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News : 06
Right, listen here students! Before you go legging it up the M32 with a big bag of washing, heading for mum’s cooking and home comforts, take a little look at what’s going on in the southwest this summer. I thought as much. Bristol’s been throwing huge summer parties longer than the Queen’s been wearing pastel dresses, so it’s safe to say that when June comes around there’s no where else quite like it.
WIN BOOMTOWN TICKETS : 09
In this issue we’ve got ten solid gold reasons this summer is going to be an absolute belter, whether you’re staying in Brizzle or heading out of town. If you’re sticking around there’s plenty going on with Dot to Dot festival hosting a multitude of musical delights such as Pulled Apart By Horses and The Drums. In clubland there’s 101 Love Saves The Day after parties to choose from and shows from Dub FX and Ed Solo to get excited about. The Dark Knight trilogy comes to a close as well as heaps of live comedy down at Brouhaha! Becci and the Foodie crew have been hitting the Pimms whilst checking out the best al fresco dining around, and if that wasn’t enough there’s the chance to win Boomtown Fair tickets as well. OMG... what a whopper! Enjoy @SimonSkint
Cover Art Motorboy This month’s cover comes from Bristol artist Motorboy who, being the all round courteous gent that he is, has also given us (and subsequently you) a free bit of art for your walls at home. Check out the centre pages and if you like that then check his prints at the 1 Love gallery in the Canteen, More details on page 8.
CONTENTS HOLIDAY AT HOME
: 11 Ten great reasons to stay put this summer
INTERVIEW: DR MEAKER
: 14
Clive and Co get set to go global Gigs : 18
DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL
and more...
Clubs : 22
DUB FX and more... Film : 26
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and more...
Performance : 31
BROUHAHA, DAVE GORMAN, MICHAEL MCINTYRE and more... Food : 32
BEST ALFRESCO with BRISTOLFOODIE Copyright © 2012 Skint Media. All rights reserved Legal: Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission from Skint Media. Information on events or products does not imply recommendations by Skint Media. Skint Media does not accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions of content. All opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily shared by Skint Media.
skintmagazine.co.uk 5
The R ogue R eporter LOVE PAVES THE WAY
SUMMER’S HERE «THE people. But this is England,
so best to pack a jumper and waterproof all the same. June kicks off with two musical extravaganzas. Dot To Dot has been bringing big bands and new talent to Bristol for a few years and this time The Drums and Pulled Apart By Horses top the bill. Love Saves The Day is in it’s first year but if ticket sales are anything to go by then they’ll be back. The show sold out way back and houses seven areas boasting some heavyweight DJs and live acts. Whether you like tight denim and makeup or flat peak caps and amphetamines, Jubilee weekend has got live music sewn up. As well as music the Jubilee weekend has got a truck load of art going on at Upfest, which will be
PHOTOS
Top right: Bristol’s Biggest Bikeride sets off Bottom left: Get ready for Grillfest
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hosting work from over 250 artists across seven different locations. Bristol’s Big Green Week comprises of over 100 events beginning on Saturday June 9 through to the Sunday June 17. Half the events are free and all are designed to inspire future green thinking, so bring your bag for life. Never a city to be accused of favoritism, Bristol welcomes Grillstock to the harbourside on June 30. Having hosted Vegfest last month it seems only fair that the carnivores among us get a chance to indulge. Grillstock makes Burger King look like a mere peasant with it’s 24-team King of the Grill Competition - a kind of X-Factor for men with beards and heart conditions. Womad returns to Bristol
Zoo on June 30 for a day of international singing, dancing and general do-gooding. Amongst the wildlife will be two stages showcasing loads of great world music and proceeds will go to saving honey badgers, woolly mammoths and the like. If you fancy heading out on two wheels without some idiot in an Audi making your ride a near death experience, then Bristol’s Biggest Bikeride is for you. Starting in Millenium Square on June 17, riders can head out on four different routes ranging between 9 and 38 miles. The Foodies Festival hits the harbourside on July 13-15, and brings with it Saturday Kitchen’s Martin Blunos. Add to that the Bristol Harbour Festival (July 20-22) and the Balloon Fiesta (August 9-12) and its all shaping up to be quite a summer. Fill your boots! ■
GENTLEMEN, ART YOUR ENGINES OVER THE PAST couple of years Skint have been lucky enough to have some of street art’s leading lights grace the magazine with their work. This issue the 1 Love Art store, and their good friend Motorboy, have pulled out all the stops, giving us a front cover and cheeky centre fold poster. But as nice as both pieces are, they’re a poor substitute for the actual prints. So finish the mag and stick up the poster before rummaging desperately for shrapnel and heading to the 1 Love Art website on: 1loveart.com/shop/motorboy. The artist draws upon contemporary culture and more recently the images and symbols than may have snuck into the brain under the radar, remaining dormant until now. His recent work, as featured in the issue, takes pieces of cultural debris and brings them to the forefront in the hope that the process might serve as an exorcism of the unconscious. The results speak for themselves
and his work has been happily adorning our office walls for weeks. The cover art, ‘Routine Bites Hard’, is inspired by the William Burroughs phrases, ‘words and advice for young people’ and is available in a 70x50 cm print at £90. The centre fold is also 70x50cm and available in a three colour screen print edition of 23 priced at £65. 1LoveArt Exhibition @ Hamilton House If you’ve liked what you’ve seen on our covers over the last year then we whole heartedly suggest you get your good selves down to the Hamilton House Gallery, opposite the Canteen Bar on Stokes Croft, where 1 Love Art will be showing off their wears from July 5 to July 12. On Saturday July 7 there will be DJs and grub courtesy of Rice ‘n Things Jamaican restaurant and all week there will be new work on show from Goldie, K-Guy, Stinkfish, Snik Ellis and Copyright.
