Live in Edinburgh This Week – 3rd May 2010
It’s Tigerfest and The Kays Lavelle album launch this week, as well as being May, which says to me that our first barbecue of the season can’t be much further away, surely. Ach, who knows though, this Spring’s been all over the bloody shop so Christ knows.
Still, we’re firmly into the first stirrings of Festival Season now which is… erm, well certainly not a bad thing I guess. There are some fucking shitty festivals (blogs, bands, etc…) out there, and I am becoming distinctly picky in my taste for festivals, and really quite middle-aged. I do not have the patience for shitty camping and massive green-field sites with fucking dreadful beer, a swampy bog of misdirected urine surrounding the toilets and a two-hour queue for a drink. Not happening, not any more, not for Toad. Fuck off.
So, erm yes, the rise of the boutique festival in recent years has been very welcome for me indeed. The food and drink are infinitely better, the facilities are better, the lineups are a little more focussed and because the budgets are smaller you can be absolutely confident of never, ever, ever accidentally hearing Kasabian play.
And, let’s be entirely honest, there are simply fewer people and I really do not like people all that much.
So, if anyone can tell me what that little rant had to do with anything then there’s probably some sort of prize – amnesty from me hugging you when I’m drunk sounds like a suitable bonus. So, erm, live in Edinburgh this week then.
Thursday 6th May 2010: Born to Be Wide Music PR Seminar at Electric Circus.
Apart from admin and spare cash, PR is pretty much the single most important function of a record label these days. It’s also, apart from actually making the music itself, the most important thing for any unsigned band to master.
Thursday 6th May 2010: Hannah Kitchen, The Wee Rogue and The Last Battle play the Leith Tape Club at the IsoLounge.
I don’t know Miss Kitchen, but The Wee Rogue is really excellent, and the Last Battle have just signed up with 17 Seconds records and have a debut album on the way, so should be full of the joys of life at the moment. Their music leans a little more towards the traditional, in terms of song structures, in comparison to the general landscape of alternative folk around these parts, whereas The Wee Rogue leans a bit closer to total silence, his music can be that still. It’s compelling nevertheless, so this gig is highly recommended.
The Last Battle – Nature’s Glorious Rage (Fresh Air Session)
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.
Thursday 6th May 2010: Dead Boy Robotics, Vasquez and The Foundling Wheel play Limbo at The Voodoo Rooms.
On what is proving to be a rather busy Thursday this gig is Dead Boy Robotics’ EP launch, supported by Vasquez who I don’t know at all, and The Foundling Wheel. Expect thumping noise, which is likely to veer from the boisterously danceable into the ear-splittingly unhinged.
Friday 7th May 2010: Cath & Phil Tyler, The One Ensemble and Neil Davidson at The Roxy Room.
I know precisely nothing at all about this lineup, sorry. But it’s a combined promotional effort between Braw Gigs and Tracer Trails (I think – it’s called Braw Trails Presents, so I guess that’s probably right) and those two rarely ever put a foot wrong (new as the former might be) so I definitely think this will be worth checking out.
Saturday 8th May 2010: The Kays Lavelle, The Oates Field and The Scottish Enlightenment at the Wee Red Bar.
This is the Kays’ album launch party for their upcoming debut album Be Still This Gentle Morning, and I am going to be in bloody Manchester for Unconvention, which is hugely frustrating.
The Kays Lavelle – Scars From the City
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.
Sunday 9th May 2010: 17 Seconds presents X-Lion Tamer, The Wildhouse and The Gothenburg Address at The Roxy Room.
This is curated by 17 Seconds the blog for Tigerfest and is not to be confused with the 17 Seconds Records showcase next week, which is different, apparently. Although X-Lion Tamer and The Wildhouse are actually on 17 Seconds Records. But then, without the approval of 17 Seconds the blog, they probably wouldn’t be signed to 17 Seconds the label, would they? Keep up!
X-Lion Tamer – Life Support Machine
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.
I am with you on the Festival thing! One ’boutique festival’ to check out next month is the Insider Festival in the Cairngorms – cracking line-up this year and good food and beer too!
Also – Trembling Bells are playing at The Roxy Room on Thursday 6th May: http://www.myspace.com/tremblingbells
There are a couple of really small new ones starting in Scotland this year, from the looks of it.
