SEPTEMBER 2018 - ISSUE 10
THE
GCU’s OFFICIAL STUDENT MAGAZINE
Freshers
Edition
2018
MEET THE TEAM Luna Webster Editor-in-Chief
Monica Allen Deputy Editor Fashion Editor
Zoe Phillips News & Features Editor
Erin Patterson Arts & Culture Editor
Adam Lyon Entertainment & Technology Editor
Callum McQuade Music Editor
Sports Editor Currently Vacant
Fraser Knight Social Media Manager
Declan McGallagly Head of Events
Richard Mason Head of Photography & Website
Agnieszka Michalska Head of Design
THE
Freshers edition
Follow Us @theeditgcu
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News and Feautures The Women Working to End Period Poverty Sauchiehall Street: Third Time Unlucky The People, United, Will Never Be Defeated: Glasgow’s Protest Tradition Arts and Culture
7 Learn About the City by Bike! 8 The Ultimate Guide to Glasgow Drag 10 Shareen Reviews: Bar Soba 12 14 15 16 18 19
Entertainment and Technology Katee Sackhoff Returns to Her Roots in ‘2036 Origin Unknown’ Scotland Embraces eSports Four Films to Watch if You’re Stressed About Uni Fashion A Must Do Vintage Shopping Trail Around Glasgow Culottes Won’t Quit Student Discounts You Need to Know About!
20 Perfecting Your Perfume 21 22 23 24 25 26
Cover photography: Diego PH/Unsplash
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Music Tom Grennan’s Rapid Rise to the Top Glasgow’s Best Live Music Venues Take That Celebrate 30 Years with Greatest Hits Tour and Album Time to Take Not3s The Best Concerts in Glasgow this Autumn The Glasgow Artists to Look out for Sport The Devil’s Pulpit: A Guide Communism and Scottish Football Cycling in Glasgow: Is it Worth it?
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Hi! Welcome to both those of you returning, and those starting at GCU. This edition of our student mag The EDIT is the first to be put together by our new committee, so we hope you enjoy what we have to offer. We’re always looking for volunteers to write, submit art, photography, tell us about their creative endeavours plus we’re currently looking for a new Sports Editor to help curate that section of the mag. So keep an eye on our social media to find out how you can get involved with what we do. I’ve been volunteering with The Edit for a few years so it’s been amazing to work on my first edition as Editor. When I started at uni I couldn’t really picture myself in this position as I was too much of an anxious mess to consider leading anything or anyone. I thought I’d use my letter to make you all aware of the mental health services we have available here, as from my own experience, moving out and starting at uni can be a stressful time. Information for GCU’s Counselling Service can be found on the uni’s main website, and all students are entitled to a course of free sessions. Contact studentwellbeing@ gcu.ac.uk if you would like to know more about this. Volunteers from Strathclyde University and GCU also provide the Nightline service from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday during term time. You can call, instant message or text them if you just need a listening ear. Phone on 0141 552 2555, talk online at scnightline.com, or text on 07982 107 920. Remember, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to excel academically. Uni is such a different environment to both college and school, and you aren’t expected to be getting firsts for every assignment when you’ve just arrived. Surround yourself with friends who’ll support you in times of need, and don’t suffer in silence.
And for those of you who are feeling just fine, please check in on your flatmates, coursemates and friends if they don’t seem like themselves. This is all really obvious advice, but it’s key to keep in mind during periods of big change like this or when you’re generally feeling overwhelmed by your workload. There’s a lot to be excited about and a lot to look forward to, but always put your mental health first.
Laura Webster Editor-in-Chief
Hey everyone! Welcome, old and new students, to this year’s Freshers Edition of GCU’s Student Magazine The EDIT! We have a really exciting committee this year and we are planning on holding different events so I can’t wait to see you all there and make this year be the best one yet! I have volunteered with The EDIT since I started at GCU and it has made me even more involved in things at GCU. I urge you to focus on your studies but academic achievement isn’t all that Uni is about. Get yourself involved in Student Media, Societies or Sports Clubs - speaking from experience you can gain such amazing friendships which are bound to last for a long time! There are so many different things to get involved with, there is definitely something for everyone! Or you can even start up your own society- see the Student’s Association website for more information on how to do so! Although, don’t make the mistake of getting too involved if you don’t think you can handle it- give yourself a good balance of studying and other activities!
Monica Allen Deputy Editor & Fashion Editor
Photography: Callum Smith
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Wom The
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average, a woman in the UK spends around £18,450 in their lifetime for sanitary products. Eighteen thousand, four hundred and fifty pounds. Just take a moment to let that sink in. That’s a deposit on a flat AND THEN SOME. And for what? Just because they are women. Period poverty is a serious issue. It may not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to deciding whether or not to buy cooked food or sanitary products, then the scale of the problem becomes very clear. Scotland, as a nation, is well on its way to tackle this issue head on. The pioneering work of Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon has witnessed the passing of a bill which will create a statutory duty of free provision of essential sanitary products – with the unanimous backing of all five parties in Holyrood.
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News and Feautures
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Writing on the issue, Rachel said:
“Reports have shown that across the UK many are unable to attend education as they cannot afford to purchase sanitary items. “In many cases, it has been the role of volunteer groups, food banks, and in some circumstances their educators who have taken the initiative to provide products to enable students to attend their classes.
And our very own GCU student Erin Slaven, teamed up with fellow activists Orlaith Duffy and Mikaela McKinlay, has teamed up with Celtic Park to have free products situated within the stadium. They even plan to see this go out across Scotland.
“It is unacceptable that a section of the population has been excluded from their basic right to an education for any length of time for undergoing a natural bodily function.”
But even closer to home, within the walls of this university, work is being done to help alleviate the worries of period poverty.
She added: “Not only are individuals influenced
Rachel Simpson has tirelessly campaigned to have free sanitary products at GCU while being a full-time officer… and she won.
“That’s why I believe that FREE access to sanitary products are a basic human right, and so no one should need to make the decision between access to these vital products, and other expenses students often occur such as paying for travel to class, food, or even textbooks.”
As of August 2018, both the Glasgow and London campuses will have the products readily available at no cost.
financially, but their education, and health are also at risk.
Zoe Phillips News & Features Editor Photography: Erol Ahmed/Unsplash
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Sauchiehall Street Sauchiehall Street Sauchiehall Street There’s an old saying that lightning never strikes twice in the same place - but what about three times? In the last four years, Glasgow has bore the brunt of three major fires with the cost of repairs spiraling into the millions of pounds. But the impact goes much further than just brick and cement - it hit the everyday Glaswegians whose livelihoods depend on the footfall on one major shopping street. Sauchiehall Street. If you are new to the city, then we’ll give you a bit of context. On 22 March, more than 120 firefighters tackled a major blaze in the building that housed Victoria’s nightclub. Brick-by-brick, the building has been demolished - meaning employees in places like The Works, Greggs, Victoria’s and Savers have been left in limbo. Next door, Glasgow’s great Pavilion Theatre was forced to remain closed during the demolition work - with several shows being cancelled. Three months later and our dear city’s heart was broken once again. On Friday, 15 June, the Glasgow School of Art (GSoA) was ravaged for the second time in just four years by a fire that could be seen for miles. The result of this? Large portions of Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill were cordoned off, which means a loss of jobs, a loss of revenue, and a temporary loss of housing for several displaced residents. In an open letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Sauchiehall Street businesses, Gartnethill residents and Blythswood & Broomielaw Community Council have claimed the city has been “turned upside down” after the fires. Their letter asked the Scottish Government to act, stating that “People and places have been changed inexorably by the plague that has been visited upon them and the response has been woeful.” It argued the point that “displaced residents [are] still not housed properly” and that “in the midst of a disaster, the council have literally gone on holiday and key individuals have taken annual leave. “Businesses need a specialised rescue plan for the local economy and meaningful hardship funding to sustain them until they can trade again having been hit by the catastrophic coincidence of fires…resulting in an economic wasteland.”
