9 ESSENTIAL
GIFT GUIDE STAY WAVY
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AITCH
WINTER SPECIAL
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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6... UPFRONT 14... A I TCH
ESSENTIAL
20... ESSENT I AL GIF T GUIDE
GIFT GUIDE
24... STYLIST
STAY
36... TRAVELLER 40... SAM FENDER 42... CRI T ICAL LIST 52... ALL THE NU THINGS 56... SI XTY9 SOCI AL
sixty9magazine 69mag
WAVY
STYLE
AITCH
WINTER SPECIAL
WINTER BREAKS:
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SAM FENDER FREE WINTER ‘19
!
THE PARTY ISSUE
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No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © 69 Magazine Ltd 2019.
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Go GO Gaga for Haus Labo
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oratories! Lady Gaga is known for pushing the boundaries with her outrageous outfits and distinctive style. Now the American singer, songwriter and actress is delving into the beauty world with her new line HAUS LABORATORIES by Lady Gaga. The collection includes eyeliner, liquid shimmer powders, lip liners and lip glosses. In true dramatic style, there is also a Face Masque Sticker inspired by the singer’s SuperBowl look. Fans can now get their hands on the new range of cruelty-free, vegan cosmetics for eyes and lips exclusively at Amazon.co.uk. Shop the collection now at www.amazon.co.uk/hauslabs
Comedians donate jokes for fundraising Comedians including Romesh Ranganathan, Milton Jones, Shazia Mirza, Flo & Joan, Tim Vine and Ed Byrne are amongst the performers who have donated their jokes to be included on a limited-edition poster on sale to raise money for Leicester Comedy Festival. Designed and hand printed by artist Barry D Bulsara, the poster (titled ‘Lest-Ha!’) features jokes from comedians who regularly perform at the annual Leicester Comedy Festival. Sales of the limited-edition poster are expected to raise over £7,500 which will be used to increase the number of community projects during the festival. In 2020 there is a specific programme of events aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of people visiting the festival. 2020’s festival features acts from Jo Brand, Stewart Lee, Milton Jones, Shappi Khorsandi, Fascinating Aida, Paul Sinha, Josie Long, Jason Byrne, Tony Slattery, Angela Barnes, Griff Rhys Jones, Andy Parsons, John Shuttleworth, Dane Baptiste, Rhod Gilbert, Mark Steel, Flo & Joan, Arthur Smith and Reg D Hunter. The poster is available, priced £37.50 + p/p, along with full details of this year’s festival which runs from 5-23 February at www.comedy-festival.co.uk or pick up a programme now in venues across Leicestershire.
www.69-degrees.co.uk
6 HAVE YOURSELF A HARVEY Nichols CHRiSTMAS
BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH Kick-start your Christmas celebrations with a bottomless three-course brunch served at Harvey Nichols Birmingham on Sunday December 8. Perfect for a festive treat with friends and family, diners can choose between Champagne, Prosecco or cocktails and will be entertained by a live DJ set throughout. Available from 11am until 3pm, dishes will include a selection of classic brunch dishes and Sunday roast as well as seasonal favourites and tasty desserts. Tickets for the festive DJ brunch cost £40 for bottomless Prosecco; or £50 for bottomless Champagne, Mimosas, Bellinis or Bloody Marys. The price includes three courses from the menu, a Christmas cracker and a small Foodmarket gift for each guest. Tables will be available for two hours. To make a reservation or for more information, call 0121 616 6028, email reservations. birmingham@harveynichols.com
Positivity, elegance and seduction: SMELLS LIKE Pepe Pepe Jeans London has launched CELEBRATE, a new line of fragrance for him and her just in time for Christmas. The bottle’s design feature a cocktail glass for her and a cocktail shaker for him with gilded metallic caps and delicately chiselled prismatic glass bottles. The fragrance for HER has sweet and savoury notes designed to keep the senses alert at all times. Popcorn, black pepper and chestnut are all notes with underlying tones of creamy vanilla to offer a fragrance that is both elegant and seductive. The fragrance for HIM combines the aromatic potency of juniper and cardamom with subtle notes of gin and cocoa. Pepe Jeans For Him & For Her costs from £39.50 and is available at The Fragrance Shop and www.thefragranceshop.co.uk
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8 WINTER CELEBRATIONS for all AT BULLRING & GRAND CENTRAL
get ready to get festive at Bullring & Grand Central The tree is up, the final touches are being put to the Bull’s outfit and the fairy lights are shining, Christmas has arrived at Bullring & Grand Central.
What’s new? Over the last few months Bullring & Grand Central have welcomed over 10 new shops and restaurants to the centre including H&M HOME, Levi’s and the only LEGO shop in the region. And if you’re looking for a bite to eat be sure to check out Slim Chickens in Grand Central and Digbeth Dining Club favourite, Indian Streatery on Central Street. There are also new pop-up kiosks on LinkStreet offering gifts and products from independent brands including unique greeting cards and locally created artwork. The Snow House Bar is back for its second Christmas on St Martin’s Balcony. Offering one of the best views in the city, Snow House is open daily between 11am & 8pm (10pm on Friday and Saturday). Journey to the centre of the fairy light with Once Upon A Time in Birmingham this Christmas with Bompas & Parr. This festive tea parlour and party bar features 88,000 fairy lights totalling 9km of illumination. Offering an experience like no other, you’ll be able to indulge with drinks and the world’s first crystal clear Christmas puddings. Intrigued? Find out more at www.bullring.co.uk.
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Dates for the diary It’s Black Friday on 29th November with lots of shops expected to run discounts across that weekend. Also look out for the Bull’s Christmas outfit as it will be unveiled on this day! In a wrapping rut?! If you’re looking to turn your Christmas present into a real under-the-tree showstopper, or disguise its contents from nosey friends or family, then head along to Bullring & Grand Central’s mystery wrapping pop-up on 19th and 20th December. Set those alarms early for the Boxing Day sales. Bullring opens at 8am and Grand Central at 9am but some stores including Next and Selfridges will be opening their doors even earlier for eager bargain hunters. The key advice is get there early! Merry Everything In Real Life. Three car parks, hundreds of shops and restaurants, and thousands of brands, visit www.bullring.co.uk to find out more.
Dasher Prancer In Real Life
Festive outfits for everyone. Excluding reindeer. Sorry. Open ‘til late.
