LGBT
PREVIEW PERFORMANCE LOUD & PROUD George Square Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 12 Dec
Loud & Proud, Scotland’s LGBT choir, has come a long way in a short space of time. The a capella group, which performs its festive concert at the George Square Theatre this fortnight, started life as a ten-week singing course at the LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing in January 2005, with only eight dedicated members. After taking to the stage at Sala on Broughton Street for Pride Scotia, however, the performers decided to keep the music going.
‘Just on the strength of performing in Sala our membership doubled,’ says Karen Dietz, Loud & Proud’s artistic director, originally from Massachusetts. ‘Our expansion has always been by way of word of mouth. We’ve done very little in the way of advertising or touting for business.’ Until Edinburgh Gay Men’s Chorus formed last year Loud & Proud were the only LGBT choir in Scotland. As Dietz points out, the choir’s demographic is of secondary importance to the music and sense of community.
‘There’s very little in the way of a gimmick about us. Some of our members happen to be gay, some are transgender and some are straight. It’s not about promoting gayness as such; it’s about community. It just so happens that we identify as an LGBT choir.’ Now a regular presence on Edinburgh’s music scene, members of the choir
regularly perform at special occasions, weddings and civil partnerships as well as taking full programmes to the Fringe and other festivals. Alongside the expected carols and fun Christmas songs, the choir’s festive
concert will also feature some early American ‘shape-note’ music, a type of singing used in various sacred music traditions that has been practised particularly in the southern states of the USA. ‘Every programme we do is diverse and varied,’ says Dietz. ‘That’s partly due to my own experience and background, and also the varied tastes of our members.’ (Allan Radcliffe) ■ www.loudandproudchoir.org
Thursday 3
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to gay@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Glasgow FREE A Spot of b)other: LGBTI Deaf and Disabled Cultures Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Until Sun 21 Feb 2010. 10am–5pm. Pages from A Spot of b)other, a fanzine about deaf and disabled people in the LGBTI community by sh[OUT] artist in residence Sandra Alland. Edinburgh ■ Circus Skills Course The Big Red Door, 10 Lady Lawson Street, 523 1100. 6.30–8.30pm. £15–£55. A more practical option than running away with the circus, learn skills in a weekly class.
64 THE LIST 3–17 Dec 2009
FREE Club for Heroes The GRV, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 11pm–3am. Underground disco for freaks and lovers with your hosts Jetlad and Honey Sweetcheeks.
Friday 4 Edinburgh ■ Pink Links Deep Blue, below the Blue Moon, 1 Barony Street, 556 2788. 7pm. £5. Women-only speed dating fun on the first Friday of every month. There are 15 dates of three minutes each, bar breaks for Dutch courage and opportunities to mingle afterwards with free entry to GHQ. See www.pinklinks.biz for more info or to book tickets. ■ Poptastic GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. 10pm–3am. £4 (£3). Queer clubbing night with indie/electro from Phil Bakstad in room one and retro pop/trash from Paul McAvoy in room two.
www.list.co.uk/LGBT
Saturday 5 Thursday 10
Glasgow ■ Revolver Quiz Revolver, 6a John Street, 553 2456. 4pm. £1 per person. A general knowledge quiz that takes place every Saturday. Teams of up to six can enter and 25p from every entry fee goes to the Gay Men’s Health charity. ■ Club Noir’s Christmas Party O2 Academy, 121 Eglinton Street, 08444 772000. 9pm–3am. £14.50. Burlesque Christmas party featuring a live set from Codeine Velvet Club. Edinburgh ■ Luvely Faith, 207 Cowgate, 225 5583. 10.30pm–3am. £12 (£10). A saucy soirée of full-on, driving house music with residents Tommy Kay, Dean Newton, Grum Stone and Jon Edwards.
Glasgow FREE Artist Residency Talks from Ajamu X and Sandra Alland Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6–7.30pm. The artists have explored the identities and personal histories of LGBTI people from BME communities or who are disabled, through their own art and in collaboration with the local and national community. Ages 16+. Edinburgh ■ Circus Skills Course The Big Red Door, 10 Lady Lawson Street, 523 1100. 6.30–8.30pm. £15–£55. See Thu 3. FREE Club for Heroes The GRV, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 11pm–3am. See Thu 3.
