the Parka easily allows you to carry your whole life around with you and also protects you from the elements you may be exposed to along the way.

The current designs are a modern twist on the classic Parka that has long been a viable choice for anyone wishing to cover up and channel the spirit of the 60s Mod movement. Or even the modern Parka updates the look that even those who have never seen Quadrophenia will enjoy. These newly designed jackets widely dispense with the classic fur-trimmed hood and instead opt for fur linings or quilted inners but one thing still remains: massive pockets. And the more, the merrier. Inherent to the Parka style, you are blessed with the treat of a longer cut that means more pockets and also a lovely slim line silhouette. That’s not to say that there isn’t shorter options available for those looking for a more formal option but the more material you pay for, the more pocket you get.

The contemporary Parka designs also do away with the heavy cotton material of the classic models and upgrade them with weatherproofed synthetics and neat customisations and additions such as leather elbow pads or corduroy trims and Velcro cuffs. Vastly available in a range of colours, you can choose between the classic khaki from brands such as Bench, and blacks and charcoals from Cheap Monday to navy blues and even a lovely orange number from Nigel Cabourn. If you want to keep the spirit of the Parka’s heritage alive and embrace the urban counter culture it represents I would also recommend checking out the designs of a relatively new brand, Weekend Offender, whose bold colours, contrasting details and clean cuts are a favorite on the terraces and high streets of our fair city.

Unfortunately though, the Parka has a stereotype attached that is hard to loose, one built on hooliganism, football violence, lager and Liam Gallagher. As such, my only advice for accessorising when wearing a Parka would be to avoid driving a white van, wearing conspicuous gold jewelry, glugging from cans of Stella in the street and randomly belching and/or lashing out at unsuspecting members of the public. Try to achieve as many of these as you can manage and you should be fine, although you might have trouble finding your Oyster card in all those stupid pockets when you’re getting on the bus and not into your Ford Transit.

SOLO PHOTOGRAPHY : BOYD ALEXANDER STYLING : ISABELLA GOUMAL HAIR AND MAKE UP : HAYLEY JONES MODEL : SHAINA DANZIGER @ PROFILE

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SHEEPSKIN JACKET VICTORIA STONE, UNDERWEAR WOLFORD, HEADSCARF HERMES, TIGHTS STYLIST’S OWN, BROTHEL CREEPERS UNDERGROUND

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KNITTED TUNIC & PATENT JACKET VICTORIA STONE, TIGHTS JONATHAN ASTON, BROTHEL CREEPERS UNDERGROUND

LEOTARD HOLLY FULTON, WAX JACKET VICTORIA STONE, FUR COAT RELLIK, TIGHTS JONATHAN ASTON

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SHIRT DRESS VICTORIA STONE, KNITTED CYCLING SHORTS LINA OSTERMAN, SOCKS FALKE, LEGWARMERS TABIO, BRACELET BJORG, BOOTS UNDERGROUND

SKIRT HOLLY FULTON, CROPPED VEST ACNE, NECKLACE BJORG, BOOTS DR MARTENS

JACKET & LEGGINGS LINA OSTERMAN, BODY PLAYTEX, BELT VINTAGE YVES SAINT LAURENT, RINGS BJORG, BROTHEL CREEPERS UNDERGROUND, SUNGLASSES RAYBAN

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JUMPSUIT HILDA MAHA, FUR COAT BEYOND RETRO

LEOTARD HILDA MAHA, KNITTED SCARF RAG AND BONE, PLAID SCARF BEYOND RETRO, HESSIAN SACK CUSTOMISED BY STYLIST

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JACK Loves

l l o c i N d Richar l r i g s t For Spor Australian brand, Sportsgirl have a new capsule collection full of dog tooth and check for the ladies.

Richard Nicoll has worked with Sportsgirl to make this, their most fashion forward collection yet.

Richard is London based but Australian by birth so who better to team up with the brand that launched in March. We love the way smart shapes have been mixed with relaxed prints. Richard said of the collaboration ‘I am delighted to be working with Sportsgirl on this capsule collection. From the beginning I sought to design a range that felt fresh, young and relevant for Sportsgirl, but was also something progressive, confident and fun.’ Nicoll has certainly achieved this goal with a collection that includes short jackets and thin jumpers as well as smart dresses and trousers.

Heritage research It’s April and that means April showers. So why not invest in a mack and get yourself some of those all important pockets that James has been harping on about? These macks come in four colours, the only one not seen here is the buiscuit and are by a brand that we love, Heritage Research. Heritage Research do what so many menswear brands are trying to do currently, they bring the practicality and craftsmanship of old to the modern wardrobe and they are certianly doign it that little bit better than their contemporaries.

These bad boy macs will set you back £300 but you live in England (well most of you do) so suck it up as it rains pretty much all the time. www.heritageresearch.co.uk

h s i l g En y r t e k Trin

With a name like Albion Trinketry it doesn’t take long to guess who is behind this new jewellery range. We say new because although it was announced some months ago the website is still not up and pieces are still on pre-order rather than easiliy available.

Inspiration has come from the (ex) rocker Pete Doherty who has teamed up with Hannah Martin to make the collection. It seems that the common themes are medal type stars, all things particularly English and found treasures all of which of course, goes hand in hand with the name. And it is a good name, and a good collection which is why we are loving it. What we don’t love quite so much is how fat Pete has got and the fact that having gotten so fat he has forgotten to take a trip to the shops to find some better fitting jumpers.

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Purikura Pink

PHOTOGRAPHER: DANIEL THOMAS SMITH, WWW.DANIELTHOMASSMITH.COM STYLIST, NATALIE DALE, WWW. STYLISTNATALIEDALE.CO.UK MAKE-UP ARTIST: NATALIE KEMP, WWW.NATALIEKEMP.NET MODEL: GANA @ PROFILE MODELS BLACK CORSAGE (PART OF SHOE), ASOS, £36, WWW.ASOS.COM | BRA, | MIMI HOLIDAY, £54, WWW.DAMARIS. CO.UK | KNICKERS, MIMI HOL | DAY, £36, WWW.DAMARIS.CO.UK | SHOES, ASOS, £36, WWW.ASOS.COM

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NECKLACE, HOUSE OF HARLOW, £90, WWW.OXYGENBOUTIQUE.COM | BRA, URBAN OUTFITTERS, £55, WWW.URBANOUTFITTERS.CO.UK (WEB EXCLUSIVE)

BRA, TOPSHOP, £18, WWW.TOPSHOP.COM | KNICKERS, TOPSHOP, £6, WWW.TOPSHOP.COM

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KIMONO, FRED AND GINGER, £200, WWW.FREDANDGINGER.COM | CAMI, FRED AND GINGER, £120, WWW.FREDANDGI | GER.COM | BRA, FRED AND GINGER, £110, WWW.FREDANDGINGER.COM | KNICKERS, FLEUR OF ENGLAND, £50.56, WWW.FLEUROFENGLAND.COM

BRA, FLEUR OF ENGLAND, £91, WWW.FLE | ROFENGLAND.COM | RING, LOW LUV, £135, |WWW.OXYGENBOUTIQUE.COM

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BRA, PLAYFUL PROMISES, £20, WWW.PLAYFULPROMISES.COM | KNICKERS, PLAYFUL PROMISES, £15, WWW.PLAYFULPROMISES.COM,

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OLD MASTER STYLE The Turban

Van Eyck

F

How to wear it like the oldies. words : Mimi Howard

orget all that you associate with headscarves and turbans, starting with Russian peasants, sultans and fortune tellers. Now try and imagine this humble square of silk has taken on a new fashion status as spring/summer’s quirkiest must-have accessory to rival Prada’s banana earrings. Hard to believe right? Most of us would prefer to avoid difficult headgear at the best of times but when done correctly the turban can be flattering and elegant, when fumbled with it will only look ridiculous.

For those of us lacking cheekbones a voluminous Van Eyck style is recommended. Armani had some lovely ones with slight volume and added jewel details, an elegant image of desert chic. Define eyes clearly in dark make up; go for flattering folds and a loose line around the face, a tight headscarf can sometimes have a swimming cap effect that is frankly very hard to pull off, I for one always end up looking like a sufferer of alopecia, my eyebrows suddenly looking stuck-on. So normal folk beware: if you dare to wear this difficult accessory do not neglect the rest of your outfit. This trend relies on a clean, polished look; anything baggy or scruffy and you’re back in peasant/gypsy territory, avoid harem pants at all costs unless you want people to make Aladdin jokes.

If the Armani turbans are too terrifying a thought go for the loosely-tied headscarf and sunglasses Riviera look, as seen on Brigitte Bardot and Ferragamo catwalks. To avoid Balmoral chic tie behind the ears and not under the chin, only corgis find that attractive.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: TAIKAN MODEL: MAGDALENA @ PEARL MODEL MANAGEMENT MAKE UP AND HAIR: NIBRAS STYLIST: MELANIE THOMAS

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Softly Does It

PINK PLAYSUIT – BEYOND RETRO| BRACELET – BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD | SHOES: RIVER ISLAND

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CORSET TOP- PARTNERS INTIMATES | LACE GLOVES- BEYOND RETRO | SUSPENDERS AND STOCKINGS – BEYOND RETRO

PLAYSUIT: BEYOND RETRO

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BRA - PRIMARK | SKIRT – BEYOND RETRO

Degrees of Separation : Ever sat and pondered the people that seem to effect everything? They filter through genres, through companies and through our day to day lives, affecting, changing, connecting.

These are the people that we are looking at throughout this series aptly known as the Degrees of Separation, look out as the series moves from section to section profiling different people that have had a profound effect on the capital and beyond with a constant connection to the last.

This month, Kate Moss

KATE MOSS illustration: Anna Stiles words : Laura Hills

As far as celebrity bounce back stories go they don’t come more impressive than that of Kate Moss who managed to survive a cocaine scandal, being dumped by seven of the brands she was contracted to and a turbulent relationship with known drug user and trouble maker Pete Doherty. And yet, after all of this, at the end of 2005 and after a stint at the Meadows Rehab Clinic she had the kind of come back that the Kerry Katona’s of this world could only dream of.

So what is it about the Croydon born model that has designers, magazine editors and brands alike falling at her feet to work with her both before and after the ‘cokate’ chapter of her life? And how exactly has she managed to escape 20 years in the lime light by doing only a handful of interviews keeping the majority of her private life out of the public eye and where it’s intended to be – behind very expensive closed doors?

To really understand this super model we need to go back to 1988 when at the age of 14 Moss was discovered by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Model

Management, at JFK airport in America.

Just a few years later, and after earning herself only one GCSE above C grade, Moss teamed up with Corinne Day for a photo shoot entitled The Third Summer of Love for British magazine, The Face.

Images from this shoot became some of the most defining fashion images of the 90s and at the age of 16 it propelled Moss in to the public domain causing designers and photographers alike to fall over themselves to snap her up for their campaigns. Unlike other, more curvaceous, models who were around at the time (Naomi Campbell, Elle McPherson et al) Moss was seen as the ‘anti supermodel’, her skinny, boyish frame made her a hit with the likes of Calvin Klein, Gucci and Dior.

Moss has spent an impressive 62% of her life as one of the top super models of our generation and yet, unlike many of her model peers, her aspirations have never ventured far from in front of the camera lens or catwalk. She has never flaunted her celebrity to get herself on to the pages of magazines, she has never

released a book, a range of home wear, nor has she released an album or tried her hand at acting. That’s because Moss is fashion, through and through it seems to be the only thing she knows. It stands to reason therefore that she would eventually turn her hand to designing.

It was once said that Kate Moss ‘isn’t a designer but could make a dress out of a scarf’ and that’s exactly what she did in November 2010 when she launched her hugely popular line at Topshop. In fact her first line was so popular that within minutes of the pieces going on sale online Ebay went in to melt down with the influx of people trying to sell and buy the items.

Moss’ love life has always been a point of speculation for the press having previously dated Johnny Depp and becoming engaged and pregnant by magazine editor supremo Jefferson Hack.

Her string of fairly high profile lovers has always won her column inches however none more so than her relationship with Libertines singer, Pete Doherty.

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of the major fashion houses. Despite a brief engagement it wasn’t too long before things started going wrong for her and Doherty and she eventually broke off the impending marriage and threw him 41 out of her house. Pete went on to pen a song for her named Bohemian Love, which he uploaded to Youtube along with an image of them kissing. The lyrics said it all – ‘So back to my sleep / I’m tossing and turning / My appearance is cheap / My daytime is small eyes and yawning / I look at the bright side, I don’t have to make my bed in the morning / But every time I lay at the pillow I cry’.

It was at the beginning of 2005 when the pair met while Moss was 31 and Doherty was just 25 and it wasn’t long before the couple were spotted falling out of North London hotspots together looking worse for wear. People were shocked by the pairing, Moss had always dated seemingly upstanding men and here she was loved up with a well known drug user and criminal, with one broadsheet newspaper brandishing the headline. ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’.

But for the next two and a half years the couple remained intact with the singer moving in to her house causing a wave of marriage rumors. During this time Doherty was also accused by the masses for leading Moss down the dark path that eventually lead her to be caught on camera snorting cocaine in a studio

as Pete recorded songs with his band, Babyshambles.

The story appeared in the Daily Mirror on 15 September 2005 and the following day she was dropped by Swedish fashion retailer H&M, the day after Chanel ended her contract which was quickly followed

by Burberry leaving Kate no longer the face of their Prorsum collection, as well as four other regular employers.

As stupid as she may have been Moss was neither naïve nor unworldly and it wasn’t long before her PR machine went in to over drive trying to save her (and them) the millions of pounds she was losing from contracts every day.

Issuing an apology and checking herself in for a tactical stint in rehab it wasn’t long before Moss was back in the good books

During all of this time Kate has inspired hundred of looks from hair styles to leather trousers, whatever Kate wears the world wants to wear. The heavy fringes 50% of girls have today were started by Kate, that festival look of short shorts,a waist coat and a hat is all hers, also the resurgence of over the knee boots, the boyfriend jacket, the pirate boot and fur coats.

Fast forward to the present day and Moss has left her position at Topshop, is about to get married to her much more socially acceptable boyfriend, The Kills front man, Jamie Hince, and has recently celebrated her 30th cover shoot for fashion bible Vogue proving that at the age of 37, despite everything, she has the staying power and cultural influence that models starting out today can only dream of.

Next month: Moss’ ex fiancé and one half of the Libertines, Pete Doherty

PICK OF THE MONTH

Ethical Shopping Site Launches Style With is a new website that collects together all the best sustainable brands and orders them into an easy to navigate shopping experience. Categories that can be searched through are fair trade, organic, eco friendly and recycled so depending on what you are more bothered about, ie peoples welfare or our world resources drying up you can find a way to dress.

This website should dispel too many thoughts of ethical clothing being mostly made out of hessian sacking as there are tuns of male and female brands on the site to choose from.

FASHION Oh my blog! - Workshop

Past, Present and Future: Electrum at 40

Jo Glifford, a social media expert is running an informal workshop with the Editor-in-Chief of BitchBuzz, Cate Sevilla to help with tips, tools and tricks for the discerning fashion blogger.

This is a ticketed event that has lunch included in the cost as well as tea and refreshments.

Electrum, the jewellery gallery hosts this exhibition celebrating its 40th anniversary. The show features vintage jewellery alongside current collections and new work from international jewellery designers.

22 April - 11 June Electrum Gallery, 21 South Molton Street, W1K 5QZ

B.Hive, 26-27 Southampton Street, London WC2H 7RS, 14th April, 12.50-1pm, £65.00 cherrysorbetohmyblog.eventbrite.com

Floral Print Jeans

www.stylewithheart.com

Perfect for festivals, we want some floral print jeans. Large floral print won’t do, we need the busy looking florals like these above. Left, Levi’s 365 floral jean leggings and right, Asos petite.

Joy Joy is one of our new stockists. With shops in Clapham, Covent Garden, Soho and Angel, Joy is like an unrelated little sister to Urban Outfitters. It stocks clothes, books, accessories, great gifts and homewear. These are just two dresses from the huge range they have of both mens and womenswear. We picked these because we like the colour, they are great for the summer and are the sheer fabric you’re all going to be wanting to get your hands on once the sun is out. www.joythestore.com

JOBS Last Gang In Town GPPR has released their new SS11 collection and it’s pretty damn cool.

Americana gang influences run throughout with stared T-Shirts (if the designers reading this can we have one please?) and leopard print shirts that are so far away from Pat Butcher it’s not funny, and that’s a hard thing to achieve.

They say : ‘Born of youth rebellion and subcultures, GPPR seeks to create apparel for the refined and mature activist.’