10 venues embrace music, dance, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and visual art
2Funky Complex 2Funky Street Kitchen was launched back in the summer, joining 2Funky Lounge and the mighty 2Funky Music Café in Leicester’s vibrant West End. All three venues are going from strength to strength, with tribute nights, concerts, clubbing, open mics, workshops, festivals and private hire on the menu. The trio of venues embraces music, dance, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and even visual art. Previous artists to have featured include Akala, KRS-One, Mic Lowry, Fatback Band, The Sugarhill Gang, Botown, Julian Marley, Roy Ayers, and many others. The complex hosted Festival2Funky in May 2019, with performance zones showcasing both emerging and established talent. These venues have a student-friendly vibe and practically all genres are covered; everything from hip hop to pop, jazz to indie, drum & bass to house, and more. There are indoor and outdoor areas, licensed bars and dance floors. 2Funky Street Kitchen features pop-up street food events, influenced by Leicester’s diverse cultures, from the city’s finest guest traders. So there’s no need to leave the complex mid-gig for a crafty curry! A new, emerging trend is daytime clubbing, and these venues have also got that covered. 2020 is set to be a bumper year, with 50% of dates across these venues already booked. For enquiries on private hire (parties, events, gigs), please contact info@2funkymusiccafe.co.uk Mention SIXTY9° for a 20% discount. Full listings can be found on www.2funkymusiccafe.co.uk www.the2funkylounge.co.uk www.2funkystreetkitchen.co.uk #2funkycomplex
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Blast from the Past! The Biggest names in RnB, Hip-Hop, and .Garage from the 90’s & 00’s heading to the Midlands. Next year, a very special, one-of-a-kind tour is coming to arenas across Ireland and the UK in February and March. With a huge all-star line-up, The Blast Off Tour! features live performances from top US artists Nelly, Salt N Pepa, Shaggy, Mya and Blu Cantrell. This is the first time a tour of this format has been done in the UK and arrives in the Midlands in March with a stop at Motopoint Arena Nottingham on 3rd March and Resorts World Arena Birmingham on 12th March 2020. Prepare for some of your favourite smash hits such as Nelly's 'Hot In Herre', Salt N Pepa's 'Shoop', Shaggy's 'It Wasn't Me' and Blu Cantrell's 'Breathe' to be brought to life in arenas. The show will also be hosted by American hype man and hip-hop personality Fatman Scoop and includes exclusive appearances from UK garage stars So Solid members Lisa Maffia and MC Romeo, scene pioneer MC DT and the British duos Oxide & Neutrino, DJ Luck & MC Neat and Sweet Female Attitude. Tickets are on sale now at www.themjrgroup.com
SEE THROUGH SOUND Want to keep your drum and bass discrete? Or pop away your pop hits? Then high-end, Stockholm-based design brand Transparent Sound’s Small Transparent Speaker may be just the job lollipop! Stripped down to the essential elements, the speaker is constructed by one single aluminium ‘uniframe’ and tempered glass panel so it’s simple yet stunning whilst offering incredible sound for the avid audiophile. Designed to last forever, the Small Transparent Speaker features a sustainable ‘closed loop system’, which means new components and systems can be added as the latest wireless technology develops. This way, you can keep your tech updated, changing only a small part, instead of replacing the whole unit. It also works off both Bluetooth and True Wireless Pairing which means you can play two speakers at the same time- you can even add it to your Sonos set-up, using Sonos Connect or AMP hub. Priced at £450, Small Transparent Speaker is now available at www.transparentspeaker.com
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AIT
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Aitch is everywhere. With his latest single Taste (Make It Shake) reaching number two in the UK singles chart; the video being played almost 19 million times on YouTube and a collaboration with music royalty that is Ed Sheeran and Stormzy adding to past works with Young T & Bugsey Bugzy Malone and Russ & Tion Wayne, this 19 year old from Manchester, real name Harrison Armstrong, is pretty much the hottest new recording artist in the UK. Sixty9’s Francesca Arculeo caught up with him as he prepares to continue the success of his first sold out tour with his sophomore set of shows calling into Leicester and Birmingham this December.
CH www.69-degrees.co.ukk
16 So it’s safe to say you’ve had a big year with a lot of attention directed on you. Life must have changed really quickly? Yeah, it’s been sick you know, I’m enjoying it. I’m definitely taking it in and taking it as it comes. But it’s just work, I’ve got my little work head on, I just see it all as work, I’ve just got to keep working, got to keep pushing it. It’s fun though, you must have had some great opportunities? Is there anything that has been stand out for you? Yeah, I think the Aitch20 EP going to Number 3 and the single going Number 2 that was sick! I was gassed and obviously the tour selling out in like 7 minutes. It just proves how talented you are; and how popular you are right now! Yeah man, thank you! You are everywhere at the moment, do you still get excited when you hear your songs if you’re out and about, or if you’re in the car and it’s on the radio? Do you know what? I actually don’t like the sound of my voice. I never listen to my songs in my spare time. So, if you’re in the car and it comes on, is it a straight switch off? It’s not a straight switch off, not if there’s other people in the car. That’s a lie actually,
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17 if it came on the radio, I’d listen to it, just because it’s on the radio. But I wouldn’t get in my car, and put my EP on, but say if I went to the studio today and made a new song and I thought it was a banger I’d definitely play it tomorrow in the whip and play it for a couple of days, and then probably forget about it. You’ve got to test it out on the speakers. Let’s take it back a little bit. When did you first discover your love for freestyling? I was just writing rhymes; I wasn’t really rapping, me and my boy were just writing rhymes, and messaging each other and dissing each other, but not really rapping it. I never used to rap it out loud, I always used to write it. And then one day I must have decided to put a beat on. So, were you on the playgrounds at school sparring with each other? No, I was at home, no one knew. It was only me and one other boy, just one of my guys and then I showed him and linked him, and I was spitting to him and I sent him a video and then he was like - ‘You’re sick, you need to show everyone’, and I was like ‘Nah, don’t tell anyone’. And then one day, I got drunk in the park, and I ended up getting everyone around and saying, ‘check this out’. I then just played a beat, and just started spitting to everyone in the park and everyone loved it. Then it just went from there, and someone took a video of
me and put it on Facebook and YouTube and it just went crazy in our area, and then I just carried on. Now I feel like I’ve blinked and I’m here. You’ve got the attention of some really great people and you’ve collaborated with some big acts this year and you’ve had support from some of the greatest people in the scene like GRM Daily and BBC Radio 1xtra. Has anybody given you any notable advice? Yeah, do you know what I’ve been getting a lot recently off everyone, every artist and everyone involved in the music, is just telling me to take a break. That seems like the most important advice because obviously you can burn yourself out, and I actually haven’t had a break for like a year and a half. What was the soundtrack to your life growing up? I used to love 50 Cent, he was my guy. I used to be bumping bare 50 Cent, and those type of vibes and that type of era. I was bumping loads of that, and then I started listening to Chip, and started listening to the UK Grime. Then it was just a mix of old school Hip Hop and Grime, I started jumping on the UK Rap and then eventually, I was just listening to anything that was popping. I kind of fell off the American thing, I don’t really listen to American music anymore… I feel like the UK in the last couple of years has just blown up, and there’s just been so
many great talents that have come up, that have overtaken a lot of Americans as well… Do you think that what you’ve listened to has kind of influenced your style in any way? Do you know what? I feel like there’s not a certain individual whose influenced the way I rap. I think it’s more getting influenced by big people being successful, and I just wanted to be successful like them. So, it wasn’t an individual, it was more like everyone’s doing something really sick, what can I do? There’s got to be a gap I can fill. If you had to describe the Aitch style in three words, what three words would you use? I would say, Mancunian, flavour and wavy. Is there anybody that you really want to work with next year? Yeah, I want to work with Lily Allen. That’s next on my list. That’s one million percent going to happen. You’ve just finished the first run of sold out shows in September, and you’re getting back on it in December for the next tour dates. Are you looking forward to that? Yeah I can’t wait you know, it’s gonna be sick. It’s going to be ten times better; it’s going to be crazy; I can’t wait for this next one.
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18 my zone and there’s no one really trying to change that. No one’s really tried to take me out of my comfort zone, because it works like this I think. You’ve just released your EP, which hit the top 3, are you working towards an album? The album is definitely in the process, I’m not really going to be saying when it’s coming out because I’m not going to lie, it’s not really the main focus at the minute. I feel like everyone’s expecting it, but I’m not going to go down that road.
What can people expect from the live shows? Pure energy, you get a pure interaction from the crowd and you better be ready to get wet! Yeah man, it’s just a whole experience, it’s not just tune after tune. Do you notice that when you go to other cities, there’s a different reaction everywhere you go? Yeah, it’s mad. I’ve got a wide audience, so there’s different kinds of people in the crowd; it’s good to see, it’s just not what you expect. Even people who ask for pictures, you would never expect them to ask for a picture. I think that’s them buying into you, you’re unapologetic, you don’t take yourself seriously and I think that’s part of your success. www.69-degrees.co.uk
Yeah 100%. Have you always been like that even as a child? I’ve never really been too bothered, I’m obviously bothered about things, but I’ve never really been too bothered by other people’s opinions or what anyone has to say. I’ve always done what I’ve thought is best or what I want to do. I feel like that’s what works best. No one knows you better than you do.
You don’t want to rush it, this is going to be your first album it’s going to be like your baby, you have to make sure you’re happy with it. Yeah 100%. 2020 is going to be another big year for you, have you got anything in store you can tell us about?
