It was clear to see that this show was as much about Bury Tomorrow as it was about headliners Of Mice & Men. Being Bury Tomorrow’s hometown, they were given an extended slot to get the crowd stoked for their upcoming album The Union of Crowns.

To make the most of their 40-minute allocation, first single from their new album, ‘Lionheart’, opened and quickly exploded into ‘Anything With Teeth’. The impressive sound quality instantly suggested they had been given headliners treatment from their well-loved venue.

The stand-out song of their set was ‘An Honourable Reign’, which was recently debuted on Daniel P. Carter’s BBC Radio One Rock Show. With the single yet to even be available on to purchase on iTunes, it was surprising how many people in the crowd knew the lyrics and were getting involved.

The predictable heat of Joiners bore down on the band without mercy, but it was only in between songs that it was noticeable. The heat can only be partly to blame though, as the sheer effort the guys put in is second-to-none.

After impressing with ‘Royal Blood’, the band finished off with fan-favourites ‘Casting Shapes’ and ‘You & I’. With a mixture of songs performed from both Portraits and The Union of Crowns, Bury Tomorrow were able to show the crowd why they deserved to be touring, and while they’ll continue to be for a long time.

Annoyingly though, hearing their new material live has made 16th July feel a lot further away than it did before.

On 25th April at the National Union of Students conference in Sheffield City Hall, Liam Burns was re-elected as the National President for the Union. He will serve a second term in this role, continuing in the office until the end of June 2013.

Liam Burns says on the election: “I am delighted students have put their trust in me and re-elected me to serve a second term as NUS President.”

His manifesto was not just to look at ‘students of today’ but to take a more long term approach and see what the Union can offer to students in the future as well. The voting took place through four rounds; with each round candidates with the least votes would be eliminated.

In the 1st round of votes, 6 candidates were eliminated; next Black Students’ Officer Kanja Sesay with 121 votes was eliminated. In the 3rd round Usman Ali, Vice President of Higher Education, was knocked out leaving only Ed Marsh, the NUS Vice President, and Liam Burns. It was a tight call as Ed Marsh had gained a lot of grassroots support, mostly though his time spent as Vice-President for the Union development.

However, it was Liam who came out on top and was elected with 57% of the votes in the final round going to him.

Liam Burns comments on the other candidates: “I have a huge amount of respect for the other candidates, all of whom ran fantastic campaigns and will go on to achieve amazing things in the future.”

Before becoming President of the National Union of Students in July 2011, Liam Burns had studied and worked as a Sabbatical officer at Heriot Watt University.

Burns has already proven himself in the role of President, as in his first year as the NUS President he managed to run the Come Clean campaign. This campaign has achieved a commitment from Universities UK and Guild HE to show hidden course costs, which for some students is impossible to handle, making living and studying costs unmanageable.

Burns added: “With the Government’s abandonment of the proposed higher education bill, scrapping of EMA, and presiding over record youth unemployment, so many of their wrong-headed reforms are taking place behind the scenes and we will continue to vigorously contest them out in the open.”

In addition to the election there was an intense discussion on the National Union of Students’ approach to the reforms submitted in the Government’s White Paper. In the end a vote took place; the results being in favour of calling for the resignation of David Willets, the Universities and Science Minister.

Hockey celebrate their win on the steps of Portsmouth Guildhall

The AU awards is like the Oscars of the Portsmouth Athletics Union where the great and the good of the University sports clubs dress smart and gather together to celebrate their best achievements of the sporting year.

Dan Black hosted the event, which was held at Guildhall and was characterised by cheap food, free wine and balloons; many of which ended up on the ceiling. The stage was set, the screen was ready and the clubs had brought their committees and leavers to share in the celebration.

The white noise of screaming coming from the Cheerleading table demonstrated a very successful end to a very successful season for the club, snapping up awards for Coach of the Year (Emma Lucas), Performance of the Year and securing 3rd place for Club of the Year.

Netball were also noisy as they celebrated Fundraiser of the Year after organising a variety of events including a race night and having several club members take part in the Great South Run.

Sailing took Most Improved Club of the Year with Daniel Robert Henderson leading the way for them as they managed to qualify for the BUSA/BUCS finals, and Volleyball Women’s 1XI took Team of the Year after winning the cup and coming second in the league, despite beginning the season without a committee.

Then came Club of the Year, which went to the Hockey Club with a narrow margin of just two votes over last year’s winners Netball.

The award was given to the club because of an outstanding all-round season, dedication to their individual club members, increased membership and their ability to boast that many of their teams were promoted or were league winners.

Hockey’s President Steven Dancey was also awarded Full Colours and special recognition along with Bruce Suraci (Football) for their efforts in the AU throughout their time at the University.

The other major individual awards (Purples) were awarded to Hockey’s Sam Druce, Sailing’s Daniel Robert Henderson and Tchoukball’s Ian Parker, all of whom have been rewarded for their outstanding performances in their chosen sports.

Finally came the award for Sports Personality of the Year, which is voted for by the sports clubs present at the dinner and awarded to the person with the biggest personality around the AU as well as someone who gives their time and energy to making the AU better.

This went to Rich Glover from Racquet, which proved to be a very popular choice earning him a standing ovation from everyone at the event.The evening was finished off by a video showing all aspects of the University Sports including Varsity, Tour and various Wednesday games and ending with Dan Black’s phrase of the year ‘Back yourself’.

All in all, it was a great night which showed off the University of Portsmouth’s sports people at their best and finished off another excellent year for Portsmouth’s sports clubs.

