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44 PCL GENIAL GIG HOSTS
The addition of the Captain’s Rest to Glasgow’s music venue circuit gave us another magnificently sweaty spot to catch something genuinely new musically and PCL returned the favour out east this summer, reviving infamous club Sneaky Pete’s on Edinburgh’s Cowgate for some seriously good underground clubbing (the likes of Jerk Alert, ItaloBLACK and Coalition cover everything from drum & bass to indie on the decks) and a dynamic, intimate space to showcase new live music from across the country and beyond. (MR)
41 Mick Imlah LONG LOST LYRICIST
Scots-born poet Mick Imlah is living proof that a wee bit of artistic restraint reaps benefits in the long term. Imlah scooped the £10,000 Forward prize for best collection with his second volume of poetry, The Lost Leader — 20 years after the publication of his first book, Birthmarks. The collection has also been shortlisted for the prestigious TS Eliot Prize. Following these accolades, the poet, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the end of last year, promised to ‘take care to be quicker’ with his next book. (AR)
40 Neil Oliver HUNKY HISTORIAN
Oliver is the quintessential contemporary Renaissance man, having worked as an archaeologist, journalist, author and broadcaster. Now best known as the face of BBC Scotland’s historical documentary series’ Oliver returned to our screens in A History of Scotland, an ambitious ten-part co-production between the Beeb and the Open University, which will broadcast across the rest of the UK in 2009. (AR)
39 Frightened Rabbit NERVY ROCK RAMMY
The April release of sky-rocketing Glasgow indie outfit Frightened
43 Charles Avery MAN AND ISLAND
Avery’s current solo show at the National Gallery of Modern Art brings together his on going ‘Island’ project for the first time. An artistic endeavour initiated in 2004, the artist has simultaneously invented and charted the topography, history and culture of an imaginary island. The result is spectacular — a Turner nomination surely looms. (RD)
42 Gerry Mulgrew MULTI-TASKER
The prolific Scottish theatre actor and director easily disproved the widely- held belief that you can’t be in two places at once, helming the acclaimed Mother Courage and Her Children at Dundee Rep while moonlighting with the Edinburgh-based company Benchtours on their production of Ionesco’s absurd comedy, The Lesson. Mulgrew was also jointly nominated (with Keith Fleming) as best actor in the UK-wide TMA Theatre Awards for his performance in Peer Gynt at Dundee Rep. (AR)
26 THE LIST 11 Dec 2008–8 Jan 2009
accolades for his restaurant, The Kitchin, included a gong as the AA’s Scottish Restaurant of the Year. (DR)
35 Sam Holcroft INSECT ENTHUSIAST
Holcroft provided the bravest, most ambitious work in the Traverse and National Theatre of Scotland’s Debuts series of plays by new writers. Cockroach, which explores the political and genetic implications of young men being killed in a huge global war, marks out the developmental biology graduate as a major new talent. (AR)
34 Lucy Skaer LARGE SCALE SKETCHER
Formally and conceptually intriguing, Skaer’s distinctive large-scale drawings have this year won her huge critical acclaim. Her solo show at the Fruitmarket Gallery, featuring newly commissioned pieces and works since 2001, marked the introduction of new thematics, and the making of an internationally revered talent. (RD)
33 Janis Claxton LADY OF THE DANCE
2008 was the year Claxton officially arrived on the Scottish dance scene. The Australian-born choreographer has been based in Edinburgh since 2005, but waited until this year to launch her new company with a fascinating Fringe show at Edinburgh Zoo and a tour of beautiful contemporary dance and music. (KA)
Rabbit’s second album The Midnight Organ Fight on Fat Cat was followed by support slots for Biffy Clyro and Death Cab For Cutie, and a sold-out show at the Arches. Expect the live acoustic album Liver! Lung! FR! and further steps towards world domination next year. (DP)
38 Hannah McGill FEMME FESTIVAL
McGill silenced the doubters when she oversaw the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s ambitious move from August to June with the grace and equanimity we have come to expect. With excellent box office returns and a roster of fine films from around the world, McGill showed she has taste and vision as artistic director of the UK’s premier film festival. (PD)
37 Luke Fowler SURPRISING CINEAST
Glasgow artist and filmmaker Fowler, who creates impressionistic film collages profiling vanguard thinkers and counterculture figures such as Cornelius Cardew and RD Laing, was this year awarded the inaugural Jarman Award by Film London and More4. The award comprises £20,000, along with a commission for four short films for 3 Minute Wonder, Channel 4’s shorts strand. (AR)
36 Tom Kitchin WELL NAMED CHEF
With an extended run all the way to the final of the BBC’s Great British Menu, Tom Kitchin has added a national profile to his pedigree as Scotland’s most exciting young chef. Further