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THIRD TI As well as the letter, furious residents also attempted to storm through the cordon in Garnethill to retrieve.
Responding to the letter, Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: “Actions taken by the council are about the protection of life and limb which have been threatened by a building which is structurally precarious. “We are making significant progress on this matter and hope to reduce the cordon surrounding the area when it is safe to do so.” So where does that leave local residents and the businesses whose livelihoods are at stake after a losing out on thousands of pounds worth of revenue? Finally, in late July, the cordon on Sauchiehall Street was lifted, meaning a return to some form of normality in one of Glasgow’s busiest streets. And the Scottish Government is playing its part to try and help those affected. On the back of the letter to the First Minister, the government revealed it would open a £5 million fund for businesses affected by the Glasgow fires. Every firm within the cordons would eligible to receive a £20,000 direct payment, while businesses outside the cordon can receive £10,000 if they can prove they have been affected. And a support centre for the businesses affected by both fires has been set up by Glasgow City Council in Renfrew Street, offering help and advice to those who need it. The government are also matching a £1500 fund from the council to those displaced from their homes, meaning each resident will receive £3000 to combat the difficult situation. But the question as to how far that £3000 will go is up for debate. And while the cordon around the former Victoria’s site has already come down, the cordon in Garnethill around the GSoA remains (at the time of writing) - leaving many displaced residents out of the loop, with life very far from normality. Jack Aitchison
Photographs: Richard Mason
News and Feautures
IME UNLUCKY
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The People, United, Will Never Be Defeated Glasgow’s Protest Tradition
Glasgow. It’s a city of culture, a city of diversity, and it’s a city that isn’t afraid to voice its opinions. Thousands made headlines in July when we held a mass protest in George Square against some bloke who came here to play golf…oh yes, the US President Donald Trump. Opinions on these protests tend to divide the country. On the one hand, people believe it to be a complete waste of time, with some going as far to suggest protesters are “embarrassing themselves”. But others see it as a vital response. They stand proudly, telling the world that they feel people like Donald Trump are not welcome here. They held their heads up high, armed with one voice - and an array of excellent placards. From “Keep your small mitts off my lady bits”, to a kid dressed as a superhero saying: “Batman says NO to Trump”, the protests made news worldwide - acting as a gesture to Americans that we understand their concerns. But away from the Donald, Glaswegians are always keen to gather together and air their views. Last month, communities took to the streets to protest private housing provider Serco’s plan to evict hundreds of refugees from their properties.
After Glaswegians rallied outside the Home Office for several days, the company decided to pause their plan to change the locks on the affected asylum seekers’ homes. So whether it’s marches for Scottish independence, demonstrating in front of the council building in George Square, or blazing it up in Glasgow Green for 4/20 day, there’s always bound to be something happening in the city. This month marks the fourth anniversary of the independence referendum and, like every year, supporters from across the country are set to gather in Glasgow once more. On 15 September, a parade will go from Holland Street to George Square, armed with flags, banners and chants. And if previous events are to go by, the event is set to bring in huge crowds, with the rally in May seeing more than 40,000 people take to the streets. Elsewhere, the Dennistoun War Memorial Committee in the east of the city is set to unveil a tribute to the area’s war dead on September 29 - by a resident veteran. A pipe band, veteran groups, Scouts, Girl Guides, Boys Brigade and local schools will all take part in the day – which is estimated to bring around 300 people out into the streets. Zoe Phillips
A full list of the remaining official parades and events in Glasgow in September and October are as follows: Saturday, September 8: Orange Walk in Yoker.
Saturday, September 15: Scottish Recovery Consortium at Glasgow Green. Saturday, September 22: Orange Walk on Kinfauns Dr. Saturday, October 6: Orange Walk by Alexandra Park.
Saturday, October 20: 36 th Ulster Memorial Association in Kelvingrove Park. Saturday, October 27: Educational Institute Scotland in Glasgow Green.
Photography: Ross Sneddon/Unsplash
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Arts and Culture
Learn About the City by Bike! In a fresh and eco-friendly turn of events, bike tours are being introduced around Glasgow as a new way for locals and tourists to see the city. Glasgow Bike Tours’ website has a full list of all the landmarks visited during the journey, with a short mention of each’s history - plus you can choose between an electric or manual bike.
Glasgow Bike Tours take you up hidden trails and lanes in the city that buses or cars can’t reach, and thankfully - considering our city’s heavy rainfall - their tours guides will go out no matter the weather. All the guides are locals from the area, so alongside tales of fascinating history dating back to the 15th century, visits to modern cultural hotspots and sights of spectacular architecture from a variety of eras, they may also have a personal story or two to share from their time living in the city. The tours are a great way to stay active while learning about the buildings, monuments and parks you pass by every day. Areas like the Provand’s Lordship, the Necropolis and Glasgow University all have hundreds of years of historic significance behind them, but it’s easy to take these sights for granted when you live, study or work somewhere with such an abundance of things to do. Instead of spending another day on Buchanan Street, try doing this as something different. Plus, there’s plenty of places to stop for some eats and drinks - several of Glasgow’s award-winning microbreweries are passed on the route. The cycle trail is mostly flat and they use cycle, river and canal paths and minor roads that have very little traffic so it is family friendly if you want to bring children along with you. There are only 14 places per tour so if you want to go with a large group of friends or family, you would be best to book in advance to ensure you all get to go together. Each tour lasts around three hours and there are only two tours on each day at 10.30am or 2.00pm. Erin Paterson
The prices are £35 per person and £20 for children this includes a mysterious “Glasgow treat” during the tour. They do offer 20% student discount and £5 off if you bring your own bike.
Photography: Darcy Lawre/Pexels Cyclist graphic: Freepik
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Let’s Get
Sickening!
The Ultimate Guide to Glasgow Drag
Despite the limited number of LGBTQ+ venues in Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow’s
drag scene has blossomed in recent years. Thanks in part to the mainstream revival of the art-form, and of course the roaring success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the city now has an ever-growing list of events starring talented local girls. There’s something to fit every niche interest, with nights dedicated to the experimental, the theatrical, the edgy and even family friendly afternoon shows. We’ve curated a guide to Glasgow’s regular drag events, so you can find something that suits you while supporting local queens.
Mothertucker - Polo
Trigger - AXM
Mothertucker has a talented permanent cast made up of Lawrence Chaney, CJ Banks, Rujazzle, Axel Aurora and October Fist, and runs a themed show with guest performances every single week. Expect unique and hilarious conceptual performances, complete with a welcoming, friendly atmosphere.
Trigger’s cast includes CarrieAnn Crow, Ann Phetamine, Frans Gender and Marla Sinner, and is typically a little darker than some of the other shows on offer. The night has a cool gothic vibe to it, and has played host to some of the most subversive and thought-provoking performances across Glasgow’s drag scene.
- every Tuesday from 20.00 - free entry
SUCK! - Delmonicas
Lacy Rain’s Intoxicating Tea Party - Polo
Head to SUCK! on a Wednesday and expect to see the stars of Mothertucker plus other local queens turning out some of the fiercest lip-syncs in the game. On the first event of the month, the queens also run a SUCK! Harder special with guest performances from national and international queens.