MOTORBOY PRINTS: Top: ‘Don’t Think’ 70x50cm - £90 Bottom: ‘Never Work’ 70x50 - £90 SOLD OUT
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« WIN !
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WIN FREE TICKETS FROM OUR FAVOURITE FESTIVAL
WITH TICKETS SELLING quicker than wine gums at an AA meeting, the best way to bag yourself a pass to the UK’s maddest weekend is to get stuck in to our Boomtown competition. Having sorted out Catherine and her plus one with a couple of
Glade tickets last issue, this time the lovely Boomtown family have hooked us up with some free passes for a handful of lucky readers. To end up with a pair of tickets all you have to do is follow the instructions on our website: www.skintmagazine.co.uk
Award Winning Stylists Nuala's talented stylists are here not only to provide the very best for your hair but to also make you feel comfortable and at ease. Choose a drink from our drinks menu and relax while we cater to your every need
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The line up seems to be swelling on a daily basis and now boasts such musical delights as Caravan Palace, The Skatalites, Reel Big Fish, Alborosie, Tanya Stephens, Dirtyphonics, Jack Beats, Krafty Kuts, Caspa and a shed loads more.
BD2665 BRISTOL DESIGN, BCC
Does foreign food leave you feeling peculiar? Is the thought of queuing at customs getting you down? Why not put your fears to rest and spend your summer in Britain
skintmagazine.co.uk 11
WITH THE DOUBLE DIP RECESSION in full effect, every English man and woman needs to do their bit to drag the poor British economy back to it’s muddy feet. There’s no need to go galavanting oversees, splashing your hard earned sterlings on straw donkeys and pain au chocolat, all you need is right here. Kicking off this weekend, in this very city, is the biggest, bestest British summer since records began.
See No Evil August 16-18 Temple Quay, Bristol
Bristol Harbour Festival July 20-22 Harbourside, Bristol
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Last year’s See No Evil was nothing short of breath taking. This year’s event is due to be held at temple quay and will no doubt do it’s best to outdo last years spectacle but it’ll have it’s work cut out.
With Brisfest running for the hills the Harbour Festival has the run of the city centre this summer. Bristol Balloon Fiesta August 9-12 Ashton Court, Bristol Euro 2012 June 8 - July 1 Poland/Ukraine
7
Having flirted with relegation as Liverpool boss and navigated West Brom to the dizzy heights of 10th last season, Roy Hodgson has been placed in charge of our beloved national team and is no doubt on course for an early exit. Or is he? Whether you’re a football fanatic or you just like men in shorts, you can’t help but get sucked into the soap opera that is the England national team. England kick off at 5pm on Monday June 11 against France, before inevitably being dismissed in a miserable quarter final penalty shootout.
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8
If you’ve not been to Bristol Balloon Fiesta it’s well worth making a trip. The night glows are magical and the first time you see a massive inflatable cow bobbing over the suspension bridge is pretty cool too.
Love Saves The Day June 3 Castle Park, Bristol
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And there we have it. Straight off the bat there’s a rock solid, no excuses, reason to stay exactly where you are this summer. Chuck your passport in the recycling and put some beers in the fridge cos ‘love’ is all you need.
Boomtown August 9-12 Winchester
5
The fittingly titled Boomtown Fair is literally booming! The festival is a Skint favourite and is going from strength to strength. Olympics July 27 - August 12 London
4
Having completely disregarded airport security in transporting a bloody great torch all the way over from Athens, it seems somewhat hypocritical that you probably won’t be able to wear anything much heavier than an alice band inside the olympic stadium for fear you might bludgeon someone to death with it.
Queen’s Jubilee June 2-5 Nationwide After the nationwide elation that was the Royal Wedding, we at Skint can’t wait for our Liz’s big day. Neither can most high street stores by all accounts, as they seem to have loads of Union Jack-emblazoned tat left over from last year. So cue lots more cake making and flag waving on TV, and with two bank holidays in the mix, lots more cider drinking and shape throwing in the discotheques. Get in!
Brisfest 22-23 September Ashton Court, Bristol Those who remember Ashton Court Festival talk with a sparkle in their eye and a smile on their face. It’s been five long years since the last, washed out event at Ashton Court left the previous organisers bankrupt. Before that it was something of an institution, dating back to the 70s and attracting festival goers from far and wide. This year Brisfest have successfully resurrected the event, moving it from July to September and promising to entice the phoenix from the flames. It’ll hopefully cap off a glorious British summer of music and merriment. Amen.
Secret Garden Party July 19-22 Cambridge Jewel in this year’s festival crown is undoubtedly Secret Garden Party. Although with the festival gradually expanding, and tickets selling faster than ever, don’t be surprised if they drop the ‘Secret’ next year. Garden Party sounds a bit shit though. Maybe they’ll do a prince and become the ‘festival formally known as’... or just a weird symbol. Either way this year is going to be a right good crack.
