Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/441179
V This week maltatoday, Sunday, 4 January 2015 WHAT'S ON intended for current and recent postgraduates, doctoral students and academics researching within or bordering the field of philosophy. The aim is to have a speaker to lead a session where a text of their choice is analysed, debated and critically evaluated. The speaker is to propose a text (10-20 pages) written by a thinker s/he is familiar with or has written a dissertation about, and to suggest a brief commentary from the secondary literature on that text or thinker. Critically acclaimed Scottish act to play at St James Cavalier this week When the Scottish alternative rock band The Twi- light Sad play two intimate stripped back shows at St James Cavalier, Valletta this week, it will be the start of a long and exciting year ahead for the three-piece band. The release of their fourth album Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave, last October has gone down a storm with both music critics and fans alike and ravishing critic reviews have also seen the album make the 'best albums of the year' critics lists and in some instances even top the lists. If truth be told The Twilight Sad have always been loved by the music magazines but reaching a wider audience has been something that always deluded the band despite having a loyal fan base throughout the world. However the more accessible Nobody seems to have done the trick and with tours and festivals booked in Europe and the United States till the end of June, The Twilight Sad know that their time is now. The band is well respected by their fellow musi- cians as well. They have been championed by the post rock legends Mogwai from the off and have in fact toured three times with them (the new album was actually recorded in Mogwai's Temple of Doom studio). The Manic Street Preachers asked the band to support their shows in Scotland earlier this year with James Dean Bradfield watching their sets from the sound desk and The Cure's Robert Smith called their new album 'beautiful'. The change of fortune for The Twilight Sad might have arrived earlier than the album release though, after playing the prestigious Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona last May. After playing a typi- cal intense ear-splitting set at the festival itself, the following afternoon the band played a stripped back set (same as in Malta) at the Parc De Ciutadella (also as part of the festival). Their performance that grey afternoon will not be easily forgotten by those that were lucky enough to be there. Singer James Graham sang his heart out like his life depended on it. Music magazine 'Drowned in Sound' listed the concert as one of the '10 live sets that shook 2014'. 2014 was a great year for The Twilight Sad (Album of the Year in Scotland) but 2015 promises to be even better. It's not often that we get a band in its prime in Malta so these two shows definitely aren't to be missed. Maltese singer-songwriter Yews will be supporting on Friday while Clandestines will play the Saturday show. Tickets are at €16 and €20. Bookings: book- ings@sjcav.org, 2122 3200. The concerts are being sponsored by The British Council Last chance to see: Merry Poppins Valletta International Baroque ensemble