Lacy Rain is best-known as one of Glasgow’s most experimental and unique queens, providing a seemingly endless offering of hilarious and unexpected performances. Her Tea Party features a different assortment of variety acts at every gathering, so keep an eye on the event’s Facebook page for more details.
- every Wednesday from 22.00 - free entry
- every few months - £5 entry
The Drag-Opticon Show - The Panopticon
Glitter and Grind Revue - Polo
- first Friday of every month from 20.00 - £6.00 for students
Dharma Gheddon and Alana Duvey took over this show last year, and it’s since been nominated for Event of the Year at the 2018 Icon Awards. Some queens sing, some queens do burlesque, some queens do comedy - this night is a true melting pot of the many forms that drag can take. The show has the additional selling point that it takes place in one of the oldest and coolest buildings in the city.
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- every Thursday from 22.00 - £3 entry
- every few months - £10 entry
Variety scene legends Tom Harlow and Kim Khaos present a suitably glamorous mix of burlesque, drag and cabaret at their highly recommended event. Don your sparkliest, most fabulous get-up and enjoy some of the finest variety acts from Glasgow and beyond.
Next event: 26 October from 19.30. Photography: Steven Peice/Unsplash
Arts and Culture
The Show Downstairs - Katie’s Bar - every Monday from 21.00 - free entry
Residents Frans Gender, Ann Phetamine and Voss present a weekly selection of the best local drag the city has to offer. On Sundays, they also host a family friendly brunch event from 13.00.
Life’s A Drag - Stereo Cafe Bar - monthly show - £4 for students This alternative night is hosted by Serpentina Medusa, Pacific, FridaTuck and Raven Redstars. Expect rock and metal inspired performances with a little horror, politics and of course some glitter thrown in. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for dates.
Bum Notes - The Flying Duck
- last Friday of the month from 22.00 - free entry
A karaoke night quite like no other. Bum Notes incorporates drag and performance art into a fun and lively night of live music and sing-alongs in an atmospheric underground vegan bar and diner.
Queer Theory - Nice N Sleazy - monthly show - £5 entry
Queer Theory is not necessarily an exclusive drag event, but if you’re a fan of queer art in its various forms, this is a great show to head to. Expect performance art and poetry as well as drag. Find out when the latest shows are on their Facebook page.
Laura Webster Editor-in-Chief
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Shareen Reviews
baR sOBA PAN-ASIAN DINING IS EVERYWHERE IN GLASGOW, AND BAR SOBA IS A STAPLE. OUR RESIDENT FOODIE SHAREEN KHALID HEADS OUT TO REVIEW THE POPULAR EATERY - BUT IS IT WORTH THE TRIP?
bar Soba has been a place I have heard quite a lot about, and it has always been positive. I was super excited to check it out, and I finally got the chance to at a friend’s birthday dinner. Situated on Byers Road, it looked to be promising.
A quick look on their website shows you that they describe themselves as “An award winning Cocktail Bar and Restaurant, serving the finest Pan Asian street food in Glasgow”. We arrived on time before 7pm to be greeted by a flustered waitress who had initially took down the wrong number for our booking. We were a table of 20, after some quick apologies we managed to grasp that the room next door was now being prepared for us and we could wait until it was set. We didn’t mind as it allowed us to look through the extensive cocktail menu and order drinks at the bar mocktails for us. The bartender was very creative, quick and helpful to suggest what was best to substitute any alcoholic drinks with. I opted for a Strawberry Daiquiri, my favourite at £2, and it was really tasty. We were seated after 15 minutes, and finally ordered starters. The menu on the table wasn’t priced, so you’re not sure how much each dish is. I chose the Salt and Pepper Squid - £5.50 - which was the highlight of my dinner.
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It was mouthwatering! Served with red chilli, lime and basil mayo, this was cooked very well and came out piping hot. The squid tasted fresh and was a joy to eat, with the right amount of crisp to its batter. The portion was a good amount although I would have probably preferred more! In between catering to 20 of us, our service was fast and very helpful. For mains, a few of us opted for the Chilli Chicken (£10). This was an aromatic bowl filled with chilli chicken pieces, various asian vegetables, light oyster sauce, red chilli, cashews, basil and thai jasmine rice. The portion was enough and very filling, I felt it had a slight sweet kick to it which I wasn’t expecting as the menu stated there was garlic and chilli paste mixed in. I would have preferred it to be a little spicier, but it was still delicious. The interior of the building hinted at old Victorian, with a touch of some modern vibes. The ambience was relaxed and fun, although I did feel very cold! There was also some cool funky street art and manga on the walls of the room the bar was in. All in all, a fab night. Excellent food, helpful friendly staff and reasonable prices means I will definitely be back to visit Bar Soba again. They have two other joints in Glasgow, on Mitchell Lane and in Merchant Square. Shareen Khalid
Photographs: Shareen Khalid
Arts and Culture
Shareen Khalid Breaks Down the Best Spots for
Quick budget
bites Near GCU, to Help You Satisfy Those Cravings During your Breaks.
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Chunky Chicken, Sauchiehall Street - great piri piri burgers, wraps and salads at bargain prices.
Di Maggios, St Enoch Centre
- freshly cooked Italian foods offered
as part of affordable lunch-time meal deals.
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Street-food hub, Buchanan Galleries - a variety of local and independent street-food stalls await you on the second floor.
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BRGR, Royal Exchange Square - Scottish chain serving burgers from just ÂŁ4, with some tasty veggie options thrown in.
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Barburrito, Queen Street
- Quick Mexican bites made how you want them. Tastes even better
with their student discount card.
Photograph: Richard Mason
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Katee Sackhoff Returns to Her Roots in “2036 Origin After a successful five years playing Lieutenant Starbuck in the popular sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica, the idea of space and science together is second nature to Katee Sackhoff. This summer, she is using that experience to shape a new character, Makenzie ‘Mack’ Wilson in the future space thriller ‘2036 Origin Unknown’.
As well as her time on Battlestar Galactica, she also has credits from hit TV shows CSI, 24 and The Big Bang Theory. In this independent movie, she plays the lead character Mack Wilson, who is a glorified babysitter for the artificial intelligence, ARTi, which controls the Mars rover. They together discover an origin unknown and are tasked with figuring out what it could be. Whoever works it out first gets to keep their job, pitting humanity against technology.
“It’s sort of an interesting metaphor on humanities fears of becoming obsolete, with technology and machines and artificial intelligence, and questioning what makes them human.” Sackhoff is aware that this fear is
something which many of us have, and she believes that her character in that way is very relatable. Origin Unknown is set to be another small screen success for Sackhoff, who says that although the idea behind the movie is nothing new, the film is still exciting and fresh in her eyes: “There’s always similarities in
science fiction. Trying to do something new and groundbreaking is something that we all strive for in the genre constantly. However, the characters are all different and that’s the most fun for me, to try and play different people. That’s always been my draw from the very beginning.”
Unknown”
Despite the substantial number of blockbuster movies being produced each year, Sackhoff understands the appeal of these smaller, independent films:
“Doing indie movies, they’re all a labour of love. They are a lot of times made with bubblegum and duct tape. You do get to be more involved, there are less cooks in the kitchen so to speak.”
With DVD sales on the decline and the rise of streaming services like Netflix and NowTV, it is a tough market for independent movie makers. However, Sackhoff is clear on who their target audience is: “We’re going for
an audience that likes smart science fiction. There are so many movies in the cinema right now that are just as big as you could possibly imagine. I will never go tired of Marvel movies, I love them just as the next person. However, there are moments for a calmer, more thought-provoking movie.”
