Sparks demonstrate their brilliance to a sold-out Albert Hall in Manchester

Benjamin Forrest on 17 April 2022

There have been a countless number of bands and artists that have come and gone over the years – perhaps releasing a few singles or a couple of albums here and there before dissolving and being swallowed up by the relentless marching of time. There is one band, though, that have seemingly been a constant fixture of pop and rock music since the late 60s, I am of course referring to Sparks. Originally formed in 1968 under the name Halfnelson, Sparks have undergone numerous reinventions, line-up changes, and have witnessed very varying degrees of success. The heart of the group, however, has been and will always be the brother Ron and Russell Mael – who have been playing together for over 50 years without growing to passionately hate each other (Liam and Noel, take notes). 

After various pandemic-related delays, Sparks were finally able to get back on tour this year and their first post-lockdown English date saw them perform at Manchester’s Albert Hall to a long sold-out crowd. In lieu of a support band, Sparks treated the people of Manchester to a 2-hour set – no mean feat for two people in their mid-seventies, though it is perhaps less surprising when you take into account the fact that Sparks have 26 studio albums worth of material to fashion a setlist from. The brothers, along with their fantastic backing band, played a great selection of their biggest hits and fan favourites from their extensive discography, including two songs from the soundtrack to Annette, the 2021 Leo Carax film, for which Sparks provided the soundtrack. No strangers to the world of film (we won’t mention ‘Rollercoaster’ (1977) if you don’t), Sparks were recently the subject of a documentary, ‘The Sparks Brothers’, by legendary British director Edgar Wright and, as Russell told the audience in Manchester, are currently working on a musical film. 

The performance given by Sparks at the Albert Hall was second to none, with Ron and Russell delivering banger after banger with the ease and casual nature which can only come with over 5 decades of experience. Whether you’re more into Angst in My Pants (1982) or A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (2020), there was something for every type of Sparks fan within this set – Ron even treated the audience to his incredible dance moves during ‘Number One Song in Heaven’, moves which would have put Fred Astaire to shame. A particular highlight, personally, was the inclusion of the song ‘Johnny Delusional’ from the 2015 collaborative album FFS, made with indie rock giants Franz Ferdinand. The collaboration, along with Sparks endless desire for musical innovation, are good indicators of what sets Sparks apart from other rock bands of their age group – Sparks could have stopped making music 40 years ago and would have still lived a comfortable life releasing greatest hits albums and doing occasional reunion tours, but instead they have insisted on remaining at the forefront of rock and pop music. 

After a beautiful rendition of their greatest hit ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us’, for which the band received a well-deserved standing ovation, Sparks returned to the wings before returning for an encore of ‘Suburban Homeboy’ – a cut from their 2002 album Lil’ Beethoven which has now been re-released featuring rare vocals from Ron – and ‘All That’, a song, which the band say, unintentionally summed up how they felt whilst being unable to perform throughout the pandemic. Perhaps not the most obvious choices for an encore, but they worked excellently none the less.

Travelling back up the M62 after the show, I reflected on what had been an unbelievably brilliant gig and took solace in the fact that, even after 50 years and 26 studio albums, Sparks remain one of the greatest and most fearlessly original bands to grace the airwaves. Long live Ron and Russell Mael! 

“More of the Universe, more time with you”: Doctor Who’s same-sex storyline and seeing myself in fiction

Willow Arlett on 29 March 2022

This year, during the New Year’s special of Doctor Who, companion Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), or ‘Yaz’ to her friends, came out as gay. This gave the first female iteration of ‘The Doctor’ (Jodie Whittaker) a female love interest, the first time in the show’s history of the iconic character .

There are six versions of Willow Arlett that sit down to watch the events of ‘Eve of the Daleks’ unfold on New Year’s Day: six versions of Willow Arlett that are overwhelmed with enough emotion to fill an entire TARDIS.

The first curls up in the same position on the sofa as she does in 2018. She is three episodes into Jodie Whittaker’s first series as the elusive timelord when Yaz and The Doctor are asked: “Are you two seeing each other?” and something inside her shifts. When The Doctor herself is confused by the question and must clarify it with her companion, who panickedly denies anything of the sort, Willow’s hit with a wave of curiosity. Are the writers making a passing joke or is this a hint at something more? She’s not sure if there’s a point in rooting for this pairing yet, but nevertheless, she’s hopeful. When Yaz is asked by Dan (John Bishop) this episode “Have you told her? […] How you feel about her?” and Yaz’s first response is “Is it that obvious?”, she smiles. In this instance, curiosity didn’t kill the cat.