Half Colours

Daniel Green – Athletics
Mo Abdullahi – Athletics
Victoria Hewitt – Athletics
Lauren Pellant – Basketball
Michelle Taylor – Basketball
Robert Pearson – Basketball
Tom Foster – Basketball
Becky Smith – Boxing
Calum James Lewis – Boxing
Gemma Smith – Women’s Cricket
Stephen Roberts – Dodgeball
Chris Morris – Football
David Templer – Football
Matthew Parry – Football
Simon McManus – Football
David Hickman – Hockey/Swimming
Elena Clements – Hockey
Victoria Clark – Hockey
James Martin – Hockey
Mark Pellatt – Hockey
Sam Weir – Hockey
Natasha Bond – Netball
Nicola Elliott – Netball
Tamara Paton – Netball
Jamie Barrett – Racquet (Badminton)
Lucy Read – Racquet (Badminton)
Thomas Townsend – Rowing
Oliver Hives – Rugby
Alan Foyster – Sailing
Neil Payne – Sailing
Mizuki Kazama – Tchoukball
Matthew Nowak – Ultimate Frisbee
Jason Clarke – Windsurfing

Full Colours

Bruce Suraci – Football
Stephen Dancey – AU Chair/Hockey
Amy Pugher – AU Exec/Cheerleading
Ken Li – AU Exec/Lacrosse
Nola Hamilton – AU Exec/Netball
Lisa Roberts – Basketball
Sam Clive – Basketball
Yannick Fah – Boxing
Catherine Reading – Cheerleading
Jordan Weller – Cricket
Rhiannon Watkins – Dance
Matt Roberts – Dodgeball
Naomi Spicer – Equestrian
Gary Atkinson – Football
Kirstie White – Football
Jamie Makopa – Gym & Tramp
Morwenna McKenzie – Netball
Sally Tibbittts – Netball
Henry Archer – Sailing
Oliver Herve – Sailing
Ben Wallace – Tchoukball
Jessica Davidson – Ten Pin Bowling
Andrew Peek – Ten Pin Bowling

It’s no surprise then that 61% of us are increasing our intake of tea and coffee, and a further 32% are sipping on energy drinks to help us through the stress. As I sit down to research this article, I sip my third cup of coffee of the day, glance at my never-ending to-do list pinned to the wall in front of my desk and can’t help but laugh at the irony.

But that’s the life of a uni student right? Staying up ’til silly hours of the morning to meet deadlines and swapping meals for caffeine substitutes? Sure, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. And increase in caffeine intake affects your sleeping pattern, and I don’t need to tell you how sleep deprivation adds to existing stresses.

In fact, the whole exam period can scramble your physical and mental state in many ways, from headaches and anxiety attacks to over-eating and insomnia. If you’re riding through the exam period particularly badly you could be opening yourself up to a whole host of medical problems.

These of course can hinder your performance in the things you’re preparing so meticulously for.

So here are a few helpful hints to keep you on top form this term:

1. Cut down your caffeine intake: By all means don’t cut it out completely, sometimes a mid-afternoon pick-me-up is much appreciated. Just keep it to one or two cups of coffee or cans of energy drink per day. However, absolutely no caffeine after 8 o’clock. Make sure it’s all out of your system well before you head to bed.
2. Get your 8 hours: It’s a well known but little adhered to fact that we need around 8 to 9 hours of sleep at night to keep us healthy. Not only is it good for you in the long run but a regular sleeping pattern will increase your productivity massively.
3. Avoid the junk food: Almost half of us will turn to junk food for convenience during the exam period. However convenient it may initially seem, you’ll end up feeling sluggish and not to mention the effect it will have on your waistline. Opt for a jacket potato, which can be bunged in the oven with no preparation, or beans on toast – quick, tasty and lots of fibre.
4. Finally and most importantly: Take breaks. Whether it’s an hour here or there to stretch your legs, or taking a day off on a Sunday make sure you get some time for you. It’ll help you to clear your head, so you’ll be more on the ball when you’re working and you get to spend some time with friends. And checking Facebook doesn’t count! Get away from the keyboard. Studies show that our brain works best when we’ve had some physical activity.

So breathe, look at your workload with a fresh and well-rested mindset and tackle this final push head on.

Cassie has been competing for just two years and ran in the 10K race at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Outdoor Athletics Championships, the official London 2012 Athletics test event.

This event was part of the London Prepares series and was used by the Olympic Organising Committee to test vital areas of operation in preparation for the London 2012 games. BUCS is also the end event of Universities Week which incorporates the Olympics and the Paralympic Games as its theme.

Cassie was rewarded a Sports Scholarship from the University through the Sport and Recreation Department and is ranked sixth over five miles in her age group for the UK. However, after a recent injury she was simply looking forward to trying her best and competing once again.

Thorp performed at the Olympic Stadium, home to this year's track and field events

She said: “I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of running at the Olympic stadium and after months of being injured I’m just thankful I can make the event.”

She was joined by 20 other students from the University’s Athletics Club who will compete in a range of events at the Olympic Park. Around 30 University staff and students joined them in London to show their support.

Speaking before the event, Cassie said: “The training is intensive as I’m currently running every day and clocking up around 50-60 miles a week. I’d like to take it as far as I can and maybe even become a professional athlete but right now I just have this weekend and the Olympic stadium in my sights.”

Paul Tilley, Head of Sport and Recreation added: “It’s the showpiece of the Olympics and the atmosphere created by a 60,000 strong audience is going to be electric. Competing at an event like this will be a massive inspiration to young athletes.”

The music industry was recently hit with the news that iconic heavy metal label Roadrunner Records has shut its offices located in the UK, Germany, Canada and Australia, leaving the offices in the US unaffected. It was also announced that founder and CEO Cees Wessels and 36 other employees will be made redundant as a result of the closures.

Since 1980, Roadrunner Records has released some of the biggest rock and metal albums, with its current roster of artists including Slipknot, Nickelback and Korn. If you are a fan of rock music then you are bound to have one of their releases in your record collection.

There has not been an official statement or reason for the closures, but it does signal to be a cost cutting measure during the hard economic times.

We all know about downloading music illegally, and we’ve all heard the various record labels views on how it is affecting the business as a whole. But to be perfectly honest, with Adele recently topping the young rich list with a staggering wealth of £20 million, times don’t seem to be so hard for the mainstream artists and labels. As a result, people are continuing to ignore pleas from record labels to actually pay for music.

22nd April 2012 saw the trend of ‘Record Store Day’ fly around Facebook and Twitter, being the most popular year since it began in 2007. Its aim was to promote independent record stores and to “celebrate the art of music”. The idea was for each and every one of us to go and buy a new record from an independent store and keep the industry alive.

Unlike Adele’s bank balance, the closure of Roadrunner Records might be enough to convince people that downloading music for free has affected labels that promote some big bands. We all like things for free, but sooner or later labels will close for good and music won’t be as accessible as it is now whether you pay for it or not.

This year’s Slam Dunk festival takes place at Hatfield University on Sunday 27th May, and is headlined by Taking Back Sunday. With over 40 other bands playing including The Blackout, Motion City Soundtrack and Funeral for a Friend all spread across 7 stages, £32.50 for a ticket is unbelievably great value. For the complete line-up, venue information and ticket details please visit http://www.slamdunkmusic.com/slam-dunk-festival.

