Scenes like this will be repeated less often at 53 Degrees

Regular Thursday clubnights at 53 Degrees are a thing of the past following the end Vodka Nationwide’s involvement with the venue.

The decision came following a semester of the events which replaced the Students’ Union’s (SU) event, Promo, which ceased in May 2011.

However poor attendances has seen weekly clubnights been pulled from the 53 Degrees schedule.

Organisers, Taking Liberties, is responsible for the Vodka Nationwide brand.

Managing Director of Taking Liberties, Jim Albentosa said: “After some great initial parties over Fresher’s week the attendance numbers dropped in favour of the established events at Squires and Lava.

“As neither party (Taking Liberties and 53 Degrees) was profiting from the event, we mutually decided to stop.

“The students at UCLan certainly know how to party so I’m sure we’ll be back in Preston for some more events soon.”

SU President, Reni Eddo-Lodge said the end of the arrangement mirrored a national trend.

“It protected the Union from the financial risk of running a Thursday club night in the current recession which has seen a national decline in nightclub and university event attendances.

“Often it is difficult to foresee what may or may not happen with an event, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to gage the desires of students, in an ever changing economic climate.”

“We believe that the problems associated with the weekly student club night as 53 Degrees are a lot more complex than just the event itself.

“On debriefing with Vodka Nationwide they felt that the key reasons for the closure of the event were: heavy drink discounting in the city centre bars had been a major issue, lack of feeder bars supporting 53 Degrees, less students going out less frequently and the growing trend of students wanting fewer bigger events.”

The SU is currently undertaking a survey to find out what students want from 53 Degrees.

However the venue will still be hosting irregular clubnights with other outside promoters throughout the rest of the academic year.

53 degrees is looking past the disappointment of Vodka Nationwide and is currently preparing to welcome one of the UK’s biggest parties this July; The Great Games Party of the UK Corporate Games.

(Audio by Hannah Breeze)

Illustration by Emma Bound

By the time you read this, he will have been and gone, however the debate around whether he should have even made the trip up to Preston in the first place has carried on since the announcement on Facebook on November 11.

Many people have made the assumption that the Students’ Union (SU) booked Cocozza and have criticised the union on social media sites for it. However this is not the case.

Those of you who were at UCLan last year will remember Promo, the club night run by the union in 53 Degrees on a Thursday. Promo has gone, to be replaced by Vodka Nationwide which is organised and run by a company called Taking Liberties. The union just provides the venue.

The last few days has also shown the complexity and difficulty of the job I have as a trustee of the SU and editor of this paper. It’s been a conflict of the need to protect and defend the union as well as being the editor of Pluto, which wants to ask is the booking of Cocozza right.

I find that it can be a case of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The other day I was asked why Pluto had put a story about Frankie Cocozza on the website (www.pluto-online.com) and the reaction to the announcement.

As a journalist, the natural instinct is to write something about it and ask questions to give you answers.

The fact that five times as many people went and read it as well as the highest engagement Pluto has managed online in several years, proved that it was an issue which got people talking. But what should a Media Officer do in this situation if students are criticising the union?

As an employee of the SU I feel that I should defend the union, which is why I have explained the relationship between 53 Degrees and Vodka Nationwide in this piece. But then again how would it look if Pluto didn’t pick up on the reaction to Cocozza and ask: “Is this right?”

Student media aims to hold people to account.

We held the university to account over the timetabling problems earlier in the year and asked them to explain what had gone wrong and what was being done about it.

We held Funk Events and Sankeys to account when students were left in Manchester during a night out and had to make their own way home when they should have boarded a pre-arranged bus which never appeared.

However student media can, and should, hold the union to account if there are issues which people think need addressing.

The report Pluto did into the reaction saw much interaction online and many people seemed against it but official complaints to the union and SU President, Reni Eddo-Lodge were low, with only one e-mail received.

But if you still feel strongly about the booking of Cocozza by Taking Liberties, you can still air your thoughts and question the union; and one of the ways to do this is through student media and me. It’s what we are here for.