The second Willow walks into the viewing party exhausted, collapsing into her seat with a heart that’s sunken 10ft underground. She joins us after a study period that, instead of working, has been spent in the sixth form common area, stringing together stolen moments from the past two series of Doctor Who – that could be interpreted as romantic, if her friends could just see what she’s seeing – only for the discussion to fall on deaf ears. “Don’t get your hopes up” and “it’s probably just the actresses’ chemistry you’re seeing” are ringing in her mind and she’s fed up. The spark of hope glows a little less bright, but she refuses to convince herself she’s delusional; especially when Aisling Bea, the special’s guest star, mentions “good-hearted weirdos are always the keepers” and Yaz looks over at the Thirteenth Doctor as if she’s hung the moon and the stars. She almost yells “I told you so!” into thin air when 10 minutes later she’s met with a confessional.

The third Willow emerges from the height of the 2020 lockdown and sits quietly in the corner. After spending so much time alone the past few months, she’s come to the realisation that she’s bisexual. She’s come from such a loving and accepting family, she’d never even thought about labels or her identity before the world stopped. She doesn’t know how to feel. When Mandip Gill, with the most grace and sensitivity, acts out the words “I haven’t told anyone, not even myself”, this version of Willow breaks down with tears of relief. One of her favourite characters also took a while to realise her identity and is still figuring it out, she feels much less alone.

Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill as The Doctor and Yaz (Image Credit: Radiotimes/BBC)

The fourth Willow, halfway through her first year of university, sits in the middle, feeling quite lost. She’s grown up in a world of linear thinkers, and it makes her feel out of place. The people around her all dress the same way, all listen to the same style of music, all seem to follow the zeitgeist of being a ‘typical Leeds student’. Her confidence has been knocked down by half, but she’s determined to step back into her little flat and battle this monotonous crowd. She nods as the Doctor says “come on you brilliant humans! We go again until we win.” The embers of self-assurance she once had before the pandemic rekindling.

The fifth Willow swings her legs into the latter’s lap to get more comfortable. This variant is slowly realising that it’s important to stand up for what you believe in and challenge the opinions of others. She may not always have the confidence for big strides, but she’s trying damn well hard to make second year the year of being her true authentic self: petticoats, DM boots and all. The main reason she loves Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor is that she’s unapologetically quirky, clever, and kind. After four years of saying that she’ll channel this energy, the past semester is proof that,  this time, those truly aren’t just empty words, even if she does still doubt herself occasionally.

The sixth, and final, Willow is the one writing this article. She’s the one who got to witness the first female doctor look at a woman with all the love and loss in the universe. Happiness and love fizz away inside of her, filling her up from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. As her phone buzzes away, racking up excited texts from close friends, she sits with the widest smile on her face. She’s so glad she sat up a little straighter when Yaz proclaimed: “I want more. More of the universe, more time with you” on the TARDIS all those years ago. She’s so proud of how far she’s come.   

Image Credit: BBC

Slowthai wreaks havoc at The Refectory, Leeds  

Kate Wassell on 27 March 2022

A 2000-person capacity venue-come-university canteen that has seen the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones; Leeds refectory is an iconic spot. On Friday night it was swarmed with students eager to see the Northampton born rapper Slowthai take the stage by storm, and a storm he certainly delivered. 

The crowds that were flooding the entrance of the union had me a little worried at first — from the moment I went into the venue there were few people who looked even remotely sober and the audience was very male-heavy (not necessarily a bad thing until they’re towering over you and pushing people aside), but from the moment the music started, my anxiety was eased. Slowthai’s charm was infectious, and he soon had everyone moving together, whether they were on the side-lines or smack in the middle of the pit. “There’s one rule and one rule only”, the rapper had barked at the crowd within the first ten minutes, “if someone falls, you help them up.”

The set was almost a backwards journey of Slowthai’s releases. Starting with some of the most well-known tracks from Tyron (2021), the first few songs were heavy crowd pleasers, before he soon veered into the second, slower half of the album. Tribute track ‘NHS’ was an early highlight — the song’s lyrics are pretty desolate but not without a reminder that better days are coming: ‘what’s a flight without turbulence?’. ‘I tried’ soon followed, one of his best songs in my view, and not without the rapper telling the audience that hard times get better, and that no one is alone. No toxic masculinity here, sir. 