NASS Festival – Bath and West Showground, Somerset – 6th to 8th July

Bath’s very own extreme sports/Drum and Bass/Metal festival is returning this year bigger and better than ever. With headliners across 5 stages including Sum 41, DJ Fresh (LIVE), Doctor P and While She Sleeps, there is a great mixture of music on offer. If that’s not enough, there will also be various Skateboarding and BMX events occurring over the weekend. With weekend tickets costing only £79, it is one of the cheaper festivals available this summer, with plenty of variety on offer. Please visit http://www.nassfestival.com/index for more details.

Vans Warped Tour – Alexandria Palace, London – Saturday 10th November

For the last 13 years, the US have been enjoying the Vans Warped Tour party at the UK’s expense. 2012, however, sees the tour return to the UK with Lostprophets and Bring Me the Horizon topping the bill.  Also set to play over 4 different stages are 3OH!3, Architects, New Found Glory, Bury Tomorrow and many more. Don’t let the winter weather put you off, as the fantastic indoor Alexandria Palace will host the festival vibe without the pouring rain. For details on the first announcement and ticket details please visit http://www.vanswarpedtouruk.com/.

Not long after Bury Tomorrow blew the roof off Joiners, the intro music to Of Mice & Men’s set began, allowing them to enter the stage and explode rapidly into ‘Still Y’DG’n’. Austin Carlile’s screams were inevitably veracious, but it was his clean vocals that really impressed. Their bassist and clean vocalist, Shayley Bourget, departed the band in early 2012 and the singing duties were thrust firmly on Austin, but he delivered like he had been the singer for years.

A nice mix of tracks from both the self-titled Of Mice & Men and The Flood was played on the night, flowing from ‘Those in Glass Houses’ into ‘Ohioisonfire’. The standard heat you come to expect in Joiners was apparent from the sweat dripping off the band, but there was not a beat or note missed as they powered through.

A particular crowd-pleaser came when Austin screamed “I don’t really think that you’ve ever walked a mile in my shoes”, and the band broke into ‘Ben Threw’. The song title’s play-on-words is completely enhanced when you witness the passion and commitment from the band as they headbang and interact with the crowd as if there is no stage present.

The level of power that Of Mice & Men can produce was taken to a new level with ‘Product of a Murderer’. The insanely heavy breakdowns and fast chorus keep drummer Valentino on his toes, whilst the guitarists energetically move around the stage.

The band encore with ‘Second & Sebring’, and the emotional motive behind the song meant that Austin called upon singer Jason Cameron of Bury Tomorrow and Kenta Koie of Crossfaith to perform his vocal duties whilst he stood and witnessed from amongst the crowd. It was brilliant to see a unity between the touring bands, but to hear Austin’s voice would have been the ideal.

Southampton Joiners hosted California’s Of Mice & Men on Saturday 5th May, closing the UK headlining tour. Even though I was interrupting their dinner, Alan, Valentino and Austin were more than happy to have a chat with me.

They were quick to thank the UK crowds from previous shows and Austin added: “with our performance, we know we’re going to go hard, so it all depends on how the crowd reacts. That’s the most important part for us”, and the sold-out crowds have exceeded their expectation. “We’ve been lucky enough to be on tour here [the UK] previously with Asking Alexandria and August Burns Red”, said Valentino, “and so it cools to see on our own headline tour that those tours have helped us create the fan base we have over here.”

They revealed that they were extremely excited to play the debut UK headline shows, and hand-picking the “kick-ass support package with Bury Tomorrow, Crossfaith and With One Last Breathe means our first time coming out here is making a statement.”

Despite the disappointment of bassist and singer, Shayley, departing in early 2012, “it’s been a great transition”. Austin revealed: “we’re a tight knit little group, and we’re really happy where the band is heading now.” With the clean vocal duties being passed on to Austin, he was excited to “challenge himself and step up to the game”. Questioning them on their plans for a replacement bassist, they were excited but tight-lipped: “You can’t know who and you can’t know when, but there will be someone, and it will be magical.”

“We’ve recorded some new tracks for the re-release of The Flood“, explained Valentino, “but we’re still writing the third album.” Asked what it was beginning to sound like, Alan confidently said: “if you liked the first and second Of Mice & Men albums, then you’re going to love the third.”

Even though the rest of the band members are extremely talented, the media focuses heavily on frontman Austin. He said: “it’s cool to know that just by doing something that I’m crazy about doing make other people like me but I’m just a normal person.” He humbly believes that “Of Mice & Men is Of Mice & Men and even when I left the band, these guys were still writing, still touring and working really hard, and that should show a lot to the fans and to the press.”

Read the review of their show at Southampton Joiners.

Knowing Michelle personally, it is obvious that art and drawing are her passions; and there couldn’t be a better way for her to share her talent than through her debut illustrative book Hurricane Lane.

The book consists of 36 pages, all complete with illustrations drawn and coloured by Michelle. A short children’s story has been written to accompany the drawings, narrating the tale of a girl who has been set the homework task of finding her own seven wonders of the world. Through this assignment, the girl begins to notice and experiment with aspects of the world, such as wind and light, that she had never thought about before.

The only slight criticism is that the title does not really associate well enough with the story. There is one page where half of the Hurricane Lane street sign is displayed to show that the girl lives there. Although the back cover does display the words ‘You don’t need to leave home to find the seven wonders of the world’, I think only an adult would make the connection between the title and the story.

The story and language are simple, which is exactly what the book requires. If an adult was to ‘read’ the book, they would be more likely to appreciate the artistic value rather than search for literary merit. The rhyming narrative, however, allows the book to be read to children who will also enjoy the drawings and learn something from the girl’s experiences.

Michelle’s first book is available to purchase in hardback on Amazon US for $7.99 and electronically from www.hurricane-lane.com for only $0.99 in a wide variety of formats. Also available on the website is exclusive interactive content and further information about the book.

Modestep are a four piece electro/rock band from London currently on a mission of bringing dubstep to the masses. With full backing from Radio One, Skrillex and currently on tour with Lostprophets, this band have friends in all the right places and are making the most of it.

They take their positions on stage behind a variety of computers, synths, live drums and guitars. Receiving a luke-warm welcome amid an air of uncertainty, they waste no time with introductions and crack straight into their first number.

The good thing about being in a dubstep band is you don’t have to bother making your own songs, just remix everyone else’s, which is what Modestep do with expert precision. Ears prick with faint familiarity to some Skrillex, Knife Party and a harmonious Cee Lo Green remix; but a huge cheer is reserved for a subliminal rendition of Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’.

