The Hertz Complex – No Control

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Frostie

Following brilliant reviews and international airplay for ‘Maybe I Know’ and ‘Bassy’, from their forthcoming EP ‘A New Habit’, we’re highlighting another track from the EP that shows a very different side to the band.

No Control is stripped back to focus on Neil O’Keeffe’s vocals, a simple yet utterly beautiful song that contrasts perfectly with the lo-fi fuzz guitar and shimmering Post-Punk creations the band are known for.

Neil O’Keeffe (lead vocals, guitar) and Paul Keane (guitar) have a songwriting partnership that transgresses borders. Hailing originally from Cork, Ireland, they have set up camp in the emerging artists’ haven that is Deptford, London.

Here they draw on a mix of influences from their Irish roots to bands such as The Chameleons, Joy Division, Whipping Boy and Howling Wolf, resulting in their own eclectic version of post punk. Joining Neil and Paul are Benjamin Balan (drums) and Chris Keelan (bass). Originally from Canada, they form a solid, driving rhythm section that provides the foundation to The Hertz Complex’s dynamic interlacing guitar work.

The four-piece aim to bring a forgotten passion back into music and this musical salvation has certainly been delivered – an ever-growing army of fans, festival appearances and a headline slot at LA’s legendary Whisky A Go Go are testament to that fact. The Hertz Complex’s highly anticipated debut EP comes on the back of news that one of their songs will be featured in a movie soundtrack, another sure sign that this band are making music that is essential listening.

Really Wild Adventures: Michaela Strachan To Host Live Shows At Howletts

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Frostie

Visitors at Howletts Wild Animal Park, one of Kent’s most popular visitor attractions, are in for a treat on 29^th July as one of TV’s most popular and charismatic presenters,Michaela Strachan, hosts the Really Wild Adventures Show at the park.

Michaela will be hosting her popular children’s show on Tuesday 29^th July at the wild animal park, near Canterbury. Inspired by her book, the Really Wild Adventures Show is an entertaining journey into the world of animals for all the family. The interactive show is packed full of music, humour and fascinating wildlife facts.

The shows will run throughout the day at 11am, 1.30pm and 3pm. Entry to the show is free with a valid day ticket, Howletts Passport or Gold Card. Michaela will also be holding a book signing after each show.

Michaela is best known for presenting wildlife programmes such as ‘The Really Wild Show’, ‘Michaela’s Wild Challenge’, ‘Orangutan Diaries’, ‘Elephant Diaries’ , ‘Michaela’s Zoo Babies’ and ‘The Great Penguin Rescue’ as well as ‘Countryfile’, ‘Autumnwatch’, ‘Springwatch’ and ‘Winterwatch’ for the BBC.

The live shows kick off the start of the summer holidays at Howletts which will see different activities and themes taking place throughout July and August 2014.

For more information please visit
www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/forthcoming-events or call 0844 842 4647.

PARK DETAILS

Howletts Wild Animal Park

Bekesbourne

Nr. Canterbury

Kent CT4 5EL

Introducing Munki: A Cocktail & Champagne Lounge Launching In Putney

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Frostie

On Saturday 26th July, cocktail and champagne lounge, Munki, will open at No.12 Putney High Street, adjacent to Putney Bridge. Munki will serve innovative cocktails within a speakeasy style setting with a colonial twist. The venue has a luxury finish, with paneled walls, soft lighting and antique furniture, to create the illusion of an informal library and invite guests to relax and unwind over while savouring a drink.

Munki is split over three floors, with a total of 100 covers. The ground floor bar is glass fronted, with an intricate tree design etched into the windows. Towards the rear is the library room, an intimate snug area ideal for a date, with additional seating on a mezzanine level seating with a view of the River Thames, suited to groups and available to reserve for get-togethers and celebrations. A walled garden behind the venue provides a sheltered spot for a drink under the stars.

Cocktails at Munki, created by Bar Manager Sophia Lysaczenko, strike the perfect balance by using a few quality and fresh ingredients to create the definitive drink. At Munki, focus is upon the quality of the drinks: with premium spirits, infused syrups made on site, fresh juices, and organic ingredients chosen where possible. Munki’s ethos is to be service orientated, always going above and beyond to provide an unrivalled personalised touch.

The playful cocktail menu will offer a selection of original creations split into different sections including Heritage,Martinis and New World. Heritage cocktails will include well-honed classics such as Old Fashioned, Negroni andNuclear Daiquiri. The iconic Martini is given a creative twist with the Putney Petal Martini (pink grapefruit Belvedere vodka, dash of rose water, lychee and guava juice poured over crystallised violet petals and topped with Veuve Clicquot Rose and floating rose buds) and Our Breakfast Martini (Tanqueray London Dry Gin, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and a spoonful of orange marmalade). New World cocktails will offer the classics with a modern spin including Rhubarb Flip (Bacardi Gold Rum, Rhuby Rhubarb Liqueur, whole egg, splash of cream, rhubarb infused sugar syrup, rhubarb bitters), A Lady Sour (Belvedere Pure Vodka, apricot jam, lemon juice, egg white, vanilla sugar syrup with a maraschino cherry garnish and a splash of Angostura Bitters) and Black Mineral Margarita (Illegal Anejo Mezcal Tequila, Tuaca Vanilla Citrus Liqueur, spoon of agave honey, lime juice) to be served in a black mineral salt rimmed glass.

