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Festivals

Festivals, Metal, Music

Festival Season Fun!

August 12, 2013

Well we are finally back to normal life after over two weeks of drunken shenanigans at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock Open Air, crossing many international borders along the way! We have Sunkfest (The first Dakesis show with that silly blue haired girl on lead vocals) next weekend to go and then we can put the tent away for another year.

Festival season ’13 has been absolutely brilliant, and though I’m sad it is drawing to an end, I’m already excited for next year (EMPEROR, EMPEROR, EMPEROR!!!)

 

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Needless to say we road tested plenty of festival essentials, saw numerous amazing bands (and wonderful festival sights!) and came back with more than a few new pretty things which we will share with you over the coming days.

 

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For now however it is time to shower and then play with the many boxes of make-up and assorted products that arrived whilst we were adventuring!

Totally hellbent for a night in my own bed

– Gem

Beauty Boxes, Festivals, Hair, Make-up, Nails

July 2013 Glossybox

July 13, 2013

July glossybox

 

Glossybox day is always the most exciting day of the month!

I’ve been doubly excited about the July box since I saw the gorgeous turquoise print a few days ago as part of the “ready for summer” theme, and I’m glad to say the contents were just as exciting!

 

GB inside July

 

After a long day in the sun at work organising a performance for some pupils at my music school, I was filled with glee at my lovely blue box. Despite my hot, sweaty, impatient demeanour I took my time drawing that lovely blue ribbon to reveal the treasures inside.

 

July Glossybox inside

I am happy to say I will use everything inside the box, in fact I’d used the first item within seconds of spotting it!

 

 

Glossybox July anatomicals spray

Anatomiocals spray misty for me facial spritz

Anatomicals is not a brand I’ve heard of before but I rushed to cover my face in this cooling lavender and peppermint spray the moment I realized what it was. I was still wearing a full face of make-up at the time and it cooled me down and made my face feel refreshed without budging my war paint even a bit!

 

 

July Glossybox Alterna boho waves

Alterna Haircare bamboo style boho waves tousled texture mist

I love the wavy just-come-from-the-beach-or-alternatively-from-a-vicious-headbanging-session look so I’m sure I’ll get lots of use out of this. It has a very light summery scent so I’m sure I’ll enjoy that regardless of how good it is at giving me big blue summery waves.

 

 

Glossybox july Pukka radiance serum

Pukka Ayurveda radiance serum

I’ve become slightly less excited about skincare items in my Glossybox as I find I never really get a chance to properly try them out. I have so many skincare samples and minis I fear I’ll never get around to really giving them a go, but the tripple whammy of Wacken > Bloodstock > Sunkfest next month means I should have plenty of reasons to pack my skincare minis and leave my full sized staples at home!

 

 

July GB ciate

Ciate paint pot in “Pocket Money”

I’ve been meaning to try a Ciante polish for a long time, but begrudge £9.00 for something I will use one or two times then relegate to the back of my nail varnish drawer, so this was a nice surprise.

I love the warm neutral shade, and the packaging is very pretty however my boyfriend broke the trademark bow within two seconds of seeing it proclaiming “I want to eat it, it looks like dessert”…..

 

 

Glossybox July Coola mineral sunscreen

Coola Organic Suncare Collection mineral face SPF 20 rose essence tint

I hate hate hate the feeling of oily sun lotion on my face and sadly stick to foundations with SPF rather than a dedicated cream, reluctantly using a light spray sun protection in the hottest of weather. This however looks like it might be my new favourite product!

The full size product is a tad on the pricey side at £29.99 got 50ml as you have to throw away suncare products every year, but if it protects my face and keeps my skin from looking like an oil slick I might be swayed.

 

Overall verdict

Although I prefer a mix of more make-up products I’m really happy and impressed with this box, and I think I will get a lot of use out of it on my adventures next month!

You can order a Glossybox here for £10 (+ P&P) per monthly box. 

Totally hellbent at almost being set for adventures thanks to my new miniatures! 

– Gem

 

Festivals, Make-up

Gig + Field x Stage Face = Big bag

July 11, 2013

gigessentials

 

 

Dakesis recently played for the 16th birthday of an amazing girl called Alice. Since she is already so metal, she had a mini festival with her own band playing and asked us to do a set.

So, I thought this would be a good example to show you one of my more “basic” gig sets. Obviously this gig was a little more low key and since I was planning on spending a great deal of time drinking in a field, I wasn’t overly bothered about how I would end up looking. Despite this, I do like to ensure I have all the essentials to remove my panda eyes before bed!!