You can find GPPR online and shop away to your hearts content but don’t forget the shipping charges. www.gppr.us

PR Manager French Connection Reporting to the Director of PR. woodhamsw@frenchconnection.com Assistant to Menswear Designer Angelo Galasso Assisting an haute-couture menswear brand located in Knightsbridge. 4 week internship to turn into possible full time position. nico.kubisch@angelogalasso.com Social Media Manager Laura Ashley seeking a Social Media Manager to create, manage and grow our social media online presence via elements such as Facebook, LA Style blog, SEO, Twitter, blogs, and emerging channels of communication careers@lauraashley.com

Hanon X Puma Dallas Collection Puma UK partner with Scottish boutique, Hanon. This collaboration has brought the Dallas Collection. The two brands have worked together to create the classic eighties archive silhouette in a range of colours with suede and nubuck overlays. The Scottish heritage of Hanon comes in in the tartan liner of the shoes.

The trainers will be on sale as a pack with a limited edition woven Argyle scarf. www.hanon-shop.com

Music.

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LESSER KNOWN MaTT Hamm

Marthas & Arthurs: Ever found yourself sitting around a campfire, guitar in arm, kumba in hand?! Well this Herefordshire folk lot are right up your nature reserve path; armed in accordion and flute combat, they passively promise to make your day slightly nicer with their joyous Mama & Papas-meets-Belle & Sebastian tunes.

Download: Counting the Colours Til Friday www.myspace.com/marthasandarthurs

Young Buffalo : Blending Afro-Beat with indie strokes of guitar, come this Mississippi trio who are causing quite a stir with the Lowes and Lamacqs of this world. Think Local Natives and Vampire Weekend having a little jam in your younger & rockier cousins garage and you’ll have an idea of their uniquely enjoyable sound.

Download: Three Deep www.myspace.com/youngbuffalo

Christian AIDS: Manchester is a mysterious place…believe it or not.

Following in the cloak’n’dagger footsteps of Wu Lyf, come northern band Christian AIDS. Take yourself away to a rave held in a haunted house and you’ll have a vague idea of what to expect from this bunch of dirty dubstep disco teasers; who mask New Order and Underworld styles in a lingering veil of chill-wave.

Download: Stay Positive www.christianaids.bandcamp. com

MUSIC

LINERS REVIEWONE BIN

James Lynch

Pulled Apart by Horses I Punched A Lion In The Throat

‘So, we have all got some tattoos yeah? Cool. Stupid facial hair that is manly but pointless? Nice. And we are still going with that vaguely sinister but ultimately ridiculous band name? OK, so what shall we play?’

‘Well, I like RATM and screaming seems to make things more ‘rocky’?’

‘Great ideas guys! I just wonder whether all of this is enough to get away with releasing a song in which the chorus describes me striking a wild beast in the neck for no apparent reason…’ www.pulledapartbyhorses.com

The Black Eyed Peas Just Can’t Get Enough

BURN

Despite starting off rather more promisingly, this immediately over familiar offering from the real-life urban caricatures quickly descends into the mess of insincere Euro-dance infused Hip-Pop that they have been churning out recently for an audience of under 15’s to listen to while desperately grinding against each other at underage club nights, off their heads on cheap cider and the heady stench of sweat, pheromones and CK1. www.blackeyedpeas.com

The Shoes Crack My Bones

There is one musical rule that always rings true; if you put two brilliantly named Frenchmen together with enough electronic equipment and stuff that makes beeps then you will undoubtedly end up with dance music genius. In no way disproving this rule are Guillaume and Benalways, who call themselves The Shoes and team up with a roster of indie talent including; Primary 1, Esser and CocknBullKid, to deliver a dark album of syncopated percussion and top notch electro. www.theshoes.fr

Crystal Fighters At Home

BOOM

They may have a name that sounds like it was taken from an awesome mid 80s children’s cartoon show, but Crystal Fighters are capable of displaying somewhat unsuspected maturity. A far cry from the dirty electro and sporadic dubstep of earlier releases, At Home draws on the bands Spanish heritage and influences, uses them to spin a powerful yet heartfelt ballad propelled by the yelping pleas of the twin lead vocals and the soft barrage of the traditional Basque txalaparta. www.crystalfighters.com

Young Galaxy Shapeshifting

This sparse and space age soundtrack from Young Galaxy sounds like they have taken a road trip across the universe with The Knife and Lykke Li, who, as well as taking in the wondrous sights and cultures on the way, have found time to patiently record and piece together a beautiful and yearning ode to the sparkling nothingness in which our tiny planet spins… rather than recording an album in Montreal and sending it over to some bloke in Sweden to fiddle with. www.younggalaxy.com

Tyler The Creator Yonkers

Yonkers is the first release from the Odd Future head boy’s new album, Goblin, which is out this month and whether you like it or not is the future of hip hop. It is also the best introduction I can think of to the world of OFWGKTA, as Tyler spits inflammatory and ridiculous lyrics (rhyming ‘paradox’ with ‘triceratops’ in the first two lines) over a grating homemade beat and eats a cockroach in the video before throwing up and getting a nose bleed… Standard. www.oddfuture.com

words: Laura Hills | images : Tom Bunning

45

New Zealand based electro-pop band, The Naked and Famous have been making waves in their homeland for the past couple of years. Since becoming the first New Zealand artists in 16 years to go to number one with their debut single, Young Blood, the band have appeared on BBC Sound of 2011 poll, racked up over 1,485,492 plays on Last.fm alone and have been getting music lovers in all of a fluster over their lazy-summerevening tinged tunes.

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS

We caught up with the man in charge of electronics and synths, Aaron Short and the bands drum player Jesse Wood, ahead of playing at London music venue, Heaven and the release of their debut album, Passive Me Aggressive You, to discuss their success so far, growing up in New Zealand, the moment they could give up their day jobs and getting naked on stage…

‘Half the stuff you’ll hear on the album was recording in one of our bedrooms’

Citing Massive Attack, PJ Harvey and Bjork as their influences and with enough musical talent between them to make most new bands weep with jealousy it stands to reason that their first album, released last month, would be received well. But perhaps the band didn’t expect is to go quite as well as it did.

Since it’s release it has had rave reviews with reviewers branding it, ‘a melting pot of pop perfection’ and ‘bustling with melody and colour’ it seems that things are going as well as any new band could hope but it hasn’t always been sold out gigs and number one singles. Back in their hometown of Auckland the five some spent their time divided between their jobs (Aaron and Jessie were ‘semi-professional IT geeks’), recording EPs and playing live shows.

‘In New Zealand it’s almost impossible to make being a musician a full time career so we all had to have other jobs. Even the best musicians we have there can still be found working in shops or in some other side line job,’ explains Aaron. ‘It’s a very difficult career to maintain because the country is so small you can’t do more than 10 shows a year before you end up playing to the same crowd over and over again.’ After signing to a small New Zealand based record label the band, which also includes vocalists Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith as well as bassist David Beadle, set about recording a series of short EPs. It wasn’t long before their musical ambitions were getting larger and so they decided to begin work on an album. ‘We started writing the album at the beginning of 2009 and we finished it a year later. Half the stuff you’ll hear on the album was recording in one of our bedrooms,’ says Jesse. ‘It’s the nature of the way we make music because we do so much on computers that we don’t have to be confined to a studio. It can be 2am and as long as we have our computers we can make music together.

It’s more relaxing that way too, we can do it in our pajamas!’

The band were still working in their day jobs when they received a call from their manager telling them that their first single, Young Blood, had shot straight to number one in the New Zealand charts, a piece of news they say they never expected. ‘We had no idea how crazy the response was going to be to Young Blood.

We were all at work when we got a phone call from our manager telling us to take the day off because we were number one.

We had a great time celebrating but then it was straight back to work the next day.

In New Zealand even if you’re number one it doesn’t mean that you receive instant fame, things just had to carry on as normal. It’s almost impossible to make money out of a music career back home,’ says Aaron. It wasn’t until their album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, followed the same direction as the single that the band decided to quit their jobs and work on making music their full time career. ‘It was only when the album also went to number one that we took stock of everything

that was happening and realised things were going well for us,’ says Jesse. ‘We didn’t read any reviews of the album so we didn’t have any idea how well it was doing or what sort of response it was getting,’ continues Aaron. ‘We knew we had fans because they came to our shows but we didn’t know what that would relate to in terms of record sales neither did we have any idea that we would eventually end up having a record deal in the UK and that we would end up touring Europe and America. It’s unbelievable.’

Back in the UK The Naked and Famous have been trying to emulate the success they received in their native land and the reaction to the band seems to be just as strong with a series of sold out tour dates, helped in no small part by the number of ‘Ones To Watch’ lists their name appeared on at the beginning of the year including the BBC Sound of 2011 poll. ‘We were getting so many people telling us that we were on all these ones to watch polls but because we aren’t from the UK we didn’t really see it as that important,’ explains Jesse. ‘It had a nice ring to it though so we were very happy to be included on them. It puts a lot of expectation on a band when they’re included on something like that and it can be pretty scary.’

Since their launch here at the beginning of this year their music, which they describe as ‘pop with a touch of alternativeness’ has drawn comparisons with the likes of MGMT and Passion Pit, which they are hoping will be dispelled when people have listened to their album.

‘There are obvious similarities between us and those bands but if you listen to our album I think you’ll see that we’re quite different as we use a lot of sounds and textures that they wouldn’t use. On one track people might hear a bit of MGMT but on another you’ll pick up something completely different,’ says Jesse.

On the day I meet the band they are just a few hours from a headline show at central London music venue, Heaven, it will be the bands first major London gig and it will also be their last until they’re back on these shores to play the Shepherds Bush Empire in May. ‘We came over last year in November but we only played a few small shows,’ says Aaron.

‘Although none of the crowds we played to were huge they were all very genuine crowds and they seemed to be enjoying what they were seeing. Tonight I think it’s completely sold out so it’ll be interesting to see the reaction we get.’

Despite the lack of London shows the band are busy for the foreseeable future touring the rest of Europe and areas of America, a tour that takes them right through until festival season when they will play eight festivals both here and abroad. ‘Every now and again I look at the tour page of our website and get shocked by how many dates we’re doing.

It’s relentless. This is our first full on tour so up and until now we’ve mostly been a studio based band which is

probably where we feel most comfortable,’ says Aaron. ‘We like being in the studio because everything is planned out and we’re in control of it but performing live is such a different environment, it makes us feel a bit more on edge because we never know what the crowds reaction is going to be.

Depending on what song we’re playing the crowed will normally either be jumping up and down or they’ll be stone silent, wide eyed and staring at us. Both reactions are equally cool to see but it took us a while to get used to the ones who just stare at us. We thought we were doing something wrong,’ he laughs.

As far as their live shows go they are still trying to craft their stage presence and what they want their shows to be like.

At present lighting and sound effects are kept to a minimum however they have bigger plans for the future, ‘Because we’re based in New Zealand we’re limited with how much equipment we can bring with us because only so much will fit on a plane so while there are some special effects during our live shows there isn’t loads. That’ll be something we work on as we get bigger,’ says Jesse. ‘Nine Inch Nails are a perfect example of how we’d like our live shows to end up because they have the ability to put on massive productions and stripped down sets and both are just as effective,’ continues Aaron. ‘For example in 2008 they went on tour with the most full on visual and lighting set ups that any band has ever had but then on their next tour they refused to play against anything other 47 than a white screen and a few lights. It was the same band but such different tours that were each as cool as the other.

That’s what we want to be able to do.’

So after all their success, what do the band think is their appeal? ‘I think it’s that everyone assumes when we play live we’ll be both naked and famous. People probably see posters for our shows and think, ‘wow I wonder what famous people will be playing naked?’’ laughs Aaron. Their slightly weird choice of band name is actually taken from a lyric from a Tricky song and they’ve previously been quoted as saying that the name summarises ‘everything that’s brilliant and stupid about music culture’ and has been the cause of many a joke and tedious interview question. ‘I’m surprised we’ve gotten this far in to the interview without you asking who’s naked and who’s famous in the band’ says Aaron.

‘Maybe if the album does really well we’ll have to put on a naked show. It’d be easy for us guys because we could hide behind our instruments, it’d be much harder for Alisa though. I’m not too sure she’d be very happy with me for suggesting it.’ And with that they’re off to join the rest of the band to play a show that will later lead them to be described by one critic as, ‘a potentially wonderful band’. www.thenakedandfamous.com

O h Land, aka Danish singer and producer Nanna Ă˜land Fabricius grew up just outside of Copenhagen as one member of a very musical family. Her mother, an opera singer, and father, an organist and composer, quickly instilled in her a passion and understanding of music and the arts. ‘I grew up with the idea that music is something that all of us must create.

As I grew up in a very musically orientated family it was always the main medium that I used to express myself.

words: Laura Hills pictures: James Lincoln make-up: Luke Stephens styling: Zoe Kozlik

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Land

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LUKE STEPHENS USING BURBERRY BEAUTY. LUKE LOVES THE BURBERRY LIP DEFINER IN NUDE BEIGE £15.50, AND BURBERRY SHEER EYE | SHADOW, £22.50 IN CHESTNUT. |AVAILABLE AT HARRODS. WHITE CRYSTAL RING, £6.99, NEW LOOK

It just seemed very natural to me,’ says Oh Land when we meet at our photo shoot in East London. As we prepare for the shoot to begin the very slight figured Oh Land keeps the crew entertained with tales from her time as a ballet dancer. You see, music hasn’t always been Oh Land’s chosen career, prior to entering the music industry she spent ten years as a professional ballet dancer firstly as a member of the Royal Danish Ballet School and then when she was 15 as a member of the Swedish Ballet School. She was encouraged in to dancing by her mother, who when Nanna decided she didn’t want to get in to music, sought a creative outlet for her daughter. It turned out that Nanna’s mother had chosen well and she went on to enjoy a 10 year career as a ballet dancer.

It was only when she injured her back at the age of 18 that she was forced to give up dancing and it was only then that she considered music as a career. ‘Loads of my friends from my dancing days were in Black Swan,’ she tells us. ‘Rumour has it that there were some tensions on set because the choreographer Benjamin Millepied cheated on one of the dancers with Natalie Portman.’

Despite the fact that she constantly seems to have a smile on her face that would lead anyone to believe that she doesn’t have a care in the world it becomes apparent during outfit changes how much her dancing injury still effects the singer, struggling to walk in heels or to bend over properly and taking pain killers throughout the day to help ease the pain.

‘When I was a dancer I spent a long time overtraining myself and because of that I began to get small injuries and then suddenly one day my back hurt so much that I couldn’t walk for two whole months.

It turned out that I had fractured my spine and had a slipped disc, I was so devastated for a really long time but I have no regrets now. Even if I could turn back time I would still choose singing over dancing. The way I see it is that I needed to go through such a tough time to be able to make the music that I make today.’

It was in 2008 that Oh Land, adamant she was going to stay within the creative industry, decided to try her hand at music and began writing and performing songs as a way of retaining a foothold, however it was a career move she almost didn’t make.

‘I was depressed about not being able to dance for such a long time,’ she says. ‘I had always tried to avoid the music industry because it was a little too close to home for me. Because my whole family are musicians I was scared that if it didn’t work out they’d be disappointed in me and I couldn’t have bared that,’ she says. After some soul searching and some encouragement from those around her she decided to record some songs, which were to Myspace. It wasn’t long before she was snapped up by a Denmark based record label who helped her release an album entitled Fauna, which had a small release in her native land. ‘After recording the album I booked myself a 10 date tour across America and one of the dates happened to be a spot at SXSW Festival,’ she remembers. As luck would have it a couple of the guys from Sony Records happened to be there watching her performance and they offered to sign her almost immediately. ‘Getting a record deal with Sony was a very surreal situation for me because it all happened very quickly. In fact, it happened so much faster than I had ever dared to dream of,’ she says. A month after signing with the label Oh Land was at her local airport, suitcase in hand, ready to fly to New York (where she now lives) to begin work on her second album with N.E.R.D front man and Neptunes producer, Pharell Williams.

Unlike some of her female musical peers Oh Land is insistent that she writes all her own songs, songs that she describes as electronic cinematic pop. ‘I have to write all my songs because I’m a songwriter. I can’t have other people putting words in my mouth because I everything I sing about has to come from me and my own life experiences,’ she says. ‘It’s the reason I make music, because there are some emotions that I need to express and the only way I can truly do that is through the music I make.’ A short listen to some of Oh Lands songs and you’ll quickly realise that she is a lady who likes to put all her emotions out there when it comes to writing with many tracks featuring references to her dancing accident, her family, her love life and to her home, New York City.

