New directions
Scottish musicians to perform at prestigious US festival.
Words: Anna Millar
he South by South West (SXSW) music festival has long been
considered a showcase for some of
Scotland‘s most eclectic bands. Now. six homegrown acts are set to continue that tradition when they travel to the festival in Austin. Texas next month.
This year the Scottish Arts Council will be supporting upcoming talent l-‘rightened Rabbit. The Dykeenies. The Law. ()ur Lunar Activities. Popup and Jyrojets. as they perform in front of 7000 music industry delegates from around the world at SXSW. The SAC has also provided support for (ilasgow's Sons and Daughters (pictured) to make an appearance as part of a Scottish showcase.
Next month tnarks the fifth year that the SAC has provided support for tip-and- coming Scottish hands to attend SXSW. Commenting on this year's SXSW line-tip Ian Smith. head of music at the Arts Council. said: ‘SXSW has become a
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regular feature for the Scottish ;\l‘ls Council and this year we maintain our commitment to ensure that the hands selected from Scotland will he :lltlc lo maximise every opportunity that the world‘s greatest showcase event for contemporary pop/rock music i'eprcsents.‘
With over a thousand acts performing in the festiyal eycry year. the event has become one of the biggest industry festiyals in the IS. Considered an important stepping stone for upcoming hands and artists. last year's SXSW attracted almost 12.000 music industry professionals for' live nights of music by more than 1500 acts hailing from 33 different countries and performing in o\ er 70 venues in downtown .-\ustin.
:\ festival organiser spokesman said of
the event: "The goal from the heginning was to create an event that would act as a tool for creatiye people and the companies they work with to develop their careers.‘
BACK TO BLACK
I The success surrounding The National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch shows no signs of abating. The show, written by Gregory Burke and directed by John Tiffany, enjoyed unprecedented success at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe and is returning to New York in October of this year. Currently on tour down under, the production returns to Scotland for performances in Glenrothes and Glasgow in March and April.
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IS to be the subject of a specral retrospective at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. Festival director Hannah McGill said Moreau showed ‘exactly the sort of trailblazing spirit. boldness and intelligence that we celebrate yearly at the festival.‘
THE WICKERMAN FESTIVAL looks set to be suitably fiery following the announcement that De Rosa. Fangs. Zoey Van Goey. Broken Records and Beatnic Prestige will be among the acts taking part. This year‘s event will be held on Friday 25 & Saturday 26 July. See www.the wickermanfestival .co.uk for full details and tickets.
which bagged two awards at the Berlin Film Fesuvaland received six nominations for the upcoming British Independent Film Awards, has at last made its way onto DVD. The Edinburgh-set film, which opened last year's Edinburgh International Film Festival arrives on the small screen complete with deleted scenes. podcasts and commentary from director David Mackenzie.
CROSSING PATHS WITH THE CHARLATANS
The Charlatans are to play their first eadline Scottish dates in several years in support of their new a bum You Cross
My Path at Glasgow's Carling Academy on Tuesday 20 May.
STARS IN THE FRAME FOR HUMANITARIAN AWARD
I The final call has gone out for nominations for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award. Charitable stars, such as James McAvoy, Ewan McGregor, KT Tunstall, Angelina Jolie (pictured) and David Beckham have all been invited to nominate a charity or individual for this year‘s prize, to be presented to someone who has “saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole‘. This year's winner will receive their award at a ceremony in May, as part of the 2008 Burns an’ a’ that! festival. This year’s judging panel includes TV personality Muriel Gray and Scottish writer and UNICEF ambassador, Andrew O’Hagan. Graham Peterkin, chair of the Burns Festival Company and member of the judging panel, said: ‘Each of the celebrities that we have invited to nominate have one thing in common - they have used their star status to promote humanitarian causes that are close to their heart and, as a result, must know some very deserving candidates for this iconic award.’