This piece is also online where you can comment about it and the whole issue surrounding the booking.

The booking of Cocozza is going to divide students, as it divides people up and down the country.

People complained online, but ticket sales for the night were higher than previous Vodka Nationwide nights, so was it right to book him?

It’s impossible to please everybody. As an employee of the union, it can potentially make working relationships difficult to question and hold colleagues accountable through the public forum that is student media. However, if the issue deserves questioning then it’s for the greater good.

The union has many ways of representing students and fulfilling its motto of making life better for students.

The Annual Members’ Meeting, elections and Student Council are just three of those ways.

But student media is another vital tool and has the great ability to sometimes question the union as well as others.

Don’t get me wrong, the union does a lot of things well. Many other events are announced at 53 Degrees without the online scrutiny the Cocozza one did. Student Council has some interesting debates and the Annual Members’ Meeting sees some fantastic new ideas for the future direction of the union.

But nothing is perfect, and student media can help push things that little bit closer.

Controversy in Preston seems to spread faster than Nutella over toast and this time everyone is really sinking their teeth into the big story of the day.

Frankie Cocozza is coming to 53 Degrees. You’d think the sentence I just wrote was that a serial killer had been given day release to perform but no, it’s good old X Factor loser Frankie. The main argument is that he’s a bad role model, somebody who shouldn’t be seen as promoted by the Union. I think that is simply rubbish.

Frankie has openly admitted he was booted for taking cocaine which earned him the title of Frankie Cokenozza in an emotional interview in The Sun. He spoke out against what he did explaining he was an idiot and how sorry he was. This is a young lad who made a very public mistake. A mistake that could be made by anyone who was suddenly shot to fame. Imagine, for example, Davina McCall decided to do a Public Appearance at 53. Would we be angry then? Of course not, she’s lovely. She also used to take drugs. Frankie has said that he made a mistake. Why shouldn’t he be forgiven?

Then there’s the idea of people being influenced by him. Are you kidding me? You could easily say that 53 should stop playing any rap music then, or how about songs like “Sexy Bitch” that are derogatory to women? It’s ridiculous.

I fear that the core of this issue isn’t about Frankie’s reputation at all, I feel it’s music snobbery. It’s people who believe he isn’t worthy of having an event at 53 and I mean, honestly, why hasn’t there been an uproar about other guests?

Can you honestly say the cast of Geordie Shore are upstanding, moral citizens? Another big guest coming up at 53 is Professor Green. A man who used to sell Marijuana (which is where the Green part of his name comes in). He also says how he didn’t have an education and dropped out of school. Are we going to go watch him and decide that uni isn’t for us? No.

This controversy is a storm in a tea cup, exaggerated by people who appear to simply enjoy being outraged. I feel that the real issue here is being covered up.

It’s been made extremely clear that the Union has no control over who performs at Vodka Nationwide events held at 53. Is this not worrying? Why is that type of contract being allowed? Surely the debate shouldn’t be about Frankie, it should be about who is really in control of one of our Union’s main attractions.

Frankie Cocozza is a boy wrapped up in dramatic tabloid stories. The country is dying to paint him as a bad person for making a mistake, a mistake made by hundreds of celebrities. Would you stop watching Jack Whitehall? Would you say Amy Winehouse couldn’t perform at 53 (obviously, before she died)? Or is this simply a matter of music snobbery, people pushing their noses up at this boy because of the attitude he gave off?

This is a lad looking to get what he can out of his 15 minutes… who are we to say he isn’t worthy?

By Joe Guy

Frankie has been a divisive figure during his time on X-Factor. Photo: Beacon Radio (Flickr)

Students voice their anger over infamous Cocozza’s appearance at 53 Degrees event.

UCLan students, and members of the Students’ Union council have expressed their anger and concern on Facebook at the news of the former X Factor contestant appearing at Vodka Nationwide next week.

The infamous singer was kicked off the show this week, following allegations of cocaine use. The official reason for his depature was for “breaking competition rules,” but rumours have been rife as to his ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle.