Having written songs from the age of six Oh Land has started off her music career with an impressive back catalogue of already penned songs, however the majority of probably wont be featured

53

on her forth coming album. ‘The first song I ever wrote was about a giant Chinese cake. I used to write a lot of very silly songs. I wrote some sad songs too when I was younger like the one I wrote when my guinea pig died!’

While Oh Land’s music has been given the fairly unique title of ‘Mary Poppins on acid’ in the past, several comments from her team on the day of our shoot made me aware that they are conscious that she doesn’t get compared with other female artists. Her looks lead her towards obvious Pixie Lott comparisons while her music leans her more towards the Florence Welch’s and Bat For Lashes’ of the music industry and yet, it remains pretty hard to pin point exactly who she is like musically. ‘There are a lot of female singers that I really like. I like Roisin Murphy and Björk, they’re both brilliant. I also love Dolly Parton, she writes such brilliant songs,’ she says. ‘I feel a lot of pressure at the moment and naturally people will compare me to other female artists but I think I’m quite unique and I’ve had a great response to my music so far, people seem to be liking what I’m doing and that’s really important to me,’ she says. Praise indeed has been heaped on the singer with reviews branding her music ‘intelligent pop’ and magazines rushing to get her on to their pages. ‘It makes me very happy when people like my music because I’ve been working on it for so long. To begin with I kept all my songs very close to me and now I am putting them out in to the real world to have their own life, which is pretty scary but also fun too. I’m trying not to be too hard on myself, at the end of the day I can only do things as I know how, at my own tempo. Looking back now I realise that while I still love dance, music is the next best thing to me because I can still use it to release everything that I feel like I have trapped inside me.’

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Rory’s Band Picks

(terrible title for a column.) words: Rory Broadfoot

Milk White White Teeth: In many ways I’m easily pleased and even before I heard Milk White White Teeth play a note they had warmed my heart. Firstly there where nine of them squeezed onto the smallest stage I’ve ever seen (to the extent that eventually two of the team just gave up trying and stood in the audience), secondly some of them had very nice jumpers on and thirdly at least two of their members described their job with in the band as ‘noise’. Like I said, easily pleased. Then they started playing their little jumpers off and on said tiny stage and I was blown away. It’s a rare group of talent that manages to make this many people produce a sound that is intimate yet also expansive and engaging. It’s no hyperbole to say that they could be the UK’s Arcade Fire, they’re that good. Oh and they really do have nice jumpers. Really nice. Easily pleased. www.myspace.com/milkwhitewhiteteeth

Stac: I had an English teacher at school called Mr Fay. Mr Fay had two rules in life. One, that hitting children was not only good for them it was also added learning (it was the 80’s, it was the end of a not missed era) and two that the following words were banned from his class room: lovely, nice, sweet and wonderful. He thought they were ‘nothing words’ and the use of them usually involved a chalk board duster around the back of the head (then again he once hit me for ‘looking wistful’ so his list of reasons to hit someone was not a small one).

I only mention Mr Fay and his old school approach because I’m certain if he’d heard Stac he would have at least softened his stance. Her music is lovely, sweet and wonderful and I don’t care what you think Mr Fay, those are the perfect words to describe this wonderfully chilled and smooth woman’s voice and she’d probably make you relax your grip on the chalk duster and sigh ‘lovely’ as the sound washed over you. www.musicbystac.com

Akira The Don:

I’m really hoping that I don’t need to tell any of you who Akira The Don is but it comes to my attention that some of you have no idea and that is just plain wrong.

To those that do know, give your self’s a slap on the back and take the next few minutes off. Those left come with me whilst I metaphorically clip your ears and enlighten you. Akira The Don (aka Adam Narkiewicz) is a rapper. A damn fine one at that but he is more than that, he is proof why the music industry is fine (just not fine if you work for a fuck off big record label). Akira has been forging his own path for many a year now and has released 25 wonderful mix tapes each one as adventurous as the last and each will surprise you and delight you in even measure and it’s all done on his own terms. Supporting himself through his Best Artist Website In The World ™ he has rid himself of label restrictions and is proof that musicians can do it on their own terms and more to the point, they can do it well. Damn well. He was signed once, to Interscope no less, but was swiftly dropped when he delivered a song to his American pay masters called ‘Thanks For All The AIDS’, for that fact alone he is a hero and I salute him. www.akirathedon.com

Tender Forever: The whole point of this column is to share with you, the lovely reader, my favourite bands so that they can bring you the joy that they bring me because I’m a sharer. 55 But sometimes I don’t want to be. Sometimes I want to keep an artist to myself. I don’t want them sullied by your grubby little fingers, sometimes I just don’t think I can trust the public to handle something properly. I wouldn’t be doing my job though if I didn’t share someone amazing with you…. so with a big sigh and sense of trepidation I give you Tender Forever. Tender Forever is Melaine Valera, who releases music on the never less then brilliant K records. She makes grown up pop that sounds like Prince making out with Sinead O’Connor whilst she does a cute French accent. I adore it. I’m handing you an artist with three albums of perfection behind her, if you mess this up Joe Public we will not be talking again. www.myspace.com/tenderforever

Hackney Colliery Band: Had I been told at the beginning of the month that the tune I would be playing non stop on repeat would be a nine piece brass band from Hackney covering Toto’s ‘Africa’ and that it would be amazing I may have called you a fool. But I would have been wrong and I would be forced to go back in time to scold my past self for doubting my future self’s taste in music. After discovering the joy of the HCB I have not left their records alone. If a brass band playing covers of Justin Timberlake, Twista and Notorious BIG amongst others doesn’t make you smile and groove then we can no longer be friends and you should go and hangout with my past self because he’s an idiot as well. www.hackneycollieryband.co.uk

PICK OF THE MONTH

MUSIC

Cross Keys Records Time Out Live London Sessions Festival The Sessions Festival will be taking over Camden’s Barfly for two days that will be full to the brim of great music, headlined by the much loved Chapel Club, ‘mixing fuzz-bass with Pixies-esque surf riffs’. The thrillingly intense Liverpudlians, Clinic headline the first day, with compulsive grooves and jumpy melodies. All this as well as, We Have Band, Kid Adrift, Engine-Earz Experiment and more for the bargain price of £20 per day. So what are you waiting for? Tickets are available at the Barfly website.

22-23rd April, Barfly, 49 Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN

Gorillaz Release Physical Copies of, The Fall.

This April The Fall will be released in physical format after being only available as a free download last Christmas Day. The album will be released on 180 gsm vinyl for Record Store Day which is on the 16th April as well as on CD and another digital download two days later.

Cross Keys Records is a new label to keep an eye on. Their first release, Freebirds from their newest signing Lover Lover comes out on the 2nd May. They say: ‘Cross Keys Records is a homespun label founded by a cohort of vinyl addicts whose hearts beat in time with the kickdrum. Our love of music runs so deep it’s borderline psychotic and we endeavour to put out releases reflecting this.’ www.crosskeysrecords.co.uk

Camden Crawl Don’t forget what it is this month (as if you could), it’s the Camden Crawl from the 30th April to the 1st May and this year it falls on the same weekend as the Royal wedding.

If you have tickets come and see us at Yumcha on Parkway Road in Camden where we will be interviewing acts and arranging intimate acoustic sessions over the three days.

You don’t need a ticket so even if you can’t afford the whole Crawl or missed out on tickets you can come and see us and some of the bands you would otherwise be missing.

Last FM App Last FM have released an app that allows you to get recommendations of tracks to listen to wherever you are as well as being shown music events and gigs that are taking place near you and searching for them at the tap of a button. The app also offers personalised stations based on the music you are playing. Who needs a computer? www.last.fm

35-37 Parkway Camden Town, NW1 7PN www.yumchaa.co.uk www.thecamdencrawl.com

Record Store Day Record Store day comes on the 16th of April to celebrate all things independent and record store-y. To celebrate this Rough Trade East are pairing up with 93 Feet East to put on a whole day and night of live music both in store and in the club.

Highlights include ; Chilly Gonzales / The Soundtrack Of Our Lives (acoustic set) / Wild Beasts (acoustic set)(pictured above). Entry to all of this is free.

93 Feet East 150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL Rough Trade East Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL 16th April

JOBS Researcher Researcher wanted to join the Licensing Operations team to support the accurate and timely processing of licensing data. emma@rerecruitment.com PA to Music Promoter Intern An excellent opportunity for anyone looking to gain experience in events or music. sandipcullen@gmail.com Product Manager To work across a range of exciting artist album and single projects.

Jenny@artsandmedia.org

Amazon Cloud Player This month online retailer Amazon has taken large steps to becoming seen as an entertainment destination rather than just an online retailer with the unveiling of their new Cloud Player. The Cloud Player allows users to upload 5Gb, roughly 2000 songs, of music (including songs brought on iTunes) to Amazon servers which can be accessed on the go via Blackberry, Palm and Android phones. The launch puts a dampener on their rivals Apple and Google who are both said to be working on similar music streaming systems. www.amazon.com

Film.

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How I Ended This Summer

Bless you my son, come into the inner sanctum, this dark and holy place where moving image tells stories of great deeds and valiant crusades. Bring with you the sacrament, or popcorn as some call it, and take the weight off your weary feet upon a chair of cushioned red cloth. Place thine chalice of fizzy pop into the conveniently situated chalice holster and shed your heavy coat, for you shall not need it here.

One assumes you have pre-emptively relieved yourself at the porcelain altar, lest thou may enter dire straits and be forced to choose between a long period of discomfort or perhaps missing a crucial dialogue. Many have forsaken the chance to go before the tale beginneth and many have lived long to regret such folly.

FILM APRIL words : Mark Williams

Forgive my impudence if it is so, but I must reassure myself that thy mobile telephone, be it even an iphone with a Kanye West bell-toll that you’re sure everyone wants to hear, is put to rest. Or at the very least, placed under a vow of silence. This is one of the few, but most vital rules of this church. There was once a boy of but fifteen years on this earth who chanced to answer the devil’s call during a sermon. Upon leaving the auditorium he was struck down by a lightning bolt on a cloudless, summer eve. Worry ye not, for survive the smiting he did, but that boy developed a morbid fear of cellular communication that stayed with him until his gruesome death some years hence.

Similar curses have befallen those who chose to parley vociferously upon the matter of which tale they had previously

seen the maiden fair in, prior to this one.

Such foolish actions have no place here, but are more than welcome in the tavern afterwards, with a pint of mead or fine red wine in hand. All in moderation of course.

We haveth here a wide-open door which welcomes all comers and can offer entertainment to even the dourest of souls. And long may it continue, for we shall always need such cinematic enlightenment in times that occasionally lack for merriment. Holy is the name of Kurosawa, Cohen, Ford-Coppola and Spielberg, for they have delivered such enduring feats of storytelling, that they will be rejoiced in by generations to come.

Here endeth the lesson. Amen.

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13 Assassins

First up in the cinema this month is Killing Bono (April 1st) and it is no mere coincidence that also within these very pages of Who’s Jack, lies an interview with Robert Sheehan, who co-stars in Killing Bono with Ben Barnes. Ben and Robert play Ivan and Neil McCormick, two Irish brothers who went to school with a man named Paul Hewson. Paul is now better known as Bono. Neil McCormick is now a journalist, and wrote the book I Was Bono’s Doppleganger, upon which Killing Bono is based.

It is the tale of the band that didn’t make it, a rock biopic for anyone who’s ever been in the band that should have hit the big time but were somehow eluded by Ladies, Luck and Fame. Unfortunately for the McCormick brothers, the guys they went to school with had no such problems and eventually became the musical entity that is known as U2.

Perhaps that corner of Ireland just wasn’t big enough for two Bono’s. www.killingbono.co.uk To Russia next, and How I Ended This Summer (April 8th), a film set on a bleak polar research station on an island in the Arctic ocean. Russia has not been making as many films in the last few years as you would expect from a country with such a rich cinematic heritage, and so it is good to see this tale of isolation, suspicion and polar bear ambushes given a UK release.

Sergei is a senior meteorologist, experienced in living in the middle of

nowhere without many of life’s creature comforts, and he is joined by recently graduated Pavel, who is hoping to write an essay on life at the research station.

Pavel receives some bad news about Sergei’s family but can not find the right way to tell him, as their relationship becomes strained. The trailer points towards some stunning landscapes and cinematography to match, so perhaps think part The Shining, part Arctic with Bruce Parry. www.howiendedthissummer.com.au Essential Killing (April 1st) centres on a man named Mohammed (played by Vincent Gallo) as he is captured by American armed forces in the desert of Afghanistan and, after being interrogated and tortured, is transported to a secret detention centre in an unknown European country. On the way there though, the vehicle he is in crashes, leaving him able to escape and go on the run in a landscape he is completely unfamiliar with. Director Jerzy Skolimowski said the following of Essential Killing: ‘It’s a struggle of one against many. Because we are prone to keep the side of the underdog, the story tests the measures of our empathy for a human being’. www.essentialkilling.net A journey of a different kind is the subject matter of Passenger Side (April 1st), a subtle, indie comedy about two brothers who spend the day together in

Los Angeles, when Michael receives a phone call from his estranged sibling on the morning of his thirty-seventh birthday. The reasons for the phone call, and their road-trip are not revealed at first, but gradually throughout the film, as they drive about the city on a series of errands. Not as dangerously similar to Dude, Where’s My Car? as it may sound... www.passengersidemovie.com 13 Assassins (April 15th) is a good old fashioned swords samurai and Shogun adventure from Japanese director Takeshi Miike. As a director, Miike is not known for shying away from the spilling of claret on screen, so perhaps not a film for the squeamish. The titular 13 Assassins are a feared secret force, which set out to give a lesson in manners to an evil Lord who has not been the kindest of rulers to his people. www.13assassins.com On to a documentary next with the story of Kenyan Harvard graduate Chris Mburu in A Small Act (April 15th). Chris began life in rural Kenya without any real hope of a good education, regardless of his academic merit, but he was sponsored by a Swedish woman named Hilde Back. He went on to graduate from Harvard Law School and got in touch with the woman who had once sponsored his education, but now knew little of what had become of that Kenyan boy.

He got in contact with her, because he was starting an educational charity of his

Essential Killing

Killing Bono

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Passenger Side

own, helping Kenyan children and wanted to name the foundation after her.

So, next time you dodge one of those clipboard wielding, politely smiling people in the streets, just think, you could end up with a small charity named after you, somewhere on the other side of the world. Or, if you’re Madonna, you could just go and help yourself to whichever child takes your fancy. www.asmallact.com Ever go on holiday with a group of friends and things haven’t been quite as relaxing as hoped? Little White Lies (April 15th) features an ensemble French cast who find themselves in such a situation.

The best known of them to a UK audience will probably be Marion Cotillard, who has recently appeared in Inception and in 2007’s La Vie En Rose. The group are invited to stay with Max and Véro at their beach house, but cracks start to appear in their seemingly happy and content lives

when one of the friends is seriously injured in an accident.

And finally, to round off with another film from our Gallic cousins, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc Sec (April 22nd) is an action/adventure romp that looks like a combination of The Mummy and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And that’s not just because of the word extraordinary in the title. Adele Blanc Sec is an intrepid journalist and explorer whose sister is in a coma and needs the help of a Pharoah’s long-mummified doctor in order to save her. A situation we’ve all found ourselves in before...

Adele Blanc Sec

DVD Roundup words : Mark Williams

10 Films : on angry monkeys words : Matt Hamm

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (April 11th) Final instalment of the Milennium trilogy, with Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander.

Planet of the Apes Whether it’s Charlton Heston’s 70s original or Tim Burton’s sloppy Mark Walhberg remake, you gotta admit that those apes were a tad peeved at the human race. Still not angry enough?! Tell them Peter Griffin’s ‘dirty stinkin’ apes’ light bulb gag…unlike a banana Nesquik, it never goes down well.

Of Gods and Men (April 11th) Powerful drama based on the kidnapping and murdering of Monks in Algeria in 1996.

King Kong Probably the most famous angry monkey ever created. He was happy on that lonely island, inexplicably killing dinosaurs and looking a little like Andy Serkis; then a blonde chick shows up and leads him on. We’re on Kong’s side…Naomi Watts is a monkey-prick tease.

Monsters (April 18th) Great film about two people’s journey to get home through dangerous lands. Stunning achievement on the budget it had.

Dunston Checks In A jewel thief orangutan causing hilarious havoc for guests of a New York hotel you say? Does he wear human clothing?! He does…!? Possibly the best premise for a film ever. (Please note – Who’s Jack does not offer refunds to the 2 hours of your life you’ll lose watching it).