Director Hasraf Dulull said: “Working with Katee on 2036 Origin Unknown was a dream come true, not only was I a fan of her work, but she turned out to be one of the best collaborators on the project, she really sunk her soul and passion into the character of Mack and we spent months of prep before the shoot and her input throughout really helped shape the character you see on the screen.” The movie also features Kilmarnock born Steven Cree (Outlander) as the voice of ARTi. ‘2036
Origin Unknown’ will be available on DVD from 13th August 2018.
Adam Lyon Photography from www.flickeringmyth.com
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Scotland Embraces eSports ESports is a movement that is growing rapidly across the world, and no more so than here in Scotland. In case you have no clue what eSports is, let me fill you in. In simple terms, teams or individuals compete against each other in different online video games, with cash and prizes up for grabs. This can range from a few amateurs playing each other online for a few pounds, to multi-million-dollar tournaments that make a career for a number of ‘professional eSports athletes’. These tournaments are watched by a live audience of thousands as well as tens or hundreds of thousands of people online. As of this year, eSports has officially landed in Scotland. This introduction has been led by the enthusiastic team at Esports Scotland, who give up their time to run leagues and tournaments on an almost nightly basis. These are well embraced by eSports fans throughout the country who just want to game with like-minded people who are as passionate about competitive gaming as they are. I spoke to owner James Hood about the success of the organisation so far and what he hopes to achieve going forward. The success of Esports Scotland in just a short space of time has been very impressive. From being a relatively small Facebook page just a few months ago, they have now gathered a loyal following who take part daily, and who are eager for more. According to the owner, the reason for their success is very simple:
“The hunger is there. Everybody in Scotland has always loved their games. Nobody has had an outlet before for a competitive scene, and that is what we are coming in to help with.”
However, the organisation is aware that the building blocks for eSports in Scotland need to come from the very bottom. “You either want to try and be
competitive, or you don’t. We have to start at the grassroots, because that’s just where we are. You can’t have a good pro team without the grass roots. You can’t have the premiership in England without having divisions one, two, three and four.” Now that they have a following they are trying to energise these people to expand the grassroots level and become even more passionate than they already are. “We’re going into schools now, teaching
people. People use to go to the arcade machines back in the 80s and then people started to play again at home when consoles came around. It’s trying to get these committed people to try and find each other and people can start creating their own teams. If you want to try and take it to the next level, then we’re here to help you.” Despite their great successes so far, James maintains that there is still a long way to go. He says that the aim of the organisation is: “To get eSports recognised
as an official sport in Scotland. We want to try and create a grassroots level and a professional level. Anyone that’s got a passion for eSports, we want to give that person a place where they can show their talent.” Adam Lyon
If you would like to get involved or find out more, you can go to www.facebook.com/eSportsSCO or www.esportsscotland.co.uk
Photography: Fabian Albert/Unsplashed
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FOUR FILMS
Entertainment and Technology As the new university year comes closer and closer, uncertainty and stress start to set in. Maybe it’s your first year at GCU and you have no idea what to expect. Perhaps it’s your final year and you’re already tearing your hair out over that dissertation that is slowly creeping up on you. Or you might be a third year that needs to start making decisions about their future career as things start to become too real too fast (wait, now I’m just talking about myself). Well if any of this applies to you, I’ve got the thing just for you! Here are four films that are guaranteed to help take your mind off all those worries you have!
to Watch if You’re Stressed About Uni
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Love, Rosie (2014) Now I’m not the biggest fan of romantic comedies, but this wee gem will definitely help ease your stresses. This modern classic starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin follows two childhood friends who quite clearly are in love with each other – but life is never perfect and there are bumps along the way that sends them on two different paths. I stick this film on whenever I’m stressed about something and just need to watch a good old-fashioned romcom, but also if I need a good old cry. It will make you cry, just saying. Have tissues on hand. Trust me. You can find Love, Rosie on Netflix UK.
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Mama (2013) If a romantic comedy isn’t your thing, childhood classics give you too much nostalgia AND you don’t want to think too much over a sci-fi, look no further than this masterpiece. Mama, directed by Andres Muschietti, is one of the best horrors I’ve seen in a long time. It will scare the living daylights out of you. And sometimes to take away the stress you need to get stressed about something else. Preferably something temporary. You can find Mama on Netflix UK. Photography: Tim Gouw/Unsplashed
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Interstellar (2014) Sometimes you just need an epic 3-hour long film to sink your teeth into to clear away all the stress. For me, Interstellar is that film. It takes a lot of focus and concentration to follow the film due to its complex plot and science jargon, which is perfect if you need to take your mind off something. Even if the film does nothing for you, Hans Zimmer’s superb soundtrack will do the trick. You can find Interstellar on Amazon Prime.
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Matilda (1996) There aren’t many films out there that are universally loved by all, so not putting Matilda here would be a travesty to say the least. Matilda is a film that has aged gracefully and fills those who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s with great nostalgia. Having a nice night in, sitting onyour sofa with a bowl of popcorn and watching Matilda sounds like everyone’s ideal stress-free night. Actually, I think I need that right now. You can find Matilda on Netflix UK and NowTV. Rachel Fortune
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A Must Do
VINTAGE SHOPPING TRAIL AROUND GLASGOW
A common misconception in Glasgow is that the west end is the place to go for vintage and antique shopping. The truth is the exact opposite. For students, the city centre and east end is the undeniable home of affordable second-hand goods, with weekend markets, retro superstores and hidden gems galore. Our editor has curated a walking and shopping trail of some of the best pre-loved stores in the city to help you get your hands on retro goodies while saving cash. Pick a Saturday or Sunday and start your journey at the Tolbooth Tower, one of the oldest historical monuments in Glasgow. Looking back up towards Argyle Street, our trail begins on your left. Tucked away down King Street, you can find two of the most authentic vintage havens in the city. About half way down the street lies The City Retro, a store known for men and women’s ready-to-wear pieces ranging from the 60s to the 90s. The selection here is accessible for those new to vintage, but still quirky, with an array of unique prints lining the rails against the walls. Funky shirts, pleated skirts and casual tea-dresses are on the menu here, but if you get chatting to the extremely helpful staff, they may just present you with something a little more special. Back on King Street, continue walking down until you reach the King’s Court, where you’ll find the beloved Mr Ben. This place is Glasgow’s vintage sweetheart, having been around since the 90s and even making an appearance in the movie God Help The Girl. While the price point is a little higher here, you can still find a bargain on one of the several sale rails perched outside the main entrance. Plus, splurging is definitely worth it, as the store offers some real one-off pieces and even some vintage couture. Head back out onto King Street and turn right, then take the following right onto Osbourne Street. Walk up until it meets Parnie Street, where Mr Jim’s awaits you. Mr Jim’s is crammed with second-hand goods, and a long rummage often proves fruitful if coats and dresses are your thing. If you enjoy haggling, good news - the owner is usually happy to engage with you in getting that price down. West Vintage is right next door too, and offers Urban Outfitters style denim pieces and shirts. You’ll find the best part of the trail by heading back up to the Tolbooth Tower and turning right onto Gallowgate. Walk up the street, passing the Barras Park and Billy Connolly mural, and turn right onto Kent Street. Named after a song by iconic Glasgow band Orange Juice, Rip It Up is one of the latest additions to Glasgow’s vintage
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shopping scene. The small but perfectly formed store has a beautiful variety of authentic vintage womenswear and accessories. If you’re looking for 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s treasures, Rip It Up is the place for you - you can also find their shop on Etsy if you fancy a spot of online shopping.
