But Warhol's success was no flash in the pan
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Tsunami aid gigs genlit
The ravaged city at Banda Aceh (left). Texas, Travis and Belle 3.
Scotland’s arts and music scene has gone into a whirlwind of activity to raise money for Asian Tsunami relief efforts.
he catastrophic tsunami in the Indian Ocean has galvanised an unprecedented humanitarian reaction.
with the UK public donating over £25011] to the
relief effort. That generosity has. of course. been prevalent across the arts in Scotland and there have already been plenty of spontaneous responses to the tragedy — people passing round collection buckets or donating proceeds from gigs. clubs. comedy shows. theatre performances. art galleries and other events across the country. But now we are also seeing specifically organised events aimed at raising as much money as possible for the Disasters Emergency Committee twwwdec.org.uk). Mylo recently made £l(i.()()(l from a three-night residency at the Arches. while Biffy Clyro auctioned off hand memorabilia on eBay. The biggest forthcoming charity event in Scotland is at Cilasgow's SECC on Saturday 1‘) February. [I quickly became the country‘s fastest selling benefit event ever. When its l().()()() tickets sold out within 36 hours of going on sale last week. ()rganisers have pulled together an incredible line-up of the country’s top bands. including the winners of The lists Best Scottish Band award Belle & Sebastian. and cun‘ent kings of the charts Franz Ferdinand. The bill also features Travis. Texas. ldlewild. Teenage Fanclub. Mogwai. Slam. Eddi Reader. Mull Historical Society. Trashcan Sinatras and Kevin McDermott. effectively making it a who's who of Scottish rock and pop. even if it’s hard to see how the bands will get more than a ten-minute session each if they're not to ovemin the four hour timetable. All of the acts are of course appearing without a fee. and all the proceeds will be donated to the
DEC. Ticket sales alone have already raised over {300.000 towards the appeal.
Friday 4 February sees a diverse line-up of talent appearing at Edinburgh's Queen‘s Hall. with jaH heroes Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock appearing alongside the traditional sounds of the McCalmans and the Dana Dison Blues Band. A completely different but equally diverse night can also be had at the Bongo Club on Thursday l() February. as Afro-beat outlit Diwan. ska loons Bombskare and punk funksters Trips provide the live intisic. to be followed by eclectic club sounds from Headspin DJs amongst others.
Other benefit gigs worth a mention are an excellent ceilidh featuring the Robert Fish Band and the Belle Star Band at Edinburgh's Counting House on Friday 4 February and a night of live pop and soul music at the (ireenway Centre in the capital on Friday 4 February. Through in Glasgow on Wednesday 9 February the An School plays host to a tasty indie line-up including the .»\mphetameanies. the Flying Matchstick Men and Kain. while for clubbers the place to be is the Venue in Edinburgh on Thursday 3 February where Vegas. Scratch. L'ltragroove and Motherfunk share the place for the night.
Finally. in Edinburgh there's Big Night Out at Ego on Thursday 3 February. and an ()xfam Tsunami Appeal fundraiser at the Bongo Cltib on Thursday If) February.
Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg. with new benefit events being announced every day. Scotland‘s arts and music communities. at least. are doing everything possible to raise money for the reconstruction effort.
On Valentine’s Day. the world divides into two camps. Do you express your undying love, or think Cupid rhymes with stupid? Here, we look at the ups and downs of
LOVE
Number of St Valentines said to have died as martyrs on 14 February 3
Percentage of single Brits who feel negative or indifferent to the hype of Valentine's Day 40
Number of Valentine’s cards sent last year in the UK 12.5m
Number of text messages sent on Valentine's Day last year 75m
Percentage of ‘Ionely hearts' personal advertisers who are already married 5
Amount of letters sent every Valentine's Day to Shakespeare's Juliet in Verona 1 000
Percentage of pet owners who buy Valentine's gifts for their pets 3
Combined ages of the world’s oldest newlyweds. who married in 2002 aged 94 and 96 respectively) 190
Number of times that wedding-addicted Americans Lauren Lubeck Blair and David E Hough Blair have renewed their marriage vows 83
Percentage of American women who say — the charitable souls - that they would dump their boyfriend if they didn't receive a Valentine’s Day gift 53
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