Enter the Void (April 25th) Gaspar Noe’s psychedelic melodrama.

Divisive, to say the least.

Treme (April 18th) HBO TV series from David Simon, creator of The Wire.

Also features Bunk and Lester Freamon from The Wire.

God I loved The Wire...

Congo Pretty simple really – Michael Crichton likes killer monkeys…and lot’s of them.

Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom You may remember (but probably not) that dear Indiana and his little helper Willie are served up chilled monkey brains as a delicacy. Now we’re no scientist but we’re pretty sure a dead monkey, is an angry monkey.

28 Days Later Hark back to the first time you’d seen Boyle’s classic zombie fest and you’ll remember that it begins with a room full of caged primates, foaming at the mouth and getting all bitey. But if it wasn’t for those damn dirty apes, Cillian Murphy wouldn’t have a career so we think it’s time he finally made a public thanking to our distant hairy ancestors.

Brain Dead Peter Jackson’s first film effort was a fantastic gore fest with probably more zombies than we’ve ever seen on screen…but how was the virus spread you ask? A stolen bloody rat monkey bit our protagonist’s mother whilst at the zoo – There’s a lesson to be learnt: Never feed the animals.

Wizard of Oz Rare is it that a film with flying monkey slaves is nominated for Oscars but 1939’s famous film most certainly did. OK technically the monkeys weren’t that angry in the film but we’re sure that after they were snubbed for Best Supporting Actor or Actress a few stray bananas were thrown at a loved one in anger. You shouldn’t laugh – monkey abuse is a serious issue.

Hollow Man You don’t need 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon when dealing with ‘angry monkeys’. Just the one, as Bacon tries to turn his female gorilla science subject invisible, but we doubt his credentials as a science man – everyone knows monkey’s don’t like not being seen, they’re a very attention seeking animal.

Every Which Way But Loose He may be a big name serious director nowadays, but 1978 was the year Clint Eastwood starred as bare knuckle boxer who toured the US with his lifetime companion Clyde…an orangutan. We at Jack would be fully behind an up to date remake, with Eastwood resurrecting his old role with an army of angry monkeys touring the UK – Monkey Fight Club. Don’t tell anyone.

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DAVID LEON As the star of successful TV programmes such as Cutting It and Clapham Junction and British films such as the Guy Ritchie directed RocknRolla it may seem surprising to learn that things could have worked out very differently for 30-year-old actor David Leon.

words : Laura Hills | images : Tom Bunning Thanks to : EEC

Growing up in a ‘rough’ area of Newcastle David played as a professional footballer for Blackburn. ‘Alan Shearer was playing for them at the time and he was my hero, so you can imagine how exciting that was for me,’ David tells me over a cup of tea in a China Town cafe.

Although at the time he was still attending school, football became David’s main passion. ‘I didn’t like going to school. I wasn’t very good academically so I never really felt like I was achieving anything by going to school. Even though I really enjoyed playing football I took my eye off it for a while in favour of getting drunk and smoking with my mates and the club finally released me. I wasn’t committed enough to my job there, so they couldn’t keep me on,’ explains David. It was after his release from Blackburn that David, a 19 year old boy with barely any qualifications, had to work out what he wanted to do with his career. With a mother working as a secretary and a father working in a power station the notion of becoming an actor never really entered his head. ‘I’d always loved films but I’d never thought of acting as a proper career. It was only when I started putting a conscious effort in to getting away from my roots and the lifestyle I was leading in Newcastle that I began to meet new people who made me see acting could be a possibility.’ And so at 20 David earned himself a place at the National Youth Theatre, gained himself a manager and received his first proper paid acting job on the Oliver Stone directed film, Alexander which also starred Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins. ‘I was offered the job on a Friday and was sitting on a plane to Morocco on the Monday to begin filming. I hadn’t even read the script properly,’ laughs David. ‘At the beginning of filming I kept thinking I was going to fuck it up but I got more confident as time went on and I realised I was there because I’d been chosen by Oliver Stone so I had a job to do and couldn’t worry about messing it up. The experience I gained working on Alexander and the lessons it taught me set me up for life.’

Though Alexander was a great success the role that really established David as an actor was his part in the Bafta nominated TV series, Cutting It, in which he played Troy Gillespie for both series three and four. Joining the already established show David was aware of the shows immense popularity, ‘I knew when I went for the audition that the show had a huge following so I was delighted when they offered me the part,’ he says. ‘When you work in TV people are always talking about ratings and how many millions of people are watching it every week but it means nothing to an actor because you simply can’t fathom the amount of numbers they’re talking about. The thing that really made me realise how well the show was doing would be when I was walking down the street and people would approach me telling me how much they loved the show, that really put it in to perspective for me.’

And like with all successful TV programmes David encountered his fair share of compulsive viewers who found it hard to separate the show from reality.

‘I had people approaching me assuming I was Troy but we’ve all thought like that at some point. I’ve certainly made the mistake of thinking actors I love are like the characters they play so naturally I got a bit of that from time to time. It’s flattering though and at least it showed I was doing a good job!’

The role of Troy was what really started opening doors for David as an actor and shortly after finishing the series he went on to appear in several other TV shows as well as Rankin’s directional debut, Lives of Saints. ‘When I auditioned for the role I had no idea who Rankin was but I loved the script and wanted to be part of it,’ says David. ‘After I was offered the part I started researching him and realised how powerful he was and what he’d achieved.

Lives of Saints is one of the films that I’m most proud of and I think it’s a shame that more people haven’t seen it especially as Rankin hasn’t made another film since.

He’s hugely talented and would make a great film director.’ Rankin’s work as a photographer led the film to be praised for its visual beauty. ‘Rankin is used to taking portraits and so what he does brilliantly is make everyone look beautiful and that’s one of the main skills he brought to the film. He’d be the first to admit that he had a lot to learn very quickly and he had to have a lot of trust in the actors. As a photographer he’s used to having all the control but film is a very different way of working. I’m a big fan of his and count him as one of my best friends.’

Throughout his seven year career David has played a whole heap of different characters from hairdressers to drug addicts over all of the three mediums of acting (TV, film and theatre), something that has been a very considered decision for him. ‘One of the things I’m proudest of is that I’ve chosen roles that show my acting ability to the full. In the past I’ve turned down roles that could have been more lucrative because they were too similar to roles I’ve played before.

Working like that means I can look back on my body of work and be really proud of everything I’ve worked on,’ says David.

One of his toughest roles to date was a role originally written for Brad Pitt in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, the 2008 Brit flick which also starred Gemma Arterton, Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton and Tom Wilkinson that went to number 1 in the UK box office in its first week of release.

‘Guy Ritchie knew he wanted me in the film but didn’t know what role to give me so I spent a lot of time auditioning for lots of different characters. The character was originally written for Brad Pitt but due to scheduling problems he had to pull out and the role was mine.

I realised very quickly that I had to do a great job or else they’d keep thinking to themselves, ‘Brad Pitt would have done it so much better’. It was a lot of pressure but Guy made me feel very confident with what I was doing,’ says David.

So David took on the role of a Scottish

drug addict named Malcolm and he prepared for the role by spending time on the streets of Soho with real users and addicts. ‘I spent about a week wondering the streets observing them. I’d put on the shittest clothes I owned because I wanted to fit in and spent the time trying to get to know them and watching them as they got high. A lot of the time they were so off their faces they didn’t even realise I was there or that I wasn’t getting wasted alongside them.’ The experience he had and the understanding it gave him was enough to ensure that David carried on this method of preparation for future roles. ‘If you’re going to play a big role like that it helps so much to meet real life examples so when filming begins you come from a position of knowledge rather than becoming a caricature of what you think the role should be like. One of the real joys of my job is that I’m able to find out what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes. When you’re working on a film you spend such a short amount of time actually acting so you end up relying on your habits. If you’re the sort of person who’s very relaxed about the role you play that can affect your acting so you have to learn new habits all the time to become a good actor. Preparation is key, the more prepared you are the better choices you’ll make. I don’t want to be an actor who wings it because the audience will switch off.’

As well as mentally preparing for roles David tells me that he’d also be prepared to change himself physically if the role required him to do so. ‘You can’t afford to be vain as an actor so if I was required to lose weight, put on weight or even shave my hair and eyebrows off I wouldn’t think twice about it,’ says David. ‘The film Raging Bull is a great example of how powerful it can be when an actor really commits to a role. Robert De Niro got himself in to such a great fighting shape during filming that people were saying he had the potential to actually go on to become one of the greatest fighters in the world but after spending two years getting himself in such good shape and after he finished filming he put on a load of weight and physically he looked like a completely different man. As a kid that was something that always interested me, how people can make themselves look so different and how it affected the audience. Raging Bull seems as fresh today as it did when it was released and that’s something I really look up to as an actor and it’s what I want to achieve myself.’

The year ahead shows no sign of slowing down for David who, as well as starring in a series of four 90-minute feature film novel adaptations called Vera for ITV (out on the 1st may), will be working on a project he’s co-written with a childhood friend. ‘It’s loosely based on our experiences of growing up in Newcastle together. I aim to direct it and act in it too. I’m probably opening myself up to a lot of hard work but it’s so exciting for me to be at the stage in my career where I can make my own films and I want to be involved in every aspect of it.’

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ROBERT SHEEHAN words : Mark Williams | image : Lorna Roach

On a grey Friday afternoon, somewhere in the vicinity of Ladbroke Grove, West London, we were on our way to meet Robert Sheehan, a young Irish actor, known to many E4 viewers as Nathan from Misfits. He made a big impact in the Channel 4 series Red Riding a couple of years ago, and since then he’s been regularly popping up in all sorts of film and TV roles.

In 2009, he starred in Cherry Bomb with Rupert Grint and has recently made his first waves in Hollywood, appearing in Season of The Witch with Nicolas Cage and this month, he co-stars with Ben Barnes in Killing Bono, an Irish comedy about two brothers desperate for their band to make it big, but somewhat living in the shadow of their classmates, who just happened to become U2.

When I caught up with Robert, he had just finished a seven hour photo shoot, but was surprisingly talkative for a man who had just spent all day doing costume changes and seeing a flash go off in his face every five seconds. So, once he had a cup of tea and a packet of cheese and onion crisps, we sat down and had a chat. He began by telling us about Nicolas Cage’s rather peculiar doodling habits...

‘I was in New York recently for the Season of the Witch press conference in a hotel, there were about thirty five-odd journalists and myself, Ron Perlman, Nick Cage, Clare Foy and Stephen Campbell-Moore and we all had a pad and pens and so we immediately all started doodling. We’re like ‘yeah, we’ve been doing a lot of research into the fourteenth century...’ and we’re doodling away as someone else is speaking, and I was doing a house on the hill, with the sun and that. I looked over and Cage had done a massive, detailed cock and balls on his pad! He just coughs and throws it over to me and Ron. I was going to get it as a souvenir but one of the journalists stole the pad!’

WJ: Journalists will do that, they’re shameless. Tell us a bit about Killing Bono.

RS: Killing Bono, is about a master plan to assassinate Bono by two brothers... no it’s not, I’m kidding... it’s about two brothers [Neil and Ivan McCormick] who went to school with Bono and the lads.

Bono forms U2, then called The Hype, or originally Feedback as they were known, and then the two McCormick brothers start their own terrible garage band as well.

At the age of about 17, U2 land themselves a manager and start becoming a professional outfit, whereas the two lads are standing gawping, thinking, ‘shit, what are we doing?’ All the while their friends are being launched in to the stratosphere of rock stardom while the brothers are slogging it out in Dublin, trying to get just one gig.

Nothing’s really happening in Dublin so they decide to go to London to try and make it, and they’re both very sure of the fact that they will... well Neil more so than Ivan, Neil being the older brother, Ben Barnes’ character, Ivan being my character. Neil’s very sure of the fact that they’re going to make it; a record deal in six months, first album in year, a million fans in two years, and of course, it doesn’t quite work out like that.

WJ: And Neil McCormick’s the journalist who wrote the book I Was Bono’s Doppleganger, which the film was based on?

RS: Yeah, it’s kind of like his memoirs of his musical career. He still thinks he’s brilliant, he’ll still tell you ‘I don’t know why we didn’t make it!’

WJ: So the film’s an alternative rock biopic, where the band doesn’t make it big?

RS: Yeah, it’s very loosely based on the actual book, so you get this light-hearted, fast moving, comedic, very

Irish film about two brothers who both love and despise each other, and you get this very Withnail and I relationship between them.

But yeah, he had great craic, it was an honour and a pleasure to even get to chat to him, because he had some amazing stories about his life and his career.

WJ: Were you a fan of U2 before filming began and are you now?

RS: Well, in an effort to research, or do some kind of homework, I watched all of the tours of U2...

WJ: Is making a film about being in a band more fun than making a film about kids taking part in a suicide pact, as in Suicide Kids? (Out in May this year) RS: I suppose, day-to-day, it’s more fun in the sense that you get to do a lot of extra curricular activities like guitar lessons, and you get to go into a bona-fide studio and sing your heart out, pretending to be a rock star for a few hours. But Suicide Kids was great craic as well, because it was quite a large main cast and I’m happy to say they were all lovely people.

So, day-to-day we were all just sitting round, drinking tea and having a laugh.

When you’re shooting a film, the bit between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is a very small portion of the day in comparison to all the nonsense you talk to each other and all the mates you make.

WJ: Getting gradually more and more spectacular I guess?

RS: Yeah, they’re major stadium rockers. It was good to see the massive levels of charisma that Bono has on stage, and always has had, and it’s very obvious as to why they could hold 160,000 people in the palm of their hand. So they are deserved of being the biggest band in the world, or having that title. And yeah, I am a fan of theirs I suppose, I’m proud of them, because they’re Irish, they’re probably the biggest thing, musically, to come out of Ireland, other than Riverdance or Enya!

WJ: According to the Killing Bono blog and the U2 website, U2 have seen the film and loved it?

RS: They did, they saw it in Australia recently. It’s kind of terrifying to think that Bono’s aware of my existence.

WJ: Peter Serafinowicz is also in Killing Bono. Did you know he was the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars? (And did anyone ask him to do the voice?)

RS: I only found out that he was the voice of the Darth Maul guy after filming, but he’s always doing impressions for you, whether you ask him or not! He’s a comedian who just does it for the love, he’s always doing his Michael Caine or his Kevin Spacey impression or his impression of the director Nick Hamm.

WJ: It was sadly Pete Postlethwaite’s final film. What was he like to work with?

RS: We had loads of scenes with Pete, which was quite an honour when it comes to an actor like that, because he’s been around for twenty five, thirty years. Before I even took my first piss! He was such an unfussy guy, for the adverse condition he was in, because he was having chemotherapy at the same time that we were shooting the film, and you’ve got to be one tough cookie to do that.

Nick Hamm was a good friend of his for years, he used to direct at the RSC and Pete was a resident actor at the RSC for years, and they lived together. Nick was fussing around him quite a bit but Pete was like, ‘fuck off, leave me along, I’m fine!’ (laughs). It’s a pleasure to say there’s a scene where I bend over and he gives me a pat on the bum, in a kind of a gay landlord, flirtatious kind of way.

I did a thing, the Red Riding trilogy, which is all about paedophilia and the murdering of small children in the North, which is horrible content, but again, you just have a laugh because you have to if you’re going to survive the day, you can’t 67 have your head in that kind of shit for too long.

WJ: Was the character of BJ in Red Riding (on Channel 4 in 2009) one of the most difficult to play, in terms of the background history and psychology of the character?

RS: Yeah, it was probably one of the hardest. I suppose each one is difficult for its own reasons, like Season of The Witch for example, because you had two or three producers staring at you every time you did a take, and they’re looking at playback going (mimes rubbing chin and scowling), and you’re shitting yourself because you’re getting constantly tested! It’s like several job interviews, after you’ve got the job. You’re thinking, they’re going to cut me out of the film, because I didn’t do that the way they wanted it. But, in fairness, you can’t blame them, because they’re playing around with a lot of money and they’ve got a lot at stake, that’s just their way of doing things.

WJ: So after that, it’s nice to do something with a smaller budget again, like Killing Bono?

RS: Yeah, it’s far more relaxed, it’s a far smaller unit of people, it’s not like an audience, it just becomes very comfortable, and I find the more comfortable you are, the better the stuff will be.

‘You can’t do anything nervous, and if you do it’ll be shit, in my opinion.’

You can’t do anything nervous, and if you do it’ll be shit, in my opinion. The quicker you get comfortable with the bunch of people you’re working with, the better for your own performance.