Dr Meaker
With new release ‘Music in the Night’ getting more airtime than Michael Jordan, it’s only a matter of time before Dr Meaker go global
IS A LOT MORE «THERE to Dr Meaker than meets the eye. For example, it may come as a surprise to some of you that he’s not a real doctor. In fact the closest Clive Meaker has come to a career in medicine is sampling lines from 70s TV show, Quincy M.E in some of his early tracks. “No, I’ve got no first aid exprerience,” says Clive. “When I was at uni there were a lot of doctors there and some of them were really pretentious. I started handing my work in as Dr Meaker to put myself on their level, because
they’d never come down to mine.” There was more chance of Clive taking on his dad’s farm than there was in him pursuing a career in medicine. But, truth be told, as with many kids growing up in the shadow of Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in rural Somerset, it’s always been about the music. Having turned down the flat cap and Barbour, Dr Meaker set his sights on the festival stages he used to frequent as a youth. “I first went in ’95 and saw the Prodigy, who really inspired me,” says Clive.
“There’s a lot of people in to music where I’m from because of the influence of the festival. Right from an early age we’d all go to Glastonbury and everyone would be desperate to get on stage and play.” Clive got his chance in 2007 when Michael Eavis picked Dr Meaker from 2,000 entrants to win the Glastonbury Unsigned Competition, with the winner getting a slot at the festival. “From it being a life long ambition to play there, to having the man himself, Michael Eavis, pick you out of 2,000 and tell
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Interview
My favourite doctor is Quincy because it’s class American 70s TV and it’s full of samples. Yes, I have sampled Quincy.
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you you’re fantastic is such a good feeling.” Having honed his skills on a music technology course at Bath University, Clive and his current band have become firm favorites in the southwest. Drawing on a variety of influences from 90s rave to local heroes such as Massive Attack, Dr Meaker epitomize Bristol’s enthusiasm for live music and all things bass. Although the personnel around him have changed in recent years, Clive insists that the Meaker sound is nearing
perfection and, judging by the response to some recent releases, other people won’t take much convincing. The last single ‘In My Soul’ was released on major dubstep label Sludge Records whilst new track ‘Music in the Night’ is getting serious air play from the likes of Mistajam and Radio 1 Extra’s Bailey, and DJ Target. “We’re producing singles that are so different,” says Clive.“We’re finding record labels to release them that are strong in their own individual scene.We’ve got
Sludge Records releasing the dubstep stuff, then Brian G’s label V Recordings have signed the drum and bass and Ramajam Recordings are loving the old skool rave sound.” With new double A-side ‘Fighter’ and ‘Music in the Night’ out later this month, and already getting played out by the likes of Roni Size, Artificial Intelligence and Kenny Ken, you’re more likely to find Dr Meaker and co. hanging out with Hospital Records this year than anywhere near a stethoscope. (SL)■
“Steal This Poster” by Motorboy 70x50cm £65
Saturday 2nd June O2 Academy Thekla Louisiana Trinity Fleece The Cooler Start the Bus IT DOESN’T GO «£20. far these days. A quarter tank of fuel, a new T-shirt or a deck of fags and a bottle of wine. And yet, this Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, the smart people among us will have made sure they used the bike, sacked off the clothes shop and kept that precious score back for the golden ticket; carte-blanche admission to this years Dot to Dot. The UK’s only tri-city
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traveling festival makes a welcome return to Bristol, the first stop of a 3 day tour that sees the same artists roll on to Nottingham and finally Manchester, tearing up the city’s wickedest venues, before moving on like a band of hired guns in the American MidWest. The festival has a well deserved reputation for showcasing the best new acts from our shores as well as those
from around the world. Last year, the likes of Darwin Deez, Ed Sheeran, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and SBTRKT all set the crowds alight, before going on to bigger things, garnering a host of awards after big summer tours and stand out festival shows. This year it’s surf poppers turned melancholy bods, ‘The Drums’ and frenetic post-hardcore mosh-
A unique opportunity to sample a whole host of new artists and bands. Some you’ll love, others not so much, but it’s a festival, you’re free to roam. Pictured: Pulled Apart By Horses
starters, ‘Pulled Apart by Horses’ headlining. But as with previous Dot to Dot’s, the gems are often found lower down the bill, like ‘Pure Love’, Frank Carter’s much anticipated new project, which is guaranteed to be a double-barreled blast of future anthems ahead of their debut album, set for release later this year. Also, look out for the unfeasibly soulful voice of Willis Earl Beal, and
the laid-back groove of ‘The Internet’, the latest project from the supertalented OFWGKTA, among others. But, whether you are aware of this year’s acts or not, you can’t really go wrong. Dot to Dot gives you a unique opportunity to sample a whole host of new artists and bands. Some you’ll love, others you might hate, but the beauty of this event is that it’s a festival, so if
the act in front of you is sounding like a castrated bull murdering a Donna Summer number, then you are free to head out and over to one of the other participating venues across town, to hear something better. And if you miss something all your mates are talking about, well, then another £20 and a trip up to Nottingham means you can do it all over again. (TE)■
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Launch Party Come down and enjoy an afternoon of mouth watering, locally sourced Bagels set to the backdrop of rare grooves by some of our favourite selectors.
Felix Joy (Sip the Juice/Deep Down Inside) Kane Rich (Artbeats)
Saturday June 16th, 12pm - 6pm
The Elbow Rooms, Park st www.bagelboy.co.uk
ÂŁ4 Be .50 e an r and yB a YA gel Y!