Student councillor, Lee Bradshaw posted on Facebook: “Surely the union should not be inviting someone who was kicked of a talent show for taking cocaine :-/…surely the promoters should know better.”[sic]

Jason Smith posted: “frankie cokenozza @53degrees next week! not sure what this says about tefkap, lets just hope he doesn’t sing.” [sic]*

Reports today allege that Cocozza charges £3,000 for nightclub appearances.

Reni Eddo-Lodge, Students’ Union President said that the Union’s reputation is the most important. She said: ”Vodka Nationwide is put on by an external company called Taking Liberties.

“The Students’ Union has not invited him, nor have the events team…I urge Vodka Nationwide to rethink this booking.”

The full interview with Reni can be heard below.

Students on the 53 Degrees Facebook page were quick to express their anger.

“Personally, I think it is immoral and disgusting that Vodka Nationwide should be allowed to use SU premises for their events if they are paying a known drug user to appear and perform. Shame on UCLan SU and 53 Degrees,” said one.

Louisa Jane: “ Haha, is this a joke?”

Andi Berry said: “Is that what UCLan think that we really want??”

Jonathan Duncan added: “Why is that c*nt in Preston?”

The full Facebook thread can be seen here.

On the other hand, some students on the Facebook page were not angry at the prospect of his appearance.

Katie Walker said: “If you don’t like him, don’t go, stop b*tching about it jeeeez .”

Natallie Green added: “im major exception here but i absolutely love him hahaha :/” [sic].

On the Facebook event page, 53 Degrees replied: “love him or loath him, it’s got people talking!”[sic] it’s an external company, so it’s their ticket sales, let the battle commence!!”

What do you think? Here is a snapshot of what you were saying around campus this afternoon.

* All posts from social networking sites are assumed to be from a personal capacity.

Statement from 53 Degrees

The legal relationship between UCLan SU & Taking Liberties is one of venue operator and promoter. Taking Liberties as promoter pay Uclan SU for the hire of facilities (53DEGREES) for their weekly Vodka Nationwide event and work within a contractual agreement.

The promoter is contracted to work within all civil and criminal laws relating to the provision of entertainment and within relevant all legal guidelines with regards to Health & Safety.

What do you think? Do you agree with Frankie Cocozza coming to 53 Degrees? Let us know below, or vote in our Facebook poll: http://on.fb.me/uFJKXr

Pluto asks “does the Students’ Union strike a fair balance between its financial and ideological aims?”

Peter Shilton-Godwin, the Students’ Union’s Chief Executive, thinks it does

“In common with every students’ union in England and Wales UCLan SU u registered with the charity commission for the first time this year. We are now registered Charity No. 1142616.

“This change reflects the growing sense that students’ unions do an important job that has real benefit to students and society. That our activities like independent advice, clubs and societies, Give it a Go, job shops, student media and supporting course reps are an essential part of campus life.

“There are few obvious outward changes to what we do but the new status brings into focus our responsibilities to make sure we spend union funds to fulfil our charitable objectives.

“The trustees of the Union made up of elected students (the SAC you all elect and unpaid volunteers from the outside) are charged with making sure this happens. They also have the job to ensure that our services meet the needs of students and the Union safeguards its positive reputation.

“One area the Trustees discuss regularly is the commercial aspects of the Union. How well they are performing and whether students use and value the services?

“One traditional area of debate is bar prices and promotions. The Union has to walk a delicate line between offering promotions we know students like and our responsibility for student health and welfare. We can’t, like some bars just give away drinks so our response is to offer year round competitive pricing and to use limited promotions for particular events.

“We also know from a survey last year that discounts are really important to you so in Source this year we are offering 10% off everything with your NUS extra card which we think is great value.

“In retail we have also teamed up with the Co-op to make sure there are load of promotions in Essentials, our on-campus convenience store.
You might also like to know that every penny spent in the Union supports Union activities. There are no shareholders or highly paid directors with bonuses hovering in the background to take money out of the Union.