Sunday 6 Friday 11
Edinburgh FREE Christmas Crafts LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. 2–4pm. A family- friendly craft session to make cards and presents. ■ Taste The GRV, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 11pm–3am. £6 (members £5). An eclectic mix of the very best in underground dance music and classics.
Monday 7
Glasgow ■ Passionality Byblos, Unit Q, Merchant Square, 71 Albion Street, 552 3895. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (£2). DJ Shawn Roberts plays chart hits for the gay/mixed crowd. Edinburgh FREE My Safety! First Aid in the Home LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. 6–7.30pm. The Scottish Ambulance Service provides info about first aid and when it’s time to call the Emergency Services. No running with scissors, now. FREE This is the Industry GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. 11pm–3am. New Monday nighter for GHQ, created especially for those in the business (bars, clubs, pubs, hotels and restaurants).
Tuesday 8
Glasgow ■ Audiocouture Byblos, Unit Q, Merchant Square, 71 Albion Street, 552 3895. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (£2 students). A mixed night playing chart, cheese and R&B, with DJ Shazza Halliwell. Edinburgh FREE Book Group Waterstone’s, 13–14 Princes Street, 556 3034. 6.30–7.45pm. Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to a discussion of Christopher Isherwood’s Goodbye to Berlin, which depicts the decadence and seams of liberalism of pre-Nazi Germany, and inspired the musical Cabaret. FREE Pop du Jour CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. 11pm–3am. New weekly dose of cheesy dancefloor glue from DJ Paton.
Wednesday 9 Glasgow ■ Allure The Tunnel, 84 Mitchell Street, 204 1000. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (students two-for-one). Cheesy pop sounds from DJ Darren and the guys behind Passionality.
Edinburgh FREE Icebreakers The Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace, 523 1100. 7.30–9.30pm. Social group for people who want to make new friends in LGBT company, now at the lovely and friendly Regent Bar and organised by the LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing.
Edinburgh ■ Furburger GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. 11pm–3am. £4 (£3). DJs Dejaybird, Funki Diva, Boy Toy and Debi T provide aural stimulation for gay women and their closest friends.
Saturday 12
Glasgow ■ Revolver Quiz Revolver, 6a John Street, 553 2456. 4pm. £1 per person. See Sat 5. ■ Death Disco XXXmas Party The Arches, 30 Midland Street, 565 1000. 10pm–4am. £14 (£5–£7). A night to remember with Brodinski, Erol Alkan, Aeroplane, Rex the Dog, Mark Moore (live), Sammy Jo, Acid Girls, Burns . . . Edinburgh ■ Loud & Proud Festive Concert George Square Theatre, University of Edinburgh, George Square, 473 2000. 8pm. £9 (£6). See panel. Tickets available from The Hub: 0131 473 2000.
Monday 14
Glasgow ■ Passionality Byblos, Unit Q, Merchant Square, 71 Albion Street, 552 3895. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (£2). See Mon 7. Edinburgh FREE Having a Healthy Christmas LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. 6–7.30pm. ‘Tis the season of over-indulgence, being glued to the sofa and, for many, depression. Find out how to stay healthy. FREE This is the Industry GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. 11pm–3am. See Mon 7.
Tuesday 15 Glasgow ■ Audiocouture Byblos, Unit Q, Merchant Square, 71 Albion Street, 552 3895. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (£2 students). See Tue 8.
Edinburgh FREE Pop du Jour CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. 11pm–3am. See Tue 8.
Wednesday 16 Glasgow ■ Allure The Tunnel, 84 Mitchell Street, 204 1000. 11.30pm–3am. £3 (students two-for-one). See Wed 9.
Thursday 17
Edinburgh ■ Circus Skills Course The Big Red Door, 10 Lady Lawson Street, 523 1100. 6.30–8.30pm. £15–£55. See Thu 3. FREE Club for Heroes The GRV, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 11pm–3am. See Thu 3.