ISSUE 6. LOCAL SCENE

The music workshops aren’t the only

tutorials CSV are offering. Our film

staff members are offering work-

shops in camera operation, story-

boarding, editing and more. If music

and film isn’t enough for you, we also

run journalism, DJ and MC skills

workshops. The entire week at CSV

is crammed with workshops, classes

and tutorials. You’d be hard-pressed

to find something you won’t like to do!

What’s more, volunteers are able to

put their newfound skills to the test

when CSV run a six-weekly television

show. Running alongside the film

project, the TV show uses volunteers

from every discipline. Whether it is

storyboarding, presenting, camera

work, floor manager, sound editing or

directing! Sure, you can work on the

theoretical side of things, but it’s the

practical elements that can really get

your I can tell you that those film work-

shops will definitely come in handy,

CULTURAL SCENE IN PRESTON

INTERNATIONAL CORNER

TAKE A BREAK WITH MEDIA REVIEWS

THE WITTY COMMITEE

and much more!

























Issue 6 April - June 2010

Preston - City of Culture 2010?

Ok, I know its stretching things a bit and whilst it certainly won’t be giving the likes of Liverpool or Manchester a run for their money anytime soon it does have a lot to offer-honest! and this edition of revolution will give you a glimpse....

This improved, ‘all singing all dancing’ edition of Revolution magazine will show you some of the many facets to Preston and its people. Built upon the success of the previous edition which was shortlisted in the CSV Media Preston list of most entertaining magazines, coming second only to Chiropody Weekly, this latest instalment in the ongoing series is jam packed full of articles and information guaranteed

to keep you entertained and wide eyed at night. If your suffering from insomnia-do not go near this magazine as it will not help you in any way shape or form in your quest for sleep! The theme of this edition is culture-ahh, culture I hear you respond, the subject on everyone’s lips and early morning breakfast conversations or, as one of our volunteers said, ‘culture-what’s that then’? ‘Well... it’s....culture....you know ...erm, it’s ‘thingy’-simples! In all seriousness it’s a concept that we all kind of know what it is but find difficult to define. Google the word culture and you will find a myriad of definitions; ‘the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations’, or as Wikipedia puts it “culture” is a concept central to anthropology, encompassing all human phenomena that are not purely results of human genetics’.Deep!

For all of us at CSV it simply means the things that make us who we are; the languages we speak-for example, in CSV at the moment we have volunteers from all over the world speaking over 20 different languages; it’s the food we eat; the music we like, the clothes we wear, basically anything and everything

FOREWORD

that makes us English, Polish, French, Hungarian, Turkish, Spanish or, more close to home, Lancastrian and or an individual. However, the true test of modern culture and multiculturalism has to be the ability to accept and to tolerate others who are different from ourselves. At CSV we pride ourselves on our openness and desire to embrace different cultures, particularly apt in a city like Preston with such a diverse population.

The mass media often portrays the youth of today in a very negative light, particularly when it comes to acceptance of other cultures and peoples. We are constantly overwhelmed by the demonstration of tolerance, responsiveness and consideration that our participants and volunteers consistently show when interacting with young people of different nationalities and backgrounds.

This edition of Revolution magazine is testament to the diversity of volunteers we have at CSV and the culture that Preston, yes Preston, has to offer! We hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as all of our volunteers enjoyed putting it together and if it makes you think about Preston and the cultural diversity of the city-job done!

Peter Hall Project Coordinator

Do you want to join the project? To find out more about the

magazine contact us on:

E. [email protected]. 01772563333

REVOLUTION TEAM

CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION

Revolution magazine is produced and written by young people, for young people. With a fresh look and stylish design, Revolution makes it marks with its readers by offering a combination of local stories from in and around Preston, to reviews and information on the youth scene within the city. This magazine offers the youth of Preston a voice and another way to express themselves in the subjects that interest them. HAPPY READING!!

REVOLUTION TEAM

EditorCarmen Velilla

Production AssistantRoshnni NayeePete Ashton

WritersLaura BaileyStav FowlerAdam Gethin JonesJames LawrenceMatt RobsonSarah SumnerHulusi TatliciogluSteven Whiley

Cartoon StripStav FowlerFreddie Starkey

DesignLaura BulmerStephanie MarshallChris Monk

CONTENTS

Words with Peter Hodgkinson 5-6

Karima Francis interview 7-8

Fashion a key of culture 15-18

The witty committee 19-20

Fancy volunteering? 21-26

International Corner 27-28

Take a break - media reviews 29-38

On the stage 39-40

DISCLAIMERAll rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publishers.

One of the most important aspects for a modern city in Britain is its ability to offer a wide variety of culture and diversity to the people who live there, and the people who are passing through. Cities are the landmarks of a country, the places where new ideas are implicated and where influence can spread. It is important to look to the future, without forgetting the past.

Preston has a lot to offer but it is still a relatively young city. With a large multi-cultural and diverse population, it is a place that welcomes people from all different nationalities and backgrounds. This, inevitably, has an influence on the city as different cultural practices and lifestyle’s become implemented for all to experience. Preston offers a balance between the modern

This issue focuses on people who have had an opportunity to influence and represent the city and it’s past. We have two artists from different mediums in Peter Hodgkinson (Sculptor), Michael Mackenzie (Photographer) and Gail Newsham, who acts as an advocate and historian for women’s football.

We will also hear form Karima Francis, who’s soulfully expressive, unique vocal style has got people talking in the Manchester music scene. All four grew up around the local area and they tell us about their influences and plans for the future...

and the historical, offering people a new age experience whilst acknowledging its past. This all combines to create a local scene that has a little for everyone, and if this continues it can only mean good things for Preston and the people who live here.

4

Anyone who has visited to Pres-ton North End Football club would have seen the unique and amazing sculpture of Sir Tom Finney. It is a piece that works hand in hand with The National Football Museum to attract peo-ple to Preston. It is the work of Preston born Artist and Sculp-turer, Peter Hodgkinson.

Peter has worked all over the country, creating many different pieces in many different styles. He is also planning a Wallace and Gromit sculpture for Pres-ton city town centre, characters created by another Preston boy Nick Park. Peter spoke to Re-volution magazine about past,

proached North End because I have heard a rumour they were planning the football museum and contacted them. They sug-gested I should meet up with Ben Casey who was designing the stadium and from that meeting the ideas were established.

Do you have any projects that you are currently working on?Yes, I have. It is in Manchester which is a life-size picture of L.S. Lowry and its going in Sam’s Chophouse pub. I have been try-ing to find pieces that represent his clothes and even trying to find the stool that he sat on when he was alive. It is an interesting concept because he was known to dislike alcohol as he didn’t like what it could do to someone. It is known that he went round various pubs in Manchester with a group of artists where they would draw each other, one be-

present and future projects and how he became an artist.

How did you first get interes-ted in Art?I went to Preston College to re-take my O levels. I’d never taken art while I was at school, so when I started at College I was intro-duced to a whole new world and loved it.

Were you always interested in Sculpture or were there other areas of art that you appreci-ated?I looked at graphics and won-dered what kind of work I could get. The department had all sorts like Charcoal, Textiles, Paint-

ing Sam’s Chophouse, and that’s where the piece has come from.