“If you buy a sandwich in Atrium, an NUS Extra Card, a meal in Source or a Mars bar in Essentials you help keep the Union going and support the nearly 400 students we employ each year.

“So we think we have the right balance between being business like and meeting students’ needs. We offer good value in a safe, student friendly atmosphere on a not for profit basis.

“We need to be ‘business-like’ but we always need to remember that we are here to make life better for students.”

Pluto’s Deputy Editor, Hannah Breeze, thinks it doesn’t

“When you ask the average student what their Students’ Union means to them, traditionally, the most frequent answer would most likely be to do with nights out, cheap alcohol and freshers’ fair freebies.

“However, UCLan Students’ Union does a brilliant job of making our Union more than just that, by promoting engagement on all levels.

“This has been proven time and time again, with hundreds of students demonstrating against higher fees last year, high voter turnout in elections, and more people standing for elected positions that before.

“But student engagement doesn’t make money, it’s as simple as that.

“So how can an organisation continue its good work, when the fruit of it provides no income? We all know that the union is a non-for-profit organisation, and that any money it does make is invested back into its services.

“However, some money has to be made in order for it to fund the political side of the union; things like the electoral processes, campaigns, and indeed the very paper on which this debate is printed.

“The frustrating issue arises when all of the hard work that the union does in terms of its political and ideological aims is often contradicted by its events of a night-time.

“When the union is so keen to promote liberation, representation and non-prejudice, how can it justify event themes such as Playboy and Chavs and Geeks?

“The Playboy themes event last year actively encouraged women to dress as Playboy bunny girls, and for the men to come in their dressing gowns just like Hugh Hefner.

“How does this promotion and reinforcement of gender roles fit into the agenda of women’s liberation, and does this not directly contradict the role of the women’s representative?

“Ironically, the profit made from the Playboy event would go into the same non-for-profit pot that enables the facilitation of a women’s rep, and indeed all other liberation reps, SAC positions and everything else representation based across the union.

“It is at this point that I must stress that is it not the theme of the events that I am opposed to in general, it is simply that it is the union that holds them which then often contradicts and undermines all the other work that they do.

“Additionally, the promotion of a Chavs and Geeks event again reinforces prejudice, trivialises issues like bullying and strongly adheres to stringent stereotypes.

“How can such events be established, funded and promoted by a union that, by day, spends the profits of such events on providing remedies for the very issues that, by night, it encourages?

“To sum up, I believe the union does a brilliant job of promoting liberation, representation and democracy during the day, but its after house events that fund such good work severely let the side down.”

Acts like The Pigeon Detectives (picture and who are due to revisit next month) have helped 53 Degrees win the award. Photo by FOCKS (Flickr).

53 Degrees has won the title of “Best Venue Teamwork for a Campus” for the second year running at the annual Live UK Music Awards.

UCLan’s student venue beat off fierce competition from Liverpool Guild of Students/O2 Academy and Manchester Academy in order to defend their title.

The awards, held in London, were produced by Live UK Events and guests included festival and media event organisers to national promoters and record labels.

The 53 Degrees team said: “To be once again recognised by a panel of industry professionals was a very welcome surprise. We work tirelessly as a team to make 53 Degrees one of the best venues in the North West.

“The passion, enthusiasm, commitment and time that goes into running events is unbelievable, but when it is a success, we love it and that is what drives us.”

They later added: “Ultimately this award will benefit, the venue, The University of Central Lancashire and the City of Preston itself and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of it all of it. We would like to say a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for us and we promise we will continue working hard to make 53 Degrees ‘The Best Venue’ around.”

Peter Shiltongodwin, Chief Executive of UCLan Students’ Union said: “It’s great to know that 53 degrees is regarded by the music industry as a great venue. This award is a great tribute to the hard work and passion of everyone in the 53 team”.

By Emily Childs

53 Degrees could retain their title of 'Best Campus Venue'. Photo by Unsigned Acts/Preston (Flickr).

UCLan’s 53 degrees has yet again been nominated as ‘Best Campus Venue’ 2011 for the Live Music UK Awards.

