The List Issue 753

FREE INSIDE THE GUIDE TO

SCOTLAND’S

ISLANDS

19 ON THE WEST COAST 20

GLASGOW & EDINBURGH EVENTS GUIDE INSPIRING IDEAS

1 APR–31 MAY 2019 | ISSUE 753

WHAT TO DO

CULTURE & EVENTS

ENJOYING THE JOURNEY

FREE

Ray LIST.CO.UK

of

light

HIDDEN DOOR LAYS OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR RAY BLK

PLUS EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL

RIVERSIDE

MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FEST

WOMEN IN STEM CELEBRATED

FEAST OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC RETURNS

13 YEARS OF DIVERSE PROGRAMMING

118692 JW The List April Eating and Drinking A4 Ad v1 RM.indd 1

22/03/2019 11:31

CONTENTS 1 APR–31 MAY 2019 | LIST.CO.UK

H

ands up if you're ready for it to get warm! Here at List HQ, we can feel the excitement building as we get the slow trickle of line-up announcements and the plotting of summer festival plans begins. But before that, there are thankfully plenty of wonderful goings-on around town to keep us entertained and cheery ahead of the fun of the summer months.

After a mammoth fundraising effort, Hidden Door is back and we couldn't be more thrilled, especially since we've curated the opening night party with our cover star Ray BLK (page 30) as headliner. Plus, the Edinburgh Science Festival returns (page 20), along with the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (page 36) and the Edinburgh International Children's Festival (page 40).

In music festival news, Glasgow's Riverside (page 34) and Counterflows (page 24) festivals are coming up soon, as is Scotland's annual music convention, Wide Days (page 26), which has some terrific showcases planned for this year.

Elsewhere, we catch up with Sophie Laplane about Scottish Ballet's Spring! (page 50) and also have great chats with Bo Burnham about Eighth Grade (page 44) and Idlewild about their new album (page 90).

Also with this issue, you'll find our Guide to Scotland's Islands which highlights the very best of the islands off the west coast and our Art & Design 2019 special, celebrating some of Scotland's most creative projects and facilities. And don't forget to keep an eye out for the 26th edition of our Eating and Drinking Guide (out 17 Apr), to get the low-down on the best of Glasgow and Edinburgh's dining scenes.

FRONT Realist

4

News

13

Pepperland

17

FEATURES

20

Bo Burnham

44

Videogames at V&A

48

FOOD & DRINK

COVER STORY

FREE INSIDE THE GUIDE TO

SCOTLAND’S

ISLANDS

ON THE WEST COAST 2019

INSPIRING IDEAS

1 APR–31 MAY 2019 | ISSUE 753

WHAT TO DO

CULTURE & EVENTS

ENJOYING THE JOURNEY

FREE

Ray LIST.CO.UK

of

light

HIDDEN DOOR LAYS OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR RAY BLK

PLUS EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL

RIVERSIDE

MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FEST

WOMEN IN STEM CELEBRATED

FEAST OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC RETURNS

13 YEARS OF DIVERSE PROGRAMMING

HIDDEN DOOR

57

The Lansdowne

58

AROUND TOWN Werq the World

BOOKS

50

The theme of frontiers dominates this year's capital science spectacular featuring workshops, talks and events about virtual reality, climate change, maths, pop-up engineering, and the possible return of the dodo.

Our national ballet company celebrates its 50th birthday this year and helping to blow out all those candles is a presentation of Spring!, a double bill of choreography from Sir Kenneth MacMillan and former Scottish Ballet dancer Sophie Laplane.

COVER PHOTO: OLIVIA ROSE

GREAT OFFERS

SCOTTISH BALLET

10 Enter a short film to Edinburgh International Film Festival and win with Johnnie Walker

10 Win VIP passes to the opening night of Hidden Door

11 Win a meal for two at Tron Bar & Kitchen

11 1000 tickets available for the Ideal Home Show Scotland

68 68 69

Alexander Trocchi

69

COMEDY

71

Mo Amer & Guz Khan

71

Bill Bailey

72

The Guilty Feminist

74

77

Dead by Dawn

77

Mid90s

78

Beats

80 81

85

ET

85

The Whirlybird

86

89

Kamasi Washington

89

Idlewild

90

C Duncan

93

Giorgio Moroder

94

Aldous Harding

96

THEATRE & DANCE Rambert2

105 105

Lost at Sea

107

Take Me Somewhere

108

Northern Ballet

EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL

65

Kerry Hudson

MUSIC

PHOTO: ALEX FINE

20

65

Edinburgh Comic Con

KIDS

Leith Theatre will once again reverberate to the eclectic sights and sounds of Hidden Door, as an exciting long weekender is laid on for you lucky people. Our cover star, Ray BLK, tells us about standing up against injustice and touring with Nicki Minaj. Also keep an eye out for other major highlights including Ninja Tune's Nathan Fake, producer-singer Kelly Lee Owens, US stars Cigarettes After Sex, and Glasgow DJ Sarra Wild.

57

Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival

Thunder Road

GLASGOW & EDINBURGH EVENTS GUIDE

19

Spring festivals

FILM

Editor

2

110

TELEVISION

112

Game of Thrones

112

VISUAL ART

115

Borderlines

115

Senga Nengudi

116

FIRST & LAST Brian Blessed

128 128

GRAPHIC CONTENT

CONTRIBUTORS

What we’ve been talking about The Edinburgh Science Festival is hurtling its way to us soon and it’s also the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and that other guy making a giant leap into lunar history. So, we wondered out loud what the most memorable moon-shaped cultural happenings of all time might be . . .

I feel like you’re taken on a real emotional journey when Gru attempts to steal the moon in Despicable Me. I was really rooting for him.

REM’s Man in the Moon is a corking tune and inextricably linked to the lunar-tuned Andy Kaufman (and by extension, Jim Carrey who played Andy in the film of the same name).

Suppose we can’t mention the Moonwalk now?

The man in the moon turns out to be the villainous Flex Mentallo in the classic Grant Morrison / Frank Quitely storytelling twist.

Julian Barratt playing jazz loser Howard Moon in The Mighty Boosh. Or maybe it was Noel Fielding playing the actual moon in The Mighty Boosh?

A 1998 TV miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, which Tom Hanks put together after making Apollo 13 and wanting to get his Apollo programme fanboy enthusiasm out of his system.

One high point is Bryan Cranston as Buzz Aldrin, grinding his teeth with resentment because he wants to be first to step out.

The Museum of the Moon is pretty incredible.

This touring artwork

by Luke Jerram is stunning and fascinating, and you could stare at it for hours.

‘What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary!’ Definitely my favourite moonrelated quote, from George Bailey in the incredible It’s a Wonderful Life.

Got to be the absolutely bonkers Le Voyage dans la Lune by Georges Méliès.

I still remember watching this as a young kid and being absolutely fascinated by it.

The scene where the capsule hits the man in the moon right in the face is an image that will always be with me.

I have a moon tattoo on my back dedicated to West Side Story which is my favourite film / musical ever! ‘Oh moon grow bright, and make this endless day endless night.’

The Chris O’Dowd Sky thing, Moone Boy, in which a teenage girl is shambolically ‘educated’ about periods by her feckin’ feckless parents before announcing: ‘what do you mean the moon’s going to make me bleed? I’ll make the moon bleed!’

2 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out for making the moon seem like an achievable weekend destination and a great place to ski.

The song Moon River is iconic and never fails to make me emotional whenever I hear it, whether it’s Audrey Hepburn strumming her ukulele or Frank Ocean’s more recent cover. It’s the perfect ode to longing, which has been associated with the moon for centuries, but also has this great sense of whimsy about it that appeals to the romantic in us all.

CONTENT Editor Arusa Qureshi Head of Digital Media Scott Henderson Content Manager Murray Robertson Senior Content Producer Alex Johnston Content Producers Deborah Chu, Katharine Gemmell, Sofia Matias Subeditors Brian Donaldson, Paul McLean Work Placement Arabella Bradley SECTION EDITORS Books Lynsey May Comedy / Front Brian Donaldson Dance / Kids Kelly Apter Film Reviews Emma Simmonds Food & Drink Donald Reid Music: Gigs / TV Henry Northmore Music: New Releases Arusa Qureshi News Katharine Gemmell Theatre Gareth K Vile Visual Art Rachael Cloughton PRODUCTION Senior Designer Lucy Munro Designers Stuart Polson, Seonaid Rafferty DIGITAL Senior Developer Andy Carmichael Senior Designer Sharon Irish Data Developers Andy Bowles, Alan Miller, Stuart Moir COMMERCIAL Digital Business Development Director Brendan Miles Partnership Director Sheri Friers Senior Events and Promotions Manager Rachel Cree Senior Account Managers Ross Foley, Debbie Thomson Account Managers Jen Lubbers, Jakob Van den Berg Ad Ops Executive Victoria Parker Affiliate Content Executive Becki Crossley Events and Promotions Assistant Amy Clark Events and Promotions Intern Shaun Scott ADMINISTRATION Head of Accounting & HR Sarah Reddie Director Robin Hodge CEO Simon Dessain Published by The List Ltd HEAD OFFICE: 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE Tel: 0131 550 3050 editor@list.co.uk GLASGOW OFFICE: at the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD Tel: 0141 332 9929, glasgow@list.co.uk; list.co.uk ISSN: 0959 - 1915 © 2019 The List Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the written permission of the publishers. The List does not accept responsibility for unsolicited material.

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Use of magazine content is at your own risk.

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The

REALIST PHOTO: IAN GEORGESON

L I R P A

2 PUPPET ANIMATION FESTIVAL KIDS

Across 80 venues in Scotland are 150 puppetry performances, animated films and workshops for this year’s event which includes work from Visible Fictions, Jabuti Theatre, Modest Predicament and Theatre Fideri Federa (pictured). See preview, page 86. Various venues, nationwide, until Sat 20 Apr.

1 EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL AROUND TOWN

With half a century having passed since the moon landings, the Edinburgh Science Festival is grabbing the moment to explore the theme of frontiers and looking at the way it addresses the likes of technology, engineering and maths. Among the highlights across the month are the NMS exhibition Robots, some physics wizardry and a look at virtual worlds, while The Life Scientific host Jim Al-Khalili discusses his debut novel. See feature, page 20. Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun 21 Apr.

4 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

3 GAME OF THRONES TV

Winter is truly coming, as HBO’s blockbuster fantasy draws to a conclusion, no doubt punctured by visceral violence and startling set-pieces. When the dust settles, who will be lording it over Westeros?

See preview, page 112. Sky Atlantic, Mon 15 Apr.

So much culture, so little time.

PHOTO: EMMA KAULDHAR

4 NORTHERN BALLET DANCE

5 COUNTERFLOWS MUSIC

Cramming the life of Queen Victoria into a single narrative ballet is the tricky task which choreographer Cathy Marston has set herself for Northern Ballet’s latest work. See preview, page 110. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 10–Sat 13 Apr.

Curators Alasdair Campbell and Fielding Hope lay on another excellent and highly eclectic festival of avant-garde music featuring the likes of Ashanti, Nicole Mitchell, Michael LaCour, Katz Mulk (pictured) and Viaduct Tuba Trio.

See feature, page 24. Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sun 7 Apr.

COURTESY THE ARTIST; LÉVY GORVY, NEW YORK, LONDON; AND THOMAS ERBEN GALLERY, NEW YORK. PHOTO: HARMON OUTLAW

6 EDINBURGH COMIC CON 7 MO AMER & GUZ KHAN 8 SENGA NENGUDI BOOKS

The usual array of special guests, talks, screenings and wild costumes are all in store for those popping along to the EICC for this year’s Comic Con capital extravaganza.

See preview, page 68. Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Sat 6 & Sun 7 Apr.

COMEDY

On the face of it, an unlikely touring duo, but US-Arab stand-up Amer and Coventry’s Khan will offer fresh and potent perspectives on current world affairs interspersed with moments of astute silliness.

See preview, page 71. Òran Mór, Glasgow, Thu 4 Apr.

VISUAL ART

9 EIGHTH GRADE FILM

Originally organised by the Henry Moore Institute, the Fruitmarket exhibits this first collection of Nengudi’s work outside of America, featuring sculpture and photography from the past half a century. See preview, page 116. Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 26 May.

US comic Bo Burnham’s directorial debut is a fantastic coming-of-age tale about a 13-year-old girl trying to fit in with new friends while maintaining an online identity that’s far from the way she acts IRL. See feature, page 44 and review, page 78. General release from Fri 26 Apr.

PHOTO: SONNET YOUTH

10 HANNAH LAVERY

CHOSEN BY POET HOLLIE MCNISH

The title of this event caught my eye: Finding Sea Glass – Poems from the Drift. I always come back with these softened glass shards in my pockets after being on the beach. Anyways, this is at the Scottish Poetry Library, a place I love, and is the launch of Hannah Lavery’s latest poetry collection with Stewed Rhubarb Press, a great wee independent publisher. I really like listening to Hannah’s readings and I’m in the mood at the moment for some calm(ish) nights: Hannah is a beautiful writer and performer. In all honesty, I probably most often enjoy music gigs, but it’s so nice just to be read to sometimes as well. I don’t think it happens enough in adulthood. Hollie McNish, Mac Arts, Galashiels, Sun 14 Apr; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Thu 18 Apr; Hannah Lavery, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh, Fri 5 Apr. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 5

PHOTO: CHARLOTTE PATMORE

MAY

1 HIDDEN DOOR AROUND TOWN

It may have downsized slightly this year, but that doesn’t make Hidden Door any less of a crucial component on the Scottish cultural landscape.

Back once again at the reinvigorated Leith Theatre, this long weekender plays host to the likes of our R&B cover star Ray BLK, East Lothian hip-hoppers The Honey Farm, Glasgow DJ Sarra Wild, and the brilliantly named pop experimenters Let’s Eat Grandma (pictured). See feature, page 30. Leith Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 30 May–Sun 2 Jun.

PHOTO: NICOLA SELBY

2 SCOTTISH BALLET

3 SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL

Another 50th anniversary bash this year has Scottish Ballet tearing up floors in celebration, kicking off with Spring!, featuring choreography from Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Sophie Laplane. See feature, page 50. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sat 6 Apr; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 2–Sat 4 May.

Keeping the issue of mental health firmly on the public agenda, SMHAF puts together another important event with the theme of Connected driving the diverse programme. See feature, page 36. Various venues, nationwide, Fri 3– Sun 26 May.

DANCE

6 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

AROUND TOWN

The

REALIST PHOTO: JEAN LOUIS FERNANDEZ

4 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

5 TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

6 RIVERSIDE

Returning for a third year, the drama fest which invokes The Arches’ spirit demonstrates flexibility and inclusivity with Mette Ingvartsen, Simone Kenyon (pictured), V/DA and Ivo Dimchev all on the bill. See feature, page 52 and preview, page 108.

Various venues, nationwide, Sat 11 May–Sun 2 Jun.

A top-notch bank holiday weekend is lit up with Scotland’s biggest electronic music festival welcoming Jon Hopkins (pictured), Rebekah, Daniel Avery and Carista to the bonny banks of the Clyde. See feature, page 34. Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Sat 25 & Sun 26 May.

THEATRE

KIDS

Another innovative and exciting line-up of children’s theatre is assembled by Noel Jordan with France, Australia and the United Kingdom among the nations represented. See feature, page 40. Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 25 May–Sun 2 Jun.

MUSIC

PHOTO: ROBIN MITCHELL

PHOTO: ANDY HOLLINGWORTH

PHOTO: VOSS EVENTS

7 WERQ THE WORLD

8 BILL BAILEY

9 MAYFESTO

High flyers from RuPaul’s Drag Race sashay into town with their usual overflowing levels of glamour as they attempt to save the universe, both metaphorically and in plot terms. See preview, page 65. Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 6 May; Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Fri 17 May.

With Larks in Transit, the hirsute musical comic explores the notion of happiness and mashes up some unlikely sonic pairings to stupendous effect.

See feature, page 72. Caird Hall, Dundee, Wed 29 May; SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 30 May; Edinburgh Playhouse, Fri 31 May.

The art of performance gets an uplift for an entire calendar month. The latest instalment of this annual programme brings us the likes of Johnny McKnight reimagining a Dario Fo classic and Apphia Campbell revisiting Woke. See preview, page 107. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 1–Fri 31 May.

AROUND TOWN

COMEDY

THEATRE

10 JAMES YORKSTON

CHOSEN BY COMEDIAN PHILL JUPITUS

There are moments when an artist or performer hits a rare vein of form. The timing of these purple patches is, sadly, completely unpredictable. James Yorkston seems to be in just such a place with the release of his new long player The Route to the Harmonium. Unlike previous albums, it was crafted over a much longer period, sandwiched between his other duties as an author, club promoter, band member and dad. It is an extraordinary work, imbued with an enticing sonic palate, heart-twanging lyrics and melodies that ebb and flow like the chill waters of Cellardyke Harbour. The single, ‘My Mouth Ain’t No Bible’, is a worthy challenger to the ‘speak song’ crown of Tom Waits. As a live performer, his bone-dry wit and laid-back demeanour make him supremely watchable. Like a kind of hipster Chic Murray. Phill Jupitus: Sassy Knack, Tolbooth, Stirling, Sat 25 May; Dundee Rep, Fri 31 May; James Yorkston, Summerhall, Edinburgh, Thu 2 May; Òran Mór, Glasgow, Fri 3 May. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 7

READER OFFERS ENTER YOUR SHORT FILM INTO EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND WIN WITH JOHNNIE WALKER

WIN VIP PASSES TO OPENING NIGHT OF HIDDEN DOOR

This year, the Edinburgh International Film Festival want to challenge the ways of modern day filmmaking.

Partnering up with Johnnie Walker and embodying their ‘Keep Walking’ mantra, EIFF have created a project which aims to challenge ambitious filmmakers to think more creatively about a specific theme, visualising an idea and putting it together in an innovative way.

To enter, all you need to do is create a short film (no longer than 60 seconds) focusing on the theme of Walk With Us. This could be about where you live, what you like, who you spend time with or what’s important to you – it’s up to you to interpret!

The best entries will premiere at the 73rd EIFF in June. Those filmmakers who make the final edit will be entered in a draw to win an all expenses paid trip to the Four Corners distilleries courtesy of Johnnie Walker.

Find out how to apply at edfilmfest.org.uk/walkwithus Edinburgh International Film Festival Wed 19 – Sun 30 Jun Filmhouse 88 Lothian Rd Edinburgh EH3 9BZ

The List are teaming up with Hidden Door to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of VIP passes to the opening night of their 2019 weekend event.

Hidden Door returns for its sixth annual edition this May, and has revealed a diverse music programme for this year’s ‘weekender’ event, taking place at Leith Theatre from Thu 30 May – Sun 2 June 2019.

The opening night, in partnership with The List, once again makes a strong statement of intent with a female-led line-up including rising R&B star Ray BLK and pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma, plus bass-heavy hip hop direct from the East Coast (of Scotland) courtesy of The Honey Farm, Edinburgh’s underground electronic duo Chuchoter and Glasgow DJ Sarra Wild taking us through to 1am.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply log onto list.co.uk/offers and tell us:

How many years has Hidden Door been running?

Hidden Door Thu 30 May - Sun 2 Jun Leith Theatre 28-30 Ferry Road Edinburgh EH6 4AE

edfilmfest.org.uk

hiddendoorblog.org

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition closes Wed 10 Apr 2019. Films must be under 60 seconds.

The List’s usual rules apply.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition closes Tue 7 May 2019. Over 18s only.

The List’s usual rules apply.

WIN A MEAL FOR TWO AT TRON BAR & KITCHEN

WIN WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS TO DOUNE THE RABBIT HOLE

Tron Bar & Kitchen has a lot to offer, showcasing delicious Scottish fare with a modern twist.

The List are partnering up with Doune the Rabbit Hole to offer you the chance to win a pair of weekend camping tickets to their 2019 festival.

The List are partnering up with the venue to celebrate the launch of their new Made To Share menu. We’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win a dinner for two, along with one of their new discount cards which will give you 30% off any future dining.

Doune the Rabbit Hole returns to it’s home at Cardross Estate near the tranquil Lake of Menteith from Fri 19 – Sun 21 Jul to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

To follow all the exciting things Tron Bar & Kitchen are up to, check out their website.

This year’s line-up includes a globally selected programme, with performances from American singer-songwriter John Grant, Scottish punk rock group The Skids, Japanese indie rock trio Shonen Knife, the enduring reggae producer Lee Scratch Perry and many more. The full line up can be found on their website.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply log onto list. co.uk/offers and tell us:

To be in with a chance of winning, simply log onto list.co.uk/offers and tell us:

What is the name of Tron Bar & Kitchen’s new menu?

What anniversary will Doune the Rabbit Hole be celebrating this year?

Photo © John Johnston

Tron Bar & Kitchen 63 Trongate Glasgow G1 5HB

tronbarandkitchen.co.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition closes Wed 1 May 2019. Dinner includes a drink each.

The List’s usual rules apply.

8 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival Fri 19 – Sun 21 Jul 2019 Cardross Estate Port of Menteith Stirling FK8 3JY

dounetherabbithole.co.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition closes Sun 5 May 2019. Parking passes and bus passes will be provided if required. Over 18s only. No cash alternatives. Tickets can be swapped for youth passes.

The List’s usual rules apply.

WIN TICKETS TO KNOCKENGORROCH

FREE TICKETS TO THE IDEAL HOME SHOW SCOTLAND

The List are giving away the chance to win a pair of four day tickets to the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh.

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh is back this May with their new festival theme ‘journey to the end of the rainbow’.

With a diverse line-up featuring: Benjamin Zephaniah and the Revolutionary Minds, Moonlight Benjamin, Elephant Sessions, Talisk, Mungos Hi Fi, Kenny Knots and many more over five venues at a beautiful location in the lush mountains of SW Scotland – this festival cannot be missed.

The festival also has a live procession, shopping stalls, children’s area, circus, celtic longhouse, fire shows, theatre, outdoor swimming area and not to mention the best food and drink available from across the globe.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply log onto list.co.uk/offers and tell us:

What is the festival theme this year?

Knockengorroch Thu 23 – Sun 26 May 2019 Dumfries and Galloway

knockengorroch.org.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS: Offer does not include vehicle passes. All usual ticket terms and conditions apply: www.knockengorroch.org.uk/tickets. List usual rules apply.

The List are partnering up with the Ideal Home Show Scotland and offering readers 1000 free tickets to their weekend show.

Returning to Glasgow’s SEC from Fri 24 to Mon 27 May, the Ideal Home Show Scotland is set to be the best yet.

Showcasing the latest interior trends, home renovation, DIY, gardens and technology, the exhibition is the largest of its kind in Scotland. With four show areas packed with ideas and 400+ brands, there will be plenty of choice.

Wander through four Roomsets to find inspiration for decorating projects and head over to the Show Gardens, sponsored by Erskine for new ideas for your exterior spaces. Property and interiors experts, John Amabile, David Domoney and Nick Knowles will answer questions on the Super Theatre stage. Top chef Rosemary Shrager and drinks expert Olly Smith will also be sharing all things food and drink.

To claim your free tickets, simply enter the code LIST19 when prompted on idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk If you miss out, you can still get a great two-for-one deal by quoting LIST241.

Brewery Fresh Craft Beer Delivered Safely and Conveniently

20% OFF

any case of craft beer, specially selected from the best independent breweries

using the code LIST20 AT HONESTBRE.W.CO.UK

Ideal Home Show Scotland Fri 24 – Mon 27 May Glasgow SEC Glasgow G3 8YW

idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS: Offer closes on Mon 27 May or when all allocated tickets are claimed. Maximum of two free tickets per booking. Tickets subject to availability. Free ticket offer only available on Fri 24, Sun 26 and Mon 27. Full T&C details at list.co.uk/offers. Usual terms of entry apply, see show website for details. The List’s usual rules apply.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 9

GLEN’S G GET YOUR COAT.

ADORE DELANO

DANIEL SLOSS: X

STRAWBERRY & APPLE BREEZE Glen’s Vodka - 1 shot Glen’s Strawberry & Apple - 1 shot Strawberry - 1 Fresh pomegranate juice Grapefruit juice Lemonade Grab a glass, add ice! Throw in your Glen’s and your Strawberry & Apple. Add a splash of fresh pomegranate juice, a splash of grapefruit juice, then top with lemonade. Garnish with a strawberry and enjoy!

Please enjoy responsibly

10 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

GLASGOW Pavilion Theatre, Sat 25 May, 7.30pm, £16–£19.50 The Scottish comedian, and recipient of the 2016 Sydney Comedy Festival ‘Best of the Fest’ International Award, presents his latest show.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE: WERQ THE WORLD TOUR EDINBURGH Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 6 May, 8pm, £43.15–£155.15 Michelle Visage hosts performances by all your favourite RuPaul queens including Aquaria, Kameron Michaels, Asia O’Hara, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, Monét X Change and Violet Chachki. Also at SEC, Glasgow, Fri 17 May, 7pm, £44.25–£55.60

GLASGOW Glee Club, Sun 14 Apr, 7.30pm, £25 American singer-songwriter, notable for reaching the semi finals of the seventh season of American Idol and getting to the final three in RuPaul’s Drag Race season six, returns with an exclusive one-woman show.

JESUS L’OREAL: NAILED IT EDINBURGH Gilded Balloon Basement, Sun 21 Apr, 7.30pm, £11 Having spread the gospel in awardnominated Christ on a Bike, Jesus L’Oreal returns once again to complete the Holy Trinity with another high-octane show of song, dance and Jehovah’s Fitness.

LEE KYLE: KICKING POTATOES INTO THE SEA GLASGOW The Stand, Sun 28 Apr, 6pm, £7–£8 Have you ever kicked a potato into the sea? Lee Kyle has. It’s great but it’s not

S GUIDE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

YOU’RE GOING OUT OUT! We’re all about the good times. So, we’ve joined forces with The List to bring you Glen’s Guide — our pick of the very best events happening across Scotland. Whether it’s date night, mum’s birthday, or you just fancy a spontaneous night on the tiles, look no further. Pre drinks at yours? Fancy whipping up some super simple cocktails? We’ve got you covered with our new Flavours — Passionfruit & Peach and Strawberry & Apple!

You’ll be the talk of the pre’s.

SO YOU THINK YOU’RE FUNNY?

the answer to your problems. Unless your problem is that your sea doesn’t have enough potatoes in, which it almost certainly isn’t.

HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES EDINBURGH Festival Theatre, Sun 19 May, 7.30pm, £22–£32 Join Vicki Michelle and the Hormonal Housewives in an evening all about the challenges of modern womanhood.

EDINBURGH Gilded Balloon Basement, Sun 19 May, 4pm, free Come and watch brand new talent battle for their place in the So You Think You’re Funny? semi finals in August, hosted by Scott Agnew.

THE GATSBY CLUB GLASGOW Glasgow University Union, 7.30pm, £18 Scotland’s largest 1920s themed cabaret and club night returns for another evening of music hall variety, cabaret acts and live music.

ALL I WANNA DO IS [FX: GUNSHOTS] WITH A [FX: GUN RELOADING] AND A [FX: CASH REGISTER] AND PERFORM SOME COMEDY! EDINBURGH Monkey Barrel, Mon 29 Apr, 8pm, £13.20 John Luke Roberts takes his masterclass in prop, clown, costume and Mel C-themed comedy and 2018 Fringe hit on the road.

THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY EDINBURGH King’s Theatre, Tue 14 May–Sat 18 May, times vary, £25.75–£36.75 A comedy about a heist that goes wrong, from Mischief Theatre, the people that brought you The Play That Goes Wrong.

#GlenKnows #GoodTimes #StrawberryAppleGlens @GlensVodkaLLG

@glens.vodka

COCKT AIL LOVER? ENTER TO W A GLEN IN FLAVOU ’S RS KIT! go to lis t.co.uk /offers

@glensvodkaLLG 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 11

NEWS

FOR MORE NEWS GO TO

LIST.CO.UK /NEWS

Announcements, line-ups and opinion DIRTY SANCHEZ COOKS DIRTY Matt Pritchard, the main man on MTV stunt show Dirty Sanchez, has been announced as the star chef at this year’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival.

The prankster, who presents the BBC’s Dirty Vegan cooking show, will rustle up vegan recipes from his cookbook and take part in a Q&A session. ‘I am totally stoked to be heading to the Paisley Food and Drink Festival to share my passion for amazing plant-based food that tastes BANGING!’ says Pritchard.

EDINBURGH RESIDENTS INVITED TO HOST AN ARTIST

Dirty Sanchez

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has launched a new partnership with accommodation platform TheatreDigsBooker to provide affordable accommodation to artists. The initiative will link up Edinburgh residents with a passion for the arts to Fringe participants, to enable them to share a unique experience and see a different side of the festival. The plan is part of the Fringe Society’s Fringe Blueprint which aims to tackle the rising cost of attendance at the Fringe.

SOUTHSIDE DISCO MAGIC After Queen’s Park Disco Sessions One Night at the Disco sold out fast, the organisers have added another date to take place on Bank Holiday Sunday (Sun 5 May). The weekend will bring the spirit of disco in all its glamour and excess to Glasgow’s Southside, with music, performers, DJs and a lot of glitter.

TENEMENT TV HITS THE ROAD

Queen’s Park Disco Sessions

The Scottish music platform Tenement TV will tour the UK this April bringing the nation some of Scotland’s best up-and-coming talent. Alligator, Beta Waves, Crystal, Lazy Angel, Lizzie Reid, Mark Sharp & the Bicycle Thieves, Ok Button, Quiche, Scarlett Randle, VanIves, Walt Disco and Zoe Graham are on the bill. Dates include stops in Glasgow (Fri 5), Dundee (Sat 6), Edinburgh (Thu 18), Aberdeen (Fri 26) and Inverness (Sat 27).

WALK WITH THE EIFF Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced a brand new filmmaking project for Scotland-based filmmakers called Walk With Us. It challenges filmmakers to think creatively and visually about a theme and put it together in an innovative way. If you think you’ve got what it takes, then send your 60-second entry to them by noon on Wednesday 10 April. The full programme for the EIFF’s 73rd edition will be announced on Wednesday 29 May.

GRAB YOUR PUPCORN

Top Dog Film Festival

Get ready dog lovers, because a new film festival that celebrates the unbreakable bond between dogs and humans is wagging its way into Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre on Saturday 18 May. The Top Dog Film Festival features short films from international, independent filmmakers that showcase emotional tales of man’s best friend. Head to topdogfilmfestival.co.uk for more information.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 13

NEWS Celtic Connection

COMING UP PHOTO: MARY MCCARTNEY

Catriona Logan, director of the Celtic Media Festival, chats to Katharine Gemmell about the event’s 40th anniversary and the changes she’s seen in her time at the helm

TERMINAL V Dance and electronic music festival featuring Richie Hawtin’s first appearance in Edinburgh for 18 years. The line-up also includes the likes of Mella Dee, Mall Grab, Helena Hauff and Maceo Plex, all under the massive roof of the Royal Highland Centre. Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Apr.

T

he Celtic Media Festival (formerly the Celtic Film and Television Festival) was initially created as a way to promote the under-represented culture and languages of the Celtic nations in the media, when it was first held on the isle of Benbecula. ‘It started 40 years ago for people from Scotland, Wales and Ireland to meet up and discuss different issues in the media industry, because a lot of media-related events were focused on London at the time,’ says Catriona Logan, director of the festival.

Although it still champions indigenous languages, the festival has grown to incorporate countries from around the world. ‘The media industry has become so globalised we had to diversify. We now try to bring people from all over the world to facilitate international co-productions. It’s difficult for independent producers from the UK to go across the world, so we bring people to the festival so it’s easier for local producers. We bring the mountain to them.’

The annual three-day festival will take place this year in Aviemore from 4–6 June for a special 40thanniversary edition. It consists of a major conference of seminars, masterclasses, premieres and parties, as well as the Torc Awards, which celebrates the best work from the Celtic nations.

With numbers capped at 500 for each day, the festival has an intimate feel and resists a velvetrope approach. ‘We cap our numbers, unlike other conferences, because we want a producer to be sitting at the bar and have the chance to meet the 14 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

commissioning editor for the BBC or Channel 4,’ says Logan. ‘It’s really important that there’s an intimate feel. We always say that this has to be the nicest festival. It’s important that if someone came up on their own that they would feel welcome straight away.’

Aside from its big birthday, this year is also special because the festival is offering a £10,000 development prize for its International Pitching Forum. The theme is Factual Programming and for the first time it will be panellists that select the winner. ‘It’s a great opportunity for producers to pitch their ideas to some of the most influential decision makers from across the world and we’ve seen an incredible array of pitches since its launch in 2016,’ says Logan.

Reflecting on the event’s 40-year history and her nine years as director, Catriona Logan says she has witnessed a lot of changes to both the festival and the industry along the way. ‘We get to watch the TV industry from one degree away, we watch with a sense of detachment, while knowing the ins and outs.’ She continues: ‘The difference in the quality of TV in the last 10 years is insane, we are absolutely in the golden age and this is because we’re hearing different viewpoints and perspectives – it’s the only way to improve on quality.’

Celtic Media Festival, Aviemore, Tue 4–Thu 6 Jun; for more info or to volunteer at the festival, go to celticmediafestival.co.uk

LUMINATE CREATIVE AGEING Luminate celebrates our creative lives as we age by offering a wide range of inspirational arts activities with, by and for older people, as well as creative events bringing generations together. Various venues, Scotland, Wed 1–Fri 31 May. SOUTHSIDE FRINGE A 17-day independent fringe festival that aims to broaden the scope of music, comedy, burlesque, cabaret, art and theatre events which are happening deep in Glasgow’s Southside. Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 10–Sun 26 May. PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Music, comedy, theatre, dance and visual arts are all up for grabs at this festival. The 2019 programme includes Scottish sweetheart Lewis Capaldi, Verdi’s Macbeth by Fairport Convention, Jools Holland and Horrible Histories. Various venues, Perth, Thu 16–Sat 25 May. KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH Located deep in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, this outdoor festival places a focus on roots music, with this year’s line-up including Benjamin Zephaniah and the Revolutionary Minds, Elephant Sessions, Talisk and more.

Knockengorroch Farm, Castle Douglas, Thu 23–Sun 26 May.

#edintfest

‘one of the most important forces in today’s theatre’ THE OBSERVER ON ROBERT ICKE

Oedipus Explore the full programme and book at eif.co.uk 297x210mm_DRAFT.indd 1

Image Iko Freese drama-berlin.de Charity No SC004694

After Sophocles Internationaal Theater Amsterdam Directed by Robert Icke

14—17 August King’s Theatre

23/03/2019 12:00:22

BIG PICTURE

PEPPERLAND In 2017, to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ landmark Sgt Pepper album, US choreographer Mark Morris figured out a way to make a dance show that paid faithful tribute to the Fab Four’s pioneering record while also being a distinctive creative artefact in its own right. Two years on and Scottish audiences can decide for themselves if Morris’ vibrantly colourful and lightly humorous affair hits the spot. With a little help from his friend, the composer Ethan Iverson, he’s produced a memorable reimagining of a record within which they both uncovered ‘hokey vaudeville charms’.

■ Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 5 & Sat 6 Apr. PHOTO: MAT HAYWARD

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 17

INCLUD

FEATURE

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AREA MAPS

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1 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2018

VOUCHER CODE TO BE SCANNED INSTORE

EATING & DRINKING GUIDE 2019

EAT YOUR HEART OUT With the latest packed edition of our annual Eating and Drinking Guide about to hit the shelves, we take a look at one of its most popular features – Tiplists of the best places in town in different categories

The brand-new Eating & Drinking Guide – now in its 26th annual edition – is out on Wednesday 17 April, featuring nearly 1000 restaurants, cafés, bars and other food and drink venues across Edinburgh and Glasgow, with over 150 new openings from the past 12 months, alongside updates on old favourites. While we’re proud of the comprehensive coverage – which can be found online too – one particular feature that’s popular not just with readers, but also the reviewing team who curate and compile them, are our Tiplists. Our team get to so many places each year, they’re

well placed to offer tips, recommendations and suggestions about the best in town: not just the show stoppers, but the places you should know about in all sorts of different categories from best afternoon tea to kid-friendly venues or places for BYOB. There are over 100 Tiplists in the guide, and to whet your appetite we’ve highlighted a few of our current favourite selections. For more – many more – use the voucher in this issue and pick up a copy of the new guide when it’s published on 17 April.

TIPLISTS EDINBURGH

GLASGOW

DINING THAT DOES SOME GOOD

UNUSUAL DINING EXPERIENCES

Breadshare Bakery With a main bakery at Seafield Road and smaller shop in Jane Street, Breadshare’s mission statement of real bread for everyone certainly resonates.

@pizza Select your dough, select your sauce, select your toppings – then watch as your pizza’s cooked in 90 seconds flat!

The Drill Hall Café Wholesome, good-value food which sustains and empowers the local community through training initiatives.

The Grassmarket Café Bright, airy café with good value lunch and breakfast options, where the proceeds directly help Edinburgh’s most vulnerable communities.

Punjabi Junction Suffice to say this cheerful café which supports worthy charity Sikh Sanjog with training opportunities is worthy of your attention while we still have it.

Social Bite A grassroots social enterprise; profits go towards ending homelessness, diners can pay meals forward for people in need and each café offers job and training opportunities.

Vesta Restaurant and Bar West End restaurant run in partnership with Social Bite, featuring strong vegan choices, including potentially the best cauli buffalo wings in the city.

Cook School & Dining Room by Martin Wishart Now open for dinner every Friday and Saturday night, this classy cook school / restaurant strikes the perfect balance between entertainment, education and pure enjoyment.

Fazenda A parade of up to 15 different meats, offered on skewers by skilled staff.

Fazenda is high-end and fun.

Korean BBQ Fire up the tabletop grill and feast on your choice of meat, seafood and veg.

Six by Nico A brand-new six-course tasting menu every six weeks. Nico Simeone brings his fresh, accessibly priced Six concept all the way from Glasgow.

Xiangbala Hot Pot Cook your own delicious dishes at this Dalry outpost for traditional Chinese hot pot.

PARK LIFE

A SENSE OF PLACE

An Clachan A rustic and welcoming café housed in a charming Kelvingrove Park building, with daily specials and luxury cakes.

A’Challtainn More than a great seafood restaurant, A’Challtainn shows creativity and skill and a strong community vibe, from its base in the Barras.

Art Lover’s Café Elegant café for impressive lunching that borders on fine dining in a Mackintosh-designed visitor and events attraction in Bellahouston Park.

Comet Pieces Close to the Botanic Gardens, this compact café includes plenty of nods to quality Scottish produce in its breakfasts, rolls and more.

Dandelion Café Southside café in Newlands Park with locals and regulars standing in line for some of Glasgow’s best home-baking.

The Little Café A compact, welcoming café opposite Kelvingrove Art Gallery, offering great pizzas, salads, ciabattas and coffee to sit in or take away.

Sonny & Vito’s Classy West End Italian café close to Kelvingrove Park, serving freshly made tarts, warming soup and indulgent cakes, with added groceries.

Battlefield Rest Southside restaurant serving modern Italian dishes with a Scottish slant, in iconic and elegant surroundings.

Glasgow School of Art: The Vic Café Bar A hubbub of creative activity opposite the fire-wrecked Mackintosh building, with an impressive menu that captures more than just students.

Rogano Glasgow’s oldest restaurant and an art deco haven in the city centre, ideal for enjoying seafood and cocktail decadence.