Another famous Prestonian is Nick Park and there have been rumours that you may be doing a Wallace and Gromit statue for Preston. Could you tell us more about that?I’ve met Nick Park on a few oc-casions and he I was excited about the idea so let’s just hope it happens. It’s in the corridors of power now so we just have to wait and hope that it gets ap-proved. Those characters are so well known and the Wallace and Gromit series feels like it’s in Preston and I think Nick was obvi-ously influenced by Preston.

What advice would you give to anyone trying to get into art?Be resourceful and necessity is the mother of invention. If you need to do something then you will find a way to do it.

ing and loads of others. So I am specialized in three subjects and chose sculpture, textiles and print making.

You have many well known art pieces that you have done; do you have a personal favourite?I don’t to be honest, they all have their own good points and it is very hard to pin down which you would say was my favourite. It is what keeps me going, I still do not feel like I have got out there what I want and said what I want to say. That is what I am always working towards and gives me the drive to continue.

How did you get involved in the Preston North End splash sculpture project, did they bring the idea to you?Well, no actually. I was at a point where I was struggling to find work so I decided to start trying to find my own projects. I ap-

6

THE SPLASH

THE STATUE OF SIR TOM FINNEY

peter hodgkinsonwords with...

Anyone who has visited to Pres-ton North End Football club would have seen the unique and amazing sculpture of Sir Tom Finney. It is a piece that works hand in hand with The National Football Museum to attract peo-ple to Preston. It is the work of Preston born Artist and Sculp-turer, Peter Hodgkinson.

Peter has worked all over the country, creating many different pieces in many different styles. He is also planning a Wallace and Gromit sculpture for Pres-ton city town centre, characters created by another Preston boy Nick Park. Peter spoke to Re-volution magazine about past,

proached North End because I have heard a rumour they were planning the football museum and contacted them. They sug-gested I should meet up with Ben Casey who was designing the stadium and from that meeting the ideas were established.

Do you have any projects that you are currently working on?Yes, I have. It is in Manchester which is a life-size picture of L.S. Lowry and its going in Sam’s Chophouse pub. I have been try-ing to find pieces that represent his clothes and even trying to find the stool that he sat on when he was alive. It is an interesting concept because he was known to dislike alcohol as he didn’t like what it could do to someone. It is known that he went round various pubs in Manchester with a group of artists where they would draw each other, one be-

present and future projects and how he became an artist.

How did you first get interes-ted in Art?I went to Preston College to re-take my O levels. I’d never taken art while I was at school, so when I started at College I was intro-duced to a whole new world and loved it.

Were you always interested in Sculpture or were there other areas of art that you appreci-ated?I looked at graphics and won-dered what kind of work I could get. The department had all sorts like Charcoal, Textiles, Paint-

ing Sam’s Chophouse, and that’s where the piece has come from.

Another famous Prestonian is Nick Park and there have been rumours that you may be doing a Wallace and Gromit statue for Preston. Could you tell us more about that?I’ve met Nick Park on a few oc-casions and he I was excited about the idea so let’s just hope it happens. It’s in the corridors of power now so we just have to wait and hope that it gets ap-proved. Those characters are so well known and the Wallace and Gromit series feels like it’s in Preston and I think Nick was obvi-ously influenced by Preston.

What advice would you give to anyone trying to get into art?Be resourceful and necessity is the mother of invention. If you need to do something then you will find a way to do it.

ing and loads of others. So I am specialized in three subjects and chose sculpture, textiles and print making.

You have many well known art pieces that you have done; do you have a personal favourite?I don’t to be honest, they all have their own good points and it is very hard to pin down which you would say was my favourite. It is what keeps me going, I still do not feel like I have got out there what I want and said what I want to say. That is what I am always working towards and gives me the drive to continue.

How did you get involved in the Preston North End splash sculpture project, did they bring the idea to you?Well, no actually. I was at a point where I was struggling to find work so I decided to start trying to find my own projects. I ap-

6

THE SPLASH

THE STATUE OF SIR TOM FINNEY

peter hodgkinson

words with...

6

4

Karima Francis, born and bred in local Blackpool, has turned her life upside down for her love of music. Her passion, creati-vity and motivation have served her well as she has catapulted herself from being a simple mu-sic lover into having a full time music career through pure hard graft. Described by the BBC as “unique and unignorable” and tagged “Record of The Week” by Radio Two, Karima is no stran-ger to the industry. I spoke to Karima on Friday 5th March in Starbucks Cafe, Preston Fishergate Centre, just before a small scale acoustic performance to raise funds for Christian Aid. We chatted about working in the music industry, song writing techniques, and I asked for her advice as an aspiring musician myself.

WHO DID YOU LISTEN TO GROWING UP? The Carpenters/Simon and Garfunkel/Michael Jackson.

I didn’t really grow up in a musi-cal home so it was just whatever was on the radio.

HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR SONGS? I always write in front of a mi-rror. I try to breathe and let go of myself. I also tend to write melodies and then find words to fit around that. When you know what you are trying to say, the words just come. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY MUSIC? I think that the community is all about staying strong and help-ing each other out. Music is a great way to inspire kids. I think it could give them a reason to stay out of trouble and off the streets. Tonight’s gig is in aid of Chris-tian Aid and in support of Fair Trade. I have also participated in an event raising money for Cancer research. We can all do our bit.

WHAT IS THE BEST VENUE YOU HAVE PERFORMED IN IN LANCASHIRE? I really enjoyed performing for Lancashire Libraries Out Loud. I played in Lancaster Library.

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR RECORD COMPANY PLAY IN YOUR MUSIC CAREER? A really big role. They are amaz-ing. I just know it’s all about the music for them. They arrange funding for me when I want to do something positive for my career and they put in a lot of hard work trying to get me into the right hands. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A MUSICIAN? Being able to express myself and having a release There is something here for everyone to learn. If you have a dream, whatever that dream is, only you can make it happen. No one is going to hand you success.

KARIMA

FRANCISMusic is a means of communication and expression. In a land of music you can dream, protest, debate and shout for joy and everyone will want to listen. Music is an ageless phenomenon which appeals to all ages. Music evolves and ripens with age.

I always write in front of a mirror. I try to breathe and let go of myself.

How to get a career in musical performance/song writing...

Keep yourself. Do not let the music industry influence you. Don’t be pushed in any directions you do not want to be pushed in.

1.Gig as much as possible!2.Keep going. Don’t give up! If you have a desire you need to follow it through. You cannot forget about it.3.Try writing songs in front of the mirror.

7

84

Karima Francis, born and bred in local Blackpool, has turned her life upside down for her love of music. Her passion, creati-vity and motivation have served her well as she has catapulted herself from being a simple mu-sic lover into having a full time music career through pure hard graft. Described by the BBC as “unique and unignorable” and tagged “Record of The Week” by Radio Two, Karima is no stran-ger to the industry. I spoke to Karima on Friday 5th March in Starbucks Cafe, Preston Fishergate Centre, just before a small scale acoustic performance to raise funds for Christian Aid. We chatted about working in the music industry, song writing techniques, and I asked for her advice as an aspiring musician myself.

