Big Fan is back: Beyoncé edition!🐝
Hello angels!
Samhradh sona daoibh - it’s lashing rain as I write this! Chuir mé tús leis an séasúr ag Beyond the Pale - féile aoibhinn, ticéid ar luathphraghas do 2025 ar fáil anseo - agus le Radio Solstice. Mholfainn an dá rud!
It’s been a long time coming but delighted that Big Fan is back!
We’re starting strong with one of the biggest international superstars of our time, none other than Beyoncé, as discussed by the endlessly talented and enthralling Ashley Chadamoyo Makombe who was an absolute pleasure to chat to. We talked about Afrofuturism, legacy, Destiny’s Child’s Goodfellas impressions and what Beyoncé contributes to the culture. It’s yours and available wherever you get your podcasts.
Show Notes
Ashley is co-founder of The GALPAL Collective, who I’d recommend you follow!
You can read her article on Beyoncé here: ‘She is the artist of my life’: reflections on how Beyoncé has reclaimed Black narrative | Business Post
The Lemonade visuals are available in full here
This is Your Brain on Music - Daniel L | The Secret Bookstore
Speaks Volumes Podcast with Derrick Gee: Harry Sty;es’ Creative Director
We’ve also moved to Acast so more widely available including Apple and Deezer, and I would really appreciate a rating on your podcast app, it helps with SEO and if you enjoy the episode or know a Beyoncé fan - or a music or popculture fan! - who might like it, please do share x
Some other things I’ve been obsessing over…
Laura Marling’s New Newsie
Laura is one of my most enduring (parasocial) relationships and so you can only imagine my reaction to her launching a tarot-card themed Substack delving into her songwriting practice. Take my money, wreck my Sundays. You can follow her newsletter here.
I also stumbled accidentally upon this gorgeous radio doc about Joni Mitchell today, narrated by Laura, if you’re looking for a soothing Sunday listen: Blue: Pain and Pleasure on BBC Sounds
Orlando Weeks’ LOJA
In last month’s newsletter I wrote about Morgana and the magic of doing something different with your approach to shows and touring, and so I love love that Orland Weeks (formerly of The Maccabees) opted to for a few weeks’ residency in an art gallery, where he made lino prints by day and displayed his art during a small gig in the same space in the evenings. Sustainable, special, intimate. He spoke about it and about getting out of your own way, creatively speaking, on the 101 Part Time Jobs Podcast (title of my future memoir).
Ar Anailís Albam de chuid Splanc ar Newstalk an mhí seo caite phléigh mé fhéin agus Cuán Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band le The Beatles - a classic for a reason - éist siar anseo:
Agus thug muid geábh ar rac na 90’dí le Automatic for the People de chuid R.E.M an mhí seo. Tá gach eagrán d’Anailís Albam, agus amhráin ó na halbaim ar fáil ar an seinnliosta seo ar féidir a leanúint ar Spotify:
Cúinne Cultúir
The Sugar Wife - Abbey Theatre
Set in 19th century Dublin, this play explores the dark side of commodities like tea and sugar, and asks: if wealth is built on exploitation, can it really be used for good? I loved how the stories were interwoven and it was also fun to see Siobhán Cullen and Chris Walley (who I’ve just watched in Bodkin on Netflix!) on stage. Ticéid ar fáil anseo.
Closer to Home - Michael Magee
I kind of love a book where nothing happens? This book is all heart, with gorgeous character development, and a world you can just step into. Set in Belfast, it follows a young man from a violent incident to rebuilding his life and I felt genuinely lonely once I put it down.
Say a Song Project le Doireann Ní Ghlacáin on RTÉ Radio One
Perfect cosy Sunday listening at 7pm, some of Ireland’s best writers and sean nós artists like Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Iarla Ó Lionáird, and Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh are invited to re-imagine sean-nós songs and traditional stories, exploring their parralells in modern Ireland.
Heartstopper as Gaeilge - aistriúchán le hEoin McEvoy
Scríobh mé faoin tsraith Netflix Heartstopper nuair a eisíodh ar dtús é, agus is ola ar mo chroí anois go bhfuil leagan Gaeilge den leabhar againn a bhuí le hEoin McEvoy agus Futa Fata. Leabhar álainn, tábhachtach, agus croíúil, gus aistriúchán snasta slachtmhar déanta ag Eoin ar an scéal - foirfe fiú mura léitheoir rialta Gaeilge thú.
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors - on my holiday reading list
I loved Cleopatra & Frankenstein, and have gone back to read it recently. Only on second read did I realise the whole story is right there in the first conversation between the main characters if you know what you’re looking for. Obsessed with Mellors’ masterful magical story-crafting, ten out of ten would recommend to a friend.
Off Top Scratch Nights
Scratch Nights are a sharing platform for artists to try out a new work with a live audience, and Dublin has a brand new one, which doubles as a costume party! Hosted by Evanne Kilgallon and featuring Cúán de Búrca s’againne who you might know from our drama Máirtín agus Jenny from the Block or this gorge/gas poem about daddy long legs and shrooms. Tickets for the night are available anseo
Club na nAlbam
Cosúil le club leabhar, ach d’albaim? Iocónach. Reviewing Kneecap’s Fine Art on the 12th? Also iocónach.
Agus sin a bhfuil! Go raibh maith agat as a bheith linn agus liom anseo <3
Ag súil le bhur tuairimí faoin bpodchraoladh a chloisteáil! Fáilte roimh cheisteanna agus moltaí i gcónaí, ní gá ach an ríomhphost seo a fhreagairt nó mé a aimsiú @gingeripod cibé áit,
Grá mór agus sonas ort,
Em x