Ubiquitous Chip One of Glasgow’s dining institutions – a trailblazer in sourcing and creativity back in the day, and still one of the best venues for a special eating out experience.

The Western Club Restaurant Elegant restaurant overlooking Royal Exchange Square, with smart service and clever cooking, focused on excellent produce.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 19

SPRING festivals

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO ce festival n ie c s h g r u b in ed

As the clever people over at Edinburgh Science Festival prepare to inspire, amaze and blow our collective minds once more, they’re also shining a special light on the achievements of women in STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

To celebrate, Deborah Chu asks four women involved in this year’s event about how they discovered their passions and who has been a source of inspiration to them

20 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

AMANDA TYNDALL Festival and creative director of Edinburgh Science Festival At school I was one of those people who kind of liked everything, but there was this tendency – which still exists – to push people towards one vocation. I considered medicine, but I didn’t want my life planned out that much, so I did a degree in pharmacology and neuroscience.

After working in science publishing, I did a masters in science communication, which introduced me to the magic of making science relevant to different audiences.

After the course, I worked freelance as an event organiser for places like the Science Museum in London. Then I became head of programming at the Royal Institute in London, on the back of which my boss, Baroness Susan Greenfield, asked me to go to Australia to trial projects for the Premier of South Australia. I went over for six months and ended up staying for six years, as I set up the first international branch of the Royal Institute. Then I came here!

In terms of inspiration, Ada Lovelace was the one who recognised that Babbage’s analytical engine had applications beyond pure calculation

thing for female scientists. Normally you see obituaries or conferences, and that never happened for her. I raised this with some people, and they said to me, ‘well, she was such a modest person.’ But it’s our responsibility to ensure that she gets recognised now.

PHOTO: NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Marie Curie

and published the first algorithm. She described her approach as ‘poetical science’ and talked about herself as a metaphysician, so she was interested in the power of imagination in science. Hedy Lamarr was known as this film star, but between takes, she invented a communication system to guide radiocontrolled missiles underwater, which the military used during the Second World War. I like these people who straddle these two worlds; it’s something that means a lot to me personally and I think is an important way of providing new windows onto science and making it accessible to a more diverse audience.

PROFESSOR EVELYN TELFER Chair in reproductive biology at the University of Edinburgh I started in mathematical modelling, predicting how certain conditions affect the rate of egg loss. I then became interested in developing a system where we could study egg development outside the body. I went to work at the Jackson Laboratory [in the US], and received a fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation for the project. When I came back to Edinburgh in 1992, we moved from mouse models to domestic species, with the view that we could eventually move on to humans.

At a conference, I met a Finnish scientist named Outi Hovatta, who invited me to come to the Karolinska [Institute in Sweden], where they had ethical approval to ask women having elective C-sections if they would donate a small piece of their ovary for research. This allowed us to look at the process of activating the immature eggs within that tissue.

When I returned to Edinburgh, I collaborated with clinicians to develop that system, and we’re also now working on a methodology to make new eggs from stem cells.

There’s a Danish scientist named Anne Grete Byskov who did a huge amount of work in ovarian development. She led the Laboratory of Reproductive Biology in Copenhagen, which is now a world leader in fertility preservation. Anne Grete died five years ago, and she hasn’t been as recognised as she should be. I think that’s quite a common

PROFESSOR ANGELA GALLOP CBE Forensic scientist

At university, I researched the biochemistry of sea slugs for my degree, but I knew I wanted to do something that was more immediately important. While I was writing my thesis, a friend showed me an advertisement for a job in the forensic science service and that shaped everything.

Twelve years later, I left the service because I was worried about the balance of forensic evidence in the courtroom. At the time, the forensic science service was run by the Home Office for the police, and I thought that this stopped people from asking the right questions in court, so I set up a company called Forensic Access that reviewed the prosecution’s forensic evidence on behalf of the defence.

After a few years, we thought the balance was tipping the other way, so I set up another company called Forensic Alliance to help the police. In order to persuade them to use us, we looked into cold cases, and we ended up clearing up a lot of them, including the Stephen Lawrence case. When I left Forensic Alliance in 2010, I set up Axiom International, and since then have been providing security and justice services to developing countries.

For my inspirational woman, I would choose the astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock. She had a difficult start in school, like myself, but she got switched on by science and was so determined. She went on a course for making your own telescopes, and I remember making my own blacked-out tank out of bin liners when my course couldn’t afford any, so there was a connection when I read that about her. When you listen to her speak, she has such a passion for her subject. She’s doing an awful lot to inspire kids to be amazed by space.

PROFESSOR MARGARET BATES Professor of sustainable wastes management at the University of Northampton While I was studying applied biology at the Polytechnic of East London, I went on field trips to dig up samples from coal mines and landfills.

I then applied to do my PhD on landfills, and as they say in waste management, once you’re in it for six months, you’re in it for life, and I haven’t looked back. I’ve since helped two African countries write their electronic waste regulation and have led training on e-waste recycling in Nigeria.

Waste management is something people don’t really think about but it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. What we’re trying to do is help developing countries leapfrog the mistakes we’ve made. We treat recycling as if it were the solution, rather than waste prevention and reuse. We see waste as someone else’s responsibility, when we’ve all got to take responsibility and think more carefully about what we buy and how we dispose of things.

The most inspirational woman in science has got to be Marie Curie.

One of the things I love about her is that – other than the fact that she has a brain the size of a planet and a determination to match – these days people would name her first, rather than her husband, and I think she’d be really chuffed with that. Also there’s a whole load of EU funding that’s linked to her in developing young scientists. If you made a list of the greatest scientists of all time – not female scientists, just the greatest – she would be on that list.

Edinburgh Science Festival, various venues, Sat 6 April–Sun 21 April, sciencefestival.co.uk 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 21

22 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

SPRING festivals

festival e c n ie c s h g r u edinb

CULTURE CLUB Petri dishes aren’t the only place you’ll find a spot of culture at this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival. David Pollock picks out some of the arty highlights from this year’s programme

MUSIC Written between 1914 and 1916, English composer Gustav Holst’s classical suite The Planets lent a different movement to each planet of the solar system (as they had been discovered up to that point). At Dome Nights: Planets 360°, a recorded version performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra will be played in the dome of Dynamic Earth, and experienced in what’s referred to as ‘Fulldome’ format; with visuals projected above the audience in a manner which reflects the music being played. The promise is of a fusion of art, music and science in an immersive spectacle. n Dynamic Earth, Tue 9–Thu 11, Wed 17 & Thu 18 Apr.

ART French designer Aurélie Fontan – a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art in 2018, whose work appeared at Graduate Fashion Week, featured in Elle, and won her the Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable & Ethical Award, the M&S Womenswear Award and the Catwalk Textiles Award – has already been invited to collaborate

with Samsung. She designs self-grown, plant-based dresses, created using fermented kombucha tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. Her collection Tensegrity will be on display and she will also discuss her work at a one-off event. n Tensegrity: Sat 6 Apr–Sun 19 May (not Mon 22 & Tue 23); Talk: Sat 6 Apr. Both at Summerhall.

THEATRE Created by Newcastle-based interactive theatre company fanSHEN, The Justice Syndicate is an unforgettable and highly recommended experience. We took part in it when it appeared in Dundee last year, and can report that it fulfils on many levels – first, as an interactive, adultsonly theatrical role-playing event where the audience take the part of jurors and witnesses in a sexual assault trial, and eventually as an unfolding exploration of how deep-rooted perspective and confirmation biases work.

It’s described as ‘playable theatre’, but what it reveals of the way our minds work is both serious and very enlightening. n Pleasance, Sun 14 Apr.

COMEDY For a comedian, Robin Ince makes a pretty good scientist, as anyone who has listened to his ongoing BBC Radio 4 science show alongside Brian Cox, The Infinite Monkey Cage, will confirm. This live show, I’m a Joke and So Are You, is based upon his book of the same name, which was published last year, and which was subtitled ‘Reflections on Humour and Humanity’.

It’s a description that sums up what the show is about; an exploration of human psychology through the lens of the comedian’s art, taking in anxiety, creativity and grief – all of which a comedian experiences every night on stage. n Pleasance Theatre, Tue 9 Apr.

BOOKS

Dome Nights: Planets 360°

A professor of theoretical physics at the University of Surrey and the former president of the British Humanists Association, as well as a regular broadcaster and television presenter on science subjects for the BBC and Channel 4, the British-Iraqi scientist Jim Al-Khalili has now branched out into novel-writing. His first book of fiction is Sunfall, a dystopian thriller which imagines a world crippled by climate change, mass migration and cyberterrorism; he will discuss it here with the crime novelist Lin Anderson. n Pleasance Theatre, Sat 13 Apr. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 23

SPRING festivals

counterflows

LET IT

FLOW

Alexander Hawkins

Counterflows has been charting a distinct course since 2012. Fiona Shepherd finds that this compact and bijou festival of avant-garde music keeps joyfully bubbling away

as ‘difficult’ music and foster an inclusive community of curious customers. And the participants are as much fans of the festival as its loyal audience, as some of this year’s artists are only too happy to tell us.

has a genealogy of transmission where cultural history and personal biography intersect; that’s where the counterflows arise.

ALEXANDER HAWKINS Jazz pianist and composer

C

It would be hard to find a festival with programming as diverse as that of Counterflows and, at the same time, as coherent. Part of their magic is to make completely individual, uncompromising music accessible to a wide audience, and I think this parallels something of what I’m after in my own music: the idea that music should be a risk-taking and personal enterprise, at the same time as recognising its qualities as a communicative, shared experience.

I’m playing twice. Solo piano has been a format in which I’ve always performed. This is risk-taking through familiarity; there’s a special opportunity to push ideas up to and beyond breaking point when on stage alone. The other performance is a world premiere of a trio with two of the greatest improvisers from the USA, Nicole Mitchell and Tomeka Reid. Although we have deep musical affinities in many senses, this is risk-taking through novelty.

Counterflows is truly dedicated to radical music making and cultural exploration. I was honoured to be invited to perform, loved the diversity and how invested the festival is in their commitment to nurturing and creating an amazing artistic community.

ounterflows is a much-anticipated annual celebration of ‘artists who fall through the cracks’. Those artists may not be household names but they’re still recognised practitioners in the diverse fields of contemporary classical, jazz, electronica, improvisation and performance art.

This year’s gender-balanced, multidisciplinary and international bill features respected artists from home and away, including top-flight US jazz improvisers Nicole Mitchell and Tomeka Reid, a special collaboration between a quartet of Ghanian musicians and members of Glasgow’s DIY community dubbed Aklama Makumba and The Ghana Footsteps, and the Gorbals Youth Brass Band paying tribute to the music of composer and arranger Bill Wells.

With a desire to make the seemingly inaccessible accessible, performances take place not in dry, stuffy concert auditoriums but in varied venues around the city, from arts centres to community halls. The festival’s curators Alasdair Campbell and Fielding Hope are not just paying lip service to diversity and inclusion but actively seek to engage with the city’s spaces, demystify what is often seen 24 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

MYRIAM VAN IMSCHOOT Voice artist

For the first time we can present the yodel duet ‘Hola Hu’ [with Doreen Kutzke] with the films that reveal the backstories of some of my collaborators and muses. Every voice technique

SUSIE IBARRA Contemporary composer and percussionist

ASHANTI HARRIS Dancer and DJ

I always feel like I’m masquerading as a DJ. I grew up with carnival and I love everything it stands for like connecting to your ancestors and making your body move. I’m terrible at mixing and don’t have any tricks up my sleeve, but I’m a furious collector and a sharp selector and I never stop dancing to the music I’m playing.

ASHLEY PAUL Composer and multi-instrumentalist

For me, Counterflows is Fielding and Alasdair, and their incredible awareness and support of independent, unusual music. I feel truly honoured to have been a part of Counterflows: they have such good taste! The music represented doesn’t fall into genres or categories; they are simply interested in good music.

Counterflows, various venues, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sun 7 Apr.

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PHOTOS (1-5): JANNICA HONEY

SPRING festivals

Chuchoter

FAR AND WIDE wide days

David Pollock takes a look at the new acts taking to the stage at this year’s Wide Days, the nation’s biggest and most established music conference

W

ide Days has become an institution on the Scottish musical calendar.

The three-day event offers talks and showcases for those in the industry, those interested in how Scotland fits into the wider music business, and – in the case of its Friday night showcases – members of the public who want to see 20-minute sets from some of the finest new artists in Scotland at the beginning of their careers. With limited numbers of free tickets available to the public, and past showcase guests including the likes of Kathryn Joseph, Fatherson, Honeyblood and Be Charlotte, who knows where this year’s batch might end up?

CHUCHOTER

Based in Edinburgh, Chuchoter are a duo who produce a kind of highbrow electropop; producer Owen McAllister creates some gorgeous beats, skating between chillwave and a neon-streaked, disco-laced approximation of Chvrches, and Emily Smith unleashes a vocal with dramatic, classical stylings. Their tracks all have vaguely hymnal titles (‘Gloria’, ‘Credo’, ‘Sanctus’), their name is pronounced ‘shoo-shaw-teh’ and it’s French for ‘whisper’.

MEGAN AIRLIE

A young singer-songwriter from East Kilbride who claims Jeff Buckley as one of her guiding influences, Airlie’s music follows a similarly otherworldly path. Songs like ‘After River’ and ‘Honey’ are built on a core of solid acoustic-pop songwriting, but her distinctive vocal takes them to another level through her distinctive, dextrous folk tone. She releases on Bloc Records, and performed at the SAY Awards in 2018.

Perth isn’t known as a hotbed of cutting-edge musical thrills, but youngsters (literally – they’re all still in their teens) Parliamo are a vibrant and exciting indie-pop group whose undoubtedly retro edge finds new life breathed through it on the strength of their simple youthful enthusiasm.

In fact, on the evidence of signature tracks like ‘Weekend’, ‘Sweet’ and ‘All Dolled Up’, the sounds of working class Perth and Liverpool aren’t too dissimilar, with Jack Dailly’s buoyant, twanging vocal and Finn Freeburn-Morrison’s noisily jangling guitar reminiscent of the La’s, Cast and the Coral at their purest pop best.

Megan Airlie

SHEARS

FRANKY’S EVIL PARTY

VANIVES

‘What happened to music that’s too loud?’ ask Dumfries quintet Franky’s Evil Party, a band who appear serious about creating a viscerally entertaining sound, but just a bit tongue-in-cheek in their enthusiastic adoption of a sense of full-blooded rock’n’roll menace.

Josh Kirk’s vocals are soaked in reverb and violence, and the band’s sound on tracks like ‘Dolph Lundgren’ and ‘Blonde’ is pitched satisfyingly amid no-wave disco, garage rock and the sonic catharsis of the Birthday Party or the Amazing Snakeheads.

Small-town duo Stuart Ramage and Ruan Ballantine make a sound rich in big, emotional brush strokes, despite pairing the former’s voice with a light, electro-acoustic musical bed. They’ve been building a reputation in earnest over the last year, and have an EP named ‘Let the Current In’ on the German label Vielen Dank Records.

Parliamo PHOTO: TRISHA WARD

Edinburgh producer John Bryden has been wearing the self-styled ‘post-pub couldn’t get in the club music’ brand for so long that he might just have turned it into a genre in its own right. Taking inspiration from artists including Suicide, Massive Attack and Arthur Russell, his electronic productions are dense, rich and atmospheric, and the defiantly DIY tone of his vocals gives his songs a raw edge.

26 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

Franky’s Evil Party

PARLIAMO

Originally from Ayr but now based in Edinburgh, Rebecca ‘Shears’ Shearing is playing her first show under her pseudonym here, building upon her initial online success. A pioneer of the form, she gained huge attention for playing cover versions and posting them on YouTube more than a decade ago, earning 30 million views and 170,000 subscribers, although initial attempts to launch as a signed artist stalled. Now she’s working with engineer Matty Green, whose credits include Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga, and her sound is sparse and dramatic electro-pop.

EYES OF OTHERS

Eyes of Others

Shears

Wide Days 2019, various venues, Edinburgh, Thu 11–Sat 13 Apr. Showcase gigs are at Teviot Row House and La Belle Angele, Fri 12 Apr. Vanives

SPRING festivals

glasgow zine f est

tradfest

SOUNDING OUT

Talisk

Katharine Gemmell hails this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest line-up

DRAWING ROOM

Travis Alabanza

Glasgow Zine Fest is a triumph of DIY talent, as Katharine Gemmell discovers

O

‘G

Tradfest, various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 26 Apr–Mon 6 May.

Glasgow Zine Fest, CCA, Glasgow, Mon 20 & Tue 21 Apr.

riginally launched in 2013, Edinburgh Tradfest has its roots in the Edinburgh Folk Festival and has remained a platform for showcasing the very best traditional arts in Scotland (and beyond). Since its inception, the festival has been organised

by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), but last year a question mark loomed over the festival’s funding and future.

Thankfully for the city’s trad aficionados, the festival has been reclaimed by the Soundhouse Organisation, a charitable group that promotes independent music, and is headed up by trustees who are passionate about music. ‘Scotland’s traditional music scene is thriving,’ says Douglas Robertson, Soundhouse founder and programmer of this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest. ‘The calibre of our homegrown artists is exceptional and the demand from audiences is increasing all the time. This is why we wanted Tradfest to continue.’

Award-winning folk band Lankum will open the festival at the Queen’s Hall with their ethereal mix of traditional folk roots, contemporary elements and enthralling storytelling. Other highlights include What A Voice, a celebration of traditional women musicians featuring Kathleen MacInnes, Fiona Hunter and Kaela Rowan, and a double-bill from fiddler Adam Sutherland and Talisk, the 2017 Folk Band of the Year.

Elsewhere, there’s representation across the globe with Grammy Award-winning bluegrass from John Reischman and the Jay Birds, and an appearance from Canada’s supergroup, the Fretless.

Events will take place across the city in various venues including Traverse Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre and the Queen’s Hall. ‘Scotland’s folk and trad music sits at the core of our cultural identity and is a driving force in our dynamic music industry,’ commented Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland.

‘It’s great to know that Tradfest will continue to showcase this brilliant music to audiences from near and far.’

28 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

lasgow Zine Fest is particularly focused on the revolutionary potential of DIY,’ says director Lauren Davis. The two-day festival first began in 2017 and celebrates self-publishing’s DIY ethos through workshops, events and a zine fair. ‘From mural making to mental health, from bookbinding to decolonising drawing, it allows people to learn a new skill or improve upon an existing one,’ explains Davis. ‘Talks

by Chardine Taylor-Smith, TabloidArtHistory, and Category Is Books encourage discussion and the sharing of ideas.’

The festival is the brainchild of community-based Glasgow Zine Library, situated on the city’s Southside. It’s a centre for Glasgow’s community of makers, sharers, and doers, and the library uses the annual zine festival to spread its message. For the 2019 festival, with the help of Creative Scotland funding, the programme has expanded and built on earlier incarnations, which has allowed organisers to bring artists from further afield.

One example is the appearance of artist Travis Alabanza, one of the UK’s leading trans voices, who will close the first day of the festival with a reading of their critically acclaimed poetry book, Before I Step Outside (you love me).

Other draws are politically engaging workshops like exploring the history of black women’s independent publishing, or Jacob V Joyce’s workshop that takes a practical and theoretical approach to decolonising drawing. There are also practical-focused events like the coptic bookbinding and mural-making sessions.

For Glasgow Zine Fest, accessibility is a key component in making sure everyone can be involved. The CCA is a fully accessible venue and the festival works on a sliding scale ticketing system, providing financial flexibility to those who need it.

The main event, The Zine Fair, takes place across both days with over 75 makers showcasing and selling their self-published works.

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IN CINEMAS APRIL 12

22/03/2019 17:28

PHOTO: OLIVIA ROSE

30 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

SPRING festivals

BACK TO BLK hidden door

Ahead of her appearance at this year’s Hidden Door festival, rising star Ray BLK chats to Kenza Marland about hitting the road with Nicki Minaj, her role as a black woman in the music industry and standing up for your rights

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 31

T

here’s something wonderfully relaxed about chatting to Ray BLK while she gets her hair cane-rowed. The R&B singer and rapper is currently in the middle of a run of support slots for Nicki Minaj on the UK leg of The Nicki Wrld Tour – understandably, an experience that has been something of a dream come true for the 25-year-old South London artist.

‘When I heard she was touring last year, I said that I wanted to be on the tour, and then it actually came to fruition at the very last moment. It was a real surprise to me. I was in LA about to come home and before I got on my flight, I was asked if I would want to go and start performing with Nicki Minaj when I landed.

It was crazy!’

It’s just another example of the kind of attention Ray BLK is currently receiving from the industry. Her brand of R&B, hip hop and neo-soul has been catching the eye of stars and fans alike; both her video for single ‘My Hood’ and 2018’s ‘Run Run’ have racked up nearly 2.5 million views apiece – no small feat.

Born in Nigeria, Ray moved to London as a toddler, and started singing and rapping as a child. ‘I’m not really from a musical home, so the music I heard and got involved in was mostly from church and from school. I sang from about seven years old and started writing raps then as well. I probably started properly songwriting, when I was about 13. That was when me and friends used to make songs after school. From that age I knew that I wanted to be a singer. I was trying to chase my dreams.’

She released an EP ‘Durt’ in 2016, featuring both Stormzy and Wretch 32, while studying for a degree in English literature at Brunel University. ‘I knew Stormzy from years before, so that was me collaborating with a friend who happened to be strongly rising at the time.

With Wretch it was very natural as well. It came about through the studio he used to work in, where I was recording at the time. He’s a fan of talent and he’s a really cool guy.’

Something of a career turning point came about when Ray won the BBC’s Sound of 2017, the first unsigned artist to ever do so. Her empowering, unflinching exploration of the effects of youth violence, and general promotion of self-worth, have continued to distinguish

32 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

SPRING

PHOTO: OLIVIA ROSE

hidden door

festivals

her in the community. She is clear on her stance on some of the issues facing young people today.

‘As a citizen of Earth, I feel like when you see an injustice or when you see something wrong, you should try and speak up about it, or try and do something about it – otherwise, you become a part of the problem. I’ve never felt like as a musician it is my responsibility. I just stand up for what I believe in, and what affects me and my community. I felt like I needed to say something and do something.’

So, what are Ray’s thoughts on her position as a female, particularly as a black woman, within the creative industry? Does she feel a sense of responsibility to pave the way for other young women in the UK? ‘I don’t really like the word role model – I don’t think anyone should try and emulate anybody – everyone should try and be themselves and make their own impact. But being inspired by someone is an amazing thing, and you can be inspired by someone just by their existence. Like by existing as a female artist in a maledominated industry, especially as a black female, is inspiring in itself. And I would say that, as a female in the industry, what is important for me is to support other women.’

She’s looking forward to playing the opening night of Hidden Door at Leith Theatre this May and hoping she’ll get the chance to explore the city more fully.

‘Unfortunately, I’ve never really had the chance to walk around and enjoy Edinburgh. But it is really beautiful.’

Tourist duties aside, her perfectionist tendencies should ensure a great show for the Hidden Door crowd. ‘I’m someone who’s always been an entertainer from a young age. It’s a natural thing for me. I used to struggle with nerves, but I think that was just because I always want to do the best and be the best; it was all about making sure it was perfect and being scared I would fuck it up. But I’ve managed to get rid of that fear, by the grace of God.’ This year is set to be a landmark one for the young artist, as she’ll soon begin releasing music from her debut album, which is set for release towards the end of 2019. ‘I’m very excited to release my first ever album . . . it’s all just really exciting!’

Hidden Door Weekender, Leith Theatre, Thu 30 May–Sun 2 Jun.

HIDDEN HIGHLIGHTS

As ever, Hidden Door’s programme will deliver an eclectic mix of music across the weekend

THU 30 MAY Presented in partnership with The List, the opening night of Hidden Door sees Ray BLK joined by experimental pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma, hip hop troupe The Honey Farm, electronic twosome Chuchoter and Glasgow DJ Sarra Wild.

FRI 31 MAY Hidden Door will offer its first ever nine-hour show of seamless music from 6pm–3am, with George FitzGerald, Nathan Fake, Kelly Lee Owens and local duo Maranta.

SAT 1 & SUN 2 JUN The Saturday line-up is still to be announced but will feature another nine-hour marathon of music, while on Sunday, Cigarettes After Sex take over Leith Theatre for the festival’s big finale.

SPRING festivals

BROTHERLY LOVE Clayton Wright, from queer party collective Little Gay Brother, tells Sean Greenhorn about their origins, aims and what to expect from their debut at Glasgow’s Riverside Festival

ival t s e f e d riversi

ON THE

WATERFRONT Over the last decade, La Cheetah has built a reputation as one of Glasgow’s most exciting and forward-thinking nightclubs. Sean Greenhorn speaks to promoter and resident DJ Grahame Ward, aka Wardy, about the past ten years and celebrating the club’s birthday at this year’s Riverside Festival

T

en years ago, when current owner Dario Bernardi took over the 200-capacity basement venue that La Cheetah calls home, he placed an emphasis on raising the profile of the club, explains promoter and DJ Grahame Ward. He transformed the space on Glasgow’s Queen Street from what was basically a function room, installing a proper DJ booth and sound system, working with promoters like Ward, and investing heavily in luring worldclass talent that would draw attention to the club. Over the years, they have poured money earned back into bookings, nurturing new talent and improving the club. ‘When acts see you consistently wanting to improve, it makes them want to play, as they can see you are serious about the space’ says Wardy.

Wardy stresses the importance of collaboration and teamwork in the club’s success. The team behind La Cheetah believe in bringing talent up, starting them with quieter midweek slots and allowing them to grow. Working directly with artists, they offer a residency programme that allows them to curate their own nights and design everything, right down to the artwork.

This strengthens the bond between artist and club and has made La Cheetah a fixture on the global dance music landscape.

34 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

To celebrate their first decade, Wardy is clearly honoured to be booking a stage for Scotland’s biggest electronic music event, the Riverside Festival, and the line-up for the La Cheetah 10 stage is diverse and eye-catching. ‘The aim was to make our stage as representative of the club as we possibly could, get a couple of big acts and shows you might not see in other places’ he says. Current La Cheetah residents Shanti Celeste and Objekt will play, along with last year’s resident Éclair Fifi and celebrated names like Omar S and Helena Hauff.

In March, the team opened Room 2 – a 450-capacity space on Nelson Mandela Place in the city. ‘People keep asking us if we are worried about booking against La Cheetah, but the answer is no, it just gives us more flexibility,’ says Wardy, who argues it allows them to put on the best shows for the best venue. ‘We really believe in what this city has to offer’ he insists.

So far, his faith has proven well-placed, with his team offering unforgettable nights and Glasgow crowds responding with packed dancefloors.

Riverside Festival, Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Sat 25 & Sun 26 May.

Little Gay Brother are all about everyone having fun. They work with DJs, clubs and festivals to put on unforgettable shows in spaces that are safe, and where everybody feels welcome to party without prejudice.

Starting at Secret Garden Party festival in 2012, the collective has grown in numbers and acclaim, and now tour the UK and international festivals with their performances.

Talking about the opportunity that Secret Garden Party provided, Clayton Wright says the festival recognised a lack of diversity and wanted to address that. The collective ensure that they make people feel at ease, so even if they don’t understand what Little Gay Brother is at the start, ‘they end up partying with us, and it becomes a place not just for queer people, but for everyone’. Organised by queer people, the collective places inclusivity at the heart of everything they do – if you accept their party, then they will accept you.

When asked how queer clubbing has changed since Little Gay Brother’s inception, Wright states simply that ‘the fact we have started calling it queer clubbing is an amazing thing, as it means everyone can come together and feel represented under that umbrella. It means going to a queer party is about liberation and acceptance and seeing clubbing move towards that is a really positive thing.’

As far as what they’re planning for the Riverside crowd, Wright says ‘we are going to be whipping the crowd into a frenzy basically . . . we want to party with everyone, change a few minds and make sure everyone has a great time.’

■ Little Gay Brother appear as part of the Sulta Selects stage, Riverside Festival, Sat 25 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 35

SPRING festivals

PEACE

OF

Electrolyte 36 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

MIND

smhaf The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival returns for its 13th year with the theme of connection at its core. Artistic director Andrew Eaton-Lewis tells Gareth K Vile how the event aims to continue challenging preconceived notions of mental health

‘S

haring stories generally is a very effective way of exploring mental health issues,’ explains Andrew Eaton-Lewis, artistic director of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. ‘It humanises it and makes it relatable: talking about your own mental health is an important part of processing it and realising that you’re not alone. It’s also about listening and empathy – seeing someone with mental health issues as a complex, relatable human being, somebody like you, not just a collection of symptoms that you might not experience yourself.’

Having become a fixture on the Scottish arts festival calendar, SMHAF is exploring the idea of ‘connection’ for 2019. Eaton-Lewis’ description of how art can raise awareness and make those intimate connections is expressed through the eclectic programming, which includes a flagship production of Wildcard Theatre’s Electrolyte. ‘There are lots of different kinds of engagement,’ Eaton-Lewis continues. ‘For example, our associate artist Emma Jayne Park is doing an event in Glasgow called A Day of Failure, in which performers will get together to talk about times when they’ve failed, and what they learned from it. That’s about raising awareness, and reducing stigma, but it’s also a form of practical support.’

Electrolyte, a 2018 Fringe success and winner of the Mental Health Fringe Award, ‘is a fascinating phenomenon,’ says Eaton-Lewis, ‘a show about someone having a psychotic episode that is also a really thrilling, accessible and very popular piece of gig theatre; it was playing to sold out houses at the Pleasance last year.’

The success of Electrolyte comes from the way the structure of the script allows the protagonist Jess – an apparently fun-loving youngster – to explore her biography across a single evening through a meeting with a singer-songwriter: framed by an evocative set, Jess (played by Olivia Sweeney) takes the audience through the night and her own journey. As James Meteyard, writer and joint artistic director of Wildcard, explains: ‘She talks directly to the audience, responding to their feelings and energy and inviting them into her experience, so much so that people have often asked if it is the actor’s personal story. This allows Jess’s story to be really understood and felt and for there to be true empathy and understanding.

Equally, although the subject matter is heavy and emotionally charged in places, the performance of the gig is upbeat, exciting and fun. This allows the audience to be simultaneously entertained as you would be at a gig, before being drawn into Jessie’s intense experience.’

The show does come from a personal perspective, Meteyard continues. ‘The inspiration for the story came from a close family member, who went through a psychotic episode. This made me realise both the

power of the brain but also how misunderstood a lot of mental health problems are. They are so varied and each particular condition is so specific to the individual.’

Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the way that mental health has been portrayed in theatre – previously, it was more often shown as an ill-defined sickness that was a plot device rather than treated as an active, sympathetic engagement with the conditions or issues. Electrolyte is part of the trend towards a serious and reflective representation that refuses to ‘other’ the individual. ‘I wanted to write a story that demonstrates how easily a series of tragic events could lead to problems with your mental health,’ says Meteyard, ‘and give an insight into what a psychotic episode might feel like for an individual. Most of all, I wanted to champion the importance of community, friendship and togetherness in recovery from mental health problems and help people to realise how vital they are to the people around them.’

The intentions of Eaton-Lewis and Wildcard are undeniably worthy, but the success of Electrolyte at the Fringe demonstrates that this does not mean an unnecessary division between entertainment and engagement, or important content and aesthetic excellence. ‘Theatre is bloody exciting,’ points out composer Maimuna Memon. ‘It’s a new experience every night and audiences will react and connect to different things. I love that conversation between the audience and the performer.’ The decision to use the fashionable and dynamic gig-theatre format, drawing on the energy of live music and the reflective intelligence of theatre, places Memon’s music at the heart of the storytelling.

Director Donnacadh O’Briain adds: ‘It’s just got electricity running through all of its veins. Liv’s central performance is very special, and I think between the performances, the Northern urban poetry of the script, and the beauty and immediacy of the music it just gets right inside you. It’s a ride, and ultimately a joy.’

If SMHAF has a mission to raise awareness of both mental health issues and the public treatment of those who struggle with them, Electrolyte serves as a reminder of this vision but also the power of theatre to transform and explain serious topics: escaping from both a tradition of art that reduces ‘mental illness’ to fodder for inspiration – a fashion condemned most notably in Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette – and a useless dichotomy of entertainment and education. Bold, forceful and reflective, both the production and the festival aim to change attitudes emotionally and intellectually.

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, various venues across Scotland, Fri 3–Sun 26 May; Electrolyte, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 14 May; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 15–Sat 18 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 37

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MY LEFT RIGHT FOOT – THE MUSICAL

“Equally hilarious and up-lifting.”

THE SUNDAY POST

National Theatre of Scotland is core funded by

38 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ith w l i a s t e S

CALMAC THIS EASTER Take a day trip to the Scottish Isles for some Easter fun with the whole family

CSTORY #MYCALMA Every Journey Starts a Story – start yours this Easter break. If you’re after picturesque landscapes, stunning wildlife and glorious beaches, CalMac have got you covered with their range of day adventure tours, which take in some of the most striking destinations on Scotland’s islands. From Staffa to Rothesay, there’s something for every member of the family on CalMac’s packed itineraries. So hop on the ferry and in just a few hours, you and your loved ones could be enjoying the natural beauty and exhilarating entertainment of the Scottish isles.

FROM OBAN The island of Staffa and the Treshnish Isles are known for their ancient forts and the thousands of seabirds that enjoy the breathtaking remoteness of the islands.

Sail from Oban to Craignure, where you’ll be taken across Mull to the ferry at Ulva for your scenic ride to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles. A major highlight of Staffa is the magnificent Fingal’s Cave, a unique structure formed in hexagonally jointed basalt, which visitors are free to explore before crossing to the Treshnish archipelago. Here, you’ll be met by breeding colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, shags, skuas and more, as well as puffins and common and Atlantic grey seals. Enjoy the panoramic views and fascinating wildlife, before making your journey back to Ulva, where you might just have time to explore Sheila’s Cottage – a traditional thatched croft house, which highlights Ulva’s history from Mesolithic Man right up to the present day.

Trips to Treshnish Isles from £35.50; trips to Ulva and Staffa from £25; trips to Mull & Iona from £39.

For a full up-to-the-minute selection, visit calmac. co.uk/adventures.

hourly. Prices from £6.50 per adult return, £3.30 per child return, under 5s travel free.

FROM FIRTH OF CLYDE The Isle of Cumbrae, just a short journey from Largs, is ideal for adventurers, with plenty of opportunities for cycling, golf, watersports and photography. At Millport, you can hire bikes and head off on a coastal route around the island, where you’re bound to spot owls, polecats, kestrels, and the occasional sea eagle.

The kids will especially enjoy the painted Crocodile Rock in the bay at Millport along with the watersports centre, where kayaks are available for hire.

No advanced booking required – ferry leaves either every 15 mins or 30 mins. Prices from £3.40 adult return, £1.70 child return, under 5s travel free.

A day trip to the Isle of Bute promises gorgeous architecture and varied landscapes, with the wellpreserved Rothesay Castle in the centre of town and the Victorian gothic country house of Mount Stuart providing interesting pieces of history. A short drive out to the hills and you’ll come to a ruined chapel from the 12th century, and a Bronze Age stone circle looking out to the Firth of Clyde. Ettrick Bay on the west coast is ideal for its sandy beaches, paddling opportunities and views over Arran, while Scalpsie Bay has a wealth of different species of wildlife. If you head to Seal View, you can watch the large colony of seals on the rocks and cows wandering on the shore.

No advanced booking required – regular ferries

Arran is the island that has elements of everything, from golf and glens to castles and delicious food and drink. As you approach the island on the ferry, you’ll be able to see Goat Fell, the island’s biggest mountain, which boasts dramatic views and excellent walking routes. You can also go for a scramble with one of the mountaineers from the Arran Adventure company if you’re after more technical hiking and climbing. Arran is also renowned for its abundance of wildlife including seal colonies, otters, eagles, basking sharks, porpoises and over 100 species of birds, along with lots of history at sites such as Brodick Castle or Lochranza Castle, with its underground prison. And don’t forget to sample some of the island’s finest cuisine while you’re there, from fresh local cheese to Arran single malt.

Booking in advance online is recommended. Prices from £8 adult return, £4 child return, under 5s travel free. n To find out more and book a trip, visit calmac.co.uk/ stories. Share your island adventures on social media using #MyCalMacStory

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 39

festivals

PHOTO: STEPHEN DOBBIE

SPRING

Small Wonders

LITTLE MIX

eicf

As Imaginate’s Edinburgh International Children’s Festival gets ready to mark another exciting and diverse event, Kelly Apter speaks to director Noel Jordan about the secret of its success

40 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

N

oel Jordan has been rifling through the Imaginate archive and, like a proud parent, marvelling at how much the organisation has grown. ‘It’s like a toddler that’s now reached mature age,’ he says. ‘Even the type of acts that you see listed in old festival programmes are completely different from today. There’s a more mature artistry on offer now, which is so exciting.’

Despite being the man in charge of the 2019 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival line-up, Jordan still speaks of himself almost as an outsider; the Australian from the other side of the world who looked on admiringly from afar for many years. ‘I say this every year, but within the English-speaking world, it really is regarded as the best children’s festival,’ he says. ‘But I think local people are often unaware of the significance of that. It’s as an outsider that you’re able to tell the story, and it’s incredibly respected everywhere I go. I never need to explain; everyone knows who Imaginate is, and I’m thrilled time and again at the feedback we receive.’

In this, the festival’s 30th year, Jordan is pulling out more than a few stops with a programme of work curated from seven countries, catering for babies aged 18 months all the way up to 15-year-olds.

And of the 14 shows in the programme, five of them are non-verbal.

‘I’m really captivated by image theatre, and when it’s done well for young audiences, it can be so transformative,’ says Jordan. ‘A work such as The Little

Bath from France captures the very best of visual theatre. It features a man with an enormous sculptural body of foam behind him, that he dances with, carves up and creates shapes, characters and objects with. And New Owner from Australia tells a very moving story about a dog that comes into a woman’s life when she’s lonely. Children embrace visual theatre in a very immediate way, they’re not being told “this is what’s happening”, they don’t need to hear dialogue, they can imagine it all in their own mind.’

Even when dialogue does appear, Jordan has done his best to procure work that heightens the theatrical experience and enhances engagement. One work in particular – Punchdrunk’s Small Wonders – takes us right to the heart of the action.

‘What I love about immersive theatre is the immediacy,’ says Jordan. ‘You’re literally sitting in amongst the work with someone talking to you and dragging you inside the narrative. When I saw Small Wonders, I was sitting in a reconstructed council flat with 40 children and parents when a phone started ringing behind me: and the actors said to me, “can you get it?” Because they fully acknowledge that I, and everyone else, is in the room with them. So we become active agents in the construction of the story, and it’s magical.’

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 25 May–Sun 2 Jun.

Psychologist Rebecca McGuire-Snieckus and psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud will test how the public make decisions about a politician's mental health by using Donald Trump's notorious Twitter feed.

ON THE FRONTIERS OF SANITY

Robin Ince, comedian and host of BBC Radio 4's The Infinite Monkey Cage, explores what the birth, behaviour, anxiety and storytelling of comedians may tell us about all humans.

I’M A JOKE AND SO ARE YOU

THE CLOACA MONOLOGUES

Author Jim Al-Khalili details a world under attack from rampant climate change, uncontrollable mass migration and cyber-terrorism in his new nail-biting science fiction novel.

