www.list.co.uk/aroundtownWhat’sOn
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Around Town Neighbourhoods, watch!
In the east corner, Edinburgh’s Leith Festival! In the west corner, Glasgow’s West End Festival! Kirstin Innes adjudicates the battle of the community fests Stats If we’re starting off with sizes, it’s worth pointing out that the West End Festival, which has been running for 15 years, technically covers a far bigger catchment area and is ten days longer than the Leith Festival, so has more room to pack in its whacking 430 events this year. That said, there has been a Leith Festival in some form or another since 1907, so each of its almost 100 events is steeped in history. Winner: West End is the heavyweight here. (taught by a Welsh Frenchman) and braving Brel’s gin tasting sessions. In Leith, we’ll be stockpiling resources for the Strangers in a Strange Land ‘14-hour literary mash-up’, before settling down for Whores and Sons, Susan Morrison’s storytelling session about the sleazier side of the Port. Winner: A brain-boggling draw.
Local heroes represented Leith, of course, has its very own Bard in the inflexible, slightly intimidating shape of Irvine Welsh. He’s not actually here in person this year, but there’s a great cinema strand based out of Sofi’s bar paying tribute to his works: the fabulously foul Wedding Belles alongside, of course, Trainspotting. In the west, there’s Lobey Dosser Day: a day of events dedicated to cartoonist Bud Neill, meeting at the statue of his titular cartoon sheriff (on Woodlands Road opposite Uisge Beatha). Winner: The Ultimate Leither takes this round. We’re too scared to object. Weird and wonderful Both festivals traditionally throw up a number of oddball events. This year, we’ll be charmed at the West End Festival’s Curses! Ancient Egyptian Magic in Half an Hour! workshop, sampling the cooking class How to Become an Italian Mama
Big names Although there are some high profile events, both festivals tend to be far more concerned with celebrating the talent that already exists in the community. So, sure, you can catch Eddi Reader at Oran Mor as part of the WEF, or Vladimir McTavish bringing the lolz at Cruz in Leith, but it’s sweeter because both of them are locals. Other good local names to catch: Rick Redbeard from The Phantom Band and sweet WEndy indie folk-ers Maple Leaves, both at Brel, Zoey Van Goey and Endor at Oran Mor, and children’s author Maggi Gibson at Gilmorehill G12 (all WEF); in Leith look out for Kim Edgar at iso- bar and Chris Bradley of Aberfeldy at Queen Charlotte Rooms. Winner: Listen. At the end of the day, the winners are the respective communities, amirite? Leith Festival, Fri 11–Sun 20 Jun, full listings www.leithfestival.com; West End Festival until Sun 27 Jun, full listings www.westendfestival.co.uk
www.list.co.uk/aroundtown Hitlist SCULPTING, CLONING & FESTIVAL-GOING*
✽✽ Artist’s Talk: Antony Gormley Mr Angel of the North himself, in conversation about 6 Times, his first publicly-sited artwork in Scotland, comprising six life-sized figures installed in Edinburgh between SNGMA and Leith’s docks. National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, Tue 22 Jun. ✽✽ Festival Sunday Featuring Scotland’s Mardi Gras It’s that time of year again, WEndies! The fiesta de resistance (oh yes, we did) of the West End Festival wends its way from the north end of Kelvin Way to Kelvingrove Park in a riot of samba music, dance and colour. See preview, left, for more on the festival. Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, Sun 13 Jun. ✽✽ Blochestra Home-made orchestra, involving a couple of workshop/jam sessions lead by Union of Knives’ Craig Grant before a series of gigs. Bring along any instruments: tubas and triangles equally welcome. Bloc, Glasgow, Mon 14 & 21 Jun. ✽✽ Old Town Festival Because there just aren’t enough festivals in the Central Belt right now. The Old Town Fest is a rather more sedate affair than most, packed full of storytelling sessions and history and architectural tours. See www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co. uk for full details. Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 14–Sun 27 Jun. ✽✽ After Dolly: Where Do You Draw the Line? Cloning discussion centred around Scotland’s favourite ever sheep. And, my countrypeople, we all know that’s saying something. See picture, page 39. Edinburgh Zoo, Thu 17 Jun. 10–24 Jun 2010 THE LIST 37