WHO DID YOU LISTEN TO GROWING UP? The Carpenters/Simon and Garfunkel/Michael Jackson.

I didn’t really grow up in a musi-cal home so it was just whatever was on the radio.

HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR SONGS? I always write in front of a mi-rror. I try to breathe and let go of myself. I also tend to write melodies and then find words to fit around that. When you know what you are trying to say, the words just come. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY MUSIC? I think that the community is all about staying strong and help-ing each other out. Music is a great way to inspire kids. I think it could give them a reason to stay out of trouble and off the streets. Tonight’s gig is in aid of Chris-tian Aid and in support of Fair Trade. I have also participated in an event raising money for Cancer research. We can all do our bit.

WHAT IS THE BEST VENUE YOU HAVE PERFORMED IN IN LANCASHIRE? I really enjoyed performing for Lancashire Libraries Out Loud. I played in Lancaster Library.

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR RECORD COMPANY PLAY IN YOUR MUSIC CAREER? A really big role. They are amaz-ing. I just know it’s all about the music for them. They arrange funding for me when I want to do something positive for my career and they put in a lot of hard work trying to get me into the right hands. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A MUSICIAN? Being able to express myself and having a release There is something here for everyone to learn. If you have a dream, whatever that dream is, only you can make it happen. No one is going to hand you success.

KARIMA

FRANCISMusic is a means of communication and expression. In a land of music you can dream, protest, debate and shout for joy and everyone will want to listen. Music is an ageless phenomenon which appeals to all ages. Music evolves and ripens with age.

I always write in front of a mirror. I try to breathe and let go of myself.

How to get a career in musical performance/song writing...

Keep yourself. Do not let the music industry influence you. Don’t be pushed in any directions you do not want to be pushed in.

1.Gig as much as possible!2.Keep going. Don’t give up! If you have a desire you need to follow it through. You cannot forget about it.3.Try writing songs in front of the mirror.

8

Michael Mackenzie

1) I’m sure you get this a lot, but what or who inspired your photography? Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

• The interest in photography came about in two ways for me, the first was when a friend from work, I was working then as a printer at the time, showed me his SLR film camera. I will never forget the moment I looked through the viewfinder because everything looked so much different, even the most mundane scene looked like another world. Secondly, the interest in photography grew with the influence of my older brothers studies in Photography. 2) You seem to have a very distinct style and looking at your singles and series sets, you have a knack for capturing the most beautiful aspect of something so normal. What do you think about when you’re taking the picture?

• When I see something that captures my imagination I try and think about what may have happened in that space or who may have been through that space. I often look for the quiet and often overlooked places, like frozen moments in time waiting for people to pass through.

3) Do you have a personal process of photography, or do you simply go out with your camera in hand?

• I now try and always tell a visual story with my images like that of a writer. I always like my images to connect with one another but on the odd occasion I may only see one place or space that draws my interest.

4) In your series gallery on your website, you have a variety of different locations like Preston Bus Station and then all the way to Thailand. The ways you portray these locations are unlike any I’ve seen before. Do the varying places and cities give you freedom to express your views on what you see in that particular cultural area? Do you find yourself comparing other places to Preston?

• I don’t tend to change the way I look at things in different parts of the world, I just look for that different way to express what I see and try and bring something new and interesting to the viewer.

I never think about comparing other places

Everyone has different ways of portraying something that captures their eye. Writing is one way; you describe the scene in such detail and vivid imagery that it’s right there for you to picture in your own mind, but interpret in your own way. There’s also painting; artists such as Picasso and Da Vinci portrayed a splash of their imagination onto canvas and left us to decipher what it meant on our own. And then there’s photography.

Personally, I believe it is a mix of writing and painting; although there are no words, the image is there for you to see in plain detail. Every aspect of the captured image is there in plain sight, but you can’t help but interpret the image in your own mind. You can feel the cogs in your mind working as you absorb the lighting, angles, backgrounds and atmosphere of the picture. Nobody looks at a picture in the same way; we all have our own thought to add to it. Photographers capture the scene before them and develop them into a piece of art.

Michael Mackenzie is a professional photographer from Lancashire. Well known for his exhibition ‘The Last Bus’, I spoke to Michael about how he became a photographer, what inspires him and how he captures simple scenes and transforms them into a thing of ethereal beauty.

10

with Preston, I only want to achieve a fresh perspective of a place that I am drawn to.

5) Your photography tends to have a certain ethereal and calming quality to it. Are the images you take an extension of what you see and think? Do you become influenced by the historical culture or is it taken in the beauty of the moment?

• I think your right I think they may be an extension of what I see and think and they are quite still and calm. When I am confronted by a place that I am about to photograph I stop and think and feel the atmosphere and then I decide what is the best way to approach the subject, this in turn influences the out come of the final image. I am really interested in looking at local history and culture here in the UK and where ever I travel and I am constantly getting influences from all of these areas.

6) The Last Bus Station seems to be your most notable series. Why did you choose Preston Bus Station for that particular project? Did the cultural background of the subject and its past influence you?

• You are right, the ‘LAST BUS’ series was a real turning point for me.

I was looking to do a major photographic story, which would involve me doing major research on the subject with a view to getting funding from The Arts Council UK to help exhibit the work.

It was by chance that Steve Egan, an old friend of mine from Preston told me about the possible closure of the station and that it would be worth me looking at with my style of photography. I am born in Preston and have many memories of meeting friends and getting buses from the station and this was one of the major factors of me taking on this project, I had a connection with the building and the place.

I think I may have been influenced by the subjects past, I started to research the history of the building, when it was built etc and got great inspiration from a film that was made in the 1970’s which was a year later when the station was complete in 1969; the film being Stanley Kubrick’s Space Odyssey 2001

11

7) You’ve mentioned before that Preston isa city that needs regeneration, and we shouldn’t be doing that by tearing apart our cultural heritage. How multicultural is Preston in your eyes? Do we need to further establish our multiculturalism, and if so, how would you do that?

• I think UCLAN has brought a lot of diversity to the city and I grew up in an area of Preston in the 1970’s, which had Italian’s, Polish, West Indian and Pakistani’s. So Preston as always had a multi cultural heritage and we need to embrace this fact and work with the youth of today to keep this moving forward in a positive way.

8) If you could express your opinion of multiculturalism through your work, how would you do that?

That’s an interesting question, and I am about to cover this in my next project. I will be looking at my Italian mother’s life back in Italy and how she found life to be when she came over to the UK in the 1950’s.

Through this work I hope to highlight the life of first generation migrants from Italy to the

UK and the effects on their life and to the local communities in the UK.

9) Do you have any advice for budding photographers and artists?

• You really need to have a great passion for it and work very hard and hope you get some luck on the way and people get to recognize your talent.

History isn’t the only thing that is being hidden in Preston. There’s talent emerging from all over the world, and Preston isn’t missing out. After looking over Michael’s work and interviewing him, I found myself sparing a moment lo nger each day to deeply appreciate the true, hidden beauty of the world around me.

To check out Michael’s work, visit his website at www.michaelmackenzie.co.uk

12

Can you give us a brief background as to what inspired you to start up a website dedicated to Dick,

Kerr Ladies?