Science communicator Hana Ayoob, zoologist Adriana Lowe, world fly expert Erica McAlister and science writer Jules Howard discuss one of the latest frontiers in sex – the science of vaginas.

SUNFALL

St James Playing Fields, Paisley 10am-6pm

Saturday 18 May

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SPRING

PHOTO: NEIL BARTON FOR BELTANE FIRE SOCIETY

festivals

Clockwise from top right: Beltane, Manran, Cocktails in the City

THE BEST OF THE REST The spring festival calendar is packed with a ridiculous number of events that are well worth checking out. Here are some more highlights across April and May

PAISLEY COMIC CON

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY

Celebration of comic art and culture with stalls, traders, games, cosplay, artists and writer talks, and demonstrations. Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, Sat 13 Apr.

This features DJs, cocktailmatching food, live demos and bespoke combinations of unusual liqueurs, bitters, homemade syrups and infusions. The Hub, Edinburgh, Fri 3 & Sat 4 May.

DOC’N ROLL SCOTLAND The UK’s music documentary festival funded by the BFI. The festival returns to Scotland in 2019 to showcase compelling music films from all genres. Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Thu 25–Sun 28 Apr.

PAISLEY FOOD AND DRINK A celebration of the best that Scotland’s larder has to offer with plenty of food-related fun. Abbey Close, Paisley, Fri 26 & Sat 27 Apr.

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL Beltane Fire Society performs the story of the death of winter and the birth of summer via dance, drumming, debauched acrobatics, giant puppetry and, of course, fire. Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Tue 30 Apr.

TECTONICS Glittering festival of experimental new music, curated by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s redoubtable principal guest conductor, Ilan Volkov.

Various venues, Glasgow, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May.

GLASGOW COFFEE FESTIVAL This festival celebrates the mighty coffee bean, showcasing Scotland’s speciality coffee scene.

There are roasters, bars, brews and baristas hosting tastings and presentations.

The Briggait, Glasgow, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May.

SOUTHSIDE FRINGE Independent fringe festival that aims to broaden the scope of music, comedy, burlesque, cabaret, art and theatre events which are happening deep in Glasgow’s Southside.

Various venues, Glasgow, Fri

10–Sun 26 May.

GIG IN THE GOIL Boutique music festival in the heart of Argyll with an eclectic range of musicians performing over three stages, including headliners Donnie Munro, Manran and Trail West. Drimsynie House Hotel, Cairndow, Fri 17–Sun 19 May.

KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH An outdoor festival with the emphasis on roots music, the line-up is a melting pot of world, folk, fusion and dub reggae music with electronica, hip hop and drum & bass thrown in for good measure.

Benjamin Zephaniah and the Revolutionary Minds headline in 2019.

Knockengorroch Farm, Castle Douglas, Thu 23–Sun 26 May.

EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Scotland’s global craft beer gathering returns with breweries from around the world, street food and live music courtesy of Belle & Sebastian, DJ Yoda and more. Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 43

BO BURNHAM

MAKING THE GRADE Acclaimed US stand-up Bo Burnham has turned his back on the live arena for now.

He tells Brian Donaldson that the world of film is a better fit for his current ideas

I

t can be a lonely experience being up on a stage by yourself, even if adulation is coming at you in waves from audiences, night after night. Massachusetts-born comic Bo Burnham gained that love from both the public and critics with boldly experimental live shows such as Words Words Words and What, after stepping out of the bedroom from where he’d become an internet sensation with videos he himself dubbed as ‘pubescent musical comedy’.

Proving that he could well be the next big multi-disciplinary thing, his debut feature film, Eighth Grade, has already scooped prizes from the American Film Institute, the Writers Guild of America, the Independent Spirit Awards and Sundance. His move away from comedy (the movie has a few moments of levity but it’s overall a pretty bleak affair) and into film has arrived through various reasons. ‘I’d love to get back to live performing, but I’d have to figure out what I’d say next,’ Burnham says while in Scotland for the recent Glasgow Film Festival where Eighth Grade had two showings. ‘I went into films because I was desperate to collaborate with people.

I was tired of myself as a subject, I didn’t like only looking to myself to express through myself about myself, so that’s why I wanted to do a film. Collaboration was the great strength of the process for me.’

There are plenty who will look at Eighth Grade and seek clues about Bo Burnham’s adolescent years, but he is reticent to draw too many parallels himself. Kayla (Elsie Fisher) is a lonely early teen who takes to her bedroom to record and upload films of herself (messages of inspiration rather than that ‘pubescent musical comedy’). She lives and struggles to communicate with her single-parent father (sorry, Bo lived in what is generally known as a steady home with two parents

44 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

and two older siblings) while making friends and pursuing people for romance is constantly anxiety-inducing (well, both Bo and Kayla were voted ‘most quiet’ at school).

While hundreds of people applied for the role of Kayla, Burnham says that the film only started to make sense when Fisher came in to audition. ‘She was the best by far, there was never really a second choice,’ he insists. ‘She understood the character like no one else did. She made it become active; everybody else played her shy and quiet and cowering in a corridor, while Elsie played her as trying to speak but not able to. And she was also able to bring all the complexities of what it means to be a kid to a scene; a lot of kids shut off everything about themselves in order to act. She was able to keep all that stuff on, which is incredibly impressive for an actor of any age, let alone a child.’

Featuring a soundtrack by Anna Meredith (‘she writes bold, exciting, invigorating electronic music which was perfect for this’), the film is highly contemporary and embedded deep in the social-media age while also retaining a timeless quality (we’ve all been 13-year-olds struggling to cope, right?).

‘When people try to tell modern stories where there are no phones, it feels like they’re neutering the context and it feels very vague and untrue,’ Burnham says. ‘Whether or not in 20 years’ time people are using Snapchat, they’ll still understand what she’s doing and why she’s doing it. When I watch The Breakfast Club, I’m not going, “oh man, they’re playing cassettes, I can’t process this!” I do think the only way to connect with people is to be incredibly specific.’

Eighth Grade is on general release from Fri 26 Apr. See review, page 78.

1979-2019 40 Years of Music Memories www.thequeenshall.net | Tickets & Info: 0131 668 2019 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JG

APRIL AND MAY 2019 LISTINGS AT THE QUEEN’S HALL, EDINBURGH APRIL

MAY

Thu 4, 7.30pm

Thu 2, 7.30pm

Fri 5, doors 7pm

Fri 3, 8pm

Sun 7, 8pm

Sat 4, 7.30pm

The Legends of American Country Music

SCO: Dove Accordion Concerto

An Evening with The Hairy Bikers

Tradfest: Talisk + The Adam Sutherland Band

Jenna Reid and Harris Playfair with Mr McFall’s Chamber Wed 10, 7.30pm

Julian Clary: Born to Mince

QH@40 Heidi Talbot presents: Väsen; Floriane Blancke; Inge Thomson Sun 5, 7.30pm

Gretchen Peters: Strings Attached

Thu 11, 7.30pm

SCO: Ravel Piano Concerto

Thu 9, 8pm

Fri 12, 7.30pm

Wilko Johnson with special guest Glenn Tilbrook Sun 14, 3pm

Edinburgh Quartet: Litany & Rapture

Patty Griffin Fri 10, 8pm

Tim Garland: Weather Walker Trio Sat 11, 7.30pm

Neu! Reekie!

Mon 15, 7.45pm

Arod Quartet

Sun 12, 4pm

Thu 18, 7.30pm

QH@40 Tommy Smith Sextet: Beasts of Scotland Fri 19, 7pm

Dunedin Consort: Matthew Passion

Dunedin Consort: Bach: The Last Resort Wed 15, doors 7pm

Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live Sat 18, 7.30pm

The Kevock Choir

Sun 21, doors 7pm

Lake Street Dive

Sun 19, 7.30pm

Frigg

Thu 25, 7.30pm

SCO: Hardenberger plays Haydn & Gruber

Mon 20, 7.30pm

Danny Baker: Good Time Charlie’s Back

Fri 26, 8pm

Tradfest Launch Gig: Lankum

Thu 23, 7.30pm

The Fureys

Sat 27, 7.30pm

Faith: The George Michael Legacy

Fri 24, 8pm

Erland Cooper

Sun 28, 7.30pm

Matt Haig: Notes On A Nervous Planet

Sat 25, 7.30pm

Scottish Ensemble: Dance Music with Malin Broman Sun 26, 3pm

Edinburgh Quartet: Conflicting Places

MEDICI ADVISORS

QH@40 events supported by Creative Scotland

Thu 30, 7.30pm

Leah MacRae: My Big Fat Fabulous Diary Fri 31, doors 7pm

@queens_hall

@queenshall

@queens_hall

Howard Jones

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JON RONSON

When Jon Ronson peeked behind the curtain of the US adult entertainment industry, he found things that were delightful as well as disturbing. He tells Brian Donaldson that his natural sense of open curiosity means he never rushes to judgement

I

PORN FREE

n 2017, a number of deaths rocked the American porn industry. In particular, the suicide of 23-year-old August Ames (real name Mercedes Grabowski) led people to assume that there was something rotten in the adult entertainment world, a business that was already struggling with its product now being made widely available for free on the internet. In two new podcasts, The Butterfly Effect and The Last Days of August Ames, investigative journalist and Cardiff-born humourist Jon Ronson explores an industry that, like many of its practitioners, appears to be on its knees.

What he found there was to greatly surprise the man behind books such as Them: Adventures with Extremists, The Psychopath Test, and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. ‘I was very struck by how good-natured porn people were and that there was this nice supportive atmosphere,’ Ronson recalls. ‘It reminded me of theatrical people, these smart young outsiders supporting each other within this flawed industry. People consider techy people to be reputable and porn people to be disreputable, but I think our stories turn that theory on its head. We were lucky that we were embedded with a porn director who would not allow any badness to happen on his sets; no one was ever asked to do anything they wouldn’t want to do, so as a consequence it was a fun time. I enjoyed my porn times on the set of, you know, StepDaughter Cheerleader Orgy. It was sweet.’

These sweet times ended up on The Butterfly Effect (one memorable section was devoted to ‘bespoke porn’ where, for example, people got off watching someone go through their stamp collection), which featured old-school video and DVD porn-makers bemoaning the direction their industry has gone.

Eventually they were able to confront the dudes in Silicon Valley who had contributed to their work drying up. But bleak times were round the corner for Ronson when he investigated the death of August Ames who, if you believe one side (mainly her widower Kevin Moore), took her own life due to an online pile-on after she made comments that were deemed to be homophobic. The other side of the coin came through veiled accusations that Moore may have had some dark secrets to hide.

Ronson never comes down on one side or the other.

‘There’s a huge shift between the two podcasts; what it shows is that the porn industry has this unexpectedly delightful part but also this complicated darker one. Another more ideological writer wouldn’t be happy with showing both sides in that way, because they want to take a position and stick with it. For me, it’s really important to be completely open to the story going wherever it goes. I really like being a twig in the river of the story without pre-judgment and just totally open to curiosity. I remember going to Channel 4 and pitching a documentary and they would say, “so what’s going to happen in it?” And I’d say, “I dunno” and they wouldn’t commission it. I’ve always been against that attitude, because what’s the point of knowing the full story before you do it?’

For his upcoming live shows, Ronson is still trying to work out exactly how he’ll adapt the podcast material, but he’s fairly certain they’ll include screened footage and maybe even a game.

‘I’m going to show some obscure bespoke porn clips,’ he reveals cautiously. ‘I think I might play a game with the audience with some new clips of bespoke porn, and ask them to try and figure out what exactly was going on. Bespoke porn is a goldmine of sweet human absurdity with a tinge of sad darkness. But, you know what, sweet human absurdity with a tinge of sad darkness is my can of paint. That’s always what I’m looking for.’

Jon Ronson: Tales From The Last Days of August & The Butterfly Effect, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sat 25 May; Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Mon 27 May. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 47

VIDEOGAMES: DESIGN / PLAY / DISRUPT

PLAY FOR TODAY As the world of contemporary videogames lights up Dundee’s V&A this summer, Murray Robertson gets wired in to find out about the craft of 21st-century gaming

Journey

T

he argument that videogames are a form of art is to get a significant boost thanks to V&A Dundee and its next major exhibition. Videogames: Design / Play / Disrupt, curated by Marie Foulston and Kristian Volsing, celebrates the best of digital creativity, with new commissions and special events showcasing videogame design from Scotland and around the world. Exhibits on show include design documents from Journey, The Last of Us and No Man’s Sky, plus brand new playable games, design workshops and talks.

V&A Dundee curator Meredith More explains that the exhibition focuses on videogames from 2000 onwards. ‘It’s a very contemporary exhibition looking carefully at the design process behind videogames and really celebrating them as one of the most important mediums in the contemporary design world,’ she says. ‘There’s a lot in the show for people that love videogames but also for people that would consider themselves not to be gamers, because it really shows the craft behind the creation of videogames. And it celebrates the role of players themselves.’

Long established as the cultural home of gaming in the UK, Dundee is the perfect location for this exhibition which is transferring from V&A London. It’s Dundee where Grand Theft Auto was famously born and where the ZX Spectrum was originally manufactured, while both Abertay University and the University of Dundee are renowned for their industry-focused game design courses. The city is also home to InGAME (Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise), a brand new multi-million pound research and development centre.

As part of the exhibition, V&A have 48 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

commissioned a set of arcade cabinets from We Throw Switches, an Edinburgh-based design and events company run by Andrew Dyce and Craig Fairweather who also host Games Are For Everyone, a combination of nightclub and gaming night. Dyce explains that they were asked by V&A to design arcade cabinets to help create an immersive physical aspect for a number of the games on show. ‘For three or four months last year we designed and fabricated these arcade cabinets and their control schemes, and they went down to become part of the London exhibition,’ he says. ‘Now the exhibition is moving up to Dundee, the V&A curation and exhibition team have kindly asked us to put in two more cabinets. So now we’re going through the process again with two games with a Scottish connection.’

While other exhibitions have explored gaming from its (relatively recent) beginnings, Videogames: Design / Play / Disrupt is very much focused on contemporary game design.

Meredith More explains that over the past two decades there have been significant technological changes in the way people play games, as well as a revolution in how they are published and consumed, resulting in games being much more accessible for people to play and create. ‘There’s been a real shift in the industry and the curators wanted to focus on this period,’ she says. ‘Quite a lot of past exhibitions have focused on the nostalgic aspects of videogames whereas this show is really about thinking how the industry has changed recently, and what it might look like in the future.’

Videogames: Design / Play / Disrupt, V&A Dundee, Sat 20 Apr–Sun 8 Sep.

The Last of Us

Emelia Kerr Beale, BA (Hons) Painting

11.00 – 17.00 Saturday 1 – Sunday 9 June

#ecadegreeshow

DEGREESHOW/19 FREE ENTRY Late nights Wednesday 5 June – Thursday 6 June 11.00 – 20.00

ART & DESIGN

MUSIC CONCERTS

ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Lauriston Campus 74 Lauriston Place EH3 9DF

West Court 74 Lauriston Place EH3 9DF

Minto House, Adam House & 7 – 8 Chambers Street EH1 1JZ

For full details: www.eca.ed.ac.uk/degreeshow

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 49

SPRING

PHOTO: NICOLA SELBY

50 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

WATCH

Now in its 50th year, Scottish Ballet is in the mood for celebrating. Kelly Apter speaks to dancer turned choreographer, Sophie Laplane, about finding inspiration in emotive music and the human hand

A

fter spending hours each day standing on their toes, few ballet dancers are rewarded with goodlooking feet. Hands, however, have a capacity for real beauty, which, it seems, is why Sophie Laplane is so fascinated by them. ‘As a ballet dancer I don’t have particularly nice feet, so maybe that’s why I like hands so much,’ she muses. ‘I read a book about the way hands help the brain develop, so I’m interested in the way people use them. And I’ve always been fascinated by the vocabulary of hands; I speak a lot with them myself.’

Hands, and the music of Mozart, are the inspiration behind Laplane’s new piece, Dextera, which will form part of Scottish Ballet’s upcoming double-bill, Spring!

She’ll share the programme with one of the 20th century’s most famous choreographers, Sir Kenneth MacMillan (and his infectiously feel-good Elite Syncopations). Not bad for a young dance-maker who only left the starting blocks in 2013.

Joining Scottish Ballet as a dancer in 2004, having trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School, Laplane found herself increasingly drawn to choreography.

Commissioned by the company’s artistic director, Christopher Hampson, her debut work, Oxymore lasted a brief six minutes but left audiences and critics curious for more. Encouraged by Hampson and this positive response, Laplane went on to make Maze, Sibilo and A Perfect Place, before retiring as a dancer in 2017 and stepping straight into the role of Scottish Ballet’s resident choreographer.

And now, six years after she first dipped her toe in those waters, Laplane is opening the company’s 50th anniversary celebration. ‘Because of the anniversary, I really wanted Dextera to be celebratory,’ she says. ‘And when I think of Scottish Ballet, the first word that comes to mind is “creativity”. So as well as using the idea of hands, I wanted to put that across and work with the dancers to embody creativity.’

A work for 20 dancers filled with unusual and dynamic partnering, Dextera will be Laplane’s first experience of having her work accompanied by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, playing a selection of works by Mozart. ‘It was quite tricky for me to commit to just one composer, as I usually like to have lots of different sounds in my work,’ explains Laplane. ‘But I’ve been brought up with

Mozart’s music, and his work is so rich and has such a wide range of moods, from emotional and sad to much more dynamic and playful. It was the most exciting and appropriate choice for me.’

It would seem the dancers, too, are enjoying getting down to the 18th-century composer. ‘It’s been lovely to have that blaring out of the studio while we rehearse,’ says Thomas Edwards. ‘And as a dancer, the music is incredible to dance to because you’re not just punching it out constantly; you go from a really high impact opening to softer music. There are lyrical moments that allow us to have a little rest before the energy builds back up.’

Edwards joined Scottish Ballet in 2013, just as Laplane was making her first piece, and has been a firm fan ever since. When the child who used to hang out with you in the playground suddenly becomes teacher, there can be issues of hierarchy and power; but not here.

‘When I saw Oxymore, I remember thinking “oh my goodness, I want to be in that piece”,’ recalls Edwards.

‘And since then, I’ve worked with Sophie closely on a number of her pieces, and it always felt like a natural progression. So now, with her being in charge, it still feels very natural. There was no awkwardness at the start of Dextera rehearsals, and because we all knew each other so well, she could just jump in. Sophie is one of our own, so we want her to do well and be successful; and we want audiences to fall in love with her work as much as we have.’

Along with her work at Scottish Ballet, Laplane has also been choreographing for Project Y, National Youth Ballet UK and Ballet Black among others, as well as studying for an MA in choreography. What has she learned along the way? ‘With more experience I’m becoming more efficient,’ says Laplane. ‘I still love details, and that’s still very much a part of my work, but now I know not to spend two days on one tiny detail. I can say to myself ‘that will do for now, I’ll come back to it later’. It’s about knowing that even if it’s not exactly what I want just yet, I’ll get there.’

Scottish Ballet: Spring!, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sat 6 Apr; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 2–Sat 4 May. PHOTO: TONY CURRIE

PHOTO: LEFT AND CENTRE RIMBAUD PATRON

H

SCOTTISH BALLET: SPRING!

Choreographer Sophie Laplane (pictured centre) rehearses with Marge Hendrick (left) and Thomas Edwards (right)

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 51

V/DA

W

hen curator and costume designer Sabrina Henry moved up to Scotland from London last January, her first thoughts were of finding her people: ‘Where are the people of colour making things in Glasgow?’ she recalls thinking. ‘How do I start making things according to dialogues I want to create?’

She soon connected with performer and choreographer Mele Broomes through Project X, a collective championing performance works within the Scottish Afro-Caribbean diaspora.

Broomes – whose performance piece VOID won the Total Theatre Award at last year’s Fringe – invited her round for a cup of tea, ‘which is unusual for people that don’t know each other down south, and I thought that was really nice,’ laughs Henry.

At the time, Broomes was artistic director of Various Dance Artists (V/DA), which began as a vehicle to stage her own work. Recently she’s expanded this enterprise into a creative collective that includes Henry plus performer, choreographer and producer Claricia Parinussa.

The three had crossed paths previously, and despite different skillsets, realised they shared a strong interest in platforming work that explores the experiences of women of colour.

Their first shared project, Sonic Séance, has been a deeply fruitful experience. Though still a work-in-progress, their early performances for artist-led organisation The Work Room came across ‘like a firebomb on stage,’ describes Parinussa. A fusion of sound, poetry and dance, Sonic Séance emerges as an expression of anger against the dominance of colonialist narratives.

‘I would say that anger is only negative when

it’s expressed in a way that is not productive, or not useful,’ says Parinussa. ‘It can be a very empowering thing, but it’s necessary to channel that in a way that allows audiences to understand more about that anger. Because in a lot of situations . . . ’ ‘ . . . you’re painted as a problem maker,’ Broomes chimes in, ‘or you’re just creating chaos.’

Such dialogue is central to the way these three work together, and has fostered a sense of trust in each other. ‘With Sonic Séance, I know that Claricia has a skillset in producing, and I feel comfortable that she can understand where I’m coming from,’ says Broomes. ‘From that, we

Mele Broomes

can create new work that is in keeping with the things we want to do, but also that can be steered from any person.’

It’s clear, however, that their investment is as much in each other as it is in producing work.

‘Not everything we talk about has to be related to something we’re producing at the end,’ says Henry. ‘It can be something that exists in a lot of forms, or just an idea.’

‘What feels important is our growth together,’ Parinussa says. ‘It doesn’t have to go in a linear way, but somehow that all does feed into that bigger thing which will come out in the work.’

When asked about their dreams for V/DA, the three respond with peals of laughter. ‘How much time have you got?’ says Broomes. There’s too many to count, but the common thread is a shared desire for growth, always with an eye on how this affects the community at large. Henry brings up their wish to facilitate meaningful dialogue about the issues their work touches upon, ‘to have a space of learning, which can act as a mirror of what’s happening in our production work’.

‘There is a sense of pressure on woman of colour to put strong work on, because you don’t get anywhere without reaching as high as you possibly can,’ says Broomes. ‘I also think it’s important for young people to see that you can say what you want to say. To be seen in a position where this is our idea, this is what we want it to be, and we can make it happen.’

Sonic Séance is part of Take Me Somewhere, Tramway, Glasgow, Thu 16, Sat 18 May.

rage

reason

PHOTOS: MATTHEW ARTHUR WILLIAMS

of Claricia Paranussa

52 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

Deborah Chu talks to the people behind V/DA, a blossoming dance and arts collective preparing to get angry with their Sonic Séance

Sabrina Henry

2009

10th year

2019

MUSIC ART ADVENTURE

3–26 May 2019 mhfestival.com

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1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 53

C E L E B R AT E T H E C O M I N G O F S P R I N G - G E R M A N S T Y L E

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High Fade and Radio Pachuco

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Matt Gloss & The Emulsions and Banjo Lounge 4

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EIF

As the Edinburgh International Festival launches an innovative programme for August, Arusa Qureshi discusses the challenges ahead with its director Fergus Linehan PHOTO: MAIN GRETJEN HELENE, LEFT - FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OLIVER ROSSER FEAST CREATIVE, ADAM LATHAM, DOUNE PHOTO

INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

T

he idea of internationalism and a focus on global conversations have always been key elements of the Edinburgh International Festival’s ethos. But as uncertainty looms around the world, the 2019 programme is very much reflective of a need to engage with and critique wider systems of oppression.

‘There’s an urgency to what we do and a relevance about what we do,’ Edinburgh International Festival director Fergus Linehan says. ‘I think anyone who’s just trying to run anything is worried about uncertainty at the moment. And worried about the poisonous rhetoric that exists, that emboldens people who stand against the whole idea of global conversations. Even though it’s miles away, we’ve been thinking a lot about the 75th anniversary of the festival in 2022 because one of the questions that came out of the 70th anniversary was, when we say “international”, what do we mean?’

A particularly exciting and inspiring addition to this year’s programme, You Are Here is a strand of theatre, dance, music, readings and discussions that take audiences further afield, offering unique perspectives on issues that affect global communities. Artists from Scotland, the rest of the UK, Nigeria, Canada, Mali, Lebanon and beyond are given voice to ask vital questions and consider what identity and citizenship means in the 21st century.

Highlights of the programme include Hear Word! (pictured left), in which ten of Nigeria’s biggest stars come together on stage to tell multigenerational stories; Milo Rau’s unflinching piece of investigative theatre La Reprise; the world premiere of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Red Dust Road, adapted from the memoir by Jackie Kay; and Kalakuta Republic, Serge Aimé Coulibaly’s fusion of dance, music and revolution, inspired by the life of Fela Kuti.

‘I think geographically our spread is just better this year,’ Linehan explains. ‘We’ve got really significant work from China, we’ve got quite a lot of work from Africa and our Ian McKellen reach is a lot further. If we’re talking about internationalism, so many of the questions of the moment are not just domestic.

You can only begin to grab hold of them when you start to look a little bit further afield. I mean it’s funny, because in a sense, the festival is also a party. It’s also really good fun but you don’t want to be fiddling while Rome burns. And I do think that Gustavo Dudamel there’s a lot of creativity being channeled at the moment into not just protest, but actually trying to ask what the next stages are and where we go from here.’

Throughout the programme, there are artists responding to urgent questions, but there’s also an emphasis on unconventional ideas and new viewpoints. Following a series of successful opening events, starting with 2015’s Harmonium Project at the Usher Hall, Kalakuta Republik the International Festival are taking on a fresh approach to this year’s opening, extending the event out of the city centre for the first time with the LA Philharmonic at Tynecastle Park, conducted

by Gustavo Dudamel. ‘We’ve never done anything in a football stadium before!’ Linehan says. ‘Also, we haven’t really done anything around that part of the city before, so I’m really looking forward to that.’

Other major highlights include Peter Gynt, which has Scottish star James McArdle taking on the challenging title role in a major co-production with the National Theatre. There’s also Peacock Contemporary Dance Company and choreographer Yang Liping’s The Rite of Spring; Sir Ian McKellen performing extracts from his best-loved roles; and a production of West Side Story, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Over at the Leith Theatre, the International Festival once again presents a cracking line-up of contemporary music, including Anna Calvi, Sharon Van Etten, Neneh Cherry and Efterklang.

‘On the one hand, we need to think a lot more about what’s happening internationally but also, the connectivity of the festival to the city becomes really important as well,’ Linehan adds. ‘A lot of these questions have an international relevance but they also have a relevance to the people who live in Edinburgh. So I hope that by the time we look at the 75th festival, people in the city will feel even more connected to what we’re doing and that we find ways of doing that, while at the same time, enjoying this worldview.’

Edinburgh International Festival, various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 2–Mon 26 Aug. Public booking opens on Sat 6 Apr. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 55

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FOOD & DRINK FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /FOOD&DRINK

EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Get your beer on at the capital’s Biscuit Factory The Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival returns to the Biscuit Factory in May, with the usual focus on craft beer from across the world.

Breweries already confirmed include local heroes like Pilot, 6° North and Tempest Brew Co as well as names from further afield like Oslo’s Amundsen and Kildare’s Whiplash. Pilot have worked with the organisers to create a new beer especially for the event, and you won’t go hungry either – Aizle’s Stuart Ralston will be creating a mini-menu alongside Harajuku Kitchen and the Buffalo Truck, while acts like DJ Yoda, Hip Hop Karaoke and Belle & Sebastian keep the crowds entertained.

■ Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 57

FOOD & DRINK

DRINKS NEWS

NEWS & REVIEWS

Rum’s the new gin – especially up north in Banchory where the Deeside Distillery launched the country’s first single-cask collection called Devil’s Point, tipping their hat to neighbours and rum-blazers Dark Matter.

The new range includes two single-cask aged rums – a sherry cask (59% ABV) and a Virgin American oak cask (58% ABV), as well as a golden aged rum (38% ABV) and a coffee rum liqueur (22% ABV).

Edinburgh’s whole leaf tea experts Eteaket are turning 10. To celebrate their first decade, they’ve got together with Scottish Mara Seaweed and launched Celtic Kombu Matcha, fusing Eteaket’s matcha tea with Mara’s sustainable wild-harvested Kombu Kelp.

BUNDLE OF JOY There’s a new member of the Mother India family in Glasgow, and the ancestry and pedigree are clearly evident, as Tiff Griffin discovers

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or Glasgow’s curry lovers, Mother India has a long-established reputation. An institution whose venues are venerated spots, from their classic British Indian original in Finnieston to the café at Kelvingrove that offers a cosy continental ambience. No stranger to innovation, their café also offered Indian tapas when small plates were not such a ubiquitous sight.

The group’s blend of tradition and creativity is in evidence in this new offshoot, with equally successful results. The Lansdowne retains much of its previous bar layout, but with tables set for relaxed dining, and the unique glasshouse at the rear is undisturbed, offering light on the gloomiest of Scottish days. Walls lined with portraits of customers and staff past and present illustrate that history carries plenty of weight here.

Middle Eastern delicacy is combined with robust desi flavours on the new menu. Tempura-like veg pakora, with date and tamarind chutney, arrive with a fluffy roti and are gone in a flash. There’s a lightness to the appetisers that leaves you primed for the subsequent series of sumptuous mains.

Roadside lamb curry is an upmarket version of Indian street food with juicy lamb chunks and

a ginger kick, intriguingly adorned with straw potatoes. It’s also an expert balance of textures – crunchy chips contrasting against soft braised lamb. A standard vegetable curry, served rustic style in the pot, is lifted above the ordinary with spices that are full of freshness and bite.

The labneh sauce that sprinkles taste-bud magic over a skewer of succulent grilled monkfish has chef Amit Sharma displaying a level of sorcery that, in times past, might just have left him in some hot water of his own. If this is just yoghurt blended with orange juice, then Miles Davis was just a trumpet player.

Presentation is consistently creative, too, from the balance of the golden potato and lamb to the vibrant hues of those monkfish skewers and softening labneh. It’s the crowning glory of a series of dazzling dishes found, somewhat curiously, in a basement curry house on a quiet, tree-lined West End crescent.

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Inspired fusions that are exquisitely delivered

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Spirits gantry needs the same love the food gets

THE LANSDOWNE 7a Lansdowne Crescent, West End, Glasgow, G20 6NQ, 0141 334 4653, motherindia.co.uk Tue–Thu 5–10pm; Fri/Sat 1–10.30pm; Sun 1–10pm. Closed Mon. Average cost of two-course lunch/dinner: £16.50 58 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

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News to nibble on The recent ScotHot event at Glasgow’s SEC saw the launch of the Scottish Manifesto of Chefs and Cooks, a new initiative hoping to help turn the country into a Good Food Nation. It was developed by food charity Nourish Scotland (nourishscotland.org) and the input of an industry-wide consultation with the aim of creating a more positive food culture across the country. Hospitality professionals can sign up and add their name to the manifesto, which covers issues such as sustainability, local sourcing, supportive environments, design and communication, and knowledge sharing.

The Ivy is coming to Glasgow – the upscale London restaurant group that is; not the old Finnieston rum bar (forced to change its name to Distill by, erm, this Ivy). After opening a branch in Edinburgh in 2017, the lux brand is due to entice

the city’s glamour-seekers to its two-floor brasserie with an allday dining offering. The planned spring opening might end up being nearer summer in the listed building on the corner of Buchanan Street and Royal Bank Place.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Borough has re-opened its doors. Now wholly owned by chef patron Darren Murray, they’re offering a stripped back, four-course no-choice tasting menu for dinner with à la carte options available for lunch. And it’s all change over at the Waldorf Astoria (aka the Caley) with news that the Galvin brothers partnership has drawn to a close. Chef Dan Ashmore will keep

hold of the reins in the Pompadour, with plans to move the menu further towards a modern British style, while Mark Greenaway (pictured) has announced he’ll be bringing a brandnew concept called Grazing with Mark Greenaway to the brasserie space.

We’re putting the finishing touches to our 26th annual Eating & Drinking Guide, ready for mid-April publication, and – back by popular demand – are the maps showing the locations of the 1000 restaurants, bars, cafes and shops featured in the guide. Given the amount of correspondence we received expressing disappointment at their removal from the print version of the guide, it seems the digital age isn’t quite all-consuming yet. (See page 20 for a discount voucher for the new guide.)

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1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 59

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RECENT OPENINGS

What happens when the regional boundaries of Italian cooking are broken down? Rachael Cloughton ventures up Slateford Road to find out

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hey say good things come in threes and that’s certainly the case for Locanda de Gusti and Pizzeria 1926 owner Rosario Sartore. His third Italian restaurant, Nero a Metà, opened in February on Slateford Road opposite the Caledonian Brewery, a part of town rather under-served for decent restaurants.

It’s small and laid-back, with a homely atmosphere and waiters who greet diners like friends, and while Sartore may be building an empire (wee deli Fiocchi Di Neve also opened earlier this year), there isn’t the slightest whiff of a chain. The menu is a mix of northern Italian and southern Sardinian dishes – many from chef Guiseppe Magrone’s own family. Specialities include orecchiette served with a sumptuous Scottish shin beef ragù and the house take on lasagne: bitter friarielli, oyster mushrooms and smoky provola served on top of pasta sheets in a deconstructed style. The menu reflects what’s in season but expect traditional Sardinian dishes like calves’ liver marinated in Ichnusa beer, cured slices of wild boar and slow-cooked tripe served with borlotti beans and guanciale; in other words, expect the unexpected.

NERO A META 39–41 Slateford Road, West End, EH11 1PR 0131 337 0326, neroameta.co.uk £22 (lunch/dinner)

The best of the new restaurant, café and bar openings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Prices shown are for an average two-course meal for one.

Glasgow MESA

CAFES 567 Duke Street, East End, instagram.com/mesa_ glasgow, £13 (lunch) A co-venture between one of Café Strange Brew’s chefs, Andrea Bartolini, and owner Laurie MacMillan, Mesa isn’t simply Strange Brew 2. There’s a more chilled demeanour and an entirely different menu – but the same canny combo of pretty plates with a bit of rock’n’roll attitude is definitely on show. The east end (of the Med) is the dominant culinary influence, with a salty lamb shakshuka in a skillet, or pancakes with poached pear and a remarkably floral Middle Eastern panacotta called ‘malabi’, all under honey-sweet dukkah. The space is small and dynamic, as is the menu, which embraces both seasonality and locality. A welcome addition to the neighbourhood.

CATCH CHIPPY RESTAURANT 27 Gibson Street, West End, 0141 370 8181, catchfishandchips.co.uk, £22 (lunch/dinner) Much attention is paid to the maritime-themed decor at this sit-down chippy par excellence – Catch’s third branch, their first in the West End. The menu covers globe-trotting starters and platters, tacos, plancha-cooked lobster and fish, chippy classics, buns and more. Most starters are shareable, such as salt and chilli squid or Scotch egg with Dingwall black pudding. Less shareable is the vegetable and tofu tempura taco – a delicious, vegan mess. The main event is battered fish and chips, whether haddock, cod, sole goujons or langoustine tails. Light and crispy batter is nigh-on faultless, encasing moist flakes of super-fresh North Sea haddock.

Edinburgh

THE BELL JAR

LOUDONS

BARS & PUBS 21 Dixon Avenue, Southside, 0141 423 3989, fb.com/thebelljarglasgow, £16 (lunch/dinner) From the guys behind the immensely popular Sparkle Horse, the Bell Jar pulls off the same marvellous alchemy of feeling like it’s not doing much while actually doing everything really rather well. There’s the same black exterior and spartan setup, with coolness coming from the punters themselves. The rear is kept for diners and the concise menu treads the small plates path with confident, unfussy steps – peat-smoked haddock with potatoes is both hearty and delicate, while beef and ’nduja meatballs are satisfyingly misshapen and spicy.

The whole operation is well thought-out, feeling like a traditional boozer as well as a place to go for dinner.

CAFES 2 Sibbald Walk, Old Town, 0131 556 7734, loudons. co.uk, £15 (lunch) The second branch of the ever-popular Loudons mirrors the original’s friendly, relaxed atmosphere and cheerful ability to deal with almost any dietary requirement you can throw at them. Brunch is a highlight, with spinach and goat’s cheese eggs Benedict, drizzled with fresh pesto rather than hollandaise, fragrantly balancing a palette of distinctive flavours. A dip into the lunch menu also

rewards, with a garlic lamb burger blending mint yoghurt and cumin-spiced lamb. The counter showcases gorgeous cakes, but American-style pancakes also make a great dessert option, accompanied by caramelised baked bananas and a jug of maple syrup.

THE HIGH DIVE BARS & PUBS 81–85 St Leonards Street, Southside, 0131 220 0851, civerinosthehighdive.com, £12 (lunch/dinner) The High Dive is the latest addition to the all-conquering Civerinos pizza empire. Expect the same familiarly, funky New York diner-style décor and the same greatvalue, authentic pizzas, all wrapped up in what’s already shaping up to be a popular, lively local bar.

There are nine pizzas on offer with side orders of fries or salad, but save room for hot doughnuts. Wash it down with beer, cider or decent organic wine while you enjoy the buzzing atmosphere. Or come during the day for free filter coffee and WiFi alongside a breakfast of Bross bagels, granola, or a bacon sandwich in pizza dough. Yum.

COLD TOWN HOUSE BARS & PUBS 4 Grassmarket, Old Town, 0131 357 2865, coldtownhouse.co.uk, £17.50 (lunch/dinner) No expense has been spared at this brewhouse, prosecco and pizza bar housed in a cavernous former church, whose shabby chic interior features a ground-floor firepit. The fun, Italian-leaning menu includes wood-fired pizzas named after Edinburgh neighbourhoods, while the lively brewhouse and its changing tap list should become one of the Old Town’s more popular places at weekends.

Add in a patch of prime outdoor seating below Edinburgh Castle and it’ll be a minor miracle to get a seat among the church’s new congregation – sun worshippers with a taste for beer and no-nonsense pub grub.

Independent write-ups on all the restaurants worth knowing about in Glasgow and Edinburgh are available on our online Eating & Drinking Guide at list.co.uk/food-and-drink 60 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

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ARE YOU BEING SERVED? A great meal out depends on a cast of cooks, chefs, servers, managers and others who are often taken for granted or rendered invisible by the glitz and glamour. Food & drink editor Donald Reid examines a few of the sometimes unspoken issues exercising the hospitality trade

PHOTO: FREEPIK.COM

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s our imminent Eating & Drinking Guide reminds us, the food and drink scene in both Edinburgh and Glasgow are a rich, varied and dynamic part of the two cities.

Diners and drinkers are well served.

But what of the other side of the pass? While compiling the Eating & Drinking Guide each year we observe the scene and talk to those working in restaurants and bars. It’s clear there are a number of challenges within the hospitality industry, so here we highlight four issues which we’ve noticed are much discussed behind the scenes and probably deserve a greater level of awareness among diners.

NO-SHOWS The part of this that annoys the dining public is being asked to provide credit card details on making a booking. It smacks of mistrust, officiousness and even greediness – and not in the spirit of hospitality at all. Restaurants are highly sensitive to this resistance, and know it puts diners off. The single reason they’re compelled to do it are phantom diners: ‘no-shows’, the tables that fail to turn up despite a booking, and galling when you’ve turned prospective diners away and bought in food and extra staff in anticipation of a full house. Dine restaurant in Edinburgh suffered 36 last-minute cancellations or no-shows on Valentines Day this year: resulting in ‘a massive dent in our takings,’ according to owner Paul Brennan. ‘One customer said he had booked three restaurants so he could decide on the night where he wanted to dine.’ The restaurant’s response?