Continue along Kent Street and take the second left onto Stevenson Street, passing the newly renovated Barras Art and Design building where vintage and food markets are frequently held at the weekend. At the end of the street, The Square Yard sits on the left, where sheds and cabins filled with vintage and antiques open their doors on Saturdays and Sundays. Head into the first shed on your left and file through the rails of incredible timeless pieces. The entire wooden building is stacked floor to ceiling with pre-loved, mostly unpriced goods. Expect hand-embroidered 30s evening gowns, flawless coats from long-gone Buchanan Street furriers and 60s gentleman’s suit jackets, still with the original tags. The man who owns this spot is more than happy to engage in some chit-chat, which comes in handy when it’s time to make an offer on whatever you’ve found. Don’t be afraid to start the haggling low. Sitting directly across the road beyond the trestle tables piled high with £1 knick knacks is Randals Antiques and Vintage Centre. This is truly one of the most bizarre and ridiculous places there is to visit in this city. Head inside and find charming second-hand book stalls nestled in beside military memorabilia salesman, who stand by glass cases filled, with rifles, swords, and dis-used grenades and dis-used grenades by the shocked faces of visiting tourists. Rummage through rails crammed full of vintage tunics, flares, leather jackets, while trying to ignore the table covered in mutilated plastic baby dolls, who seem to follow your every move. This place isn’t for the easily offended, but if you can gather the strength for the trip, you’ll be surprised by the amount of clothing and homeware you can pick up for less than £20. You can head out through the Stevenson Street exit and take a stroll around another historic part of the city, Glasgow Green, before making your way back into town to end the trail via Saltmarket. Before you head out on your retro adventure, be sure to check if Barras Art and Design and the Bridgegate Wasps Studios are holding any vintage markets on your chosen day. The trail also passes a number of highly recommended cafes, bars and restaurants if you feel like stopping for some refreshment, including vegan haven Mono, dog-friendly St Luke’s and the tantalising patisserie Once Upon A Tart. Happy shopping! Laura Webster Editor-in-Chief
Fashion
Photographs: Richard Mason
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Culottes Won’t Quit W
alk down Buchanan Street and one thing will be clear to you - almost everyone owns a pair of Culotte Trousers. And why is that you wonder, if you’re one of the few that doesn’t… they are the best things to have in your wardrobe. Culottes are versatile as they come in several different styles and they can be dressed up or down. They are loved throughout the world, and you can take them from a day full of lectures and classes, through to an evening catching up with friends or a night on the town (minus the laptop and books of course). Denim Culottes
Plisse Culottes
Striped Culottes
Pair with a t-shirt or a blouse and a pair of converse for during the day and at night (if it’s fancy) a pair of black heeled boots. If you’re feeling brave, add a pop of colour by wearing a pair of coloured heeled boots to make you stand out from the crowd.
Now these are my personal favourite as I probably own about seven or eight pairs all in different colours or styles. The material is so comfy and breathable so you don’t have to worry about getting too hot or becoming irritated (two of my pet hates with clothes). Wear them dressed up or dressed down with a pair of trainers to finish the look out and you’re ready to go.
These ones are also amazing, but the one thing to remember is if you’re wearing striped culottes, they will be the main feature of your outfit. Make sure to wear a plainish top or blouse so not to take away from the bottoms. As with the other options pair them with trainers or boots, anything works and it’s fashion so you can make your own rules!
Photograph: H&M
Photograph: Primark
Photograph: Quiz
You can get these amazing Denim Culottes from H&M for £24.99!
You can get these Culottes from Primark for only £13!
Every shop now sells culottes in varied styles and colours, you just need to find what works for you. Primark tend to have funky ones in stock for a good price when compared to Topshop, River Island etc, and Quiz also stock incredible ones too!
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You can get these must-have Culottes from Quiz for just £19.99!
So I urge you to go out and get involved in the Culotte Trend as they don’t seem to be going out of style any time soon! Monica Allen
Fashion
Student Discounts You Need to Know About!
Being a student brings many opportunities and benefits your way – an education, the chance to broaden your social circles, new experiences… oh, and store discounts. Keeping your wardrobe up-to-date can be a struggle when you’re trying to accommodate for other expenses. Luckily, you don’t always need to turn to beans on toast to ensure that the money for a new dress doesn’t come out of your rent budget. In-store and online, showing your student ID or proof of registration with UNiDAYS on your phone can score you a few pounds off your purchases – and who doesn’t love a bargain? Here’s a few shops offering student discounts to get you started: New Look: 10% off ASOS: 10% off Quiz: 15% off Topshop: 10% off Pretty Little Thing: 10% off Missguided: 10% off Gap: 15% off Boohoo: 10% off The best part? These discounts are available all year round! So whether you’re looking for new outfits for Freshers Week, or trying to save a few pennies later on in the New Year, you can count on your student card to help you out.
Oh, and keep an eye out for those limited-time discount increases throughout the year, too! Hannah Carmichael
Photograph: Richard Mason
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Perfume Perfecting Your
We all have our favourite fragrance that we reach for at the start of the day. However, sometimes the scent doesn’t last as long as we’d hoped considering the price we pay – here’s how to change that just in time for Fresher’s Week!
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Rub Vaseline onto your pulse points before applying your desired perfume, then lightly spray the area with your fragrance of choice. The scent will stick to the Vaseline, making your perfume last all day! One tip people don’t know is that where you store your perfumes can majorly impact on their ability to last throughout the day. Avoid storing them in damp, warm places. Heat, light, and humidity will break down the perfume and lessen the quality of the fragrance. Instead, store them in cool, dry places like your room – ensuring they are away from windows. Bonus tip: Use a pretty cake stand to display them.
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Don’t dab the fragrance on your wrists after spraying. If you rub your wrists together, you’ll force the top notes to disappear faster than intended and as a result make your fragrance note last as long.
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Target pulse points and warm areas on your body when spraying perfume. To make your scent last longer, choose a couple target areas (not all of them at once) from the list below to spritz.
Inside your elbows
Below your midriff
On your wrists
Photography: Rawpixel/Pexels
On your neck
Behind your knees
On your ankles and calves
The warm areas indicated will help diffuse the fragrance across your entire body, and spraying your ankles and calves will allow the scent to last you throughout the day.
Kirsten Irvine
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Music
Tom Grennan’s
Rapid Rise
to the Top
B
ack in 2016, we were lucky enough here at The EDIT to have the opportunity to go and speak to a young musician from Bedfordshire, England who was supporting Chase & Status at the O2 Academy in Glasgow. Unfortunately at the time nobody took the now BA Multimedia Journalism graduate, Kaspars Zalãns, up on the offer to interview Tom Grennan, but since the release of his debut album, Lighting Matches, the story would now be slightly different. In little over 18 months, Grennan has gone from appearing as an unknown featured vocalist on a Chase & Status single to performing on the main stage at one of the biggest UK music festivals – TRNSMT among several other festival dates. As well releasing the top five album Lighting Matches in July, he also managed to break the world record for the most gigs played in 12 hours during the same week.