How has that been in the industry because people are going to be pulling you in different directions, how do you stay true to yourself in that?
Next year is going to be crazy. I’ve got the Europe and the Australian tour next year, and the festival season, you can catch me at some festivals, it’s going to be going off. And yeah, just more sick music and more mad collaborations. I’m going with the flow but next year is already busy, so I don’t know what’s going to happen!
I’ve just got to keep my head but I think people in the industry know that I’m going to be more successful if I just do me, and I just stay in
Catch Aitch live in the Midlands: 13th December at O2 Academy Leicester and 17th December at O2 Institute Birmingham
winter’s most wanted On the hunt for a new winter wardrobe? The quickest way to update your look is with a sleek blackout look. This winter, embrace the dark side and discover the best designer pieces and all of your winter essentials at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet East Midlands for up to 60% less.
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save an extra 10%
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Show this page to Guest Services to receive your Fashion Passport, giving you a further 10% off outlet prices.*
4 1. JAEGER, RETAIL £299.00, OUTLET £209.00 2. FOSSIL , RETAIL £139.00, OUTLET £90.00 3. M&S OUTLET, RETAIL £27.50, OUTLET £9.50 4. KURT GEIGER, RETAIL £149.00, OUTLET £109.00 5. FIORELLI, RETAIL £75.00, OUTLET £30.00
destination style With extended opening hours throughout the festive period, there’s plenty of time to discover the perfect gifts for all the family. And some extra time for something special to drop into the shopping bag, just for you. To plan your trip and find out what else we have in store for Christmas, visit us online.
eastmidlandsdesigneroutlet.com *terms and conditions apply
You’ll find a huge range of designer brands at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet East Midlands like Converse, Jaeger, Kurt Geiger and many more. Visiting by car? Find us conveniently located off junction 28 on the M1 motorway and take advantage of the free spaces at our brand-new car park.
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1. Dune Lond charged Socks, £8.00-£1 Candle, Sactuary Spa, £6. 4. Plant Pot, Lacroix. 6. Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamo age Pot, £12, Oliver Bonas. 8. Christma Head Headphones - Plum, £89. 10. G Fab - Patsy by Wallace Elizabeth, £10 Candle Hand, £34.95, Audenza. 14. F RedCandy.co.uk. 16. Klimt Gold Crepe Electric Blue & Scottish Raspberry Gin Vegan Caramel, Popcorn Shed, £3.50. £12.99. 20. Girl Power Vases, £35, Aude Peel Off Mask, BioMiracle, £tba. 2
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don - Britney - £65. 2. Super21 12.00, Scamp & Dude. 3. Signature Heart , £6, River Island. 5. Maison de Jeu Playing Cards, £32, Christian ored With Coconut Gift Set, £79 7. Glass with Tassel Trinket Stormas Chocolate Bar Library, Montezuma’s, £11.99. 9. KREAFUNK Grand circus lip butter cone, £6, Daisy Park. 11. Patron Saint of 0, Artwow. 12. Elemis 12 Days of Beauty, £89. 13. Yellow ‘Peace’ Floral Travel Cup, £12, Paperchase. 15. Lips Doormat - £22.00, Du Chine Scarf, £45, Fox and Chave 17. Zymurgorium Flagingo n Liqueur, £15.95. Realm of the Unicorn Gin Liqueur, £24.99. 18. 19. Morning Glamour Singla Satin Pillowcase, Morning Glamour, enza. 21. Cushion, £20, River Island. 22. BM Stardust Detoxifying 23. Classic Miffy Amigurumi Crochet Kit, Stitch & Story, £38
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WINTER STYLE WE LOVE TO PARTY, STREEt STYLE, GET THE LOOK and smell good too IMAGE: Giambattista Valli x H&M stars Luka Isaac, Clara 3000, Cameron Monaghan and H.E.R, were shot in a variety of decadent settings in Giambattista Valli’s hometown www.69-degrees.co.uk
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IMAGES COURTESY OF G STAR RAW of Rome by the iconic duo Mert and Marcus. Styled by Melanie Ward. www.69-degrees.co.uk
S T R E E TS T Y L E REAL PEOPLE, REAL STYLE by SALLYANNE KIRK
Winter is well and truly upon us so I hit the streets for some seasonal style inspo! Classic trench coats are a big trend this season, worn tightly belted to create sophisticated silhouettes. Pleated mid length skirts and ruffled high neck blouses bring a ‘high end’ look whilst statement handbags finish off the look in fine style. Layering up with different textures add interest to outfits and designer monograms and logos are loud and proud! Limited edition street wear collabs add originality and wearable art in the form of bold, detailed graphics. Oversized warm hoodies with elongated sleeves make a big impact.
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LOUISA: Birmingham WINTER WISH LIST: Louis Vuitton Boots MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Chanel PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Definitely!
JAke; Nottingham WINTER WISH LIST: Balenciaga Shoes MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Places & Faces PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Yes! www.69-degrees.co.uk
COURTNEY: Leicester WINTER WISH LIST: Fur coat MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Chanel PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Yes!
WINTER WISH LIST: Winter coat MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Armani PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Absolutely not!
leeanna: birmingham WINTER WISH LIST: Dior Bag MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Louis Vuitton PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? 100%
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OLIVIA: LEICESTER jERMAINE: NOTTINGHAM
WINTER WISH LIST: Long Fur Coat MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Vivienne Westwood PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? No! Yuk
LOUISA : BIRMINGHAM WINTER WISH LIST: Louis Vuitton Boots MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Chanel PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Definitely!
RACHEL: NOTTINGHAM
ELISE: LEICESTER
WINTER WISH LIST: Trench Coat and Blazer MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Iris Van Herpen PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? No Way!
WINTER WISH LIST: Warm Hoodies MOST COVETED DESIGNER: Kaws & Uniqlo Collab PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? Not really! www.69-degrees.co.uk
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STYLE
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WE LOVE TO PARTY
Satin skirt, £150, Samsoe and Samsoe
Double Breasted Jacket £75, Nasty Gal
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Silver Sequin Dress, £95, ASOS
Rainbow silk dress, £350, Olivia Rubin
Sequin Mini Dress, £49.99, Zara
Hareem Pants £45, Nasty Gal
Satin Midi Dress, £27.99, Newlook
Strappy heels, £359, Julia Mays
Sequin trousers, £65, Very Rainbow Bag, £29.99, Zara
Snakeskin print heels, £65, Head Over Heels. Blue Satin maxi, £45, Girls On Film
Black jumpsuit, £48, Lipsy.
Multicolour sequin dress, £500, Retrofete
Coloured cross body bag, £24, Topshop
Burberry Bicycle Chain Belt £610 Harvey Nichols pale pink chiffron maxi, £120, True decadence
www.69-degrees.co.uk
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Treat your loved one to a beautiful Digbeth bag this christmas Designed to be the perfect partner for the daily commute, international travel and everything in between, each Digbeth bag is crafted from a meticulously selected range of materials, including supple leathers and luxurious suedes.
unique, beautiful and in harmony with the leathers used. The core bag range has an interchangeable pocket that can be moved from bag to bag, meaning essential items are never forgotten.