Credit card details are now required to confirm a 62 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

reservation for tables of five or more, with a £10 charge per person in the event of a no-show.

regular exercise and drink responsibly. Small differences can deliver big changes.’

TIPPING While the minimum wage has made a significant difference to hospitality staff over the last two decades, tipping remains a slippery issue. The most common form of payment of restaurant bills is by credit card, but often waiting staff would far prefer a cash tip. ‘There is a major issue regarding how tips are distributed,’ explains Rory McGinley, general manager at The Buttery in Glasgow. ‘There are instances of managers not being accountable and transparent about how the sharing of tips is calculated. You can see service charges either escaping into owners pockets or being used to supplement staff wages.

Fundamentally, tips are one of the central reasons why people stay within the industry – it can be extremely challenging and tips are a way staff can feel rewarded at the end of a difficult shift.’

FOOD WASTE According to Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), Scottish restaurants produce over 53,000 tonnes of food waste each year, at a cost of £64 million.

ZWS also reckon that two-thirds is avoidable, including what’s known as ‘plate waste’: the perfectly edible food that’s left by diners. A pilot study found that three-quarters of customers said they wanted to be offered to take food home, but nearly half were too embarrassed to ask.

So ZWS developed a scheme called Good to Go that provides free doggy bags and takeaway containers for restaurants to offer to customers with leftover food. The scheme has also helped highlight issues in the kitchen too. ‘When we did the pilot for Good to Go we saw the scheme was reducing food waste by 42%,’ says Ylva Haglund, food waste campaigns manager at ZWS. ‘Of that, half came from factors other than the doggy bags.

What was happening was that as part of the pilot someone had measured the restaurant’s overall food waste, and then come back a while later to measure it again, and what the restaurant had done in the intervening period was go ‘hang on, where’d that come from?’. The portions could be too big, or maybe ordering wasn’t quite right, or there was something going on in the kitchen.

And the simple act of measuring it helped them pinpoint that. For businesses, there is potential profit to be made. If you measure, find out where it comes from, and set your action accordingly, you can make savings. So even if you don’t care about the environment, it makes sense.’

MENTAL HEALTH In January this year, a new charity, Hospitality Health, launched in Scotland. Its aim is to elevate awareness of mental health in the hospitality and tourism industry, offering access to a dedicated online portal, a 24-hour manned helpline and helping employers understand stress better. ‘The hospitality culture needs to change,’ says Hospitality Health’s chairman Gordon McIntyre, who is associate dean of hospitality & tourism at City of Glasgow College. ‘We need to put health and wellbeing at the top of our agenda and really let staff see that we are taking it seriously. We want to encourage more staff to eat well, take

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WERQ THE WORLD Drag Race favourites embark on an intergalactic adventure

PHOTO: VOSS EVENTS

In the new Werq the World show, RuPaul’s Drag Race queens have been tasked with saving the universe via an intergalactic mission. Beyond the show, their real-world influence and the wider power of drag can’t be underestimated. ‘I am forever evolving,’ Texas queen Asia O’Hara (pictured) explains. ‘I believe every queen on this tour is. We’re artists and our looks reflect what is going on in our worlds at that exact moment.’

In this new show, Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls and Violet Chachki are sent to the sun, with mission leader Michelle Visage guiding the audience through the universe and its many wondrous forces. ‘The 2019 show is bigger than anything we’ve ever done before,’ O’Hara continues. ‘The production is over the top, the looks are fierce and the costumes are flawless. Every queen is out to prove why she reigns supreme and the audience is left gagging. Our hope is that you appreciate and respect the art of drag for what it is and if you’re willing to come and experience our show, we hope you enjoy it. Drag continues to grow and thrive.’

Drag Race has certainly catapulted that world into the forefront of popular culture and each of the touring queens have unique elements to work into the show in order to create something special. As O’Hara summarises: ‘It’s a spectacle. It’s colourful. It’s fabulous. It’s art.’ (Arusa Qureshi) ■ Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 6 May; Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Fri 17 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 65

AROUND TOWN | HIGHLIGHTS

AROUND TOWN HIGHLIGHTS GLASGOW KATYA ZAMOLODCHIKOVA: HELP ME I’M DYING Clyde Auditorium, Fri 5 Apr, welovekatya.com Known for her incredibly funny personas and characters, including everybody’s favourite dumpster living hairdresser, Trish, Zamolodchikova’s show promises to be one downright hilarious night.

KEANUCON CCA, Sat 27 & Sun 28 Apr, matchboxcineclub.com Matchbox Cineclub present a two-day film festival celebrating the living legend that is Keanu Reeves, featuring nine films over two days from My Own Private Idaho to John Wick.

GLASGOW COFFEE FESTIVAL Briggait, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, glasgowcoffeefestival.com This festival celebrates the mighty coffee bean, showcasing Scotland’s speciality coffee scene. There are roasters, bars, brews and baristas hosting tastings and presentations.

HOLISTIC WAYS FESTIVAL Trades Hall, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, holisticwaysfestival.co.uk Get in touch with your mind, body and spirit at this event that hosts leading speakers from the health and wellbeing field, as well as complementary therapies, alternative health products, crafts and more.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS SSE Hydro, Mon 6 May, harlemglobetrotters.com The Harlem Globetrotters, known for their international basketball skills, perform some of their best tricks and slams.

Check out the magic talents of Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang and the rest.

HITLIST

EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun 21 Apr, sciencefestival.co.uk Hands-on science in venues across the city with events ranging from the entertaining to the controversial and, of course, the icky. The 2019 programme follows a theme of frontiers. See feature, page 20.

66 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

RACE FOR LIFE Glasgow Green, Sun 19 May, raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org Join the United Kingdom’s largest women-only fundraising event and walk, run, jog or dance 5 or 10k to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The 5k event is suitable for all levels of ability and Race For Life will provide you with a training plan and sponsorship pack to get you up and started.

IDEAL HOME SHOW SCOTLAND Clyde Auditorium, Fri 24–Mon 27 May, idealhomeshowscotland. co.uk Make your house fantasies a stark reality with everything you will ever need for redesigning and improving your home, with over 400 exhibitors under one roof, from interiors to home improvement, gardens to gadgets. Enjoy entertainment, celebrity guest appearances and fantastic shopping opportunities.

WEST END FESTIVAL Various venues, Thu 30 May–Sun 30 Jun, westendfestival.co.uk Taking over the West End of Glasgow, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival, and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane open days.

TRUE ORIGINS Briggait, Glasgow, Fri 31 May–Sat 1 Jun, trueoriginsco.com This festival celebrates the world of Scottish gins, with a selection of masterclasses, exciting live music, Scottish-inspired street food and plenty of botanicals to enjoy.

EDINBURGH ROBOTS National Museum of Scotland, Tue 12 Mar–Sun 5 May, nms.ac.uk/ robots New major exhibition developed by the Science Museum that looks at mankind’s 500-year quest to make robots human.

WIDE DAYS Various venues, Edinburgh, Thu 11–Sat 13 Apr, widedays.com Scotland’s key music convention is back with an extended programme to celebrate its tenth edition.

There are more networking opportunities and live offerings too, including its famed showcase nights.

See feature, page 26.

GANDEYS CIRCUS: THE GREATEST SHOW TOUR Sighthill Park, Sat 13–Mon 22 Apr, gandeyscircus.com Gandeys Circus’ big top extravaganza will dazzle and thrill as their brand new show rolls up in Sighthill Park.

PHOTO: GORDON VEITCH

Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

DOC’N’ROLL Cameo Cinema, Thu 25–Sun 28 Apr, docnrollfestival.com The UK’s specialist music documentary festival is funded by those good folks of the BFI. The festival was brand new to Scotland last year and returns in 2019 to showcase compelling music films from across the genres.

BELTANE Calton Hill, Tue 30 Apr, beltane.org A modern interpretation of the ancient fertility festival of Beltane in the truly spectacular setting of Calton Hill. Beltane Fire Society performs the story of the death of winter and the birth of summer through dance, drumming, highly debauched acrobatics, giant puppetry and, of course, an awul lot of fire.

WERQ THE WORLD Playhouse, Mon 6 May, werqTheWorld.com Michelle Visage hosts performances by all your favourite queens from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe. See preview, page 65. Also Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Fri 17 May. EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Biscuit Factory, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, edinburghcraftbeerfestival.co.uk Scotland’s global craft beer gathering returns for May with breweries from around the world, street food and live music.

EDINBURGH MARATHON FESTIVAL Potterrow, Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, edinburghmarathon.com Scotland’s largest running festival of its kind with seven races to choose from over two days including the marathon, team relay and junior races.

SOUTHSIDE FRINGE Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 10–Sun 26 May, southsidefringe. org.uk A 17-day independent fringe festival that aims to broaden the scope of music, comedy, burlesque, cabaret, art and theatre events which are happening deep in Glasgow’s Southside area.

Beltane

OUT OF TOWN PAISLEY FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL Abbey Close, Fri 26 & Sat 27 Apr, paisley.is A celebration of the best that Scotland’s larder has to offer with plenty of food-related fun.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL Various venues, Dumfries and Galloway, Fri 14 May–Sun 2 Jun, dgartsfestival.org.uk The ten-day family-friendly multi-arts festival boasts theatre, music, comedy, dance and spoken word.

PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Various venues, Perth, Thu 16–Sat 25 May, perthfestival.co.uk The 2019 programme includes Verdi’s Macbeth, Jools Holland and Horrible Histories.

VIDEOGAMES: DESIGN / PLAY /DISRUPT V&A, Dundee, Fri 24 May–Sun 2 Jun, vam.ac.uk/dundee Exhibition focusing on the design aspect of videogames, exploring the important work that has been done in the area since the mid2000s, and the international debates surrounding them. See feature, page 52.

HIDDEN DOOR Leith Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 30 May–Sun 2 Jun, hiddendoorblog.org Artists of all stripes congregate for the Hidden Door festival, which will take the form of a long weekender this year.

Featuring musicians, bands, filmmakers and poets, often working in new and exciting combinations. See feature, page 30.

DETOX HEALTH BEAUTY FESTIVAL Archerfield Walled Garden, Dirleton, Sat 11 May, archerfieldwalledgarden. com A chance to detoxify and relax in beautiful surroundings, with talks, yoga, fitness classes, guided meditation, craft workshops, treatments and much more.

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1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 67

BOOKS FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /BOOKS

EDINBURGH COMIC CON Another comic-filled weekend comes to the capital Get your dose of all things comic-related this spring at the sixth annual Edinburgh Comic Con. Returning to the EICC, this family-friendly event invites comic, film and TV fans of all ages to browse stalls, meet comic creators, pick up exclusive prints and editions, and enthuse about their favourite series or shows.

Star guests include Joshua Seth of Akira and Digimon fame (there will also be a screening of Akira after his event) as well as Nicholas Brendon, Iyari Limon and Indigo from iconic TV show Buffy, who’ll be taking part in a Q&A. Big names in comics include Kevin Nowlan, Mike Norton, Colin MacNeil and Emma Beeby. All talks and screenings are included in the price of

68 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

the tickets and in the massive marketplace you’ll be able to find everything from bestselling titles to small press masterpieces.

This year the popular arcade area packed with classic gaming machines will be bigger than ever and there will be more photo opportunities and competitions, including the annual cosplay awards. Expect to see plenty of much-loved TV and comic book characters wandering around the space (you don’t have to be gunning for a prize to dress up, you can do it just for fun too) and more comics than even the most dedicated collector could ever need. (Lynsey May) ■ Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Sat 6 & Sun 7 Apr.

BOOKS | REVIEWS MEMOIR

PHOTO: ALEJANDRA LOÃÅPEZ

KERRY HUDSON

Lowborn (Chatto & Windus) ●●●●● Deceptively easy to read, Kerry Hudson’s unflinching memoir takes us through some of the author’s most traumatic moments with a firm but gentle hand. The prizewinning novelist gives us a glimpse into a working-class childhood fragmented by upheaval and dislocation, but perhaps the most distressing thing about it is the fact that it’s not an isolated story.

Lowborn is a book about people crushed on the edges of society, surviving despite the daily, grinding pressures of poverty and desperation. Or not, as the case may be. Or surviving and not thriving, which is even more commonplace for individuals facing socio-economic deprivation. Hudson has constructed a life for herself that’s very different to the one that may have been expected. While there are personal attributes that helped her on the way, there are also other, less tangible factors which allowed her to assume a life which that upbringing didn’t exactly equip her for.

There’s an easy assumption that the very fact the author ‘passes’ as middle-class suggests her childhood in poverty can’t have been all that bad after all. But Hudson is a tiny dot of data in a huge statistical swathe of evidence that suggests transcendence is an unlikely option. As food banks proliferate and funded support shrinks, Hudson’s memoir draws our attention to all of the stories that slip through the cracks in a thoroughly personal and captivating way. (Lynsey May) ■■Out Thu 16 May.

SHORT STORIES

MUSIC BIOGRAPHY

MYSTERY DRAMA

The Holy Man and Other Stories (Calder Publications) ●●●●●

The Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division – The Oral History (Faber) ●●●●●

Things in Jars (Canongate) ●●●●●

ALEXANDER TROCCHI

As an integral part of the European avant-garde literary scene of the 50s and 60s, Glasgow-born Alexander Trocchi’s work may have been dubbed by Hugh MacDiarmid as ‘metropolitan scum’, but his posthumous career (he died in 1984) has blossomed delightfully. The Holy Man and Other Stories, written in the late 50s but unpublished as a standalone collection until now, features four tales, ‘A Being of Distances’, ‘Peter Pierce’, ‘A Meeting’ and the eponymous story.

A quartet strung together by loneliness, death and alienation, they feature people on the outermost margins of society (such as a one-eyed hawker whose cocoa-making skills are negligible and a mystery man isolating himself in a darkened hotel room for years) or those who ultimately failed to make something of themselves. So, in ‘A Being of Distances’, we meet a man who has ostensibly been outcast for not continuing in his family’s business, while in ‘A Meeting’ the grinding tedium of lifelong office work is heightened by the intolerable summer heat, insects landing on the paperwork, and ‘the endless paper clips’.

While some of the topics and language are firmly rooted in another century, the timeless existential malaise at the heart of the foursome’s key characters will easily resonate with a contemporary audience.

(Brian Donaldson) ■■Out now.

69 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

JON SAVAGE

When does a compilation of offcut interviews – many of which have already been used in other media – become a vibrant, worthwhile book possibly destined to be a classic in its own right? When it has the immortal subject matter and perfect chronicler found in Joy Division: The Oral History. From our place in 2019, it’s fair to say Joy Division have stood the test of time both as composers of enduring music, and as an evocation of their time and place in post-industrial Manchester and Cold War Europe.

Music writer Jon Savage, meanwhile, is known for his works on music in an anthropological context, including 1991’s punk opus England’s Dreaming and 2015’s 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded.

He also has a close affiliation with the Joy Division story; he provided the foreword for Ian Curtis’ widow Deborah’s biography Touching From a Distance and wrote Grant Gee’s comprehensive 2007 documentary. The bulk of the interviews here were taken from that project, as well as Savage’s past books and articles, and some fresh conversations.

There’s an intensity and a sense of detail to the lack of authorial moderation in the words of the band (including Curtis, very briefly), and in the wider memories of the Buzzcocks’ Pete Shelley, journalist Paul Morley and Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, a breadth of context which brings Joy Division’s time and place to life. (David Pollock) ■■Out Thu 4 Apr.

JESS KIDD

The wild and wonderful imagination of Jess Kidd ensures that no story from her pen will be staid.

Her latest – Things in Jars, a Victorian mystery crammed with curiosities and exoticisms – may in some ways be very different to Kidd’s earlier books (Himself and The Hoarder), but they are linked by a delight in the fantastical.

That said, our hero, detective Bridie Devine, has no truck with the supernatural, even when it’s flexing its muscles and showing off its tattoos right in front of her. And she is right to be circumspect, because if there’s one lesson we’re left with, it’s that an excess of curiosity (both of the rubbernecking and sanctified scientific kind) is likely to lead to calamity.

Bridie is hired to find kidnapped child Christabel Berwick and the case is as creepy and unsettling as could be from the very start. There are hushed hints and secrets surrounding the girl, who was not seen by a soul even before her disappearance.

There are tragedies old and new woven throughout the search. Not only is a child’s life in peril, Bridie’s past rears up and threatens to throw the investigation off track.

Gilded with humour, even the darkest moments have a shine to them and there’s always a new chimerical twist to the tale. As with Kidd’s previous works, Things in Jars is hard to classify; and that’s one of the things that’s so delightful about it.

(Lynsey May) ■■Out Thu 4 Apr.

BOOKS | HIGHLIGHTS

BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW THREE AGES POETRY SLAM Tron Theatre, Sun 7 Apr, tron.co.uk Three teams of poets go head-tohead in this poetry slam competition, divided up into age categories ‘Teens’n’Twenties’, ‘Thirtysomethings’ and ‘Old Enough to Know Better’.

Hosted by Robin Cairns.

USE THE MUSE WORDS WORK WELL FOR ALL CCA, Wed 10 Apr, cca-glasgow. com Lapidus Scotland introduces the Words Work Well For All anthology which showcases words and poetry from Glasgow-based projects.

ARIANA HARWICZ: FEEBLEMINDED Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Fri 26 Apr, waterstones.com Launch of Ariana Harwicz new novel in translation Feebleminded, chaired by writer Daniel Hahn. The special evening will also celebrate Edinburgh publisher Charco Press, who are bringing new South American literature to an Englishreading audience.

AN EVENING WITH CHRIS BROOKMYRE & MARK BILLINGHAM Waterstones Newton Mearns, Thu 9 May, waterstones.com Literature’s comedy double act, authors Mark Billingham and Christopher Brookmyre, goad each other as they talk crime fiction.

EDINBURGH WAIN WORKSHOP: RACHEL PLUMMER Lighthouse Books, Sun 10 Mar, lighthousebookshop.com A creative workshop taking inspiration from Rachel Plummer’s LGBTQ reimagining of Scottish folklore, Wain. It consists of storytelling, discussion and creative responses.

HITLIST

GLASGOW ZINE FEST CCA, Glasgow, Sat 20 & Sun 21 April, glasgowzinelibrary. com/glasgow-zine-fest A two-day celebration of DIY zine making with workshops, talks and a zine fair with 70-plus makers.

ALI SMITH LAUNCHES SPRING

70 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 Nov 2018–31 May 2019 Jan 2019

Sun 12 May, boswellbookfestival. co.uk A quirky literary festival devoted to biography and the first modern biographer, James Boswell. The festival spans talks, performances and workshops by writers, actors and artists.

TRACY THORN LAUNCHES ANOTHER PLANET Traverse Theatre, Wed 13 Mar, lighthousebookshop.com The celebrated singer-songwriter shares the latest instalment of her memoirs, which shares her experiences of growing up in a 1970s commuter town.

EDINBURGH COMIC CON EICC, The Exchange, Sat 6–Sun 7 Apr, heroconventions.com A convention on all things geek culture, including workshops, cosplay, and panels featuring film, television and comic creators.

WAITING FOR THE LAST BUS: AN EVENING WITH RICHARD HOLLOWAY St Vincent’s Chapel, Wed 24 Apr, goldenharebooks.com A discussion with writer Richard Holloway on his works and career to coincide with the paperback release of Waiting for the Last Bus. MURDER AT SURGEONS’ HALL: E.S THOMSON BOOK LAUNCH Surgeon’s Hall, Thu 25 Apr, museum.rcsed.ac.uk E.S. Thomson launches her fourth medical historical crime novel, Surgeons’ Hall.

MATT HAIG: NOTES ON A NERVOUS PLANET Queens Hall, Sun 28 Apr, thequeenshall.net Matt Haig talks about his newest memoir Reasons To Stay Alive, with a positive discussion on the modern world.

THIS SCRIPT: JENNY LINDSAY Bongo Club, Fri 17 May, thebongoclub.co.uk To celebrate the release of Jenny Lindsay’s second collection, This Script, Sian Bevan hosts a night of word, poetry, music, performance and film.

OUT OF TOWN LIMMY – SURPRISINGLY DOWN TO EARTH, AND VERY FUNNY Dundee Rep Theatre, Sun 31 Mar–Mon 1 Apr, dundeerep.co.uk

Topping & Company Booksellers, St Andrews, Fri 17 May, toppingbooks.co.uk Scotland’s ‘Nobel Laureate-in-waiting’ launches the next instalment in her formative Seasonal Quartet.

OPEN THE DOOR: SCOTLAND’S WOMEN WRITERS

Limmy

Funny anecdotes and musings from the comedian who introduces his new autobiography named after his infamous tweet. The event includes a Q&A and book signing.

BIG SKY: BIG HORIZONS CLAIRE FULLER Music Hall, Aberdeen, Mon 8 Apr, aberdeenperformingarts.com Claire Fuller sits down to talk about her award-winning debut Our Endless Numbered Days and the release of her third novel, Bitter Orange.

DAMIEN BARR: YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE Topping & Company Booksellers, St Andrews, Tue 9 Apr, toppingbooks. co.uk Damian Barr discusses his debut novel, set in South Africa during both the Boer War and contemporary times.

IN CONVERSATION WITH JUDY MURRAY Music Hall, Aberdeen, Sun 28 Apr, aberdeenperformingarts.com Judy Murray gives insight to journalist and broadcaster Graham Spiers on her first book, encouraging women into tennis, and what it’s like to be the mother of Jamie and Andy.

BIG SKY: BIG HORIZONS – JESS KIDD Music Hall, Aberdeen, Mon 6 May, aberdeenperformingarts.com Hear author Jess Kidd open up about her new Victorian detective story Things In Jars, looking at what it is to be human in inhumane times.

BOSWELL BOOK FESTIVAL Dumfries House, Cumnock, Fri 10–

FESTIVAL Glasgow Women’s Library, Fri 17 & Sat 18 May, womenslibrary. org.uk Open the Door is Glasgow Women’s Library’s literary festival with a difference. Over two packed days, contemporary women writers will be celebrated as will three scribes from history: Naomi Mitchison,

ULLAPOOL BOOK FESTIVAL Various venues, Ullapool, Fri 10–Sun 12 May, ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk Continuing the importance of literature in Highland culture, this festival brings together writers from the local area, Scotland and abroad, and knows how to take care of its guests: the events are organised thoughtfully so that festivalgoers can attend everything.

BOOKED! Various venues, West Dunbartonshire, Wed 15–Sat 18 May, west-dunbarton.gov. uk/libraries A free, local literature festival run by West Dunbartonshire Libraries that nevertheless manages to attract some big-name authors for its programme of talks, signings as well as some more unusual events.

POLITICS, FEMINISM AND FANTASY: URSULA K LE GUIN Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Stirling, Mon 20 May, smithartgalleryandmuseum.co.uk Forbes Browne delivers a lecture on American sci-fi writer Ursula K Le Guin.

COLONSAY BOOK FESTIVAL Colonsay Village Hall, Fri 26 May, colonsaybookfestival.org.uk A book festival hosted by the beautiful inner Hebridean Isle of Colonsay. As well as readings and performances, the emphasis is on meeting and chatting with the writers, plus debate and good craic in the pub.

AN EVENING WITH PROFESSOR MARY BEARD Topping & Company Booksellers St Andrews, Wed 29 May, toppingbooks.co.uk Beard influenced the way we think about the classical world with her text SPQR. Hear from one of the most celebrated intellectuals of our times.

Janet Paisley and Agnes Owens.

COASTWORD Various venues, Dunbar, Fri 24–Sun 26 May, coastword.co.uk The literary community comes together to bring a roster of bookish delights to Dunbar for a wee, weekend-long festival. This year the theme is Scotland 2019

and the programme and workshops will reflect on social and political changes in the country.

Ali Smith

COMEDY FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /COMEDY

MO AMER & GUZ KHAN Split stand-up bill for US and UK comedy talents What the comedy world needs less of right now are middle-class white men whining about their tough lives. Mo Amer (pictured right) and Guz Khan (left), then, are a refreshing pair on the live touring circuit, with the former being a Kuwaitborn American stand-up of much note, while the latter came straight out of Coventry to create hit BBC Three show Man Like Mobeen. He’s also part of new Netflix show Turn Up Charlie alongside Idris Elba, and will soon be in the updated Hulu 12-part remake of Four Weddings and a Funeral, as dreamed up by Mindy Kaling.

A busy boy, for sure, but all his attention for now is concentrated on the touring show with Amer which sees the duo spitting the bill with a workin-progress stand-up set each. It might seem like an odd coupling for a full tour show, but Amer has dubbed Khan ‘the Pakistani version of me’. There will be no shortage of relevant subject matter for them to get their teeth into, with Amer no doubt taking special aim at his current president while Khan might dip a satirical toe or two into the everchaotic world of Brexit Britain. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Òran Mór, Glasgow, Thu 4 Apr.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 71

COMEDY | BILL BAILEY

TRAVEL GUIDE The king of musical comedy mash-ups and the most beloved hippie materialist in our land, Bill Bailey is back with more gently surrealist musings. Brian Donaldson asks whether national treasure status will sit well with him

F

72 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

is happening here”. Other times there’s an intention, so I thought “what is the most unlikely thing that Kraftwerk would play”?

So I arrived at the conclusion that it would be ‘The Hokey Cokey’. But usually it comes out of a jam or a serendipitous error. I’ve got loads of them squirreled away because either they’re too obscure or I’ve tried them out and people have looked at me blankly.’

With many live tours under his belt (Part Troll, Limboland and Bewilderness for three), Bailey’s TV credits are almost as long as the queues who gain entry to his shows: he’s done Black Books with Dylan Moran and In the Long Run with Idris Elba while he has also presented various travel shows and appeared on panel programmes such as QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He even has a plant named after him (‘it kills flies’). And along the way, barely a bad word has been said about him (though no doubt some would have baulked at his official endorsement of the Labour party at the 2010 general election). All of which leads effortlessly to Bill Bailey being dubbed Britain’s latest national treasure. He’s not so sure.

‘One of the things I do really appreciate is that my audiences tend to be a wide range of ages and backgrounds, and I ascribe that to putting in the hours.

If people feel comfortable that they can go along and bring their kids or parents, your appeal broadens out, and my aim is always to try and get as many people to see the show as possible. If I’m a national treasure, does that mean I’m like the Elgin Marbles and will get repatriated at some point?’

Bill Bailey: Larks in Transit, Caird Hall, Dundee, Wed 29 May; SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 30 May; Edinburgh Playhouse, Fri 31 May.

PHOTO: ANDY HOLLINGWORTH

or a man who has made his living largely based on years spent indoors mastering musical instruments, Bill Bailey does love a good wander outside. For a recent birthday, he went for a long walk (‘going mad these days is having dessert’, he insists), which all fits in rather neatly with one of the key themes of his current touring show, Larks in Transit. How do any of us find happiness in a world that seems to be crumbling apart at our feet?

‘For me, a lot of it is about the outdoors. Comedy is an indoors thing, so I take every opportunity to go outside.

A lot of that involves finding places that are remote, or places where you can look at birds, or do mountain biking or paddle boarding or walking. Someone told me that this is what you call mindfulness; I’m not aware of that. It wasn’t a conscious decision to do it, but apparently that’s what I’ve been doing all these years.’

In a typical Bailey-esque diversion, he immediately brings up the subject of ‘hygge’, a Scandi-like version of mindfulness. ‘There’s no direct English translation, so I tried to nail down my Danish friend on it but he got all misty-eyed and started talking about candles and cosiness. It seems to be the same sort of feeling we used to get during a power cut. All the lights were off and we lit candles and were all cosy and stayed quiet. I like the principle of it, it’s very wholesome. But actually, I don’t think it’s going to catch on.’

The idea of Bill Bailey has certainly caught on ever since his arrival on the comedy scene in the mid-90s. The long hair, wide-eyed look and ability to mash-up the most unlikely of musical combinations has gained an increasingly large following. In the Bailey universe, Tom Waits is doing the Old Macdonald nursery rhyme, ‘Candle in the Wind’ gets the death metal treatment, and ‘Zip-a-dee-doo-dah’ is transformed in the trip-hop Portishead style. Still, he has yet to quite work out how to make a Sigur Rós on-hold tune be funny.

‘These mash-ups tend to just accidentally emerge from playing a song,’ Bailey reveals. ‘I might play something wrong or slow it down or play in a different key, and you think “something

PREVIEWS | COMEDY

list.co.uk/comedy STAND-UP

IVO GRAHAM

The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 15 May The onstage persona of Ivo Graham is of a well-educated and utterly personable chap, one who wouldn’t say boo to the proverbial waterfowl. Yet, over the last year, you may have seen him absolutely slaughtering two fellow comics on the small screen. First there was his brutal take-down of Fern Brady on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle: ‘if it’s not too much of a Hollywood cliché, I think we came out of it as better friends and with more respect for one another.’

And then he went up against Nathan Caton in a vicious hip hop stand-off during ITV2’s Don’t Hate the Playaz: ‘it had the potential to be extremely humiliating, as doing a rap is specifically not my skillset’.

Back in his comfort zone, Graham is currently touring with Motion Sickness, a show all about his love life and parenthood. ‘We rather stepped out of the conventional order of things, with marriage very much tbc, and instead we’ve gone straight to baby which in the short term seemed more stress-free than planning a wedding.’

Whatever the long term holds for Graham, the comedic fates certainly seem aligned in his favour. An acclaimed and talented comic (a decade ago, he was the youngest ever winner of So You Think You’re Funny), he has shown in the likes of 2017’s Educated Guess that he can turn his hand to other gifts. There, he proved he could wield his memory to staggering effect when asked to match currently serving British MPs with their constituencies and throwing in a fun quiz element.

‘I am a loyalist to stand-up and a well-told story but I love that extra bit of variety that you get when someone has a genuine skill. And there was a real sense of jeopardy at the end with the quiz. I don’t want to talk it up too much but I really did love that, and I would like to do more things in the future that involve not just stand-up but a quiz element.

That’s when I’m at my happiest.’ (Brian Donaldson)

LOCAL LAUGHS PHOTO : PAUL

AMY MATTHEWS

ANOTHER UP-AND-COMER HAS A GO AT OUR Q&A

How do you handle hecklers?

Someone shouted ‘Baby Spice’ at me once.

I mean, I’ll take it. People have said worse. I think I look as much like Baby Spice as every other white blonde woman in the world, but I’d rather a lazy heckle than a bad one.

Where do you draw the line with ‘offensive comedy’?

I think I’m laughably inoffensive, so I can’t really speak about my own writing. There’s not much offence to be had from jokes about kayaks. I just haven’t ever really dabbled in shock factor or purposefully controversial stuff; it’s not massively my vibe.

What's the best piece of advice you've received from another comedian so far?

I vividly remember David Kay saying something to me in a green room that really resonated with me at the time and I distinctly

remember saying to myself ‘I should write that in my notes’. Alas, I forgot to write it in my notes, and all that remains in my memory of that golden nugget is that it was great advice. Whatever it was.

WOLFG ANG W EBSTER

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

I had a good run of gigs after eating tomato soup for dinner, but I think that says more about my shopping habits than any metaphysical forces at work. I do genuinely tell myself before each gig that if you’re not going to enjoy it, what are you doing it for?

So that reminder is helpful.

Which comedian's memoir would you recommend to someone?

Sara Pascoe’s Animal is just gorgeous. I honestly think it’s one of the most personally transformative books I’ve ever read. It’s the book I want to give everyone in the world.

■ Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh, Mon 1, Sun 7 & Mon 8, Wed 17 Apr, Mon 6 May; Glee, Glasgow, Fri 12 Apr; The Stand, Glasgow, Fri 19–Sun 21 Apr, Sun 12 May; The Stand, Edinburgh, Sun 28 Apr; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 29 May. See much more of this q&a at list. co.uk/comedy

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 73

COMEDY | PREVIEWS LIVE PODCAST

THE GUILTY FEMINIST

Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 29 May Though podcasts are now a fixture on the comedy scene, few have quite reached the heights of The Guilty Feminist. Conceived in 2015 by Deborah Frances-White and Sofie Hagen as a platform to discuss the topics ‘all 21st-century feminists agree on’, while poking fun at the personal hypocrisies which undermine these ideals, the podcast has since racked up millions of downloads.

While finding humour in abortion and the refugee crisis might seem counter-intuitive, Frances-White points out that comedy is fundamental to feminism. ‘Feminists need spirit to change the world, resilience to keep going, and joy to draw others in. That’s why we want this show to be a hilarious, spirited call to arms that’ll leave everyone dancing out to change their patch of the world.’ And into her patch she will go, as Frances-White takes the show on the road for a UK tour.

Though the podcast is recorded in front of a live audience, she’s relishing the chance to do a big show with ‘lots more whistles and bells’, as well as work with local organisations at each stop. She’ll be joined by her usual roster of guest hosts, which in the past has included Lolly Adefope and Hari Kondabolu. Who would be her ultimate dream guest? ‘Tallulah Bankhead, the 20th-century actress and wit who once said, “my father warned me about men and alcohol, but never said a word about women and cocaine”. Sex positive. Egalitarian. A diva. The ultimate guilty feminist.’ (Deborah Chu) MY COMEDY HERO

KIERAN HODGSON

The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 16 Apr; The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 17 Apr I’ve narrowed my comedy heroes down to two. As a character comedian I find The League of Gentlemen’s comic personas mesmerising. At a time when it seemed sketch comedy was becoming wholly a vehicle for catchphrases (and don’t get me wrong, The League had a few), their whole approach was beautifully different.

Each character had a reality, even in the most grotesque situations: you knew that Steve Pemberton cared about Pauline, that she was real to him, in all her horror. And so when she suffered, we couldn’t help but feel for her. Their bleak-yet-beautiful visual sensibility, the cinematic scope of their writing, and the gloriously Northern world that they created all mean that the programme is still close to flawless, all the more so for occasionally being heartbreaking.

Armando Iannucci’s CV of excellence and reinvention is sort-of unparalleled in comedy: On the Hour, The Day Today, Alan Partridge, Time Trumpet, The Thick of It, In the Loop, The Death of Stalin, Veep. I just love his whole approach to comedy: supremely silly and tremendously wellresearched, full of exquisite nouns and catastrophic escalations, bringing out the best in others while hitting satirical targets with compelling outrage. And he had a Radio 1 show. Unbelievable.

See more of this My Comedy Hero at list.co.uk/comedy

74 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

HIGHLIGHTS | COMEDY

COMEDY HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW LOST VOICE GUY: I’M ONLY IN IT FOR THE PARKING Rotunda Bar & Diner, Mon 1 Apr, glasgowrotunda.com Fresh off the back of his Britain’s Got Talent win, Lee Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy) sets out on a UK tour. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ comedy for details MO AMER & GUZ KHAN: PERSONS OF INTEREST Òran Mór, Thu 3 Apr, oran-mor. co.uk Mo Amer joins forces with Guz Khan for a shared-bill comedy show.

See preview, page 71.

BERT KREISCHER: THE BODY SHOTS TOUR SWG3, Fri 27 Apr, swg3.tv Comedy from American stand-up, actor, writer and host Kreischer.

CATHERINE BOHART The Stand, Thu 16 May, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Glasgow Work in progress from a bisexual, OCD daughter of an Irish Catholic Deacon.

PAUL MERTON’S IMPRO CHUMS Tramway, Fri 17 May, tramway. org TV’s Paul Merton and his talented group of improvisers magically weave laughs from audience suggestions.

DANIEL SLOSS: X Pavilion Theatre, Sat 25 May, paviliontheatre.co.uk The Scottish comedian, and recipient of the 2016 Sydney Comedy Festival ‘Best of the Fest’ International Award, presents his latest show.

EDINBURGH CHRISTOPHER MACARTHURBOYD: HOME SWEET HOME The Stand, Tue 2 Apr, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh Anticpated hour from one of the country’s most promising talents.

BELTER COMEDY Gilded Balloon, Thu 11 Apr, Thu 9 May, gildedballoon.co.uk The best and brightest of the comedy scene, testing out brand new material as well delivering the tried and trusted, featuring the GB house band, Betty & The Bass.

ROB AUTON: THE TALK SHOW The Stand, Sun 14 Apr, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh Comedy about talking by writer and performer Auton, following on from his shows concerning hair, sleep, water, faces, the sky, and the colour yellow. Also The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 15 Apr, thestand.co.uk/whats-on/Glasgow.

KIERAN HODGSON: ‘75 The Stand, Tue 16 Apr, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh Hodgson tells the story of how the UK joined Europe in the 70s, in his Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated show.

See My Comedy Hero, page 74. Also The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 17 Apr, thestand.co.uk/whats-on/Glasgow

KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN: VICTIM, COMPLEX The Stand, Tue 23 Apr, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh The stand-up and Newsjack host discusses victims, loves and lies in her latest hour.

Also The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 24 Apr, thestand.co.uk/whats-on/ Glasgow AN EVENING OF ERIC AND ERN King’s Theatre, Wed 24 Apr, capitaltheatres.com/your-visit/kingstheatre Renditions of famous comedy sketches drawn from Morecambe and Wise’s most loved routines. Also Falkirk Town Hall, Sat 25 May, falkirkcommunitytrust.org/venues/fth SCOTT CAPURRO IS COMING! The Stand, Wed 8 May, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh Outrageous comedy from the Bay Area provocateur which is absolutely not for the easily offended. Ages 18+. Also The Glad Café, Glasgow, Fri 10 May, thegladcafe.co.uk MUM’S THE WORD Gilded Balloon, Fri 10 May, gildedballoon.co.uk Comedy gig designed for parents with babies hosted by comedian and mum, Katie Mulgrew. Feel free and relaxed to feed, change and nurse your baby as the acts on stage perform their usual adult material.

ANGELA BARNES: ROSE-TINTED The Stand, Sun 21 May, thestand. co.uk/whats-on/Edinburgh Stand-up and stories from a comedian who’s trying to look on the bright side of life.

Also The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 22 May, thestand.co.uk/whats-on/ Glasgow

OUT OF TOWN PHILL JUPITUS: SASSY KNACK Tolbooth, Stirling, Sat 25 May, culturestirling.org/tolbooth Jupitus talks about his relocation to Scotland and how that’s going for him. Also touring, see list.co.uk/comedy for details

Angela Barnes

HITLIST

MARK THOMAS’ CHECK-UP: OUR NHS @ 70 Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 9–Thu 11 Apr, tron. co.uk Thomas speaks to leading experts and looks at what lies ahead for our health service.

JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS: ALL I WANNA DO IS [FX:

GUNSHOTS] WITH A [FX: GUN RELOADING] AND A [FX: CASH REGISTER] AND PERFORM SOME COM-EDY! Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh, Mon 29 Apr, monkeybarrelcomedy. com Roberts takes his barmy but totally brilliant 2018 Fringe show on the unsuspecting road.

IVO GRAHAM: MOTION SICKNESS The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 15 May, thestand.co.uk/ whats-on/Glasgow A top show about facing the future.

See preview, page 73. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ comedy for details THE GUILTY FEMINIST Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 29 May,

paviliontheatre.co.uk Comedian Deborah FrancesWhite presents her podcast, about feeling bad at not being a very good feminist, all in front of a live audience.