Found What I’ve Been Looking For opens the record and sets the refreshingly honest, but upbeat tone which is present across most of the album. The chorus line, “Queen Bee with a little sting to ya” from the foot tapping Royal Highness certainly takes the biscuit for the catchiest, yet slick, line from the whole record. The raspy tone in Grennan’s voice shines through particularly in I Might and Aboard, a reminder of John Newman when he was starting out in his career. Meanwhile the likes of Sober and his most recent single release Barbed Wire retain the radio friendly indie-pop vibe which evidently works as the latter featured on Radio 1’s B-List immediately after its release. All this success sees the 23 year-old embarking on his first solo headline tour later this year. Catch him perform at the Barrowlands on 9 October. Callum McQuade Photography: Ben Bentley
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Glasgow’s Best Live Music Venues
University culture revolves around music, from spending the early hours of the weekend in techno clubs like Subclub and Flat 0/1, to the classical music and film scores playing through your headphones as you study. Unfortunately, it can be easy to get taken in by the appeal of drunken nights at a club, listening to music you vaguely recognise blasting through the speakers. Glasgow’s clubs, however, hardly do the city’s music scene justice, and it’s worth giving up a weekend or two to explore the live music venues that are on offer.
Broadcast 427 Sauchiehall Street Broadcast are open (and popular) almost every night with live music and club nights. They are another grassroots music venue, hosting a number of live gigs alongside their traditional club space – meaning they’re perfect for whatever kind of night you’re in the mood for. They are also open every night until 3am, and September events include an ABBA pub quiz, and live music from The Velveteers, Paul Cherry and Menace Beach.
Facebook/Swing Ltd
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SWG3 100 Eastvale Place
The Hug and Pint 171 Great Western Road
Still a fan of techno, but fancy trying somewhere different? SWG3 is worth checking out, and they regularly have a number of live DJs and extended sets. A lot of their featured DJs have been on tour, and put the club in the same league as legendary venues such as Fabric (London), Trouw (Amsterdam) or Panorama Bar (Berlin). They also feature live bands, and if you’re in the mood for something a little different, they have photo gallery exhibitions, features and movie nights running from time to time. Plus until October, resident restaurant Ka-Pao is serving up delicious Thai street food every weekend.
Since opening in 2015, The Hug and Pint has firmly established itself as one of Glasgow’s best live music venues. The venue has featured a mix of well-established and up-and-coming local artists, and has even hosted a few international names. Their post summer line-up is packed, including First Tiger, Mikaela Davis, Art School Girlfriend and Blair Dunlop. If, however, you fancy a go on the stage yourself, every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm they have an open stage – and an afternoon of collaboration, art and conversation. All part of supporting Glasgow’s grassroots scene.
Mono 12 Kings Court
Swing 183a Hope Street
Describing themselves as a place for Glasgow residents to discover something new, Mono not only hosts live music, but exhibitions, art performances and workshops. The bar also has an in-house independent record store, if you would rather take your music home with you. Live music in October features Amber Arcades, Dead Meadow (20th anniversary tour) and Lucy Dacus.
Bringing something a little different – and definitely worth experiencing – is Glasgow’s underground jazz club Swing. The venue showcases all kinds of jazz, blues, soul and funk bands, right through to displays of aerial acrobats and performance acts. Turn up any night from Thursday to Saturday, and you’ll find live entertainment. If you’re looking for something specific, blues jam is every Thursday and jazz nights are every Friday.
Music Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) 350 Sauchiehall Street
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut 272a, St Vincent Street
The CCA is more vibrant now than it’s ever been. The space comprises of an art gallery, performance spaces, cinemas and offices, and can host everything from an exhibition and film screening to a concert or DJ set all in the same day (so if your weekend is looking pretty empty, this is a good place to check out). With a main venue that fits 300, it has seen the likes of PAWS, Veronica Falls and Camera Obscura take to the stage, and has even been a hub for various festivals such as the experimental music festival Counterflows and indie day-festival Stag and Dagger.
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut proudly calls itself an ‘exciting showcase’ for emerging bands, and with good reason. The venue has supported some of the industry’s biggest names, including Oasis – who were signed by Alan McGee at the venue in 1993 – to Snow Patrol, Frightened Rabbit, The Killers and Florence and the Machine (the list could go on). In short, they’re clearly ahead of the game when it comes to finding good music. On top of that, if you’re unlucky enough to have made it to uni at 17, some of their events aren’t just for 18+. Nicola Gray
Facebook/SWG3
Take That Celebrate 30 Years with Greatest Hits Tour and Album
O
ne of the UK’s oldest and best loved boybands will once again be touring in 2019, and this time it is centred around their most loved tracks. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald will travel all over the country in support of their new album, which will feature plenty of classics as well as some new material. The new album will be their ninth, following on from the success of Wonderland two years ago. The album, which included hits such as Giants and New Day, sold over 200,000 copies. The band, who have seven BRIT Awards to their name, will likely tour as a threesome, with Robbie Williams and Jason Orange not expected to return. Between albums, the band members have been pursuing solo careers, with Barlow himself just finishing a 60-date tour of the UK. Although tour dates and venues have not yet been announced, it is highly likely that the band will play at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, which has a capacity of 13,000.
On Twitter, lead singer Gary Barlow said:
“There are some exciting announcements coming from TTIII soon. We’ve an extremely important release coming this winter in the form of a Greatest Hits with a twist. Then in 2019 we will turn our recordings into a live show featuring all the hits from the last 3 decades.”
Adam Lyon
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Our Music Reviewer Lewis Moynihan
Breaks Down Your Freshers Week Listening
Time to Take Not3s The Hackney rapper is back with his sizzling second EP Take Not3s II, just eight months after his debut EP Take Not3s. Best known for his single My Lover, which peaked at 14 in the UK chart, Not3s has shot to prominence in the last year. His first EP featured many of his popular singles such as Addison Lee and Aladdin as well as features from Tinie Tempah and MoStack. Despite this it only reached 43 in the UK Albums Chart. Has his latest EP fared any better? Statistically yes, peaking more than 20 places higher than Take Not3s in the UK Albums Chart. What about the music though, has it improved? The album positioning can be misleading as he obviously has more fans now than he did on the release of his debut EP. Take Not3s II certainly feels more natural than its predecessor, which had a few pop songs on it, but it is clear he is still trying to find himself. Whether he is an R&B or hip-hop artist, the pop star image from his early singles has been thrown away with his latest work. Take Not3s II is a very hip-hop heavy album with drops of R&B and afrobeat throughout in a similar fashion to J Hus. The two artists are very talented in both areas, but rapping wise J Hus is better, whilst Not3s has a better voice. This means he’s more suited to R&B than hip-hop, with the two R&B tracks Neverland and especially Palm Wine showing his full vocal range.
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However, his hip-hop tracks on Take Not3s II aren’t bad, Nigerian Eagle is his best solo track on the EP as he flows well on a fast beat. The best hip-hop single on the EP is Trekked Like Me featuring AJ Tracey. After the success of their first collaboration and top 20 hit Butterflies, they have produced another banger, with the two artists complimenting each other well. Overall, it is a very good EP and another stepping stone in the road to him becoming one of the UK’s biggest rappers. Following the success of his second EP Not3s recently announced it will be followed by another UK tour in 2019. His most recent appearance in Glasgow was at Saint Luke’s in April as part of the Take Not3s Tour, when he promised fans he would return after a fire alarm interrupted the performance time. With his incredible work rate, many artists certainly should “Take Not3s”.
Lewis Moynihan Photography: Chiaki Nozu/Wirelmage
Music
The Bestin Glasgow Concerts this Autumn The upcoming months in Glasgow are seeing a lot of A-class artists coming to town. Varying from the classics such as ELO and Peter Hook, to Britain’s most treasured talent from more recent years with the likes of Florence and the Machine and Tom Odell. Glasgow is not short of a great catalogue of gigs to choose from. If you’re wanting a good time with good music, and who can forget, good beers, to take your mind off uni and work for a while, check out this list of the essential artists and bands to see in Glasgow.
