Festival MUSIC
DECAGRAM The sounds of the underground, meshed together by local musicians
E very ten days since April, a new artist has been unveiled as part of the line- up of Decagram, a collaborative concert designed to highlight the talents of ten leading underground artists from the Edinburgh music scene. One by one – with stealth and tantalising secrecy – bands including contemporary string quintet Lipsync For a Lullaby, alternative folk trio Small Feet Little Toes, electronic duo Numbers Are Futile, producer Asthmatic Astronaut and experimental four-piece Hiva Oa (pictured) have been confirmed and a new artistic collective born.
On the night, the acts will be paired in a series of collaborations to play new and existing material. Each act will then be joined by members of youth arts group the Tinderbox Orchestra for a final track, culminating with a three-band collaboration accompanied by the full orchestra.
But, in essence, it’s all a bit of a mystery; an intriguing, genre-busting meshing of new sounds that will merge ‘contemporary, classical, post rock, tribal, noise, dub and hip hop’.
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Stephen Houlihan from Hiva Oa, the last band to come on board, will team up with Numbers Are Futile. Even he is not entirely sure what to expect.
‘We have had a few discussions in terms of arrangements and how both bands can effectively play one set,’ he says. ‘The songs we intend to play are still being arranged and it will be the first time these songs will be played live. I’ve been told that Atzi (from Lipsync For a Lullaby) has put together a new ten-minute composition to play with the Tinderbox Orchestra, which has clearly set the bar for the rest of us.’ The event is being run by Ten Tracks, the online label and music portal for new and innovative music, as a platform for some of their favourite underground artists in the city. (Rachel Devine)
Decagram, Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 4 Aug, 7pm, £10, see decagram.co for more info; The Awkward Hello, Handshake, Kiss, the debut album by Hiva Oa, is out now.
For more info go to LIST.CO.UK /FESTIVAL
HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
✽ Men Utd Free-spirited beardie comic Phil Kay and pal Thee Cameron St Clair blend music and comedy to make a concept record on stage every night. Voodoo Rooms, 226 0000, 2–11 Aug (not 5),10.30pm, £8–£10.
✽ King Creosote Folk-pop musician and Mercury Prize nominee, Kenny Anderson
delivers an evening of music, including a short acoustic set and a full band affair. Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 3 Aug, 8pm, £16.
✽ The Infinite Gaaah Tour! Expect sound poetry, avant-weirdness,
outsider fuzz and improvised electronics from Blood Stereo, Pengo and Usurper, plus their mystical tour compère, The Infinite Gaaah! Summerhall, 0845 874 3001, 3 Aug, 8pm, £6 (£5).
✽ Born To Be Wide Edinburgh Showcase A snapshot of Edinburgh-
based performers, each playing for ten minutes, including folkies Admiral Fallow and troubadour AJ Roach. Plus DJs playing favourite songs by Edinburgh acts. Electric Circus, 226 4224, 4 Aug, 8pm, £3 or visit BTBW’s Facebook for free entry.
✽ Footloose The film made famous
by Kevin Bacon and his spaghetti-legged dancing gets the musical treatment. theSpace@Surgeon’s Hall,
510 2384, 5–9 Aug, 5.45pm, £8 (£6).
✽ Martha Reeves and the Vandellas A chance to see the Motown legend behind hits like ‘Dancing in the Street’. The 72-year-old diva chatted to The List from her Detroit home recently – read about her Scottish superfans at list.co.uk/festival Assembly Rooms, 0844 693 3008, 6–7 Aug, 9.30pm, £20.