I wanted to let as many people as possible know about these amazing women. The internet allows people from all over the world to learn their success and it is very important to me that they get the recognition they deserve.

Women’s football hit its peak during the First World War, and the Dick, Kerr Ladies became the

most successful women’s football club in the world. Do you think their success inspired women to not only participate in sports but spurred them on

to fight for their rights?

Women were already fighting for the right to vote when the DKL started playing. I do know that they inspired wome as far a way as Australia when the Aussie women took up rugby. They played a night match with a white football after DKL had already done this at Deepdale in 1920. DKL was the team that all others aspired to.

With the majority of able-bodied boys and men at war, men’s football began to waver. Perhaps

this paved the way for ladies’ football to hit success, and it resulted in Dick, Kerr Ladies attracting thousands of spectators, quickly becoming more successful than the men’s

football teams. How successful do you believe ladies’ football teams would have been, if the men’s football were running regularly?

DKL were playing after the end of WW1 and attracting huge crowds at all their matches... In many cases, more than the men’s teams. That is why the FA banned them from using league grounds because they were afraid of the competition.

The Suffrage was happening around the same time as the Dick,

Kerr Ladies were at the height of their success. How do you think the team were affected by it, if at all?

They had become successful

With league titles and cups to be won, there’s hardly a day that goes by which I don’t hear a snippet of conversation about last night’s match.

Now, it’s all well and good that there are big name teams full of world-class players earning the big bucks, but let’s not forgets the fans. Pay attention, because I’m leading onto something important here... There are female fans, but what about the female teams? Women’s football is rising up in the world again, but there was once a time when women’s football was watched more than men’s footie.

It was a surprise, I must admit, to find that one of the best women’s football teams came right here from Preston. ‘Dick, Kerr Ladies’ ran through World War One and went on to become a top team internationally. After the FA axed women’s football over major controversy, it took over fifty years until women could play the nation’s sport again.

I spoke to the owner of the ‘Dick, Kerr Ladies’ appreciation and dedication website, Gail Newsham, who helped us understand women’s football back in the days.

1)

2) 3) 4)

13

sportswomen in their own right. I don’t think they were directly affected by the suffragetes, but no doubt would have supported their cause.

The FA axed ladies football in 1921, and it was a heavy blow for

women. What was the reason for the banning of women’s football, and how heavily did it affect the players and women in general?

The FA banned the women because they were drawing bigger crowds than many of the men’s teams. It definitely affected them, as many teams were forced to disband because of a lack of pitches available to them. DKL carried on against all odds to play the

game they loved and to raise money for charity.

Despite the ban and prejudices that women’s football have had to

endure, there are scores of women’s teams emerging from big name clubs such as Liverpool and Everton, and they’ve gone on to play internationally too. How successful do you think these clubs will be compared to Dick, Kerr Ladies?

I don’t think another team could ever be as successful as the DKL. Their record speaks for itself. In their 48 year reign they lost on average only one game every two years. Not ad for a bunch of factory girls from Preston!

5)

6)

If you had any advice to pass down to budding ladies footballers, what

would you tell them?

Keep on playing the game in the hope that one day there will be equal opportunities for women in this country.

Preston seems to have such a hidden history that the majority of the public are unaware of. It was, indeed, a privilege of mine to get the chance to talk with Gail and learn first-hand the information of such a successful and inspirational team.

For more information on Dick, Kerr Ladies and Gail Newsham, visit www.dickkerrladies.com

7)

14

15

a Key Piece Of culture

When I first heard what this issue’s topic was going to be, I have to admit my first re-actions were: “culture? What is this ‘culture’ word you speak of?” Preston, through my eyes, wasn’t exactly teeming with bizarre artists gluing significant objects to The Mall’s ceiling. We don’t even own a single Lambanana, for that matter. Sure, Preston has a selec-tion of museums, but they didn’t appear like Tate Modern in my mind. Perhaps I had the wrong definition of culture in the first place. Maybe I needed to throw away these mis-conceived preconceptions and start afresh. So, donning a pair of untainted glasses, I ap-proached the Fishergate High Street to see what I could discover: a man taking pictures of architecture, plenty of people handing out flyers and, unfortunately, quite a few empty shops. There must have been something I was missing, a secret culture spot hidden in a wardrobe somewhere? It took me a while to realise that it was right there in front of my face. Everyone was shopping.

All of them holding bags printed with the tell-tale logos. It hit me: fashion. Fashion is an es-sential part to social groups. What we wear defines what kind of person we are and it is ever-present in Preston. We may not com-pare to places such as London, but is evident to see that we know who we are in what we wear. Even the Harris Museum has an exhibit showing called Embellished: The Art of Fabu-lous Fabrics, which their website describes as focusing on how ‘the clothes we wear trans-form us into living works of art.’

Yet, most of the fashion available in Preston comes from high street stores, which we can hardly call our own. However, simply step-ping from Fishergate onto Winkley Street you come across a shop with a bright, inviting window display that’s impossible to resist. I spoke to Emma of Miss Matilda’s Boutique, who took her interest for retail and fashion to a whole new level, to find out what she thought about Preston’s culture.

fashion

16

a Key Piece Of culture

When I first heard what this issue’s topic was going to be, I have to admit my first re-actions were: “culture? What is this ‘culture’ word you speak of?” Preston, through my eyes, wasn’t exactly teeming with bizarre artists gluing significant objects to The Mall’s ceiling. We don’t even own a single Lambanana, for that matter. Sure, Preston has a selec-tion of museums, but they didn’t appear like Tate Modern in my mind. Perhaps I had the wrong definition of culture in the first place. Maybe I needed to throw away these mis-conceived preconceptions and start afresh. So, donning a pair of untainted glasses, I ap-proached the Fishergate High Street to see what I could discover: a man taking pictures of architecture, plenty of people handing out flyers and, unfortunately, quite a few empty shops. There must have been something I was missing, a secret culture spot hidden in a wardrobe somewhere? It took me a while to realise that it was right there in front of my face. Everyone was shopping.

All of them holding bags printed with the tell-tale logos. It hit me: fashion. Fashion is an es-sential part to social groups. What we wear defines what kind of person we are and it is ever-present in Preston. We may not com-pare to places such as London, but is evident to see that we know who we are in what we wear. Even the Harris Museum has an exhibit showing called Embellished: The Art of Fabu-lous Fabrics, which their website describes as focusing on how ‘the clothes we wear trans-form us into living works of art.’

Yet, most of the fashion available in Preston comes from high street stores, which we can hardly call our own. However, simply step-ping from Fishergate onto Winkley Street you come across a shop with a bright, inviting window display that’s impossible to resist. I spoke to Emma of Miss Matilda’s Boutique, who took her interest for retail and fashion to a whole new level, to find out what she thought about Preston’s culture.

fashion

On your site, you tell people

how the boutique was

created, but what were your

motivations at the beginning

of Miss Matilda’s Boutique?

Retail has always been a passion of

mine and owning a shop has always

been an ambition too, since the age

of 17. The key motivation behind Miss

Matilda’s Boutique is to offer people

an alternative retail experience with a

strong focus on customer service.

Why is fashion important to you?