WJ: Arguably your best known role is Nathan in Misfits, who discovers he is immortal. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

RS: I think I’d be able to see people’s farts, right, so that when you’re in a lift, you can turn around and go ‘it was you, don’t try and deny it, because I can see it!’

Actually, you know what, I went scuba diving recently, and I didn’t like all the equipment, so to be able to breathe underwater would be nice!

WJ: If you were assembling a fantasy film cast and you could choose 3 actors or actresses, dead or alive, which ones would you pick and why?

RS: (Thinks for a bit) I don’t know why, but they would probably all be male, I think as a male actor you tend to study other male actors more and relate far more...

WJ: ...Well, it’s not like you’re trying to be the next Audrey Hepburn, is it?

RS: No, I don’t think people would like me if I went around saying I was the next

Audrey Hepburn! I think Burt Lancaster would be an amazing one, I’ve watched three of his films of late, I watched Elmer Gantry, The Rainmaker and Birdman of Alcatraz, and they’re all just amazing performances. He was very theatrical, so charismatic, so cool.

I might say Leo Di Caprio, just because in the last few years, he has become Hollywood’s undisputed number one, and that took a lot more than people think, to have such an elongated list of fantastic films. He never really makes a bad film.

Well, Gangs of New York I didn’t like, but that’s just one in his whole back catalogue.

I enjoy him every time I see him, he’s brilliant.

Mark Rylance would be a good one, I saw him recently on stage, doing La Bete, in New York with David Hyde Pierce.

Astonishing, just breathtaking and I also saw him in Jerusalem, he’s on a different level and I think he’s probably the best theatre actor of his generation. So yeah, that’s not a bad three.

WJ: And who would direct your fantasy film?

RS: I’m going through directors madly in my head, and I’m going to say, just because at the moment he’s the most interesting I think, Chris Nolan.

Everything he does... he’s well... saved Batman, what he did with The Dark Knight was fucking amazing, the best superhero film I’ve ever seen and Inception I absolutely loved as well, brilliantly written and brilliantly directed.

WJ: Do you ever Google yourself and if so, what’s the strangest thing you’ve read written about you?

RS: Yes, I have been known to Google myself, just to see what’s out there, but there’s not much, the IMDB page and the page from my agency! Around the time of Season of the Witch opening, Ron (Perlman) said, use Google Alerts, put in ‘Robert Sheehan, Season of the Witch’ and anything new with those words in will come up. I wanted to see any reviews, things like that. One thing came up and it was a gay site, with lots and lots of still photos of me, semi-naked in Misfits, just lots of stills and people commenting on them!

WJ: Gay icon perhaps?

RS: You never know. Someone sent me a link to a Facebook group that was called ‘Robert Sheehan is gay’. That was it. I’m glad there’s some rumours flying about out there!

Killing Bono is in cinemas on 1st April 2011.

So you think you’re a film maker?

You’ve watched almost every decent film going, you own a camera and when people talk about shots, pans and scenes in any of them you have something to say, You reckon you might be pretty shit hot yourself if you were to make one and then you do make one and you were right, it’s great but what do you do with it now? How to take the second step in a world that is becoming more and more saturated with film maker wannabees? Well here are some answers for you.

Cornwall Film Festival : The Cornwall film festival is an annual celebration of Cornish and international film making. Offering national and local premieres for its winning submissions as well as professional development workshops, lectures and parties over the festival dates. Even if you submit your work and it doesn’t get picked you can still take part by turning up and mingling with the industry professionals that frequent it. www.cornwallfilmfestival.com BAFTAS Short Film Awards : Maybe you aren’t quite ready for a feature film yet but you have a great short that you’re almost finished with and want to see how it goes down with a panel of judges. Well then problem solved, send it into the BAFTAS Shorts Awards, they will take short films and animations. The awards celebrate innovative and experimental short films. BAFTA is great at nurturing the ‘immense diversity and talent demonstrated by filmakers producing short film and animation’ The submissions are open to both new and established talent alike. If you win you get the Orange British Academy Film Award at a ceremony on the 13th Feb 2011. Deadline for entry this year has gone but will soon be open for next year. www.bafta.org Sundance : Sundance my seem like a big scary thing when it comes to budding filmies but anyone can enter. You just need to pay a fee of between $35-45. The deadlines for 2012 will be some time in September this year. If you are really keen you can go to this years and check out your competition first. After you have classified your film under one of the submission categories online you simply send it to LA (and be sure that it has arrived well before the deadline). www.sundance.org Microwave : Microwave is a brilliant idea for anyone that wants to make a film but isn’t too sure where to start. Microwave is Film London’s mirco-budget feature film making scheme. It is aimed at finding the next generation of film makers and talent in the capital. Applications are now open and if you are successful you will get production funding, bespoke training and mentoring, professional development and support from script to screen. www.filmlondon.org.uk London Short Film Festival, ICA Lab: The ICA Lab offer spaces to up to 2 people a year during the London Short Film Festival who can work with them to develop and participate in their work. The ICA Lab offers peer to peer networking, professional support and a safe space for creative experimentation. You can submit your short script online (no finished film needed) which can be up to 10 pages for consideration. www.2011.shortfilms.org.uk Hackney Film Festival : If you live in Hackney then this one is for you. Showing work purely from Hackney based directors Hackney Film Festival works in conjunction with the East End Film Festival. Once submissions re-open you can submit your work on the website. www.hackneyfilmfestival.com

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PICK OF THE MONTH

Secret Cinema If you want a different film experience get your name on the mailing list for Secret Cinema. The next screening will take place between the 15th April and the 8th May. Secret Cinema are run by Future Cinema and screen one film every few months in an undisclosed location that you can only hear about if you buy tickets. You only know that the tickets are available if you are on the mailing list.

Secret Cinema go all out dressing up their staff in themed costumes to fit the choosen film and decking out the ever changing venues.

FILM THE GOOD NEWS Hi, Hi, it’s American Pie:

A bar that’s upstairs at the Ritzy funnily enough. Open 7 nights a week the bar has become a cultural hub for Brixton and is worth a visit for just drinks alone.

They also host showcase evenings called, ‘The-Nex-Big-Thing’ where performers can have a chance to wow the crowd. If you become a member you can get reduced price drinks and priority booking for some events. Ideal for before of after a film too. www.picturehouses.co.uk

www.everymancinema.com

Nomad Cinema at Blackheath Nomad Cinema moves around and shows films on large screens about three times a month in different parks and outdoor areas. Starting again this April a special screening of Lost Boys will be taking place on Blackheath. This screening is part of Zippos Circus and is on the 16th April at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12.50. Lost Boys is a classic 80’s flick that follows two teens as they confront a leather clad gang of vampire bikers in California.

Sign up online for other locations and dates throughout the spring and summer. www.nomadcinema.com

The Fighter Back for a Rematch?

We’re rarely one for a sequel here at the Jack offices, but after it’s epic success over this year’s award period Mark Wahlberg has hinted at the prospect of a follow up to The Fighter. Nothing is in stone quite yet, but Marky Mark has already begun planting the idea in the other actor’s heads, as well as keeping up his training regime in case it gets the green-light. Rocky better watch out.

Things are really starting to pick up with Ridley Scott’s belatedly, distant brother to his Alien flicks - ‘Prometheus’. Not only has the legendary director got three big names on board in the shape of Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace, but filming frickin’ starts this month in the UK. In space no one can hear you scream with excitement…they can in the Jack offices however.

Sci-Fi Film Festival

The Everyman Cinema at Belsize Park is having a special showing of Chocolat especially for Mothers Day. The show is at 3pm and tickets are £18.50. The Everyman Cinema at Baker Street will be showing His Girl Friday. The great thing about these cinemas is their bars and snacks, you can buy Mummy a nice glass of wine and something to nibble on through the film. However a glass of rose and a cupcake is provided with every ticket for these specific shows.

Other films showing at the other Every Man cinemas include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Casablanca.

The Reunion OK, so don’t groan. We’d totally agree that there have been some movie monstrosities in the shape of the 3rd, 4th and 5th American Pie franchise; but the prospect of a back to its best American Pie rather excites us. They’ve already got Jason Biggs, Eugene Levy and Sean William Scott on board, with eyes on the other’s too. The guilty pleasure is back…hopefully.

We’re Ridley Ridley Excited

www.secretcinema.org

Mothers Day at Everyman Cinema

Matt Hamm

With so many great Sci-Fi films about and being released it’s no wonder why this niche film festival has rocketed in the THE BAD NEWS interests of the casual film goer. In its 9th year and held at BFI Southbank between RIP Batman’s Bestest Butler the 23rd April and the 2nd May the We were really very sad to hear that festival is the UK’s leading genre event Michael Gough, AKA Alfred Pennyworth and is internationally recognised as a in the late 80s & 90s Batman movies; launch pad for genre movies. passed away in March aged 94. The man There are at least a dozen UK premieres at was a film legend, appearing in more each of these festivals that happen once than 150 in his 9 decades on this Earth; a year. Past premieres have included 28 including Tim Burton’s Batman, Sleepy Weeks Later and Chemical Wedding.

Hollow, Corpse Bride and The festival showcases shorts, features Alice In Wonderland. Alfred is dead. Long and a series of talks and debates on genre live Alfred. literature, film and TV. The festival has programed screenings Aronofsky Drops Wolverine and events all day and evening including Imagine the Black Swan director taking the Bank Holiday weekend. on Marvel’s yellow suited sword fingered www.sci-fi-london.com Hugh Jackman superhero - bloody cool as a cucumber right? Well that was well on Executive Assistant to the CEO the cards, but the Oscar nominated bloke Revolver behind The Wrestler has now pulled his This role is ideal for a natural gatekeeper biscuit out of the cookie jar due to who can prioritise the CEO’s time scheduling issues with other projects. effectively.

Shake your fist in his general direction…. octavia@revolvergroup.com are you shaking?!

Videographer/Editor In-house Pelime Chick Flicks Get Boozy Looking for a talented, dynamic and You might as well shoot us in the face enthusiastic volunteer to join our team in now Jackers (you might want to join us); the capacity of an in-house as Isla Fischer has announced that she’ll videographer/editor. be in the female answer to the brilliantly pelime@gmail.com funny Hangover called ‘Desperados’. If Production Designer that doesn’t sound bad enough, it’s being Toaster Productions directed by Betty Thomas; the Looking for a talented production lady-person behind none other than Alvin designer to work on an exciting project. & the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakuel www.toasterproductions.co.uk Kill.Us.Now.

JOBS

Art.

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TTER ART SPO

words: Eleanor Davidson

‘Icon’, Mike Winnard, 2010

As

the views on what is considered art become more and more flexible, with graffiti and street art, sculptures made from battered musical instruments and plastic bags, and let’s not forget, Tracey Emin’s unmade bed, it seems only natural for drawing to be given a little more attention. No longer need it be confined to doodles in the margin during a brain-numbing lecture, or primary school self-portraits that somehow end up on a tea towel. Since the eighties, drawing has slowly been established as an individual art form in its own right, with sketches in pencil, ink, graphite, nail varnish, all creeping out from the musty backs of draws and desks. Endorsed by establishments such as The Drawing Room in Shoreditch, a contemporary gallery entirely devoted to the drawing as a style and medium, drawing has been

given the limelight. This month The Drawing Room is holding its Biennial Fundraiser exhibition, running from 7 April – 18th May, showing that attention must be paid to this artistic underdog.

Drawing has to be the simplest and oldest form of image making so I cannot help but wonder why it has taken so long to come to the forefront. One possibility is its predominant role as a tool for planning a finished piece, with many artists being reluctant to present their preparatory drawings along with the final outcome. The fairly recent obsession with uncovering the working processes of iconic artists, as seen in Van Gogh’s Letters exhibition last year at the Royal Academy, which included countless sketches of compositional ideas and repetitive practices of figure

drawing, has cast preliminary sketches in a new light. Endorsed by glass cabinets and exhibition labels in a gallery environment, drawings have been presented as ‘proper’ works of art, contributing to the image of drawing as a viable form of medium.

So, onwards and upwards, artists have gone on to show the multi-faceted nature of drawing, with styles ranging from highly linear, clinical images drawn with the OCD and anal precision that makes the image perfect. Suspiciously perfect. Then there’s the flat, loose images that suggest forms and shapes, leaving your eye to fill in the gaps, think of Picasso’s dove drawings that were created with one fluid line. I wonder if he knew just how much they would be worth?!

The Drawing Room

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‘Gutter Roses’, Mike Winnard, 2010

I suppose he can’t have done or he would have been dashing them off at five a minute, Chinese sweatshop style. For the very explorative, and possibly stoned, there is stream of consciousness drawing, where the hand and mind is left to wander freely, the pencil charting said wandering, creating any forms that seem to flow into your head. Of course, sometimes it comes out looking like it was made by a toddler with anger issues but that’s a risk you have to take.

With this in mind, it’s no wonder establishments like The Drawing Room have devoted themselves entirely to this particular medium, celebrating artists who take full advantage of its versatility to create multiple effects. Jake and Dinos Chapman, exhibiting in the Biennial Fundraiser, create highly intricate

drawings that are a great mix of reality and fantasy, with lifelike figures in Victorian dress with a platypus head or a carrot nose, as seen in their parody of Hogarth’s The Rake’s Progress. What makes their work so fun and startling is the discord between the traditional, simple form of drawing, usually reserved for earnest sketches of landscapes and hardworking peasants, and the subject of their usually macabre images, in one case a laughing teddy bear with its organs (yes organs, not stuffing) hanging out. Michael Landy will also be producing some new pieces for the fundraiser, the content of which is unknown but his previous work consists of cartoon like images such as We Leave the Scum with No Place to Hide, which addresses issues of advertising and sanitation, with the page crammed full of

brands, road signs and stereotypical figures, again using an almost childlike style to deal with a complex subject.

The Drawing Room therefore is an important platform for representing the key figures in drawing today, highlighting the part it plays in the current art world.

The Biennial Fundraiser will demonstrate the key role that drawing plays in contemporary art, displaying a mixture of established and emerging artists’ work, all of which has been created especially for the show, culminating in a silent auction on the 18th May. Even without the Antiques Roadshow-esque bidding wars, this is set to be an exciting and inspiring show. www.drawingroom.org

Artist Introducing: Dan Wilton Where do you live?

I live in east London.

When did you first find a camera?

I wish I had a more original answer but I pinched my dad’s.

What constantly inspires you to keep working?

Cold hard cash.

Where do you work?

I’ve got a studio in Bethnal Green and shoot lots on location too.

Where do you play?

Most places.

Who have you always wanted to shoot?

Charles Woodson Where have you always wanted to shoot?

Tamiya HQ, Japan.

If you could pick your favourite image from your portfolio so far what would it be?

That’s a pretty impossible question... um...maybe the polaroid of James Blake I took in Copenhagen. I’d probably give you a different answer every time though to be honest...

What was your favourite shoot to date and why?

I actually have no idea. The ZUUL shoot for Vice a while back is up there.

When will you stop shooting?

Why would I stop?

ARTIST INTRODUCTIONS

75

CESS THE PRO

ON

GT N I K L I P E I : CATH

Surrogate, Cathie Pilkington: Wood, wire, wool, jesmonite, fur and paint, 2007 image by Perou.

‘Cathie Pilkington’s new sculptures are cautionary tales, stories of lust, violence and visions played out by dramatis personae of strange, familiar creatures and characters. Pilkington is both a fabulist and a fabricator, meticulously working pieces from a heterogeneous array of materials. Her art is a kind of meta crafting, brilliantly deploying techniques and imagery from the collective unconscious of painting, sculpture, cheap souvenirs and children’s book illustration.’

Neil Walton.

Cathie Pilkington on her process, in her own words: My current practise has emerged from years of working hands on with a wide variety of different materials. These methods could be described as a process of precisely deployed bodging.

I work directly. I never pre-plan by drawing in sketchbooks or model form - the work is the work. I always have a clear idea of the structure and composition of the group I am going to make. I build an armature out of flexible wire on a board. The rest of the work is done with clay, plaster and often found objects. Some parts of the modelling are very fluid and immediate, some are more meticulous. depending on what the narrative needs to make sense.

The way these decisions are made is a kind of stream of consciousness. I find this is a really exciting way of making, its live, new and fresh.

It can only be like this because I have enough experience of making things to pretty much know in advance what will or won’t work structurally. And I have deliberately simplified my production methods to avoid any interruptions in the flow of ideas, which emerge as I am making. I used to do a lot of casting but this meant either stopping to build the mould, or sending the work off to a foundry. I prefer being completely autonomous, which is why I am now using a more low-grade combination of materials.