Facebook: Bagel Boy
JUNE / JULY
The View 20th June
Fleece Keane
5th June
O2 Academy
Up there with the best ever rock star addictions is Keane frontman Tom Chaplin’s port habit. That’s right, the chubby, red-faced Sussex seasider got a taste for the good stuff back in 2006 and ended up in celebrity rehab clinic, the Priory. Well, that’s according to reliable source, Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno. (SL)
Though these punk-rock indie highlanders haven’t had much commercial success since their 2007 release ‘Easy Jeans’ - no I didn’t remember it at first either - they are still very much alive and well. What they may lack in terms of edgy musical innovation, they certainly make up for in, um… let’s say, enthusiasm and gusto. Expect a high energy/high volume performance with at least one song you will definitely know - so that’s good. (BB)
James Morrison 3rd July
Colston Hall
With his boyish good looks and distinctive raspy vocal tone, James Morrison has managed to capture a surprisingly large share of this tightly contested market. Although there are quite a few people out there doing this type of singer/songwriter thing at the moment - some with decidedly fresher perspectives on the genre than Morrison -as they say, sometimes the old ways are the best and he certainly does his thing rather well. (BB)
Scroobius Pip 21st July
Fleece
An intoxicatingly heady mix of electronic hip-hop and live music that’ll leave you feeling that bit more ‘street’ than you probably are. One half of the dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip sensation that brought you ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’, David Meads, AKA Pip, presents his distinctive brand of intelligent, articulate and humorous verbal alchemy, which can mesmerize, enthral and entertain audiences in equal measure all day long. One to go see. (BB)
Kate Nash 25th June
Thekla Jesca Hoop 20th June
Colston Hall
Hoop has developed a enigmatic blend of dreamy experimental sounds, folk, blues and pop. The sound never quite seems to settle on any idea for too long before its off again, shifting into new and ever more ambitious attempts to cram as many musical styles into a performance as possible, without ever seeming contrived or unnatural. Tom Waits once said ‘her music is like going swimming in a lake at night’, so conclude what you will from that one, but she’s definitely an act of pleasant surprises.
Known best for her 2007 single ‘Foundations’, in which Ms.Nash established her charming yet peculiar vocal style and compelling narrativebased lyrics, which often feature some form of humorously vexed faux-Cockney snipe at a subjective minor irritant. Her delivery of lyrics is almost gossipy in tone, which tends to complement her engaging storyteller style nicely. Although there is almost a nervousness to her act sometimes, which can leave audiences scratching their heads, on the whole she presents an enjoyable and engaging performance. (BB)
The Wailers
Tuesday 3rd July
02 Academy
Alongside Bob Marley, The Wailers set the high-water mark for reggae music and although their wave may have broken and rolled back since the death of their iconic frontman back in 1981, they continue to push the messages and the Rastafari mission in their music. The young Danglin and Koolant do a fantastic job of bringing Bob’s words to life but it is the untold experience of original member Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett on bass that drives the authentic sound and makes The Wailers still a force to be reckoned with. (TE)
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Fat Freddy’s Drop 8th August
O2 Academy
The hottest ausie export since Madge Bishop, Fat Freddy’s Drop have been skanking their way over to these shores for a few years now. Festival regulars, the ‘Drop always manage to pull a crowd with their live shows, which build from the smooth and mellow to the all out head banger. They’re in the UK as part of a headline tour so catch them where you can. (SL)
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Dub FX
O2 Accademy Saturday 28th July Dub FX, Flower Fairy, Cade, Snareophobe, Dub Mafia £15 adv.
A MODERN WORLD where Simon «IN Cowell plays deity, selecting who can join him at pop’s pearly gates, it’s refreshing to hear someone making it big the old fashioned way. When a dancing dog can become an international superstar in a matter of weeks, it’s definitely reassuring to know that there’s hope for those who don’t want to be wheeled out in front of the watching millions, to be criticised by a man in ill-fitting trousers who’s never sung a note. Far away from the TV studios, in his native St Kilda, Melbourne, Dub FX has been honing his skills on the mic since age 16. But having earned his stripes performing on the street all over Australia, he’s got no regrets having done things the hard way. “If you go through your life without any struggle you don’t end up as interesting,” he told The Dewarists. “My music wasn’t as good until I started living life on the street, performing 3 or 4 times a week and living in a van.” Dub FX (aka Benjamin Stanford) still considers himself little more than a travelling busker, despite now ‘busking’ to audiences of thousands in venues such as the O2. “The main reason I started street performing was to travel,” says Stanford, “and it’s definitely
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CLUB nights
Together with fiancé Flower Fairy, Dub FX is a musical purist wanting nothing more than to see the world
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If you go through life without any struggle you don’t end up as interesting
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starting to happen. I’ve been all over europe. it’s exactly what I wanted out of it.” Part of an unsigned collective of artists, Convoy Un Limited, Stanford travels and plays live with his fiance Flower Fairy and paints an idealistic picture with his modern take on the one man bands of old. But rather than a bass drum saddled to his back and a harmonica Duck Tape’d to his chops, he’s got a mic and his hand and a row of pedals beneath his feet. Although the beatboxer prides himself on his live shows, his only studio album ‘Everythink a Ripple’ is a noteworthy release up there with the established acts of the art form such as Rahzel and Beardyman. His warm, psychedelic dub now rumbles through subwoofers the world over and this O2 show is a must for all Bristol’s hip-hop heads. (SL)■
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JUNE / JULY
Bass Kitchen Ed Solo June 1
@TB2
Having made a massive name for himself working with Skool of Thought on 2007’s ‘Random Acts Of Kindness’ Ed Solo is back with another mouthwatering colab, this time with fellow booty-breaks mastermind, Deekline. To celebrate the new album he’s going to be cooking up a right storm at Bass Kitchen, with support from Dr Fly, Wobbling Wookie and JDO. You can get yourself on the line-up by posting your mix up on their events page.