The buckles and clasps are exclusive to Digbeth and designed for durability whilst looking
The collections are available to buy now at www.digbethofficial.co.uk
WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT MIDLANDS FASHION AWARDS 2019 saw the 12th Midlands Fashion Awards; designed to provide an established and dedicated showcase for independent, emerging and creative talent from the Midland’s region, from designers to makeup artists and photographers. This year contestants competed across 7 categories - Young Designer of the Year : Convergence by Lucy Taylor, Sustainability Designer of the Year : Serefina Rose Charles, Emerging Designer of the Year : Isabelle Pennington-Edmead, Accessory Designer of the Year : Abigail Burvill, Professional Make-up Artist of the Year : Chetna Ladwa, Rising Star Make-up Artist of the Year : Miriam Bibi and Fashion Photographer of the Year : Lee Leyland
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Photographer of the Year 2019 Lee Leyland
Make Up Artist of the Year Chetna Ladwa
Emerging Designer of the Year Isabelle Pennington-Edmead
Sustainability Designer ofthe Year Serefina Rose Chales
SPECIAL FEATURE
GRAY & BULL STYLING OPTICIANS: Optometrists (Ophthalmic Opticians) and Optometry support staff (Optical Assistants). For over two centuries, Gray & Bull Styling Opticians has served people from all around the world, not just the UK, and regularly continues to see clients from neighbouring Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and South Yorkshire.
THE OLDEST INDEPENDENT OPTICIANS IN NOTTINGHAM PURVEYORS OF LUXURY & PIONEERS OF ORIGINAL EYEWEAR SINCE 1979 Gray & Bull Styling Opticians are the oldest independent opticians in Nottingham. Originally established in 1806, Gray & Bull Styling Opticians originally went by the name of Gray & Selby until 1939.
(just off Carlton Street) in Hockley. Closest car parks are the Lace Market and Trinity Square car parks.
Gray & Bull Styling Opticians are genuinely passionate about providing the best possible product for the needs of the client and as such, they specialise in Dispensing and Styling Consultations to help their clients find the perfect eyewear. The largest range of exclusive, quality and niche eyewear is available from global brands such as: Anne et Valentin and Dita from France; Barton Perreira, Jacques Marie Mage, Moscot and Mr. Leight from USA; Mykita from Germany; Theo from Belguim and Vinylize from Hungary to name but a few.
Gray & Bull Styling Opticians is based on Pelham Street which is just off Clumber Street where it meets with High Street and at the start of the fashionable Hockley/Lace Market area within the Creative Quarter of Nottingham City Centre. Their aim has been to create a warm and welcoming environment within the traditionally furnished surroundings. In a market dominated by larger optical groups, here is a practice dedicated to providing patients with a reassuring, individual and professional service. The practice is located just a few minutes walk from intu Victoria Centre, intu Broadmarsh, Kings Walk, Friar Lane and around the corner from Bridlesmith Gate, Wheeler Gate, the Flying Horse and the Exchange Arcade. On street parking is available on George Street and Broad Street
Gray & Bull Styling Opticians offers both Private and NHS eye examinations (eye tests) and also provides a comprehensive contact lens fitting, supply and after-care service.
Focus is always on providing a truly comprehensive and personal eye-care and eye-wear service that offers patients and clients the reassurance that their eye sight and spectacles are being looked after by qualified Dispensing Opticians,
Gray & Bull Styling Opticians remains committed to dispensing only the very best ophthalmic lenses by manufacturers like Nikon Lenswear and Zeiss lens into some of the finest hand-made frames and glasses (spectacles) from around the world. Indeed, emphasis is always placed on a personal service, correctly fitted frames and accurately dispensed ophthalmic lenses. The Pelham Street practice is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and Saturday from 9am-5.30pm. www.69-degrees.co.uk
STYLE
HIM
WE LOVE TO PARTY Willam Morris Golden Lily Bow Tie, £30, Fox and Chave.
Black and Gold Paisley Shirt, £19.99, New Look
Faux Leather Jacket, £90, River Island
33 Velvet double breasted evening jacket, £625, Hackett
Magpie, £69, Office
Quilted Velvet Jacket, £TBA, £90, Next Next
Blue paisley print pocket square, £40, Eton
Green Bow Tie, £10, River Island.
Red Trouser, £40, River Island
Bold Boot, £79, Office.
Black Metallic Jacquard Bomber, £30, Primark
Leopard Shoe, £38, Next
M&S Collection Velvet Blazer, £89, M&S Slash Band white cotton shirt, £320, Helmut Lang.
Hat, £25.99, Zara
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SCENT s a t i o n a l Santa’s Sexiest smells
Whether you’re looking for a timeless classic or a refreshing youthful fragrance, Molly Mohan has been into the stores to see what’s selling sent wise this Christmas.
Paco Rabanne Invictus
Dior Sauvage This woody scent is the number one fragrance this Christmas to lust after. The timeless classic is inspired by the magical hour of Twilight and is an aromatic journey of the senses. The smell is just like a spell, this fragrance contains a trail of warm sandalwood lightened by the freshness of spicy mandarin and finished off with Vanilla Absolute. All this can be yours from £66.
Hugo Boss Boss the scent This irresistible oriental, woody fragrance is one of the most powerful and distinctive aftershaves for men. Containing notes of ginger, exotic manika honey and leather accords, this fragrance was crafted to be savoured time after time. With the 100ml and 200ml bottles allowing for personal engraving what better way to spoil that special someone this Christmas. Available from £52.
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Described as the scent of victory, this trophy shaped aftershave is the perfect gift for the champion in your life this Christmas. Containing scents of marine notes and grapefuit, laurel leaves and guaïac woods and ambergris and ladanum, this powerful woody fragrance is the essence of winners. Starting from £49.50.
Black Orchid Tom Ford Distinctively different, this unisex fragrance takes you on a journey of the senses. The custom-grown Tom Ford black orchid instantly takes centre stage, inviting you inside in a way never before experienced. The dark oriental scent is made of a variety of flavours including black truffle, black currant, lotus wood, vanilla and of course the black orchid. Available from £50.
Calvin Klein CK One This classic youthful, fresh unisex fragrance is perfect for the bright, free-spirited individual. The frosted bottle and minimalist pack in recycled carton make it the perfect fragrance for your eco warrior. The fragrance contains bright notes of mandarin orange and bergamont, coming to life with fragrances of green tea and sensual musk. Starting from just £40.
Paco Rabanne 1 Million The scent of success and luxury, this gold bottled fragrance is a smooth and timeless classic which is essential for the modern man. The symphony of aromas is made up from a leather spice accord which is bursting with blood mandarin, peppermint and grapefruit, the absolute of rose and cinnamon and finally, blond leather accord, white wood, amber and patchouli. Yours from only £44.50.
STEPHEN & SOTTUNG OFFER LEICESTER SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND r Sid Sottung launch new barbering Barrie Stephen and world-renowned barbe collaboration in Leicester city centre
The collaboration between Leicester’s most decorated hairdresser and an American born barbering industry icon, will form the men’s grooming destination, ‘Sid Sottung Barber Shop’, bringing worldclass barbering to Leicester this December. Sid Sottung brings three decades of hairdressing experience to the new men’s salon which will be on Hotel Street in Leicester city centre. His impressive CV boasts 17 years at Vidal Sassoon in New York and Washington D.C where he rose to Assistant Creative Director with the brand. Sid has also looked after celebrity clientele, worked backstage for designers at London and New York fashion weeks and crafted hair for TV and film. Barrie Stephen has likewise been in the hairdressing industry for thirty years and recently won Salon Business’ Ultimate Salon of the Year accolade and Business Person of the Year 2019 at the Nachural Awards. He launched his Barrie Stephen Hair business 23 years ago in Anstey and has since grown his start-up
company into a five-strong salon business including a training academy and barbers lounge spread across the county, in Ashby, Anstey, Narborough, and the city centre. Barrie Stephen said: “Over the last four years Sid has trained up all our Barbers Lounge stylists, helping us skill up and provide amazing male grooming. I am so excited to be partnering with such an internationally recognised expert to bring world-class barbering to the heart of Leicester. On the collaboration, Sid Sottung said “Both Barrie and I have the same energy and drive to make things happen. We share the same goal of outputting high-quality hairdressing. Our new concept will combine all of the excellence of men’s barbering, attention to detail styling, traditional wet shaving and beard design with great attitude.” Sid Sottung Barber Shop will be opening at 6B Hotel Street, Leicester this December.
www.69-degrees.co.uk
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SNOW MUCH FUN
It’s that time of year to start thinking about making tracks in the fresh snow; hit the slopes this ski season and feel on top of the world.