It is hard not to bop your head and make ridiculous hand gestures when listening to Modestep. They rarely let their intense blend of heavy dub and rock slow, keeping a constant tempo and party vibe.

Modestep cut and paste a bouncing set of remixes with their own material which is received with affection. ‘To the Stars’, ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Show Me a Sign’ prove the band have the ability to write catchy dubstep tunes guaranteed to move the wettest of festival crowds. Their cover of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ is a particular highlight of their set, winning the reserved applause of older gig patrons.

Bowing out with one final frenzied attack, highest charting hit to date ‘Sunlight’ leaves the crowd recoiling in bass-induced trauma yet feeling entirely satisfied.

Tie-dyeing works best on fabrics like cotton, linen and viscose, so break out your tired old leggings, a boring tee or if you want to jazz up your bedroom you could even give it a try on your sheets. Other fabrics like wool or polyester-cotton blends will also take the dye, but often result in a much lighter shade so be aware and always check the instructions on your dye.

In this article I will be showing you how to make a spiral print t-shirt (see picture on the right) using 3 colours, but you can use as many or as few colours as you like. There are also lots of other tie-dyeing techniques that you can Google to get exact instructions.

Of course, before we get started, you’ll need some dye which can be found in most craft shops, or Wilkinsons for around £2.99. Each packet contains enough dye to dye 250g of fabric. The tie-dye technique featured here will produce enough dye for 5 t-shirts, so if you’re making fewer, adjust the quantities accordingly.

Once you have decided on which items you are going to transform into visions of colour, you need to prep your surfaces. Tie-dyeing can get quite messy, so cover your surfaces with plenty of newspaper and wear gloves. You will need three separate containers that can hold 6 litres of water to mix the dye in (and avoid using your sink unless you want to risk losing your deposit at the end of the year, because the dye may stain) – a large bucket or washing-up bowl will be fine.

After you’ve finished with your creation make sure you hand-wash your garments separately the first couple of times you wash them so that the dye doesn’t run in the washing machine.

Materials

• T-shirt
• 750g table salt (250g or 5tbsp per dye colour)
• 3x Dylon Fabric Dye, various colours (for hand use)
• Water
• Elastic bands
• Washing detergent
• Empty washing-up liquid bottle
• Rubber gloves

Directions

1. First wet your fabric. This will allow the dye to absorb easily. Lay your wet t-shirt flat down on a surface and make a pinch near the middle of the t-shirt; this marks the centre of your spiral. (See picture 1)
   
2. Now twist your wrist in a clockwise direction keeping hold of the t-shirt. Keep twisting the material using your other hand to ease the fabric into a tight spiral shape. Once you’ve made your t-shirt into a tight spiral as shown in picture 2, take four elastic bands and place them horizontally, vertically and two diagonally around the disc, holding the spiral in shape and creating eight wedge shapes, as you can see in picture.
   
3. Now fill a tub with 6 litres of warm water. Add the salt and the dye and stir well. Repeat for each of the dyes you’re using.
   
4. Now it’s time for the messy part. Fill the empty washing-up liquid bottle with one colour of dye. Put the lid on and squirt the dye onto three segments of the t-shirt, which are marked out by the elastic bands. Ensure that both sides of the t-shirt are soaked in the dye by emptying the whole bottle onto the garment. Repeat this step for each of the colours used. This is where you can get creative by alternating the wedges with the different colours, merging colours together and overlapping them to create new shades. Make sure there is enough dye on each segment; you may need to fill the bottle back up and repeat the process, especially if using a light dye (see pictures 4 and 5). Once you have finished applying the dye, place the top in a plastic bag and leave for one hour to absorb. Then rinse the top with cold water until the water runs clear. Take off the elastic bands, and then with a small amount of washing detergent and warm water, hand wash the t-shirt.
   
   
5. Finally, put your t-shirt in the washing machine on a spin cycle to get rid of excess water. Once this is done, allow your t-shirt to dry completely before wearing.
   

Et voila! There you have your very own, unique and colourful t-shirt to kick-start your summer look.

This Asian-inspired pasta dish is a tasty twist on an everyday dinner. While it’s so simple to prepare, it packs a punch which is bound to impress friends and family. It requires only a few simple ingredients, some of which will be lurking in your kitchen cabinets anyway, and is ready in around 15 minutes.

This recipe uses pre-cooked prawns to ensure that it’s a speedy supper, but they could be easily replaced with raw prawns. Just make sure to read the packet instructions carefully and adjust cooking time, ensuring the prawns are cooked through and piping hot.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 8oz spaghetti pasta
• 300g cooked and peeled prawns
• 1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
• 4tbsp sweet chilli sauce
• A few cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• Olive oil

Method

1. Cook the spaghetti according to pack instructions in lightly salted boiling water.
2. Towards the last 5 minutes of spaghetti cooking time, heat some olive oil in a deep-sided pan and gently fry the garlic and red chilli for about 2 minutes on a medium heat.
   
3. Add the prawns to the pan and fry for 2 minutes. Add the sweet chilli sauce and stir for a minute or two until the sauce is heated through.
   
4. When the spaghetti is cooked, drain and add to the pan of sauce. Gently toss the sweet chilli prawns with the spaghetti until well coated then serve with a few sprigs of fresh corriander.
   

A hybrid of Italian and Asian cuisine, this dish goes well with some crusty garlic bread and a nice cold beer.

The people at Dark Encounters, a Portsmouth-based company which offers a range of events such as ghost hunting, paranormal investigations and historical walks, recently invited me to go along to the Spice Island Ghost Walk at 9pm “because it’s much scarier than the 7pm one”, the owner Jonathon Fost told me.

I am very easily scared and not made of the strongest constitution so this information did not fill me with joy. The 25 strong group met by the Square Tower in Old Portsmouth and rounded-up by the formidable Mrs Phillips, a brothel-owner from the 1600s. Accompanying her was the Judge and the Highwayman who were equally fearsome. The Judge escorted us around Spice Island, imparting the gruesome history of some of Portsmouth’s most well-known sites.

We ran, terrified, through the pitch-black tunnel of the ramparts, following Nelson’s footsteps, out across the moat to The Spur Redoubt in order to board HMS Victory for the Battle of Trafalger in 1805, the last time he was seen alive on dry-ground.

With the grotesque contents of the tunnel following us, manifesting as a butcher with an excess saliva problem and a sailor who had no concept of social boundaries, I was very glad of the two young boys in front of me who had torches to guide us through.