standing take cover and head for the nocturnal portion of the party. The pick of them looks to be Blue Mountain where festival favourites the Dance Off Crew will be putting their stamina to the test, having hosted an arena at the day time event. But fear not, those boys can handle it and if not there’s Plump DJs and Stereo 8 chipping in as well. Just over the road Lakota have got the dubstep contingent well and truly catered for with Joy Orbison, Oneman and Loefah while Motion have got Eats Everything and Richy Ahmed. The Croft are in on the act with Eddie K b2b with Statix and Mums The Word are in Basement 45 with Icicle and more.
Sureskank v 51o27’: Bandulu Records Launch
June 2
@various
So the day time event sold out weeks ago, and spare tickets are as hot as a corgi in a shell suit, but come LSTD weekend the real action is going to be at the after parties. As with most day time outdoor events the action starts to wind down at about ten, when those still
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Hyetal and Hackman June 9
@TB2
This double headliner from Headrush serves up two budding producers capable of holding their own a-top a decent lineup, therefore presenting you - the consumer - with something of a bargain. Both enjoy retro influences with modern beats, with Hyetal’s dubstep sprinkled with moody 80’s synths and Hackman’s house dosed up on late 90’s feel good garage. Both are worth checking out on their own merits and under one roof for £5 (b4 12) it would be discourteous not to indulge.
Intrigue Summer Special
Fabio, Break, DJ Storm June 15
@Arc Bar
Cometh the hour, cometh the summer special. So before everyone in clubland fucks off to Ibiza and the festival circuit, all the nights worth their salt try and go out with a big one. Intrigue have been slowly growing into one of the cities top d&b nights, fusing old skool heroes with new, fresh talent and they’re finishing term in style. With no Radio 1 cheques to cash, The End resident and Creative Source boss Fabio will no doubt be spending more time doing what he does best, playing out to sweaty dance floors.
University of Bristol Summer Party
Spyro, Preditah, Kahn, Superisk June 8
Krafty Kuts, Arsequake June 14
Far from being a landmark birthday, 51 would pass most promoters by. But far from missing a good excuse for a party, Sureskank and 51o27’ host their respective 51st club nights together while also launching new label Bandulu Records. Pushing new talent to the fore in everything from dancehall to dubstep, both nights have become established as themselves as big hitters on the Bristol bass-music scene.
Say what you like about Bunker, but if you want to finish term with a bang then you can’t go far wrong. Drinks are cheaper than Primark pants and they pull in A-list DJs on the regular. Previous conquests include Annie Mac, Zane Low and Calvin Harris, so Krafty Kuts hosting Bristol Uni’s official summer blow out is far from a shocker. With support from local boy done good, Arsequake, £6 looks like an absolute steal.
@Thekla Love saves the Afterparties
Headrush
@Bunker
Inflect
The Host aka Boxcutter June 29
@The Croft
One solid way to ensure record companies and journalists don’t pigeon hole your beats into the same nerdy sub-genre is a good old fashioned alias. Northern Irish producer Boxcutter is back as The Host, a more psychedelic incarnation using vintage synths creating a more experimental, dynamic sound. (SL)
Visit us at www.skintmagazine.co.uk
The Dark Knight Rises Friday 20th July
ARE SOME THINGS in life « THERE that are made to go together. Like strawberries and cream, festivals and flash-flooding and, perhaps the most perfect union of them all, blockbuster season and Christopher Nolan. It seems that every other year this master of awe-inspiring cinema gives us a film that reaffirms our love for the big screen, transforming even the most miserable of summers into a cinematic event. On the 20th July it all ends, with the highly anticipated conclusion to his exceptional Batman trilogy, ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ It’s been four long years since we last visited Gotham City. Then it was The Joker and Harvey ‘Two Face’ Dent who raised merry hell, with Batman selflessly shouldering the blame for ‘The White Knight’s’ crimes, and allowing himself to become a fugitive from a vengeful Gotham. The final instalment begins eight years hence, when peace is finally broken and Gotham is once more threatened by tyranny and carnage, this time in the form of Bane (Tom Hardy); a huge, physical monster in a mandiblelike mask, hell bent on becoming Gotham’s reckoning. It could be easily argued that Batman films are only as good as their villains and after the indelible brilliance of Heath Ledger’s ‘Joker,’ the final villain in the trilogy has a lot to live up to. However, Hardy seems to have relished the challenge, having gained 30 pounds of muscle for the role and applying all of his abilities as a physical actor to make his Bane memorable. As Nolan confirms in an interview with the LA Times, “Tom is somebody who really knows how to put character into every gesture, every
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aspect of his physicality in the way that great actors can. He transforms himself and it’s there in every movement.” As a character, Bane represents an entirely new type of enemy for The Dark Knight, as Nolan remarks; “With a good villain you need an archetype. He’s a primarily physical villain, he’s a classic movie monster in a way — but with a terrific brain.” But as this is to be Nolan’s swansong to the Batman franchise, it is the inner turmoil of his troubled hero that will remain the gravitational centre to the distracting pyrotechnics of Catwoman and Bane. As a fugitive he is struggling with the sudden inertia of his life, unappreciated by the city he still longs to protect. Can he once more find solace in punishing the wicked, or will he end up hurting more? And will Bane break his back as he did in the ‘Knightfall’ comics, forcing a new Dark Knight to rise? Nolan is typically tight-lipped on these subjects, preferring to keep us guessing like a master criminal from the pages of the same DC comics he is bringing to life. But one thing is certain; all the other blockbusters this summer are merely pretenders. The crown belongs to The Bat. (TE)■
FILms The end is nigh: The final instalment in Christopher Nolan’s $1.4 billion (so far!) franchise sees the gravelly voiced crusader face off against the hulking carnage of Bane
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It’s been quite a journey. Hopefully, reflecting that journey, the three films together will have a real span to them, some real heft.