Fly to Verona Verona might not be your first thought, but it’s a wellconnected ski gateway that takes you to some of the best, most breath-taking routes across the whole of the Dolomiti Superski area. You’ll find Madonna di Campiglio in Northern Italy, surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites mountain range. From Verona Airport it’s around 176km - a short distance to take you to the ski resort. The resort has around 150km of bright white snow, is suitable for both beginners and www.69-degrees.co.uk
intermediates, but also with some challenging black runs. The long and simple slopes are worth a run and you can wash down a top day on-piste with a glass of wine as the sun goes down in the picturesque town. If you’re looking for a ski destination with a reputation for sought-after après-ski, great shopping and a car-free, cobbled town, try Cortina d’Ampezzo. This wintertime retreat is around 270km from Verona Airport. Set to be the host of the 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, this impressive network of pistes is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe,
so it’s just the right place if you want a great patch for practicing snow sports. You can fly to Verona with Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI from Birmingham Airport.
ski areas and seems to be tailor-made for a winter holiday. Nine ski resorts around the city have joined together to form the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck, offering a huge range of options for skiers and snowboarders with each resort offering its own personality. If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort, try Muttereralm or Rangger Köpfl. If you want to ski in the tracks of champions, try Patscherkofel where the Innsbruck Winter Olympics were held in both 1964 and 1976.
VERONA
Fly to Innsbruck You might think of Innsbruck as a city, not a ski destination. In fact, Innsbruck is a true winter sport paradise. The picturesque capital, Tyrolean, is burrowed right in the centre of several
If you’re looking to mix skiing with other activities, stay in a downtown hotel, close to the shopping centres and historic attractions. You can fly to Innsbruck with Jet2.com and TUI from Birmingham Airport.
37 Fly to Salbuzg Salzburg, well known for hosting the production of The Sound of Music and for being Austria’s fourth-largest city. You’ll find Obertauern ski resort just over an hour’s drive from Salzburg Airport. It sits within the mountains and is divided into two areas – Tweng and Untertauern. Obertauern is the highest resort in the state of Salzburg, sitting on the edge of the tree-line, and is now known as Austria's snowiest winter sports destination. The village itself is made up mainly of hotels, bars and restaurants and the area has a bustling après ski scene. Possibly one of Austria's most underrated ski areas, Schladming lies within the beautiful Dachstein Mountain region. Schladming hosted the World Ski Championships in 2013 and invested heavily in new ski lifts. This investment has been well worth it - queues are kept short and speedy lifts give you more time for the downhills. Plus, with so many heated seats, you'll be kept cosy even on the chilliest of days. With a high proportion of runs rated red, Schladming is preferably suited to intermediates. You can fly to Salbuzg with Jet2.com and TUI from Birmingham Airport.
INNSBRUCK
SALZBURG
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ART IS TORONTO: WHERE FOR EVERYONE A bright, crisp climate, bustling city streets, quirky neighbourhoods and a critically acclaimed cultural scene, Toronto may just be the perfect place for your Winter break. Sixty9’s Jonathan Fraser got the lowdown on one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. With a flight time from London that’s equivalent to New York, I had to ask myself why I’d never made the trip across the pond to Toronto before so when we were invited to visit the Toronto Biennial of Art I jumped at the chance to not only immerse myself in the city but also explore its cultural identity. Built around Lake Ontario, Toronto is Canada’s most populated city with a downtown district filled with glass and steel hi res developments. Property is at a real premium and there are new developments all across the city. The bustle of city living, it’s stunning skyline and proximity to the water’s edge gives downtown Toronto a distinctly Manhattan feel – it even has its own Flat Iron building! Just like Manhattan it’s the city’s cosmopolitan districts that show its true character. Since its founding in 1793 under the name ‘York’ by the British (which explains the very British feeling tree lined streets that are home to beautiful Victorian villas and
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townhouses), Toronto has been an important destination for immigrants to Canada and despite each district historically being inhabited by its own distinct community groups there is no ghettoisation; Toronto is a truly multicultural city with more than 50 percent of the city’s residents belonging to a visible minority population group, and over 200 distinct ethnic origins are represented among its inhabitants. It gives the city a unique and welcoming vibe .
DISTRICTS TO EXPLORE Kensington Market: Toronto’s Camden and perfect for those that like a walk on the wild side, Kensington Market is full of boho, hippy chic stores, cafés, bakeries and boutiques. Perfect for vintage fans, the area’s Victorian buildings are also
home to hipster bars and eateries. Distillery District: Located close to downtown, the Distillery District was home to the city’s burgeoning whiskey trade but has now been converted into a slick retail and relaxation zone with designer stores, chocolatiers, craft breweries and restaurants located within it’s vintage industrial architecture. Its also a popular place for wedding photos so expect to see a bride or ten… Church and Wellesley: Right in the heart of downtown and perhaps the best location for a fun night out, the LGBTQ village is home to inclusive bars, clubs and boutiques. We loved the Glad Day Bookstore – by day an LGBQT bookshop and café and at night an event space and sometime nightclub!
Harbourfront: With an epic view of the lake, The Harbourfront is a tranquil escape from the city within its very heart. Walk the promenade, take a boat trip, visit a gallery or grab some lunch. In fact, why not do it all?
ART IN TORONTO
Queen Street: Vintage and vinyl stores make up this hipster paradise which goes from punk to preppy depending on your direction – but hey, this is Canada so everyone is still super chill and friendly. Tons of independent bars, breweries, restaurants, bakehouses and unique stores make it a great place to explore or stay- we stayed at The Broadview Hotel, an uber cool ex strip club on the corner of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue. Rooms come equipped with their own record player, there’s a vinyl library on each floor to select from and a hip rooftop fusion restaurant to enjoy with a killer cocktail menu. Try the Peary Godmother; bourbon, pear juice, honey and sage syrup. Dundas West: Home to a huge collection of Street Art, so much so that it’s classed as an open-air museum (@dundaswest.museum), Dundas West is home to independent bars, barbers, restaurants and stores that have retained their vintage shop fronts giving the area a mini Shoreditch feel. Make sure you visit MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art and order the Pesto Falafel at La Palma.
We visited during the city’s Biennial of Art; a new international contemporary visual arts event that takes place for ten weeks across the city meaning that for every district you visit, you are sure to find some art to experience on your journey. This year’s festival, offering 72 days of free art, took its theme from Toronto’s evolving relationship with its Shoreline with wide ranging exhibitions examining the region’s indigenous routes, Canadian identity, immigration and cultural appropriation as well as traditional crafts explored using contemporary techniques. The centre point of the festival is Toronto’s infamous Nuit Blanche where, for one sleepless night, Toronto is transformed by hundreds of artists and nearly 90 art projects. It’s a night of art and revelry across the city, exploring installations
and popping into a bar or two along the way. The crowds are huge, the atmosphere electric and with a programme of art that is for everyone. What’s not to love. This year’s program responds to one event-wide curatorial theme of Continuum. The theme follows many paths during the event – set against a backdrop of the ever-present renewal of night into day, a continuum of experience and ideas is brought to light by the participating artists. Find out more at www.torontobiennial.org
VISITING TORONTO For further information about Toronto, visit Tourism Toronto at www.seetorontonow.com. : #OpenYourCuriosity #SeeTorontoNow Getting there: Air Canada offers more daily flights from the UK to Canada than any other airline. From London Heathrow this winter, the airline operates up to 4 daily flights per week to Toronto, with Economy fares starting from £448.82 inclusive of taxes and 1 x checked bag (subject to change). Find out more at www. aircanada.com or call Reservations on 00 800 6699 2222 When To Visit: Canadian Winter’s are a thing of legend but Toronto experiences very little snowfall compared to the rest of the country. Instead the Winter weather is dry and crisp - Torontonians are not fans of wet weather – so it’s a great climate in which to explore all year round. My visit coincided with a sunny Autumn with temperatures in the mid to late teens. Expect Summer highs of 28 degrees and Winter lows of -7. Hotel: Double Rooms at the Broadview Hotel Toronto start at $289CAD Book your room at www.thebroadviewhotel.ca Toronto City Pass: A Toronto CityPass (www.citypass.com/toronto) provides access to key attractions across the city including the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and Toronto Zoo or Ontario Science Centre. The passes are £52 for adults and £34 for children (plus taxes). Getting around Toronto costs just £7 per day with a TTC day pass (www.ttc.ca).