As we assembled on the sea walls, Mrs Phillips decided she required new girls for her brothel to entertain the sailors when they were in the port. I took it as a compliment of the highest form when I was selected as the most expensive girl, selected on the basis that I had my own teeth and didn’t smell too repugnant.

Having never been on a ghost walk before I didn’t have much to compare it to but the five actors accompanying us didn’t once slip out of character and were incredibly convincing ghosts. Despite being terrified at points, a lot of laughs were had, as well as gaining a lot of gory historical knowledge about Old Portsmouth. I would suggest not walking around Old Portsmouth on your own on a dark and misty evening; you never know who you might bump into.

To book your own dark encounter with a 20% discount visit www.darkencounters.co.uk or call 0808 120 1020 and quote STUDENT 102.

After breaking up with her boyfriend of 11 years and being thrown into the world of singledom, Rory finds herself rebelling against everything she has ever known. With a little encouragement from her work friend Ticky, Rory embarks on a project to date as many unsuitable men as possible and write about them in an online column for the posh magazine, Country House.

Never having dated anyone else but her ex Martin, Rory finds herself in a variety of comical situations with toy-boys, sugar-daddies and a variety of other men, all of which, for Rory, are not Mr Right. After being kicked out of her London house by her ex, Rory moves in with her Aunt Lydia who runs a hotel for retired actors. The two elderly lodgers living there are the once famous Percy and Eleanor who make for some very entertaining conversations and bizarre advice.

The characters that you meet as the story unfolds are without a doubt what make this book. It is a funny and enticing storyline that will keep you glued until the very last page. The twists and turns that crop up along the way will have you questioning whether one of Rory’s Mr Wrongs could be her Mr Right and whether Percy and Eleanor have in fact entirely lost the plot.

Overall it is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Though the idea of a thriving ‘alternative scene’ down Albert Road is at times hard to imagine, amongst all the staggering middle-aged women and leering middle-aged men, 15th September is the one day this year when you can be sure there will be absolutely no shortage of things to do.

Southsea Fest, our city’s annual exhibition of all the things that give Albert Road such a good reputation, is back again to cure any end-of-festival-season withdrawal symptoms that may be lingering after Bestival. Now in its sixth year, the profile of the event is continuing to grow and this year’s line-up has got the acts to match.

Participating venues include the Wedgewood Rooms, Kings Theatre, The Fat Fox, The One Eyed Dog and Little Johnny Russell’s, so you won’t have far to walk. The only problem you might have will be working out how to catch so many bands in one day.

The Galleon has the official first line-up announcement, that features Church Gone Wild favourites Clock Opera, Hey Sholay and Peace as well as local acts The Dawn Chorus, Laurel and Is Bliss. Tickets are available now for £18 (bargain) and there will be more acts announced over the next few months.

For now you can gaze at the full first announcement here:

Clock Opera/Tellison/Crazy Arm/Peace/Tall Ships/Bastions/Two Wounded Birds/Hey Sholay/Scholars/Hymns/Hares/We Cut Corners/Towns/Tom Williams and the Boat/Muncie Girls/The Dawn Chorus/Freeze the Atlantic/Pale Seas/Ajimal/Oresteia/Andrew Foster and the Watchmen/Stray Bullets Kill/Yoofs/Huw Olesker and the Barebackers/Laurel/As Elephants Are/Johnny 5th Wheel and the Cowards/Gloryhole/John J Presley/Veils/Housefires/Edward Perry/Itchy Teeth/Sean McGowan/Blaenavon/Ruin Everything/The Social Club/Becky Jerams/Offender/Is Bliss/Above Them/Kutosis/Gunning for Tamar/Fallacies/First Name Frank/Helen Chambers/Amongst the Pigeons/Stone them Crows/Beatamax/Adam Kammerling/Mamas Lips/Los Broncos

Based around the spiritual Shinto religion of Japan, Okami lets players take control of sun goddess Amaterasu, in the form of a white wolf. You must use powers (gained from other gods taking the forms of increasingly disturbing animals) through the only weapon available: the celestial brush, which stops time as you use it to slice enemies in two, make flowers bloom, create vines on which you can swing, and so on.

It’s all very arthouse stuff going on here, but give time and effort to this game and you’ll be vastly rewarded. I found it one of the most original and refreshing (not to mention entertaining) game experiences I’ve had in the past five years, and that includes most of what the PS3 currently has to offer.

Hard to define in terms of genre, the game bears RPG elements in the sense that you gain abilities and become more powerful as you defeat adversaries over time, but looks and feels much closer to an open world platformer, only with a rather beautiful cel-shaded tone to it. The fact that much of the gameplay involves you fighting your enemies with a paintbrush means that you could put it in a whole separate genre all on its own. There are so many elements on offer, including the opportunity to catch fish and even feed wild animals.

Surprisingly for a dialogue-heavy game in which not a word of English is spoken (yeah, you have to read while watching cut-scenes – but it adds to rather than takes away from the experience), there is also an expansive storyline, deep characters and numerous plot twists that are thrown your way throughout a well-paced narrative.

It does take a while getting used to each ability, and some effort is needed to remember how to use each one once they start to pile up, but the game does quite well in giving you individual tutorials without being overly explicit about it. Frustrating aspects do surface, especially during boss battles (the infuriating Spider Queen being one such example), but on the whole these are few and far between.

More annoying is the fact that a shining beacon in the gaming industry was missed by many for the sole reason that it didn’t have an established fan base already. That’s a shame really. Okami is just as much a classic as previous titles featured here; while you may be five years late in finding this out, it’s never too late to indulge in some cel-shaded Japanese mythology.

The 2011/12 Cricket Club

AH: The Cricket Season is upon us. How are you feeling in terms of the club’s prospects and also your own game?

JW: It’s always a very frustrating season for us as a club. We train very hard all winter and have some very talented players but unfortunately the season is very short and falls during exam period.

On paper we are very strong so the target is always promotion for each side but at the end of the day the sides are always weakened due to exams and coursework etc.

Personally I feel pretty good, I have worked hard all year and am seeing some rewards, we played a 2nd XI game this weekend and it was nice to score a few runs and do well behind the stumps so my target is to continue to perform at that level and turn the starts into 50s or 100s.

AH: What will you miss most about being a member of UPCC?

JW: I will definitely miss the close knit nature of the club. We spend so much time together and everybody gets on so well. I have never been involved in a sports club that gets along as well as we do so to leave friends behind like the ones I have made through the club is something I will miss massively and I know all of the boys who are leaving this year are not looking forward to that!

