Arts: Walking On Broken Grass
February 8, 2010
Worst. Pun. Ever. It is relevant though, read on…
It’s been a wee while since we had a Union Terrace Gardens update outside of the Twitter Feed, but there have been some interesting developments today, so here goes:
It appears that local politicians have seen through ACSEF’s rather one-sided ‘public consultation’ and have called for a proper public debate on the matter. ALL sides of the argument (and local residents) will finally get a chance to air their views. Hallelujah. It’ll take place on Thursday 18 February in the Salvation Army Citadel (which rather ironically overlooks the city’s original ‘civic square’) at 6.30pm. More details on a Facebook event page here…
…and exiled Aberdonian singer Annie Lennox (See? See? Pun justified) has added her name to the ever-growing list of people speaking out against the City Square Project, there are links to her thoughts on the matter here and a BBC story is here.
It’s so sad to think that the original Peacock plans would be well underway by now had Wood and ACSEF not foisted their non-ideas upon us and caused this almighty mess. Well done…
Film: The Belmont Podcast
February 5, 2010
Film/Competition: The Belmont Preview 5 – 11 Feb
February 5, 2010
By Dallas King
Read on for our weekly competition…
Friday 5th February sees the release of PRECIOUS (based on the novel ‘PUSH‘ by Sapphire). Nominated for multiple Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes, this is a hard-hitting story of a young African American woman attempting to escape a lifetime of abuse. The film features terrific performances from newcomer Gabby Sidibe, Golden Globe winner Monique and Mariah Carey…yes, you read that correctly! See our ‘Precious’ preview/competition (there’s still time to enter!) for the trailer.
Also screening this week are Oscar contenders THE HURT LOCKER, AN EDUCATION, A SERIOUS MAN and UP IN THE AIR.
On Wed 10th February at 1.30pm we have a special FREE screening of THE WOLFMAN in association with E4 Slackers Club. Any student can claim a free ticket for this screening by signing up to the Slackers Club at box office.
Time for this week’s competition: As usual, to be in with a chance of winning two tickets to any film this week just answer the question below and email it to belmont@picturehouses.co.uk marked ‘Kiosque Competition’ before midnight on Sunday 5 February.
Nick Hornby has been nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay of An Education, but which football team does he support?
a) Arsenal b) Tottenham c) Chelsea
Good luck!
Music: Jeans Team
February 4, 2010
Friday 5 February | The Tunnels | 9pm | £6/£5
Jeans Team are an electro/house band from Berlin. You’ve already heard them. Remember that landmark 2ManyDJs mix album a few years ago? Remember the ‘Keine Melodien’ bit? That was them. Anyway, they’re playing tomorrow (Friday) at The Tunnels as part of a flying visit to Scotland and following the show will be new indie/electro/retro night The Polar Bear Club with DJs Ross Calder & JJ Bull. Sounds like a good way to limber up for the Live at the Beach show on Saturday…
Film/Competition: Precious
February 2, 2010
By Dallas King
To celebrate the release of PRECIOUS on Friday 5 February at The Belmont Picturehouse, we’ve got three copies of the book on which the film was based to give away. Read on for details…
Adapted from the bestselling novel Push by Sapphire, PRECIOUS tells the inspirational story of a girl whose struggle embodies America’s downtrodden youth. Pregnant by her father with her second child and taunted over her obesity and illiteracy by her peers, Clareece ‘Precious’ Jones’s life is one of unimaginable trauma and heartache…
Growing up in New York’s unforgiving Harlem district, Precious is plagued by her drug-addicted father and deranged mother, who are not so much unwilling parents as outright unfit. Her home is the epitome of broken, but when she’s invited to an alternative school by a social worker (Carey), she discovers hope in the support around her. Encouraged not tormented, she becomes determined to turn her life around.
With Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry onboard as executive producers and Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz supporting, PRECIOUS seems destined for big-screen success, bold direction and a brave central performance from newcomer Gabourey Sidibe have been stirring expectation since the film premiered at Sundance 2009. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but anyone who writes off PRECIOUS does so at their own peril. This is set to be one of the year’s big cinematic surprises and a serious awards contender.