I would say that my retail offer-ing is more important to me than fashion. Miss Matilda’s defines itself by it’s feminine brand: mer-chandise that is pretty, chic and good quality rather than being fashion led.

How are independent bou-tiques, such as Miss Matilda’s Boutique, different from high street stores? Are they better in anyway?

Independent shops offer an alternative away from the high street and add value to any town or city. The merchandise offering is usually more focused and niche and there is the added bonus that you are normally buying something more ‘exclusive’.

How do you think Miss Maltilda’s Boutique contri-

butes to Preston’s culture?I think Miss Matilda’s adds considerable

value to the Preston City centre. There

are only a handful of independent cloth-

ing shops – everything else is high

street which you can find in any town

or city. The shop decoration has been

done in such a way to create a homely

and relaxed atmosphere. Consider-

able planning and effort goes into our

window displays in an effort to inspire

people and make them smile!

Is there anyway you think

Preston’s culture could be

improved?

I think Preston is sadly lacking in cul-

ture which is a shame as there is great

heritage associated with the city. Be-

fore looking to improve its cultural of-

fering, I would suggest that the Coun-

cil looks carefully at the state of the

city centre and takes the necessary

measures to make it more of an attrac-

tive retail destination. A good clean up,

pedestrainising the high street, adding

floral decoration and creating areas of

interest would be a good start.

Finally, do you have any

advice for people that

want to work in the

fashion field?

My background is in retail rather than

fashion but some general advice would

be to have confidence and determina-

tion in yourself. Life isn’t always easy

but realise you are gifted for some-

thing and that this something can be

attained with hard work and effort.

I’ve realised now that culture doesn’t just entail art and histo-ry, but what the people of Pres-ton can also add to the city. It is our hometown, after all. A key way of achieving this is through what we wear, and even through these times of recession we can express ourselves still in this way. Maybe fashion is the new mo-dern art of society. Some, such as Emma, even take their pa-ssion a step further by bringing what they love to the public. With one in five shops now deso-late in Preston, perhaps it’s time to be fashion forward and add more independent boutiques to our culture?

18

On your site, you tell people

how the boutique was

created, but what were your

motivations at the beginning

of Miss Matilda’s Boutique?

Retail has always been a passion of

mine and owning a shop has always

been an ambition too, since the age

of 17. The key motivation behind Miss

Matilda’s Boutique is to offer people

an alternative retail experience with a

strong focus on customer service.

Why is fashion important to you?

I would say that my retail offer-ing is more important to me than fashion. Miss Matilda’s defines itself by it’s feminine brand: mer-chandise that is pretty, chic and good quality rather than being fashion led.

How are independent bou-tiques, such as Miss Matilda’s Boutique, different from high street stores? Are they better in anyway?

Independent shops offer an alternative away from the high street and add value to any town or city. The merchandise offering is usually more focused and niche and there is the added bonus that you are normally buying something more ‘exclusive’.

How do you think Miss Maltilda’s Boutique contri-

butes to Preston’s culture?I think Miss Matilda’s adds considerable

value to the Preston City centre. There

are only a handful of independent cloth-

ing shops – everything else is high

street which you can find in any town

or city. The shop decoration has been

done in such a way to create a homely

and relaxed atmosphere. Consider-

able planning and effort goes into our

window displays in an effort to inspire

people and make them smile!

Is there anyway you think

Preston’s culture could be

improved?

I think Preston is sadly lacking in cul-

ture which is a shame as there is great

heritage associated with the city. Be-

fore looking to improve its cultural of-

fering, I would suggest that the Coun-

cil looks carefully at the state of the

city centre and takes the necessary

measures to make it more of an attrac-

tive retail destination. A good clean up,

pedestrainising the high street, adding

floral decoration and creating areas of

interest would be a good start.

Finally, do you have any

advice for people that

want to work in the

fashion field?

My background is in retail rather than

fashion but some general advice would

be to have confidence and determina-

tion in yourself. Life isn’t always easy

but realise you are gifted for some-

thing and that this something can be

attained with hard work and effort.

I’ve realised now that culture doesn’t just entail art and histo-ry, but what the people of Pres-ton can also add to the city. It is our hometown, after all. A key way of achieving this is through what we wear, and even through these times of recession we can express ourselves still in this way. Maybe fashion is the new mo-dern art of society. Some, such as Emma, even take their pa-ssion a step further by bringing what they love to the public. With one in five shops now deso-late in Preston, perhaps it’s time to be fashion forward and add more independent boutiques to our culture?

“The object of art is

to give life a shape”

- william shakespeare

“After silence, that

which comes nearest

to expressing the

inexpressible is music”

- aldous huxley

“art teaches nothing... Except the significance of life”-henry miller

THE WITTY COMMITTEE

19

“Music is the wine

that fills the cup of

silence”

- Robert fripp

“A photograph is

memory in the raw”

- Carrie latet

20

WHY NOT BECOME A

VOLUNTEER?

21

Make a DifferenceCheck out the brief below to take a peek into some of the fantastic pro-jects we’re running at CSV!

the Internet, there’ll be posts of live music performances based right here in Preston and the CSV music studio. Our volunteers are also working on their biggest music project yet. The music crew are banding together to produce a protest song against war, but here’s the best thing...the chorus will be sung by every CSV volunteer and staff member! “New World” will be a huge production and will hopefully have an ever bigger effect!To see CSV’s latest music work, check out the channel at www.youtube.com/user/csvrecordings

Music has become a popular phenomenon today and CSV are following the trend! The music staff are thinking hard and working even harder. They were posed with a question; how do we showcase the talents of our volunteers? YouTube was the answer. They produced a subscription channel, CSV Recordings, which allows music volunteers to post their work and display their gifts. As well as fresh sounds being promoted across

Some volunteers have a deep interest in music, but don’t know how to play instruments or work on the computer software. As part of our new scheme to further involve and help educate our volunteers, staff members are running new music workshops. These workshops range from music theory right to instrument tuition. The workshop tutor aims to cover every aspect of music production to help volunteers reach their full potential.

For more information regarding workshops, email: [email protected]

Mu

sic

22

Films are constantly in production and our editing suite is rarely empty of the clicks of a computer mouse and grumblings of budding film mak-ers. With the chosen film topic of this quarter being multiculturalism, our volunteers have been working hard to finalise production of their films. One of the first multiculturalism films is now in the final editing stage, and was made by a new volunteer. As soon as the new topic was revealed, our passionate volunteer jumped at the chance to produce a film that would make an impression.

The film outlines the impact of mul-ticulturalism in Preston, so make sure you keep a look out for the film on VolTV and CSVRecordings. One film surely isn’t enough to keep our volunteers on their toes... of course not! A project being run by a student association is The Interna

tional Society. The president and the secretary of the association, Rachel Skocylis and Melissa Truc, aim to use this project to give both foreign and

local students the chance to min-gle, get involved with each other on a social basis and make con-nections. Students can become involved in the project and, as well as making friends, go on holidays and trips together.

23

FIL

MFor more information regarding this project: email [email protected]

“One of the first multiculturalism films is now in the final editing

stage, and was made by a new volunteer.”

24

W O R K S H O P S

What’s more, volunteers are able to put their new-found skills to the test when CSV run a six-weekly television show. Running alongside the film project, the TV show uses volunteers from every discipline.