Peter Hook and The Light, 30 September
5 Seconds of Summer, 23 and 24 October
Jeff Lynne’s ELO, 3 October
Black Eyed Peas, 2 November
Tom Odell, 12 October
Florence and The Machine, 17 November
Enrique Iglesias, 23 October
This is only a snippet of what’s coming to Glasgow this season, with many more great artists stopping by as well. Rudimental are bringing their dance and electronica vibes to the O2 Academy in October while You Me At Six are playing their classic first album at the Barrowlands. In December we also have the likes of Paul McCartney to look forward to as well as Glasgow’s very own legend, Gerry Cinnamon.
Photography: Vishnu R Nair/Pexels
Erin Lindsay
The iconic frontman is bringing his backing band to SWG3, where he will play tunes from two of his New Order albums, Technique and Republic, as well as playing some material from his earlier days with Joy Division tracks. Yet another classic, the Electric Light Orchestra will stop by the SSE Hydro on its eight-date tour. It is a concert not to miss as they are known for their outstanding live productions and amazing sound. In support of his third studio album, Jubilee Road, the singer songwriter is playing at Glasgow’s favourite venue the Barrowlands. He will no doubt please the crowd with his string of indie and folk pop stunners. No one can deny the Spaniard has his fair share of hits. Playing at the Hydro for his All The Hits tour, this is one you cannot afford to miss if you want a good night with feel good tunes and dancing.
The band’s latest album Youngblood is a massive step towards maturity and has surprised many with how different they’ve sounded lately. Hitting the O2 Academy for two nights, this is a must. If you can stand the inevitable screaming girls. 2018 marks the 20th anniversary for this hip hop band, and what better way to celebrate than by touring the UK for the first time in eight years. They play the Hydro in November which is sure to be a sell-out. Celebrating their latest album, High As Hope, Florence is embarking on her fourth UK tour, with the Hydro being the only Scottish date. Hot from supporting The Rolling Stones this year, she is well and truly on fire.
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The Glasgow Artists From travelling around the UK in the past year and visiting cities like London, Liverpool and Edinburgh, I’ve seen my fair share of excellent live music from local bands. From a packed London club, the Aint Nothin’ But Blues Bar, to the iconic Cavern Club in Liverpool, these places are bustling with the very best talent. However, nothing can compare to Glasgow. It may be the tight knit music community, where everyone seems to know everyone, or just the general friendly, easy going atmosphere at Glasgow gigs, but I often find myself even more amazed the more gigs I go to in the city. Here are my top five bands and artists to look out for on the Glasgow music scene.
Weatherston This four piece are one of my favourites. It feels like they could be two different bands. Gritty, edgy and the right amount of aggressive, and that’s just the epic bass lines or soft and mysterious with their tuneful harmonies and subtle riffs. It’s the best combination of good and evil. Their latest single Channel 9xx is a devious enigma, it puts you in a trance where you don’t have any other option than to be hooked. Photography: Facebook/Weatherston
CRYSTAL This is another fantastic indie/punk band that are taking the Glasgow scene by storm. With a dedicated social media following and the vast experience they’ve had, like supporting Paolo Nutini at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, they have everything in the bag to become Glasgow’s next big success. Check out their music on Spotify, which has even been featured on the Hot New Bands playlist! Photography: Daniel Blake
Rigid Soul Rigid Soul are one of the best sources for classic, bluesy, and unique tunes that can be hard to find for their age. They belong in the 60s alongside Hendrix and The Doors, and dare I say could be just as great even at the age of nineteen. There is nothing but good things coming up for this trio, fresh from supporting Kyle Falconer from The View. Photography: Facebook/RigidSoulBand
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Music
TO LOOK OUT FOR All The Franklins ATF aren’t your usual local band. They seem to come and go, going from periods of constant gigs to small stems of a hiatus. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Look at is as if they are constantly coming up with new music. I have seen them around four times and every time I hear new outstanding original tracks that blow me away. A rich mix of blues and psychedelic melodies, they are a band you must see if you get the opportunity to. Photography: Twitter/AllTheFranklins
Zoe Graham Ending on this lovely lady, Zoe Graham is a Glasgow favourite. Her beautiful song writing is phenomenal, showing levels of maturity that really makes her stand out from the rest. Whether it be playing with her full band or doing a solo set with her loop pedals, everything is so unique, and shows that Zoe’s talents are endless. Photography: Facebook/ZoeGrahamMusic
Erin Lindsay
Calling all artists! Submit your art for the Student Art section of The EDIT, GCU’s official student magazine. No matter what you create – drawings, music, literature, photography, video, fashion… we will help you in promoting it! editor@theeditgcu.com deputyeditor@gcuedit.com Join our Graphic Design Team and help us in creating the visual site of the printed editions of The EDIT magazine. design@theeditgcu.com
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A GUIDE
THE DEVIL’S PULPIT It may seem like you’re never going to get away from Glasgow city centre at all during Freshers. Your phone is buzzing out of your pocket with event notifications, pre-drink plans, and figuring where to get a night out for a tenner should be the topic for your dissertation with all the research you did. It can be easy to forget that the west of Scotland has more to offer than Sauchiehall Street and once the madness dies down, a dose of nature can cure those hangover blues. Finnich Glen, often referred to as The Devil’s Pulpit for the mushroom shaped rock that pokes out of the rushing red stream, is a wonderful way to reset from the hectic pace of the city. The Glen has been connected to druidism, witchcraft, and because of the stream’s reddish tinge, it is thought to be where the devil himself would give sermons to his followers. It is a 30 to 40-minute car journey to Finnich Glen and you arrive at a modest car park of about six official spaces with more on the verges, so get there early to bag a prime spot as it can get quite busy on hot days. You can alternatively get the B10 bus to Killearn and walk two miles along the side of the road, to the car park. There is a sign with safety information beside the car park that leads into a field towards the gorge, taking this route will mean walking down to the end where the gorge becomes a burn. Walking 200 metres down the side of the A809 will take you to an entrance on the left that leads to the only safe route down into the gorge, the Devil’s Steps.
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A walking stick, rope or strong companion is advisable as the steps are steep, slippery after a bout of rain and have slipped down on themselves at one point. They can still be navigated without much trouble, but caution is advised. At the base of the steps you arrive in the gorge with the infamous pulpit around a corner to your left. It is easy to see why this area is so popular as the natural beauty of the gorge, carved out of the red sandstone landscape by the Carnock Burn is unlike many other areas in Scotland. Carrying a bag with a towel is advisable as you are not going to get the full experience of the gorge without getting your socks off, rolling up the trousers and wading through the burn, which doesn’t tend to get above knee height. This is a unique area that is perfect to cleanse the body and mind after a long week of socialising and illicit activities, as well as being a great way to enjoy the last of the summer weather. More intrepid adventurers might want to include a jaunt into the gorge as part of a hike up Dumgoyne which is a ten-minute drive away and ideal for anyone looking to conquer some hills near Glasgow. An easier day out could include a walk round The Whangie, a popular route that could be rounded off with a dip into the pulpit.
Richard Mason Follow @richardcjmason on Instagram for more hiking guides and live videos from his frequent adventures
Sports
Google Maps
Right to Roam The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives everyone rights of access over land and inland water throughout Scotland, subject to specific exclusions set out in the Act and as long as they behave responsibly. This means that you are within your rights to cross fields where there are no crops growing if you clean up after yourself and do not disturb the natural environment.
