Video Interview: Dan Mazer Talks ‘I Give It A Year’

Whenever the works Booyakasha or Jak sie masz are muttered you automatically think Sasha Baron Cohen but lest not we forget the other mastermind behind these comic creations, Dan Mazer. I Give it a Year marks the long-standing Sasha Baron Cohen cohort’s directorial debut of a screenplay he also wrote. Boasting a massive all-star cast the film proves just how much more humour can be squeezed out of decaying relationships compared to the oh so routine lovey dovey film affairs we so often have to endure.

Our sister site, Cinema Sauce, spoke to Mazer in the run up to the DVD release. The film launches today on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download featuring deleted scenes, audio commentaries, bloopers and out-takes and featurettes from the world premiere.

The Scandinavian Invasion of London

Daniel Simonsen, Magnus Betnér, Fredrik Andersson, Tobias Persson, Evelyn Mok and myself. The UK comedy circuit is currently being flooded with comedians from Scandinavia coming over to make a living. I am one of them. Comin’ over here, takin’ yer stages. With the hope of creating a showcase, where it’s possible to show off the Scandinavian talent, I have created a comedy night with a Nordic theme. Every month I bring to you, a brilliant Scandinavian act and mix him or her up with other comedians. THIS JUNE we have the amazing Mr Brian Mørk – a Danish comedian with his own show (The Brian Mørk Show) in Denmark and countless TV appearances and one-man-shows behind him. We have had a little chat with him about being a Danish comedian performing in London, what he expects and what we should expect. Meet Mr. Mørk: Read More

The Greatest Escape

Wandering through the emblazoned walls of graffiti dominating the North Lanes (my personal favourite is John Peel on The Prince Albert), it would be fair to say that it’s hard to imagine a more Bohemian or fitting platform for a music festival introducing new and raw music to the British public and media. It surely is the only festival where quiff combing hipsters, impressive taches, mutton chops, Mohawks, skin designs of various size and colour, ball gowns, tiaras and Edwardian three piece suits rub along nicely. It’s hard not to hit the instagram trigger every minute that you are soaking in this mercurial atmosphere and harder still not to be seduced into a café-dwelling, people-watching haze and forget you are there to review music…ur hem…Even those without a formal stage, busking in whatever vacant space the heaving pavement will allow them are of an impressive standard. Although not always appreciated by the office workers above, this amplified madness sets the scene nicely for The Great Escape.  Brighton itself and the many varied venues such as the dark basements of The Haunt, the outdoor picnic feel of the bullet stage in Jubilee Sq to the chandeliered decadence of The Old Ship’s Pagannini Ballroom give you an idea of the breadth and depth of the musical tastes on offer from the whimsical Estonian folk gems of Ewert and The Two Dragons to the raw punk ranting of Parquet Courts. Over the next few articles I will be bringing the reviews and the recommendations to your attentions and attempting to catch up with a few of the amazing artists on offer at the moment. On with the show…………..

Candidate for great things – Bradley Hicks

Some of the first people I ran into on the streets of Brighton capturing the attention of a small crowd near The Royal Pavillion were Bradley Hicks and Simon Stewart. Bradley’s album Candidates is due for release on Saturday 25^th May before the start of a number of UK gigs. The album is not on national release but if you can make it to one of the live dates, you may be lucky enough to get your hands on a copy after the show and it’s worth it. Eleven tracks of acoustic beauty, it’s a heartfelt offering of soulful tunes with my favourites Baited Breath and 36/1  – a cautionary tale of gambling addiction and human mistakes. Although it is not just the lyrics that cut to the heart, Bradley’s signature fragile, raw tones mixed with quiet instrumental accompaniment make the lead vocal the star of the album as it should be. If ever there was a voice that deserved to be heard….it features heavily on this album. If you are a fan of unplugged simplicity without the accoutrements and set dressings to distract, give this a whirl.

Keep up to date with Bradley on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/bradleyhicksmusic

Interview: Jessie Cave – “I think of stand-up as therapy”

Most people know Jessie Cave as the charming Lavender Brown from Harry Potter And the Half-Blood Prince, but it’s definitely worth getting to know Jessie Cave – stand-up comedian. She did stand-up for the first time in November 2011 and did a full Edinburgh run with her first show, Bookworm. It sold out quickly, Read More

NewsLeak This Week

Newsleak is back for another take on the weeks news seen from the eyes of Dave Storey and his team.

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