AH: What is your proudest moment as President of the club?

JW: Varsity this year stands out for me. We took record numbers of spectators this year and I had several people from Pompey and Southampton comment on how well our members represented themselves that day.

Looking around that Sports Hall and seeing our lot singing their hearts out non-stop was amazing. That sort of sums them up for me, they always put the effort in and enjoy themselves in the right way. They are all unbelievable.

AH: Tour will be a great opportunity to leave on a high note, how much are you looking forward to it after the fun of last year?

JW: Tour is the best five days of the year for us, last year was brilliant and this year will also be up there. We don’t go on the AU tour which is a shame, the main reason is that our season starts after Easter so we feel that going away once the summer exams have finished is the ultimate finish to our season. I can’t wait till we get on tour but then again I will be all finished by then so I won’t wish the time away.

The nominations which began on Monday 23rd April and were originally meant to close on 2nd May have been postponed until 24th September.

Amy Baker, President of the University of Portsmouth’s Students’ Union explained: “We received an email from the Democratic Compliance Committee (DCC) concerning the elections and the perceived lack of promotion. After meeting with the DCC and hearing their concerns the path taken was to postpone the election until September.”

The postponed elections were announced on 30th April, during the original nominations period, and for this reason most nominees withheld their nomination packs. All packs which were received will be held until the September election since the nomination period is currently still open.

Miss Baker added: “The consensus was that the elections should take place in September in order to allow as many students as possible to nominate.”

The positions available are all voluntary and remain the same as before: Women’s, BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic), Mature, Part-time, Postgraduate, Disabled, International, Ethics and Environment, EU and LGBT.

The candidates’ briefing will take place on 26th September, and voting week will be between 28th September and 5th October 2012. Student Officers will then be announced at 4pm on the final day of voting.

For more information or to nominate for the student officer positions please visit: www.upsu.net/studentofficers

Rather than charging football fanatics £40 for what is essentially an add-on, as they seem to do year on year, EA Sports have finally seen sense. At around just £15, players can experience all the drama of the European Championship at just a fraction of its predecessor with this Euro 2012-themed add-on for the successful FIFA series.

Except, bizarrely, the new add-on has just a fraction of the features. Where the last major tournament’s video game (the 2010 World Cup) allowed you – in the competition’s namesake mode – to pick your squad from a pool of national players and take them through qualifying and the tournament itself, here your squad is already put together and you only have the option to begin at the start of the tournament.

Thankfully, the excellent Online Tournament mode returns, and although just an online version of the aforementioned Euro 2012 feature, it provides a slightly different challenge than the offline mode.

The most interesting feature, however, is the new Expedition mode, whereby the aim is to conquer all of Europe, picking up each country’s players as you beat them along the way. Although it begins easily enough as you pick off sides such as Kazakhstan, the challenge presented by the larger sides is much more enjoyable than the main mode.

Overall, while the gameplay and graphics are not really any different to FIFA 12, UEFA Euro 2012 is a much better value game than its predecessors, but still not a patch on this year’s instalment of the franchise.

Chelsea Rankin

Amnesty protest outside a Shell garage

The event ‘Shell Protest-Own up, Pay up, Clean up’ was held on the 27th April and was part of Amnesty International’s “week of action” which aimed to raise awareness of the Corporate Accountability campaign. Chelsea Rankin, organiser of the event, explained: “This campaign is centred around the impacts of crude oil extraction upon indigenous communities in the Niger Delta”.

“Throughout the week demonstrations, protests and other actions were held in many different countries around the world”, she added.

Around 20 members of the society took part, wearing handmade t-shirts with oil splattered over a Shell logo.

Alex Vince, the President of the society, explained: “We started out at Guildhall, causing a ruckus and trying to get a petition filled out to ask shell to clean up the Niger Delta, but got kicked out by the council… So instead we ran around pretty much every key building on campus, taking pictures of the protest and “checking in” on facebook”.

Rankin added that: “On each ‘check-in’ we posted the link to the online petition with the hope that people would be intrigued and would clink onto the link where they could learn more about the issue and sign the petition”

The protesters had to leave Guildhall earlier than anticipated because they had not realised that they needed advance permission from the council to stage any protests there.

The society held a film night later that evening, where they showed a number of short films about the impacts of the petroleum industry in the Niger Delta.

Shell operate an oil extraction site in the Niger Delta, a region in Nigeria, which Amnesty International claim has left a devastating impact on the environment and communities living there. Thousands of oil spills have occurred over the 50 years of Shell’s operations, and Amnesty claim that several of these have not been adequately cleaned up.

Rankin explained: “Royal Dutch Shell has committed numerous atrocities in the Niger Delta”, including “environmental degradation (caused by gas flaring and a multitude of oil spills), frequent human rights abuses (including sponsoring the military to burn down villages and murder civilians who speak out against the corporation), destroying the livelihoods of indigenous communities and refusing to end practices which have a severe detrimental effect on the health of residents”.

The online version of the petition can be found at: http://amnesty.org/en/50/campaigns/corporate-accountability.

The petition is to Shell’s CEO Peter Voser, and asks for Shell to take responsibility for the damage they’re causing and to clean up the Niger Delta.

Sarah Jackson

Students take part in the November 2010 demo in London

Although the date for the demo is yet to be confirmed, is it planned to take place sometime in Autumn keeping with the tradition of previous student demonstrations, such as the one against the proposed rise of tuition fees in November 2010. This demonstration was estimated to have 52,000 protesters and was the largest student demonstration in generations.

The 2012 demonstration will be part of the ongoing campaign against the rise of tuition fees, funding cuts to Higher Education, privatisation as well as the increase in interest on student debts.

Amy Baker, President of the University of Portsmouth’s Students’ Union, explained that UPSU represented the University’s students at the National Conference where this decision was made and said: “It was clear that the majority of representatives felt that another National Demo would highlight the strength of the student voice and cause unease for the Government.”

On 14th April, NUS Black Students’ Committee passed the motion calling upon the NUS to call a first term national demonstration later this year.

Kanja Sesay, NUS Black Students’ Officer, and Vicki Baars, NUS LGBT Officer (Women place) then produced a National Demonstration statement, which NUS claims gained significant support from NUS Liberation Campaigns as well as from around 150 student leaders.