See preview, page 74.

master of surreality tackles politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness in his latest show. See feature, page 72. Also touring, see list.co.uk/comedy for details

BILL BAILEY: LARKS IN TRANSIT SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 30 May, thessehydro.com The

John-Luke Roberts 1 Nov12018–31 Apr–31 May Jan 2019 THE LIST 75

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DEAD BY DAWN Horror fest with premieres, classics, shorts and guests Lurching back to life in Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, Dead by Dawn is the UK’s longest-running horror film festival. It launched in 1993 and regularly attracts the work of brand new directors who will go onto greater things, as well as highly revered veterans looking back on their esteemed careers. This year’s guest of honour is American cult director Jeff Lieberman who’s hosting a retrospective of his films Blue Sunshine, Remote Control, Just Before

Dawn, Squirm and Satan’s Little Helper.

As well as showcasing 64 films from 14 countries, there are no less than three UK premieres lined up, including Cutterhead, Heavy Trip and the intriguingly-titled Incredible Violence. ‘In 26 years we’ve introduced so many amazing directors to Scottish audiences,’ says festival director Adele Hartley. ‘There have been the likes of Peter Jackson, Neil Marshall, Jim Mickle, Jaume Balagueró, Mike Flanagan, the Spierig

Brothers, and the Meza-Valdes Brothers.

This year’s selection showcases yet more exceptional talent from all over the world.’

Horror is a largely misunderstood film genre, and Dead by Dawn relishes the chance to champion it in all its varied forms. Their mantra is that story is paramount, along with humour, suspense and atmosphere. New converts and the curious are always welcome to join the fold. (Murray Robertson) ■ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 18–Sun 21 Apr.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 77

FILM | REVIEWS COMING OF AGE

EIGHTH GRADE (15) 94min ●●●●●

The highs and lows of an introverted middle schooler are captured with vivacity and sensitivity by Bo Burnham in his humane, sometimes hilarious directorial debut. Along with actress Elsie Fisher, he’s created a truly unforgettable protagonist in Kayla Day, a teenager whose ability to face her fears while in the grip of crippling anxiety is nothing short of heroic.

Kayla’s open-hearted optimism can be hard to watch as she tries, futilely, to impress her peers. Her inability to break through and form friendships is in stark contrast to the persona she projects as a vlogger; the tips she gives for real-world confidence are so much easier said than done. Fortunately, her single dad Mark (Josh Hamilton) could hardly be sweeter, exhibiting inexhaustible patience throughout testiness and tantrums.

Anyone who has ever been an outsider or suffered even moderate social unease will find Kayla’s predicaments painfully recognisable, but Burnham’s film is far from a grind as he spotlights the courage of this endearingly awkward heroine and lets rip with giddy visuals which perfectly capture the way she escapes into social media. Meanwhile, the sometimes wildly expressive score relays the maelstrom of adolescence, both in its excitement and horrors. And, at the fore, Golden Globe-nominee Fisher is simply superb.

Although Kayla’s life often sucks, Burnham hints at a better future. There’s a kindred spirit in the adorably geeky Gabe (Jake Ryan), who shows the value of her looking beyond flashy friends, while the delightful Olivia (Emily Robinson) is a vision of who she could be in a few years, with a lot more confidence. Boasting ample empathy and just enough hope, Eighth Grade is a comingof-age film to savour. (Emma Simmonds) ■■General release from Fri 26 Apr. See feature, page 44.

MUSICAL DRAMA

CRIME DRAMA

COMING OF AGE

(15) 100min ●●●●●

(18) 159min ●●●●●

(TBC) 85min ●●●●●

WILD ROSE

Beast’s Jessie Buckley is the heart of this pleasing musical drama about a Glaswegian woman who won’t let go of her dream. Reuniting with War & Peace director Tom Harper, Buckley plays RoseLynn Harlan, who skips out of prison, pulls cowboy boots over her ankle monitor and cracks back on with her quest for Nashville fame. Rose-Lynn’s resumption of her wild ways and her country music compulsion infuriate her mum Marion (Julie Walters), who has been caring for Rose-Lynn’s two kids and expects her daughter to start taking responsibility for them and herself.

Rose-Lynn is feckless, has anger management issues and is definitely not a mother of the year candidate, so we could find her irksome. But not a bit of it. Funny, feisty and full of unquenchable hope, we find ourselves pulling for her as she sings her socks off.

Despite some cliches in the Cinderella tradition, the film’s BAFTA-winning screenwriter Nicole Taylor (Three Girls) is more social realist than fantasist, and the downturns feel true. Buckley is electric, a genuine star in the ascendant, even if the songs don’t quite do her justice. But, as a timely tale about never giving up on yourself, Wild Rose is warmhearted and inspiring. (Angie Errigo) ■■General release from Fri 12 Apr. 78 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE The deadpan humour, nihilism and ultra-violence of S Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99) makes for an ideal match-up with Mel Gibson, a star whose career is sputtering from various controversies.

The story kicks off with Henry Johns (Tory Kittles), an ex-con who returns home to his heroin-addicted mother and teenage brother. Johns takes on a criminal job which brings him into conflict with disgraced law enforcers Brett Ridgeman (Gibson) and Anthony Lurasetti (Vince Vaughn). Ridgeman has family problems of his own, and hopes to line his pockets by shaking down some crooks. Unfortunately, the bankrobbers they target are armed to the teeth, leading to an extended and bloody conflict.

Zahler never saw an exploding cranium he didn’t like and the film’s protracted runtime features several gory and self-indulgent diversions. It’s a shame because Gibson pulls off his best work in decades as he doubles down on world-weary charm, and there are enjoyable cameos from Udo Kier and Don Johnson.

Zahler has a cult following, and deservedly so; he’s on course to make a stone-cold classic in the Don Siegel mode, but the patchy yet compelling Dragged Across Concrete will do for now. (Eddie Harrison) ■■General release from Fri 19 Apr.

MID90S

Having worked with a diverse range of directors, there was no easy answer as to what style Jonah Hill would plump for to kickstart his own filmmaking career. In the end, Richard Linklater seems the obvious inspiration for this lo-fi but artistically ambitious indie focusing on a group of LA skateboarders.

Set in the titular era, it follows Stevie (Sunny Suljic), a 13-year-old subjected to beatings by his brother Ian (Lucas Hedges), who we also see self-harming. Respite from his woes comes when he falls in with a skater crew of older kids. Banter flows as they hang out at the skate shop or on the streets and there’s humour and pathos in Stevie’s desperation to impress. However, the world he enters is a bewildering one for a vulnerable boy.

While the coming-of-age of male adolescents has been robustly explored (not least by Linklater himself in the tricky to top Boyhood), writer-director Hill doesn’t exactly play it safe as his debut sets foot in transgressive territory. Tonally it can be a bit helterskelter but Hill has penned a witty script and feels like a filmmaker willing to experiment. And, in glorious scenes of skateboarding and shooting the breeze, he captures the essence of an era. (Emma Simmonds) ■■General release from Fri 12 Apr.

REVIEWS | FILM

list.co.uk/film

SPORTING BIOPIC

HOSTAGE DRAMA

DRAMA

(15) 119min ●●●●●

(15) 101min ●●●●●

(12A) 127min ●●●●●

THE KEEPER

Historically footie flicks do not fare well, presumably because enthusiasts of the beautiful game prefer watching football. So, writer-director Marcus H Rosenmüller has thrown everything and the kitchen sink into his fanciful biopic of Bert Trautmann (played by David Kross from The Reader), a German paratrooper who, on his release from a Lancashire POW camp, chose to stay in England, eventually becoming goalkeeper for Manchester City.

What starts off in prisoner-of-war territory morphs into a story of forbidden love, with English rose Margaret (Freya Mavor), until Bert’s prospective father-in-law (John Henshaw) gleefully capitalises on Trautmann’s skills to change the fortunes of the pitiful local team. Then, it’s a straight run to football glory when City sign Bert amid furious protests, before his miraculous saves turn the jeers to cheers.

It’s reasonably pleasant for about 90-minutes, yet goes on and on as tragedies strike and things culminate in a ludicrously melodramatic turn. Kross is very good and he and Mavor make an attractive couple but the film fudges their romance. The truer and better story to have dwelt on is the reconciliation between enemies, brought about by a love of the game. (Angie Errigo) ■■General release from Fri 5 Apr.

BEL CANTO

HAPPY AS LAZZARO

Inspired by a real-life hostage crisis, Bel Canto is a tale of terrorism shorn of Hollywood heroics. Based on the award-winning novel by Ann Patchett, the first surprising thing to learn is that the director of American Pie, Paul Weitz, is at the helm.

Set in an unnamed South American country, it begins as opera singer Roxanne Coss (Julianne Moore) arrives to perform at a diplomatic dinner.

Despite her slight disdain for the gig, she’s been specially requested by incoming Japanese industrialist Hosokawa (Ken Watanabe). No sooner has she started warbling than a bunch of armed rebels invade the house, demanding the release of political prisoners.

Weitz and his co-writer Anthony Weintraub clearly want us to sympathise with the captors as much as the captives and, while this makes for an intriguing dynamic, the execution is flawed. Moore may be a fine actress, but her lip-synched vocals really don’t work. And, turning a taut terrorist drama into a love story as characters pair off and passions flow is not without its problems. Despite adeptly handling a multi-lingual storyline, Weitz can’t seem to decide what kind of film he wants this to be, although the haunting finale still hits home. (James Mottram) ■■General release from Fri 26 Apr.

The protagonist in Alice Rohrwacher’s gorgeous Italian fable is too good for this world, so good, in fact, that he simply disappears at one point.

The other characters whisper his name as if he is a mystical being, and Adriano Tardiolo evokes such innocence and purity through his gentle performance – playing a peasant manipulated by a cruel employer – that you can’t help but feel protective of him.

Rohrwacher’s previous feature The Wonders blended nature and fantastical elements but never shifted its focus away from the perils of modern life and how it works its way into tranquil rural settings.

Here, she places her characters in a peculiar position with a resurrection of sorts. Around the midway point it is revealed that Lazzaro and his colleagues have been working as slaves and they are saved. However, when we meet them a decade later they are still being exploited, this time in an urban environment.

Happy as Lazzaro is occasionally a little on the nose but, thanks to the empathetic presentation of its saintly protagonist and Rohrwacher’s knack for depicting convincing and intimate communities, this journey through a broken economy is an emotionally engaging triumph. (Katherine McLaughlin) ■■Selected release from Fri 5 Apr.

WESTERN

THE SISTERS BROTHERS (15) 122min ●●●●●

Bad blood runs in torrents through The Sisters Brothers, both in the violent altercations that are part of daily life in the expanding American West, and in the themes of revenge, responsibility and redemption.

As a pair of guns for hire in 1850s Oregon, brothers Charlie and Eli Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix and John C Reilly, both excellent) stake their lives on the might of their reputation and accuracy of their gunmanship. While they are two very different people – Charlie thrives on the cutthroat nature of their business, Eli longs for a more peaceful life – they are tied together through bonds of family and shared experience. The brothers are tasked with tracking down Hermann Kermit Warm (Riz Ahmed), an unassuming chemist who has invented a foolproof method for panning for gold. However, their plans are thwarted when their supposed ally John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal) teams up with Warm and goes on the run.

The western might seem like a strange fit for French director Jacques Audiard, after low-key works like A Prophet and Rust and Bone. Yet his first English-language film – an adaptation of the beloved novel by Patrick DeWitt – provides him with a perfect landscape. This spit and sawdust world is the ideal prism through which to explore the ways that place and tradition shape character and masculinity, ideas that have been central to his earlier works.

Underscoring its themes, and shooting in breathtaking CinemaScope, cinematographer Benoît Debie hews close to genre traditions, while taking care to capture the often agonising intimacy of the story. Similarly, Alexandre Desplat’s energetic, wistful score reverberates, like the film itself, with both hopeful optimism and resigned melancholy. (Nikki Baughan) ■■General release from Fri 5 Apr. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 79

FILM | REVIEWS

COMEDY DRAMA

WOMAN AT WAR (TBC) 101min ●●●●●

MUSICAL DRAMA

VOX LUX

(15) 115min ●●●●● Brady Corbet’s second feature, following 2015’s The Childhood of a Leader, begins in 1999 and culminates in 2017 – with a glittering musical performance from dynamite leading lady Natalie Portman, as her pop sensation struts her stuff on a comeback tour.

After a gun massacre at her high school, where she narrowly escapes death, Celeste is launched into the music world at the tender age of 14 (with Raffey Cassidy playing her younger self). The world goes crazy for a song she performs with sister Ellie (Stacy Martin) at a vigil, embracing it as a totem of their collective grief.

Narrated by Willem Dafoe and divided into multiple acts, there’s more than a hint of Lars von Trier’s provocative spirit in this tantalising and layered character portrait that boasts memorable and spirited performances from a cast at the top of their game. Jude Law is perfect as Celeste’s manager, chatting rubbish and blowing smoke. And Portman is in her element when Celeste is on stage, belting out songs written by Sia, and swaggering behind the scenes à la In Bed with Madonna.

Thematically, the film takes a thorny cavort through the changing face of fame, notoriety, violence, faith and worship over the 18-year period. Vox Lux begins in the same year as the Columbine massacre, its mid-act concludes with 9/11 and, by the end, a terrorist group has struck at a tourist spot. When Celeste hooks up with a musician and draws parallels between rock music and school shootings, it’s a moment that reminds us of conversations that took place in the mainstream media. And when a drug-addled Celeste is later asked for her insight on complex matters for delicious pull-quotes, Corbet’s film is wholly attuned to the absurdity.

(Katherine McLaughlin) ■■General release from Fri 3 May.

Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson’s rousing follow-up to Of Horses and Men gives us a rebel with a noble cause in choir conductor Halla (Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir). This 50-year-old environmental activist is rare in her conviction, courage and competence and, as she takes on the might of the aluminium industry, shows herself to be a force to be reckoned with.

The opening sequence shows Halla, armed with a bow and arrow, taking down the local power lines, before masterfully evading capture. Conflict arises when, in the midst of her campaign of action, Halla’s long-gestating adoption application comes to fruition.

Erlingsson's love of the absurd and flair for visual humour in particular is a consistent delight. Geirharðsdóttir beautifully shows us Halla’s innate longing for a child, and what this extraordinary woman would be capable of as a mother is overwhelmingly evident. Co-written with Ólafur Egilsson, this immensely enjoyable film is a crowdpleaser in the very best senses, being both inspiring and uplifting. Alongside considerable frivolity, Woman at War packs a genuine emotional punch, while showing what some people are willing to sacrifice for the good of us all. (Emma Simmonds) ■■Selected release from Fri 3 May.

DRAMA

BEATS

(TBC) 96min ●●●●● CRIME DRAMA

ASH IS PUREST WHITE (15) 136min ●●●●●

Chinese director Jia Zhangke (A Touch of Sin) returns to the crime genre for Ash Is Purest White, his latest exploration of contemporary China. Beginning in 2001, we find Zhao Qiao (Zhao Tao) in love with a provincial mobster named Guo Bin (Liao Fan). A robust presence, Qiao is also fiercely loyal. When Bin is attacked on the street by a bunch of motorbike-riding thugs, it’s Qiao who comes to the rescue, firing shots into the air as the camera circles her in a showstopping sequence. Refusing to incriminate her boyfriend, she’s arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for possessing an illegal firearm.

We pick things up at the end of her jail term, as Qiao gets word that her low-life lover has moved on. She sets out to track him down, partly to re-establish her own place in the world, with the time jump allowing Jia to examine the changing face of China.

Throughout a story spanning almost 18 years, Zhao – Jia’s off-screen partner and a regular in his films – is rock-solid, playing a born survivor who boasts street-smarts in spades. The final act is perhaps too ponderous, but it’s typical of Jia: this is no ordinary gangster film but one that’s filled with poignancy and longing. (James Mottram) ■■Selected release from Fri 26 Apr. 80 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

It’s a virtual truism that nightclubs and raves look terrible on film. That notion ends with Beats, which features a mid-90s rave so ecstatically evoked it seems to blow a hole in the screen. Adapted by Kieran Hurley from his play and co-written by director Brian Welsh, Beats feels stagy and undercooked in places, but any doubts are erased by the head-trip of an ending.

Teenagers Johnno (Cristian Ortega) and Spanner (Lorn Macdonald) are shocked when Johnno’s parents (Laura Fraser and Brian Ferguson) announce they’re moving. The boys plan a trip to a rave, but Spanner gets caught stealing cash from his brother, who pursues him. And Johnno never imagines that his policeman father will be among those deployed to break up the gathering.

Ortega and Macdonald’s performances are so vivid it’s a shame the black and white photography may well relegate this drama to cult status, while there’s a contradiction in the depiction of drugs as harmless fun but dealers as sinister scumbags. Nonetheless, Welsh’s film features an array of wellchosen tracks and club visuals turned up to the max. Anyone nostalgic for glow sticks and whistles will find the euphoric climax leaves them begging for one more tune. (Eddie Harrison) ■■Selected release from Fri 17 May.

REVIEWS | FILM

list.co.uk/film

COMEDY DRAMA

SCIENCE FICTION

COMEDY DRAMA

(15) 93min ●●●●●

(18) 113min ●●●●●

(15) 86min ●●●●●

MADELINE’S MADELINE Mothering and mental illness combine to smothering effect in Josephine Decker’s deep dive into the mind of a vulnerable 16-year-old, strikingly played by Helena Howard. Submerging us in Madeline’s overwhelmed take on the world, we watch as this mixed-race teen flits between her bundle-of-nerves mother Regina (Miranda July) and her radiant, seemingly sympathetic acting coach Evangeline (Molly Parker).

Conveniently ignoring her student’s increasingly erratic behaviour, Evangeline greedily mines her turmoil for material. Nevertheless, Madeline’s work with the drama group is a welcome release from her suffocating domestic situation, which veers from fractious conversations to violent altercations, with Regina’s every utterance reinforcing her daughter’s feelings of alienation and inadequacy.

Utilising absurdist and avant-garde imagery and inspiring a triptych of gutsy performances, Decker expertly explores the false fantasy and flawed reality of maternal love and deals with artistic exploitation and appropriation. Her film hones in on a seminal time in the development of a young woman’s identity; as Madeline filters out the noise, she finds her creative voice. (Emma Simmonds) ■■Available to stream on MUBI and on limited release from Fri 10 May.

HIGH LIFE

SUPPORT THE GIRLS

Anyone foolish enough to think that High Life might mark a cynical slide towards the commercial by veteran French director Claire Denis are in for some big surprises. She may have a bigger budget than ever before, be working in English for the first time and have cast Robert Pattinson as her lead, but there is no sign of compromise in this bizarre and baffling science fiction mindbender.

The bones of a conventional narrative are just about visible in the tale of a mission to reach the nearest black hole. Monte (Pattinson) is the last man standing and has been left to care for a young baby. He is the ultimate single parent but the child’s trust in him is matched by his sense of responsibility towards her.

High Life is low-tech sci-fi, slowly revealing its secrets through scattered flashbacks which explain the mission and what happened to those on board.

The fact that the crew was composed of dangerous criminals gives the first clue to the forces at play here. It is intriguing enough and provocatively playful at times, with Denis working hard to unsettle and disturb. However, it never manages to communicate its intent with any coherency, and the end result is more weird than wonderful. (Allan Hunter) ■■Selected release from Fri 10 May.

A grubby Texas roadside bar whose all-female waiting staff wear the barest minimum of clothes may not seem like the obvious setting for an insightful feminist drama. Yet, thanks to an intelligent, sensitive screenplay from writer-director Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha, Computer Chess) and stupendous work from Regina Hall, that’s exactly what Support the Girls reveals itself to be.

We first meet the smartly dressed Lisa (Hall) as she weeps quietly in her car, in the parking lot of the Double Whammies sports bar where she works as general manager. The film follows her over the course of a stressful day, as she navigates new employees, aggressive customers, her misogynistic boss (James Le Gros) and her failing marriage to a man who has simply given up.

This is a film not of high drama but of small moments, each met with compassion and resolve

by Lisa, while Hall’s nuanced performance elevates this story above any notion of sleaze or cheap thrills associated with the locale. Bujalski is not only a white male storyteller who seems to genuinely understand women, but a filmmaker able to highlight the inherent sexism and racism knitted throughout society without resorting to a soapbox or lecture. (Nikki Baughan) ■■Limited release from Fri 31 May.

COMEDY DRAMA

THUNDER ROAD (15) 90min ●●●●●

Bruce Springsteen’s songs capture the hope, disappointment and sorrow of the American Dream in one fell swoop; Jim Cummings’ stirring debut not only references his 1975 workingclass anthem in its title, it plays out as a passionate tribute to anyone beset by economic hardship. In The Boss’s world, screen doors slam, lovers take off down dusty beach roads and family is key. Here, Springsteen’s lyrics are a starting point for an emotionally raw and excruciatingly funny portrait of modern American society.

Cummings writes, directs, co-edits and assumes the lead role – playing Officer Jim Arnaud, a cop in the midst of a breakdown, who’s struggling with grief following the death of his mother, while also dealing with a messy divorce and custody battle.

Shot for $180k and part funded by a Kickstarter campaign, Cummings is expanding on a single-take short – winner of prizes at Sundance and SXSW – which sees Jim sing his heart out and dance at his mum’s funeral. As an actor, Cummings somehow makes Jim’s pain and the associated comedy even more agonising to watch this time round. His performance hits that sweet spot where you feel nothing but compassion for a man who shouldn’t be in possession of a gun, but who is trying his best to provide a good life for his daughter Crystal (Kendal Farr).

In this hugely exciting first film, themes of masculinity and parenthood are explored through an unforgettably eccentric, highly fragile character who wears his heart on his sleeve and strings his sentences together like he’s running out of oxygen.

Cummings locates the humour and humanity in a calamitous and desperately lonely person who, even at his lowest ebb, never loses sight of the promised land. (Katherine McLaughlin) ■■General release from Fri 31 May. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 81

Be Enlightened

19–30 June 2019

edfilmfest.org.uk #edfilmfest

HIGHLIGHTS | FILM

FILM HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings your event at Films are listed for by release date. list.co.uk/add Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

MISSING LINK A charming stop-motion cryptozoological adventure. Out Fri 5 Apr.

PET SEMATARY A family learns of a cursed pet cemetery in this remake of the 1989 film, based on the Stephen King novel. Out Thu 4 Apr.

SHAZAM! A 14-year-old finds they can turn into an adult superhero simply by saying the titular magic word of Shazam! Out Fri 5 Apr.

HOLY LANDS An Ashkenazi Jewish American cardiologist gives everything up to become a pig farmer. Out Fri 5 Apr.

HELLBOY The Descent director Neil Marshall resurrects the comic book anti-hero, now played by Stranger Things’ David Harbour. Out Thu 11 Apr.

THE KEEPER The true story of Bert Trautmann, a Nazi prisoner of war who became the first German footballer to play in the British football leagues after WWII. See review, page 79. Out Fri 5 Apr.

LITTLE A woman reverts to her younger self when adulthood becomes too much for her (we can understand). Out Fri 12 Apr.

LAST BREATH A routine maintenance dive on a North Sea oil well turns into a fight for survival as a computer error sends a boat drifting away from its dive site.

Out Fri 5 Apr.

MID90S Jonah Hill’s debut feature shows plenty of creative daring and is pleasingly nonjudgmental. A witty and compassionate portrait of adolescence. See review, page 78. Out Fri 12 Apr.

Hellboy

Be part of a brand-new project from Edinburgh International Film Festival and Johnnie Walker — showcasing the talents of filmmakers based in Scotland.

Edinburgh International Film Festival is putting together a compilation of short films for this year’s festival with the theme ‘Walk With Us’. Supported by Johnnie Walker, known for its ‘Keep Walking’ mantra, the project aims to challenge emerging and ambitious filmmakers to respond to the theme in an innovative manner.

Find out how to get involved at edfilmfest.org.uk/walkwithus

HITLIST

Walk With Us 1 Nov12018–31 Apr–31 May Jan 2019 THE LIST 83

FILM | HIGHLIGHTS

FILM HIGHLIGHTS WILD ROSE Musical drama in which a young single mother in Glasgow dreams of travelling to Nashville to be a country singer. See review, page 78. Out Fri 12 Apr. GRETA Director Neil Jordan’s mystery about a young woman who befriends a lonely widow. Out Fri 19 Apr. LORO Biopic detailing the extraordinary life of Silvio Berlusconi. Out Fri 19 Apr. RED JOAN The story of Joan Stanley, who for over 40 years gave British state secrets to the KGB. Out Fri 19 Apr. BEL CANTO Julianne Moore stars as a famous soprano invited to perform at a private party for a Japanese industrialist when the gathering is taken over by guerrilla rebels and the guests are held hostage. See review, page 79. Out Fri 26 Apr. LONG SHOT Sparks fly between a journalist and one of the most influential women in the world. Out Fri 3 May. TOLKIEN Biopic exploring the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration. Out Fri 3 May. DETECTIVE PIKACHU A boy discovers a talking Pikachu who wants to become a detective. Out Fri 10 May. HIGH LIFE Claire Denis’s first movie in English is an uncompromisingly weird and somewhat incoherent mind-bender.

See review, page 81. Out Fri 10 May. THE HUSTLE Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson team up as a pair of con artists. Out Fri 10 May.

The Hustle

JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3 PARABELLUM More high-octane action. Out Fri 17 May. THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

More comedy mayhem from Max and his friends. Out Fri 24 May. GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS Long-awaited sequel to 2014’s

HITLIST

THE SISTERS BROTHERS A gold prospector is pursued across 1000 miles of Oregon desert by the notorious assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters. See review, page 79. Out Fri 5 Apr.

Vox Lux

84 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Highly anticipated climax to the world-changing events

Godzilla reboot. Out Fri 31 May. THUNDER ROAD A cop is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. See review, page 81. Out Fri 31 May.

that kicked off with last year’s Infinity War. Out Thu 25 Apr. VOX LUX Layered character portrait of a pop sensation who survived a school shooting in her teens, with game performances from a fine cast. See review, page 80.

Out Fri 3 May.

ROCKETMAN A biopic of the Rocketman himself, Elton John. Out Fri 24 May. EIGHTH GRADE Humane debut from comedian-turnedfilmmaker Bo Burnham.

See feature, page 44 and review, page 78. Out Fri 26 Apr.

KIDS

FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /KIDS

ET THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL IN CONCERT Spielberg’s big-screen classic accompanied by a live orchestra as the bikes take to the sky; experiencing that being recreated right in front of you can be very moving.’

Palmer is one of Europe’s foremost specialists in conducting to film, with ET one of ten films he’s working on this year, including main themes from Star Wars and Harry Potter. Ensuring the music and visuals are always exactly in sync isn’t easy, but if anyone can do it, Palmer can. ‘The most difficult section to match up to in ET is the famous bike chase scene,’ he explains. ‘The music is extremely fast and tricky to play, with lots of difficult rhythms, and we need to stay glued to the picture so that when the bikes finally take to the air, the orchestra is in exactly the right place.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Apr.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 85

PHOTO: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

When ET opened in 1982, cinemas were awash with tears. And, through the years, Steven Spielberg’s adventure film about a young boy’s friendship with a lost alien, has seen plenty of tissues used up in living rooms. A big part of ET’s longevity is John Williams’ incredible score. So imagine seeing a 70-piece orchestra delivering it while you watch the tiny heroes battle against the odds.

‘There’s something about seeing the musicians playing on stage that gives an emotional weight you just don’t get from a recording,’ says conductor Ben Palmer, who is leading the Czech National Symphony Orchestra on this international tour. ‘One of the reasons people love this film is because of the music, so think of that soaring “Flying Theme”

KIDS | PREVIEWS ECO-PUPPETRY

PHOTO: EOIN CAREY

THE WHIRLYBIRD

North Edinburgh Arts, Sat 6 Apr; Platform, Glasgow, Tue 16 Apr; and touring In an era when fears about the environment are increasingly taking centre stage, it makes sense that audiences who will live with the consequences – children – are suitably informed. Formed in 2007, Eco Drama has been a frontrunner in creating work for young people that makes caring about the world fun, with its latest production, The Whirlybird, about to tour Scotland as part of the Puppet and Animation Festival.

‘Our productions are more than just educational theatre about a topic, like recycling for example,’ explains company founder, Emily Reid. ‘Instead, we work on the premise that children have a natural curiosity and wonder for nature, and that theatre can nurture this, particularly at a time when the technological world has enlarged in importance. After an Eco Drama performance, if the audience feels a renewed sense of wonder and connection to nature, then we’ve achieved our goal.’

The company also practises what it preaches, touring Scotland in a van run on 100% recycled vegetable oil, and ensuring its set and props are sustainably sourced. But it’s in the subtlety of its themes that Reid hopes Eco Drama can make a real difference, especially as touring to nurseries and primary schools is a large part of the company’s remit.

‘The Whirlybird is about finding inspiration in nature,’ says Reid.

‘After its many failed attempts to fly, it finally finds inspiration in the sycamore seed – also known as the helicopter seed – which it sees spinning and flying through the air. As children aged 3-7 enter nursery and primary school for the first time, and may feel the pressures associated with “fitting in”, we wanted to encourage them to feel confident in who they are, to show them it’s important to try and fail, and that it’s OK to do things outside the norm. So our central bird character is celebrated not only for doing things a bit differently, but for being connected to nature.’ (Kelly Apter)

PHOTO: BRIAN HARTLEY

INFLATABLE FUN

PRE-SCHOOL DANCE

Dalkeith Country Park, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May

Platform, Glasgow, Wed 17 Apr; The Brunton, Musselburgh, Wed 1 May; and touring

LABYRINTH CHALLENGE

'Dalkeith Country Park is such a beautiful place to visit, so we’re really trying to engage with as many families as possible,’ says Nicola Campbell, the park’s PR manager. Part of that engagement is the weekend-long arrival of Labyrinth Challenge, the world’s longest inflatable obstacle course. ‘We’ve got lots of activities going on around it,’ she says, ‘it’ll be a real family day.’

The labyrinth sounds like a unique experience: think Crystal Maze blended with Total Wipeout. The main labyrinth is 1000-feet long, with themed zones (Jungle, Lava, Ocean and so on) and lots of bespoke challenges and obstacles. It’s aimed at ages ten and over, adults included, although there is another 200-feet mini-labyrinth for kids aged five to nine.

Around the park, there will be activities accompanying the labyrinth, with a DJ and food stalls. A ticket also allows visitors into Fort Douglas adventure playground and its Sky Maze. Bookable in hour slots, the course is set up so that groups can compete against each other; it’s suitable for older families, but also squads of friends, fancy-dress teambuilders and so on.

The park is part of the Buccleuch estate, so there are cycling and walking tracks to be enjoyed, too. ‘There are lots of interactive areas in the labyrinth that you can run and slide and jump through,’ explains Campbell of the main attraction. ‘It’s just a lot of fun, and it’s not about who’s fittest or quickest, it’s just about enjoying yourself.’ (David Pollock) 86 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

GROW

You know your first show is a success, when you start getting ‘second album fear’ – which is exactly what Anna Newell is feeling right now. Already a seasoned director of theatre for young people, Four Go Wild in Wellies was her first foray into integrated dance, when she worked with Glasgow-based company Independance 4.

A big hit both at home and abroad, the show was also Indepen-dance’s debut attempt at a show for under 5s, and was such a success they’ve invited Newell back. Whereas Four Go Wild . . . had a very autumnal feel, new production Grow finds spring in the air. ‘It started life with a whole other title, but what emerged during the rehearsal process was a show about springtime,’ explains Newell.

‘And I don’t want to give too much away, but it starts from a tiny little seed poking out of a mound of earth – and then very playfully, the actors kind of become those seed pots and grow, blossom and flower.’

One of the most endearing aspects of Four Go Wild . . . was the sense of discovery, as the characters struggled, then triumphed, with basic tasks such as pulling on their socks. Aimed once again at a pre-school audience, Grow also captures that new sense of wonder.

‘It’s about spring, but also the joy of movement as you’re developing, which you really see in that 3–5 age range,’ says Newell. (Kelly Apter)

HIGHLIGHTS | KIDS

KIDS HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW

award-winning television animation set in a miniature world of fairies, elves and insects. Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

EDINBURGH

YOU CHOOSE Eastwood Park Theatre, Wed 3 Apr, nonsenseroom.com Nonsense Room Production’s interactive musical show, which uses Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt’s picture book as inspiration. Also touring, see list. co.uk/kids for details.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 2– Sat 27 Apr, matildathemusical. com Magical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved tale about clever Matilda, who outwits the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull with her powers.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS: PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE SSE Hydro, Thu 11–Sun 14 Apr, disneyonice.com Join your favourite Disney characters on a journey to the magical worlds of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Frozen.

WEE CREATIVES Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 5 Apr, capitaltheatres.com Weekly creative activities for kids ages two to five, led by artists and exploring some of the children’s shows on offer at the Festival Theatre.

THE LOST THINGS Tron Theatre, Tue 16 & Wed 17 Apr, tortoiseinanutshell.com Dark fairytale from theatre company Tortoise in a Nutshell about a young boy who falls into a world made up of all the things people have lost. Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

THE WHIRLYBIRD North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Sat 6 Apr, ecodrama.co.uk Retelling of the ugly duckling story with an ecological twist, told through storytelling, music and puppetry. See preview, page 86. Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

LITTLE TOP Platform, Fri 3 & Sat 4 May; Eastwood Park Theatre, Sun 5 May, starcatchers.org.uk Gently topsy-turvy circus show for babies aged 0–18 months, with plenty of balancing acts, tumbling and juggling.

Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

DONATE, MAKE, TAKE Pollok House, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, nts.org.uk Free drop-in arts and crafts activities for children at historic Pollok House.

BEN AND HOLLY’S LITTLE KINGDOM Theatre Royal, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, whatsonglasgow.co.uk Richard Lewis’ adaptation of the

HITLIST

PUPPET ANIMATION FESTIVAL Various venues, Scotland, until Sat 20 Apr, puppetanimationfestival. org The UK’s largest and longest established annual performing arts event for children.

EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun

ART EXPLORERS Royal Botanic Garden, Sun 7 Apr, Sun 5 May, rbge.org.uk Afternoon of creative fun inspired by exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Garden and the natural world around us.

ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS King’s Theatre, Fri 12–Sun 14 Apr, underpantslive.com Close encounters of the ‘pantastic’ kind at this theatrical adaptation of Claire Freedman and Ben Cort’s children’s book. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ kids for details.

FAMILY ART TOURS Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Sat 27 Apr, Sat 25 May, nationalgalleries.org Short interactive tours designed to provide a family-friendly introduction to art

21 Apr, sciencefestival. co.uk Annual celebration of science and technology, with the theme of ‘frontiers’ for 2019 and plenty of shows, workshops and interactive events. See feature, page 20.

The Whirlybird

and boost confidence in talking about and engaging with artwork.

THE WORST WITCH King’s Theatre, Tue 7–Sun 12 May, worstwitchlive.com Stage adaptation of Jill Murphy’s beloved children’s book, which follows Mildred Hubble’s adventures at Miss Cackle’s Academy for witches.

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, bearhuntlive.com Michael Rosen’s award-winning book is brought to the stage for ages threeplus. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ kids for details.

OUT OF TOWN

EDINBRICK: A LEGO MODEL SHOW Potterrow, Sat 18 May, facebook. com/Edinbrick Fantastical LEGO displays, activities, build areas and more at this model show.

TWIRLYWOOS Johnstone Town Hall, Thu 4 Apr; Falkirk Town Hall, Tue 30 Apr–Wed 1 May, twirlywoos.com Live theatrical adventure featuring the characters from the hit CBeebies show.

CHILDREN’S CLASSIC CONCERTS: SOUNDCYCLE Assembly Rooms, Sat 25 May, childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk Sports-themed music concert, with a musical relay race, synchronised swimming routines and a special work for bike and orchestra. Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT DINOSAURS? The Brunton, Musselburgh, Sat 27 Apr, eastlothian.gov.uk Dinosaur aficionado Dr Ben Garrod gives an interactive talk on the deadliest predators that roamed the planet.

Also touring, see list.co.uk/kids for details.

GROW Platform, Glasgow, Wed 17 Apr A sprightly springtime dance adventure from Independance 4, with music from composer David Goodall, choreography by Hayley Earlam and directed by Anna Newell. See preview, page 86. Also The Brunton, Musselburgh, Wed 1 May, independance.org.uk.

THE LABYRINTH CHALLENGE Dalkeith Country Park, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, dalkeithcountrypark. co.uk This is your chance to take on the world’s longest continuous obstacle course head on. The labyrinth measures over 1000ft in length and is jam-packed with interactive, wacky obstacles. See preview, page 86.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL Various venues, Edinburgh Sat 25 May– Sun 2 Jun, imaginate.org. uk/festival International festival of performing arts for children, with a programme of dance, storytelling and puppetry, suitable for anyone with an imagination.

See feature page 40.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 87

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CM

MY

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MUSIC FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /MUSIC

KAMASI WASHINGTON Bringing abstract jazz and creative funk to the mainstream Educated in ethnomusicology at UCLA, he played for over a decade in the jazz world – along with the occasional rock session – until mainstream demand for his services suddenly leapt after he appeared on Flying Lotus’ You’re Dead! in 2014. Within a year, his first album proper, The Epic, was out, and he had guested on big releases by Kendrick Lamar, Run the Jewels, Thundercat and St Vincent.

‘That’s how it works, it doesn’t just happen overnight,’ says Washington who feels his ‘arrival’ coincides with a return for jazz. ‘Yeah, I think people are searching for that too, but there’s jazz within hip hop, funk, R&B, rock’n’roll. Right now it feels like people are really open to it; the freedoms, the abstract side of it.’ (David Pollock) ■ Barrowland, Glasgow, Wed 22 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 89

PHOTO: DURIMEL

‘The album seems to be resonating with people,’ says Kamasi Washington, affirming his happiness with the success of his second studio record Heaven and Earth. ‘The message is we each have a stake in this world, and we have the power to make it what we want it to be. It’s about different sides of reality: how you live on the inside greatly affects the world on the outside.’

Born in Los Angeles in 1981, Washington has been playing drums since he was three, piano since he was five, and clarinet since he was nine. By the age of 12 his saxophonist father had introduced him to the music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, with saxophonist Wayne Shorter his favourite player. ‘Saxophone’s kind of related to clarinet, so I switched over,’ he says.

MUSIC | IDLEWILD

TALK As Idlewild capitalise fully on their recent resurgence, Craig Angus chats to Roddy Woomble about hidden references, musical evolution and catching a moment

I

t’s the night of December 20, 2017. Idlewild are playing the second of two sold-out shows at Glasgow’s ABC, commemorating the 15th anniversary of their third album The Remote Part. There’s a widespread feeling that this might be one of their best ever shows; the band powered by the electrifying audience energy, every song met with a deafening chorus from the floor.

Former members Bob Fairfoull and Allan Stewart are rolled out as surprise guests, Fairfoull in particular barely able to contain his excitement at briefly rejoining the band he left in 2002. By the summer, the venue would fall victim to the flames from the second Art School fire. The death of Scott Hutchison, who opened the show with Neu! Reekie! collaborator Michael Pedersen, would break the hearts of music lovers the world over in the spring. Life is a relentless cacophony of ecstasy and tragedy, but this was a night to be savoured, of songs to lose your voice to.

The occasion wasn’t lost on Roddy Woomble. ‘Sometimes you catch that moment,’ he says fondly. ‘It was a special night. You can read that from the stage, too. It was a really good example of realising how much our songs and our band mean to people.’ He laughs, and in his understated way says, ‘sometimes if you don’t play for a while you forget that people like you’.

