FESTIVAL MUSIC | Previews
HOW I DO EDINBURGH ANDY BELL One half of synth-pop band, Erasure, Andy Bell is bringing his one-man show to the Fringe, a song cycle about a semi-immortal called Torsten, cursed to love many and get close to none. We talk tartan, stilettos and Madonna with Andy
Can you sum up your show in five words? Raving, sexy, bloody good yarn!
For anyone still on the fence, what’s a sure-fire selling point? I wear sequined hot pants and crystal stilettos.
What part of the Edinburgh festival do you most look forward to? Having a wander and delivering my goods. What part of the Edinburgh festival do you dread? Drunken crowds.
At the first sign of an August meltdown, what will you reach for? Whisky – single malt.
What other festival shows do you want to see? Nancy Dell'Olio, and In Vogue: Songs By Madonna.
What will you do on your days off? Lie in with my hubby then go for a walk after breakfast. Best Edinburgh memory? I have two – sitting in the park below the castle listening to the solo bagpiper, and playing two weeks at Edinburgh Playhouse with Erasure in '92 when I was given some Bell tartan, which is sky blue.
(Claire Sawers) ■ Torsten the Bareback Saint, Assembly George Square, until 16 Aug, 6.30pm, £16–£19. Andy Bell’s solo album, Torsten the Bareback Saint (Cherry Red Records) is out now.
70 THE LIST FESTIVAL 7–14 Aug 2014
AND BLITHELY SPEND THE GOWDEN DAY Wounded Knee & Daniel Padden folk / poetry song cycle
Inspired by Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills, And Blithely Spend the Gowden Day is a seasonal song cycle from baritone bard Drew Wright, aka Wounded Knee, and Daniel Padden of the One Ensemble. ‘I have been going to the Pentlands for about ten years,’ says Wright. ‘I've written many songs directly
about those hills but also the act of getting there, of walking there at all times of year. It fuels my creativity. You find out about yourself and your relationship with the earth, the city, the world.’ However, Wright is keen to point out that the show isn't all ‘bucolic reverie’. To reflect Edinburgh
life, extracts from Robert Fergusson's Auld Reekie are threaded throughout. ‘The poem was written in the late 18th century but some of the things he wrote about still ring true today: the street traders and lawyers bustling about on the High Street, for example.’
Gowden Day reflects Wright's developing relationship with folk song. ‘I'm guided by some of [Scottish poet and songwriter] Hamish Henderson's key ideas,’ says Wright. ‘He embraced the idea of old songs being reborn, and borne, on the carrying stream.’ In the show, original compositions and traditional folk songs are reborn through Padden's inventive
arrangements which draw on jazz, African guitar and avant-garde music.
‘My own arrangements tend to be dead simple: built around a drone or a couple of chords on twa string
guitar,’ says Wright. ‘It's been a thrill to hear what Daniel has written for them.’ Padden adds: ‘I wasn't so interested in writing accompanying “Scottish folk music” but more placing these songs within a more ambiguous non-traditional sound world. Folk music is at once very specific and universal, as it's basically about people – in our case the words are about a specific place but the music isn't.’ (Stewart Smith) ■ Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, 12–14 Aug, 5pm, £8 (£6).
CLUB SPIEGEL Late-night dancehall escapades
‘Always live and always unexpected’ is how Spiegelmaestro David Bates describes Club Spiegel, the late-night offshoot of that most legendary of Fringe venues, the Famous Spiegeltent. Built in 1928 in Flanders, Belgium, the antique mirrored tent will relocate to the grass on St Andrew Square, its sixth festival home in almost 18 years, and Club Spiegel will keep revellers up until the wee hours with live bands and guest appearances from jazz / swing / boogie band, Melbourne’s Shuffle Club. ‘Club Spiegel’s the very essence of a festival
club,’ says Bates, ‘and will be full of artists, producers, deal makers and late-night revelry. It’s the full stop to a day of artistic over-stimulation and the perfect place to unwind to some tasty tracks and surprising, spontaneous performances.’ Included in the programme will be two very special residencies: the first from Scotland’s 16-piece swing orchestra, the Loveboat Big Band (7, 15 & 25 Aug, £10), and the second from carousing folk troupe
Shooglenifty (19–22 Aug, £15). ‘They’re made for the Spiegeltent,’ says Bates of the latter. ‘For many years they’ve done earlier, more formal time slots, but this year they’re on at a time that suits their revelry nature the best.’ (David Pollock) ■ The Famous Spiegeltent, 0844 693 3008, until 25 Aug, 11.45pm, £10 (£5) unless stated above.