What's become .of our public behavnour? PAGE 12
Mogwai play the opening night at Glasgow‘s ABC
Major new venues to open
New spaces announced for music and theatre in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Words: Allan Radcliffe
t seems you can‘t move in the central belt for new venues popping up. Most prominent among these is the opening of Regular Music’s ABC on Sauchiehall Street. the Edinburgh-based promoter having transformed the venerable former cinema into a £2 million. 1.200 capacity venue with an additional stage holding 350 people. Mogwai
and Roddy Frame kick off the party on 5 June while other
big names being announced include Saint Etienne.
Fears that a sixth major concert space would lead to an overcrowding of the Glasgow music scene were pooh- poohed by Regular Music‘s director Mark Mackie. who believes the ABC's city centre location means it‘s uniquely
placed. And there are other selling points: ‘Unlike other venues. we‘re not going to kick you out immediately after
the gig.‘ says Mackie. ‘There will be music late into the
night so people will really get their money‘s worth. There‘s
also the 300-seat ABC 2 space for smaller intimate gigs.‘ Meanwhile. one of the founders of the lidinburgh
festival‘s Gilded Balloon has announced he is to take over
the select Royal Scots Club during those crucial three weeks in August. Artist Andrew Brown helped launch the flagship fringe venue in 1985 and subsequently ran the Phoenix 369 gallery until both were devastated by the (‘owgate fire of December 2003. To many. the Royal Scots Club is an unusual choice for a fringe venue. Established to pay tribute to soldiers who fell in the Great War. the elegant New Town building retains a plush. fastidious ambience. According to Brown. the idea is to create a spacious. music- liall style ambience that does not expand as rapidly or widely as the Gilded Balloon. 'This is a very small venucf he said. ‘But while I hope there will be more shows at future festivals. we will not grow in the way they did.‘
In a development that signals a new lease of life for the street ravaged by fire in December 2002. jazz impresario Bill Kyle has just announced a new venue for Edinburgh‘s (‘owgate [p the M‘). the good people of Perth are returning in droves to the newly refurbished liergusson
Gallery.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY F LIES INTO GLASGOW
I Zap! Pow! Ker-boom! Summer is approaching and the release of films such as Batman Begins illustrates the ongoing appeal of the comic book. Free Comic Book Day - which takes place at Glasgow’s Henry Wood Hall on Claremont Street on 14 May - is a chance for fans to celebrate their favourite characters. As part of this world event, the organisers will be giving away free comics, including special editions of Star Wars and Marvel adventures featuring the amazing Spiderman, all of which have been published specially for the occasion. There will also be an opportunity to meet Gordon Tait - a creator of Dandy - and Graham Manley, famous for his work on 2000/10 and Judge Dredd. Organiser Ivor Davis acknowledges that the event will attract kids of all ages. ’As the success of the Spiderman and X-Men movies demonstrate, comics have a broad appeal.’ (AR)
I Sta at the Festival and King’s theatres in Edinburgh are being balloted on strike action after talks concerning job cuts broke down. The proposed action threatens Scottish Opera’s June production of Fidelio and may drag on through the festival.
I The Pixies are set to play a huge outdoor show at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium on 28 August. The show, as part of T on the Fringe will include a bill of special guests will be announced nearer the time.
I Tango masters Los Dinzel are to swap Buenos Aires for Edinburgh for three days of capital events (13-15 May). The renowned choreographers will be leading workshops at the Counting House on West Nicholson Street as well as performing in the Grand Milonga at Dance Base.
I The student union bars at Napier University's Merchiston and Craiglockart campuses are to close having run up losses of £41,000. The students‘ association, which runs the bars. has blamed competition from city centre hostelries.
I Glasgow City Council is to launch a multi- purpose Smart Card ‘within weeks’. It will allow users to access libraries and sports facilities, pay council tax and parking fees at the swipe of a wrist.
l2~20 May 2005 THE LIST 7