Will the Beeb burn in hell?
PAGE 8
Festive types (clockwise): Iain Banks, the
Life Aquatic, David Bowie, Joan Rivers
ulture Clash
Scotland is positively bulging with arts festivals this year. And for once, they’re not all in the capital. We report on Glasgow’s regeneration. Words: Johnny Regan and James Smart
dinhurgh may still he the festiyal city hut
Glasgow‘s festiy'al pt'ogt‘amttte is fast catching tip.
This winter sees the west coast city currently shifting to the heat of the folk-flayoured ('eltic (‘onnections artistic eyents. Literary festival .-\y‘e Write? has now heen launched and while the organisers wish to discourage any comparisons to the rather more expansch lidinhurgh jamhoree in .-\ugust. a pt‘estigious programme has nonetheless heen assembled. Running from Saturday l‘) to Sunday 27 lieln‘uary. Aye Write! has lan Mcliw'an discussing his new noy'el. Stuart Murdoch talking about lyrical craftsmanship and l.i/ Lochhead reading from her work while other confirmed names include Marina Warner. Don Paterson. Louise Welsh. Andrew Marr. .lulia Donaldson. lain Banks and Denise .Mina.
The entire festiyal is located in the city's Mitchell library. the largest public reference space of its kind in liurope. Head of libraries. information and learning Karen (‘unningham e\plains the differences between .-\y e Write? and the lidinhurgh International Book l5estiy'al: 'If we get a footfall Ul‘ around l(),()()(l people at [he yurinus menu. I think we can consider the festiy'al to haye been a resounding success. We did quite a hit of research in schools and communities before putting the festiyal together. because this is all ahotit encouraging people to read and write. We are not trying to compete with the lidinhurgh liestiyal which is. as the title indicates. an international affair. This is to do with the people of Glasgow?
Meanwhile. the inaugural (ilasgow' World Film l'estiy'al. as you might expect. has a less local focus. Confirmed
- shrug off the winter chill with all manner of
ltlgltllgltis include Danny BuyleK .lll/Huny. \Ve\ :\ttdci'son\ The life nit/(mire and Woody Allen‘s lie/rink! um! .llt'lim/u. ()ther inoyies to he screened include classic silent horror I)” (in/em. accompanied by a pianist and a thcremin player. The festiyal runs from 'l‘hursday ll) to 'l‘hursday l7 l-‘ehruary.
l)espite the presence of Scottish names like .lerry Sadow'it/. l-tankie Boyle and ('raig Hill. the (ilasgow International ('omedy l~'esti\‘al. now in its third year. is almost as outward looking. ’l‘hc eyent will run from ’l‘hursday Hi to Saturday 26 March and features almost Zl)() shows across 3t) \enues. The line—up features Paul Merton. .lack Dee. .loan Riyers. Harry Hill. .linnny ('arr. .lulian (‘lary. Daniel Kitson. lid Byrnc. Dara O'Briain and Reginald l) Hunter. and the return of Jerry Springer: The Opera scrihe Stewart l.ce.
Heading towards the spring. annual e\perimental music festiyal 'l‘riptych will he launched on 'l'uesday 1 March. liyents take place in lidinhurgh. (ilasgow and .-\herdeen. The only confirmed gig \t) lttl' sees AiLt/l l‘llsltilt legend llerhie Hancock play the Queen's Hall in lidinhurgh on Sunday I May as part of a quartet that includes (iary Thomas l\;t\l. Scott ('olley lhassl and 'l'erri l.yne (‘arrington ldrumsl. We‘re not expecting him to he doing a Version of 'Roekiu
Rumours are already flying ahout July’s 'l‘ in the Park. Prince has heen mentioned. although more likely headliners include the lioo l-‘ighters and Day id Bow ie. who has asked for a slot after missing last year’s festiyal with a trapped nerye. Doy es. Ian Brown and Ham lierdinand. who haye also asked to return. are all possihles.
If you follow our tips for doing things on the cheap this issue. you may well end up with some loose change. Although probably not enough to buy any of this . . .
EXPENSIVE STUFF
Amount it cost to make an episode of f H in 1998 £8.2m
Amount Zinedine Zidane. still the most expensive footballer ever. cost Real Madrid from Juventus in 2001 £47.5m
Cost of the Grand Suite, the most expensive room on the 0E2 (for a 121 -night, round the world cruise) £270,099
Projected cost of making Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, according to director Mike Newell $1 70m
Cost of a bottle of Dalmore 62-year-old malt whisky £25,877.50
Price of the world’s most expensive home. a 12- bedroom house in Kensington. purchased by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal last year from Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone £68m
Cost of staying one night at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand £5000
Cost of an ounce of coffee made from cat droppings £12
Amount spent on a truffle before it was returned to Italy after going rotten £28,000
Cash sum paid for a shower curtain by clean businessman Dennis Kozolowski $6000
g/ THE LIST 7