The middle of the set seemed a little out of sorts, with Slowthai jumping between energies and teasing unreleased tracks sporadically. At one point he played a feature of himself on a new Fontaines D.C. song ‘ugly’ — a collaboration which had the potential to be pretty cool but fell flat when Slowthai didn’t rap along live but lipsynced the pre-recorded song. Not long after this he teased a new DnB track, which although at first seemed similarly random, actually added a great energy to the crowd. The disclosure-esque sounds were giving the kind of summer festival energy that can never come too soon. 

The show only got more energetic. Support act Deb Never was brought on for her feature on gorgeous Tyron track ‘push’ (a personal favourite), before Slowthai moved into older singles and biggest tracks from 2019 album Nothing Great about Britain. The last half an hour was filled with tender moments: the rapper offered free merch to a girl at the front who knew every single word; he had his child’s sonogram behind him on the back screen; and for track ‘Ladies’ the girls of the crowd were lifted onto shoulders. 

Expectedly, the most awaited songs of the night ‘Deal Wiv It’ and ‘Doorman’ were last to be played and went the heaviest. The rapper wasn’t even thirty seconds into ‘Doorman’ before he called for the track to be stopped and pointed at a guy in the middle of the mosh. “You mate, yes you”, he singled him out and told everyone else to open up a circle around him. “I want you to run laps around anticlockwise when I start this track again”. The second time it played the crowd joined in even louder than before. It’s reassuring to know that Slowthai is an advocate for his gigs to be safe spaces, and even if it meant stopping his last song midway, he was happy to do so. In that sense it didn’t ruin the end of the night but made the last song all the better — ending the set on a satisfying, if sweaty, note. 

2022 Travel List

Lottie Passmore on 27 March 2022

With the majority of COVID-19 restrictions on travel set to be removed, 2022 might finally be the year to book a trip. Maybe you booked one last year that was tragically cancelled, or simply avoided it altogether, due to the unpredictability of Miss Rona. Regardless, here is a comprehensive list of the top six affordable(ish) holiday destinations to check out for 2022.

Barcelona, Spain

A coastal city with a thriving nightlife and a rich cultural scene: Barcelona has it all.  As it is a rather compact city, there is no need for much public transport and the best of the city can be done in a long weekend. If you catch the Ryanair sale, flights can be as low as £9.99 return, and the city centre boasts a range of affordable and allegedly ‘Boutique’ hotels for around £30 a night.

Gran Canaria, Spain

Each year Gran Canaria allegedly plays host to the world’s most optimistic tourists and indeed, you’d be hard-pushed to be miserable on this gorgeous island. Situated South of Spain, visit in May to avoid crowds and build up an early summer tan that will outshine any Leeds (St. Moritz Ultra Dark) tan you’ve ever had. Gran Canaria has everything, so whether you’re a sports lover, stargazer or simply want to unwind in the sun, this is your island!

The Azores

If you put a pin on a map exactly halfway between New York and Lisbon, you’d land on The Azores, a group of nine volcanic islands isolated in the North Atlantic Ocean. The largest island, Ponta Delgada, is often included in Ryanair’s flash sale and flights can be as low as £14.99. The climate is fantastically unpredictable, but the scenery is like nowhere else in the Northern Hemisphere, not to mention accommodation and food etc. are extremely affordable. Head over in early August for the islandwide ‘White Ocean Party’.

Borovets, Bulgaria

The cost of an average skiing holiday is about as nerve-inducing as being stuck at the top of the iciest black slope. But contrary to popular belief, it’s not all downhill from there! Avoiding the larger, more popular resorts can have a big saving on the overall cost of your trip, and, famed for its party scene, Borovets will have no detriment on your après. Because let’s be honest, that’s the highlight. Book for April to catch the last of the snow and have a less hair-raising impact on your bank balance.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The beauty of The Netherlands goes beyond simply its architecture, but the fact that it is closer to London than London is to Leeds! Travel by ferry, Eurostar or plane, and keep costs down by staying in one of the cities’ many hostels, many of which include breakfast in the price for just €10 a night. There is much more to ‘Dam than the Red Light District and the infamous coffee shops, get lost in the many side streets and neighbourhoods or take a ten-minute train to Haarlem to feel like a real Dutch local.

Peak District, UK

If worst comes to worst, and COVID rears its ugly head once more, which, let’s face it, is more than likely, why not stay closer to home and visit the Peak District? No need to stress about COVID tests or flights, rent out an Airbnbs in the hills and spend the weekend walking, eating, and drinking with friends. With the itinerary, not weather dependent, book for autumn or Easter for a low season, well-deserved weekend away. Just make sure you’re staying close to a pub!

So, wherever you decide to go, make sure you have something to look forward to during those long library hours. As they say, gorgeous gorgeous girls book their flights in advance!