It’s an unexpected way to start discussing the band’s eighth studio album, Interview Music, but that run of shows gave Idlewild (founding members Woomble, guitarist Rod Jones and drummer Colin Newton, plus recent additions Luciano Rossi and Andrew Mitchell) the impetus to get new music over the finish line.

90 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

TA ‘Originally the idea was to put the record out in 2017, following on relatively quickly from the last one,’ Woomble tells me. ‘Rod took over a studio [Post Electric Studio in Leith] but something wasn’t quite right with all the songs and we just decided to take our time with it. I made a solo record [The Deluder] in between, but when we did those shows, Dave Eringa – who produced The Remote Part – came to one of them. He was asking about the record and raving about the concert and everything tied together. We thought, “let’s get Dave to produce the rest of the record”.’

Eringa worked on the last five tracks from the Interview Music sessions; his stamp is all over the expansive pop of ‘All These Words’ and the shimmering ‘There’s a Place for Everything’. Woomble is effusive in his praise for Eringa’s contribution. ‘He brought a real direction to the music.’

The album’s genesis, appropriately for a group so inspired by American music and literature, was in LA, where they decamped fresh from a successful run of stateside shows in support of 2015’s Everything Ever Written. It was the first time the band, as it is now, had written music as a unit. Woomble says their previous record, the band’s first since 2010, was made in stages with different combinations working together along the way, getting to know each other while creating the record. Interview Music was different from the word go.

‘It’s definitely a band record,’ Woomble says, citing the title track as an example of the new dynamic at work. ‘We were splurging. We had all these different ideas and a lot of the songs were really long; we were just thinking “let’s create, we can always edit it down”.’

IDLEWILD | MUSIC

list.co.uk/music

Neil Eckersley presents

Broadway star of Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Gypsy and Hello Dolly!

BERNADETTE PETERS Tony, Drama Desk & Golden Globe Award winner | Grammy & Emmy Award nominee

ONLY H SCOT TIS E T A D

“For theatre lovers, there can be no greater pleasure than to witness Bernadette Peters perform.”

NEW YORK TIMES

“One of the most exciting performers of her generation.”

PLAYBILL

ALK You can feel the sense of adventure in Idlewild in the track’s arrangement, the prog and krautrock influences and trance-like state it grows into before Woomble’s distorted, elliptical vocal returns.

‘Andrew and Lucci were much more of a part of Interview Music,’ Woomble says. ‘They’re great people to work with; the wealth of ideas they bring, their musicality. Until Lucci joined, we always were a guitar band. Having a dedicated keyboard player with a background in jazz: it’s amazing what you can do with a rock song.’

The evolution of the band is evident, but Interview Music nods to their past too. ‘Same Things Twice’ rips and roars like a cut from their 100 Broken Windows era. And literary references abound, sometimes in plain sight (a Robert Frost recording on ‘Mount Analogue’), sometimes hidden. ‘There’s more buried in there for the nerds to find,’ Woomble says, laughing, ‘I include myself in that.’

Words, as always, are important to Woomble. His writing has always been open to interpretation, and with lyrics inspired by dream states and landscapes – he calls both California and the Scottish Hebrides home – he’s still a thrillingly ambiguous lyricist. ‘Music is one of the artforms where it doesn’t have to mean something but it can still mean everything; it makes you feel. A lot of my friends who write music have the same sort of feeling. It just sort of happens.

There’s something quite magical about it.’

Idlewild play Barrowland, Glasgow, Sat 4 May; Interview Music is out Fri 5 Apr on Empty Words, see review, page 96.

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1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 91

T H U R S D AY 5 S E P T E M B E R – O P E N I N G C O N C E R T

The Waterboys BANDS

Peatbog Faeries Niteworks Tide Lines Elephant Sessions Lau Rura The Poozies Martha Ffion SIAN HECLA Riley OAT Perigord Peat & Diesel Sheepshank Redemption Ceilear Ceilidh Trail DJS

Erol Alkan Optimo (Espacio) Leon Vynehall Auntie Flo Sally C Willow We Should Hang Out More Non-Stop Kontrast

5—7 SEPTEMBER 2019 PORTREE, ISLE OF SKYE 1 , 2 & 3 D AY T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E , W I T H C A M P I N G S K Y E L I V E . C O. U K @SKYELIVEFEST

C DUNCAN | MUSIC

list.co.uk/music

RELUCTANT PHOTO: JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES

HERO With his third album now out in the world, Glasgow multi-instrumentalist C Duncan tells Arusa Qureshi that he never wanted to be in the limelight

C

Duncan is known for straddling that divide between the classical and pop music worlds, having come from a classical background and earning a degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. But while his releases exhibit the melodic precision and choral-like qualities associated with classical composition, his affinity for pop music has long been a part of his creative output.

‘Since I was about 11 or 12, I’ve been recording “pop songs”, and even when I was studying classical, I was still writing and recording pop music,’ he recalls. ‘I guess the albums felt natural in that sense. It was really the live thing that at first felt a bit unnatural because the reason I became a composer was that I didn’t really want to be in the limelight or be a frontman!’

Despite his reluctance to take on this role, being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for debut album Architect rapidly altered his path. The Mercury may have gone to Benjamin Clementine that year but earning a nomination so early in Duncan’s career certainly cemented the multiinstrumentalist as an artist to watch, whose creativity would only blossom with each project and each release. Follow-up album The Midnight Sun was proof of this, featuring more of his trademark ethereal ambience and well-crafted compositions. But with third album Health, the plan was to make a dynamic shift towards something more direct and sonically rich.

‘Musically, I had the same approach,’ he says about working on Health. ‘But also, because the second album is so much its own thing and basically just one big song that lasts 40 minutes, I wanted to make an album that was much more varied this time round, with more highs and more lows. There are lots of themes in this album, but the one that comes up a lot is love and loss of love,

which is quite a cathartic thing for me to write about because it’s not something I’ve really done before. With my previous records, I buried my voice and my lyrics way down in the mix, below loads of reverb, because I was a bit shy about expressing myself. But because I’ve recorded so many songs now, I just felt with this record that it was really time to be more direct with my lyrics or as direct as I can be.’

Health features an evolution of Duncan’s sound but also highlights a change in his creative process, with the album marking the first time he’s worked with other producers, engineers and musicians, including Elbow’s Craig Potter who took on production duties. ‘Working with Craig was just brilliant, he’s so good at what he does and so experienced,’ Duncan says about his former tour mate. ‘The first two records I did from home, and I loved doing that, but I knew it was time to branch out and try something a bit different and push myself.’

To have your debut album shortlisted for the Mercury is no mean feat, but for Duncan, this was largely unexpected. Made on a budget of only £50 in his own bedroom studio, 2015’s Architect was lauded across the board for its dreamy layering and lush pop soundscapes. Health may represent something more ambitious in its engagement with fresh perspectives and new ways of writing, but it remains a record full of warmth, texture and personality. ‘Because Health is much more lyrically direct, I hope that people will be able to relate to it,’ Duncan notes. ‘I guess that’s really my biggest ambition with this record.’

C Duncan plays Summerhall, Edinburgh, Fri 10 May; Maryhill Community Centre Hall, Glasgow, Sat 11 May; Health is out now on FatCat Records, see review, page 96.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 93

MUSIC | REVIEWS ELECTRONIC

GIORGIO MORODER

Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 4 Apr When no less an authority than Nile Rodgers calls you 'the man who invented dance music’, you must have played a pretty important role in the world of club culture. Now 78, Giorgio Moroder was a true pioneer of electronic music. His production work on Donna Summer's disco classics 'I Feel Love', 'Hot Stuff' and 'Love to Love You Baby' set a new benchmark in the genre. He gave disco sophistication and sex appeal and turned the then-unknown Summer into a star.

Moroder was one of the most in-demand producers of the 80s, working with David Bowie, Cher, Blondie, Freddie Mercury and many more while also composing scores for classic films such as American Gigolo, Scarface and The NeverEnding Story. His popularity and legacy has continued through more recent collaborations with Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey and Kylie while his last album, Déjà Vu, featured guest spots from Sia, Charli XCX, Britney Spears and Kelis.

'The Chase' from the soundtrack to Midnight Express (1978) helped set the template for what would become techno. It also won Moroder his first Oscar; he'd later add two more to his collection as producer and writer of 'Flashdance . . . What a Feeling' (1983) and Berlin's ‘Take my Breath Away' (from Top Gun, 1986).

Despite more than 50 years in the industry, surprisingly this will be Moroder's first ever UK tour, dubbed A Celebration of the 80s. 'It is something I have always wanted to do, fans kept reaching out to me, asking if I would ever do a real tour,' he explains. 'Back in the days, it was unthinkable for producers to ever leave their studios. That territory was reserved for the singers. Today, DJs and music producers have become the superstars of popular dance music, so the time feels right and I am so excited to be finally doing this.'

(Henry Northmore)

PHOTO: JEN ABELL

ALTERNATIVE POP

GWENNO

Hug & Pint, Glasgow, Wed 29 May; supporting Manic Street Preachers, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 26 May. Searching for Gwenno Saunders’ name online, it’s interesting to note a news story which says the Cornish Language Board believes her second and most recent album Le Kov was responsible for a 15% increase in students taking Cornish language exams last year. That’s still only 77 people in total, and the language remains ‘critically endangered’, but the album was clearly both a big advertisement for and a significant work in the culture of a minority British language in which Saunders was raised (her father is Cornish poet Tim Saunders).

‘The response [to the album] has been incredible,' says Saunders. 'I’ve always had a faith that music doesn’t have any linguistic barriers, and I’ve been proved right; I feel that, as human beings, we’re interested in each other’s stories and in different cultural perspectives.’

She views the sung Cornish element of her music as being internationalist, rather than inward-looking or exclusive. For this former singer with under-recognised pop vocal trio the Pipettes and winner of the Welsh Music Prize in 2015, the album is a creative highlight so far. Next up is the score for a Welsh-language version of Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. ‘It’s a lot of work, but it’s fantastic to find new ways of working,’ she says. ‘I love getting to a chorus but with this you just can’t, so it’s a very different experience.’ (David Pollock) HIP HOP

LOWKEY

SWG3, Glasgow, Fri 12 Apr; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Sat 13 Apr There has always been a natural symbiosis between hip hop and activism, with rappers throughout the genre’s history rising up to speak about key issues. As a heavyweight of the British hip hop scene, Lowkey has long been recognised for his candid and politically charged lyrics and masterful dissection of social inequalities. Following a hiatus to focus on his studies and activism, the rapper will soon be making his long-awaited return with the follow-up to 2011’s highly acclaimed Soundtrack to the Struggle.

Soundtrack to the Struggle 2 is a continuation of Lowkey’s mission of challenging the status quo, but, as he notes, the album represents a sense of personal and artistic development too.

‘The album connects to Soundtrack to the Struggle in that I have developed as far as my political education goes. Back then, I was more knee-jerk and instinctive in terms of my rebellion; I don’t think I really necessarily understood the social forces that were behind some of the things that I was making songs about.’

With a UK tour coming up, Lowkey is keen to push the boundaries further and encourage audiences to think critically about their surroundings. ‘Not only is it a case of musicians having a social responsibility, it’s a case of all of us trying to encourage young people to start thinking about social responsibility, to start thinking about the ways that they’re interconnected and interdependent in general. I think it’s important to try to cultivate that in young people.’ (Arusa Qureshi) 94 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

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European Tour 2019

REGULAR MUSIC PRESENTS AN EVENING OF Songs & Stories with

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Solo Acoustic Plus special guests

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ROYAL CONCERT HALL A REGULAR MUSIC AND TRIPLE G PRESENTATION

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with special guest

MATT OWENS (Noah & the Whale)

Samantha Fish

Plus special guests

RAY BLK CIGARETTES AFTER SEX GEORGE FITZGERALD (LIVE) NATHAN FAKE (LIVE)

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Monday 26 August 2019

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regularmusicuk 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 95

MUSIC | RECORDS

ALBUM OF THE ISSUE

INDIE INDIE FOLK

ALDOUS HARDING Designer (4AD) ●●●●●

There’s something about Aldous Harding. In an increasingly crowded musical landscape, where there has never been more singer-songwriters, she stands out as a singular talent. But to define Harding as a singersongwriter is reductive. Her live shows are a beguiling kind of performance art, in which she grimaces, gestures and glares wildly as if something’s gone horribly wrong; her music videos provocative and richly metaphorical in themselves, short films rather than obligations. Better to call Harding an artist, and one who’s undeniably hit her stride with her third album.

Designer is a fascinating collection, full of melody, evocative poetry and exceptional musical arrangements. Lead single ‘The Barrel’ arrives at the halfway point and is the record’s ambiguous centrepiece, a song that could be interpreted as a dissection of all the games surrounding love, sexual awakening, mortality or all of the above. As with all of Designer, it’s best taken as a whole, the musical language of its component parts singing in harmony.

Like 2017’s intense, brooding Party, Designer is produced by John Parish, who oversees some expertly judged embellishments to Harding’s material. There are the layers of backing vocals on ‘The Barrel’, Claire Mactaggart’s intermittent violin shrieks in ‘Weight of the Planets’, Stephen Black’s soaring clarinet on ‘Zoo Eyes’, and the folk shuffle groove of the standout title track. The album’s second half is more stripped-back but loses nothing in the process; in particular, ‘Damn’ – revolving around a piano ostinato – is disarming in its beauty.

Lyrically too, Designer is a treasure trove, full of memorable turns of phrase. This is a truly exceptional album. (Craig Angus) ■■Out Fri 27 Apr.

HONEYBLOOD

In Plain Sight (Marathon Artists) ●●●●● Three albums into her career as the driving force behind Honeyblood and Stina Tweeddale’s career feels like it’s been subject to a significant evolution with In Plain Sight, if not quite yet a graduation. That isn’t to say she or her music are lacking in any way here, but rather she’s an artist who might be on course for the premiership, such has her voice and ability grown in bounds over the years; and while this doesn’t yet feel like the record to make her a star, it’s one which has pointed her in the right direction and will wind up the buzz about her.

A significant part of this evolution appears to have been her new collaborator, the producer John Congleton, with whom In Plain Sight was recorded in Los Angeles in late 2018. With the group’s second drummer Cat Myers now departed to play on tour with Mogwai and KT Tunstall, Tweeddale wrote the demos for the record in isolation, and the production has yielded a different, drummerless sound – one with roots in the Riot Grrrl power-pop which Honeyblood perfected on 2016’s Babes Never Die, but with a denser, more electronic style.

It’s tempting to look at Congleton’s other productions and pick out St Vincent or Goldfrapp as useful comparisons, but the raw confidence of Tweeddale’s Edinburgh accent lends itself more to thoughts of Shirley Manson, and she’s such a bright pop songwriter that the Garbage comparison holds water. The sparse, piano-led anti-balladry of closing track ‘Harmless’ aside, In Plain Sight is bright and anthemic, from the driving rock of ‘She’s a Nightmare’ to the Wall of Sound fuzz of ‘The Third Degree’ and the gleaming electro-glam of ‘Touch’ and ‘You’re a Trick’.

Her lyrical allusions are drawn from the classic rock shelves, many suggesting themes of anger, acceptance and recovery around personal relationships of some kind, and while these make the songs universal, they don’t quite back up the earworm sensibility of the music. Yet it’s an album which delivers in lots of ways, and deserves to advance her reputation yet further. (David Pollock) ■■Out Fri 24 May.

INDIE ROCK

CHAMBER POP

Interview Music (Empty Words) ●●●●●

Health (FatCat Records) ●●●●●

IDLEWILD

Apparently Scottish punk melodists Idlewild were so galvanised by the experience of working on their last album, Everything Ever Written (2015), that the five-piece were back in the studio working on this terrific follow-up mere days after its release. That spirit of enthusiasm for making music together resounds throughout their new LP, from the searing, drum-tumbling drive-rock of ‘All These Words’ (everything ever written, indeed), to the kaleidoscopic indie-gospel of ‘Miracles’ (‘I’m still amazed that days follow days’).

Interview Music is Idlewild’s second post-hiatus album, and their reinvigorated line-up of founders Roddy Woomble (vocals), Rod Jones (guitars) and Colin Newton (drums) – alongside welcome additions Andrew Mitchell (aka Andrew Wasylyk) on bass, and Luciano Rossi (keyboards) – continues to bear rousing fruit.

They’re a band shook up, reinvented and revived, yet still rooted in the wayward and euphoric literary punk of their early days in Edinburgh’s mid-90s DIY scene.

Woomble has suggested that many songs on Interview Music are about ‘dreams and dreaming and the thoughts and ideas that can come from this state’. True to this, he explores and sings from various visionary vantage points throughout, from psychedelic prog-pop opener ‘Dream Variations’ (‘I came, I saw, I changed my point of view’), to disco-punk chorale ‘There’s a Place for Everything’, bass ‘n’ brass indie-stomp ‘Mount Analogue’, and closing piano ballad ‘Lake Martinez’ (‘I feel fictional, go deeper into daydreams’).

The title track, meanwhile, is a revelation: a five-minute trip through moody post-punk, melancholy classic pop, and some incendiary rock operatics that threaten to knock the Who out the park. It’s a glorious opus from a hard-working, resilient group who, as Woomble recalls, ‘formed a band and learned our own way’.

They upturned our pop landscape and charts in the process.

‘Imagine there’s no ground’, he sings. It’s easy if you try.

(Nicola Meighan) ■■Out Fri 5 Apr. 96 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

C DUNCAN

Until now, the celestial sounds of C Duncan have been created solo from within the confines of his bedroom ‘studio’, essentially one laptop and some tiny topof-the-range speakers. There, he’d layer up instruments to achieve a rapturous resonance and overdub his choirboy voice to produce an angelic host.

But the classically trained Duncan is not one to repeat himself. For his third album, he’s stepped out of the bedroom and into the world of studio collaboration, recording for the first time with other musicians – including his parents, both classical musicians – in a capacious Salford studio with Elbow’s Craig Potter as producer.

Yet this move from his hermetic set-up has come at a time when Duncan has written his most intimate, introspective songs, setting emotionally raw lyrics on relationship break-ups and mental health struggles against the added studio sheen and luxurious layers of the music. That greater polish is evident from the off, on the sleek synth pop of taster single ‘Impossible’ which applies disco strings to bittersweet sentiments about the rigours of a long-distance relationship.

Such overt pop moments alternate with Duncan’s signature sumptuous pastoral pop. The familiar romantic sweep of ‘Wrong Side of the Door’ is a slow waltz through a gorgeous European melodrama with Duncan delicately declaring ‘now that you’ve gone, I can move on’. Meanwhile, ‘He Came from the Sun’ is a graceful paean, exquisitely orchestrated to ebb and flow as Duncan builds up ‘to tell the world who I really am’.

The symphonic jazz funk grooviness of the blithe ‘Blasé’ belies Duncan’s frustration at its indifferent protagonist, while the smooth, sophisticated ‘Stuck Here with You’ glides along effortlessly, like Steely Dan with the Fifth Dimension on backing vocals, before the album ends with its most heartbreaking juxtaposition of musical peace and lyrical pain.

The tranquil choral lullaby ‘Care’ simply resonates to the rafters.

(Fiona Shepherd) ■■Out now.

RECORDS | MUSIC

list.co.uk/music FOLK

ELECTRONIC

Something-in-movement (Self-released) ●●●●●

ZOOSPA (Innovative Leisure) ●●●●●

LIZABETT RUSSO

J-E-T-S

Comparing the music of Lizabett Russo to the likes of Joanna Newsom, Björk and Kate Bush might be viewed as reductive and lazy, but it does give the potential listener a handle on what lies within the Scotland-based Transylvanian singer-songwriter’s powerful work. Difficult to classify but largely delectable on the ears, Something-in-movement is the third instalment of Russo’s long-player career, and as a collection, it goes a long way to stirring the blood and shaking up the emotions.

While the young Romanian’s strong personality blazes through every track, this is no lonesome project: she has expert assistance from Graeme Stephen on electric guitar, Tim Lane with percussion, Tim Vincent-Smith performing violin and Pete Harvey on cello. The power of nature is evident from the off with ‘Ocean Frequency’ namechecking whale mothers handling their young, stray cats and ‘black sheep of the family’ in a pulsating paean to fighting loneliness.

Animal motifs are also evident in ‘The Back Leg of the Fox’ (a rough sketch of that very body part appears to adorn the record’s cover), ‘Birds’ and ‘The Hunter and Prey’, while she harks back to a medieval time with the stately ‘Penumbra’, a tune that wouldn’t be out of place as the backdrop to a spot of Westeros pageantry before it hurtles towards a thunderous finale. ‘Times of Change’ has Russo at her most melodious while the arpeggio angst of ‘When the North Wind Blows’ can’t fail to move the hardest of hearts.

‘Hai, Dunarea Mea (Danube Song)’ offers a more traditional denouement with the strippedback number leaving her fully exposed to the listener’s glare, but coming through unscathed and victorious once again.

Lizabett Russo might have some observers busy ticking off the list of references which her music evokes, but she's well on the way to forging her own reputation. (Brian Donaldson) ■■Out Fri 10 May.

Jimmy Edgar and Travis Stewart (Machinedrum) first met nearly 20 years ago, brought together by a mutual love of the Warp Records and Chocolate Industries labels. After collaborating on a handful of EPs, the pair have come together once more to produce ZOOSPA (their first full-length album as J-E-T-S), a high-octane collage of their mutual influences and sounds, featuring vocal performances from Dawn Richard, Mykki Blanco, Rochelle Jordan, KingJet and Tkay Maidza.

The influence of glitch and IDM can be heard throughout ZOOSPA, which their label Innovative Leisure has described, quite accurately, as like Autechre, but ‘more danceable’. Managing to sound at once both retro and ultra of-themoment, this album proves J-E-T-S’ ability to merge a spectrum of genres like a beam of light split through a prism. ZOOSPA is an aural sketchbook of synth and beat-based electronic music, styles swirling together in a synthy milky-way smudge, through which we are propelled on a spaceship (bass-ship?) of hard hitting drums and heavy funk.

There’s ‘Play’ featuring queer rap pioneer Mykki Blanco, a chaotic blend of clipped samples and massive airhorns, and ‘Potions’ featuring Dawn Richard, with post-trap hip hop beats all spliced and chopped and layered. On ‘Ocean PPL’, with Rochelle Jordan, J-E-T-S turn their hand to super-slick R&B to create what sounds like Ashanti and Lil’ Kim having a party inside a black hole.

‘Team Effort’ is an absolute banger, reminiscent of the barbaric, militant beats of Fuck Buttons, and ‘Lotus HD’ is an array of twinkling synths and vocoder straight out of a Nintendo soundtrack.

There literally is not one dull moment on an album that’s the product of two highly experienced and experimental producers rejoicing in collaboration. ZOOSPA is a kaleidoscope of different EDM sounds that are brought together expertly to form a pretty berserk, yet somehow coherent whole.

(Kate Walker) ■■Out Fri 24 May.

INDIE FOLK

ELECTRONIC

The Departure (Suffering Fools Records) ●●●●●

No Geography (Virgin EMI) ●●●●●

SIOBHAN WILSON

Much has been said about Siobhan Wilson’s innate ability to captivate, her vocals possessing a sublime magnetism that captures moments and holds them close. As the follow-up to There Are No Saints from 2017, The Departure is emblematic of Wilson’s evolution as an artist, possessing an urgency and indignation previously veiled below shades of tenderness.

The album’s opener, and title track, has a deceptive sweetness, much like the rest of the record, with a twinkling piano accompanying her haunting vocals. The focus is very much on the movement of the harmonies, clashing beautifully as the choral-like piece progresses towards the fuzz of next track, and lead single, ‘Marry You’. The song provides a rugged blast of folk, punk and grunge, with the dichotomy between Wilson’s hazy Baritone Gretsch guitar and soothing timbre continuing elsewhere. ‘All Dressed Up Tonight (Better Than I Ever Did With You)’, for example, has a nonchalance, combining folk vocals with shoegaze instrumentation, understated in its make-up but packed with something unexpectedly fierce.

The anthemic ‘Unconquerable’, with guest lyrics and vocals from Stina Tweeddale, offers a menacing call and response while album highlight ‘Little Hawk’ opens with a whisper, barely heard before strings weep around the vocals wistfully. A distorted guitar enters defiantly and by the end, the song’s repetitive war cries become reminiscent of Live Through This-era Hole. It offers a contrast to the album’s more delicate numbers, such as Wilson’s take on Gainsbourg’s ‘Ne Dis Rien’ or Barbara’s ‘Dis, Quand Reviendras: Tu?’.

Wilson conjures atmospheres in The Departure that are intimate and yet cinematically expansive.

She weaves darker elements more intricately than ever, with soundscapes that spiral towards the otherworldly, and melodies that transfix, effortlessly fitting varied ranges and genres with quiet confidence. (Arusa Qureshi) ■■Out Fri 10 May.

CHEMICAL BROTHERS

To say the Chemical Brothers remain trapped in amber on this, their ninth album in 24 years (the follow-up to 2015’s Born in the Echoes) is to play down just what a remarkable feat their career has been – two decades and more ploughing through the ever-mutating world of dance music by essentially doing what they’ve always done, while modulating it just enough to appear both current and timeless.

Which is a way of saying that No Geography is more of the same again – the last time they delivered a record it stood up to the sound of the world around it and this time it’s no different. In fact, if anything in Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons’ repertoire has changed, it’s the subtle sense of itchy-footedness about the way the political world has shifted since their last release.

The signposts to what the pair are trying to say are obscured in the dense undergrowth of techno beats, but are there if you want to find them. ‘No geography . . . you and me, and him and her, and them too,’ murmurs the sampled voice woven through the upbeat retro house crests of the title track, a sense of internationalist solidarity implied; ‘I know we can make it, girl / we’ve got to try,’ hollers the hopeful Hallelujah Chorus sample arcing over the ragged acid breaks of ‘We’ve Got to Try’; ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it no more,’ runs the vocal across ‘MAH’s strident techno funk, the words taken from El Coco’s 1977 track and not Peter Finch’s angry white man turn in Network.

These connections are there to be found if you’re looking, but this isn’t the Chems’ agitprop record.

It is, frankly, another big party of an album which will only be proven in its natural environment, the air-rumbling arenas of their upcoming tour. Amid the steel drum post-punk of ‘Bango’ and the urbane chill-out of ‘The Universe Sent Me’, there are some enjoyable experiments here, while the impossible-to-resist ‘Got to Keep In’ is a stone-cold Chemicals classic on very first listen.

■■Out Fri 12 Apr. 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 97

MUSIC | GOING UNDERGROUND

G N I L L E V E L D L E I THE F As part of our Going Underground column, Stewart Smith talks to inclusive experimental music group Sonic Bothy about their music-making process and the highlights of their career so far Formed in 2012, Sonic Bothy are a mixed-ability ensemble featuring people with additional learning support needs playing alongside professional musicians. They recently launched their debut album Fields with a special concert at Glasgow’s Mono. Featuring ensemble pieces alongside intimate duos, Fields has a chamber music feel, with spare vocal, clarinet and percussion exchanges interrupted by bursts of manic invention. Founding member Claire Docherty takes us through the Sonic Bothy story.

How did it all begin?

Sonic Bothy began as an artists’ project in 2012, bringing together musicians with a disability that I had met working in various participation projects across Scotland and musicians who were working in new / experimental music. The project explored pre-baroque music and instruments, free improv, minimalism and electro-acoustic music, creating new music drawing on ideas from these genres. It was also set up to explore Glasgow’s new and experimental music scene as a source of dialogue and inspiration. Improvisation was the thread running through most of the musical ideas and experiments. From early on, the group felt like a band, and so by the end of the first year it made sense to start focusing as a group on creating new pieces and performing.

The group works with improvisation, and other partially free / fixed forms to collaboratively create original music. When we began to perform quite a lot, other people wanted to learn about the music and join, so we added other learning programmes / support to individual artists to give more opportunities for people with an ALSN to be involved in experimental music. The line-up has only changed a little over the years. For this album, it’s Andrew Robertson, Ellen Philip, Adam Green, Allan Wright, Alex South and Nichola Scrutton.

Do you have a particular process for bringing it all together, or do you explore a range of approaches?

We draw on a whole range of influences, including the environment, visual, atmospheres and concepts. Each might offer a potential sound 98 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

idea or form to explore. We also sometimes set guidelines for an improvisation. We work with a very flexible approach. If something excites us, we work with it to see if it can be developed. Sometimes the influences people bring are really wide-ranging. Last year, Andrew Robertson and Adam Green led the creation of two pieces bringing their respective interests in musical theatre and dance music, and Adam’s interest in using glass instruments (made by glass artist Carrie Fertig).

We focused on where improvisation meets other musical languages, or where it could overlap or disrupt, what the relationships between these languages were, and how technically to put things together.

In addition to the new album, what have some of the highlights been for Sonic Bothy so far?

We have been very lucky in our time to have warm support from the experimental scene in Scotland and great opportunities for performing and collaborating. Performances are always a highlight because we usually combine work we’re a bit familiar with and a new or free piece.

Most recently, celebrating the album launch at Mono – it’s been a real achievement, so that’s definitely a highlight.

A four-day residency at Sound Festival in 2015 in the beautiful countryside up at Newton Dee. By the end of it our playing had really developed and there was a feeling of having broken through something quality-wise, and everyone realising there was more potential to develop.

Collaborating with GIO in 2014, where Ellen Philip’s graphic score was included as part of a larger piece, incorporating film by Norman McLaren and Tam Dean Burn reading excerpts of Edwin Morgan’s The Play of Gilgamesh. That was a really interesting experience as it extended the ensemble’s chamber-style size of around seven players to 30-odd players. That helped us to develop new ways of playing for that setting. n sonicbothy.co.uk

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HIGHLIGHTS | MUSIC

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW IN FLAMES SWG3, Wed 3 Apr, swg3.tv Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg.

COUNTERFLOWS Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sun 7 Apr, counterflows.com Festival of underground, experimental and international music which sees artists from around the world collaborating with homegrown talent. 2019’s line-up includes Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, Katz Mulk, Alexander Hawkins, Nicole Mitchell and more. See feature, page 24.

CHRIS SHIFLETT Classic Grand, Fri 5 Apr, classicgrand.com Lead guitarist of the Foo Fighters performs his solo country material. Also La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, Sat 6 Apr, labelleangele.com

MOUNT KIMBIE Sub Club, Fri 5 Apr, subclub.co.uk English electronic music duo consisting of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos.

MALE MENTAL HEALTH GIG Stereo, Sat 6 Apr, stereocafebar. com Gig in support of mental health services for men, featuring BarrieJames O’Neill, Carly Connor, Shredd and more, followed by a Q&A. LORDS OF THE LAND FESTIVAL Barrowland, Sat 6 Apr, barrowland-ballroom.co.uk Extreme festival with a full day of thrash and death metal action. The line-up for 2019 features Electric Wizard, Coroner, Tankard, The Black Dahlia Murder and Belphegor.

ART SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND Hug & Pint, Sat 6 Apr, thehugandpint.com Thoughtful experimental electronic indie from the Margate-based producer and vocalist.

KIEFER SUTHERLAND Cottiers Theatre, Sun 7 Apr, cottiers. com UK-born Canadian actor and singer performs his country music material.

CHRYSTA BELL Blue Arrow Club, Tue 9 Apr, thebluearrow.co.uk Dynamic theatrical and multimedia elements from singer who has frequently collaborated with director David Lynch. Also The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Wed 10 Apr, thevoodoorooms.com NINA NESBITT SWG3, Wed 10 Apr, swg3.tv Rising Scottish-Swedish folk-pop singer who also does a spot of modelling on the side.

GZA SWG3, Thu 11 Apr, swg3.tv American rapper and songwriter known, for good reason, as ‘The Genius’ and a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Performing classic album Liquid Swords in full.

THESE NEW PURITANS SWG3, Thu 11 Apr, swg3.tv Aggressive-sounding quartet from Southend with alt.rock and afrobeat influences.

PHOTO: DERRICK KAKEMBO

LOWKEY SWG3, Fri 12 Apr, swg3.tv Music from the English rapper and political activist. See preview, page 94. Also Summerhall, Edinburgh, Sat 13 Apr, summerhall.co.uk YAK King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Fri 12 Apr, kingtuts.co.uk Psychedelic alt.rock band with connections to Jack White’s Third Man Records.

BEAR’S DEN Barrowland, Sat 13 Apr, barrowland-ballroom.co.uk Indie folk artist Andrew Davie who came up through Mumford & Sons’ Communion club nights.

CORDUROY Garage, Sat 13 Apr, garageglasgow. co.uk NME award winners who are assured specialists in soundscapes, infectious melodies and pure, groovy rhythms.

Stefflon Don

C DUNCAN Summerhall, Edinburgh, Fri 10 May, summerhall. co.uk; Maryhill

Community Central Hall, Glasgow, Sat 11 May, centralhall.org Scottish singer-songwriter and Mercury Prize nominee, touring in support of his third album Health. See feature, page 93.

GODS OF RAP SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Sun 12 May, thessehydro.com Rap and hip hop heavyweights

Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and De La Soul come together for an almighty triple bill.

KAMASI WASHINGTON Barrowland, Glasgow, Wed 22 May, barrowland-ballroom. co.uk Acclaimed American jazz saxophonist and composer who previously worked on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a

FETTY WAP O2 Academy, Sun 14 Apr, academymusicgroup.com American hip-hop artist best known for his singles ‘Trap Queen’ and ‘My Way’.

STEFFLON DON SWG3, Sun 14 Apr, swg3.tv Londonbased rapper who released her second mixtape Secure in 2018.

START TO END: TAYLOR SWIFT Stereo, Tue 16 Apr, stereocafebar. com Live band re-interprets Taylor Swift’s breakthrough album 1989 in full. Featuring Rachel Lightbody, Cariss Crosbie and Emilie Boyd (Little Acres) on vocals and members of Fat-Suit, Stanley Odd, Apache Darling and Altered Images.

TAKE THAT SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 18–Sat 20 Apr, thessehydro.com From five to four to three, the depleted prototype boy band head on their 30th anniversary tour.

JOE BONAMASSA SEC, Mon 22 Apr, sec.co.uk Virtuoso of blues rock guitar, discovered by BB King when he was 12.

BURNING HELL & RANDOLPH’S LEAP Blue Arrow Club, Wed 24 Apr, thebluearrow.co.uk Collaborative performance between the Scottish and Canadian musicians, bound by quality songwriting that celebrates everyday life. Also Clarks on Lindsay Street, Dundee, Sun 28 Apr, clarksonlindsaystreet.com THE ORB Mackintosh Church, Fri 26 Apr, mackintoshchurch.com Ambient electronica for the masses.

Butterfly. See preview, page 89.

ELECTRIC FROG + PRESSURE RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL Riverside Museum, Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, riversidefestivalglasgow. com The Electric Frog crew and Pressure join forces once again to present their outdoor electronic music festival, which this year will

feature Blawan, Denis Sulta, Bicep, Daphni, Daniel Avery, Éclair Fifi, Jeff Mills and more. See feature, page 34.

C Duncan

PHOTO: JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES

HITLIST

GIORGIO MORODER Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Thu 4 Apr, giorgiomoroder.com One of the true pioneers of dance, disco and electronica as the Italian producer heads on his first UK tour. See preview, page 94.

LOVE FROM STOURBRIDGE O2 Academy, Sat 13 Apr, academymusicgroup.com Double headline tour of grebo rock featuring Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and Pop Will Eat Itself plus an acoustic set from special guest Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff).

1 Nov12018–31 Apr–31 May Jan 2019 THE LIST 101

PHO

MUSIC | HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED SCOTLAND CALLING O2 Academy, Sat 27 Apr, academymusicgroup.com One-day punk festival featuring The Exploited, Slaughter & The Dogs, Macc Lads, Angelic Upstarts, UK Subs, Conflict, Discharge and more.

MT DOUBT Hug & Pint, Sat 27 Apr, thehugandpint.com Atmospheric darkpop project of frontman Leo Bargery.

DAVID THOMAS BROUGHTON The Old Hairdresser’s, Mon 29 Apr, theoldhairdressers.com Broughton creates leftfield indie folk and looped recorded soundscapes, using dexterous delay pedal workouts, old radios and found objects.

BUILT TO SPILL St Luke’s, Tue 30 Apr, stlukesglasgow.com American indierock outfit from Idaho.

HALL & OATES SSE Hydro, Wed 1 May, thessehydro.com Find out if she’s still a ‘Maneater’ as Daryl Hall and John Oates re-join forces to take their wellloved back catalogue and new tunes on the road. With support from KT Tunstall.

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR Hug & Pint, Wed 1 May, thehugandpint.com South West of England-based group performs its indie/Americana compositions.

THE SPECIALS Barrowland, Thu 2 May, barrowlandballroom.co.uk Legendary two-tone and ska revival band, famous for hits

such as ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Ghost Town’, still going strong with a career spanning over 40 years (though sadly featuring less original members than their original reunion) IDLEWILD Barrowland, Sat 4 May, barrowlandballroom.co.uk Scottish indie-rock legends tour ahead of the release of their ninth studio album, Interview Music. See feature, page 90 and review, page 96.

SAVAGE MESSIAH Garage, Sat 4 May, garageglasgow. co.uk London four-piece dedicated to creating straight-up heavy metal who cite Judas Priest and Megadeth as influences.

STAG & DAGGER Various venues, Glasgow, Sun 5 May, facebook.com/ StagAndDaggerGlasgow Multi-venue music showcase, featuring Rat Boy, Dream Wife, Honeyblood, The Ninth Wave and more.

FAT WHITE FAMILY SWG3, Tue 7 May, swg3.tv Psych rock indie band from that there London town.

HUGH JACKMAN SSE Hydro, Tue 7–Thu 9 May, thessehydro.com Wolverine tuned song and dance man Hugh Jackman brings his new one-man show to the UK, where he covers songs from The Greatest Showman, Les Miserables and other Broadway hits. You could argue that it’s unfair he has so much talent at his disposal.

CABBAGE King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Fri 10 May, kingtuts.co.uk Mancunian quintet performing self-penned postpunk material in support of their latest album Nihilistic Glamour Shots.

POZI The Old Hairdresser’s, Fri 10 May, theoldhairdressers.com Londonbased trio playing politically-conscious post-punk music.

BONG AND HEADLESS KROSS 13th Note, Sat 11 May, 13thnote. co.uk Double-bill of stoner and doom metal bands.

J MASCIS St Luke’s, Mon 13 May, stlukesglasgow.com American singersongwriter, guitarist and member of Dinosaur Jr. performs his solo material.

DISTURBED O2 Academy, Mon 13 May, academymusicgroup.com Chicago metal band who suddenly found mainstream fame with their cover of ‘Sound of Silence’.

SWERVEDRIVER King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Tue 14 May, kingtuts.co.uk Return of the early 90s post-grungers who could out-riff many of the US bands they were inspired by.

THE BETHS Garage, Tue 14 May, garageglasgow.co.uk Indie pop outfit from New Zealand. Also Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Mon 13 May, sneakypetes.co.uk THEA GILMORE Òran Mór, Wed 15 May, oran-mor. co.uk Prolific singer-songwriter from Oxfordshire whose style is strongly influenced by Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Joni Mitchel FATHERSON O2 Academy, Sat 18 May, academymusicgroup.com Indie power-pop trio from Kilmarnock who’ve toured with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Idlewild.

THEE OH SEES Queen Margaret Union, Sun 19 May, qmunion.org.uk Spaced-out riffs from the West Coast’s psychedelic garage rock group.

