Marina And The Diamonds is just one woman - a woman dealing in dainty but heavy, light but dark, challenging but accessible pop music. Having grown up in Abergavenny and spent some time in Greece, Marina Diamandis moved to London at just 18 and proceeded to drop out of four universities and audition for West End musicals. She even ended up in The Lion King. But that wasn't for her. "I was never massively musical," she says, "but since I was about 15, I've known I had to be a singer." Setting to work on her own material, she composed and produced her first work on a laptop

Using Garageband.Those recordings became a demo which came to the attention of the influential Neon Gold label of New York. Obsessions/Mowgli's Road came out in February 2009, followed by The Crown Jewels EP in June 2009. Mowgli's Road is to reappear in November 2009 as her first single for 679 Recordings, a subsidiary of the massive Warners label. Her debut album is being recorded with Liam Howe of The Sneaker Pimps.

I AM NOT A

I AM NOT AI AM NOT A

"I feel like I was meant to do this... I wouldn't have embarrassed myself so many times if I didn't think I had a contribution to make. I think you should go where your instinct takes you in life. "I've still got family in Brynmawr and Abergavenny and I used to get back about three times a year but it has been more difficult lately."While it would be very easy to draw a parallel between her work and that of other current female songwriters with a penchant for the leftfield, she's adamant she can stand independent of journalistic shorthand: "When Britpop was at its peak, all the bands were lumped together. But I do my thing; I write songs, I perform and I couldn't give two sh*ts about what X, Y or Z are doing. "If 15 girls rise to the top this year and they're all super-talented, brilliant. But good music is good music; who cares if you're male or female?"

ROBOTROBOT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/marina-and-the-diamonds/index.shtml

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1.MARINA & THE DIAMONDSSpeakeasy, QUBSU 26th May, Doors: 8pm Tickets: £10 Over 18's. I.D Required www.qubsu-ents.com

TEAM FRESH SOUNDSYSTEM (CHOPS & LON-MORE) DJ BIG PERM, MILITANT VINYLIST, QI MASTER & NEEDLE KNIEVELPortrush Playhouse Saturday, 22 May at 8pm Adm:£4

Pop sensation Marina and the Diamonds is set for her debut Northern Irish show this May The Welsh songstress has been tipped by everyone to be one of 2010's breakthrough stars. Marina and the Diamonds have been named runner up in the BBC Sound of 2010. Her album. 'The family jewels' is out now.

Our round-up of the places to be seen over the next 7 days

NK Promotions in association with the 2010 Portrush Surf Open (cancelled until further notice) and the Causeway Coast Surf Club, brings you another Night of Mayhem,DJs Busting out the JAMS over 2 Floors. TEAM FRESH SOUNDSYSTEM (Portrush debut) DJs Chops & Lon-More DJ BIG PERM Suckerfish Club resident MILITANT VINYLIST On the heavy selection, QI MASTER "a true romance for my people who breakdance" & NEEDLE KNIEVEL Local Hard Hittin Hero will be getting things Hyped, the way you like!

Our round-up of the places to be seen this weekend

3.ORGAN DONORS ( LIVE AUDIO SURGERGY DEX & FX SET )Saturday 22nd May @ The Shadow Rooms Carrickfergus 9pm-3am £10www.shadowrooms.com

Concept Presents: ORGAN DONORS ( LIVE AUDIO SUGERGY DEX & EFFECTS SET ) - L.E.D. - MADAS - DANNY MAC - DECKHEAD – MICHAEL BITTLES – MCNEICE - WILLIAM MOGEY - DJ PUPZ. Doors 9pm - 3am, £10 pre-sale tickets on sale from any of the DJ's playing Pre book your tickets by credit card- phone the Harbour Point VIP tickets for your own private VIP room available from the bar Get In Early People This Event Will Sell Out!!! Coaches From ANTRIM – RANDALSTOWN – BELFAST – LARNE get in touch for bus details

4.GOOD SAVAGE, PURE HABIT, DE NADA FACE OF PURGATORY & UPLOADTHEMEAT (Annual NWRC music students concert)Tuesday 25 May @ The Nerve Centre, 9pm Admission: Free

After 2 years of hard work, sharpening their riffs, basslines, rhythms and rhymes, 5 young bands with a range of musical styles will take to the stage and put on a show to remember. All the musicians are final year students on the NWRC music courses preparing to launch into the wide world of professional music, making this the ‘must see’ gig for anyone interested in taking a peek into the future.The bands are Good Savage, Pure Habit, De Nada, Face of Purgatory and .UPLOADTHEMEAT, playing a variety of original music and covers

5.The Corona UV Bubble Party DJ's D-BUCK & IngBing Thursday, May 20, @ 10pm Havana Portstewart

2 large bubble machines will be on duty on the night filled with UV Bubble fluid and they will be throwing out around 2,000 bubbles per minute! (A NOTE FOR THE LADIES ALL UV FLUID WILL WASH OUT FROM ALL CLOTHING)There will be a special giveaway for the first 50 people through the door.....they will receive a GLOWSTICK and a full UV Face makeover! CORONA drink promos 2 for £5