Last year the venue won the prestigious accolade, and the team are targeting to retain their title which is recognised by industry experts.

The 53 degrees team work vigorously to make the venue the best it can possibly be.

Winning this award will not only help improve 53 degree’s already excellent reputation but help UCLan at large and more significantly Preston itself.

Students can get involved by taking just five minutes to vote via www.livemusicawards.co.uk.

Voting closes on Wednesday 22^nd September.

Bikini Black Special are, if you didn’t know, one of Preston’s best musical hopes putting our fair city on the musical map. PR1 caught up with the band just before their record breaking set at 53 Degrees.

 When asked to describe their sound, both Paddy Green (guitars/synths/vocals) and Kim Seward (vocals) agree that “We just want to make noise. We make noisy electro rock, we like to dance around and we hope that other people want to dance around with us too!” Continue Reading

Sometime back in 2006, The Sunshine Underground released the most criminally underrated album of the year in the shape of ‘Raise The Alarm’.

It was a record that acted as the mid-way point between Klaxons’ nu-rave heroics and Kasabian’s lad rock psychedelia. The resulting singles found their way onto indie dance floors nationwide and saw the Leeds four-piece teeter on the brink of the mainstream.

Strange then, that three years later and we still have no new material from which to judge them on. That is until tonight. Upstairs in the club venue of 53 Degrees can sometimes host the most riotous of acts in an intimate setting, however The Sunshine Underground have decided to play a set comprising of mostly new unheard songs.

Lucky then that nearly all of them are cracking. Like a pint of Guinness or any other cliché that you care to mention, there’s no rushing these boys- the first song aired, ‘Coming To Save You’, is an anthem in similar vein to their previous output. Let’s get things straight from the beginning; if you liked them first time round, you’re going to love them now. And if you weren’t too keen…well you’re not going to change your mind any time soon.

When approaching that ‘difficult second album’, in the last couple of years we’ve seen The Sunshine Underground’s contemporaries not quite managing to hit the heights of their debut;  The View unsuccessfully added strings, CSS turned in a lethargic and lazy effort and well The Enemy presumably decided they didn’t enjoy their careers anymore and churned out a woeful second cut.

There shouldn’t be any such problems on tonight’s evidence though as ‘Spun It Out, ‘In Your Arms’ and ‘Your Friends’ in particular sound more muscular than ‘Raise The Alarm’s offerings.

As expected there are four songs which bring the roof down tonight, ‘Commercial Breakdown’ causes pandemonium, ‘Wake Up’ sees its dancehall undertones transformed into a full-blooded disco behemoth.

On the flip of a coin though Craig Wellington can turn the crowd from lairy (half of the audience tonight could be described as ‘ard’) to melancholic. The first verse and chorus of ‘Borders’ is turned into a call and response epic and a glorious chant of “You’ve gotta fight for a reason/What’s your reason/You never cared” can surely be heard by those residing for a Monday evening drink in The Mad Ferret.

In fairness, the audience go mental for most of the set, new or old and as per usual the band on stage knows what buttons to press: “Preston, you’re the best” and “Preston women are always the fittest” providing some of the highlights.

Naturally, the rest of the set is a precursor for the final three and a half minute assault on the senses. Not to say The Sunshine Underground are a one-song band but ‘Put You In Your Place’ is an aural extravaganza once again. During their absence, the song has lost none of its bilious quality- still it remains an incessant barrage of crunching guitars layered upon a rave backdrop. The best thing they have ever done by far (and one of the best songs of 2006).

On tonight’s evidence, 2009 could be the year The Sunshine Underground break through into public consciousness. And if that’s not quite the case, the festival circuit will most certainly be theirs for the taken.

No longer are The Sunshine Underground part of a ‘Dead Scene’.

Lee Sentino

It’s that time of the year again where deadlines are nearly all done with and there’s a lovely instalment of the student loan left to spend frivolously. Well you could do a lot worse than go to our very own 53 Degrees over May as a host of the hottest musical talent in the country are set to take the stage by storm.