Whether it is storyboarding, presenting, camera work, floor manager, sound editing or directing! Sure, you can work on the theoretical side of things, but it’s the practical elements that can really get your adrenaline pumping!

Music workshops aren’t the only tutorials CSV are offering. Our film staff members are of-fering workshops in camera operation, story-boarding, editing and more. If music and film isn’t enough for you, we also run journalism, DJ and MC skills workshops. You’d be hard-pressed to find something you won’t like to do!

25

Ongoing ProjectThe new film project we’re run-ning at CSV is based upon the concept of citizenship. Titled “Citizens Create”, the next TV show is seeking to encourage our volunteers to actively explore the subject by us-ing creative media. This project is filled with vari-ous roles and scores of stimulating new ideas! We all know how important citizenship is to our developing society, and CSV aim to explore it fur-ther, through the minds of individual volunteers.We have so much going on and CSV are al-

“Our fi lm staff members are offering workshops in camera operation, storyboarding, editing and more. If music and film isn’t enough for you, we also run journalism, DJ and MC skills workshops.”

ways welcoming new volunteers. If you want to take a look at the day in the life of a CSV’er, why not contact us and speak to one of our exuberant staff members? You won’t regret it, and you’re sure to have one extraordinary visit! Become one of our dedicated and spirited vol-unteers and, you too, could make a difference!

26

And hello from the International Corner. Here you will find what is going on in the international world of entertainment. Find out what other countries are really into right now. You never know what you may find. Keep reading and find it!

t cSunny weather, warm climates, a passion for football, great holiday hot spot bargains and a beautiful summer...these are the most common assumptions you might make about Turkey.

There is a fast evolving culture in Turkey as it’s people are becom-ing highly dependent upon TV series! Every family household has a TV series of choice and as you read this, they are waiting for their next episode fix! It re-ally is big show business! I want to share with you some of the most famous examples and let’s see whether you think you could be facing your next addiction!Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves) is a popular Turkish me-dia franchise consisting of three

Bonjour, Hola, Ciao,

Czesc, Merhabal!!

Fan of turkish tv series? Not yet? Wait and read

Turkey :

International

27

Corner

cdifferent television series. It tells the story of a secret service agent who infiltrates the Turkish mafia and rises to a leadership position.

The franchise has been very pop-ular obtaining high ratings and one of the highest box office returns in the history of the Turkish cinema! It tackles controversial issues and can be surprising from time to time with extended scenes involving violence and celebri-ties (skirmishes, assassina-tions and torture, scenes with Sharon Stone and Andy Gar-cia) and ideological underpin-nings. www.kurtlarvadisi.com

Kavak Yelleri (Winds of Poplar) is a teenage drama TV series which draws it’s audiences into the trials and tribulations faced by four close

friends; drama, love, trouble and seperation are common themes.

According to some TV magazine critics, it has been inspired by American TV Series, “Dawson’s Creek”. TV ratings say that it is worth giving this show a watch...www.kavakyelleri.tv

Yaprak Dökümü (The Fall of Leaves) takes inspiration from a Turkish novel written in 1939 by author and playwright Reşat Nuri Güntekin. The series follows a middle class Turkish family, in which seduction, seperation and betrayl form part of daily life.

Recent episodes have been quoted by critics as lacking creativity and repeating a cli-chee scenario in which the

“bad character” always wins.

Memnu, also derived from a Turk-ish novel by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, is currently shooting it’s second season. Kivanc Tatlitug- (the win-ner of “Best Model of the World” in 2001) stars as Behlül and gives the show great appeal to women. He has been dubbed “the Middle East’s Brad Pitt” due to his sex appeal and popular-ity in the Arab World. Check him out! www.askimemnu.tv

“Besides Turkish made TV series, there is also a flour-ishing demand for American made TV shows in Turkey; Lost, Chuck, Mad Men, How I met your mother, and Heroes.

fan, who knows...“ visit www.fulldizi.com.

“Maybe you wil l be the next hardcore

28

FREE TIME!

Is the weather getting you down? Your job

reviews on entertainment, new and old

this section where you can fi nd positive to take a break? Here is your chance with

and boss stressing you out? Do you need

the tiles!

ones, from games to music to a night on

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR

At

the

Ed

ge

:

FREE TIME!

29

British Art 1950-2000

Harris Museum &

Art Gallery, Preston

This year, Lancashire’s museums are playing host to some groundbreaking British art from the latter half of the 20th Century. It’s set out so that you can easily piece together how art has progressed over the last six decades.

The gallery begins with artwork from the 1950s ‘Kitchen Sink Realism’ movement. Back then, artists were interested in making everyday household items seem claustrophobic and restricting. Like an evil looking bike next to a pram in a kitchen, you know the kind of thing.

In the early 1960s, most families had access to a TV and this led to the concept of popular culture. Artists of the ‘Pop Art’ movement wanted their work to be audience friendly. Have you ever seen that painted picture of a soup tin or the screen printed Marilyn Monroe?...

They’re not here. But they could have been.

In the 1970s, many artists encouraged audiences to interpret their paintings in their own way. There’s a painting by artist Leslie Young here, which shows a father & son in front of a windowed landscape, sitting amongst stuffed animals and pot plants. Is it a family portrait - or a cynical critique of how we try to capture nature’s beauty indoors? You could waffle any old tosh and you probably still wouldn’t lose any marks.

Art in the 1980s returned to classical landscape images, albeit with a dark twist. There’s a slight chance of black clouds with nature biting man in the gonads.

Artists push boundaries of taste, which has led to their work becoming more controversial

through time. Helen Chadwick’s photo Loop My Loop (1991) is perhaps the most shocking of the works on show. It’s a visceral tangle of blonde hair and pig guts. I wouldn’t advise looking at it if you have just come from the Pizza Hut buffet across the road. The toilets in Harris are very pretty, but it is kind of embarrassing to lose your lunch in front of your friends.

The exhibition contains an assortment of art for anyone interested in its progression. There are even a couple of pieces that will appeal to those not usually excited by art. It’s worth a visit, but it may feel a little bit too much like a dreary history lesson for some. (7/10)

At the Edge is at Preston Harris Museum until March 13th, Gallery Oldham from 17th April - 17th July, then Bolton Museum from 31st July to 30th October.

30

There seems to be a certain lack of good fantasy authors who are female. I was amazed when I found this book and even more so amazed to find that the main character is a young girl.

The plot of The Magicians’ Guild, first in The Black Magician Trilogy, centres upon Sonea, a young and feisty slum-dweller with a tough exterior. She lives on the back streets of Imardin, the capital city of the fantasy world, Kyralia. When Sonea inadvertently injures a highly venerated member of the magician’s guild, she finds herself on the run from the entire guild. Sonea is young, likeable and down-to-earth, instantly drawing the reader in to her worries and fears for her family.