Importantly, these finds are part of a clue finding way of thinking. My studio is full of these kinds of objects, like an inventory of possibilities of future possibilities.

I work on a few pieces at once. I may be painting one and building an armature for the next while another is in construction – it just feels natural, I have always worked in groups like this, a body of work grows together. And using these materials gives me the freedom to make radical changes at any stage of production.

I also build large installations, which interrupt architectural space. The thinking process involved in this kind of project is quite similar to work produced in the studio – I amass material, which has the right kind of qualities. I have a notion and a gut feeling of where I am going. I build intuitively making formal decisions as I go along.

Thinking and making is the same thing.

Recent narratives have schematized this cobbling, bungling, muddling up and jumbling together. The material language ranges from messy or fastidious hand made-ness to worn out found objectness…

The animals are a medium in themselves.

You can say anything with animals.

Potter pig cuts a pitiful figure of incompetence and abject failure as he never the less toils towards redemption through his blindly disordered activity.

The goat in Mother is a poignant reminder of every parent’s task - the careful stitching of a cloven hoof attempting the impossible task of making everything all right.

Although in my sculpture, Babs I pay ungracious homage to Barbra Hepworth I would have to agree with her that making sculpture is ‘primitive, religious, passionate and magical’.

Each month we talk to an artist about how they create their work.

What processes are gone through to create and how they ultimately get to their goal and a finished piece.

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See Cathie’s work at : Misericord: Cathie Pilkington & Jay Cloth held at and curated by Space Station Sixty-Five.

65 North Cross Road SE22 9ET 26 February - 1 May 2011.

These consist of a fairly basic sculptural diet, plaster, clay, wood, fabric, straw spliced with found and appropriated objects which I have foraged for, bits of old furniture, ornaments, dolls, soft toys.

The sculpture is always painted, its surface may be glossy, glittering, organic coarse or delicate. This combination of made and found gives the visual language a material richness, which suits my subject matter.

Mother, Cathie Pilkington, 2010, image by Graham Challifour. Both images courtesy of Marlborough Gallery.

PICK OF THE MONTH

ART

Go On An Art Safari

On My Desk A voyeuristic and addictive blog that shows the inside of artists studios.

Brilliant for inspiration from everything to shoot locations through to interior decorating and how to organise clutter and tools.

Like looking through people’s windows you’ll want to click through almost every post organised by the name of the artist that has submitted the images.

The Rational Gallery offers art safari tours around London Galleries for those of you that are interested in art but not too sure where to start.

The guides are informal and take you around a selection of the leading London art and photographic galleries. For the latest Art Safari itinerary simply email info@therationallgallery.co.uk. www.therationalgallery.co.uk

Places, Strange and Quiet Internationally known film maker and artist, Wim Wenders exhibits his photography at Haunch of Venison, Burlington Gardens. The 40 images have been taken between 1983 to 2011, some of which have never yet been shown in the UK. Images are taken around the world and show buildings and city-scapes that are empty and quietly resonating.

15th April - 17th May Haunch of Venison, 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S 3ET. www.haunchofvenison.com

www.on-my-desk.blogspot.com

KEEP YOUR BEADY EYE ON..

So Noble a Confection The Victoria and Albert hold the exhibition, So Noble a Confection, Producing and Consuming Chocolate, 1600-2000. This exhibition charts the origin, making, importation and consumption of chocolate in South America and Europe from 1600 to present day.

All things chocolate will be on show from tins to metal work, ceramics to prints. For any chocolate or old style advertising and marketing lovers this is a must.

3rd April-14th Sept Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Chelsea, SW7 2RL FREE

The Crafty Fox Pop-Up Market Held at the Dogstar in Brixton the Crafty Fox Pop Up market for handmade vintage and treasures is full of all sorts of hand made arty finds. Over 35 local artists come together on stalls to present their wares. The market offers all sorts from hand drawn plates to cakes and clothes.

Sat 16th April, 11am-6pm The Dogstar, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 FREE

JOBS John Makepeace, Furniture Exhibition

Eudes De Santana This Brazilian photographer has caught so many eyes with his American Apparel style shooting with a much needed extra edge.

Based in Barcelona Eudes has already been featured in Ozon and Fiasco Magazine. He gets his inspiration from ‘Indie rock from the 90s, underground hip-hop, 80s hardcore, cold weather, coffee, my girl, blogs and magazines with great photographs, and skateboarding.’ www.eudesdesantana.com

In-House Graphic Designer Top London hair brand are looking for an enthusiastic graphic designer to work in-house for their boutique salon and hair/ beauty range. press@giellygreen.co.uk Photography Gallery Intern Natalie Kadas Gallery assistant urgently sought for pop-up photography gallery space in London W2. nataliekadas@gmail.com Sales Executive RenderWorks Animation Limited Involve working with the founder and CEO. He’ll lead you, guide you and work with you to deliver best-in-class sales process at every step. info@renderworksanimation.com

John Makepeace is thought of as the father of British furniture design. He exhibits a collection of his latest work at Somerset House, Enriching the Language of Furniture, from Friday 1st April.

John Makepeace mainly works in wood and creates chairs and tables that take on all forms from leafy plants to zebras.

In his own words - ‘As a designer and a maker, I am constantly searching for more eloquent concepts for furniture.’

1st-15th April, £6.00 Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA

Life & London.

79

Luke Stephens, our favourite make up artist keeps us in the know when it comes to beauty

MOMMY DEAREST

Yes it’s that time of year again when we all start texting our friends to make sure that today is actually the right day and we rush out to by a card (not too rude, probably something with cats/flowers/the word ‘best’/all of the above) on it, and buy a bunch of carnations from a garage for Mother’s Day. Well why not break the mould this year and go for something a little bit different.

At Who’s Jack this year we got some of our Ma’s in the same room for a treat in the form of lots of tea, cakes, and bit of a play with some of the great beauty buys currently out for Mother’s Day. Jurlique have a fabulous set for pampered Mums! All centred on the smell of roses, their Mother’s Day set includes the amazing Rose Love Balm. A real multi-purpose salve for lips feet, anywhere that needs a bit of TLC. It not only nourishes and hydrates, it also smells amazing. There’s also a hand cream, and a Rosewater Mist.

Total value of the set is £41.50, but this hits the shops for just £29.

Australian brand, BECCA cosmetics will also be offering a beauty bonding experience at their Pelham Street store.

Both Mother and child have the opportunity to sit with one of the fabulous BECCA artists and have a Mother and daughter make-up lesson. The offer starts on the 1st April with appointments running up until the 17th, and costs £90.

Bookings can be made on 020 7225 2501.

Complimenting the already existing Gourmande Collection by Laura Mercier Body & Bath is the sweet and luxurious smelling Fresh Fig which launched a few months ago. As of this month, the range will now include a Hand Cream, £13, and a body wash, £29. This is a welcome addition to the already existing ‘flavours’ of Creme Brulée, Almond & Coconut, and the delicious smelling Creme de Pistache. And I have to say, it really does smell as real,and tasty as it sounds.

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1. Laura’s Mum is wearing Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer, £28 Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation in Warm Ivory by £41.50. Fantastic smooth, soft focus finish, and has Argon Oil to moisturise.

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Bone all over and a clean sweep of Mink both,£15.

Bobbi Brown Long-wear gel liner in Black Plum, £15.50 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Blushed Rose, £17. Fanatastic sheer finish blush colour that can also be used on the lips.

2. My Mum! BECCA Rejuvenating Primer that contains Gatuline Intense® to boost collagen growth, £32.

Really reduces the appearance of lines, and even out skin surface.

Firming Foundation from NARS in Deauville, £32 Me Me Me Desire Eye Quad, £5.50. A beautiful collection of greens.

Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Ivy from Bobbi Brown. This gel liner stays in place and glides on so easily.

2

BECCA Creme Blush in Teracotta, £24. A really soft and translucent creamy blush colour. Laura Mercier Lip Pencil in Baby Lips, £16.50.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge £17, in Pink Raspberry lightly over the lips.

3. Louise’s Mum is wearing Dermalogica Active Moist, from £22, super light and easy moisturiser for normal skin types. With no greasy residue!

Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer, £28.

Concealer Kit from Bobbi Brown, £23.50 which has a handy compact powder inside to set the concealer.

BECCA Avalon Palette, £55.

Super versatile palette of two beautiful eyeshadows, cheek colour, eyeliner and two excellent brushes.

Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Ivory, £55 over the nose and cheek area. This is a water based foundation with a super natural coverage, absolutely superb for older skin types.

Pot Rouge from Bobbi Brown in Pink Raspberry over the high point of the cheeks and into the apples for a soft pretty glow.

Rimmel’s 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Tiramisu £2.79, FACE Stockholm’s Matte lipcolour in Fashion £16.50.

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Win a stunning Samsung Galaxy Ace.

WIN

Samsung is offering it’s newly launched Galaxy Ace smartphone to two lucky Who’s Jack readers.

With the brand new Samsung Galaxy Ace you can live life on your terms, listen to your favourite tunes at the touch of a button, access over 150,000 apps with Android Market Place, and get instant Facebook and Twitter updates thanks to super-fast connectivity to the web.

This phone’s Android 2.2 operating system helps it pack a decent punch when it comes the general smartphone market and touchscreen devices with phones in the same price bracket (around £200 to buy) having far slower processors.

The Galaxy Ace has been described on Techradar.com as ‘generally smaller, lighter and nicer in the hand than the iPhone’ So it’s pretty lucky then that we have got two of these stunning handsets to give away. We know you want one so to get your hands on one just email telling us who you would call first if you won one of the phones and what would you say to that person.

The best reply, as judged by the Who’s Jack office will win one of the two handsets.

Please send entries to whosjack@gmail.com www.samsung.com/uk/galaxyace

T

his month, deadline day was looming and at the last minute, the banker cancelled on me, the bastard. I needed a date, and fast. So, I did something pretty out of character, and dated a woman. No, I’m kidding, I logged onto an online dating site. Shudder.

My opinion of online dating is not a good one. I’ve never dated anyone from a dating website, but I’ve HEARD the stories and I’ve SEEN the pictures courtesy of some friends and family (not my Nan). I don’t know why, but I find online dating quite cringey. It’s a weird concept writing a profile about yourself to try and impress other people enough to get them to go out with you. Anyway, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. So I made a ‘profile’.

I had ASOS shopping to do, so I couldn’t be dealing with all these half hour long applications where they asked me what side of the bed I liked to sleep on. (I’m a diagonal sleeper, anyway). That was when a friend recommended Lovestruck. You sign-up and arrange dates with people who work near you, perfect.

So, I started creating my username as ‘curiousgeorgina’ (time was against me, that was the best I could come up with).

Here’s how it looked: AGE: 23 (Embarrassed how young I am.

Only time I’ve considered upping my age since I was 16 and wanted to get served.)

JOB: Writer (I’m a journalist, you’ll be paying for dinner).

WORKS: Covent Garden (Hurrah! Don’t have to mention I’m from Essex).

SPORTS: Swimming, tennis, running.

(Swim when I’m on holiday, played tennis for two years at the age of 12, occasionally run for the bus - avoided putting that as don’t want to sound fat/lazy).

CHILL OUTS: Going for dinner, drinks with friends, lazy Sundays. (I don’t like people who don’t enjoy food, have been known to throw-up after said drinks with friends on more than one occasion. Don’t get dressed on Sundays – didn’t write that for fear of sounding like a slob).

FILMS: Drama, thriller, comedy. (Fall asleep during every DVD I watch, no film has ever made me laugh except Role Models – won’t put that as don’t want to sound too hard to please).

HANG OUTS: Bars, clubs, concerts, festivals. (Was quite honest with this one, do risk sounding like a lash-head though).

MUSIC: R&B, chart. (my iPod is actually a musical minefield that no drop-down list could ever explain).

Anyway, after adding that I’m 5ft4” and to ‘ask me’ about my dress sense (there wasn’t a ‘clash as many prints as possible’ drop down option) my profile was ready to go. I might not have portrayed myself totally honestly, but I don’t think I was the first person guilty of that on a dating website.

There wasn’t a box on the profile page for ‘hobbies’, but one of mine is judging people and passing comment on them, yes, it’s bitchy, but it’s also fun, so I started trawling (and judging) men. It was surprisingly fun.

You could save the ones you wanted to come back to, search people by their work location and all sorts, how practical.

Anyway, after a while of clicking and judging, clicking and judging, I came across someone who I thought could do the trick, or should I say, the click? No, I shouldn’t say that… Anyway, he looked nice enough, he did have a couple of sneaky black and white photos (everyone looks good in black and white, matey). Anyway, he didn’t seem a) weird, b) old or c) like he had baggage – I judge this on the fact that in the children column it said ‘no’ and his relationship status was ‘single’, which was reassuring. So I took the plunge and messaged him. I am SO 21st century.

Almost as quickly as I could refresh a page (hey, I’m trying to use the online lingo, people), the Online Guy had written back. Maybe this was meant to be?

He thought a date would be ‘grand’ (was he Irish? Bonus if so), and could we meet at lunch tomorrow? Crikey, he certainly wasn’t a banker.

There was no time for ‘what do I wear’, ‘what do I say’ dilemmas, I had plans that evening, so just had to hope one of my black dresses was ironed. The lead-up to the date was unlike most, it was 10am, so I couldn’t do a shot for courage and there was no opportunity to get changed three times before heading out. It was all quite laid-back and enjoyable, if I’m honest.

Before I knew it, lunch came around and I was off to meet him. My colleagues waved me off spouting things like, ‘You might be off to meet the man you’ll marry’ and other such nonsense and the cynic in me told them to fuck off and shut up. I walked around the corner and there was Online Guy. His profile picture wasn’t THAT inaccurate. He looked about as good in colour as he did in black and white. (Take that to mean what you wish).

And off we headed for a jacket potato.

Online guy was nice, he was well-mannered and quite sweet. He opened doors, bought my lunch and he hadn’t lied about his height. (I’ve heard the stories). We didn’t have much in common, well, anything really, but at least there were no awkward silences. He was quite the talker, or maybe just a pro lunchtime dater, I’m not sure. He’d certainly been making use of Lovestruck though, he could have written a column with all the dates he’d been on, he’d even made a couple of friends with the people he’d dated.

Jealous.

I put my hands up and confess that the Online Guy wasn’t what I was expecting at all. We didn’t exactly click, but I got a date within a day, AND my lunch paid for.

He wasn’t a freak and he made me laugh, twice. He even had really blue eyes.

Maybe I was a bit hasty about online dating. I wonder if I’d have found someone more like me if I’d made my profile a bit more honest, but I’d also risk dating a fat, lazy slob, so I’ll leave it as it is for now. I might not be ‘Lovestruck’ by bubblysang (or whatever his weird online name was), but I haven’t taken my profile down just yet. There’s a lot to be said for being too hasty.

DATING ‘The Online Guy’

Where: LongAcre, Covent Garden How long: 3 hours Rating: 6/10 words : Georgina Childs image : Avril Kelly

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When Shops Turn into Cafes

&

Perks Perils

Tamlin Magee

More and more London shops are having to fight for our attention. With less money to spend we all want as best an experience as we can find for our scarce cash and it seems one of the answers is for shops to incorporate cafes into their show rooms. Here’s a selection of the best.

LCB Surf Store There are two in London, one in Camden and one at the bottom of Brick Lane.

The stores sell what you would think, skate boards and surf and skate wear. In each shop you can have an organic coffee, surf the web with free wi-fi and have a croissant or sandwich. www.lcbsurfstore.co.uk 121 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG & 23 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AG

Paper Dress Paper Dress is a beautiful Vintage shop on Curtain Road just down the road from Old Street Tube station. Full of finds for both men and women and at much more reasonable prices than you will find in a Rokit or a Beyond Retro. At the front there is a jumble of miss-matched furniture where you can sit down and watch the passers by with tea and cake. www.paperdressvintage.co.uk 114-116 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AH

123 Bethnal Green Road This shop is a collection of different designers and finds, the three floors include a bustling bazaar on the ground floor, 123 Boutique on the first and Dr Noki’s sustainable fashion surgery on the second. The Bunker Bar (by night) and Victorian Tea Room (by day) caters for most needs of the tired shopper, stocking locally-sourced organic cakes, tea and coffee, groceries and kitchen bits and bobs. www.123bethnalgreenroad.co.uk 123 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG

Rough Trade One of the largest Rough Trades, this shop encompasses a cafe that you can listen to new releases in and pick up free mags from (including Jack). About once a week you will find a live performance going on too. www.roughtrade.com Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane, City of London, E1 6QL

Every job has its perks and perils. There are many in writing but the most alarming are running out of fags and being turned away at the door of a press party where the bouncer doesn’t buy your insistence that you are Alan Rusbridger or a Murdoch. Well practiced at little white lies is something that comes with the trade and they tend to get more twisted as time goes on, fueled by the inevitable greed that the promise of free tiny bottles of plastic Becks brings, it will light up the eyes of any functioning alcoholic hack.