The motion, Yes we Can: NUS Demo 2012, stated: “The NUS LGBT Campaign Conference also voted that if the NUS fails to call a national demo, the NUS LGBT Campaign would work with all other Liberation Campaigns, anti-cuts groups and students’ unions committed to fighting back against the Government’s assault on education, and organise a national demo with these groups.”

It also stated: “Only by fighting against the Government’s assault will we have a chance of winning. If you refuse to fight defeat is guaranteed.”

Miss Baker added: “As with previous demonstrations we will support our students to attend this demonstration but would call on NUS to plan this demonstration earlier and offer further support to Unions.”

Access to HE courses have been successful in broadening access to Universities and other higher education institutions. In the 2007-08 academic year there were 18,840 Access to HE certificates awarded, this had risen to 26,030 in 2009-10. In 2009-10 over 13,000 out of 19,000 went on to study at undergraduate level. All of the other statistics show a similar increase. The facts paint the picture of an increasingly successful mechanism for wider access. Portsmouth University’s Access to HE course was more beneficial than most as it was situated in the university offering all of the universities services.

So why then is the Access to HE course being cut? The universities OFFA (Office for Fair Access) Access agreement proudly mentions all of the schemes the university is involved with in trying to widen access. Surely the creation of 60 access to higher education places would be something to be proud of (120 if you include the also cut Art & Design Access course). A true achievement of widening participation. The university claims that the cuts are due to changes in funding. They are being unclear about details. The only change in funding I could find was a consolidation of adult education which would lead to a “an
overall reduction of 3% in the funds available for non‐apprenticeship provision, which includes Access to HE.” This a small reduction to the overall budget and is unlikely to have a significant impact on any one course in particular.

The reasons for cutting this Access course run deeper than simple funding issues. The alacrity with which John Craven accepts cuts as the natural processes that the university must take is alarming. So is the assertion by John Craven that the University needs to be run like a business. The cutting of the access course is part of a larger debate on
the nature of education. The Tory cuts are being used as a scapegoat by the university. Access students are some of the poorest students and so under the new fees system would require significant financial support from both the government and the university. These are not the full fee paying students that Craven wants. Access students aren’t the sought after customer for Craven’s big business.

Portsmouth University is trying to price itself into the top brackets of the education system. The Access course is being cut despite the requirement that all universities charging over £6000 must broaden access to poorer students. It is being cut despite being outlined as an
efficient mode of widening access in the government higher education white paper.

Our University and the university system are being cut and access is shrinking. Universities are a farm for the markets, breeding the next generation of white collar workers and culling free thinking and ideas.

Arriving at the Wedge, there’s a buzz around the air. The place is packed full of punters eager to catch themselves some of Brighton’s finest, Blood Red Shoes. But before we get to that, The Cast of Cheers come on and give the crowd a good session of math rock meeting a dose of punk.

After a few minutes of shuffling and waiting, Laura-Mary Carter and Steve Ansell arrive, and the Wedge erupts as they start with their well-known hit ‘It’s Getting Boring by the Sea’, going from standing lifeless into an all-moving audience. Blood Red Shoes go from start to finish with a furiously fast, explosive, yet controlled set. The Wedge responds and reciprocates greatly.

Some start dancing, some start jumping, and some stand around like concrete bollards with hipster stares. The majority of people however try to match the frenetic energy the duo performs with on stage, and it’s clear to see why Blood Red Shoes chose the Wedge. It’s a small yet filled venue, covered from wall to wall with punters all screaming away to Carter’s vocal wails. The loud near echoing PA allows the band to play without the need of a bassist, as you’re already encroached in their wall of sound.

Performing a set list filled with hits, the duo played a variety of songs from all three of their impressive albums at such a reckless pace that would easily be associated with the Ramones. Songs such as ‘Cold’, ‘Heartsick’ and ‘Lost Kids’ all get massive cheers, and towards the end of their set, you truly get why Blood Red Shoes are what they are.

To paraphrase T.S. Eliot, this is the way the show ends, not with a bang, but with a bloody great one.

Rhianna Dawes

Lecturers picket outside Park building

The walkout comes after UCU notified the University that its members would take industrial actions to support their job protection and pay and against proposed changes to the Teacher’s Pension Scheme.

The strike took place on Thursday 10th May and caused some university classes to be cancelled.

A University spokesperson said: “The University has been formally notified by UNISON and the University and College Union (UCU) that their members will be taking industrial action today.   This is not a dispute with the University but in support of their trade disputes over changes to Teachers’ and Local Government pension schemes.”

Adding: “Staff taking part in strike action were asked to work with their Heads of Department and managers to ensure that students were informed if classes or other appointments would be cancelled, however, the University is aware of no disruption or interruption to student services.”

The strike is part of a UK wide demonstration against public sector cuts and pensions. Lecturer’s public sector workers and prison officers took part in protests around the country.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude described the strike as “futile” and insisted that talks over pensions will not be reopened.

University of Portsmouth Students’ Union President, Amy Baker, said: “As a Union we fully support the lecturers in their strike, however we have always said that this shouldn’t be a detriment to the student body, as I am sure you and every other student knows exams have arrived and I am pleased to say the University have been working closely with the staff who are striking to ensure the disturbance to students is limited.”

Dark Shadows – Out now

It’s been two whole years since our last Tim Burton delight of Alice In Wonderland, so this comedy-horror that looks similar in style to the aforementioned film has no doubt been long-awaited. Along with his usuals, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter but with the added bonuses of Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green and Chloe Moretz, it’s sure to be good.

Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix – Out 14th May

It’s been over six years since Tenacious D’s last studio album, and that was more than long enough to wait. Jack Black and Kyle Gass are bound to make us laugh and prepare for their upcoming Brixton and Download Festival shows.

Brendan Benson – Wedgewood Rooms – 21st May

American singer-songwriter Brendan Benson will be playing Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms on 21st May in support of his fifth studio album What Kind of World. With his career spanning 16 years, this is bound to be a show jammed packed with musical talent.

Max Payne 3 - Out 8th May for PS3, PC and Xbox 360

Max Payne looks like he’s come a long way in the ten years since his graphically challenged debut on PS2. Grand Theft Auto writer Dan Houser is lead writer, meaning we should have a mature script to look forward to, rather than just crisper bullet time visuals.

Not

How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Out now

With all the drama about his wayward life, we all thought Mel Gibson’s movie career was over. But no, he’s clung on and he’s now starring as a crook busting out of a Mexican jail and along the way befriending a nine-year-old local boy. It’s safe to say, he’s clutching at straws nowadays.