It’s from the first chapter that the novel sucks you into its own world. As soon as you realise that she has successfully used magic, you can feel the adrenaline pumping as, chapter by chapter, Sonea evades the Guild who continue to pursue her relentlessly, intent on capturing her. Whether their intentions are less than honourable is something you keep guessing about as you turn each page.

by Trudi CanavanFor some, the chase depicted in this novel is exhilarating and enthralling; for others it’s a great bore and drags out for a long time. Personally, I fall under the former. I found myself addicted to the story of such a spirited and strong-hearted girl, on the brink of breaking through the innocence of living in an enclosed world to become a powerful woman, severing the barriers put up by mankind to rise up in the world.

Overall, the myriad of imaginary words and phrases, the mixture of dark and innocent plots and the collision of the characters all fall together to depict a superb version of just one of the many fantasy worlds out there. Canavan’s creation of characters makes them all believable and likeable, even the ones you know are going to be the most evil characters to grace a page. It’s a likeable evil! I’d definitely recommend buying the trilogy altogether so save yourselves the torture of craving the next book.

We give it:

8.5 out of 10

BOOKS.

31

The Magicians Guild

As the final year of the popular reality television show ‘Big Brother’ is underway, it seems relevant to take a look at the novel which inspired the title.

George Orwell’s dystopia, ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, is that novel; a frighteningly plausible depiction of events in 1984, conveying the brutal reality and sheer amount of control exercised under the totalitarian regime.

Written in 1948, Orwell (renowned for his strong political subtext) set about predicting the future, inspired by the horrors of the Holocaust and emerging tensions between the West and the East. Orwell creates a world ruled by extreme dictatorship - a world where the Government choose your clothes, job, set your alarm clock, ration your food and approve your relationships.

It is easy to see how the producers of ’Big Brother’ were inspired by these concepts of control. In the TV show the food, personal interactions and life routines of the contestants are monitored, observed and controlled - such a shame they stole the name! The worshiped idol of the Victory Party (a political

party res id ing

in government from the novel) is called

Big Brother.

Orwell challenges the limits of control within people’s lives right down to the words they speak and intends to show how human logic can be influenced by an omniscient power such as Big Brother. Warning, some readers may find themselves concluding the sum of two and two to be five!

However, its not all ballot cards and blue overalls; you also find yourself entangled in the exciting energetic romance that Orwell places at the centre of the novel. This is between the main antagonists of the oppressive regime; Julia and Winston.

Overall: A thrillingly chilling novel that simultaneously melts your heart and challenges your perceptions. Well worth a stunning:

9 out of 1032

of note from Fassbender, who shows the horror and determination of the character, delivering both these struggles simultaneously. His degradation, both physically and mentally, is laid bare by both actor and director. McQueen never sugar coats the experiences of the characters, keeping the action dirty, bland and monotonous. The latter is represented perfectly as we see a still shot down the hallway as a cleaner mops the floor. The camera does not move for nearly four minutes as he makes his way down the corridor, making for a fascinating (if not a little annoying) feel for the scene. There are weaknesses here. The focus on Sands does seem to come from nowhere and as you reach the end of the film, you are left slightly confused about what happened to the characters you started with in the first half an hour.

All in all, McQueen delivers a very impressive film debut. This is partly down to a confident and eloquent script, and a film full of powerful performances. This is a must see British film, powerful and meaningful, even though I doubt you will be clamouring for a second viewing.

The conflict between Ireland and England has changed in recent years in the UK. A new generation enters who have no real memory and experience of the years of conflict and have no connection to the many tragedies that happened during this time, even if that experience is simply there as a spectator.

Hunger is written by Steve McQueen and Enda Walsh, with McQueen also taking the director’s chair. The film is based on the Irish hunger strike of 1981, a movement that saw Irish political prisoners protesting to their treatment in prison in the only way they could. The film starts with the feel of an ensemble character piece, with three characters taking the lead for the first half an hour of the film. This first half hour is a sweeping demonstration, not only the cruelty and struggle of the prisoners, but also the effects on the guards themselves. It is here that we see the reference to the time of the film, as Raymond (Stuart Graham), checks underneath his car for a bomb in the opening minutes of the film. This was a time in the history of Northern Ireland where fear and paranoia were part of the day to day life.

The film then focuses upon Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender) as he begins his hunger strike within the prison. This is a performance

8 out of 10

FILM.

33

8.5 out of 10

The name Martin Scorsese is synonymous with film making, having one of the longest and most decorated backlogs of work in the history of film. Off the success of ‘The Departed’ and his triumphant best director Oscar win, Scorsese comes back with a dark aesthetically creepy psychological thriller in Shutter Island. Marking the fourth collaboration between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, (a partnership that has already given us Gangs Of New York, The Aviator and The Departed) the film see’s a departure from their previous work.

From the moment the film opens you know that this film is going to be a little different. A ship cuts through the mist and fog on the sea as the music blasts long pitch notes through the speakers. Scorsese may be known for his gangster films but here you know this is not what you’re going to get. What we actually get is a slow investigation into the mind as Teddy (DiCaprio) trying to find the answer of what Shutter Island really is. This is a consistently disturbing and

atmospheric experience that is punctuated in the cinema environment. This may have been described as a horror but it is far from it. It has more in common with ‘The Shining’ than the usual serial killer blood baths that we have become accustomed to in recent years. Scorsese allows the eerie value of silence to build the scene’s tension, creating a visually beautiful film with the dream sequences crafted as if by a paint brush.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have done it again, delivering a chilling look at the inner psyches with beautiful cinematography and great performances throughout. It may not be for everyone as it is slow paced and progressive. If you’re looking for a horror film look somewhere else, but if want to be challenged and intrigued, Shutter Island is perfect.

We give it:

34

They’re a band reaching their peak in the music industry; they’re fearless with their words and have thousands of fans in every city, chanting their songs with their hearts. 30 Seconds to Mars have quickly become the favourite band of millions of people, and I’m among them.

The band formed in 1998, originating from Los Angeles, with the idea of a simple family project that expanded into more. 30 Seconds to Mars soon became a successful international group and now, with their third album, This Is War, the band have reached success at the top with their mixed genre of hard rock, emo, neo-progressive, progressive metal, alternative metal and post-grunge.

A friend of mine booked the concert tickets well over a year ago, long before their new album was even released! They started with a supporting band, Street Drum Corps, who really got the crowd started with their innovative music-making and foot-stomping beats. Regardless of the fact that I was in the stands, I can honestly say that there was no lack of euphoria as lead singer, Jared Leto, sang his heart out. The Arena was teeming with avid fans, and the buzz of excitement didn’t waver at all. Everyone was singing in the right places, and the energetic pace of the band spurred the crowd on to keep their feet stomping, hands clapping and voices singing. I don’t think one minute went buy where fans weren’t howling and cheering.

Their new album, This Is War, certainly has many interesting elements in it. This can be listened to no matter what mood you are in. You can feel the meaning behind the words, and the band certainly holds nothing back when it comes to baring the truth of the world today.

9.5 out of 10

30

Se

co

nd

s to M

ars

THiS iS WAR

MUSIC.