A ‘Cocktail Shot Lab’ will provide a little magic to any party with miniature cocktails served in potion bottles. Some signature cocktail shots are Wishing Powder (herbal sweet and sour, frozen Agwa De Bolivia coca leaf liqueur, green chartreuse liqueur and lime juice) and The Elixir (aromatic, a sovereign remedy, belvedere vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, rhubarb sugar syrup and juicy berries). For those wishing to keep a clear head, ‘Play it Safe’ alcohol free cocktails will be available including the Peach Punch (peach puree, fresh raspberries, thyme sprigs, rhubarb infused sugar syrup, lemon zest and lemonade top).

To complement the drinks, a bar menu will also be available offering a selection of appetizers, ideal for grazing on whilst sipping a cocktail. Munki has partnered with the Putney Pantry, situated over the road, to provide a more substantial selection of light bites such as locally sourced organic stuffed peppers. Bespoke food packages for events and occasions will also be offered.

Guests visiting on a Thursday evening will be treated to live music sessions from 7pm to midnight. Munki will also play host to fun-filled events and experiences such as singles nights, outdoor film screenings, cocktail master classes and exclusive venue hires.

Munki is the ideal destination to appreciate the craftsmanship of a skilled cocktail, or enjoy a glass of champagne, within a relaxed speakeasy atmosphere. Munki invites locals and visitors from further afield to swing by – promising only the best experience from the first to the last drink.

Katherine Jenkins Shines In Ian Stuart Blewcoat Gown

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Frostie

Katherine Jenkins looked like a fairy princess on Saturday at the Commonwealth Games concert at Edinburgh Castle in her stunning blush evening gown by British brand Ian Stuart Blewcoat. The stunning Fortuna gown features a Swarovski embellished waistband, and cascading layers of silk gazar.

Katherine performed a magnificent rendition of Barcelona with English tenor singer Alfie Boe.

Ian Stuart Blewcoat is the new label by celebrated bridal and evening wear designer Ian Stuart. Their stunning central London salon recently opened, selling evening wear, occasion wear, bridal and a full range of accessories.

The Courtesans Genius Video

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Frostie

We have the video for The Courtesans’ latest single, ‘Genius’.

This hard-hitting video considers the never-ending, unattainable portrayal of ‘the perfect woman’. With unavoidable advertising and mounting social pressure from both sexes, we too often witness childhoods ending all too early in favour of cheap lipstick and chicken-fillet bras as young women rise to the bait of their own growing insecurities overtly and subliminally governed by outside sources.

Beyond this, we find the anti-ageing army of surgery toters, trading botox and collagen injections that prey on the insecure and the vulnerable. Slimming pills, eating disorders, false hair, false nails, false person, false life. To conform is never enough for as we are judged and criticised for our differences and shortfalls so too are we judged and criticised for owning a beautiful face or a curvaceous body.

The clip sees the band – our four overtly-individual heroines – being burned at the stake for refusing to sacrifice their own opinions of how beauty should be perceived and how this should remain the property and under the control of the individual. Covering tattoos with skin-coloured paint does not alter the truth of what lies beneath the paint and indeed beneath the skin.

‘Genius’ will be released as The Courtesans debut single on 25th August and available from all your favourite online retailers. It’ll be shortly followed by their long-awaited debut album ‘1917’.

Indie Band Boy+Kite Wants To Marry You

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Frostie

To celebrate the release of their two new singles “Either Way” and “Turned Sideways”, indie quartet Boy+Kite will host pop-up wedding events around the U.S., kicking off in late September.

The on-the-spot weddings are open to all couples that want to tie the knot without all the fuss. The officiant, cake, and champagne are included in your ticket, along with Boy+Kite, who will be there to serenade you and your true love on the big day.

For more information, go to http://www.boypluskite.com

Roberto Cavalli Opens The Cavalli Ibiza Restaurant & Lounge

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Frostie

Roberto Cavalli is pleased to announce the opening of the Cavalli Ibiza Restaurant & Lounge. Situated in the most exclusive area of the Mediterranean island, the new Cavalli experience presents his entertainment & nightlife concept in the heart of the promenade that welcomes yachts into the harbour of Ibiza Marina. The Cavalli Ibiza Restaurant & Lounge will be the go-to destination for celebrities and socialites.

Recreating an astounding tropical garden of 2.000 square metres with a beautiful view, the property symbolises the three main worldwide renowned beacons of ‘made in Italy’ excellence: Fashion, Food, Design.

The new Cavalli Ibiza features an open-air restaurant where luxury and innovation are merged in the décor and in the details to create a unique ambience, allowing the clients to live a ‘total experience’ in pure Cavalli style. In this context the clients will be able to enjoy the same welcoming reception that the designer would reserve for his friends.

