FESTIVAL MUSIC | Previews 66 THE LIST FESTIVAL 15–26 Aug 2013
TAME IMPALA Revivalist psych rock from down under
There’s must be something in the water in Australia these days, because the new wave of psychedelic rock bands emerging from the country is growing. Following the example set in the northern hemisphere by groups like the Flaming Lips and MGMT, various shades of tie-dyed retro rocker are emerging from the country. Jagwar Ma are the most recent additions to this outpouring, but Perth’s Tame Impala have long been confirmed as the vanguard of the movement. In many respects they’re simply the recorded alias of frontman Kevin Parker, even though there are five people in the group. Since 2005 Parker has dominated the Perth record scene, first with the Cream-influenced Dee Dee Dums and then with that band’s mutation into the more tripped-out Tame Impala, as well as in more recent projects with friends, including Pond, Melody’s Echo Chamber and Relation Longue Distance. The group achieved cult success with 2010’s InnerSpeaker album, released on Sydney’s rapidly-becoming- seminal Modular Records, and proper fame in international alternative circles with last year’s Lonerism, a record that fuses the sun-kissed West Coast psych of ‘Mind Mischief’ with hints of sparkling 80s future pop and the thrilling signature Led Zeppelin crunch of ‘Elephant’. It was roundly cited as the album of last year by NME and Rolling Stone, among others, and the sense is that one day soon, this might be looked upon as a very small-scale gig for them. (David Pollock) ■ Picture House, 0844 847 1740, 20 Aug, 8pm, £17.50.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF FIFE TV & radio presenter shines spotlight on the Kingdom
Over the last couple of decades, a musical story has been brewing in the East Neuk of Fife, just the opposite side of the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh, and broadcaster Vic Galloway is the man to finally tell it. Partly raised in the area himself, the former BBC Radio 1 Introducing presenter grew up with and played in bands alongside Fence Records founder Kenny ‘King Creosote’ Anderson and stalwart James Yorkston, and the other subjects of his book Songs in the Key of Fife, including KT Tunstall and the Beta Band, were all friends of friends.
‘I wanted to document the music and stories of these musicians before they were lost or forgotten,’ says Galloway of a project he had in mind for many years before putting it into action in 2011. ‘I thought it was interesting that a peer group from a small, secluded part of Scotland all managed to attain some kind of success and notoriety in music without much compromise.’
He describes fitting in the process of writing the book in bursts at his mum’s house in Haddington, being fed soup as he whittled down hours of transcripts from artists. ‘I approached them all in advance of writing anything, and they all seemed to agree I was the person for the job,’ he says. In true Fence Records style, the book will be launched with a late-night gig as well as a reading, both at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. (David Pollock) ■ Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, 20 Aug, 8.30pm; Jura Unbound with guests from Fence Records, Sun 25 Aug, 9pm.
HOW I DO EDINBURGH BY MICHELLE MCMANUS
Can you sum up your show in five words? One hell of a singsong.
What part of the Edinburgh festival do you most look forward to?
I just love what the festival does to the city of Edinburgh in August. It’s a carnival atmosphere and I love how happy everyone is. What part of the Edinburgh festival do you dread?
The morning after a night in the Gilded Balloon Loft Bar, as I know it’s going to hurt. At the first sign of an August meltdown, what do you reach for?
Always an ice-cold can of Diet Irn Bru.
What other festival shows do you want to go see? I want to see Susie McCabe’s An Uncivil Partnership (playing at the same venue as me) and Grant Stott’s Kiss Me Honey, Honey!
Best festival memory?
Having Jim Jeffries ask me if I was Gareth Gates in the Library Bar after my show. I actually might get that on a T-shirt.
■ Michelle McManus @ The Musicals, New Town Bar, 538 7775, 19−22 & 25 Aug, 8pm, 23−24 Aug, 5.30pm & 8pm, £10.