Fatherson 102 THE LIST 1 Apr 2018–31 May 2019

GOODBYE MR MACKENZIE Garage, Wed 22 May, garageglasgow.co.uk Legendary Scottish band (with whom Shirley Manson first performed) celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags.

Also Beat Generator Live, Dundee, Fri 17 May, beatgenerator.co.uk; PJ Molloys, Dunfermline, Sat 18 May, pjmolloys.co.uk; The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Thu 23 May, aberdeenperformingarts.com; The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sun 26 May, liquidroom.com ALICE IN CHAINS Braehead Arena, Thu 23 May, braehead-arena.co.uk Heavy alternative rock by the band from Seattle, formed in 1987 by the guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. William DuVall has admirably stepped into the breach following Staley’s death in 2002. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club provide very able support.

SPIRITUALIZED Kelvingrove Bandstand, Thu 23 May, kelvingrovebandstand.org.uk Jason Pierce and his fellow spacemen beguile with their heartbreaking gospel symphonies and acid garage rock interludes.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Barrowland, Fri 24 May, barrowland-ballroom.co.uk Welsh heavy metal outfit fronted by Matt Tucker, with six albums under their belt.

Slam Dunk festival warm up show with Cancer Bats and Shvpes.

JULIANA HATFIELD CCA, Fri 24 May, cca-glasgow.com Ex-Blake Babies indie songbird who was the darling of the post-grunge scene in the 90s.

INTERPOL SWG3, Sun 26 May, swg3.tv Dark American indie-rock band fronted by Paul Banks, now on their sixth studio album.

DIDO Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sun 26 May, glasgowconcerthalls.com Return of bafflingly popular melancholic songstress and elevator music specialist best known for early-noughties singles ‘Life for Rent’ and ‘White Flag’.

GWENNO Hug & Pint, Wed 29 May, thehugandpint.com Singer-songwriter performing in her native Welsh and Cornish tongue. See preview, page 94.

RITA ORA SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Wed 29 May, thessehydro.com British pop R&B diva who has scored some huge hits with ‘RIP’ and ‘How We Do (Party)’.

EMMY THE GREAT King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Thu 30 May, kingtuts.co.uk Lo-fi London anti-folk songstress.

HIGHLIGHTS | MUSIC

EDINBURGH

EROL ALKAN Summerhall, Fri 24 May, sneakypetes.co.uk Sneaky Pete’s throw a party at Summerhall to welcome back the producer, DJ and label founder for an all night set.

TIM HECKER Summerhall, Tue 2 Apr, summerhall. co.uk Ambient drone and electronica sounds made up of live organ, bass rumbles and static.

HIDDEN DOOR FESTIVAL Leith Theatre, Thu 30 May–Sun 2 Jun, hiddendoorblog.org Artists of all stripes congregate for the interdisciplinary arts festival, which features dozens of cool musicians, bands, artists, filmmakers and poets.

See feature, page 30.

SEONAID AITKEN: A NIGHT WITH ELLA Gilded Balloon Basement, Tue 2 Apr, gildedballoon.co.uk Scottish jazz vocalist pays tribute to the First Lady of Song.

WEDDING PRESENT Summerhall, Fri 5 Apr, summerhall. co.uk Perennially popular archetypal 80s indie stalwarts fronted by David Gedge head out on their Hit Parade tour.

Also Beat Generator Live, Dundee, Thu 4 Apr, beatgenerator.co.uk WILKO JOHNSON Queen’s Hall, Fri 12 Apr, thequeenshall.net The redoubtable Dr Feelgood guitarist and band rock it up Canvey Island-style.

RETRO VIDEO CLUB Sneaky Pete’s, Fri 12–Sun 14 Apr, sneakypetes.co.uk Indie rock fourpiece from Edinburgh.

FREE LOVE Summerhall, Sat 20 Apr, summerhall.co.uk Glasgow-based experimental duo blending synthpop, electronica and disco.

TERMINAL V FESTIVAL Royal Highland Centre, Sat 20 Apr, terminalv.co.uk Dance and electronic music festival featuring Richie Hawtin’s first appearance in Edinburgh for 18 years. The line-up also includes Mella Dee, Mall Grab, Helena Hauff and Maceo Plex.

RICHARD ASHCROFT Usher Hall, Tue 23 Apr, usherhall. co.uk Ex-Verve frontman touring in support of new album Natural Rebel.

SUN RA ARKESTRA Summerhall, Wed 24 Apr, summerhall.co.uk Big band of late improviser Sun Ra performs jazz, swing and avant-garde freestyle.

PAPA ROACH Usher Hall, Wed 24 Apr, usherhall. co.uk American band led by singer Jacoby Shaddix, widely considered one of the leaders of the first wave of nu metal. Also Music Hall, Aberdeen, Thu 25 Apr, aberdeenperformingarts.com EDINBURGH TRADFEST Various venues, Fri 26 Apr–Mon 6 May, edinburghtradfest.com A feast

Anne-Marie

of folk arts across Scotland’s capital with a contemporary spin. This year’s highlights include Kathleen MacInnes, Fiona Hunter and Kaela Rowan. See feature, page 28.

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Jam House, Mon 29 Apr, thejamhouse.com Intimate show from the veteran thrash and progressive metal guitarist from Canada.

JAMES YORKSTON Summerhall, Thu 2 May, summerhall.co.uk Folk from the Fife musician. See Realist, page 7. Also Òran Mór, Fri 3 May, oran-mor. co.uk, Perth Theatre, Mon 1 Apr, horsecross.co.uk; Johnstone Community Library, Wed 22 May, whatsonrenfrewshire.co.uk; Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, Thu 23 May, whatsonayrshire.com; Tolbooth, Stirling, Fri 24 May, culturestirling.org WILDHEARTS The Liquid Room, Sat 4 May, liquidroom.com Old school good time rocking from the fondly regarded Wildhearts. Support comes from Massive Wagons and Towers of London (remember them?)

HEIDI TALBOT PRESENTS VÄSEN, FLORIANE BLANCKE & INGE THOMSON The Queen’s Hall, Sat 4 May, thequeenshall.net Folk musician Heidi Talbot performs alongside Swedish ensemble Väsen, French harpist Floriane Blancke and Scottish musician Inge Thomson.

DERRICK MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU Leith Theatre, Sat 4 May, leiththeatretrust.org No-nonsense Detroit techno grooves from Derrick May plus Dave Clarke, Steven Brown (live) and Brainstorm.

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 7 May, playhousetheatre.com Post-Oasis indie rock from Gallagher senior who is happy to dip into the Oasis back catalogue to bolster his set. Support from Gaz Coombes.

PATTY GRIFFIN The Queen’s Hall, Thu 9 May, thequeenshall.net Grammy award winning singer-songwriter bares her soul with her personal take on American folk.

THE UNTHANKS Pleasance, Sat 11 May, pleasance. co.uk Eccentric Geordie folk sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank sing in unaccompanied harmony. Also Paisley Arts Centre, Fri 10 May, whatsonrenfrewshire.co.uk THE GLENN HUGHES Queen’s Hall, Wed 15 May, thequeenshall.net Classic heavy rock vocalist who has fronted Trapeze, Deep Purple, Hughes/Thrall and Black Country Communion. This tour focuses on the Deep Purple years.

FLY OPEN AIR Hopetoun House, Sat 18 & Sun 19 May, flyopenair.co.uk Showcase of the world’s best DJs in unique locations around Scotland. The line-up for 2019 includes Sven Vath, Nina Kraviz, Peggy Gou, Seth Troxler and more.

FRIGG The Queen’s Hall, Sun 19 May, thequeenshall.net The FinnishNorwegian band plays folk music with elements of American bluegrass.

Also Tolbooth, Stirling, Fri 17 May, culturestirling.org ANNE-MARIE Usher Hall, Wed 29 May, usherhall. co.uk Blend of pop, electro, R&B and hip hop from the English singer.

LONDON ASTROBEAT ORCHESTRA: TALKING HEADS The Voodoo Rooms, Fri 31 May, thevoodoorooms.com The group teams up with West African musicians, fronted by Edd Bateman, to pay tribute to their favourite Talking Heads albums.

KYLE FALCONER The Liquid Room, Fri 31 May, liquidroom.com Solo material from The View frontman. Also The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Wed 29 May, aberdeenperformingarts.com; Fat Sam’s, Dundee, Thu 30 May, fatsams.co.uk

ARGYLL GIG IN THE GOIL Drimsynie House Hotel, Cairndow, Fri 17–Sun 19 May, facebook.com/ giginthegoil Boutique music festival in the heart of Argyll with an eclectic range of musicians performing over three stages, including headliners Donnie Munro and Trail West.

FALKIRK VIBRATION FESTIVAL Callendar Park, Falkirk, Sat 25 May, vibrationfestival.com Boutique familyfriendly music festival, whose 2019 line-up will feature Feeder, The Coral, Alabama 3 and more.

KIRRIEMUIR BONFEST Kirriemuir, Angus, Fri 3–Sun 5 May, bonfest.com Fans from all over the world descend on the sleepy town of Kirriemuir for a celebration of its most rock’n’roll son, AC/DC frontman Bon Scott. Live music comes from Back:N:Black, BS/RS, Cherry Bombz, Manson Hill, Haxan and more.

PERTH BE CHARLOTTE Perth Theatre, Fri 17 May, horsecross.co.uk Electro pop singersongwriter from Dundee.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 103

MUSIC | CLASSICAL

CL

ORCHESTRA

THE GLASGOW BARONS PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF COLIN MEARNS, THE HERALD AND TIMES GROUP

L A C I ASS

Govan and Linthouse Parish Church, Glasgow, Fri 19 Apr; Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow, Fri 31 May, Thu 20 Jun What’s next when you’ve started an orchestra from scratch in a war zone, and then successfully toured internationally? You write a book about it, of course. All of the above was achieved by Scottish conductor Paul MacAlindin whose Upbeat: The Story of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq was featured on both Radio 4 and at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. But what to do after that? Never one for the predictable, MacAlindin returned to Scotland, and settled in Govan where, as in Iraq, he’s given the community its own orchestra.

‘The simple idea’, he says, ‘is that I am creating an orchestra out on my doorstep.’ Although that sounds straightforward, The Glasgow Barons – the name comes from the old Govan shipbuilding owners – is much more complex and reaches right into the heart of a seriously deprived area.

The 2019 season features the core orchestra, but also brings local hip hoppers together with a 12-piece instrumental ensemble.

Songs of Govan Old is a project which commissions new songs alongside the Govan Reminiscence Group, and Musicians in Exile involves refugee musicians singing in Kurdish, Arabic and Farsi.

MacAlindin also brings local spaces to life through music.

‘There are a number of spaces which are right for putting on concerts,’ he says. Govan Old Parish Church has been tested, and a new piece by Alasdair Nicolson has been commissioned to celebrate the church's medieval Govan Stones. ‘I walked into Govan and Linthouse Parish Church, fresh from refurbishment, and thought that there’s nothing better than putting on the “St John Passion” here in Holy Week.’ Engaging with the parish minister and congregation, it’s an event which will be a performance in the format that Bach intended, so it will also be a religious service including a sermon and hymn singing by all.

(Carol Main)

CLASSICAL HIGHLIGHTS HITLIST SUNDAY CLASSICS: ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 7 Apr, usherhall.co.uk Pinchas Zuckerman brings the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to Edinburgh with Beethoven’s monumental Violin Concerto and two other orchestral favourites, Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.

TECTONICS GLASGOW City Halls and Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, glasgowconcerthalls.com A feast of international and local artists, composers and performers, from classical, experimental, rock, sound art, dance and visual art, curated by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s principal guest conductor Ilan Volkov and Alasdair Campbell of Counterflows.

104 THE LIST 1 Apr–31May 2019

GLASGOW SCOTTISH OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE Theatre Royal, Sat 4, Wed 8, Fri 10, Sun 12, Tue 14, Sat 18 May, atgtickets.com/venues/ theatre-royal-glasgow/ Impossible not to enjoy Sir Thomas Allen’s effervescent – and five star – production of Mozart favourite, The Magic Flute. Comedy, fantasy and pantomime combine in the opera’s search for wisdom, love and truth.

Watch out for rising star soprano Julia Sitkovetsky hitting the high notes as Queen of the Night. Also Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 5, Sun 9, Tue 11, Thu 13, Sat 15 Jun. BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA City Halls, Fri 17 May, glasgowconcerthalls.com/cityhalls One of the 20th century’s most brilliant showpieces, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra is studded with the rhythms and folk melodies of his native Hungary. Putting it alongside Brahms’ Piano Concerto No 1 makes for a particularly vibrant concert, especially with the great Elizabeth Leonskaja in the solo role.

EDINBURGH NYOS 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 12 Apr, usherhall.co.uk For the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, life doesn’t begin at 40, but very much began 40 years ago when this brilliant national youth orchestra and associated ensembles were founded. For their celebratory concerts, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is top of the bill, along with Rachmaninov’s wonderfully expressive Piano Concerto No 3 and soloist Steven Osborne.

Elim Chan conducts. Also Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 13 April.

SCO 18/19: BERLIOZ SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE & FAURÉ REQUIEM Usher Hall, Thu 9 May, usherhall.co.uk A passionate celebration of France brings the SCO’s season to a close, with French conductor Emmanuel Krivine in a very French programme of music, from Witches Sabbath and Berlioz’s vision of hell in his Symphonie Fantastique to the

Thømas Sondergård

gentle, intimate radiance of the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. Also City Halls, Glasgow, Fri 10 May. RSNO: SØNDERGÅRD CONDUCTS BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST Usher Hall, Fri 13 May, usherhall. co.uk What a way to end Thomas Søndergård’s first season as RSNO music director. The orchestra performs not just one Belshazzar’s Feast, but two, Søndergård pairing Sibelius orchestral suite with the more familiar Walton cantata for orchestra, baritone solo and chorus, both pieces based on the same biblical story. Also Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 1 Jun.

THEATRE

FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /THEATRE

RAMBERT2 Britain’s oldest modern dance company just got younger

PHOTO: FOTEINI CHRISTOFILOPOULOU

Following in the footsteps of Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Ailey II, Rambert Dance Company launched a company of emerging talent last July. And this vibrant off-shoot is embarking on its first UK tour. Populated by dancers aged 19–25, Rambert2 will perform works

by Rafael Bonachela, Sharon Eyal and Rambert’s artistic director, Benoit Swan Pouffer. One of 13 dancers recruited into Rambert2’s first cohort, Faye Stoeser feels the new troupe has a special something that differentiates it from the main company.

‘A lot of us came straight out of university or having had a year or two of experience, so we have this kind of buzz about us because we’re all young, fiery and ready to go,’ she says. ‘There are a lot of personalities within

the group, and we all come from different places and training backgrounds, so we bring all these experiences and cultures, which makes it really dynamic.’

The young company’s first line-up doesn’t take any prisoners, with choreography even seasoned dancers would find tricky to learn; in particular, the spellbindingly unique work of Sharon Eyal. ‘We had three weeks to re-stage Sharon’s piece, and I’m not going to lie, it was very hard,’ says Stoeser.

‘To completely embody a new way of moving and understand the essence of that style was hard, but a good challenge. And I think we do it well and bring our own spice to the piece, our own energy.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 105

COMING SOON

SCREENING

AGE

12A Fri 26 to Sat 28 April KING’S THEATRE

Thu 9 May FESTIVAL THEATRE

Sat 18 May FESTIVAL THEATRE

Sun 19 May FESTIVAL THEATRE

AGE

12A

‘Quite simply, the best family show I’ve seen’ Sky Arts

Based on the much-loved picture book

by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

LIVE ON STAGE

Illustrations © 1989 Helen Oxenbury from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Thu 23 May FESTIVAL THEATRE

Sat 25 to Sun 26 May FESTIVAL THEATRE

0131 529 6000

capitaltheatres.com

J457119_MKT_PRE_LIST AD_MAR19 v2.indd 1

25/03/2019 15:26

PREVIEWS | THEATRE

list.co.uk/theatre

PHOTO: COREY ARNOLD

EPIC THEATRE

LOST AT SEA

Perth Theatre, Thu 25–Tue 30 Apr, then touring Morna Young grew up on the north-east coast of Scotland and its landscape and Doric dialect informs her plays. Her work is tender and wry, with a bracing lack of sentimentality: Lost At Sea was inspired by the loss of her fisherman father and spans 40 years in the fishing industry. Originally commissioned for Eden Court in Inverness in 2014, it has now found a home at Perth Theatre with former Traverse Theatre artistic director Ian Brown directing an impressive cast of nine, including Andy Clark, Tam Dean Burn and Helen McAlpine.

'I had been talking about it with Eden Court's then-artistic director, Colin Marr, and we were talking about the epicness of the piece and how staging something so elemental can be tricky, and he suggested Ian Brown, mentioning his original production of Bondagers,’ says Young. ‘He represents a generation of Scottish plays that I think are quite epic, although that's a very different play – it's about the relationship the workers have with the land. I was lucky that Ian said, “I love it. Can I come to your village?” He needed to get a sense of place and that coastline.’

Young's work occupies a unique space, but she laughs when the issue of working-class representation in theatre is raised.

'I never set out to be a Scots language playwright, or workingclass voice, it's just that's my world. Because I had trained as a journalist, the obvious thing to me was to do interviews and collate that research. So my interest in the language side came from transcribing so many hours of audio . . . different cadences of voices, from one village to another. It's a big choral play, I spent a lot of time thinking how to capture the sea and the community around it. You can't really have that without the diversity of voices.' (Lorna Irvine)

PHOTO: LESLIE BLACK

BIOGRAPHY

CHIC MURRAY: A FUNNY PLACE FOR A WINDOW

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 9–Sat 13 Apr When someone writes the definitive story of Scottish comedy, Chic Murray should find himself with a prominent chapter. This Greenock-born absurdist genius is the subject of A Play, A Pie and A Pint production penned and directed by Stuart Hepburn, and starring Dave Anderson as the eponymous wag.

After its debut in 2018, Hepburn is determined not to lose the qualities which made that version work. ‘Plays are fragile beasts and you tamper with them at your peril,’ he says. ‘It was so well-received before by Chic’s family, the paying public and reviewers, that I observed the nostrum “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.’

In terms of where Murray resides in the pantheon of the great comics, Hepburn sees his place as sitting way beyond the borders of his own nation. ‘For me, Chic is one of the great unsung heroes, not of merely Scottish or even British comedy, but internationally,’ he insists. ‘Comics such as Steve Martin, Billy Connolly and Robin Williams have lauded his surreal genius. His body of work survives the passage of time unblemished and still proves exquisitely drawn and flinty sharp. In his life he never had the full recognition I believe he so richly deserved, so in the centenary of the great man’s birth, I hope my play can in some small way redress the balance.’ (Brian Donaldson)

MINI-FESTIVAL

POLITICAL KARAOKE

Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 1–Fri 31 May

Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 10 & Sat 11 May

MAYFESTO 2019

Now well established in the Glasgow theatre calendar, Mayfesto promises to engage with contemporary issues, emerging artists and new ways of making performance relevant and exciting.

For 2019, the theme of escapology includes a reimagining of Dario Fo’s anarchic blast against capitalism, Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay? from Glasgow’s champion of pantomime and cutting comedy, Johnny McKnight (now entitled Low Pay? Don’t Pay!), the return of Woke, Apphia Campbell’s Fringe-busting exploration of human rights across the generations, and Electrolyte, another Fringe success that examines mental health (see feature, page 36).

With two artists-in-residence – Eve Nicol and Andy Edwards – Mayfesto is dedicated to supporting new Scottish work, presenting brand new productions for the festival alongside a variety of scratch nights, works-in-progress and rehearsed readings that allow artists to experiment and audiences to experience something of the creative process in action.

Mayfesto has, as Andy Edwards observes ‘dreams, plots and plans. Chances to escape what you already know, but can we return with fresh purpose, open hands, new ideas, ready to go again?' (Gareth K Vile)

TURN THE NIGHT

‘I never imagined doing this when I was younger,’ Gav Prentice says. ‘I never attended theatre as a kid and it wasn't something that anyone I knew did either.

The only thing I can offer theatre is that experience as an outsider.’ Best known as a musician – whether as half of pop mavericks Over The Wall, leader of the politically minded Ultras, or as a solo artist – a theatre show represents a new challenge.

Prentice has explored Scottish identity before, in his collaboration with Kieran Hurley on 2014’s Rantin.

With Turn The Night – part of Mayfesto – the focus is on working-class urban communities such as the one Coatbridge-native Prentice was raised in. He wants to give an ‘honest explanation’ of these communities with all their glories and contradictions. ‘The best way to bring that out,’ he says, ‘was to show how a night out actually sounds to the vast majority of people in the central belt.’

Prentice takes the ritual of the karaoke night – usually 'American songs, washed down with absolutely loads of alcohol and with a bit of an edge of aggression’ - and transforms it through a series of characters who sing original songs about their lives.

He pauses and laughs at the picture he’s painted.

'I should make it clear though that the show is also supposed to be funny.’ (Craig Angus) 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 107

THEATRE | PREVIEWS FESTIVAL

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE 2019

Various venues, Glasgow and beyond, Sat 11 May–Sun 2 Jun Created in response to the closure of Glasgow’s Arches in 2015, Take Me Somewhere extends the legacy of alternative performance traditions in its third annual incarnation, spreading across multiple venues to remind Scotland that other visions are not only available but vibrant and crucial to the health of the arts and society.

Leading with an ‘Afro-Futurist performance party’ (Brownton Abbey, pictured, a celebration of intersectional artists promoting the sanctity of art), a Fringe-busting autobiographical analysis of abuse and gendered violence (Cock, Cock . . . who’s there) and a critique of pop culture inspired by Grace Jones’ exhilarating gigs (100% Pop), TMS is a reminder that performance not only reflects the cultures that inspire it, but presents new ways of thinking and being and considering them.

‘We like to think of it as a festival of “journeys”, encouraging us to move physically through the city and beyond,’ explains artistic director LJ Findlay-Walsh, ‘from Tramway’s iconic main stage, to gardens, urban back alleys and mountain ranges, from libraries to nightclubs, from gothic churches to disused post office buildings.

Across the festival, the multitude of artists provide a sense of the scope of modern live art, a genre that does defy boundaries and definitions, even by its own shifting and fluid definition.’

Although the contemporary performance practice that is at the heart of the curation can seem daunting, TMS demonstrates the flexibility and inclusivity at its core: as likely to be a party or gig as a scripted play or familiar choreography, TMS celebrates diversity and conversation, an explicit statement of the possibilities of joining together in a public space: as FindlayWalsh concludes, ‘it’s a coming-together, a celebration that allows us to consider, know, see and feel our present moment, informing how we move toward our future.’ (Gareth K Vile)

POETIC THEATRE

POLITICAL THEATRE

Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 11–Sat 13 Apr; Tue 4 & Wed 5 Jun, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; and touring

Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Wed 3–Sat 6 Apr

DRONE

Encasing Harry Josephine Giles’ poetry within Jamie Wardrop’s striking videography and a menacing soundscape from Neil Simpson, Drone sits comfortably within the emerging movement of spoken word artists expanding their performances into a more immersive, comprehensive theatrical experience.

‘Drone is about what it might feel like to be a military drone, who is also an office worker, who is also me,’ Giles explains. ‘I began writing it when I was doing work I didn't fully believe in that was even more complicit in enormous flows of global capital than I am now, and I began writing it when I hadn't fully admitted I was trans and, as we say, had Shit To Work Out.’ Despite the confronting content, Drone is more a subtle challenging of accepted ideas than a raw political commentary. ‘Political is so trendy,’ Giles continues. ‘There's nothing you can say that's radical enough to make people stop giving you money: you'd have to actually kill someone.’ The titular drone, however, is implicated in the system - ‘anxious, angry, broken, bad, responsible and failing, part human, part machine and all horror, she wants to change the world for the better.’ Uncompromising, intelligent and harnessing the power of technology, Drone is aimed at the heart and the head. (Gareth K Vile) 108 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

KITH

Kith, the latest production from Adam Gordon, is, he explains ‘about a young man called Dani, the son of a woman who fled conflict in the Balkans and ended up in Scotland. But she has kept her story from him, told him nothing of her past. Dani doesn’t feel he belongs anywhere, and when his mother dies, his sense of self goes into free-fall, and he has to embark on an odyssey to find out who he is and where he belongs.’

Themes of migration and identity are certainly contemporary, but Gordon doesn’t necessarily see Kith as an attempt to explore a set of ideas. ‘I’m not sure it’s about “discussion”: stories are experiential, not intellectual, and story takes over where intellect fails. To tell the story of a person in ways that reach us emotionally, viscerally – that’s how you open up someone’s point of view.’

‘When people look back, I believe that the story of our century will be one of displacement,’ Gordon continues. ‘Kith,in its original sense, refers not to family but to the land where you grew up, in a time when farming, hunting and foraging meant that you were much more intimately bound to it. Climate change, war and globalisation are rewriting that story in ways we don’t understand yet.’

Gordon adds: ‘ I hope that Kith is poignant, and the root of that word is poignarder, the French for ‘to stab’. So, I hope it’s a stab in the gut, visceral and beautiful. Ideas come later.’ (Gareth K Vile)

DANCE | PREVIEWS

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

10 SOLDIERS

PHOTO: EMMA KAULDHAR

E C N DA

NARRATIVE BALLET

NORTHERN BALLET

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 10–Sat 13 Apr ‘When you look at Victoria as a person, the empire, the reign, the queen, the mother, the wife; it’s almost 100 years of world history,’ says choreographer Cathy Marston, describing the challenge of making her new biographical dance for Northern Ballet. ‘It’s probably enough material for at least ten ballets.’

Sadly, Marston was only commissioned to create one, so we’ll have to make do with that. To be fair, she’s packed a lot in, having worked alongside dramaturg Uzma Hameed to cherrypick the most important people and aspects of Queen Victoria’s life. ‘Uzma and I wrote anything that we found interesting – whether that be an image, a historical point, a character or an event – on Post-it notes and stuck them all over my living room,’ recalls Marston. ‘From there, we slowly began to group them together and filter them down. We couldn’t include everything, but there are certain characters like Albert who are really crucial, as well as her nine children.’

One child in particular sits squarely at the centre of Marston’s ballet. Victoria’s youngest child, Princess Beatrice, was four years old when her father died, and spent much of her childhood wrapped in her mother’s grief. ‘During my research I read that when Albert died, Victoria ran to Beatrice’s bedroom, gathered her sleeping daughter in her arms, wrapped her in Albert’s dressing gown and took her into her bed,’ says Marston.

‘Beatrice was only a young child at the time and, after that, Victoria never really let go of her. After Victoria’s death, Beatrice took on the task of editing the diary her mother kept throughout her life. This struck me as interesting because Beatrice had only really known her mother as the widow in black. Her journey re-discovering her mother must have been incredibly emotional, and imagining this felt inspiring to me.’ (Kelly Apter)

CONTEMPORARY

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 30 May

SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE

As any military unit knows, the more personnel you have, the bigger the impact.

So when choreographer Rosie Kay was given the chance to double the size of her award-winning 2016 work, 5 Soldiers, she jumped at it.

‘Originally there were only five because that’s all I could afford,’ explains Kay. ‘But we had to work really hard to make them look like a full army unit. Then Fiona Allan, artistic director of Birmingham Hippodrome, saw the show and said ‘I could see ten soldiers on our large stage.’ And I thought wow, not only is she supporting us growing the piece but she’s going to put it on one of the biggest stages in the country.’

With that support in place, Kay went back to the drawing board, reading over old notes from her time training with the Army, and adding in a whole new section about the transition from civilian to soldier. Continued help and interaction from the Army itself also gave Kay new content to work with.

‘One of the big things the Army has been working hard on is its equality for women and ethnic diversity,’ she explains. ‘They’re certainly not there yet, but it’s heartening to see them have really clear targets.’

As a result, 10 Soldiers has grown from having one female dancer to two, and incorporating a male dancer of Indian heritage and one who is mixed race. ‘When you’ve got five more dancers, you can have five more stories,’ says Kay, ‘so I’ve had a chance to look at a few more issues as well.’ (Kelly Apter)

‘When you go on a first date, you don’t decide beforehand how many kids you want and what their names are,’ says Emanuel Gat, explaining his choreography process. ‘I bring my own experience and tools for working, but I’m not interested in creating clones of how I move. I want to pull them out of their habits, make them think, see what languages they use.’

The Israeli choreographer recently spent a fortnight in Dundee, where he was workshopping and rehearsing 12 individual dances with Scottish Dance Theatre as part of a special collaboration. His brand-new work The Circle will premiere in Dundee alongside Colette Sadler’s RITUALIA (pictured).

Gat describes the group of 12 dancers as, ‘like a football team, all pulling together’, combining their different styles. With voluptuous, baroquely detailed costumes specially commissioned for The Circle and designed by Thomas Bradley (a young Australian dancer in Emanuel Gat Dance company) and an electronic soundtrack by Squarepusher, Gat is excited to see how the elements come together. ‘I have certain precise rules and clear aims that I want to convey to the dancers, but I don’t like to control it. It’s a process of observing, then changing things. It’s a pleasure to work with hard working dancers who know each other well, but find ways to present them in a different light.’ (Claire Sawers)

110 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

Dundee Rep, Fri 3 & Sat 4 May; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May

HIGHLIGHTS | THEATRE

THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW

WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF Tramway, Tue 9–Sat 13 Apr, corabissett.co.uk Cora Bissett’s autobiographical show about the highs and lows of her career as lead singer of indie-rock outfit Darlingheart, based on her teenage diaries. Also touring, see list.co.uk/theatre for details.

CASABLANCA Òran Mór, Mon 22–Sat 27 Apr, playpiepint.com Loose and ‘lovingly disrespectful’ homage to the sweeping Bogart and Bergman romantic classic, set in French Morocco in 1941. Also Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 30 Apr–Sat 4 May, playpiepint.com LOW PAY? DON’T PAY! Platform, Sun 19 May, platformonline.co.uk Reworking of Dario Fo’s 1970s farce about a group of women who take action against low wages and rising prices, which re-imagines the action in present-day Glasgow. See preview, page 107.

CUCKOO Tramway, Wed 22 May, tramway. org Journey through the last 20 years of Korean history and the problems facing young Koreans today, as recounted by talkative rice cookers.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Tron Theatre, Wed 29 May–Sat 1 Jun, tron.co.uk Imaginative rendition of Carroll’s timeless classic by the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, Ireland’s longest running theatre ensemble.

HITLIST

SCOTTISH BALLET: SPRING! Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sat 6 Apr, scottishballet.co.uk Double-bill in celebration of Scottish Ballet’s 50th anniversary year, featuring Dextera by Sophie Laplane and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations. See feature, page 50. Also Edinburgh Festival

LOCAL HERO Royal Lyceum Theatre, until Sat 4 May, lyceum.org.uk Wry comedy about a man who comes to buy a beach and ends up falling in love with a village, based on the film by Bill Forsyth.

KITH Assembly Roxy, Wed 3 Apr–Sat 6 Apr, assemblyfestival.com Modernday folktale about a Glaswegian man who discovers secrets from his mother’s past after she passes away, and embarks on a journey to Eastern Europe to discover the truth. See preview, page 108.

25 May, traverse.co.uk Theatrical storytelling from Annie George and visual artist Flore Gardner which interweaves a contemporary tale with the Greek myth of Philomela.

RAMBERT2 King’s Theatre, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, rambert.org.uk Rambert’s new ensemble of young contemporary dancers perform Benoit Swan Pouffer’s Grey Matter, Rafael Bonachela’s E2

7SD and Sharon Eyal’s Killer Pig. See preview, page 105.

SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE: DOUBLE BILL Traverse Theatre, Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, scottishdancetheatre.com Double-bill of works, pairing Colette Sadler’s RITUALIA and Emanuet Gat’s The Circle. See preview, page 110.

Also touring, see list.co.uk/dance for details.

PHOTO: NICOLA SELBY

DUPED Tron Theatre, Thu 4–Sat 6 Apr, tron. co.uk Play about the foundation and legacy of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party, based on interviews from campaigners, activists and journalists. Also touring, see list. co.uk/theatre for details.

EDINBURGH

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP: PEPPERLAND Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 5 & Sat 6 Apr, markmorrisdancegroup. org Dance celebration of the Beatles’ iconic album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. See Big Picture, page 17.

NORTHERN BALLET: VICTORIA Festival Theatre, Wed 10–Sat 13 Apr, northernballet.com Northern Ballet’s biopic about Queen Victoria and her passionate love for her husband, Albert. See preview, page 110.

LOCKER ROOM TALK Traverse Theatre, Tue 23 & Wed 24 Apr, traverse.co.uk Political drama ‘inspired’ by comments made by Donald Trump during his campaign.

A provocative exploration of how men speak about women in men-only spaces. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ theatre for details.

THE WAKE UP CALL Assembly Roxy, Thu 25 Apr, assemblyfestival.com Theatre piece centred around the importance of a good night’s sleep and the difficulties of getting proper rest in our fastpaced, unstable world.

TWA Traverse Theatre, Fri 24 & Sat

Theatre, Thu 2–Sat 4 May, scottishballet.co.uk ELECTROLYTE Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 14 May, wildcardtheatre.co.uk Gig theatre exploring mental health for a contemporary audience, which follows a young girl who meets an ambitious singer-songwriter.

See feature, page 36. Also

Scottish Ballet: Spring!

Tron Theatre, Wed 15–Sat 18 May, wildcardtheatre. co.uk LOST AT SEA King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 20–Wed 22 May, mornayoung.com A young woman returns home to her fishing village looking for answers about her father’s death. See preview, page 107. Also

touring, see list.co.uk/ theatre for details.

COCK COCK… WHO’S THERE? The Art School, Glasgow, Thu 23 May, takemesomewhere. co.uk Docu-performance

by Samira Elagoz about her attempts to relate to men after being raped. See preview, page 108.

ROSIE KAY: TEN SOLDIERS Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 30 May, rosiekay.co.uk Ten years after her award-winning work 5 Soldiers, Rosie Kay returns with an expanded version, another athletic dance piece exploring modern issues in the British Army. See preview, page 110.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 111

TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /TV

GAME OF THRONES World-conquering fantasy draws to a close HBO’s sword and sorcery epic is hurtling towards the final clash for power over who rules Westeros. The pieces are all in place: Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) have sealed their union (which looks like it could open its own can of worms); Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) is raiding the coffers to defend her power in King’s Landing; with the Wall having fallen, the White Walkers (complete with zombie dragon) will be attacking from the north.

Unsurprisingly, HBO are keeping season-eight details under lock and key. We’ve overtaken the plot of George RR Martin’s novels so it’s a mystery to everyone except the cast and crew. What you can guarantee is the final war for the Iron Throne will be brutal. Remember this is Game of Thrones, so expect multiple deaths, shocks, blood and gore until the closing minutes of this six-episode denouement.

However, HBO aren’t quite done with its most popular show, as a prequel looks to be first out the blocks, created by Martin and screenwriter Jane Goldman, with Naomi Watts, Ivanno Jeremiah, Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough and Josh Whitehouse already cast for the pilot.

‘Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the Age of Heroes into its darkest hour,’ teases HBO in its official synopsis. ‘From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: it’s not the story we think we know.’ (Henry Northmore) ■ Sky Atlantic, Mon 15 Apr.

112 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

PREVIEWS | TELEVISION

list.co.uk/tv

DIVINE COMEDY

HIGHLIGHTS VEEP – SEASON 7 Sky Atlantic, Wed 3 Apr, 10.10pm The sharpest satire on TV but sadly the last ever series of Armando Iannucci’s political sitcom set in the White House, starring Julia LouisDreyfus.

BARRY – SEASON 2 Sky Atlantic, Wed 3 Apr, 10.45pm Superdark comedy about a hitman who wants to become an actor. Brilliant, funny, painful and sometimes moving work from star and cocreator Bill Hader.

SCOT SQUAD – SERIES 5 BBC Scotland, Thu 4 Apr, 10pm Scottish cop comedy with a new chief (John-Gordon Sinclair as Chief Harry Cope) coming in to take charge of the team.

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA – SEASON 2 Netflix, Fri 5 Apr The cool and classy reboot of Sabrina The Teenage Witch returns.

The TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic fantasy-comedy Good Omens, starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant, has been hotly anticipated. David Pollock whets our appetites ahead of its launch

'I

first read Good Omens as a teenager and it’s been one of my favourite stories ever since,’ said Michael Sheen at the official launch of the television adaptation of the fantasy novel by two of the genre’s most famed creators.

‘To be part of the team entrusted with bringing it alive on screen is a bit of a dream come true, to be honest.’ Considering Terry Gilliam tried for many years to adapt it as a film – reportedly with Johnny Depp and Robin Williams in the lead roles – it’s fair to call this series ‘muchanticipated’.

Sheen’s experience no doubt mirrors that of most people as they first discovered the 1990 fantasy novel; co-written by the late Terry Pratchett and his spiritual heir Neil Gaiman, Good Omens was perfect teen fantasy, conjured by two writers with one foot in the open-eyed wonder of childhood and another in the realism and black humour of encroaching adulthood. It’s a story of the birth of the son of Satan and the oncoming end of the world, but don’t worry – it’s a comedy.

For many, it’s enough of a selling point that this is an adaptation of a work by Pratchett (who died in 2015, and remains most well-known for both his Discworld series and his thoughtful, eloquent public persona) and Gaiman, the creator of DC / Vertigo’s graphic novel series The Sandman and now an established fantasy author himself. Of the two, Gaiman’s works are more familiar on the screen; film fantasies Stardust (2007), Coraline (2009) and the Nicole Kidman-starring How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2018) were all based on his stories.

Yet for the general public, Good Omens has to be watched simply for the breadth and quality of the cast. The leads are Sheen and David Tennant as Aziraphale and Crowley, an angel and a demon respectively, who enjoy their mortal lives on earth and don’t wish to see the destruction

of everything that the Anti-Christ will wreak, setting out instead to prevent his coming.

Elsewhere, the slow drip of cast reveals has been a godsend (pun intended) for genre website clicks; Mad Men’s John Hamm is the Archangel Gabriel; Miranda Richardson is the medium Madame Tracy; Brian Cox is the voice of Death; Frances McDormand is the voice of God and Benedict Cumberbatch the voice of Satan.

There are also roles for Jack Whitehall, Derek Jacobi, Parks & Recreation’s Nick Offerman, Josie Lawrence, This is Spinal Tap!’s Michael McKean and The League of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton and Mark Gatiss, while all six episodes are directed and coexecutive produced by Scottish director Douglas Mackinnon, whose credits include a number of episodes of Doctor Who, as well as work on Sherlock and Outlander. ‘Ironically, given that it’s a timeless novel,’ says Mackinnon, ‘the Good Omens story stretches from the beginning . . . to quite near the end of time.’

Gaiman himself is writer and showrunner of the series. ‘If you are looking for actors to play two of the best-loved characters you and Terry Pratchett ever created, then, if you are very lucky and have been very good, you will get Michael Sheen and David Tennant to bring them to life,’ he said of the project when it was announced.

‘The best Welsh actor of his generation gets to be an angel, the best Scottish actor of his, a demon.

Terry and I wrote Good Omens – I like to think it’s one of the funniest novels ever written about the end of the world and how we’re all going to die – almost 30 years ago. It’s strange that it feels more relevant now than it ever did before. I only wish that Terry could be here to see it come to life with such a fantastic team.’

