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Genteel cultured types and hedonistic hipsters alike can amuse themselves at this year's West End Festival. Kirstin lnnes explains how
Best for al fresco frolicking
There is of course more to the West lind Festival than Scotland‘s Mardi Gras (pictured). but the impact of 500+ musicians and costumed revellers stopping traffic on Byres Road (Sun 15 Jun) is not to be sniffed at. Propping up the other end is the Kelvingrove lndie Street Party. with local bands banging it. as the kids say. all over Argyle Street. and liirebird taking care of snacks.
Best for stanspotting
liveryone knows that the West [ind has a higher concentration of celebrities per square metre than any other area in Scotland. That may even be a statistically proven fact. llillhead Library seems to be the best location for quality l‘estival sleb-spotting. with former Lib Dem head man (‘harles Kennedy MP reminiscing about life at Glasgow University (Fri 20 Jun). Al. Kennedy. coffee-fresh from her (‘osta prize win. will also be available for questioning (Wed 25 Jun we suspect she‘s heard ‘where do you get your inspiration from‘." before). (‘afe Rio on l-lyndland Street is a good bet too. with Saturday night DJ sets throughout the festival from various luminaries of the
Glasgow indie aristocracy. including members of
ldlewild. The Twilight Sad. Teenage l‘anclub and a heartstopping appearance from Steven Pastel.
Best for multiculturalism
(‘ulturally-aware. well-travelled types might like to check out the programme of activities at Cafe Aliza on Great Western Road. where you can spend whole days hooked up to a shisha pipe or learn belly dancing whilse listening to traditional Tuareg music. There‘s a definite world music strand to the festival this year. headed up by ()rkestra Del Sol‘s gig at ()ran Mor (Fri l3 Jun) and exemplified by the inclusion of the Glasgow Mela (Sun 22 Jun) in the programme.
Besttorstn'kingapose
I Books H Clubs ? Comedy
The weekend of 21 and 22 June is prime time for the i angular haircut crowd (which does have a strong presence ' in the area). as hip young design store (‘he Camille takes
over the Hidden Lane fora fashion show on the Saturday. and Bolshie turns the whole of Bank Street into an
(ethical. naturally) catwalk on the Sunday. The Grosvenor i
(‘inema will be screening hip Scottish films like
Mm'vorn ('u/lar and Red Roar] throughout the
festival. and the music programme offers numerous chances to catch Wake The President. this year‘s local lads most likely. They don’t call it Glasgow‘s Trendy West [find for nothing.
West End Festival, Glasgow, Fri 13-Sat 29 June. www.westendfestival.co.uk
39 I LGBT 71 42 I Music 72 49 I Theatre 92 52 I TV 100 70 I Visual Art 101
www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
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* MARCHING-MARKETS AND MOUTHS
* West End Market
Nope, nothing to do with the Festival over yonder. This is the other West End, darling. Er, the one in Edinburgh. Several local businesses have got together to put on a classy kind of craft fair, with stalls showcasing the best of Scottish design (including mohair and Harris Tweed handbags by Catherine Aiken, pictured) and simply sumptuous refreshments on hand. Huzzah. Stafford Street, Edinburgh, Sat 7 Jun.
* DiScOmBoBuLaTe
The second night of the packed-out Iiterature/comedy/ performance hybrid that no- one would dare describe as ‘spoken word’ sees a change of venue and young playwriting gun Douglas Maxwell join regulars lain Heggie, Alan Bissett and Magi Gibson. CCA, Glasgow, Tue 70 Jun.
Dis Scotland’s Mardi Gras Start summer stompingly, no matter what the weather, with a riot of colour and an itchin persuasive samba beat. See preview, left. Byres Road, Glasgow. Sun 15 Jun.
* Leith Festival Gala Day and Pageant Look. anything Glasgow can do, right . . .? The Leith Festival comes to its annual climax, with parades, stalls, music and fun. The parade leaves Lochend Park at 12.30pm, wending its way down to Leith Links by Links Place. Please see www.leithfestival.co.uk for last- minute route changes. Leith, Edinburgh, Sat 7 Jun.
5—19 Jun 2008 THE LIST 35
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