In order, here are some of my lovely essentials:

1 Makeup Case

2 Old duster for cleaning my brushes whilst out and about

3 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Day and Night Cream

4 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisturising Serum

5 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E mini cleanser and toner

6 Dainty Doll Foundation

7 Kindle

8 Elf Studio Eyebrow Kit

9 17 Miracle Matte Pressed Powder

10 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E BB cream (I mix this in with my foundation)

11 Nivea Visage Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes 

12 Nivea Hydra Moisturising Cream

13 Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara (my new love, from my Glossy Box)

14 Christina Aguilera Secret Potion Perfume

15 Nivea Roll On Deodrant (Keeps me fresh all day long)

16 Elf Brush Cleaner

17 Elf Makeup Lock and Seal (an absolute requirement for stage makeup)

18 Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner

19 The Body Shop’s Shimmer Cube Palette Eyeshadow Blue/Grey

20 Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Drama

21 The Body Shop All in One Blusher

 

22 Ecotools Kabuki (From Boots, bought this on a whim after I desperately needed one, and this was the only one I could almost guarantee would be cruelty free)

23 Various brushes – The Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush, Bobby Brown brushes, Elf angled foundation brush (studio range).

 

There is a lot more to my essentials list that this, but you get the idea! Look out for reviews of some of these products in the near future too!!

I will leave you with a thoroughly amusing picture of camping chair makeup application & the sight of hair in much need of dying!

gigessentialmakeup

 

Totally hellbent for “glamping” Dakesis style

– Pants

 

 

Clothing and Fashion, Festivals

The tardis festival bag.

July 11, 2013

I do enjoy hand bags of all varieties – although mostly ones that are red and full of pockets for me to store all sorts of things in. Years ago, however, my sole reliance was on my backpack which is sadly dying the death of overused, overfilled and overworn.

At festivals, you need something that you can have on your back or over your shoudler, that is going to remain attached to you even when intoxicated. The sort of bag that does not require effort to carry or hold – like your average woman’s “shoulder handbag”.

My first year at Wacken in 2006 was where I invested in my new, universal, festival/all rounder metal bag which has served me well and keeps on giving the gift of practicality, space and the ability to fill with patches!!

Unlike my backpack, if I want to indulge in some headbanging wherever I am, I don’t have to take my bag off and put it on the floor, it remains attached to me over my head and resting on my shoulder.

Despite it’s size, I can fit a lot of stuff in there too!

  • Purse
  • Phone
  • Handwash
  • Keys
  • Separate purse for euros
  • A t-shirt (for new purchases)
  • A drink
  • (as well as tobacco, filters, life time supply of rizzla and lighters when I was a smoker)

I can also attach shopping bags to it as the handle “clips on” so in times of heavy intoxication, I always arrive at the tent with all new shinies, and the entire contents of my bag. I’ve noticed over the years that other people have jumped on the wagon with these and they seem to be a popular choice for the avid female festival goer.

Alas, here is mine … and an example of just some of the things I can get into it!

 

tardisbag

 

Above, with more than ample room for keys/passport/plastic cups etc, I comfortably fit my very large purse, a bottle of water, hand wipes, alcohol gel, sun cream and a t-shirt! Some of the essentials for festival life.

So there you have it –
Completely hellbent for practical bag space!

– Pants

 

 

Festivals, Music, News

Fanciful Frontwoman

July 11, 2013

It’s been about seven years since I last fronted a band, and now circumstances call me to centre stage again. Now this is only planned as a temporary measure – we recently decided it was in the best interests of the band to move forwards without our ex-frontman and as we search the metalsphere for a new set of iron lungs I am taking over vocal duties.

 

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Knee-slide-alicious! © Stagedive Photography

 

For those not in the know – singing is actually my first “instrument”. I’m a vocal coach and singing teacher by profession so taking on the vocals themselves won’t be too taxing. Hell – I wrote the lyrics and vocal melodies to most of the songs too so that’s handy. It’s the physical part that is drawing the nerves.

 

©.Stagedive Photography

©.Stagedive Photography

For the past four years in Dakesis I have stood behind two behemoth keyboards for 90% of the time, and though it will be wonderful to have the freedom of the stage again, I wonder if I have the stage presence and physical stamina to lead the band through an hour of high energy power metal.

Starting this week I’ve been training my ass off (literally) with my lovely boyfriend, I’d love to drop some weight as well obviously, but my main objective is to be able to tear around the stage and give the people a good show for their money! Vocal practice twice a day including a warm up and general technique followed by song rehearsal is something I’m really enjoying and of course practice with the band too.

Our first gig* as a four piece is only a matter of weeks away, and two of those weeks Amie and I will be at Wacken and Bloodstock festivals so time is really of the essence!

Once we’ve got the music down I only have one more concern…what the bloody hell am I going to wear!

Totally hellbent for being front and centre 

– Gem

 

* Upcoming Dakesis dates with me on lead vocals!

16-18 Aug – Sunkfest
12th September – The RoadHouse, Birmingham
19th October – The Library, Leeds 
29th Nov – 1st Dec – Valkyrian Festival, Hull