I’ve already experienced the delights of the first barbecue of the year. It was magnificent. It made the beginning of April feel like bloody July.
Speaking of small festivals, one I’m quite looking forward to is Big Tent Festival. I’ve never been but a bunch of friends have and they always rave about it. Plus King Creosote and FOUND are on the lineup so far. I still have my ticket for T in the Park, regardless of the poor lineup at the moment. I guess I’m still at that age.
And of course there’s two more TF gigs this week – Blueflint with Andi Neate and Andy Tucker at Electric Circus on Wed 6th and Phoebe Kreutz with Emily Scott, Casey and The Stantons at Wee Red Bar on Thursday 6th. Blimey, Thursday’s busy eh?!
I know it’s not this week but may be of interest to a few of the people on here, I know Toad is a fan. Anyway according to Timber Timbre’s myspace he is playing the captains rest in glasgay as part of the Stag and dagger thingy on the 22nd may
Personally I am very excited about this.
Please can someone tell me where I’m supposed to go on Thursday night !!!!!
I must keep up with myself, what with blog curating and showcases -did I say they were different? Anyway, thanks for mentioning it!
Umm, I know the publicity material says Gothenburg Address are supporting but it’s now White Heath (my choice) because I love White Heath and because the Gothenburg Address have parted company with their rhythm section. Seriously, thanks for mentioning it, and hope to see you there, maybe??!
Panicked for a minute then.
I’m supposed to be going to an event on Thursday at the Roxy, and was terrified I might have had to listen to the Trembling fucking Bells.
Then I remembered there are a number of performance spaces in the venue spaced quite well apart.
Phew!
No going out for me this week, I managed to put my back out dancing to Foals last night…now, where did I put my cocoa?
Sandi Thom and The Law are both playing Cab Vol, Thursday and Saturday respectively, should anyone want a shite night out.
On that particular subject I am rather surprised GodIhateMondays isn’t here to tell us all about Scouting For Girls who are playing somewhere or other this week as well.
“And, let’s be entirely honest, there are simply fewer people and I really do not like people all that much.”
That’s not middle aged, that’s downright bloody sensible in my opinion!
Yeah I’ve always been that way, it’s more the intolerance for the muddy fields, litter, shit beer and queues that makes me feel middle aged. Not that I hated it any less when younger, just that I was less assertive about refusing to put up with it.
I already had a go at Scouting For Girls on my own blog today, I figured I wouldn’t tarnish Toad by mentioning them here too.
Pavement on wednesday. Get it up ye.
Weegie bastard. Actually, Matthew’s only been a Weegie for about a week, which makes him a born-again – the worst kind.
On Thursday, I will be seeing Withered Hand and Woodpigeon at The Union Chapel…….LONDON!
Flashbulb Fires are playing tonight at The Bouquet bar in Boise, Idaho.
Oh wait, I don’t give a fuck about that either.
phesant fucker
That actually sounds like a really cool bar, we should go!
i love festivals…..just so you know…..tho i wouldn’t do the T-in-the parks any more……..can’t wait for Greenman this year
Greenman always looks good actually, and I have still never gone. Fool.
Tents are crap unless you are 10 or younger.
Or if they are huge and comfy and some other fucker puts them up and takes them down for you. Then they can be okay.
The one I have pops open and hey presto its ready to be slept in. Unfortunately the reverse process is not quite as easy……
Oh yeah – and it leaks a bit. It’s small and smells odd. (This is still the tent I am talking about).
This should do me..
That is a lovely tent.
Same thing as yours. It just pops open and – hey presto – you get that..
Do you have a magic sports bag as well?
Dylan? Sports? Unless you mean the bag he carries his packed lunch in when he goes to watch the rugby I think you might be barking up the wrong tree there old chap.
And the less we hear about Dylan’s “magic lunchbox” the better.
I got a gig on Saturday…
Make Sparks – http://www.myspace.com/makesparksband
Black International – http://www.myspace.com/blackinternational
3TimesOver – http://www.myspace.com/123timesover
Secret Circuits – http://www.myspace.com/secretcircuits
Sneaky Pete’s
7pm / £5
X-Lion Tamer song is pretty ace. That’s it. I totally feel like I am in a John Hughes movie. John Candy has just been annoying but I actually love him deep down.