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CRITICAL LIST YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE BEST THEATRE AND ARTS THIS WINTER... www.69-degrees.co.uk
SAM FENDER In the midst of a sprawl of council estates and terraced houses that snake down the high street on the way east to the Tynemouth coast, there’s a square patch of parched grass with goalposts at each end. Before his guitar offered an escape route from North Shields, Sam Fender would roll around its cracked pavements with nothing much to do and nowhere to go. Invariably, he’d be kicking a ball around or smoking cigarettes, always with a song in his head. “I love my hometown, but when I was growing up I did feel trapped,” he begins. “I felt suffocated, it was claustrophobic.” Fender couldn’t stand the inertia, and turned to his guitar rather than his A-Levels to find a way past it. A sense of abandon informs his urgent, heartfelt, already essential rock‘n’roll songs, which tell stories of a life on the fringes. “I grew up in a place where there are lots of kids that came from families that didn’t work, and then they didn’t work,” he says. “There’s a lot of fear involved when you grow up in a town like that, fear that you’re not going to make something of yourself. I mean actually having a life and seeing places, I never wanted to be stuck there. I butchered my A-Levels ‘cause I was too busy being an idiot and playing the guitar. I ended up working in the pub for two or three years and I had no direction really, I didn’t know how I could get me music off the ground. It looked almost inevitable that I’d be stuck there…” Now, Fender has no reason to be afraid. With a debut album recieving critical acclaim and a UK tour this Winter, Sam was also named as the BRITs Critics’ Choice for 2019, following the likes of Adele, Florence & The Machine and Sam Smith, Sam Fender remains the young British songwriter most likely to. It’s not just his fans and critics that are touched by the tunes, there’s an edge to Fender’s songs that can also make him tremble. The surging, urgent Dead Boys deals explicitly with male suicide and mental health issues, and has caused outpourings of emotion among that growing band of followers. Sam’s song-writing oeuvre is for impassioned observations about the state of
the world around us, socially-pertinent, simply relayed. If the happily and blissfully ignorant characters he creates in the essential Hypersonic Missiles sound familiar, and this mythical, destructive world sounds frighteningly similar to our own, well ‘that’s just coincidence’, he grins. “I rant about the stupid stuff we idolise, but feeling helpless because I’m not smart enough to pose an argument for its destruction,” he explains. “I’m panicking all the time. I just don’t understand the world we live in and I think a lot of people feel like that.” That last point has allowed Sam Fender into the hearts of many. He’s speaking frankly to a confused generation. His vivid stories make his messages loud and clear. This music doesn’t come easy. “My songs come from a very real place, a lad from the North-East of England writing about what’s in front of his face,” he says. “I never will claim to be an expert about the issues I talk about, but I will try and talk about them.” One thing Fender can claim to be an expert on is North Shields, the area that has shaped his gnarled, addictive songs more than anything else. “It’s a very proud place. My dad was a club musician, and worked as an electrician and various other jobs. He played social clubs for years, people I grew up with were grafting through the week in different jobs and playing gigs at the weekend,” Fender says. “They were part of a big community and industry that got destroyed in the ‘80s, so I grew up when everything was dismantled.” With a debut album recieving commercial anc critical success, that bleak source material is proving potent inspiration for a blockbuster release. “This is genuinely all I can do, so I best go and do it.” You can catch Sam Fender live at: 5th December @ O2 Academy Birmingham www.samfender.com www.69-degrees.co.uk
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ASKING FOR IT AT THE REP Already an award-winning book, Asking For It now reaches the stage in a sensational adaptation at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 29 January – 15 February. Louise O’Neill’s devastating novel was inspired by real events. An account of an 18-year-old girl, Emma O’Donovan, was raped at a house party by the sports stars of her school and distrusted in the fallout by the divided community of her picturesque Irish village. Having already received huge acclaim and a sold-out season at Ireland’s national theatre, The Abbey, Asking For It is theatrically extraordinary. A stunning multimedia production that vividly portrays what it’s like to be young in this hyper-sexualised, hyperscrutinised age.
BRB- The Nutcracker
Until 14th Dec @ Birmingham Hippodrome Join young Clara as she is swept away into an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and a Sugar Plum Fairy. Her magical Christmas tree and her handsome prince with his army of toy soldiers are an unforgettable delight. In this most festive ballet, gigantic sets, lavish costumes, 60 dancers and a full orchestra combine to make the perfect Christmas treat for the entire family.
Sigrid
2nd December @ O2 Academy Birmingham Rebellious Norwegian pop sensation, Sigrid, continues her ascent to the top with her biggest headline tour to date. Following the release of her extraordinary debut album, Sucker Punch, in the spring and a support slot with George Ezra, these shows will be the cherry on top of an outstanding year for the star.
Lewis Capaldi
Mahalia
24th November @ O2 Institute Birmingham Breakout R&B star, Mahalia, follows the release of her hugely anticipated debut album, Love & Compromise with a huge headline tour.
2nd December @ Rock City Nottingham Just a year on from his debut live shows and young Scottish singer-songwriter, Lewis Capaldi is now set for the biggest headline performances of his career. The tour will follow the release of his long-awaited album, Divinely
Following on from the Time’s Up and the #MeToo movement the timeliness of this production, its necessary probing and truthful examination of the consequences of rape and society’s penchant for victim blaming continues the conversation in a vital and disruptive way. Heart-breaking and truthful it may be but Asking For It is that rare thing – a necessary show about now and an unforgettable night at the theatre. Another provocative story to be told from a female perspective at The REP in 2020 is Faustus: That Damned Woman from 26 February – 7 March. In this radical retelling by the award-winning playwright Chris Bush, of the darkly compelling tale of Doctor Faustus, Johanna Faustus makes the ultimate sacrifice and sells her soul in order to time travel across the centuries and change the entire course of history. This devilishly striking production, by the ever-brilliant Headlong, promises to thrill purists while captivating new audiences. As a contrast to these two gripping dramas is The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel from 25 – 29 February – an homage to two men who, as young, unknown performers, toured the USA for two years together as part of Fred Karno’s famous music hall troupe and ended up changing the world of comedy forever. Brought to the stage by the playful Told by an Idiot this hilarious and deeply moving play without words features an original piano score composed by Mercury Award Nominee Zoe Rahman played live each night. For tickets and info visit birmingham-rep.co.uk
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Unforgettable performance, powered by you 0844 338 5000* birminghamhippodrome.com *Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge.
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Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, which couples his honest and heartbreaking anthems with a beautiful humour that has already won him a huge following worldwide.
Skepta
26th November @ O2 Academy Birmingham Skepta is set for his first headline tour since the release of his uncompromising, authentic and eradefining album, Ignorance Is Bliss. The record was met with huge acclaim from fans and critics alike, so don’t miss your chance to experience its brilliance live.
Harry and Chris
28th November @ Glee Nottingham The world’s greatest comedyrap-jazz duo are back with their awardwinning wordplay, awe-inspiring musicality, eyebrow-raising bromance and unashamed joy to the biggest PR task of all time - spinning planet earth.
Emeli Sande
30th November @ De Montfort Hall, Leicester 2nd December @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham 10th December @ Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Multi-platinum, award-winning singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé MBE announces her U.K tour ahead of the release of her much anticipated third album Real Life.