The menu offers an incredible selection of traditional Italian recipes infused with Tuscan influences, as well as innovative new style dishes. It will also be possible to taste and appreciate, among others, the Tenuta Degli Dei red wine produced in the Tuscan winery owned by the Cavalli family.

The club & lounge embody the glamorous soul of the designer, hosting exclusive and fashionable parties and events where guests can sip on Roberto Cavalli Vodka-based cocktails. Furthermore, a refined musical selection is ensured by the best artists in the business. The music and lighting culminate in an experience that begins in the magnificent garden with 500 plants perfuming the Ibiza night: think jasmine, honeysuckle and magnolia…

Selected materials have been chosen to convey luxury and creativity: each and every area of the space was completed with precious and exciting shapes, geometries and elements. The chairs are covered in zebra and jaguar animal-print fabrics and the tables are enveloped in tablecloths featuring 8 different floral-themed Cavalli prints. The mise en place, the pillows, the wallpapers and the floors are part of the Roberto Cavalli Home collection.

«The pleasure of listening to enjoyable music, accompanied by great food and good company in an elegant and sophisticated setting … This is the philosophy of the Cavalli Restaurant & Lounge. I wanted to communicate all my passion for beauty and sensuality combining them in a hospitality project in Ibiza», Roberto Cavalli.

Roberto Cavalli already owns Cavalli Caffè in Florence and Saint Tropez, while the others managed through licences are located in Kuwait City, Beirut, Dubai and New Delhi. The next openings will be Riyadh, Bahrain and Doha. Furthermore, the Roberto Cavalli Group has also opened with licences, the Cavalli Club in Milan, Dubai and the Cavalli Miami Restaurant & Lounge.

Cavalli Ibiza Restaurant & Lounge
Paseo Marítimo Juan Carlos I 07800 Ibiza (Spain)

For reservation +34 971 192 197
www.cavallibiza.com

Bride And Gloom For Wedding Guests: Cost of Being a Guest Mounts

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Frostie

Getting hitched abroad spells financial trouble for wedding guests

One in ten (10%) people will be attending a wedding abroad in the next 12 months
Average cost of attending a wedding abroad is more than double the cost of being a guest at a wedding in the UK (£564 v £247)
More than one in six couples planning to get married abroad (15%) are opting to do so as it works out cheaper for them than getting hitched in the UK
One in 10 (10%) Brits believe the bride and groom should subsidise their flights and accommodation if they want them to attend their wedding abroad

Are couples sacrificing their guest’s bank balance for their own happiness? With wedding season now upon us, it’s easy to see how the cost of a wedding can mount up – and not just for the bride and groom!

New research from Confused.com reveals that the average cost of attending a wedding abroad is more than twice as much as being a guest in the UK (£564 v £247). And with a quarter of UK couples (25%) planning to travel to distant shores in the next 18 months just to put a ring on it, their guests may be left facing a difficult situation.

The research from the leading price comparison site reveals that one in ten people (10%) are planning on attending a wedding abroad within the next year, despite the hefty price tag. However, many wedding guests are showing a lot of negative sentiment when thinking about celebrating the happy couple’s big day in a foreign land. One in seven (14%) Brits would not travel abroad to attend a wedding regardless of who it was for, with over half (59%) preferring to attend a wedding in the UK.

Unsurprisingly, over a third (39%) of people think it’s a big request to ask people to travel abroad for a wedding. Nearly one in seven (13%) people admit that they don’t want to waste their limited holiday allowance paying a lot of money to only see the bride and groom for a few hours.

For those Brits who are willing to travel overseas for a wedding, restraint is being shown when buying wedding gifts. In fact,nearly one in 10 (9%) people don’t feel they need to buy the bride and groom a present at all if they are paying for flights and accommodation just to attend their nuptials.

To balance things out, some Brits (10%) feel that the bride and groom should subsidise their flights and accommodation if they want them there to share their big day. And for some lucky guests, this is in fact the case, as some happy couples are subsidising their guests to come to their wedding abroad. More than one in ten (12%) couples planning to get married abroad say they are doing this for their guests.

For those couples planning a wedding abroad, there are a variety of different factors influencing their decision – fromoverbearing parents and warring relatives to spiraling budgets, opting for a ceremony overseas can seem like the easier option for many.

A sixth of couples getting married abroad (15%) are choosing to do so as it works out cheaper than getting hitched in the UK. Nearly one in 10 (7%) also felt they were getting better value for money by travelling abroad for their nuptials rather than staying in the UK.

A quarter (25%) of couples planning to get married abroad admit they are doing so as it means they don’t have to invite every family member to the wedding, with more than one in six (15%) believing it would cause less arguments for them to go abroad to get hitched. In fact, one in 14 couples planning to get married abroad (7%) are doing so because they feel it would be less stressful than getting hitched in the UK.

Weather is also a key factor tempting British couples away from a traditional UK-based wedding. Over a third (34%) of couples getting married abroad chose to do so as they wanted guaranteed good weather and sunshine on their big day.

The five most popular destinations that people want to get hitched in include:

Caribbean (19%)
Australia (12%)
America (10%)
Canada (8%)
Cyprus (8%)

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