RisinG STARS

And now, as they say, for something completely different. How does a night of sensuous dance, tongue in cheek naughtiness and exotic delights sound?No we're not talking about Hollyoaks Ominbus.. How about three of Ireland’s most respected alternative dance troupes and live music from the gypsy tinged CAPTAIN MAGIC WONDERLAND? Pretty good, I think you’ll agree. Dublin’s THE ORCHIDS and Belfast’s JEWEL DANCERS share the stage in a cross-border belly-dancing extravaganza. The line-up is complete with Dublin’s PONY GIRLS who bring the classic 30’s style of burlesque bang up to date with a twisted sense of humour and some cheeky audience participation. Saturday 22 May Admission £12

http://redbullbedroomjam.com/band/videos/gettin

Get your free fix from us every weekwww.cravemagazine.co.uk

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Back to Black? Hell yeah! Saturday 22nd May 2010 has been designated 'World Goth Day and Belfast is playing it's part, thanks to local long-running monthly clubnight 'Cornucopia' at Queens University Students Union. Linking in with events happening worldwide, the Northern Ireland goth community is keeping up with the 'darkest' of 'em and marking the occasion. Cornucopia events kick off at 2pm till 6pm, with a special Goth Market in QUB Speakeasy bar, where you can shop till you drop from all manner of goffic treats; from second-hand clothes, books, cds and jewellery, to local crafts and even droolicious cupcakes! Or get your tarot cards read and have a coffee and watch the gothic world go by! Earlier in the day, some of the regular punters of Cornucopia are gathering for an informal picnic in Botanic Gardens (midday at the bandstand) which should set the tone of merriment for the day! Bring your own sandwiches! The icing on the gothic cupcake however, will be after dark (7pm)...at Belfast's goth clubbing haven, Cornucopia at QUB, for a night of 80's, Goth, Industrial and all music alternative for folk to dance the night away. Guest dj's and drink promotions and well, what better a day / better reasons to get...back in black?

www.portrushsurfschool.com

If you're a first timer, weekend warrior or aspiring world champion, fine tune your surfing skills this year with TK surf school. Our

range of learn to surf programs and training sessions, combined with our unprecedented surf industry knowledge of 20 years

makes it easy to choose Portrush surf school...

Let Irish Team Surfer Martin Kelly and his team of professional instructors show you how it's done! * 2hr Classes [group]

* Kids Summer Surf Camps [age 9 - 16] * Girls Surf Camps [age 18+]

* Intermediate/Advanced Surf Coaching * Private Surf Lessons

* Corporate/Team building days * Students!

* Bodyboard Sessions * The Progression Sessions

FORMATFORMATOur top books, films, dvd's and games to laugh out loud or swear blindly at...

Following a group of best friends who've become bored with their adult lives: Adam has been dumped by his girlfriend; Lou is a party guy who can't find the party; Nick's wife controls his every move; and video game-obsessed Jacob won't leave his basement. After, a crazy night of drinking in a ski resort hot tub, the men wake up, heads' pounding, in the year 1986. This is their chance to change their futures and one of them just needs to make sure he still exists! Check your local cinema for availability

The ancient Mayan calendar has predicted that the world will end on 21 December 2012 and scientists have confirmed the prediction as fact, but as the fateful date looms ever closer and tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and typhoons begin to cause devastating destruction, desperate efforts are made across the world to try to prevent or pre-pare for the inevitable disaster.

Comedian Richard Herring has a major problem. He's about to turn 40 and hasn't seen it coming. He's not married, doesn't have a proper job or 2.4 children. But now, finally, it looks as if the world expects him to be a grown up - and he's completely unprepared for it. As the momentous and terrifying event approaches (his birthday), Richard notices a steep decline in his own behaviour. Inexplicably he begins to behave more childishly - hanging out with 22-year-olds, developing an unhealthy addiction to Flumps and even getting into a ludicrous fight

America, early 1900's. The era of the cowboy is coming to an end. When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is sent across the American frontier to help bring the rule of law. Experience intense gun battles, dramatic train robberies, bounty hunting and duels during a time of violent change. Red Dead Redemption is an epic battle for survival in a beautiful open world as John Marston struggles to bury his blood-stained past, one man at a time. Available for PS3 and XBOX 360

Comedian Richard Herring has a major problem. He's about to turn 40 and hasn't seen it coming. He's not married, doesn't have a proper job or 2.4 children. But now, finally, it looks as if the world expects him to be a grown up - and he's completely unprepared for it. As the momentous and terrifying event approaches (his birthday), Richard notices a steep decline in his own behaviour. Inexplicably he begins to behave more childishly - hanging out with 22-year-olds, developing an unhealthy addiction to Flumps and even getting into a ludicrous fight

www.marinaandthediamonds.com

ALBUM OUT NOW