Seemingly fighting an uphill struggle after the demise of much loved pop-punksters Busted, Charlie Simpson transformed himself into the frontman of ‘post-hardcore’ outfit Fightstar and has earned credibility through a string of critically acclaimed albums. They have just released their latest record ‘Be Human’ to rave reviews and stop off at 53 on May 1^st with In Case Of Fire and Lazuro supporting.

May 8^th will bear witness to the NME Radar Tour with rising star La Roux headlining. Having just reached number 2 in the charts with ‘In For The Kill’ which has the disco groove of The Knife fused with the androgynous quirk of The Eurythmics. The supporting bill is set to include Italo-Disco revivalists Heartbreak and The Chapman Family’s unadultered rawness.  Magistrates were a band that PR1 nominated as one of our ‘Ones To Watch’ and if there’s any justice singles ‘Make This Work’ and ‘The Inbetweens’ will soon see them getting the recognition they richly deserve.

The King Blues take to the stage on the 10^th with a new single ‘Save The World, Get The Girl’ and a lofty reputation- described by Kerrang as “the most exciting live band in Britain”- it seems that this is a can’t miss opportunity to see them in such an intimate setting.

Similiar sentiments apply to Imelda May who has shared stages with the likes of Diana Ross, Elton John and The Supremes. However this time the sassy, burlesque-influenced singer is only accompanied by her band and an impressive catalogue of songs including latest single ‘Johnny Got A Boom Boom’.

The 18^th May sees 53 Degrees launch its triple attack on the senses with The Sunshine Underground, Friendly Fires and Pendulum all arriving within eleven days of each other.

Having elevated themselves from a bustling Leeds music scene, The Sunshine Underground delivered one of the finest albums of 2006 in the shape of ‘Raise The Alarm’ which spawned dancefloor fillers ‘Put You In Your Place’, ‘Commercial Breakdown’ and ‘Borders’.  Over the past few weeks the band have released demos of forthcoming songs for their new album including the fantastic ‘Coming To Save You’ which suggest they have lost none of their enthusiasm or spark and this undoubtedly rates as one of the most fascinating gigs hosted at 53 Degrees all year.

Friendly Fires have just been announced as a support act for Blur’s massive Hyde Park gig and who’s to argue with Damon Albarn’s taste in music. Certainly not us, and one listen to their eponymous debut album is more than enough to appreciate their sound. Whether it’s the incessant bombast of ‘On Board’ or the showcasing of an impressive pop sensibility on breakthrough hit ‘Paris’. Last time the boys came to Preston it saw singer Ed McFarlane jump in to the audience on the appropriately named ‘Jump In The Pool’.

As if that wasn’t enough, the only act threatening to take The Prodigy’s crown as masters of the dancefloor, Pendulum, arrive on the 29^th May to close proceedings with a flourish. After the successful transition from underground adulation to commercial success with ‘In Silico’, Pendulum have become one of the most sought after live acts in the country. The gig, which is bound to sell out, will see 1500 people crowded into the confines of 53 Degrees raving to a set consisting of ‘Granite’, ‘Propane Nightmares’ and the frenzied rush of ‘Slam’. Unmissable.

And that’s not even everything, SeYes and Whole Lotta Led are two of the finest tribute acts around and with an army of devotees promise to deliver a standout homage to their respective artists. Mobo winning act N Dubz bring their terrifying popular urban sound and even more terrifyingly popular headwear to our fair venue on June 6^th.

 After rescheduling the date to June 11^th Paolo Nutini stops off ahead of the follow-up release to the double platinum selling ‘These Streets’.  Expect hits such as ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’ and ‘Last Request’ to be mixed up with forthcoming releases from the 21 year-old’s new record.

Also recently announced are the Utah Saints and bringing with them their Summer of Love Rave at student night Promo, and the Bounce Heaven Bank Holiday Special along with a host of comedy performances at Stand and Deliver, 53 Degrees promises to be the hottest venue in town for the last term.