Big Day Out phone app now available

You know what festivals are like. You lose track of who is playing where and when. Which is why, at one previous Big Day Out we were stuck watching fucking Jet while, unbeknownst to us, Billy Bragg was playing somewhere on one of the smaller stages. So, if you are heading to this year's Big Day Out, you should get yourself their super handy Mobile App.

Fully integrated with all your fave social networks, you can set your logins for Facebook and Twitter so posting pics and comments is easy. Click on any item in the Lineup to see a full bio and links to the artist’s website, iTunes, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more and there’s also the Big Day Out 2012 Video playlist where you can browse through artist videos and discover new acts. Of course the Event Maps will appear in the App in time for the festival so you can navigate your way from stage to stage and you can share your personal timetable with your friends on Facebook/Twitter and see what they have selected. That way, you won't be wandering round on your own like a loser.

Oh, and the Big Day Out 2012 App is FREE to download. Search the App Store for “Big Day Out” or visit the www.bigdayout.com to get everything you need to know in your pocket. 

Gruff Rhys soundtracks Whale Trail

In a Bobbysix first, 25ThC reviews an iphone app! Very 21st Century. Before you cynically suggest we are being sponsored to write about it, shut your face. We're not. We were actually drawn to it because its accompanying sounds are created by one of our heroes...

This colourful and beautifully animated game for the iphone is a crazily addictive affair and I literally have not been able to stop playing it in every free minute since I bought it at the bargain price of 69p.

The premise is to pilot Willow the Whale as he flies through the sky collecting multicoloured bubbles and stars whilst avoiding the dark black clouds which serve to electrocute him. Once Willow has collected 7 stars he enters the frenzy mode for a short time which attracts all surrounding bubbles to him and also allows him to fly through the clouds, zapping them as he goes. The game is controlled very simply with one finger, and a press of the screen causes Willow to fly up and - if held - do a loop the loop. The purpose is also simple - stay alive as long as possible and score as many points as you can. The only problem is as soon as you die you want to play again and again and again to try and beat your high score. It is also part of Apple's game centre so you can pit your score against the world's best.

The game has been designed by Neil McFarland of award winning digital design studio Ustwo. Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals provides the music and the voiceover, in Welsh. He has just released the track Whale Trail as a double-A side digital and 12" vinyl backed by Space Dust from his recent album Hotel Shampoo. Neil's previous collaborations with Gruff include artwork for Super Furry Animals' Juxtaposed With You single and animations for the band's Rings Around The World and Phantom Power DVD Albums.

Buy this game now and then try and put it down!

Review by 25ThC.