list.co.uk/festival Previews | FESTIVAL MUSIC
Top Five DRUM SHOWS
There's an inordinate number of drumming shows at the Fringe this year – we've picked out fi ve of our
favourites
P H O T O © J E A N - C L A U D E M A Z U E
SUPERMOON Artist formerly known as Meursault performs as part of Song, by Toad’s Pale Imitation Festival
‘Death to Meursault . . . I will kill again . . . ’ warned Neil Pennycook one year ago. Not one to renege on ominous promises, Supermoon – the latest manifestation of Pennycook’s unique brand of uplifting melancholia – headlines Summerhall in the marquee event (or ‘posh and show-offy’ according to label owner Matthew) of Song, by Toad’s Pale Imitation Festival on 27 Aug. Labelmate and long-time collaborator of Pennycook’s, Rob St John, completes the lineup where a
new collection of songs, appropriately named I Will Kill Again, will see their debut.
From the glimpses that we’ve been given of his post-Meursault guise, there seems to be more of an edge to Supermoon, with the darker and sample-embellished sounds of ‘Klopfgeist’ adding a foreboding undercurrent to the familiar melodic howls and whimpers into which Pennycook contorts his voice. It might be seen as a brave decision to leave behind such a cult following as Meursault had, but Pennycook never was one to rest on his laurels, constantly evolving his former vehicle both in terms of sonic palate and lineup; it is through this lens that this show should be viewed.
One of the more compelling performers to emerge in recent years, he’s equally capable of stripped back and vulnerable performances, stirring, orchestra-backed soundscapes, and nearly blowing the roof off the Liquid Room. This time, he’s backed by a full band, but to an end that remains pleasingly mysterious – and what better venue in which to wrap this bundle of possibility than Summerhall’s Dissection Room? With Eagleowl (20 Aug), Adam Stafford (22 Aug) and a Night School Records showcase (29 Aug) all still to come at Henry’s Cellar Bar as part of Pale Imitation, it’s safe to say that when it comes to live music in Edinburgh, reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. (Joe McManus) ■ Summerhall, 560 1581, 27 Aug, 8.30pm, £10.
CRAP MUSIC RAVE PARTY Club night that promises all filler, no killer Allowing the audience a say in the night’s tracklist is bound to guarantee a few clangers, but that’s what Crap Music Rave Party revels in. All eras and all styles are welcome, as long as a song’s inclusion will elicit groans (no music snobs allowed). An alternative to Hot Dub Time Machine, anarchic DJ Tomás Ford unites clubbers with the music everyone secretly wants to hear at midnight on a Fringe night out. What to expect depends on the crowd, but a recent tweet from Ford delighted in the fact that the whole dancefloor transcended trends and generations to join together in a move-perfect routine to ‘Saturday Night’ by Whigfield, while other punters have been singing CMRP’s praises for getting on board with songs like Donna Summer’s version of ‘MacArthur Park’ and Britney’s ‘Oops! . . . I Did It Again’. Ford clearly relishes bringing people together in the name of bad taste. One to consider when you’re bored with all the culture. (Kirstyn Smith) ■ Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 0330 220 1212, until 30 Aug (not 24 & 25), midnight, £6 (£5).
THE JEROME EXPERIENCE: ROTATING DRUMMING SHOW Parisian drummer Jerome Marley plays drums in a wheel that spins him upside down. It sounds like a curious spectacle, although Alesha Dixon did compare him to a ‘drumming hamster’ when he went on Britain’s Got Talent. Meadowbank Sport Centre, 226, 0000, until 22 Aug, 6pm, £7 (£5).
REAL JAPANESE DRUM BEAT Samurai drum group, IKKI, fuse traditional and contemporary taiko styles in a show they claim will help you to understand Japan’s soul. the Space @ Symposium Hall, 510 2385, until 23 Aug, 5.10pm, £10 (£6). MESSAGES FROM JAPAN / SUPER-CUSSION The Hibiki group’s debut Fringe show Messages from Japan / Super-cussion, promises a more reflective, traditional ‘percussive panorama’ which serves as a tribute to the Japanese tsunami disaster. the Space @ Symposium Hall, 510 2385, until 29 Aug, 6.20pm, £10 (£6).
FILLS MONKEY: INCREDIBLE DRUM SHOW Also from France are the duo at the heart of Fills Monkey: Incredible Drum Show (pictured), whose frantic show is self- described as ‘Stomp meets The Muppet Show’s Animal’, promising juggling, air drumming and a drum being played with a tennis racket and balls. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 25), 5.30pm, £10.50–£13.50 (£9–£11.50). DRUM TRIBE Meanwhile, Drum Tribe is an interactive South African show performed by a troupe of semi-naked men. What, you want to know more? Well, it’s a primitive blend of music and dance from a group who’ve performed with Metallica, REM, Shakira and Shaggy. Gilded Balloon, until 31 Aug (not 27), 622 6552, 1.30pm, £13.50–£15 (£11.50–£13). (David Pollock)
20–31 Aug 2015 THE LIST FESTIVAL 71