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Christopher Nolan
JUNE / JULY own. If Drew’s cinematic storytelling can match that of his lyrical mastery, then ‘Manors‘ could make for an interesting debut.
The Turin Horse Friday 1st June
Prometheus
Friday 1st June “My question, that always bothered me, was in the three subsequent Aliens to my one, why did no one say, who was the big guy in the chair?” (Ridley Scott) This question has lain dormant for a third of a century, since we first watched in awe and quiet dread as Dallas, Kane and Lambert clambered into the observatory-like cockpit on the hulking, alien craft, before facehuggers, chestbursters and xenomorphs noisily stole the show. Thankfully for us, the progressively hapless Alien incarnations since Ridley Scott’s game-changing 1979 original were so entranced by the violence and shocks, that they, quite literally, lost the plot, leaving the door wide open for Sir Ridley to finish what he started with ‘Prometheus’. The action takes place in 2085, 37 years before the mission of the Nostromo in ‘Alien’, when plucky scientist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) discovers a star map documented by numerous, unconnected ancient civilizations. Funded by the powerful Weyland Corp, Shaw and her team board ‘Prometheus’, to seek out the bearers of this ancient ‘invitation’ and the answers, perhaps, to the great imponderables of our very existence. But, rather unsurprisingly, such secrets are not given up freely and as the action unravels, so too do the teams’ entrails, in a rising terror that can only be wrought by a genius of the genre like Scott. Spare pants are strongly advised! (TE)
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Strictly one for the Art House lovers. Hungarian master, Béla Tarr weaves a melancholy masterpiece for his self-proclaimed final film. An exquisitely minimal tale that follows an aging farmer and his daughter, living a pitiful and backbreaking existence on a wind-beaten farm, with their aging and unquestioning horse who suddenly refuses to work. Thematically rich and dark, the sweeping and unflinching black and white cinematography fuses with relentless soundscapes in a sensory tour de force. A timely reminder, that cinema can aspire to more than big box-office returns and aggrandising celebrities.
ill Manors
Wednesday 6th June
Plan B takes to the director’s chair under his real moniker, Ben Drew to bring us his representation of the grimy side of London life in the form of six intertwining stories. At their centre is Aaron (Riz Ahmed), a smalltime dealer landed with an unwanted baby, whilst whirling around them are a gritty yet colourful mix of junkies, prostitues, thugs and gangsters, all articulated with a searing rap track of their
A Fantastic Fear of Everything Friday 8th June
Former Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills’ debut feature sees Simon Pegg in jangling form as Jack, a sensitive children’s author whose ambitious research for a crime novel soon sees him reduced to a nerveshredded recluse. Based on Bruce Robinson’s short story, ‘Paranoia in the Laundrette’, and featuring quirky Wes Andersonesque animation, visual flair and a cracking performance from Pegg, there’s enough here to tickle even the prickliest killer hedgehog.
Casa De Mi Padre Friday 8th June
Speaking only in perfectly stilted and line read Spanish (subtitled into English), Will Ferrell stars in this bizarre homage to badly made Mexican TV dramas of the 70’s and 80’s, about a rancher in love with his brother’s fiancee and in trouble with a notorious drug lord (Gael García Bernal). Don’t expect big laughs, but the joy of watching Ferrell play things uncomfortably straight should make it a quirky, if somewhat unlikely success.
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JUNE / JULY
Cosmopolis
Friday 15th June
David Cronenberg returns to the world of the uncomfortably weird as he directs Robert Pattinson in an adaptation of Don DeLillo’s divisive novel. R-Patz is Eric Packer, a 28 year old multi-billionaire asset manager, who hops in his limo to go for a haircut. However, his journey across town becomes increasingly eventful as presidential cavalcades, funeral processions and riots disrupt his path, and give him the feeling he is being followed. The strange people he encounters ignite his secure world only for him to see his empire burn around him. Hotly tipped for this years Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Killer Joe Red Lights
Friday 22nd June
‘Buried’ director Rodrigo Cortés is unleashed with a blank cheque-book in this stylish and atmospheric supernatural chiller, casting Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy as his two skeptics for hire. They are the best in the business, exposing mediums, healers and spoon-benders as frauds with an impeccable record, but meet their match in blind psychic, Simon Silver (Robert De Niro). Expect fine performances and palpable tension as the doubters’ faiths are tested to breaking point.
