Entertainment

Theatre can sometimes seem like a closed shop, one of stuffy, expensive theatres, or intimidating, pretentious improv nights in achingly cool bars. Then there’s Etch. The Peckham theatre project is about to turn just one year old, but with award nominations and international festivals already under its belt, the young venture is far from am-dram. Etch is the brainchild of Lucy Hollis and Ruth Milne, two Scottish actors, who set up the project as a sort of antidote to some of...

Since its inception in 1956 The Eurovision Song Contest has been as much about (let’s face it) terrible music as it has the terrible outfits. In fact, the ‘singing’ is generally overshadowed by what can only be described as some true fashion disasters ranging from zombie and monster outfits to sequinned bodysuits and some very dubious national dress. So, to celebrate 60 years of unforgettable style STYLIGHT have rounded up 20 of the absolute craziest, most wonderful outfits ever to grace...

"This'll smash the cheese off your cracker." If you're an act looking for a venue to play, tired of getting the shakedown from promoters and dodgy agents, Tigmus might just be your new best friend. Whether you play alt rock, metal, or 'sad shit with big guitars', Tigmus is a service which can put you in contact with the venue that's right for you. Check out their awesome, no-nonsense video below for more:

Whether you're a fan of heavy music,  music photography, or both, chances are your gaze has fallen on the work of Paul Harries. With his exhibition, 'Slipknot: Dysfunctional Family Portraits' going strong at the Strand Gallery and the photo collection of the same name seeing a release earlier this week, now is a busy time for the Kerrang! regular. Paul kindly took the time out of his hectic schedule to chat to TLE. We talk photography, life in the 'knot inner circle...

Despite London being a rich, diverse tapestry of people, classes and cultures, it’s sadly a well-known fact that the city’s creative industry – as is the case across the UK – is not a reflection of this. Access to accommodation (not to mention food transport and, apparently, a well-heeled social life) while hopefully clinging to endless unpaid internships is something the bank of Mum and Dad often funds, and it’s not one many of us have an account with. There’s...

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  There is a certain intimacy in the back of a taxi that you seldom experience elsewhere. The compulsory chit chat - "you been busy", "what time you on 'til?" et al – and the immediate trustworthiness of a cabbie brings solace amid the hectic buzz of the urban evening. But it is an intimacy formed on the terms of the passenger and not the driver. Fee payer punters are at liberty to talk how they...

Interviewed by Stephen Mayne   Over a decade after his death in 2003, Elliott Smith’s memory lives on with many. Heaven  Adores You tells his story, focusing on the music that made him so beloved. Following the film’s  release last week, director Nickolas Dylan Rossi took the time to answer questions for us about  his debut documentary.    How did you first discover Elliott Smith?  I discovered Elliott's music in the 90s by living in Portland. First through Heatmiser, then by  watching him play solo. But like many people, I discovered his music by friends in Portland  sharing it widely.    Why did you want to make a film about him?  We wanted to make a film that really looked at the music of Elliott Smith and why it continues to  influence fans and other musicians today. He was a great artist who left us too soon. We wanted  to make sure that the next generations of fans of Elliott's music had something to reference  about his life and career.    Who do you hope to reach with the film?  I hope this film can satisfy the super fan as well as the uninitiated. Hopefully there’s enough of a  cohesive story of Elliott’s journey to find interesting to watch, but also a new found appreciation  for his process as a musician.     How long did it take to find the contributors and how keen were they to participate?  It’s sort of known that when Elliott passed away, not a lot of his friends wanted to talk to the  media about him, because the media really wanted to focus on the last couple of years of his  struggles instead of the bigger picture. They were very protective — and rightfully so — of their  friend. I’m not going to say it was easy to get people to talk to us-- it required a tremendous  amount of faith and trust on their part that we would make the film that we said that we would  make, which was to honour him and focus on the music that he made.    So is that why the film looks more at his music and the reaction others had to it rather than  the darker parts of his life?  The film is about Elliott's music. We really wanted to keep the focus there, and not on the more  sensational, tabloid aspects of his life that the media needlessly seems to want to focus on.    Were there any people you wanted in the film that you couldn't get to participate?  I think we were extremely lucky to get the support and the heartfelt stories from as many of  Elliott’s friends as we could. He seemed to touch so many lives that I’m sure there were many  more people we could’ve talked to. At the end, I think we’re grateful to have as many folks as  we did take their time to talk with us.     What impact do you think his growing fame had on him?  It’s hard to say because I wasn’t there with him, but I think he has an idea of what it’s going to  be like for him when he says, “I’m the wrong kind of person to be really big and famous...”    What is it about him that inspires such devotion?  I think what's great about Elliott's story is that he really speaks for the everyman. His music  really spoke to universal themes that are very accessible for people. I think it's very easy to  relate to Elliott's music and it seems that you don't necessarily need to be a fan of his music to  enjoy watching his journey, but there's a good chance you'll appreciate his music by the end of  the film.    What do you think his legacy will be in years to come?  I hope Elliott's music will continue to be embraced, firmly placing him in the canon of great  singer songwriters, like Dylan, Lennon, Cohen, Drake, etc. He was an exceptional talent. I hope  we're still sharing his music in 40 years.    Heaven Adores You was released in the UK on 7th May 2015. Our review can be found here.     

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  The possibilities that encapsulate the American Dream are oft dramatized but rarely grow old. It is an ideal that has arguably grown more relevant over time. The principles of the free market – boundless prosperity, success and the upward social mobility for the family and children - are as intoxicating as they are perplexing. Rarely does a dream seem so close and yet so far away. It is almost a dystopian quandary that we’re not...

By Adam Turner (AdamTurnerPR) 11.5.15, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster After floating around the stage for 90 minutes, dancing to the sound of his band's subtle, harmonious tones, Stuart Murdoch proved last night that he is still as classy and jovial a performer as he ever has been. The Glaswegian musician, who has been Belle and Sebastian's front man for almost 20 years, lit up an otherwise dull Monday evening in London, in front of an audience of devoted fans at...