Brokencyde – The Cellar, Southampton – 19th May

Albuquerque’s “Crunkcore” pitiful band is unfortunately stopping off at Southampton on their ‘Guilty Pleasurez’ European tour. Just be thankful for Berlin taking them in on 23rd May so they are as far away from us as they’ll be on this tour.

Dragon’s Dogma - Release date: 25th May for PS3 and Xbox 360.

What do you get when you mix an open world fantasy setting with the words ‘Mystic Knight’, ‘epic adventure’ and ‘mysterious dragon’? A Skyrim rip-off, that’s what. And this is exactly what Dragon’s Dogma is shaping up to be.

Marvel Pictures has taken an incredible risk. To release a series of films linking major Marvel Comics characters and then bringing them all together into what has become the biggest super-hero film ever produced. Well it’s safe to say the gambit has paid off; Marvel’s Avengers Assemble is a rip-roaring, hilarious thrill-ride of a film.

It is quite possible it will steal the crown off 2008’s beloved Dark Knight as the greatest comic-book adaptation. In a year ram-packed full of comic-book heroes, with the upcoming The Amazing Spiderman and The Dark Knight Rises, Avengers has stolen their thunder and is a likely contender for the film of 2012.

The plot of Avengers is as follows. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), a vengeful demi-god, has stolen an all-powerful device known as the Tesseract from the intelligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D. With it he plans to unleash an alien army to destroy the world. Standing against him is Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) roster of superheroes: Billionaire inventor Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.); genius turned rampaging monster Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo); Loki’s brother Thor (Chris Hemsworth); and WWII super-soldier Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans).

Together with Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow they form The Avengers. As Loki’s plan comes to fruition and his army is unleashed, Fury’s super-hero team needs to unite and save the world, or avenge it.

The success of this film all comes down to Joss Whedon, who both wrote and directed here. The creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer manages to handle what could easily have become a horrendous car crash of exposition and continuity. However, instead, his script is both hilarious and pacing, the banter between the various heroes easing the audience into the action. Even if you are a complete comic-book novice, you will quickly grasp the foundation for each hero as they bond to save the earth.

They are an explosive group, as the majority of the film deals with their struggle to stop beating seven hells out of each other and face up against Loki. The fact that Whedon even managed to make a moderate film would be impressive, but what he has achieved is far superior to almost every super-hero film of the last five years. Avengers is a soaring blockbuster that is a miracle on its own merits, filled with hilarious one-liners, thrilling set pieces and a unforgettable finale. As a comic book fan, I can gladly say this is the one we’ve been waiting for!

Werner Herzog’s latest documentary encompasses the many elements of life and death via two convicted criminals. One is on death row, the other facing a lifetime in prison.

As the title suggests, this film takes us all into the abyss, covering us in something we wouldn’t normally see, not to shock but to enlighten. As all the grizzly results are presented to us we see not the perpetrator, but what is left behind, the cookies on the side, the car which 3 people died for. We aren’t confronted with the materialistic reasons for the deaths or even primarily the reactions, but what is left behind when we go.

The beginning and end of life, to see how inconsequential our existence can be, who we affect while here and what is left after. Unlike Micheal Moore or many other modern documentaries, Herzog doesn’t use these images to enforce his political position on us but rather he allows us to engage with the material, to immerse ourselves in what is referred to as the “dash” between birth and death and emerge with our own outlook on what we have experienced.

Despite the gory nature of the deaths and lives we witness here, we are left neither with the morbid curiosity of death an average episode of CSI may leave us with or filled with the political “like” clicking or moral rage the killing of a human being by another human can bring. Instead we are left with with a yearning for and reason to cherish life, in all forms.

Based on bestseller by Nicholas Sparks, The Lucky One not only tells the story of an ex-marine soldier turned soul searching woman hunter, it also uses a beautiful soundtrack to accompany what can only be described as a film that will bring tears to the coldest of hearts. Starring Zac Efron who plays ill-tempered and dark eyed Logan Thibault and Taylor Shilling who plays single mum and owner of Kennel Farm Beth Clayton, both actors have truly outdone themselves in presenting a 21st century love story that will entice and capture hearts all around the globe.

From the tense and awkward moments where we see the couple first meet to the following scenes of heartbreak and anger, this film is definitely a must see! Although Zac Efron is said to have been “type cast” in previous films such as The Life And Death Of Charlie St Cloud and 17 Again where he plays the problem-associated heartthrob, it is in this film that the audience really see a change in his acting. Not only has he matured and lost his baby face reminiscent of his High School Musical days, his perfect reflection of the dark and brooding character of Logan was excellence at its highest.

With a variety of books turned box office hits under his belt, Sparks has to be described as a writer of utter brilliance. The Notebook (Sparks’ first film adaptation) was a hit movie that did well in cinemas all around the world, and it’s easy to say that The Lucky One is just as good, if not that little bit better. The storyline is engaging, the actors and graphics are typical of the rom-com genre and the entire film is just a piece of excellence!

Portsmouth again witnesses potential, beauty and brilliance across the space of a night once more. Starting off the show at the Guildhall comes along Rae Morris, a 19 year old singer songwriter from Bristol, silently and serenely arriving and leaving in such manner. Her song ‘Don’t Go’, a Skins finale, is something rather infectious, and no doubt we’ll hear more from Morris soon.

Next up, the BBC Sound of 2012 shortlister Lianne La Havas and company arrive, and Guildhall warms up a few degrees more. Her songs are well tuned, catchy and well received by all who are inside the main room. Her mid-set belter of a song ‘Forget’ is one for fans of both Speech Debelle as well as Bloc Party. Havas is a sure fire artist, and not just a flash in the pan, as you can tell why Bombay wanted to tour with her.

9pm comes and goes, and one of the most well-known and loved British bands of the past decade enters the Guildhall behind a curtain to the intro of ‘How Do You Swallow So Much Sleep’. As it reaches the end, the song begins, the curtain falls, and Portsmouth screams for Bombay Bicycle Club as if they’re at a cup final, swaying and dancing without pause, passionately knowing each song word for word.

Going through a smorgasbord of songs from all three brilliant albums, Guildhall witnesses them play with such fury yet elegance. Towards the end, the band leaves and Jack Steadman sits on the piano, playing a haunting rendition of ‘Still’, leaving the whole crowd in utter silence. As they return with a stunning encore of ‘Shuffle’, followed by ‘What If’, Portsmouth reacts immediately and finally descends into complete and utter chaos, leaving Guildhall a sweat-laden crowd in complete and utter euphoria.