Around Town -
www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
ARTS FESTIVAL LADYFEST
Various venues, Edinburgh, Sun 4 May-Sun 1 Jun
Ruby-red lips, set perms and Avon panstick. Not the traditional image of a feminist - certainly not the popular, Iaddish stereotype of a feminist. However, Ladyfest, Edinburgh’s first female-focussed festival, launches this fortnight with an event that promises to ‘put a fresh, feminist face on the 19503 domestic goddess’. PM Tea, a theatrical, musical event with dancing, a 19505 makeover counter and an Edinburgh Feminist Network-hosted discussion on our changing views of feminism, is setting the standard for a wry, intelligent, month-long celebration of female creativity, in every single one of its forms.
Born of the 19905 Riot Grrrl Movement, which slapped a female face onto punk rock culture, the first Ladyfest was a music festival in Olympia, Washington in the year 2000. Since then, DIY Ladyfests, non-profit, feminist-centred events which aim to provide a platform for the talents of female artists and performers, have sprung forth in cities across the world.
‘It’s as much an arts festival and celebration of women in the arts, as it is a feminist festival,’ says Marylou Anderson, one of the festival organisers, who have teamed up with Zero Tolerance, Edinburgh’s campaign to end violence against women, to build a programme of events. ‘We want to build up a visible women’s culture, as much as eradicate violence against women, so it’s an equal platform for both.’
Ladyfests have typically only run for three or four
days. Why do things by halves, though? In a bid to reach as wide an audience as possible, however, a month long series of workshops, avant-garde film screenings, gigs, exhibitions, comedy nights and debates have been programmed. ‘I make milk - what’s your superpower?’, a workshop on breastfeeding, is one of the many planned events happening at various venues in the city. Incidentally, after this particular session participants will be invited to take to the streets for a spot of light guerilla stickering on the flyposters of the city. Other topics up for debate and discussion over the month include pornography, human trafficking, birthing and ‘faith in feminism’.
Appropriately, given Ladyfest’s musical beginnings, girl-based gigs will be rife and unavoidable, with the likes of ‘in-tune howler’ Kirsten Norrie set to grind out glamtronics alongside dark metallists Hockyfrilla. Post- punk starlets Come On Gang, Brummie indie poppers Kategoes and the velveteen Saint Jude’s Infirmary are also set to whip up a heady mix of indie sounds, while fans of a more folky persuasion can welcome Emily Scott, Blue Flint and Katie Stewart to the sprawling festival stage.
From screenings of Thelma and Louise to queer tea dances, from lectures on international women’s rights to communication workshops, punk gigs to performance art, the programme is diverse, wide- reaching, and ought to make sure that the repercussions of the festival are felt long after Ladyfest’s closing party. Lipstick up, hit the dance floor, and let’s change some stuff. (Rosalie Doubal)
I www. lady/ested/‘nburgh. com
FREE It Didn’t Happen Here Museum of Edinburgh. Huntly House. I42 Canongate. 529 4143. Until Sat 29 Nov (not Sun). Mon—Sat l()am—5pm. Exhibition examining Edinburgh‘s links with the slave trade.
FREE Local Heroes: The Art of the Graphic Novel National Library of Scotland. George [V Bridge. 62.3 3845. Until Sun 1 Jun. l()am—8pm; l()am—5pm; 2—5pm. Zap! Klang! Pow! Holy comic book exhibitions. Batman. it‘s a range of artwork and writing by Alan Moore. An Speigelman. Frank Miller. Alan Grant. Cam Kennedy and (irant Morrison showing the Scottish influence on the maturation of the graphic novel form over the last 40 years. with The Brown. Marvel comics. 77min and Japanese Manga represented.
FREE Museum on the Mound
32 THE LIST 24 Apr~8 May 2008
Museum ()n The Mound. The Mound. 243 5464. Until Sun 29 Jun (not Mon). l()am—5pm; 1—5pm. Smell the colour of money at this exhibition where you can see what a million pounds looks like. discover Scotland‘s oldest banknote and have a go at cracking a sale.
Royal Museum Project: Your Museum is Changing Royal Museum (‘ral't Gallery. 2 (‘hambers Street. 247 4219. Until Sun 27 Apr. 10am 5pm. An exhibition detailing the 150 year history of the Royal MUseum building and the planned renovations. A computer generated ‘tly-through‘ will deliver you to 20l l for a preview of the revamped museum.
FREE A Scots Helicon: Portraits of Nine Contemporary Scottish Women Writers Writers‘ Museum. Lady Stair‘s Close. Lawnmarket. 529 4901. l'ntil Sat l2 Jul (not Sun). l()am 5pm.