Friday 29th June
Playing like a Greek tragedy in a trailer-park, this immersive tale of a disgruntled son’s plot to bump off his repugnant mother and cash in on her life insurance, is a textbook exercise in high drama. Matthew McConaughey shrugs off his romcom persona and chills as the titular killer; a bent cop living his own code, he is hired in to do the job, but takes the boy’s childlike sister Dottie (Juno Temple) as a retainer.
Magic Mike
Wednesday 11th July
When thinking about it, stripper movies have never really been great; Showgirls, Striptease and Deuce Bigalow? In fact you could say they were about as cheap and tacky as an Essex girl’s vajazzle. But there is, unfortunately, an undeniable value in watching a buff Channing Tatum gyrating in his smalls. Not my cup of tea, granted, but doubtless it will prove a hit with the teenage girls and divorcees. You have been warned!
The Amazing SpiderMan Tuesday 3rd July
Rock of Ages
Friday 15th June
Big stars, big hair and big rock songs make this hit musical the summer’s guiltiest of guilty-pleasures. Tom Cruise is guaranteed to steal the show as arrogant rock royalty, Stacee Jaxx, who is the sweaty, tattooed wedge between young lovers Drew (Diego Boneta) and Sherrie (Julianne Hough), during a tumultuous time for the disciples of rock on ‘The Strip’. Self-aware and tongue-in-cheek, this one honks of cheese so bad that it’s giving me nightmares just thinking about it...
Glastonbury The Movie (In Flashback) Friday 29th June
With no Glasto this year, it’s time to branch out and try a new festival or two. But if you feel you can’t go on without your annual dose of good vibes and good music from the Vale of Avalon, then fear not, as Glasto The Movie is back on the big screen. With 30 minutes of additional footage from the 1996 original and a new sound mix, this beautifully shot slice of festival history serves as a reminder of good times past, and of just how far the festival has come.
Only 5 years have passed since the last in the successful Tobey Maguire fronted trio of Spidey movies and we’re set to do it all over again, with this seemingly pointless re-boot. This time we meet Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as a bullied high-schooler, developing his special powers with the aid of his fantastic scientific mind. This brings him into the orbit of Dr. Connors, his dads old partner, whose research transforms him into the dastardly reptile. More 3D, CGI nonsense and pukeinducing, teen romance that leaves me screaming, “why, in God’s name, why?!”
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Ted
Wednesday 1st August Fans of Family Guy are in for a treat with the debut live-action feature from Seth MacFarlane. Ted is a cute, brown teddy-bear, brought to life by a young boy’s innocent wish. Now adults, John (Mark Wahlberg) and Ted’s close relationship is threatened by John’s blossoming relationship with Lori (Mila Kunis) and her insistence that he grows up. Expect plenty of foul-mouthed, cringing inducing banter as the two old pals struggle to cope with a woman ringing the changes. (TE)
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JUNE / JULY
PERFORMANCE
COMEDY & THEATRE
Swamp Juice Dave Goreman
Wednesday 20th June
Colston Hall
2011 marked Goreman’s first run at the Edinburgh fringe in 8 years and it was worth the wait, as he produced this, a 28 date total sell out show, signifying a return to the forefront of the stand up scene. Having decided to extend the show with an additional 30 dates, Dave Goreman’s Powerpoint Presentation is another chance to see comedy at its innovative best, executed by the man whose obsessive and observant mind forms a perfect union with his trusty old projector.
22nd - 23rd June
Bristol Old Vic Basement
Watching a man wield carefully constructed bits of rubbish in front of a bright light might sound a bit crap. But when the man at the controls is award-winning Canadian puppeteer Jeff Achtem, the effect is breathtaking. This spellbinding work brings to life the trials and tribulations of the unexpected populous of a rather special swamp, and last year scooped up the Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival.
John Robins & Erich McElroy
Stuart Goldsmith & Naz Osmanoglu
Hen & Chicken
Hen & Chicken
Friday 13th July
Kicking off this year’s Brouhaha! comedy festival, where you get two ripping, pre-Edinburgh comedy shows for a tenner, are the WestCountry’s very own John Robins, and a naturalised native of Seattle, Erich McElroy. Robins’ selfeffacing style of quickwitted and engaging tales from the high-street are always a joy earning him an exceptional Edinburgh pedigree over the last few years.
21st - 23rd June
The Brewery Theatre
Pronounced ‘see-lakanth’, this is one of The Edinburgh Fringe’s most lauded comedy writing talents, Ben Moor’s off-beat and imaginative one man play. Moor is the creator of a surrealist world of professional tree-climbers, imaginary flat mates, underground Compliment Clubs and Satanic jazz bands, through which he artfully weaves the dual story of a young man’s relationships with a girlfriend and his father. Cleverly worded and insightful, Moor’s work is a quiet delight.
Ever seen an act and thought, ‘how the hell is this person not more famous?’ Well, it is certainly the feeling you get watching Naz Osmanoglu. Naz’s keen observations, personal dislikes and embarrassing tales form the backbone to a hilarious and well delivered set. Also on the bill is Stuart Goldsmith’s show ‘Prick’, a cleverly considered account of his own addiction to approval.
Michael McIntyre
Frankie Boyle
Bristol Hippodrome
Colston Hall
25th - 26th July
9th - 13th July
Coelacanth
Friday 20th July
It is unfathomable just how this chipper little chap from Hampstead turned into a stadium-filling mega-star in such a short space of time. From stints on Live at the Apollo and Royal Variety Performances back in 2006 to a recordbreaking arena tour by 2009 and his own roadshow. This five day stint at the Hippodrome will see McIntyre testing out new material for his highly anticipated second tour, later this year and offers a great chance for fans to see a more sustained performance. Not the cheapest ticket in town, but sure to be one of the most sought after.