Giggs
Jack Whitehall
27th & 28th November & 5th January @ Motorpoint Arena Nottingham Award-winning comedian, actor and writer Jack Whitehall has announced his biggest UK and Ireland arena tour ever.
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29th November @ O2 Academy Birmingham 4th December @ Rock City Nottingham British rapper, Giggs, is rounding off what’s been a vintage year for his career with his biggest headline tour to date. The tour follows the release of his heavyweight album, BIG BAD... which produced many standout singles and catapulted itself into the UK Top 10 earlier this year.
MUNA
4th December @ O2 Institute Birmingham LA dark-pop trio, MUNA, are back with more euphoric and melancholic gems in sophomore album, Saves The World, and you can experience them live this winter.
Razorlight The Midnight Beast
1st December @ O2 Academy Birmingham After their three albums The Midnight Beast, Shtick Heads and The Album Nobody Asked For all reaching number one in the comedy iTunes chart, the trio are now gearing up to hit the road in December with their 10th Anniversary tour.
6th December @ O2 Academy Leicester Razorlight came storming back into our lives in 2018 with their explosively exuberant album, Olympus Sleeping and now, as they happily head into the next decade with confidence, the band will be playing a set of intimate live shows before they go full steam ahead in 2020 with the release of their fifth album.
COMING SOON... PETER PAN 30 NOV – 19 JAN
Join us for an adventurous reimagining of the magical tale
ASKING FOR IT 29 JAN – 15 FEB
The acclaimed stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s devastating novel
FAUSTUS: THAT DAMNED WOMAN 26 FEB – 7 MAR A radical reimagining of the Faust myth
TARTUFFE 20 MAR – 4 APR
The RSC’s wickedly hilarious version of Molière’s classic returns to the stage
ROMEO & JULIET 16 – 25 APR An ambitious new version of this timeless love story
Box Office 0121 236 4455 | BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK birminghamrep
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46 Club 2B
Donae’o
6th December @ O2 Academy Birmingham North London rapper, Donae’o, is heading out on tour, fresh from the release of his new single, ‘Bonita’
11th – 31st December @ Belgrade Theatre Join Belgrade this Christmas at Club 2B – where you’ll leave reality behind as our host and club owner, the enigmatic “Z”, takes you on an exhilarating trip through time in an immersive theatrical party event like no other.
voice of Radio 1’s prestigious dance programming and Britain’s most influential figures in electronic dance music, Pete Tong along with conductor Jules Buckley and a 65 piece, The Heritage Orchestra, will be taking a fresh show of Ibiza Classics across the UK.
Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics
5th December @ Motorpoint Arena Nottingham 11th December @ Arena Birmingham Now firmly part of the live music calendar, the
Dermot Kennedy
5th December @ Rock City Nottingham 11th December @ O2
Academy Birmingham Following a run of sold out shows earlier this year, global star onthe-rise Dermot Kennedy will return to stage in support of upcoming debut album, Without Fear.
Little Simz
12th December @ Rescue Rooms Nottingham Finally hitting her stride, as well as the big time, London rapper Little Simz has released her third album ‘Grey Area’ to much acclaim, and her current tour is selling out across the country.
WINTER AT THE HIPPODROMe The Red Shoes is a tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion. Set to the achingly romantic music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, The Red Shoes is orchestrated by Terry Davies and played by the New Adventures Orchestra. The modern magician of dance, Matthew Bourne is back at Birmingham Hippodrome this February as his multi-awardwinning production of The Red Shoes returns to the stage. You may have caught his retellings of Swan Lake or Romeo and Juliet in 2019, now his double Olivier Award winning adaptation of the classic movie is coming back to the city for the first time since 2016.
www.69-degrees.co.uk
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences; The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart. More unmissable dance comes to the Hippodrome next spring when Message in a Bottle comes to the West Midlands for the very first time. This exciting new production is choreographed by the acclaimed Kate Prince and set to the iconic music of Sting.
Highly original lyrical hip hop dance and breath-taking music combine in an uplifting story of humanity and hope. In Message in a Bottle, a village alive with joyous celebrations is suddenly under siege. Determined and daring, three parted siblings step out on their own extraordinary adventures. Songs include Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Walking On The Moon, Englishman in New York, Shape of My Heart and Fields of Gold. The cast features dancers from ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, the creator behind Some Like it Hip Hop and Into the Hoods, and a Hippodrome Associate Company. Book tickets & find out more at birminghamhippodrome. com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).
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48 Ghetts
13th December @ O2 Institute Birmingham 15th December @ Rescue Rooms Nottingham East London rapper, Ivor Novello nominee and grime veteran, Ghetts, continues to support last year’s critically acclaimed album, Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament, with his biggest headline tour to date.
to take the plunge as we reveal what really happened under the sea, in a tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers. A musical parody.
Aladdin
14th December – 5th January @ De Montfort Hall, Leicester A traditional family pantomime full of songs, laughter, fun, baddies, silliness – and lots of custard pies!
Unfortunate: The Untold Story
16th – 22nd December @ Birmingham Hippodrome From the multiaward winning Fat Rascal Theatre, creators of sell-out hit musicals Buzz and Vulvarine, comes the untold story of Ursula the Sea Witch. It’s time
Aitch
13th December @ O2 Academy Leicester 17th December @ O2 Institute Birmingham Tipped as one of 1Xtra’s Hot for 2019 artists and anticipated to have a massive 2020, Aitch’s skippy flow and crafty lyrics have made him stand out from other rappers . Read our interview with him on page 14.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs 21st December – 2nd February @ Birmingham Hippodrome
Packed with comedy and festive fun, Birmingham Hippodrome’s magical pantomime brings together a galaxy of stars for Britain’s biggest regional panto.
The Gift
18th – 25th Jan @ Belgrade Theatre An outrageous comedy drama about imperialism, cross-racial adoption, cultural appropriation and drinking tea.
The Woman in Black
20th – 25th Jan @ Curve, Leicester Continuing its record breaking run in London’s West End, The Woman in Black now embarks on a major UK Tour Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story comes dramatically alive in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation.
Extraordinary Wall [of Silence]
22nd & 23rd Jan @ Birmingham Hippodrome www.69-degrees.co.uk
Ad Infinitum combine the company’s signature style of physical storytelling with the beauty of British Sign Language in an unmissable feast for the senses.’
Kaiser Chiefs
17th Jan @ Motorpoint Arena Nottingham 25th Jan @ Arena Birmingham Fresh from their triumphant homecoming gig at Leeds Elland Road, Kaiser Chiefs have announced a date in Birmingham with very special guests Razorlight.
Jonas Brothers
29th Jan @ Arena Birmingham The JoBros are back and heading to Birmingham as part of their first European headline tour in over a decade!
NEW & EXCLUSIVE
Introducing Premier Lounge - the brand new, exclusive contemporary lounge bar with panoramic views across Arena Birmingham. Your Premier Lounge Membership includes: Access to 1 seat at 20 performances of your choice at Arena Birmingham, such as: LIAM GALLAGHER CRAIG DAVID ELTON JOHN Private Balcony Seating to watch the performance A complimentary welcome drink at every performance
Access to exclusive Amplify member events
ÂŁ2,500
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A R E NA B H A M .CO.U K / PR E M I E R
SOMETHING FOR EV 23 NOV – 11 JAN
9 – 31 DEC CURVE, ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON & SIMON FRIEND PRESENT
In association with Hachette Children’s Group and Coolabi Group
LIVE ON STAGE
Based on the bestselling book by
GILES ANDREAE
GUY PARKER-REES
© Purple Purple Enterprises Enterprises Ltd Ltd aa Coolabi Coolabi Company, Company, Illustrations Illustrations © © Guy Guy Parker Parker Rees Rees ©
12 – 14 MAR
SAT 15 & SUN 16 FEB
TUE 11 11 & & WED WED 12 FEB TUE
CHARMANE THU 13 FEB THU 13 FEB
THE DAY I FELL INTO A BOOK THU 13 & FRI 14 FEB
VERYONE AT 20 – 25 JAN
THE ORIGINAL. LIVE ON STAGE.