Inspired by Mount llelicon. the mythical home of the nine muses. this new Writers‘ Museum exhibition features portraits of nine contemporary Scottish women writers: Kate Atkinson. llelen I)unwoodie. Margaret lilphinstone. Al. Kennedy. Joan Lingard. Val Mcl)ermid. Denise Mina. l)i|ys Rose and Louise Welsh. All by [Edinburgh-based artist Anna (‘aro Silver: Made in Scotland National Museum of Scotland. (‘hambers Street. 247 4422. Until Sun 27 Apr. l()am 5pm. £6 (£5; members and under 12s free). Your last chance to catch this shiny. shiny exhibition tracing the history of silversmithing in Scotland. (iuided tours available ("or magpie types.
Food & Drink FREE Polish Food Tasting Evening Thu 24 Apr. (‘ollective (iallery. 22 28
(‘ockburn Street. 220 I260. 6-‘8pm. Deli Polonia visit the (‘ollective's gallery space to host a unique evening of Polish food tasting. in conjunction with their [low to Be IIU.\‘/)iI(I/)/(' exhibition focussing on the recent phenomenon of Polish immigration.
Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings Thu 24 Apr The 'l‘olbooth Tavern. 167 (‘anongate 556 5348. 7.30pm. £l7—£20. Long-running bi-monthly whisky tasting session at one of the best-stocked bars in town. typically including live malt whiskies at cask strength. Tickets must be booked in advance: call ()l31 556 5864 or email chwsm‘ wmcadenhead.Com to reserve.
FREE Edinburgh Farmers’ Market Saturdays. (‘astle Terrace. 652 5940. 9am 2pm. More local. quality. ethical produce than you could shake a stick at. Wines of Chile Tasting Thu 1 May. (ieorge Hotel. 19 2| (ieorge Street. 225 I25]. 6 9pm. £10. Representatives from over 30 ('hilean wineries will gather under one roof. giving you the opportunity to taste through more than 300 of the country‘s linest wines. (‘all (H344 872229 or email
inl'o(a winesol‘chile.org.uk
FREE The Eating Place Thu 8 May (‘astle Street. 652 5940. noon» 6pm. A line food market that is held in (‘astle Street on the second and last Thursday of every month.
Politics
FREE Edinburgh Fur Free City: Fur Free Drinks l‘ri 2 May. A(‘l{. l7 West Montgomery Place. 557 6242. 7pm. liur-l’ree drinks and discussion about putting a stop to the global fur trade. on the first Friday of ever month. There are also weekly protests at Multrees Walk every Saturday: assemble at Registry House at noon. Please don‘t bring fur. because these are Turf/ice drinks. yes‘.’
8 ort
§ BUPA Great Edinburgh Run Sun 4 May ('ity Centre. 0870 011
3337. £26 (£24 to enter). See l.istpicks.
wwwgreatrun.org
Talks
FREE From Electric Soup to Superman Tue 29 Apr. National Library of Scotland. (ieorge IV Bridge. 623 4675. 7pm. Scottish graphic artist Vincent l)eighan (aka l-‘rank Quitely) talks about his own underground titles. Iz'li't'lrit' Soup and The Greens. as well as illustrating .\'eil (iaitnan’s Stun/Hum: lint/less Nights” and l)(‘ (‘omics' The Batman: The Scottish (Minn-lion. (‘haired by Lisa ()tty.
FREE Gary Erskine Tue 6 May. National Library of Scotland. (ieorge IV Bridge. 623 4675. 7pm. The freelance comic artist shows off bits of his illtistt‘ious career (2000.-ll). Slur ll’urs. Ih'l/hhlft’l‘l and a sneak peak of his new work on Dan l)are.
Workshops
Swing Dance Nights Mondays. The (RV. 37 (itithrie Street. 220 2987. 7pm. £4.50 (£4). Beginners' rootin. tootin'. loot-suitin’. liigh-l'alutin swing dance lessons from 7pm every Monday. with social dancing toja/I & big band hits from 8pm.
Shoe Swing Wednesdays. (‘ounting llouse. West .\'icolson Street. £4.50 singles £8 couples (£2 social dancing only). One swing dance sesh a week just not enough for ya'.’ l’ear not. you crazy retro throwlxick Iidinbop run workshops every Wednesday night. 'l‘utored classes from 7pm and social dancing from 9pm. Swing dancers. lintly-hoptk‘rs and jivers of all persuasions very welcome. .\'o need to book. and you don‘t even have to have a partner.
FREE Drummers Do Sun 4 May. The Jan Bar. l (‘hambers Street. 220 4298. 2 5pm. l’eaturing sessions by local drummers. Q&A sessions. demos and technical advice.