The Devil’s Pulpit derives its name from the water around
that is tinted red from the red sandstone rock that the burn cuts through and the stone where the devil is said to have spoken to his followers.
Photographs: Richard Mason
The stairs can be difficult so take precautions when descending or ascending.
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The glen was used as a location for the first series of Outlander and is somewhere that conjures up thoughts of the supernatural, a great place to get in contact with the magical side of Scotland’s history. Richard Mason
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Sports
CO MM UN I SM
and Scottish Football
The year was 1989. Mo Johnston had turned down Celtic for Rangers, Milli Vanilli were pushing for the UK number one single and in Germany, a very pleased-with-himself David Hasselhoff triumphantly stood on top of the Berlin Wall as it was torn down brick-by-brick. Millions across the globe tune in to watch, open-mouthed, as communism in Europe became consigned to history.
One of these events would have a profound impact on
the Scottish national team. No, it’s not Milli Vanilli. But it also wasn’t Johnston’s last-minute change of heart. Not many would have foreseen it at the time but as European communism crumbled and broke, life was going to get considerably more difficult for Scotland. Prior to their dissolution, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the U.S.S.R. were all European heavyweights, regularly making an impression in the latter stages of international tournaments. Between them, a huge chunk of Europe’s population lived within their borders. It’s this fact that’s crucial to our understanding of the declining fortunes of our national team. Once the three aforementioned states were dissolved, the result was no fewer than 21 new countries to contend with on the international stage, with almost all of them based in Europe (a few former U.S.S.R. countries lie in Asia). And this is the heart of the problem. Now, when Scotland were drawn in qualifying groups for World Cups or European Championships, there weren’t just three countries to avoid. There were now 15 new countries, bloating the qualification groups without a significant increase in the number of finals spots available. And each have similar or larger populations than Scotland – not a guarantee of success in and of itself (just ask China or India), but it certainly helps in countries that are already football-daft. More worryingly, however, was the quality of opposition that these new countries provided for Scotland. Of the 15 new independent countries, half have been consistently ranked above us in the FIFA world rankings – admittedly not the most precise metric, but a fair generalisation of a country’s quality. There are a few countries that are clearly better than Scotland here: Croatia, Russia and Ukraine – amongst
others – consistently rank above us in FIFA’s world rankings. There are no fewer than seven of these teams that are, more often than not, ranked higher than us. Then, looking at the teams below us, there are more than a few names that’ll bring back horrific memories for the Tartan Army. Georgia, Slovenia and Lithuania all still cause the most optimistic Scot to break into a cold sweat. We may outrank them, but Scotland sides over the last 20 years or so clearly have an issue facing these types of team, particularly away from home. In crunch games against sides like these, Scotland have developed a nasty habit of coming up short. So the route to qualifying is undoubtedly harder for Scotland now. Where previously there were just three countries to contend with, now there around ten that could cause Scotland serious problems in qualifying groups. Sure, the Scotland team of the late 70s was clearly a better side than the current iteration, but they also benefited from playing at a time when there were fewer competitors on the international stage. Adding further weight to this theory, Scotland’s qualifying record since the collapse of communism is poor. Initially, we actually did quite well, however – between 1989 and 1998, Scotland qualified from four of our five qualification groups. Shortly afterwards, however, the post-Soviet nations got their act together and have been frequently represented at international tournaments since. As we all know, we’ve not been at a finals in 20 years now. So next time we watch Scotland struggle to a 1-1 draw somewhere around the Baltic Sea, crying out in despair that we used to be better and that things weren’t always like this, just remember: it all began that night in Berlin, with Hasselhoff’s maniacal grin.
James Cairney The EDIT Volunteer
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Cycling
in Glasgow
Is it Worth it?
Regardless of whether you’re just starting at GCU, or continuing your studies, you might be looking for a convenient mode of transport. Here is all you need to know about getting to university by bike.
THE BIKE
THE UNIVERSITY
First of all, you need something to cycle on. For students with a tight budget, a second hand bike is a popular choice. You can search for one either online, or at a bike shop (for example Bike for Good on Haugh Road). GCU hosts a bike pop up shop scheduled for Tuesday 25th of September outside the Security Office between 10:00 – 14:00, so keep your eyes peeled for it. A decent used bike can cost between £30 and £70. However, a cheap bike may require expensive repairs. Most of all, beware the rust! A little bit of surface rust is fine, but do not get tricked into buying a bike with rusted chain or chain rings. Remember to buy a quality lock that will be hard to break for potential thieves.
GCU is a very bike-friendly university, offering facilities such as bike parking places, lockers, showers, and even bike first aid kits you can borrow etc. The university also organizes many cycling related events, as well the Bike for Good stand that at shows up on campus at least once a month to fix your bike for free. You can also seek advice from the GCU’s Travel Advisors and Sustainability Officer Paulo Cruz. Go on www.gcu.ac.uk/cycling to learn more.
If you are or know a refugee seeking a bike, contact the Bikes for Refugees organisation at bfrscotland@gmail.com. You could also try renting one of the Next Bike city bikes and choose either the Annual Membership that for GCU students and staff is £30 (rather than £60) or Pay as You Ride option.
THE TRAFFIC I am not going to lie, the Glaswegian traffic can be pretty tough for cyclists. I have personally been shouted at several times by both drivers and pedestrians for no reason. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the basics of the traffic law to cope with such arguments. Check out different route options in order to find the safest one. Even though there are almost no cycling lanes in the city centre area, you can find shared use routes for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as bus lanes that can be only used by buses, bikes and taxis – however, a new cycling lane is expected to be unveiled on Sauchiehall Street next summer. Make sure to get a red rear light and a white front light if you are cycling in the evenings. There is no law in UK requiring cyclists to wear a bike helmet, but I strongly recommend wearing one while cycling on streets.
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THE ACTIVITY For every cyclist there are better and worse weeks. Sometimes, I get really annoyed by the Glaswegian car drivers or become simply too tired to cycle after a short sleep. However, even though I started cycling to save money, it quickly became a passion of mine and a great way to distress after a long day at the uni. Scotland offers great traffic-free cycling routes that are part of the National Cycle Network, created by a charity organization called Sustrans. Make sure to check out National Routes number 7, 75 and 754 that go through Glasgow. I especially recommend the routes by the Forth and Clyde Canal. If you feel sociable, you can join Facebook groups such as GCU Cycling Forum and Belles on Bikes GCU. There are also various cycling and triathlon clubs and meet up groups around the city. In the end, answering the title question goes to you. Some will find cycling in Glasgow too stressful, others relaxing. Personally, I would strongly recommend cycling in Glasgow to anyone who doesn’t feel too anxious about the traffic. Others might want to check out different modes of transportation or stick to recreational cycling on traffic-free paths.
Agnieszka Michalska
Sports
PROS
CONS
Bike-friendly university
Busy traffic, possible accidents
Healthy activity, improved wellbeing
Bike ownership and maintenance costs
Free exercise
Rainy weather, ice on streets in the winter
Money saving mode of transport
Unfriendly car drivers and pedestrians
National Cycling Network
Feeling tired
Useful links and contacts Next Bike stand near the Buchanan Bus Station vis-à-vis the university. Photography (above) by Thomas Nugent
GCU’s Sustainability Officer Paulo Cruz sustainability@gcu.ac.uk www.gcu.ac.uk /cycling www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map www.nextbike.co.uk/en/glasgow www.bikeforgood.org.uk Bikes for Refugees – Scotland SCIO www.facebook.com/BikesforRefugeesScotland bfrscotland@gmail.com
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