Good Omens launches on Amazon Prime on Fri 31 May.

KILLING EVE – SEASON 2 BBC Two, Apr (date tbc) So where next for Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's explosive assassin thriller. No UK air date confirmed as yet but it starts in the States on 7 Apr so expect something similar.

GAME OF THRONES – SEASON 8 Sky Atlantic, Mon 15 Apr, 2am Winter is coming in the final six episodes. George RR Martin's fantasy comes to an end; expect dragons, deaths and drama. See preview, page 112.

CHERNOBYL Sky Atlantic, Tue 7 May, 10pm Five-part miniseries based on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Featuring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley.

RIVIERA – SEASON 2 Sky Atlantic, Thu 23 May Glam crime thriller, created by Neil Jordan and starring Julia Stiles. Season 1 was a load of old nonsense but we have to admit it was pretty damn entertaining nonsense, none the less.

GOOD OMENS Amazon Prime, Fri 31 May Michael Sheen, David Tennant and John Hamm star in this adaptation of Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic comedy novel. See feature, left.

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 113

THE QUEEN’S GALLERY EDINBURGH

Y/OUR LINEN STORIES 2019

Contemporary Design in Flax & Linen From Scotland & Our Nearest European Linen Neighbours

Every Saturday 10am - 4pm throughout May & June Selkirk | Lisburn | Grantown | Leith | Kirkcaldy And Introducing Linen Works Kirkcaldy by Journeys in Design

See full details & learn more on our website: www.ourlinenstories.com 114 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

MEET THE KING WHO BUILT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

23 NOVEMBER 2018 – 2 JUNE 2019 www.rct.uk 0303 123 7306

VISUAL ART FOR THE LATEST NEWS, LISTINGS AND REVIEWS, GO TO LIST.CO.UK /VISUALART

BORDERLINES PHOTO: PART OF BORDERLINES, 2019, EXHIBITION VIEW COURTESY TALBOT RICE GALLERY

As Brexit looms large, this group show of international artists explores the concept of borders Whatever state we’re in, the international language of art continues to break down international walls. This of-the-moment group show brings together 12 artists to map out a world of possibilities. It goes beyond delusions of empire to chart the means of production in motion, as natural resources are colonised to keep the economy afloat.

Lonnie van Brummelen and Siebren de Haan’s ‘Monument of Sugar’ (2007) is a striking sleight of hand which places blocks of sugar beneath a 67-minute film charting a journey that subverted trade barriers. Two other pieces by the duo, ‘Monument to Another Man’s Fatherland’ (2008–2009) and ‘Episode of the Sea’ (2014) focus respectively on Turkish migrants hoping to move to Germany and the Urk fishing community in the Netherlands.

Mona Vatamanu and Florin Tudor’s ‘Le monde et les choses’ (2014) is a map of commodities instead of countries, hung opposite Amelia Pica’s ‘Joy in Paperwork’ (2016), featuring 402 images made from passport-style stamps. Rosella Biscotti’s ‘The Journey’ (2016) charts the epic consequences of dropping an object into the sea.

Ghosts of very real divides haunt ‘Between (Where the Roads Between Derry and Donegal Cross the Border)’ (2019), Willie Doherty’s haunting study of all points between County Donegal and Derry where roads cross the border separating the Republic and Northern Ireland. In ‘Black Flag’ (2015), Santiago Sierra turns the world upside down through images of anarchist flags planted at the North and South Poles to suggest a new republic.

Khvay Samnang’s ‘Preah Kunlong (The Way of the Spirit)’ (2017) films tribal rituals in Cambodia, Ruth E Lyons’ ‘Salarium (230 million BCE-ongoing)’ is a series of salt bowls that mine ancient resources, while Lara Almarcegui’s ‘Mineral Rights (Tveitvsngen)’ (2015) is a slideshow that cuts to the core of the land beneath us.

In ‘Troika Fiscal Disobedience Consultancy’ (2016/2019), Núria Güell sets up a pseudo corporate DIY guide to civil disobedience where the clocks on the wall for different countries all tell the same time. That time is now. (Neil Cooper) ■ Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 4 May ●●●●●

1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 115

VISUAL ART | REVIEWS PHOTO: COURTESY THE ARTIST; LéVY GORVY, NEW YORK, LONDON; AND THOMAS ERBEN GALLERY, NEW YORK. PHOTO: HARMON OUTLAW

SCULPTURE

SENGA NENGUDI

Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 26 May ●●●●● Prior to closing for redevelopment in May, the Fruitmarket hosts a survey show by the African-American artist Senga Nengudi curated by the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds. Now in her 70s, Nengudi is enjoying belated recognition after 40 years of work addressing themes of race and gender; 2017 saw her included in both the Venice Biennale and the Armory Show in New York.

In 1969, she set out to challenge the hard-edged geometric minimalism of the time with her ‘Untitled Water Compositions’, vinyl tubes filled with coloured water which look like giant ice-poles.

They’re cheerful, tactile and have a sense of humour (something minimalism isn’t renowned for).

Nengudi’s sculptures often use materials which are hard to preserve: water, sand, newsprint, nylon. ‘Sandmining’ is a recent work, sculpted on the floor in sand and pigment, referencing modernism and abstract expressionism. ‘Bulemia’ is a room covered with newspapers, referencing an artistic utopia she dreamt up with a friend, the pages selected for their positive messages – ‘the way we are’, ’empire in transition’, ‘family before fame’.

In 1977, Nengudi began to make sculptures using tights stretched and weighted down with sand to create anthropological forms.

She says she liked the way the material mirrored the flexibility and resilience of the body – and being able to pack an entire exhibition in her handbag. These works are clever and quirky, managing to address themes of race and gender with the lightest of touches.

Her subsequent shift into performance was a natural progression and the remaining works here are photographs of the costumes and props she made for performances using rubber, paper, wire and (ubiquitously) tights. These works are ephemeral, but that doesn’t mean they’re not clever or profound. Nengudi’s work strikes a chord today with its themes, its materials and, perhaps particularly, its ability to retain its sense of humour. (Susan Mansfield)

PHOTO: SALLY JUBB

MULTIMEDIA

ANNE-MARIE COPESTAKE

Cooper Gallery, Dundee, until Sat 13 Apr ●●●●● Dundee’s Cooper Gallery is the first public institution to host a solo show by artist Anne-Marie Copestake.

Looking in either direction the whole street was filled with people, some singing, moving towards x . . . is an exploration of human communication in the everyday via sculptures, prints, installations and more.

The site-specific works here came to fruition through Copestake’s research into loss, grief and the desire for recognition of unacknowledged lives.

'Sacks' is made up of three paper sculptures, presented alongside text which conveys everyday scenarios. Copestake sees language and images as intrinsic to the formation of a community where life is not experienced in solitude, and the sentiments expressed by the works are evidence of that.

Audio is subtly incorporated throughout the space, while videos play silently as a way to explore the fabric of language and notions of presence and absence. Her well-known video work 'Trigger tonic' is a series of recorded interviews between artists, emphasising Copestake’s preference for collaborative, communicative engagement. Ultimately, Looking in either direction . . .sees the artist take on a multimedia investigation into how we observe and respond to the world around us. (Arabella Bradley) 116 THE LIST 1 Apr–31May 2019

INSTALLATION

KRIS LEMSALU: BIKER, BRIDE, BUILDER, BUSINESSWOMAN AND BABY Tramway, Glasgow, until Sat 13 Apr ●●●●●

There is a disaster in Tramway 2. The room is full of a choppy sea, upon which the wreckage of somebody’s life is floating. A flock of ceramic birds are frozen in the act of gathering up wave-like folds of blue fabric. This foaming disaster scene could be a personal tragedy. Or it could be a technicolour premonition in which the other creatures of the earth return to clear up the mess that humanity has left.

For the opening night, Estonian artist Kris Lemsalu is present. In fact, she is screwed down to a wooden armature, keeping perfectly still in a scarlet robe. Her endurance holds much in common with the statue impersonators who populate Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

It’s difficult to suspend disbelief: ceramic birds can’t fly without strings and waves can’t crash without armatures to hold them up. There are few clues as to how and why this scene has been captured in suspense, but perhaps there is nothing to be solved.

The situation here is too glamorous and colourful to be another re-imagining of the drab post-apocalyptic wasteland that has quietly embedded in our psyches of late. There is a considerately placed park bench overlooking this catastrophe. Why not sit down and just enjoy the spectacle? (Jessica Ramm)

GROUP SHOW

DOMESTIC BLISS

GoMA, Glasgow, until 31 Dec 2020 ●●●●● Gallery 4 at GoMA has opened for the first time in a number of years for significant museum collection show, Domestic Bliss. The exhibition provides an exploration of domestic labour, feminism, public versus private space, intimate relationships and historical narratives.

Functional domestic objects like Niki de Saint Phalle’s ‘Vache Vase’ – which at first looks more like a sculptural work – sits on a plinth painted to evoke a cabinet, placing emphasis on the object’s function in the domestic realm. The allusion to the domestic space is evident throughout the entire gallery space, with the addition of imagined interiors: a video shown on an old TV set with mid-century chairs to watch from, and a fireplace painted on the wall.

A key theme of the exhibition is women at work: in the home and in the workplace. Photographs by Oscar Marzaroli show painter Joan Eardley working in her Glasgow studio, and two photographs by Jo Spence – ‘Early Mother’ (1985) and ‘Love on a Plate’ (1989) – present mother-daughter relationships by documenting the roles women are expected to play in society. Domestic Bliss is an exhibition about challenging the values of domesticity that society encourages us to emulate in our own lives, and certainly leaves you with plenty to ponder.

(Arabella Bradley)

HIGHLIGHTS | VISUAL ART

VISUAL ART HIGHLIGHTS Events are listed by city, then date.

Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW KRIS LEMSALU Tramway, tramway.org, until Sun 14 Apr Sculptural installations from the Estonian artist, evoking the bestial side of humanity. See review, page 116.

LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, glasgowlife.org.uk/ museums/venues/kelvingroveart-gallery-and-museum, until Mon 6 May A look at the drawings of Leonardo, one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.

SHADI HABIB ALLAH: FREE REIN CCA, cca-glasgow.com, Sat 20 Apr–Sun 2 Jun An exhibition exploring the legacy of government welfare and the hidden economy of corner shops.

THE GERMAN REVOLUTION: EXPRESSIONIST PRINTS Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, gla.ac.uk/hunterian/, until Sun 25 Aug Prints from important German artists working between 1918 and 1919, including Schiele, Klinger, Kokoschka, Munch, Dix, SchmidtRottluff, Nolde, Beckmann and Käthe Kollwitz.

EDINBURGH SOMETIMES I DISAPPEAR Ingleby Gallery, inglebygallery. com, until Sat 13 Apr Work from contemporary woman artists who work with self-portraiture conventions but avoid or confront the viewer's gaze: Cindy Sherman, Francesca Woodman, Oana Stanciu and Zanele Muholi ANNE-MARIE COPESTAKE: LOOKING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE WHOLE STREET WAS FILLED

HITLIST

BORDERLINES Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, ed.ac.uk/ talbot-rice, until Sat 4 May Group exhibition about the concept of borders, with work from Lara Almarcegui, Rossella Biscotti, Lonnie van Brummelen & Siebren de Haan, Willie Doherty, Nuria Güell, Ruth E Lyons, Amalia Pica, Khvay

Anna Ray 'Tassel', The Fourth Cordis Prize for Tapestry

WITH PEOPLE, SOME SINGING, MOVING TOWARDS X...

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, dundee.ac.uk/ cooper-gallery/, until Sat 13 Apr First solo exhibition by Anne-Marie Copestake, focusing on capturing the politics of the collective in everyday life through sculptures, print and installations. See review, page 116.

ROBOTS National Museum of Scotland, nms.ac.uk/national-museum-ofscotland/, until Sun 5 May New major exhibition developed by the Science Museum that looks at our 500-year quest to make robots human.

THE FOURTH CORDIS PRIZE FOR TAPESTRY Royal Botanic Garden, rbge.org. uk, until Mon 27 May Work by the finalists of the biggest international award for tapestry.

ORLA KIELY: A LIFE IN PATTERN Dovecot Studios, dovecotstudios. com, until Sat 29 Jun Exhibition of the works of designer Orla Kiely, whose flat style and colourful palette have become very popular.

AMBIT: PHOTOGRAPHIES FROM SCOTLAND Stills, stills.org, Sat 13 Apr–Sun 23 Jun A partnership between Glasgow's Street Level Photoworks

Samnang, Santiago Sierra, Mona Vatamanu and Florin Tudor. See review, page 115.

SENGA NENGUDI The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, fruitmarket. co.uk, until Sun 26 May A comprehensive overview of the career of the trailblazing American artist, with some of her best-known works from

and Edinburgh's Stills, this exhibition showcases works by emerging Scottish photographers.

PETRA BAUER AND SCOT-PEP: WORKERS! Collective, collective-edinburgh. art, Sat 13 Apr–Sun 30 Jun A film collaboration between Swedish artist Bauer and sex worker-led collective SCOT-PEP. TRAVELLING GALLERY: DISPLACED Inch Community Centre, travellinggallery.com, Tue 14 May Artists respond to the theme of global migration and the refugee crisis in the latest Travelling Gallery exhibition.

THE LONG LOOK Scottish National Portrait Gallery, nationalgalleries.org/ visit/scottish-national-portraitgallery, Sat 25 May–Sun 27 Oct A collaboration between the painter Audrey Grant and the photographer and printmaker Norman McBeath, exploring the art of portraiture.

OUT OF TOWN DAVID AUSTEN: UNDERWORLD Dundee Contemporary Arts, dca. org.uk, until Sun 9 Jun British artist David Austen presents the full breadth of his work for the first time in Scotland. The exhibition, Underworld,

the 1970s to the present.

See review, page 116.

DOMESTIC BLISS Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, glasgowlife. org.uk/museums/ venues/gallery-ofmodern-art-goma, until Thu 31 Dec An exhibition which brings together work from Glasgow Museums’ collection to look at the

aims to create a mythical space and journey with works in a range of media from oil paintings to cinematic projections.

AS WE SEE IT: TWENTIETH CENTURY SCOTTISH ART The McManus, Dundee, mcmanus. co.uk, until Tue 31 Dec Work by Scottish artists who investigated new means of making art during the 20th century, including John Houston, William Johnstone, Joan Eardley, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, James Morrison and Will Maclean.

VIDEOGAMES: DESIGN/PLAY/ DISRUPT V&A Museum of Design Dundee, vam.ac.uk/Dundee, Sat 20 Apr– Sun 8 Sep Exhibition focusing on the design aspect of video games.

Exploring the work that has been done in the area since the mid2000s, this exhibition, alongside a series of events, talks, commissions and workshops, reflects on the complexity of video games and the international debates surrounding them. See feature, page 48.

MARTIN BOYCE Mount Stuart House and Gardens, Bute, mountstuart.com, Sat 2 May–Mon 18 Nov Outdoor sculpture inspired by the former existence on the grounds of a tennis court.

history of the building as a former house, Royal Exchange and civic space.

See review, page 116.

VICTORIA CROWE City Art Centre, Edinburgh, edinburghmuseums. org.uk/venue/cityart-centre, Sat 18 May–Sun 13 Oct A major retrospective of the work of

artist Victoria Crowe, with over 150 paintings from all periods of her career.

Victoria Crowe

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ART & DESIGN Here we take a look at some of the places supporting the making and development of art across Scotland – from world-leading public access production facilities including the extraordinary North Lands Creative centre for glass in Caithness, and a sneak preview of the eagerly anticipated Edinburgh Printmakers new home in Fountainbridge, to the inspiring tranquility of artist residency spaces such as Cove Park, cocurator of this year’s Scotland + Venice presentation. With all these places on our doorstep, no wonder we’re such a creative lot . . .

2019

Let’s Get Making ...

A directory of open-access facilities across Scotland

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GLASS NORTH LANDS CREATIVE A world-leading glass studio in northern Scotland. Facilities include a general and mould area, hot shop, kiln room, sandblasting room, air-powered grinding tools, a lamp-working station and a cold working and finishing shop. Professional membership costs £50 a year and includes studio access, specialist equipment and support from NLC’s technical team.

■ Quatre Bras, Lybster. Facilities open by appointment. Courses from £680. northlandscreative.co.uk

PRINTMAKING DUNDEE CONTEMPORARY ARTS: PRINT STUDIO DCA’s Print Studio houses everything from a Victorian relief press to 3D printers and a laser cutter. Register to access facilities by completing a course or one-to-one tuition. Once registered you can use the Print Studio at any time for a daily fee (plus equipment fees for some of the largeformat equipment).

■ 152 Nethergate, Dundee. Tue–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri & Sat 11am–6pm. Courses from £25. dca.org.uk/visit/print-studio

EDINBURGH PRINTMAKERS Castle Mills, Edinburgh Printmakers’ new home, is set to be one of the largest artist printmaking facilities in Europe. To become a member and gain access to their studio, you must either be an experienced printmaker or have successfully completed an education course. Studio sessions start at £9 for 4 hours.

■ 2 Gilmore Park, Edinburgh. Tue–Thu 10am–9pm; Fri & Sat 10am–6pm. Courses from £40. edinburghprintmakers.co.uk

GLASGOW PRINT STUDIO Artist membership is taken out annually and allows access to the impressive workshop facilities, with additional session fees starting at £3 an hour. Membership applications from artists with printmaking experience are welcome, while beginners are encouraged to attend GPS courses before working independently.

■ 103 Trongate, Glasgow. Tue–Thu 10am–9pm; Fri & Sat 10am–5.30pm.

Courses from £70. gpsart.co.uk

HIGHLAND PRINT STUDIO Extensive printmaking studios and a recently upgraded digital suite, with facilities for high-spec digital imaging, large-format photographic printing and high-resolution scanning. Experienced printmakers can use the facilities after completing a one-hour induction and registering as a member (starting at £50 annually). Refreshers with less recent experience may need some top-up tuition (£34 per hour one-to-one).

■ 20 Bank Street, Inverness. Tue–Sat 10am–1pm, 2pm–6pm. Courses from £75. highlandprintstudio.co.uk

PEACOCK VISUAL ARTS The main centre for contemporary art in Aberdeen – with open-access workshops for printmaking, photography and digital media, in addition to an impressive gallery

programme. Artists can use facilities independently for modest prices, or work on a project with support from a team of experienced technicians.

■ 21 Castle Street, Aberdeen. Tue–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm. Courses from £30. peacockvisualarts.com

PHOTOGRAPHY STILLS Scotland’s leading photographic production centre, offering both B&W and colour darkrooms, digital workstations, scanners, printers and dedicated video editing. No membership fees – to get started all you need to do is book an induction – after which you can access all the facilities for either £12 a day, or £45 a month.

■ 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh. Mon– Thu 11am–9pm; Fri–Sun 11am–6pm.

Courses from £59. stills.org

STREET LEVEL PHOTOWORKS A one-stop-shop for photographers in Glasgow. Facilities include darkrooms, a digital suite, Hasselblad scanner and highspec printers. Membership to facilities is by an annual or monthly fee, which includes a general induction.

■ 103 Trongate, Glasgow. Tue–Sat 10.15am–1.15pm, 1.30–4.30pm; Sun 12.15–4.45pm. Courses from £50. streetlevelphotoworks.org

SCULPTURE SCOTTISH SCULPTURE WORKSHOP Rural workshop space in Aberdeenshire.

Facilities include a foundry, wood, metal and ceramics workshops and a fabrication room. Artists can apply to access the facilities through a residency programme or through SSW’s ‘Open Access’ programme.

■ 1 Main Street, Lumsden, Huntly. Mon–Fri 9.30am–5.30pm. Courses from £75. ssw.org.uk

EDINBURGH SCULPTURE WORKSHOP Impressive, purpose-built sculpture workshop with everything you need to get started on your own sculptural project (including an on-site café from the Milk team for break time). Experienced makers can use equipment – which includes everything from ceramic studios to a foundry – after completing a short induction. Look online for a full list of session fees.

■ Bill Scott Sculpture Centre, 21 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh. Mon–Sat 9.30am–5pm. Courses from £65. edinburghsculpture.org

GLASGOW SCULPTURE STUDIOS Facilities include wood, metal, plaster and resin workshops and a ceramics studio. Membership is focused towards professional practicing artists, but fantastic artist-led courses provide supported access to the facilities for people of all ability levels.

■ 2 Dawson Road, Glasgow. Mon–Wed 9.30am–9pm; Thu–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm (closed every 4th Sat). Courses from £60. glasgowsculpturestudios.org

Scottish

2019

ss e c c A eas all ar SSW Lumsden Weekender

Even in the remotest areas of Scotland, artists and makers can access top-class facilities to produce their work.

Rachael Cloughton talks to the people behind these centres about the role they play, not just for artists, but for their communities as a whole

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cross Scotland, there are currently eleven regularly funded publicaccess production facilities, offering the use of state-ofthe-art printmaking, sculpture, photography and glass-making facilities for low cost, often subsidised rates.

Most are located in the central belt, in some of Scotland’s biggest cities, but three – Highland Print Studio, Scottish Sculpture Workshop (SSW) and North Lands Creative (NLC) – diverge from this path, serving some of Scotland’s most remote rural communities. This changes and informs their work; these publicaccess facilities are not simply supporting the making of art, but the making of communities.

‘Something that feels so exciting in Scotland is the artist-led approach to its cultural ecology,’ explains Sam Trotman, director of SSW, an impressive sculpture centre in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, complete with a foundry, metal and wood workshops, and ceramics studios, located in the village’s former bakery. ‘Our main focus is on supporting artists and makers through our residencies, projects and open-access facilities. [But] as one of the only civic spaces in the village, we are always finding ways of connecting our programme to others interested in starting, sharing or enhancing their skills and passions. We are particularly interested in the unique skills and resilience of rural communities and as such utilise our

projects to connect contemporary artists and local folk together.’

SSW’s current projects range from ‘Into The Mountain’ by artist Simone Kenyon, which connects women who walk in the Cairngorm Mountains, to share and collect underrepresented narratives, to joining community protests against Aberdeenshire Council’s cuts to the local bus service, which connects the area to nearby towns. Trotman describes it as ‘mutual survival’.

PHOTO: ERIKA STEVENSON

Highland Print Studio

Karen Phillips, director of NLC, based in the Caithness village of Lybster, has seen the impact a strong artistic presence can have for a community: ‘[NLC] is seen very much as a social and cultural hub for the area,’ she explains. The centre plays an important symbolic role, upholding the local glass-making skills in the area after the closure of Caithness Glass, which was set up to counteract the area’s unemployment crisis following the decline of the farming and herring industries, and now the ongoing decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear power plant. Ex-Dounreay scientific glass-blowers currently teach lamp and flame working at NLC, alongside visiting artists from across the world, including the likes of Eric Goldschmidt and William Gudenrath from the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.

‘A decline in the traditional industries, high levels of unemployment (especially among the young) and an older and ageing population have all contributed to [Caithness] being identified high on the multiple indices of social and economic

North Lands Creative

deprivation,’ explains Phillips: ‘NLC plays a part in the regeneration of the village through employment, by bringing people to the area, using local accommodation and services and the renovation and use of old buildings in the village.’

Highland Print Studio is a similar ‘creative hub’ and a key part of the visual arts infrastructure of the north of Scotland. Though it is based in Inverness, it attracts makers from across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Aberdeenshire. ‘We enable access to professional-grade equipment that could only otherwise be accessed by travelling to the central belt or east coast,’ says director Alison McMenemy. ‘Some of the people who use us have hours of travel just to get to Inverness so having an additional three hour journey would simply make access to this type of facility impossible for many. Highland Print Studios offer screenprint, intaglio, relief print and

lithography facilities, plus a digital suite with resources including high-spec digital imaging, large-format photographic printing and highresolution scanning. ‘We are conscious that our area includes remote rural communities, so have invested time and resources into adapting techniques to be taught on an outreach basis and this is something that we continue to work on.’

McMenemy describes Scotland’s generous provision of public-access facilities as ‘cultural socialism’. ‘[These facilities] make access to professional-grade facilities available to most and not dependant on personal wealth, which is the case in other countries,’ she says. Artists also benefit from the close proximity and interaction with the small communities these spaces support and work closely alongside. ‘As a key part of the community, we are integrated into all aspects of the community life,’ adds SSW’s Sam Trotman: ‘These facilities provide a strong foundation not just for making artwork but for more expansively nurturing our material knowledge, exploring new pedagogies, bringing people together and, in the case of us, rural organisation spaces where we can act upon these things with a close relationship to our rural landscapes.’

Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden, ssw.org.uk; North Lands Creative, Caithness, northlandscreative.co.uk; Highland Print Studio, Inverness, highlandprintstudio.co.uk 1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 121

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PHOTO: PAGE\PARK ARCHITECTS

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page

Susan Mansfield previews the opening of Edinburgh Printmakers’ new multi-million pound base which breathes life into an abandoned piece of the city’s industrial heritage

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ifty years after it closed its doors as a world centre for the making of wellington boots, a remarkable building in Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge will reopen this spring as a major new arts hub.

Seven years and £11million in the making, Edinburgh Printmakers’ new home at Castle Mills on Dundee Street will open on 27 April as a world-class centre for printmaking and a new cultural hub in an area currently undergoing regeneration.

Edinburgh Printmakers is the oldest openaccess print studio in Britain and will more than double the size of its facilities in the move, becoming one of the largest artist printmaking workshops in Europe.

‘We’re set to be a new creative hub in the city with studios, a shop, a café and gallery spaces,’ says chief executive Shân Edwards. ‘We’ve saved a vital piece of the city’s heritage and given it a new lease of life.

‘Our printmaking facilities are two-thirds larger, so we have more equipment and will be able to welcome many more people. Because we have a dedicated learning studio with its own printmaking equipment, all kinds of community groups and education groups will be able to access our facilities and expertise.’

Castle Mills was built in 1870 by the North British Rubber Company, which was established in Edinburgh in 1856 by two American bootmakers. In the first half of the 20th century, the company employed between 4000 and 5000 122 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

people, most of them in the factory adjoining Castle Mills which was the largest industrial unit in the city.

During WWI, the factory worked 24 hours a day making millions of boots for the men in the trenches. In the 1950s, the company launched the Hunter range of wellingtons, which went on to became high-fashion items after being worn by the likes of Princess Diana and Kate Moss.

A disastrous fire in 1969 ended most production on the site which was then taken over

by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. They used Castle Mills as a store and accounts office until the brewery closed in 2004. Now, it has been rescued from dereliction in a sensitive restoration by architects Page\Park, retaining many of the original features.

The first artist to work in the building is German printmaker Thomas Kilpper, a specialist in sitespecific interventions, which draw on hidden histories (previously buildings where he has worked include the former Stasi HQ in Berlin).

In the opening exhibition in the building’s main gallery, The Politics of Heritage vs the Heritage of Politics, Kilpper will show a series of prints taken from a giant linocut cut into the gallery’s floor.

Edwards says: ‘Because the gallery is much larger than our previous space, people will be able to see innovative work in print or referencing print that makes use of that scale. It’s taking printmaking to a new level, showing the possibilities of print. Thomas is known for critical social and political interventions, so the timing of this is very interesting as he will be referencing the current political situation.’

Working on site in Castle Mills during the time leading up to the Brexit deadline has been very interesting, according to Kilpper.

‘Right now, across the world, decisions are being made by politicians that I think need to be challenged. Decisions on the environment, on co-existence and our

way of living together,’ he says.

‘As an artist, I am dealing with aesthetics in the broadest sense which includes questions around how to address conflicting social issues. Castle Mills, after being abandoned for several decades, shall again be brought to life and become a space for production – this time a place of artistic production based on a diverse range of critical voices at a challenging time in our history.’

His show is part of a programme which announces Edinburgh Printmakers as a major player in the city’s contemporary art infrastructure. Edwards adds: ‘With the recent opening of Collective at the observatory on Calton Hill and the Fruitmarket’s forthcoming expansion and redevelopment, I think that Edinburgh is finally getting the arts infrastructure it deserves.’

Edinburgh Printmakers opens Sat 27 Apr.

Scottish

2019

n w o l Baway David Pollock takes a look at North Lands Creative, the world-leading glass studio in Caithness you’ve probably never heard of

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hat we do is quite unique, even in the world, and we’re the only glass studio in Scotland that’s open access,’ says Karen Phillips, director of North Lands Creative (NLC). ‘There are lots of glass organisations spread across the world, but most of them tend to have a focus on one thing. They might have a wonderful kiln room, or a cold shop, but we cater for every kind of technique in glass; we have a hot shop, a kiln room, a mould room, a cold glass shop . . . ’ As far as Phillips is aware, part of the reason for siting North Lands in the Caithness village of Lybster, was because the beautiful beaches of Scotland’s far north might allow access to the sand needed for glassmaking by those using the studio. ‘Sadly it wasn’t to be,’ she says. ‘I believe the chemical composition of the sand wasn’t right for making hot glass.’ The other influence on the choice of location, however, was the local MP at the time, Robert Maclennan, who established North Lands in 1995 alongside his old university friends, Professor Keith Cummings of the University of Wolverhampton and Dan Klein, the latter a world-renowned expert in glassmaking.

Phillips points out that most aspiring glassmakers will probably find the broadest range of facilities elsewhere if they study the subject at university, but even then, many of these departments are closing down, and the ones which are left don’t have anything like the breadth and

versatility of equipment as NLC. ‘Our facilities mean that people who come to us, if they haven’t practised in all of these areas, have space for creativity and support from the technical team we have on-site,’ she says. ‘They’re able to explore far more in their practice than they would have been able to elsewhere.’

‘Our Alastair Pilkington Studio was finished when Lady Pilkington bequeathed some money to us on the death of our husband – that’s now our main studio,’ says Phillips. ‘At the top of the High Street we also have a little gallery, office and showcase space. In the studio, we run a host of programmes, much like other studios; an artist-in-residency programme, glassmaking classes and an annual forum which brings together like-minded people to discuss contemporary studio glass.’

NLC also offers open-access classes for locals, while it’s also proud of the international esteem in which it’s held. ‘We’re on the periphery,’ says Phillips. ‘I think we’re known more outside Scotland than we are within the country; when I came for interview here I didn’t know about North Lands Creative, and I’ve been involved in the arts for almost 20 years. But over the last few years, we’ve been trying to broaden out and look at how glass can support visual arts, performance arts and crossdisciplinary practices.’

North Lands Creative, Lybster, Caithness, northlandscreative. co.uk

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FEATURE

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m o o r A w e i v a with

2019

Neil Cooper chats to Cove Park associate director Alexia Holt about the Argyll-based residency centre’s work, including its most recent major project, supporting Turner Prize-winner Charlotte Prodger’s 2019 Scotland + Venice presentation

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he views are great from Cove Park, the rural artists’ residency centre based on Scotland’s west coast.

Any of the more than 1500 artists who have stayed in the centre since it was founded in 1999 by Peter and Eileen Jacobs will have gazed out on Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde, with Arran and Bute within sight. This will no doubt have been the case too for 2018 Turner Prize winner Charlotte Prodger when she was awarded a Cove Park Emerging Artist residency from the Craignish Trust back in 2010.

Nine years on, Cove Park and curator Linsey Young have commissioned Prodger to represent Scotland at this year’s Venice Biennale, with a major new single-channel video work developed over a series of research and production residencies at the centre.

‘When Charlotte first came in 2010, she was here for a month,’ says Cove Park’s associate

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director and visual arts programme producer, Alexia Holt. ‘It was the end of the summer season, and was a relatively solitary time for her, but it was just right for her to be able to take stock and see which way her work was going at that time. It’s been really nice since then watching Charlotte’s career snowball.’

This time out, Prodger has already ‘got her head down,’ according to Holt. ‘She’s making new work, and from our part, it’s a lovely moment, and a great thing to be a part of.

Charlotte works really collaboratively in a way that fits in really well with our ethos at Cove Park.’

The greyness of the drizzle on the day Holt chats to us about Prodger can’t dim her enthusiasm for Cove Park, where she has worked since 2004. Nor does it take away from the sense of Cove Park’s very special essence as a place that provides space for artists to work outside the hubbub of the city, and which makes for a less frenetic and more organic working practice.

With accommodation available for up to 14 people on-site, Cove Park offers residencies for artists at all stages in their career across all art forms, in a shared space which provides opportunities for artists to interact in creative ways.

‘This is done with a light touch,’ says Holt. ‘We don’t force collaborations on people, but we hope artists being around each other will help their work. Some people might come here and just hunker down, and we see very little of them, but I still think of Cove Park as being

somewhere that brings artists together. We’re very self-contained here. Artists can find their own rhythm here, and opt in and opt out of things. Other centres keep more regular hours, but we’re more fluid.’

For all its idyllic setting, a residency at Cove Park shouldn’t be regarded as some airyfairy away-day or summer camp. ‘It’s not a retreat,’ says Holt. ‘It’s more about artists being engaged, so it’s more of an attack on your work than anything. When people come here they work very hard, and can contribute to other people’s work, so they become part of a

COUNTRY COUSINS PHOTOS: RUTH CLARK

Here’s three more rooms with a view for artists, writers and makers in Scotland seeking a bit of rural solitude and inspiration

PHOTO: LONDON FIELDWORKS

OUTLANDIA Glen Nevis

community. It’s not a holiday. We don’t expect people to produce finished work, but hope artists are able to explore whatever it is that they’re doing without any pressures of deadlines.’

In some respects, Cove Park’s holistic worldview reflects some of the interests developed through Glasgow School of Art’s quietly influential environmental art course.

Indeed, at various points lecturers from the course have brought their students to Cove Park to soak up the atmosphere.

‘From their point of view,’ says Holt, ‘they can see lots of different things going on, and that is an amazing means of getting the students to think about all that.’

This works across the generations, as the presence of artistic visionary and elder statesman Alasdair Gray at Cove Park testifies to. ‘There was such a wonderful mix of brilliant people around when Alasdair was here,’ says Holt. ‘He was really generous to the younger artists, and he said how much he learnt from them, and how he never stopped learning.’

Next year will see Cove Park celebrate the 20th anniversary of its first set of artists’ residencies. With Holt having

been around for 15 of them, her overview of how the centre has developed is more incisive than many.

‘Cove Park is quite an inspiring place to work,’ she says. ‘You get privileged access to how artists work in a place where people have room to make mistakes as they explore what they’re doing. It’s about confidence. When you’ve just left art school, and you’re looking around at what to do next, Cove Park can provide space for professional development in a really calm environment.

‘I think there’s something here as well, where you’ve got these big open vistas that you can see, and having that in front of you, there’s a way it affects you physically.’ Holt jokes she sounds like an estate agent when she expounds on Cove Park in this way. ‘It’s beautifully appointed,’ she laughs.

Cove Park, Cove, Argyll & Bute, cove park.org; scotlandandvenice.com

Outlandia (pictured above) is an off-grid treehouse artist studio and fieldstation in Glen Nevis. Imagined by London Fieldworks, it’s inspired by childhood dens, wildlife hides and bothies, forest outlaws and Japanese poetry platforms. It is hidden away in a copse of Norwegian spruce and larch on Forestry Commission land, at the foot of Ben Nevis in the Highlands, three miles from Fort William. Proposals to work here are welcome from individuals and small groups of collaborating artists who are working in architecture, fine art, sound art, creative writing, film-making and object-making. outlandia.com

INSHRIACH BOTHY Cairngorms National Park Inshriach Bothy is a modern, off-grid, livework space designed specifically for artist residencies by architect Iain MacLeod and artist Bobby Niven. It was the first bothy in the ever-growing Bothy Project and was built as part of the Royal Scottish Academy Residencies for Scotland 2011. Fabricated in residence at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop and then transported to Inshriach Estate, four miles from Aviemore, it now sits on the banks of the River Spey in traditional Scottish woodland forming part of the Cairngorms National Park. thebothyproject.org/bothies/inshriach-bothy

SWEENEY’S BOTHY Isle of Eigg The second bothy in the Bothy Project, Sweeney’s Bothy was designed in collaboration with artist Alec Finlay and is inspired by the 7th-century Gaelic King Sweeney (Shuibhne). Cursed, Sweeney fled into the wilderness, surviving for a decade among the trees and birds, living on sorrel, berries, sloes and acorns. The contemporary mono-pitched structure perches on a hillside offering spectacular views across the sea to the nearby Isle of Rum. thebothyproject.org/bothies/sweeneysbothy

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BACK PAGE PHOTO: MICK HUTSON

FIRST&LAST BRIAN BLESSED The acclaimed actor and raconteur takes on our Q&A in which he muses on badgers, Bulgarian yoghurt, breakfast, and saying the word ‘bugger’ First record you ever bought

Harry Roy & His Band’s ‘Tiger Rag’.

Last extravagant purchase

A large model giraffe for my garden.

First film you saw that really moved you

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

Last lie you told

That I had flown round the moon on the Skylon spacecraft.

Last meal on earth

First movie you ever went on a date to

First song at karaoke

South Pacific.

Bulgarian yoghurt with sugar.

First object you’d save from your burning home

‘The Impossible Dream’ from Man of La Mancha.

My family and the pets are first.

My tankard from the Dalai Lama with ‘Long Life’ engraved on it second.

Last time you exploited your position to get something

Last funny thing you saw online

I haven’t.

Joke For The Day via my agent.

First time you realised you were famous

First job

Last time you cried

When Misty my Jack Russell died.

First thing you do when you’ve got time off work

Sit in my cabin and read.

Last great meal you cooked

Porridge Oats. Milk and brown sugar!

First crush

Nancy Marshall when I was 16.

After ten weeks filming Z-Cars, I couldn’t walk down a street.

1 JUN

Aged 14 as an undertaker’s assistant making coffins.

Last crime you committed

Last time someone criticised your work

I don’t know.

Speeding on the motorway in the Z-Car. First word you spoke

Last book you read

First three words your friends would use to describe you

The White Goddess by Robert Graves. Hard going but worth it.

Primitive. Quiet. And my agent said ‘God’!

First great piece of advice you were given

Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it

‘Give, you bugger, give!’ by my drama teacher Harry Dobson.

A large plastic elephant for my garden. It disintegrated.

Last time you were starstruck

First concert you attended

Watching my wife in the feature film England Made Me.

Barbirolli and The Hallé Orchestra at Sheffield Town Hall.

First thing you’d do if you ran the country

Last time you bought someone flowers

Stop badger culling.

This week, for my wife.

128 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019

NEXT ISSUE

My mother said that it was ‘bugger’ after another baby stole my rattle!

Last song you’d have played at your funeral

I have no plans to pass away . . . or to be in The Stage obituary!

First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning

Letting the dogs out and breakfast!

An Evening with Brian Blessed, Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 11 May. See more of this Q&A at list.co.uk

The summer festival season gets in full swing over our next issue, though you do have a perfect excuse to enjoy the great indoors in June. Yes, it’s Edinburgh International Film Festival once again with another frenzy of premieres, retrospectives, guests and discussions. Spain is the country in focus with classic movies from Pedro Almodóvar, Icíar Bollaín and Pablo Berger, while the SNJO team up with the festival for a special live performance of Miles Davis’ epochal Sketches of Spain.

FEATURE

BACH:

THE LAST RESORT Director John Butt

The remarkable story of Bach’s appointment in Leipzig Music by Telemann, Graupner, Kuhnau and Bach 12 May 2019, 4pm | The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh £15–£20 (Students & u18s £5) | 0131 668 2019

www.dunedin-consort.org.uk/last-resort