This is a must for Nirvana fans, having been but a 5 year old at the time, and having no idea who Nirvana was or what ‘Grunge’ is, this personally for me was a perfect opportunity to witness the Seattle band at arguably their finest. Nirvana Live at Reading was to be the bands last ever appearance in the UK and turned out to be their finest. The set kicks off with lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain being wheeled onto the stage in a wheel chair and a hospital gown to parody news reports at the time about his supposedly deteriorating mental health. A few slides and bends of guitar stings later and the band teared through their 25 song set kicking off with ‘Breed’ from their first commercially successful album Nevermind. Drummer Dave Grohl recalls that the band had not performed live for three months before the gig and were genuinely concerned that the show was going to be a disaster, given all the media turmoil surrounding the band at that period and the lack of practice.

The band breeze through their set without any hiccups knocking out great song after great song almost effortlessly, you can expect to see them perform such massive hits as ‘smells like teen spirit’ ‘come as

you are’ and ‘Lithium’ to some interesting covers such as ‘Love Buzz’ and ‘The money will roll right in’. The set climaxes with the customary smashing up of their instruments and mad little guitar and drum solo’s, Cobain hands his guitar to someone in the crowd (I have often wondered how many pieces that guitar ended up in or indeed if it did stay in one piece, who owns it now?!

Just in case you were wondering- how do I dance to this music??...watch out for a totally random man on stage dancing like he has no control of his body...you can’t miss him stood between Kurt and Bass Guitarist Krist Novoselic, thrashing and jerking his skinny frame to every grungy guitar riff and each banging skin beat!...he should give you some clues. 9 out of 10

Nir

vaN

a

Overall a brilliant DVD!

reading

1992

live at

DvD36

2CALL DUTY

9 out of 10

GAMES.

The sequel to one of the most successful first person shooter titles of all time has three main modes: campaign, multiplayer and special ops. Up to 18 players (9 vs 9) can take part at any time in various match types which include Free-For-All, Search & Destroy, Domination, Team Deathmatch and The Flag.

For the new or born-again gamer, Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 will plunge you into the fantastic reality of the accelerated world of 21st century gaming by thrilling you purely with its constant pace.

WARNING: This may cause a sense of confusion for the first-time user who is unfamiliar with the Call Of Duty style. The new Deathstreak feature does help out the less accurate players (like me) with ‘rewards’ such as the ability to steal your killer’s military class and weapons.

The action comes so thick and fast that the gamer really does feel that death (or at least game over) could come at any second. The only real drawback - its publisher decided to charge £10 more than the standard price for a new release. However, Modern Warfare 2 doesn’t just surpass the quality of other first person shooter titles; it flies past them like a ski-jumper at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

We give it:

Lock and load!

OF

Modern

Warfare37

Mass Effect 2 is the second game in Bioware’s planned trilogy of action RPGs.

The first thing you will notice is a marked improvement in graphical quality over the previous title. The cinematic feel has also been very much retained.

You have the option to use saved data from the previous game “Mass Effect (1)”; the decisions you made in the first game contribute to an evolving story line.

When the game starts you are treated to a great cinematic sequence which results in the destruction of your ship (by a new enigmatic race of aliens) and the death of your character: not a great day at the office by any standards.

You awake to find yourself being reconstructed by a couple of weird scientists. You then get the opportunity to pick your character class and appearance and are then thrown straight into the action and get the first taste of the great new combat mechanics, which have been massively beefed up.

Every encounter feels like an epic set piece. The head shots with the sniper rifle are particularly satisfying and the new heavy weapons are both useful and fun to use. The ability to map your team mate’s abilities to your action bar is also a welcome addition and adds tactical depth.

Like the first game you will travel around space in your state of the art spaceship trying to save the human race from the imminent threat of annihilation.

The main selling point of the series, for me, has always been its strong storyline and characters. The narrative in this edition is less compelling than the first but the character diversity and personalities make for a truly fantastic experience.

Mass effect 2 is a total joy to play and has massive replay ability value. Modern computer games always seem to be trying to blur the lines between cinema and video games and in this Mass Effect 2 has truly succeeded. We give it:

9.5 out of 10

9.5 out of 10

The Kings ov Leon@ 53 degreesThe Kings ov Leon have quickly established themselves as the number one UK tribute to one of the greatest bands on the planet with an awesome set delivering the anthems "Closer", "Revelry", "Bucket", "Use Somebody", the sublime "Sex On Fire" & loads more.

The Bluetones@ 53 degrees The Bluetones filled the gap that the Stone Roses left behind, providing graceful but muscular guitar pop with slightly psychedelic overtones. The band appeared during the waning days of Brit-pop, their debut album rocketing to the top of the charts upon its release.

23 April 25 AprilApril

The spot light is on you.

You have remembered your lines...

The curtains are open, and the crowd go crazy.

You're "on the stage".

This section is the who, what, and where of Preston and surrounding areas. Here you will find up coming events and gigs in the local area, so start booking your nights out.

James plus Special Guests@ Guild HallJames will be performing classic guitar-pop hits such as Sit Down and She's A Star to promote their new album "Hey Ma". Tickets are around £30.

See www.ticketmaster.co.uk for details.

www.wearejames.co.uk

09 April

On THE

STA

GE

Kings ov Leon39

Kings ov Leon

Empire State@ The ShipLocal rockers The Empire State have a sound akin to 90's Britpop bands like The Bluetones. You can either watch them at the ship, or go morris dancing. It is May day. Contact The Ship for pricing details.

www.myspace.com/theshipinnvenue

01 May

Caribbean Carnival@ Avenham Park 12 pm to 8 pmPreston's Caribbean Carnival is the largest & most well known street festival in the city, the colourful spectacular encourages people from all backgrounds to take to the streets and join the celebrations parade. The parade begins at Moor Park and parades through the city centre following a procession route through to Avenham Park where the music continues in to the evening.

30 May

June

MayBlood Wedding@ The ContinentalPreston based performance group Screaming Theatre are renowned for putting on productions in places you would not expect. This time, the Continental pub will be transformed into a theatre to host a Spanish play. Contact the Continental for more information.

27-28 MayJimmy Carr@ Guild HallComedian and ventriloquist dummy Jimmy Carr brings his irrelevant brand of stand up to the Guild Hall. Do not sit in the front row, and do not show up legless.

Tickets are £22.50 and available from www.prestonguildhall.com

28 May

David Kear [Comedy]8 pm@ 53 degreesMost of you will know him as Uncle Peter from the Reeves & Mortimer shows, but David Kear has been entertaining live and tv audiences with his Charlie Chuck character for close to 20 years.

04 June 06 JunePreston Mela [Festival]@ Avenham Park 12 pm to 9 pmThis event is a one-day flagship event to showcase & promote South Asian heritage, art & culture in Preston, celebrating cultural diversity and promoting community cohesion. The festival is a unique colourful and free event featuring two stages programmed to the max with live music and dance and hosts a variety of henna painting, craft and music workshops, delicious food, various sports activities and general entertainment.

Jimmy Carr

Preston Mela

























CSV Media Preston is based in the centre of Preston. Our aim is to engage with individuals and communities through the provision of innovative and creative volunteering, learning and training opportunities. For this we use media-related projects to engage young people in positive and experiental learning activities.

Do you want to join us?

CSV Media Preston12 St Wilfrids Street

Preston PR1 2UST. 01772563333

E. [email protected]

ISSUE 6. LOCAL SCENE

Documents

Transcript of ISSUE 6. LOCAL SCENE