To win a copy of Push, simply answer the following question and send your answer by email to belmont@picturehouses.co.uk marked ‘Precious competition’ before midnight on Sunday 7th February
Music: Live At The Beach
February 1, 2010
Saturday 6 February | Beach Ballroom | 7pm | £7.50
Aye, you can breathe easy, it’s indoors. Not actually on the beach…
The Beach Ballroom is criminally underused but remains one of the city’s iconic venues, I mean, how many places these days still have a sprung dancefloor? Boing! Yup, this is going to be good, if you’ve any interest whatsoever in the local music scene then get yourselves along …
The line-up? Well, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that these are four of the best indie bands in Aberdeen, all of whom we’ve featured on The Kiosque at some point or other:
After finally releasing debut album ‘Boxing Clever’ last year, it’s a bit of a mystery as to why Steven Milne and his cohorts’ brand of angular indie-pop still hasn’t seen them become very big indeed. Fine. We’ll keep them to ourselves then. Totally polished, hook-laden melodies that will sound superb in this room. Guaranteed.
One of the most exciting new bands to come out of the North-East in years, Indian Red Lopez’s ‘Castles Incomplete’ EP caused a bit of a buzz on release, and quite rightly too. Beats, electronics and good old-fashioned geetars melt together in a totally intoxicating, mesmerising way. Back in the studio, and recently added to the sold-out Fence Records Homegame festival in March, 2010 will be the year of the Lopez.
Shimmery, sunny indie-pop with a capital (sorry) POP, this lot will make you think you’re next to the Pacific Ocean rather than the North Sea. Already featured on Steve Lamacq’s BBC6 Music show and with appearances at Rockness, Belladrum and Wizard under their belts, their stock will rise even higher this year. If there’s any justice in this world.
Ploughing a slightly rockier furrow than the other bands on the bill. Anthemic, powerful, stomping indie-rock which should be a great way to open the show.
We’re also promised visuals from the always excellent M.O.C/Do It! crew which will only add to the sense of occasion. This is a great chance to prove how healthy the scene is up here, if you’ve got any friends who usually only turn out for the big touring bands, take them along to this. They won’t be disappointed.
Music: Liquid Liquid (DJ Set), Findo Gask & more
January 30, 2010
Sunday 31 January | Snafu | 9pm | £6
A little reminder for this one, the second of The Dirty Hearts Club’s 4th Birthday nights (Thursday with the Filthy Dukes was a stormer by all accounts). There’s a wee bit more info in our previous post here (the competition’s closed now, obviously). Get down early to catch Findo Gask live. Good band…
Film/Competition: The Belmont Preview 29 Jan – 4 Feb
January 29, 2010
By Dallas King
Getting used to this now? We’re giving two tickets away each week. Details after the previews and vid…
The public have spoken, we listened and as a result we have screening of SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL on this week, with a BAFTA-nominated performance from Andy Serkis as Ian Dury in this biopic of the Blockheads frontman.
Also screening this week are EXAM (trailer), the new British thriller described as “Cube meets The Apprentice”, A PROPHET (trailer) , UP IN THE AIR (trailer) and some of the best films of the noughties including MEMENTO, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.
Special events include a live satellite performance of the National Theatre production of Terry Pratchett’s NATION on Sat 30th Jan at 1.45pm, a Holocaust Memorial screening of THE READER on Thu 4th February at 6.30pm, and the premiere of Julien Temple’s Dr. Feelgood documentary OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL (trailer below) on Tue 2nd February at 7.45pm followed by a live set via satellite by Wilko Johnson’s band (featuring members of the Blockheads).
Full listings and screening times are available on The Belmont website
Our second podcast is online here and is now available to download via iTunes. This week we discuss A PROPHET and why people are prejudiced against subtitled films.
This week’s competition question (to win two tickets valid for any performance between Mon 1st – Thu 4th Feb) is:
EXAM has been described as “The Apprentice goes to hell”. Who tells people “You’re Fired” in the US version of The Apprentice?
a) SIR ALAN SUGAR b) DONALD TRUMP c) VINCE MCMAHON
As always, email your answer to belmont@picturehouses.co.uk marked ‘Kiosque Competition’ before midnight on Sunday 31 January.
Good luck!
Film: The Belmont Podcast
January 28, 2010
Episode 2 – Podfellas
After being wowed by new French movie A Prophet, staff at The Belmont discuss why subtitled films aren’t as popular as they should be, then try to sum it all up with a play on a popular proverb about horses. Or something…
PS: Apologies for the intermittent mobile phone interference (particularly at the start), we’ll try and work out the sound quality issue in future. Anyway…
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Music: Haiti Fundraiser
January 28, 2010
Thursday 28 January | 99 Bar & Kitchen | 8pm | £5 (Donations)
Tonight (Thursday)! Great cause. Nice bar. Excellent line-up of DJs. What’s not to like?