Background: I am a writer by profession though perhaps, right now, you wouldn’t think it. I’m 23-going-on-dead and for years, I’ve been that guy in that one overplayed ‘dickhead’ video that tells you he works in media but really he’s on the dole.

Really I’m indifferent but I’ll say it, I never went to university: instead I got a train to Brighton and took the first house I saw.

I heard Brighton was London by the Sea or some shit but really it was just some shit. I told everyone I didn’t want to do the whole student thing but really it was about doing EXACTLY the whole student thing without being £20,000 in debt by the end of it. I accidentally landed a job in technology writing and spent the money on beer and fish and chips. Easyjet’s takeaway offshoot (EasyPizza, no lie) also began in Brighton so every now and then I’d hit up Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou for some discounted greasy food in an orange and white box. Not the student thing at all then. Er...

Eventually I left Brighton and tried to get a job somewhere else because, young and misguided, I wanted some real dosh in my pocket and a steady income where you don’t have to chase up your employers for up to six months at a time for one month’s pay. Back in London I did the usual thing of sending my CV to all and sundry. Here’s the problem: all and sundry see that you’ve been lucky enough to make a living off writing and they think you’re having them on. Why does this guy want to trade in a zero-minute commute time and a sweet creative job to get yelled at in a cubicle? Who is he and why has he shown up to this interview in a leather jacket? They had a point.

The second worst part about looking for work is writing your CV. Unless you’re a special kind of narcissist you should find it really difficult. The CV, heartless HR specialists will tell you, is about selling yourself to employers. Selling yourself, you cheap whore! What do you put as your skill set? Should you put a skill set there anyway? Is being double jointed a skill? If it isn’t... I’m fucked.

The worst part is handing in your CV off your own volition. Having used almost all the trees in the Amazon to print out enough to realistically get a lead on a job, if you’re looking for retail, you have to blind-hand it in at every place possible and damn the consequences.

Temp agencies deserve a special place in hell. They make you do some long test with Microsoft Word and calculators and stuff. I didn’t even realise they gave you a calculator so I didn’t do badly with my terrible score considering. But, back then, it was clear my attention to detail wasn’t exactly up to scratch.

Finally I got a job at a call centre in a depressing suburb which I actually wrote about for Who’s Jack a bunch of time ago.

I realised white collar wasn’t for me when, employed by said call centre, I woke up laid out over a couple of pot plants, in a garden feature outside a Russell Square hotel, with twigs and dirt in my hair. My white collar was filthy. I stumbled into the hotel and incoherently tried to hand in my time sheet. I demanded to hand in my damn call centre time sheet. Then I passed out in the lobby .

The dole was always crap too. I was never on it out of choice, and the David Cameron’s of this world who try to sell to us the fact that benefit cheats are abundant to you would literally be eating shit if they accidentally swallowed their words on the way out. It was bleak and the £££’s were definitely not worth it, especially when you see your first mother, with child, being refused a cheque for being a couple of minutes late. Even worse, by the 20th time you’re there, and you spot your 16th mother, with child, being refused a cheque for being a couple minutes late, you just want her to hurry up so you can have your turn and get the fuck out of there.

Fast forward through too many career changes in too little time and it turns out I’m writing again. About technology.

The daily grind can be tough. Features writers have assured me that pitching when you’re starting out is a nightmare and just getting a magazine to sit up and take notice can bring about feelings of angst and desperation that shouldn’t be found anywhere outside of a Nirvana hoodie on a pubescent cry-baby.

A friend told me about a well known features writer for a national newspaper whose base salary is just £14,000 a year.

The rest of the cash they made up with signings, vox pops and speeches.

Fun work if you can get it but it’s a worrying trade-off otherwise between a fat cheque or fulfilment. But the slog is all worth it for the weird and absurd sensation that at any given place, or at any time, anywhere, you know some stranger might just be reading your copy, and if you’re lucky, they’ll like it.

BEING ROYAL

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It must be a strange life being born into the Royal Family; all the money, privilege and inbreeding. It looks like a fabulous time hanging out in palaces, jetting off to parties and playing polo‌ words : Adam Roan Henderson image : Avril Kelly

Despite their detachment from

normal society Prince William, and particularly Prince Harry, have shown that the Royal Family still likes to cut loose, sink a few beers and rip up the dance floor like the rest of us. Well, kind of. I’m not saying that you’ll bump into Princess Beatrice at Dalston Superstore doing methedrone off the sink (nor me, honest).

How easy is it to live like a modern day Royal and where do they go when they’re out and about?

In the name of journalism, I’ve manfully stepped up to experience their life for you.

I’ve hit the favourite London haunts of the Royals, attempting to get a feel for their London lifestyle. I managed to embarrass myself by using the wrong cutlery in one of Kate Middleton’s favourite restaurants, did awful posh dancing at Royal party spots and swanked around boutiques and fancy department stores like I owned the place.

Party places The Ebury If you’re going to live like a Royal you can’t be seen grabbing a fry-up in a greasy spoon or having lunch in McDonalds, it simply wouldn’t do. What you need is to find a suitable venue to have the wankiest meal of the day: brunch.

Straddling lunch and dinner, brunch is a meal for those with nothing better to do than spend the best part of the morning eating eggs benedict, washed down with a bellini or two. Kate Middleton’s favourite brunch spot is a swanky brasserie tucked behind Sloane Square called The Ebury.

With low seating around large tables and cool chandeliers Ebury is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday.

The food is excellent with two AA rosettes and if you’re not a lady of leisure it’s low lighting and cosy atmosphere would make it a perfect date venue.

Boujis Owned by Prince William’s friend Guy Pelly, Boujis has been the scene of many a Royal night out. Located just by South Kensington station, you can see the queue to impress the clipboard bitches if you wander past on their popular Tuesday or Thursday nights. Don’t expect a super club sized dance floor or anywhere to sit down when you descend the stairs into the dimly lit club. The tables are reserved for those with a couple of grand to drop on the minimum spend.

Order a couple of crackbaby shots, dance like your uncle at a wedding to cheesy dance hits spun by DJ Sam Young and you’ll fit in fine.

Mahiki As an alternative to Boujis you could try former Royal favourite Mahiki. The tiki theme is completely over the top and the cocktails are hideously expensive but if you drink enough of them it can be absolutely hilarious. The clientele is a little more eclectic these days but you can still spot the odd famous face tucking into their treasure chest cocktail.

The Box New and rude burlesque bar The Box has also had a visit from Prince Harry recently, which proves that the Royals find something other than their cousins attractive at least. The astronomical prices to have a table for an evening here left it out of my reach but the debauchery in the original New York bar of the same name is legendary.

Public Latest Guy Pelly (him again) venture Public has been drawing the posh crowds since it opened. That end of the Kings Road has always been a good Royal boozy haunt with Chelsy Davy spotted in neighbouring club Embargo, and the now deceased Crazy Larrys providing generations of young toffs a place to dance to ABBA and be sick on their shoes.

Grooming The Royals generally sport the archetypal Sloane look, which can be easily copied if you want to cut a dash on the Kings Road.

Men should be wearing a pair of deck shoes or some solid brogues. Trousers could be blue jeans, cords (red or coral preferably) or a pair of chinos. A good quality blue stripy shirt should be your mainstay; Crew is a popular choice. A blue cotton blazer will finish the look, as a rakish alternative a velvet jacket can be acceptable. In the country or for a more casual occasion the trusty Barbour can always be relied upon. You can pick up just about all of it from Royal favourite department store Peter Jones on Sloane Square if you’re lazy.

Ladies will want big hair, styled messy and wild or pushed back in a hairband.

You can accessorise with some kind of pashmina or floaty scarf if you like. Shop for your outfit in Kew or Whistles and you can’t go far wrong. If you don’t fancy traipsing Sloane Street in heels, Hunter wellies are always acceptable.

Hairdresser: Richard Ward Kate Middleton favours celeb hairdresser Richard Ward to trim her long brown hair. A favourite salon with the posh set, situated on Duke of York Square it encompasses a health spa and even has a bar upstairs. Last time I was there I bumped into Lady Isabella Hervey getting a blow dry, she is working as a fitness trainer for the Chelsea elite. Sadly I could not afford her rates, though I think she’d have made a great motivating factor.

Gym: Harbour Club Prince William probably has all his exercise requirements covered by his army training but where do the Royals wind down and do a couple of lengths in the pool? The Harbour Club is by far the fanciest health club in London, with membership fees to match. With a state of the art fitness suite, three pools and tennis courts you won’t be short of facilities. I’m not sure if Prince William and Harry are still members, but WJ

contributor Alexandra Pullin claims she played ‘splashy splashy’ with the Princes in the pool there as a kid so it deserves inclusion.

Sport: Polo Both Princes favour the ‘sport of kings’ and regularly play charity Polo matches.

As you may have read earlier this year I made an attempt at learning the game, and it’s seriously hard. Sadly, last year the Princes’ favourite polo pony ‘Drizzle’ died but I’m sure they have plenty left in the stables. You can get a taste of the polo action at the upcoming Polo In the Park at the Hurlingham Club on 3rd – 5th June, mine’s a Pimms.

Holidays Skiing Skiing is a favourite Royal past-time, though this year the big Royal event in April and its preparations have killed any chance of an end of season break for the Princes. Favourite resorts include Klosters where William and Kate were first spotted kissing as a couple in 2004, and Val D’Isere where Prince Harry’s on/off girlfriend Chelsy Davy has been partying recently. Val D’Isere has been described as Sloane Square in the Alps and having spent a holiday there fighting for chair lifts with drunk rahs in plus-fours I can attest this is true. La Folie Douce is the bar/restaurant to be seen at for partying on the slopes, it’s a champagne fuelled public school re-union in salopettes.

Sun If it’s hot sun you’re after favourite Royal holiday spot in the West Indies St Kitts could provide the rest and relaxation you deserve after a hard polo season, or why not try a safari in Kenya at the Rutundu Log Cabins where Prince William popped the question.

Closer to home Prince William has enjoyed the British summer in North Cornwall, no doubt hanging ten with the surfers. Dude. Nearby Rock is a perfect posh holiday spot, and is also a favourite of perennial film posh buffoon Hugh Grant.

So there you have it; add in some time for walking the corgis for grandma and opening hospital wings and you’ve pretty much got the Royal life covered. Now all that’s left is to marry well and practice my wave.

The Ebury 11 Pimlico Road, Chelsea, SW1W 8NA Boujis 43 Thurloe St, London SW7 2LQ Mahiki 1 Dover Street, Mayfair W1S 4LD www.polointheparklondon.com/ Peter Jones Sloane Square, SW1W 8EL Richard Ward 82 Duke Of York Square, London SW3 4LY Harbour Club, Watermeadow Lane, London, SW6 2RR

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BOXING

It’s the fitness pass-time that’s having a resurgence with events being held in boxing rings, more men signing up to train and more sports brands wanting to be associated with pro and amateur boxers, it’s even on The Only Way Is Essex.

As men realise it’s OK to be manly and women realise that it doesn’t have to be boxing clubs are getting the attention they deserve. words: LOF | Images : Roald Aron | make up : Luke Stephens | styling : Tory Turk | model : Luke Donovan Thanks to : Lenny and Islington Boxing Club

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We took Luke, our very buff and boxing regular model down to the Islington Boxing Club to show everyone just how good an option boxing is if you want to get fit and blow off some steam.

Lenny, who has worked at the boxing club for many years and who joined at the age of nine years old with his father chatted to us about the interest thatremains constant for boxing as a hobby and sport.

Islington Boxing Club has been open since January 1974 when it used to be called the Kings Cross Amateur Boxing Club and was operating from a community center in York Way Court.

When asked about the clientele of the boxing club Lenny tells us that although traditionally most of their members were from the local area, it has become much more apparent over thelast few years that many are travelling from

surrounding boroughs and sometimes further afield to train there. Lenny goes on to say that the membership is very mixed in race, culture, gender and background. It’s not only the boy or now girl who has had a tough and sometimes deprived upbringing being successfulin competitive boxing. ‘Many of our members are from professional backgrounds and are equally adept in ability, technique and determination. Our recreational classes are even more diverse in who attends. The only brief way to describe who boxing is that it’s people from all walks of life,’ says Lenny.

Lenny actively encourages younger people to get in to boxing, not only to get fit but also to teach them lifelessons.

‘The discipline, skill and fitness needed for boxing is of such a high level that it can only be described as good for a young person. The training can transform many peoples lives by just gaining

these skills and not even competing,’ he says. A good boxing training session is excellent for all over fitness too. When asked about the stigma attached to the potential dangers of boxing Lenny is quick to dispel the myth saying, ‘The rules of amateur boxing are very strict with safety of paramount importance to all. It is a fact that many more injuries occur in football than they do in amateur boxing. Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports to participate in.’

With boxing becoming more andmore popular Lenny says that his club has seen a remarkable rise in the popularity of the club in the last 2 years. ‘Our membership is thriving in both competitive and recreational boxing training. I believe we are probably one of the overall busiest clubs in London,’ he says.

So what if you start boxing and then decide you want to have a go at

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turning professional? Lenny’s advise is that becoming a professional boxer is by and large is quite simple. ‘Many promoters are looking for willing boxers to box for them,’ he says. ‘There is no transfer or anything like that and the amateur club does not receive anything from one of it’s boxers turning pro apart from media exposure. But, we do advise all our boxers that it is vital to gain a good pedigree in the amateur section beforehand and if you can, do your apprenticeship before turning pro. A potential pro boxer is in a much better bargaining position if they have gained a good reputation beforehand.’

When asked how many boxers Lenny has watch turn pro over the years from training at the club he tells us, ‘There has been quite a few over the years who have been boxers at Islington Boxing Club and then gone on to join the professional ranks. The two who have had the most success were Colin Dunne (WBU Champion of the World) & Audley Harrison (Olympic Gold medalist, European & Commonwealth Champion, WorldHeavyweight Title Contender).’

As for the future of UK boxing and the clubitself it appears, that like anything, it is down to funding and time. ‘A lot of

it depends on investment in the sport.

Many clubs are very much under funded and living on the breadline. We have the talent in this country but need to invest time in it to get the best potential boxers working full-time towards their goals,’ he says. ‘The Lottery do fund some clubs but this needs to be expanded. As for Islington Boxing Club, although we do receive some small grant funding from the local council, we are not totally reliant on this and find many ways to raise funds for ourselves from within the club. This is very time consuming however and sometimes difficult when you are concentrating on running the club in the best possible way. Ideally what we need is a large sponsor to come along and plough some money into one of London’s mostprogressive and forward thinking clubs. But until then we will do our very best to keep the momentum of the last couple of years going and aim to be London’s premier boxing facility.’

If you want to get into boxing, and we did after spending some time down at the club, then you can read all about them on their website, www.islingtonboxingclub.org, there’s also a Facebook page - Islington Boxing Club.

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Adam takes on a book a month to judge it for ease of read, quality of content and ability to make you forget the packed sweaty minutes of the commute. words : Adam Roan Henderson

SHIT LIT For generations Brighton has been a seaside destination for Londoners; flooded with city folk on every summer weekend, becuase of its party vibe and fresh sea air. Even in the winter when the rain is lashing down it has a stark beauty, the pier jutting out defiantly into the freezing sea. A recent renovation of the Hanbury Ballroom by Proud into a retro supperclub called ‘The Brighton Ballroom’ will do no harm to Brighton’s reputation but surely the biggest boost to its profile this year will have been from the re-make of Brighton Rock, starring Sam Riley, Andrea Risborough and Helen Mirren. Graham Green’s iconic thriller set in Brighton’s underworld has had such a big impact on the city that Sussex University lecturer Geoffrey Mead now runs Brighton Rock tours around the city for tourists, so they can get a feel of the city’s contrast between sleaze and glamour.

Riding on these coat tails is Danny Miller’s first novel Kiss Me Quick. In contrast to Greene’s interwar years, Kiss Me Quick is set on a bank holiday in 1964 with the violent clashes between mods and rockers forming a colourful backdrop.

Stacked full of Brighton’s lascivious crime lords and their characterful henchmen, the period detials making the sixties sound like an exciting if rather violent time with pimps, dealers and beach front brawls. The novel also has a few bawdy scenes set amidst the seedy streets of Soho, and is full of grubby details and dirty jokes which kept me chuckling. The hard edge is provided

by Brighton’s answer to the bogeyman, crime kingpin Jack Regent. He remains in the background throughout the novel, spoken about in hush whispers like a seaside Kaiser Soze.