Henning Wehn & Sally Anne Hayward Sunday 15th July
Hen & Chicken
Originally moving to the UK to become the marketing manager for Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, German comic Henning Wehn soon realised that even in his second language, he could be funnier than most of the acts on the circuit. Responsible for one of my favorite jokes on ‘Fighting Talk’, “Why did my grandfather cross the road? To occupy France.” Also on the bill is Sally Anne Hayward, who’s ace!
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A man that needs no introduction, but it’s my f@*king job so I’ll f@*king well give him one anyway. The antichrist to the politically correct, Frankie’s fearless wit has made him a controversial favourite of panel shows, as well as an accomplished stand-up in his own right. His last show ‘I Will Happily Punch Every One of You in The Face’ was mooted to be his last, but happily fans of the caustic Scot have been treated to a stand up reprieve, in the form of this shorter, but no less brilliant show, ‘The Last Days of Sodom’. Naturally sold out, but positively not to be missed. (TE)
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Bristol Foodie Becci and Gemma introduce you to Bristol’s food scene
BRISTOL’S BEST… ALFRESCO DINING
Bristol Foodie sums up some of Bristol’s best places to soak up the sun Spyglass
Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB www.spyglassbristol.co.uk/ Twitter: @SpyglassBristol
Recently re-launched with the Lido’s Feddie Bird behind the menu, Spyglass has been funked up and rejuvenated. Food is simple but brilliantly executed – local, fresh, free-range produce, ranging from top notch steaks and burgers to whole crabs and rotisserie chickens. Make sure you save some room for ice cream though, as the Bristol cream sherry ice cream is something else! All ice cream is made from scratch, and if you have sampled the Lido’s you will know what we are talking about.
The Lansdown
8 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1AF www.thelansdown.com
The Lansdown makes a regular appearance in our ‘best of’ posts, most notably the Sunday roasts. But the extensive patio garden also makes it the perfect place for pint of cider and some of the best pub grub Bristol has to offer. The menu is small, but it has everything you need – scampi, ham egg and chips and the famous ‘New Yorker’ burger (also one of our best). Puddings are definitely worth saving room for too, we can recommend the millionaire’s shortbread sundae.
Best of the rest
Sourdough Café & EatAPitta St Nick’s Market When the sun is shining, very little beats sitting in Queen’s square chowing down on some top notch grub from St Nick’s There are so many good vendors it’s difficult to choose, but Eat a Pitta’s falafel and Sourdough Café’s toasties are firm favourites of ours.
Folk House Cafe and Bar 40a Park Street, BS1 5JG www.folkhousecafe.co.uk Twitter: @folkhousecafe
Folk House arts centre with café is hidden half way up Park Street. The menu is modest consisting of wholesome and home cooked food for veggies, meat eaters and vegans alike. Nestled between shops and gardens is their courtyard, simply decorated with plants and vines, the perfect hideout to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Bristol life and relax with some local cider, a hearty meal and maybe even a cake!
The Lazy Dog
The Gallimaufry
Under The Stars
112 Ashley Down Rd BS7 9JR From the folks behind the Pipe and Slippers and The Windmill, the Lazy Dog is slightly off the beaten track on Ashley Down Rd. Take a pew in the sunny garden with a pint and a £4.95 lunch special. It’s pub grub with a twist – think British tapas and homemade fish finger sandwiches.
26-28 The Promenade BS7 8AL This home cooking and curios bar from the masterminds behind the legendary Colour Inn has an ex Casamia chef in the kitchen. The food is delicious and the drinks affordable and its a great eclectic place with a nice vibe. An excellent spot to watch the weird go by on the Gloucester Road.
Narrow Quay, Harbourside Top deck of Under The Stars is a real sun trap - perfect for sunny afternoons. Under The Stars combines an affordable tapas selection with a well stocked bar including pimms, beers, ciders and house wine at just £3 a glass. This summer hotspot is a Foodie favourite simply not to be missed.
For more on Bristol’s food scene and the latest reviews visit www.bristolfoodie.co.uk
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NEXT ISSUE... Well that’s about it from us for another school year. In familiar fashion the Skint team bid you, the reader, a fond farewell as we head for our Monte Carlo beach house to work on our tans. Nah, only joking. We’ll be knee deep in festival muck with the rest of you. But all in the name of quality journalism you understand. In fact we’ll be too busy plotting our return, with a summer of renovation and a redoubling of efforts to further the hallowed name of Skint in preparation for the next, inevitable onslaught of fresh-faced first years who have never felt the throbbing agony of a Jaegermeister hangover, bless ‘em. Where ever you spend your summer months, just remember to rave safe kids, and don’t talk too much bullshit at strangers.
This issue was just about finished on time by: Simon Lock ● Matthew Hammett ● Tom Elgar Contributors: Brendan Beale, Charlotte Richards, Hayley Clemson Food: Rebecca Sargent Gemma Screen Art: Beth John, Vince John Cover / Posters Motorboy Special thanks: Dr Meaker, Boomtown Fair, Anna from De Sylva PR & Motorboy!
Want to get involved in Skint? We’re always looking for talented writers and artists to keep the cogs oiled. Send us a brief example of your work and let us know what you’re into... editor@skintmagazine.co.uk
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