What’s On in Edinburgh This Week – 25th October 2009
This week marks the start of the Fresh Air broadcast, which is splendid news. There will be a launch party in the Teviot on Tuesday evening, to which anyone fond of drinking, acting the arse and falling over is invited. Ruth from the Bowery and myself will be doing a show every week on Wednesday between 7pm and 8.30pm, and are hoping to have a band live in session every week, if we can. It’ll have to be pretty stripped down – anything which will translate well to really simple acoustic should do the trick – but I think we can make it pretty interesting. It will be a lot quicker and dirtier than the Toad Sessions, which will be good, because I’ve been wanting to find a way to do something a bit less involved for a while.
The only significant problem I can see is that Ruth has a nasty habit of badly upstaging me. She did it on my Fresh Air show last year and on the bloody podcast this year, and if she starts doing it on a regular basis this time around I don’t know if my fragile ego will be able to take it. There may be tantrums, there may be bawling, and there may be a considerable number of toys a very long way from the pram in which they belong.
It’ll make for bloody good radio though!
So, apart from car crash broadcasting and gallons of cheap (state sponsored – woo hoo!) beer, what else is happening this week? Well I’ll tell you. Firstly, there’s a couple of gigs happening which I am not personally so keen on, but which might interest you: Miike Snow is playing Sick Note at Cabaret Voltaire, late but free on Thursday 29th, and Cold Cave are on the bill at Playdate at Sneaky’s on Saturday 31st. Both are really rather trendy, so the cooler amongst you might be interested, but personally they aren’t really to my taste so there you go. Mandex rating: tight to constrictive, particularly at Stinky’s.
Tuesday 27th October 2009: The Young Republic play in-store at Avalanche Records.
The Young Republic are touring their excellent (and shortly to be given the Toadly Treatment) new album Balletesque and although they were sadly unable to arrange an Edinburgh date, they are playing an in-store at Avalance at 5pm on Tuesday. Their semi-orchestral, Western tinged indie folk pop has given way to a more dramatic, aggressive sound these days, albeit one which is a little more stripped down. I definintely recommend this if the timing doesn’t make it tricky.
The Young Republic – Bows in Your Arms
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Friday 30th October 2009: Dry the River, eagleowl & the Bowerbirds at Sneaky Pete’s.
The Bowerbirds are a band I have a slightly up and down relationship with, since Campfires and Battlefields introduced me to them a couple of years ago. They are certainly rather brilliant, at their best, but can be patchy in their recorded output, as far as I am concerned. I’d still be interested to see them though, and eagleowl gigs are not to be missed in general.
Bowerbirds – In Our Talons
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Saturday 31st October 2009: Art Fag, The Leg & Our Ladies of Sorrow at Sneaky Pete’s.
Our Ladies of Sorrow play a Halloween Special every year, and I have never been, and there is absolutely no damn chance I am missing it this year. They are basically an Edinburgh alt-folk supergroup (of sorts) and will dress up specially (but of course!) and soundtrack a compilation of horror movie clips. I can only begin to imagine how weird that is going to be, but I am really looking forward to it, even if I do have to hop in a cab down to Leith the moment it’s over.
The Leg have cancelled for Saturday now, unfortunately. Watch this space for updates, assuming I have any clue what they are.
are eagleowl also playing at the bowery supporting ballboy on wednesday night? or have i got that horribly wrong?
The Bowerbirds / eagleowl gig is Friday night is it not?
Bowerbirds show is on Friday.
Ballboy is on Thursday, at the Bowery.
I think I had a timezone problem on my calendar when I noted all these down, and then when I corrected it it shifted all the gigs to the previous day.
A bad workman always blames his tool.
Better a bad workman, Bart, than just another tool.
Matthew, I took Mrs C and 3 pals over to Leeds tonight to see the Young Republic and despite an unbelievably poor turnout they played a fantastic set.
Enjoy the short gig on Tuesday, I’m taking the Cog children to see them on Thursday in Manchester and then it gets a bit stalkerville in Middlesbrough and Newcastle at the weekend. ‘Bows in your arms’ was off the scale tonight. I was at Edinburgh to see them last year and you wont believe how much bigger and more confident the sound is now.
I know Saturdays are get drunk and record toadcasts nights but heck you have to see these guys once this tour. If you make Newcastle on Saturday say hello.
I’ve seen the Bowerbirds perform live a few times now, and I think they’re very good. Definitely worth checking out. Pretty girl with an accordion? What’s not to like?
So who’s on your show this week Matthew?
Looking forward to the return of the toad show!
Does anyone know what happened to the Grouper gig at Wee Red Bar? It was announced as 31 October, but the venue’s listings page is now showing that night’s act as TBC.
Ruth’s asking Thomas Western, but I’ve no idea if she’s heard back from him yet.
Sorry Yashin, can’t help you with that one.
I’m pretty sure the Grouper show at the wee red has now been cancelled.
TBC are well good, though.
Thanks Bart, I was looking forward to that, but never mind – the Our Ladies of Sorrow things sounds interesting.
Dylan – I find material from TBC can be quite hit or miss. Various Artists are another act afflicted with the same curse.
during work one day me and my old boss were listening to bands on myspace. when i had run out of good music i told her to pick one. she then said “whos that guy that always collaborates with justin timberlake and puff daddy and all that? hes really good. i think his name is FEAT or something like that?” honest to god she was not joking. this is a woman who is deemed my superior. after i told her what feat means she says “oh im really stupid arent I?”
Yes, yes you are.
Ta for that update. Shan’t be going to the Bowerbirds gig as it’s ten quid ! for a gig at sneaky petes !!! a tad much I feel, but will be going to the bowery on THURSDAY as its five quid hurrah for the poor people.
Michael, that little gem is wasted down here in the comments!
ah well im sure i will re-spout it in the friday fives at some point.
Yay, Ruth!
In Hallowe’en show related news, Adam Stafford (Y’all Is Fantasy Island) will now be playing at Sneaky Pete’s, filling in for the Leg.
It’ll be a solo performance airing material from his forthcoming albumfor the first time, and a little more experimental than usual – based aruond loops and found sounds.
He’s promised it’ll sound like wooden churches on fire.
I’m excited.