On the good guy’s side Vince Treadwell is the main character in the book; an ambitious detective with an eye for a pretty lady. Unfortunately for Vince the pretty lady happens to be a gangster’s moll, which leads him deeper into trouble.

A beautiful seductress with a dark past Bobby LaVita adds some sexy glamour to an otherwise quite tough, man heavy crime thriller.

Danny Miller has written a very exciting book in Kiss Me Quick, the action scenes come thick and first as you would expect with his experience as a script writer and playwright. You are guaranteed to get a thrill every time you pick it up. The characters are well drawn and colourful though perhaps too many in number, and at times the relentless pace became wearing. These are small gripes however, and as a book to stick in your work bag for the commute Kiss Me Quick ticks all the boxes, and I look forward to seeing what Danny Miller comes up with next.

Hi, I’m new here…

Esme Riley gets to grips with the city

Do you remember starting secondary school?

I can recall my first day at Hartismere High like it was yesterday…or 1999, even.

A big change from my primary school, where I carried a book bag not a backpack, I had my own peg not a locker, and homework wasn’t a 10-word spelling test. Not to mention the fact there was a total of 40 pupils at Wortham Primary, whereas my new place of education hosted 700.

I did a quick check before I left to catch the butt-clenchingly nerve-wracking first bus to My New School in the Suffolk sticks: 1.Shirt is tucked in at the front but hanging out at the back 2.Tie, loose and approximately 15cm in length, allowed to be no longer 3.Bag, Lilac Eastpak rucksack is on its loosest setting and hanging off my shoulders 4.Trousers are low-cut and flared 5.Kickers shoes have a small heel and are lace-free Half an hour later I stumble onto the EE310 bus, quivering with fear at finding somewhere to sit. It wasn’t long before I realised it was slim-pickings, and I had to fight to plonk my bum down somewhere.

Disastrously, I ended up right at the front, cosied up to the bus driver who was an arse. I had the year 11 ‘back seat hards’ shouting at me to ‘TURN AROUND!’, my tie came undone and mum wasn’t there to re-do it for me, I was - massive error wearing a scrunchie instead of a subtle hairband, and it appeared I was the only girl not wearing make up. Furthermore, I cursed my parents for not letting me pluck my bushy boy eyebrows. Added to this that yes, my trousers may have a nice Spice Girl-style flare, but that flare was swinging at my ankles. Naturally, it’s all mum and dad’s fault.

I saw the rest of my high school life flash before my eyes. Break times spent alone in the library, eating lunch in the toilets, being picked last in PE. But don’t feel too sorry for me. Luckily I was savvy enough to soon regain the cool factor. I bought a skirt instead of flares, started shaving my legs, plucking my brows and wearing the correct hairband, I ditched my centre-parting for a side one, and invested in some gold shimmer eyeshadow and clumpy black mascara.

Before I knew it, I was cruising onto the coach with all the swagger of Sisqo and

would even sit two seats from the back.

I made friends, I kept a wide berth from the library unless a visit was absolutely necessary, and I was the one choosing who I wanted in my team.

10 years passed whilst I chatted away on MSN and learnt text speak only for me to discover that it was now the first day of my new job and all those first day fears were flooding back to me.

OK, so there are no ‘Kickers or Rocket Dog’, ‘backpack or record bag’, ‘pencil case or pencil tin’ dilemmas this time around, but there are a few things I fret over. I carefully choose my first day outfit – a lot rides on this – and give myself a once-over before I leave to make a hideously fretful sweat-filled journey on the tube.

1.My blouse complements my skin tone and is just the right balance between sexy and serious 2.Handbag, Oversized grey and black number that matches my monotone outfit 3.Pencil skirt falls just below the knee so my calves don’t look too fat 4.Black patent heels ensure I’m taken seriously – I’m a career woman now, after all 5.Keys, check. Oyster card, check.

Paracetamol in case of stress-induced headache, check.

I hop on the tube (Ha! Hop! Who am I kidding? It’s so busy I’m practically crowd-surfed on) and try to calm my nerves. So many questions. What will the people be like? Do I shake hands? Will I have anyone to eat lunch with?

The smelly commuter next to me distracts me from my thoughts – ever heard of a shower, love? – and before I know it I’ve arrived at my stop, the stench still stinging my nostrils.

I hastily make my exit hoping the smell hasn’t rubbed off on me. I attempt to find my new office with a combination of memory from my interview and my phone’s Google map app.

I eventually arrive at my new place of work, ready to say hi – or hello – which is more appropriate? - to the next 40 years of my life.

I stroll in with all the confidence of Cher Lloyd.

The women are wearing jeans, the men couldn’t care less who I am and, apparently, the scrunchie’s back in fashion. Damn.

BANK HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Ice Hotel, Ireland It’s April 2011 which means that in the space of just three weeks we have three Bank Holiday’s (cheers for the last one Wills and Kate). Which can mean only one thing - it’s time to do that thing that hardly any of us ever do and get the hell out of London for a few days, breath in some unpolluted air and try our hand at something that isn’t OUR USUAL city life for a few days. If you’re in the market for a weekend out of the country but haven’t racked up enough holiday at work to swan off for a week in the sun then Jack suggests headING to the small town of Knock in County Mayo, Ireland or IF THAT’S STILL TOO FAR FOR a bit of a BREAK INVOLVING A different city The New Ellington in Leeds IS THE ANSWER. Both ARE relatively easy to get to and both aRE world away from London Town.

First up Knock. While the town is well known for it’s religious background and millions of pilgrims that visit it each year it is also heavily populated with beaches, grassy cliff tops and traditional Irish bars, pubs and restaurants.

Where to stay? We suggest The Ice Hotel (The Quay, Ballina, Co Mayo). Situated on the River Mayo, the four star hotel is perfect if you’re looking for a place to stay while exploring the town or if you’re looking for a relaxing weekend break.

During the 19th Century the building was used to store ice but today it’s mix of modern and contemporary rooms and features have made it a firm favourite with both locals and those travelling to the area.

What else? Well, the hotel boasts the Chill Spa which offers treatments such as a traditional Hibiscus body scrub, body wraps and facials. The hotel also has 32 bedrooms (each one is decorated differently to the next ensuring that no two rooms are the same), waterside hot tubs overlooking the river and The Pier restaurant that serves food praised by some of Irelands leading food critics.

A double room for the second Bank Holiday this month (25th April) begins at €80 per person per night on a three night stay offer. They are also hosting a special Easter deal this month which includes three nights stay, dinner for two, a glass of champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries on arrival, breakfast in bed and Easter themed amenities for €320 per person which works out as roughly £277.

As mentioned, Knock is a hugely religious place so there are plenty of religious relics to visit including the famous Knock Shrine. As well as this Knock is home to some beautiful shoreline and beaches ideal for walks or a drink and a bite to eat while looking out over something nicer than Hoxton Square. It’s also worth taking a visit to the Foxford Woollen Mill which makes and sells everything from rugs to scarfs and cushions right on the premises.

Ryan Air will fly you to Knock for around £80 per person.

To book your stay at The Ice Hotel head to www.icehousehotel.ie and to book flights head to www.ryanair.com Secondly, Leeds. For those that want to get away somewhere but are so ingrained into city life the clean air might rupture a lung Leeds is the answer. We suggest the newly refurbished New Ellington. Just outside the main hub and bub of the city centre but still in easy walking distance to all the goings on the New Ellington is a beautifully redecorated, Jazz inspired boutique hotel. The hotel boasts the most stocked gin bar we have seen to date with helpful staff on hand to make you the perfect cocktail incase the extensive list already on offer doesn’t quite tickle your fancy (how it can’t we’re not too sure) and a beautiful restaurant.

The restaurant is situated down a large staircase, the walls of which are covered

in photographs of Jazz greats. On entry to the restaurant at the bottom you find it is beautifully decorated with cosy booths and low lighting. Menu wise we particularly recommend the steak which the menu is already famous for and the deep fried rice pudding which is amazing. The hotel also do a great room service breakfast because lets face it, no one wants to get up too early on a bank holiday.

Nice touches have been added such as the option to get a Wii delivered up to your room with games and or films which is pretty fun for a night in away from home. If you want food in your room there is a dedicated room service menu including nachos and things like wedges 93 that are ideal to share on an afternoon when shopping has tired you out.

One thing we will say if you are travelling from London is that you should book your train early if you’re not driving as fares go up fast and if you leave it too late you’ll be looking in the region of £100 a ticket to get there. Think ahead however and a more reasonable £60 can be found. Alternatively if you want to be a real scrooge (and that’s not really something you want to do on a bank holiday) you can get the Mega Bus from Victoria for about £13 return which is a bargain but you’ll have to accept 4 hours on a coach as opposed to the trains 2 and a half.

Prices start at £70-80 a night. www.bespokehotels.com/ellingtonleeds

The New Ellington, Leeds

PICK OF THE MONTH What’s New?

Fancy Something a bit different?

Over this month we have noticed there are A LOT of new bars and restaurants opening up this month, which of course can only be a good sign both the struggling economy and also of course, our bellies, here’s our pick of the best ones.

Sunday Pie Making Club London Pet Show

McQueen How they got away with using that name we couldn’t tell you but we can tell you why they are one of our favourite new openings. A plush New York loft style bar and eatery McQueen caught our eye with its bare brick walls and cowhide rug interiors not to mention the burlesque and circus acts that will be performing weekly once open at their new night, The Secret Rendezvous.

For something a little different why not think about going to the London Pet Show at Olympia. If this bunny pictured above doesn’t make you go weak a the knees then you can also find everything from doggy agility through to pythons and spiders to learn about, look at and decide what you might like as a pet.

Jack HQ are huge pet lovers so we will certainly be down to see the cat agility and the small furries sections of the show.

Luckily you can find it all the easier to get down too as we can offer readers a 20% discount off the standard ticket prices.

The promo code for Jackers to quote when booking is PETSHOWPR2.

Tickets can be booked on the website www.londonpetshow.co.uk, or via the hotline number 0844 873 7332.

Recommended by Delia Smith Online and BBC Olive magazine these Sunday Pie Making Clubs are great to learn a bit of food knowledge, make your dinner and some new friends. Bakers whites and hats are supplied and ingredients are sourced for you. You will be taught how to make great British savory pies and petite pies from scratch. The classes take place in a professional bakery in Muswell Hill.

Keep up to date with new dates added to the Pie Making Club on Marika Gauci’s page at Find a Supper Club. www.supperclubfangroup.ning.com

55-61 Tabernacle Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4AA www.mcqueen-shoreditch.co.uk

Mothers Day Tea and Sewing Treat your Mum to a very motherly high tea with cake and scones whilst learning to do a bit of sewing with Sally Bourne Interiors.

Fancy Joining the Circus?

The Jam Tree New gastro pub, The Jam Tree in Chelsea is a much needed breath of fresh air to the Kings Road. With immense Sunday roasts and a lovely decked back garden The Jam Tree is ideal for weekend brunches and after work drinks.

You’ll feel at home here over the Royal Wedding weekend as chairs are decorated in patriotic flag designs and British colours, that and the fact that they will be showing the happy occasion on their TV screens.

Book now for their special Mothers Day Sunday Roast.

541 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW6 2EB www.thejamtree.com

Did you see the last Cirque Du Soleil and decide you needed some of your own circus skills? Well not to worry, you can hone your swinging, dangling and juggling at Hoxton’s Circus Space, the leading providers in circus training in London. Here you will find an introduction to Circus Skills workshops that give you the chance to learn skills like tight-wire walking, acrobatic balancing and static and flying trapeze over a whole or half day. There are also specialised Western Skills classes that over a half day will teach you to lasso, throw knives and crack a whip. Blimey!

Prices start at £59.00 per person for a 1/2 day.

Coronet St, City of London, N1 6HD www.thecircusspace.co.uk

This workshop is for everyone although it does fit ideally to Mothers. You will learn how to make your very own tote bag on the sewing machines provided whilst scoffing down tea and cakes. You can even give the bag to your mum after.

The workshop is in Crouch End which also has classes on offer teaching things like furniture painting and has all sorts of haberdashery ready to purchase for your new found love of craft.

If you don’t want to learn anything you could just pop down to browse the craft books, antiques and gifts that are on offer in the shop.

Sewing and Tea class, April 3rd, £45.00 per head, 48 Topsfield Parade, Greater London, N8 8PT

Port Eliot Festival Line Up Released Tapas Revolution, Westfield Nipa Resturant at the Landmark Nipa Thai restaurant is the sister restaurant of Nipa at The Landmark in Bangkok so before we even got to the restaurant we knew we were in for a treat. Serving a selection of Thai foods, Nipa is the perfect place to head to if you’re in the market for something really quite special especially as they are one of only 15 Thai restaurants in the UK to receive the ‘Thai Select’ award from the Thai Government. We started

with a Nipa Platter which included a selection of the chef’s specials before moving on to share stir fried beef in oyster sauce, sticky rice, prawn Phad Thai and stir fried prawns with garlic and pepper between the two of us. On any normal day this probably would have been a little bit too much food but as it was so good we managed to finish pretty much all of it. We finished the meal by trying two deserts that we never thought would enter our mouths, fried ice cream with chocolate sauce and deep fried banana with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce. Indulgent but amazing none the less. A special thanks must also go to Nipa’s head waiter who was intent on making the experience as easy and enjoyable as possible and was on hand to answer any questions we have about the food and wine menus.

Eating Spanish cuisine in the middle of a busy shopping centre doesn’t sound like a highly enjoyable eating experience nor a particularly authentic one but somehow Tapas Revolution makes it work. Really well.

Situated in the heart of Westfield Shopping Centre, away from all the other eateries on offer it offers a huge array of tapas choices all sourced from Spain by the people that work there. The restaurant was opened by Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy who went on a mission to bring Spanish food and its culture to the UK and the Westfield restaurant is their latest opening. All food is cooked in front of you while you sit at the bar and the waiters are on hand to help you pick which dishes would work well together.

We particularly enjoyed the oven roasted Chorizo al horno, Calamares fritos aoili and the range of cheese boards on offer.

Tapas Revolution, Westfield Shopping Centre, W12 7GF www.tapasrevolution.com

PAM, 6 Goldhawk Mews, Shepherds Bush, W12 8PA www.makeup-provisions.com

There will also be the Port Eliot flower show, wild swimming in the St Germans Estuary, photography exhibition, fashion stage, Poetry Take Over, Literary Corner and that’s only just the half of it.

21st-24th July, Port Eliot Estate, St Germans, Cornwall, PL12 5ND Adult tickets with camping £120 www.porteliotfestival.com

TFL Royal Wedding Travel Advice The Leonard Street Royal Wedding Street Party

Pam has opened in Shepherds Bush with a beautiful mews shop that offers everything you would need for a devoted make up wearer or make up artist.

Downstairs is full of Illamasqua, Ben NYE, and Hue cosmetics to name but a few.

Upstairs is full of everything needed for prosthetics, including bruise and death palettes, wig materials etc.

British Sea Power will be headlining the music side of things alongside other acts such as Frank Turner, Lulu and the Lampshades and Gaggle.

95

Nipa, Lancaster Terrace, W2 2TY ww.niparestaurant.co.uk

Pam Make Up Provisions

You may think this should go into our music or film section but the truth be told Port Eliot offers such a wide birth of entertainment we weren’t sure which it should fit into, so we are keeping it neutral.

The festival, set in beautiful grounds at Port Eliot this year is to boast Martin Scorsese’s Paradiso Outdoor Cinema with nightly double bills of films specifically chosen by Scorsese himself.

Shoreditch’s Leonard Street and The Book Club are opening their doors to those looking to celebrate the Royal Wedding or those who just want to have an old fashioned knees up. The festivities kick off at 10.30am with outdoor screenings of the wedding, live music, food from local eateries, bunting, a vintage fair curated by Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair and old fashioned games such as tug of war and a giant pass the parcel.

After the day time festivities are finished one of Who’s Jack’s favourite hangout spots, The Book Club will be open for a night of live music and dancing. The full line up is yet to be announced.

You won’t be able to avoid it, whether you like it or not London will turn Royal Wedding carnage crazy for that fateful weekend. However as a helping hand TFL are working flat out to ensure that the tube’s won’t cause the same problems as the road diversions and to commemorate the event 750,000 limited edition Oyster cards, featuring a portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton, will be on sale in the week leading up to the big day.

WIN £100

29th April www.wearetbc.com

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