JAZZ KAREN STREET
Box-ing clever
Accordionist Karen Street knows all about the Festival Fringe. She was once part of the all-girl grOup the Fairer Sax. who were popular Fringe regulars in their day. Karen played saxophone in that all-sax band. but her first Instrument is actually accordion.
She IS a notably expressive, highly ll‘USlCéil player on the much maligned squeeze-box. and has worked with the likes of Mike Westbrook. Tim Garland and Steve Arguelles. not to mention sessions or concerts with artists as diverse as Willard White. Ute Lemper. Elvis Costello and Debbie Harry.
Her tine debut album earlier this year had guest appearances ifOll‘ saxophonist Stan Sulzman and guitarist- bassist Fred Thelonious Baker. The reality of Fringe finances prevented her assembkng them for this trip. but she has come up with a more than satisfacton: change of prograiitn‘e.
‘l asked Kevin MacKen/ie to JOllt me on guitar as a guest artist during the run.' Karen revealed. 'and I'm really looking forward to working with him' iKenny Mathieson‘i I Cafe Royal Fringe Theatre. 5:36 2549. 12—78 Aug. 4pm. 5.15.50.
HIP HOT > BLAK TWANG Brit hip hop shocks
Hearing Blak Twang's ‘Trixsta' single bursting out of the radio many people would be forgiven for thinking that
l
he owes a debt to the recent successes of Mark B and Blade or Roots Manuva. However. as a past and first MOBO winner. for best hip hop act. the reverse might well be the truth.
Releasing two classic UK hip hop albums. Dettivork South East and If) Long Time. in the 90s. this new set marks his first solo release in four years. Although he hasn't exactly been sitting about on his arse. finding time to guest on \i‘ilu-Tang and Talib Kweli tracks and spawn a second child.
Also rapping under the aliases of Taioaiiic and Tony Rotton ta reference to the Sex Pistolsi. on Kirk Off he teams up with female MC Est'elle and German gold selling artist DJ Dynamite, together with an array of up and coming talent that will surely see Blak T‘sxang progressing out of the shadows of the underground and into the mainstream. iStewart Dalley I Ligi/irl Room. 0870 1000i00. l i‘ Aug. 7.30pm, 5‘5).
FUNK
THE FLEAMARKET FESTIVAL OF FUNK Edinburgh's beat bazaar
Given the number of Fringe-goers who are happy to stick to tried and tested acts and venues. the open nature of the Fleamarket Festival of Funk is rather refreshing. The organisers are taking
NEXT 55%. OUT ,
over the Counting House for three weeks of song and dance. with four acts performing each evening.
We decided there was too much of this DJing rubbish going on.’ explains promoter Alex Attwood. 'We wanted to get some live music going' The earlier shows will be on a ;a//y tip. with highlights including Martin Kershaw and Raymond Tait. while the Tater Slt()‘.'-.’S are dominated by funk acts - although live drum & bass and hip hop is also on offer. Most of the acts are from Scotland. and Attwood's own band. the Fleamarket. will be assuming a key role. ‘I claimed the first bunch of songs I wrote were by Herbie Haiicock.' he says. ‘and some people belteved me. so they mast be alnght.‘ iPeter Stubbsi I Counting House. 226 0000. until 26 Aug. 7pm 8 lip/n. F‘G-E‘f i’i‘.’)‘.:'>()—.“:':i.
SKA POP BIG HAND
Late night skankers
Fven if you're entirely familiar '.'.'ith Scotland's Live scene. the chances are you might not have heard of the Big Hand unless you do your gigging in t’tlthlll'gIt. All that is set to change. though. as the smart— suited ska—pop foursome embark on a full-time. post university
This marathon run will surely see them installed as the hartlest—working band in Scotland. but it's nothing new to tdinburgh crowds -< the Hand have played Virtually every venue in the city iincluding supports for old-boys of the genre. Bad Manners and the Selecteri. and keep listings editors in a ]()I) with their weekly gigging schedule.
Remarkably. though. they sound fresh every time. and the combination of horn~led ska'n'roll. infectious onstage humour and a mountain of kick-ass tunes is impossible to refuse a dance to. Make a note. then, because this should be one of your first choices if you're stuck for some late night entertainment
take it from me. you
‘Nlll not be disappointed.
lDaVid Pollock)
I Gilded Balloon, 226 21:31. 9—26 Aug. lam, [T6 (535/.
Cl ASSlCAL RUSSIAN FANTASIAS
Old favourites given new twist
FamOus (though some would say infamous. for introducing more than his fair share of engaging acts to the festival) original
ROCKPOP NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
From soap queen to rock
pnncess
Sometimes it only takes one song. A 'Yellow'. a ‘Why Does it Always Rain on Me’?‘ Or a ‘Common People'. For Natalie lmbruglia. it was ‘Torn'. a grunge-lite anthem that pOured over the ruins of a broken relationship. And
while she's yet to find another to surpass it. lmbruglia has made the
transition from soap star to singer with relative ease.
She may not have the angst of Alanis or the flair of R] but
she may prove a few
sceptics wrong yet with this
live appearance. (Mark Robertson)
I Corn Exchange. 0870
Edinburgh patron Richard Deinarco this year has been granted use of the grand Apex Hotels on the Grassmarket in which to host an array of predominantly eastern European shows. Though mostly tending towards theatre. Demarco-Rocket is presenting the odd musical performance. the most alluring of which promises to be this diverse selection of
isooioo. 73 Aug. £75. - ~ _
Russian favourites from a freestyle Belarussian trio — Katia Arkhipova on violin. Natasha Malisheva on cello and Slava Parfionov on piano — who will be joined by the admirable talents of Anastasia Moskvina. the soprano winner of the International Vocalist Competition in 2001. On offer over these six nights will be in'iprovised interpretations of movements by
Natalie Imbruglia once " " again proves that Aussie rules;it
ti ‘.:'> Aug 2002 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 51