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David Mouriquand

Culture news

More boycotting UK music festivals over Barclays links to Israel

After the mass exodus of artists at The Great Escape, more are dropping out of this weekend's Download Festival and next month's Latitude - all over their sponsorship links with Barclays Bank. And more could follow.

Culture news

French pop icon and singer Françoise Hardy dies aged 80

Françoise Hardy's career spanned six decades, and many of her songs have become classics of the French repertoire. Beyond her celebrated brand of melancholic pop, she was a style icon and an actress, one of France’s biggest stars.

Culture news

King Charles III's portrait targeted by animal rights activists

The activists were criticising the welfare standards of RSPCA "assured farm" status, with King Charles being a patron of the charity. This follows a report from Animal Rising, saying its members visited farms that had won the RSPCA Assured stamp of approval and found animal cruelty on each one.

Culture news

UK music festivals continue to lag on gender representation

New research shows that on average this year at UK music festivals, 63% of acts are male artists or all-male bands, compared to just 21% of female solo artists or bands.

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Culture news

Donald Trump asks in new book: Is Taylor Swift ‘legitimately liberal'?

In an upcoming book which hits shelves later this month, Trump comments on Taylor Swift's appearance and questions her political beliefs. This comes at a time when President Biden’s campaign is actively seeking an endorsement from Swift.

Culture news

Is James Bond taking over London’s secret WWII underground tunnels?

The once secret Kingsway Exchange Tunnels are set to be transformed into a cultural space and open to the public for the first time since World War II. And rumours are that a 007 exhibit is part of planned transformation of the tunnels into an underground museum.

Culture news

Why might the UK’s biggest music festival skip 2026?

“The fallow year is important because it gives the land a rest, and it gives the cows a chance to stay out for longer and reclaim their land,” says Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis.

Culture news

The internet is going nuts over ‘Hot Rodent Men’ - What does it mean?

Gen Z want Hot Rodent Men - and they are being very vocal about it. What does it mean? How does one qualify? And how is being compared to a rodent a compliment?

Art

Why did this ceramic goat sell for €13,000? (Clue: It’s Royal)

If you belong to an archaic system of hereditary power, there are always going to be buyers...

Culture news

The Beatles biopics: Who are rumoured to be the Fab Four on screen?

Sam Mendes’ four Beatles biopics have reportedly got a cast. It looks mighty promising. However, the rumoured casting is not to everyone’s liking...

Culture news

Latitude Festival 2024: Musicians dropping out over Barclays links

Several musicians are dropping out of the upcoming UK music festival Latitude, over its sponsorship with Barclays and the bank’s ties to Israel. These announcements come shortly after the major boycott of The Great Escape in Brighton last month, also due to its ties with Barclays.

Art

Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2024: Feast your eyes on the winners

From a pup with some cat flap issues to a cat aspiring to be Tarzan, the winners of this year's Comedy Pet Photo Awards do not disappoint.

Culture news

Blockbuster preview: What are this summer's unmissable movies?

Join us as we chronologically go through the next three months to give you the lowdown on the films you shouldn't miss out on this summer.

Art

Why is Britney Spears sketching UK landmarks?

The US pop singer has surprised fans when she posted a sketch of what appears to be two Birmingham landmarks. And the drawing is rather good.

Culture news

You won't believe what this Star Wars figurine is worth

An extremely rare Star Wars action figure has become the world's most valuable toy after it sold for a record $525,000 (approx. €482,000).

Culture news

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour: A day in the life of a Swiftie newbie

Taylor Swift comes to France with her Eras Tour, and our writer David Mouriquand pops his Swift concert cherry in Lyon. He walks you through his day, his gig, his thoughts, his photos, and whether or not this experience has transformed him into a card-carrying Swiftie.

Culture news

Mysterious manuscript of Albert Camus' ‘L'Étranger’ to be auctioned

The complete (and mysterious) manuscript of Albert Camus' famous novel is to be auctioned and is estimated at between €500,000 and €800,000.

Culture news

Password of steel? Study reveals most hackable pop-culture password

Many people use pop culture references for their open sesames. And a new study proves that it’s terrible password hygiene.

Culture news

Dutch tourist accused of defacing ancient Roman villa

The series of cultural vandalism incidents across Italy continues...

Culture news

'Miss AI' finalists: Meet the fake models competing for the crown

Amidst the concerns that AI is threatening job security and artistic professions, Fanvue World AI Creator Awards have announced their Top 10 shortlist for the first-ever ‘Miss AI’ award. And they've all got mortifyingly clichéd bios.

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