SUSAN HILL’S
FEB 2020
PROUD TO BE A VENUE
FLO & JOAN MARK STEEL LOST VOICE GUY FIONA CLIFT SHANE SHAMBHU GRIFF RHYS JONES LAUGH TERM NOTFLIX
STEPHEN MALLATRATT
COMEDY HEAVEN
24 – 28 MAR
31 MAR – 4 APR
ADAPTED ADAPTED BY BY
A A Frantic Frantic Assembly Assembly and and Theatre Theatre Royal Royal Plymouth Plymouth Production, Production, co-produced co-produced with with Curve Curve
BY BY SALLY SALLY ABBOTT ABBOTT CO-DIRECTED CO-DIRECTED BY BY KATHY KATHY BURKE BURKE AND AND SCOTT SCOTT GRAHAM GRAHAM
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ALL THE NU THINGS
there’s so much to see, hear, play and read THIS WINTER; Here’s our pick... WATCH: The War of The Worlds Legend has it that when Orson Welles first performed HG Wells’ War of The Worlds as a radio play at Halloween in 1938, it was so authentic that people rushed out into the streets in panic, believing that there was indeed a Martian invasion. You can listen to the original on YouTube and make your own judgement or you can tune in to what looks to be an absolutely epic production by the BBC set in Edwardian England during an alien invasion. Expect a huge cast including Rafe Spall, Eleanor Tomlinson and Robert Carlyle as well as an awful lot of moustache wax and Martians!
new single ‘Don’t Start Now’ is anything to go by then we cannot wait. The 24-year-old singer has teased that her new music is a change of direction, she said: “It would probably be risky if I wasn’t risky with the next record. I don’t think it would be as fun if I tried to recreate the first record. As an artist, you constantly want to grow and change your perspective and try something new.”
WATCH: No Time to Die HEAR: DUA LIPA With a global arena tour starting in April, Dua Lipa’s sophomore long player will be more upbeat with no ballads and a distinctly disco edge. If www.69-degrees.co.uk
At one point we thought this was never gonna happen with multiple changes in writers and directors, but Bond is back and it’s Daniel Craig’s fifth and reported last outing as British Spy 007. Is there a place for the
historically misogynistic Bond? Well, with the likes of Phoebe Waller Bridge on the writing team it seems that everyone’s favourite super spy is being dragged into the modern world. Does that mean the end of the Bond Girl? We think it’s more like the very beginning and we cannot wait!
53 SEE: West Side Story
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The classic story of Romeo & Juliet updated, the musical masterpiece, West Side Story comes to Leicester’s Curve this Christmas and brings with it a timeless score including America, I Feel Pretty, Tonight and Something’s Coming as well as a 16-piece Orchestra. The path of true love never runs smoothly and when one of you is a Jet and the other a rival Shark, mixing love and gangs can only lead to trouble and heartbreak. Take your mum and pack your tissues. Until 11 Jan. www.curveonline.co.uk
HEAR: Coldplay Everyday Life Everyone’s guilty pleasure (who hasn’t been alone in the car and turned up ‘A Sky Full of Stars’) Coldplay are back with their first album in four years and it’s out now. Announcing the album via a classified advert in a Welsh newspaper, ‘Everyday Life’, is a double player split into separate halves – Sunrise and Sunset – we presume that the new singles, the upbeat Orphan and reflective Everyday Life fall into the respective halves meaning that this could possibly be the Coldplay album for every mood. Even if you do play it in secret.
WATCH: POSE 2 If you haven’t seen Pose yet or even heard of it then get yourself on BBC iPlayer immediately. Ryan Murphy’s ground-breaking drama which features the biggest ever trans cast tells the story of the 1980’s New York Ballroom culture which saw dispossessed members of the LGBT community come together and choose escapism, fabulousness and Vogue! Gag binge-watching Season One and then tune in weekly for season two which picks up on the House of Evangelista two years on as the Ballroom scene goes from ghetto to global. Now get out of my way, this outfit is far too good not to be seen...
READ: JUST THE TONIC Ever get bothered by Mosquitos on your hollibobs? Then make sure your drink of choice is a Gin and Tonic as Tonic Water was originally developed as a cure and preventative measure to malaria and mozzie bites! For fans of all things Gin, Just the Tonic explores the drinks roots in the Victorian era. Read up on the changing role of the G&T: the rise and fall, and rise again, of cocktails during the 19th century; the art deco cocktail bars of the 1920s, through to the Mad Men era and the recent resurgence of the gin and tonic as a drink of choice. Written by leading experts from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this is the first authoritative book on the history and role of tonic water.
WATCH: Rambo Last Blood It’s unbelievable to think that at the age of 73 Sylvester Stallone can come back and play the greatest action hero of all times, the character defining John Rambo. Almost forty years since the first Rambo, Last Blood returns with the title lead confronting his past and exacting revenge in this his last mission. And it’s probably best it’s his last outing to be fair as, unlike Bond, Rambo just can’t get with the modern-day world- a bit like Brexiteers. If you got upset about Greggs selling Vegan sausage rolls, this is probably the film for you. www.69-degrees.co.uk
54 FILM: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker SEE: Peter Pan The final instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the one that has to somehow deal with the death of Carrie Fisher and the therefore disappearance of the one and only Princess Leia. With director J.J. Abrams unwilling to recast the role (quite right) or to over rely on computer generated trickery, expect Leia to make a small yet significant impact on proceedings using previously shot and unused footage. A year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again. Meanwhile an ancient conflict will bring the Skywalker saga to a definitive end.
READ: BOWIE: Stardust, Rayguns, & Moonage Daydreams Inspired by the one and only superhero, extraterrestrial, and rock and roll deity in history, this is the original graphic memoir of the great Ziggy Stardust! In life, David Bowie was one of the most magnetic icons of modern pop culture, seducing generations of fans with both his music and his counterculture persona. In death, the cult of Bowie has only intensified. BOWIE: Stardust, Rayguns, & Moonage Daydreams chronicles the rise of Bowie’s career from obscurity to fame; and paralleled by the rise and fall of his alter ego as well as the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust. As the Spiders from Mars slowly implode, Bowie wrestles with his Ziggy persona. The outcome of this internal conflict will change not only David Bowie, but also, the world.
WATCH: The Lion King Elton John may not have liked it but the live action remake of Disney’s The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, is a film of epic proportions and a thing of beauty to behold. On the African savanna a future king is born. Simba worships his father, King Mufasa, and prepares for his royal destiny but his ascendance is not accepted by everyone with former heir to the throne Scar, Mufasa’s brother, having plans of his own. A battle of betrayal sees Simba exiled until with a little help of is friends, he rises again to take back what is rightfully his. www.69-degrees.co.uk
A thrilling re-imagining by The REP, Wendy and her little brothers are feeling lost. Separated from their mother, they’ve been sent to live in a flat high up above the city of Birmingham. Then one night, a remarkable flying boy arrives offering her an escape. The boy’s name is Peter Pan and he invites Wendy and her brothers to fly away with him to a magical world beyond their urban reality. A world of mischievous Lost Children and boundless dreams called Neverland. But there’s danger lurking – it’s also a place of malicious mermaids, feisty fairies and the devious Captain Hook, who is plotting on Skull Island with a band of fearsome pirates. Can Wendy defeat them to save her newfound friends?
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ForeverLand
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Billy Bootleggers
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Glee Club Anniversary
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Forverland Carnival
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Foreverland Carnival
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Leicester Independent Launch
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The Taphouse
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Billy Bootleggers
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The TapHouse
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e Club Anniversary
Nottingham Cocktail Week
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The TapHouse
Glee Club Anniversary
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