Festival Music list.co.uk/festival
music@list.co.uk
AVI BUFFALO Avi Buffalo, real name Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg (above, left), formed a band with three friends from his high school in Long Beach, California. That was three years ago, and their sun-bleached, jangly, trippy racket has been slowly creeping into British hearts. The foursome have since signed to Seattle label, Sub Pop, and played their first dates in the UK, including the ATP festival in May, after Pavement asked them along. How best to describe the sound of their first album? Swoony, summery, timeless? Lush, a bit hippy, full of lovesick innocence and some teen lust? They have only just graduated from high school, after all. One for fans of The Shins and Sparklehorse. See also preview on The Low Anthem, page 38. ■ Avi Buffalo, with The Low Anthem and Mountain Man, The Queen’s Hall, 08444 999 990, 30 Aug, 7pm, £12.50. 5QUESTIONS
The star of Smoke and Mirrors, iOTA (left), a slightly demented ringmaster in stripey socks and a feather choker, reveals he’s partial to the odd lashing – of ginger beer 5 words you’d use to describe your show Cerebral, moving, beautiful, intense, entertaining. 4 things you bring on tour Slippers, laptop, clothes, eczema cream. 3 shows you hope to see in Edinburgh Harlekin by Derevo, Jennifer Coolidge and David Strassman. 2 things we probably don’t know about you I am not charismatic and entertaining offstage. I like Crabbies Ginger Beer. 1 rumour you’d like to start about yourself None . . . the truth is far more interesting. ■ Smoke and Mirrors, The Famous Spiegeltent, 667 8940, until 30 Aug, 10pm, and also 28–30, 7pm, £20 (£15). See review, page 40.
N O T P U E C N E D U R P
: O T O H P
Hitlist FESTIVAL MUSIC *
✽✽ The Low Anthem and Avi Buffalo From Providence, Rhode Island, comes the bruised, haunting folk-blues sound of The Low Anthem. Meanwhile, over in California, Avi Buffalo make jangly folk-rock. See picture, left, and preview, page 38. Queen’s Hall, 08444 999 990, 30 Aug, 7pm, £12.50. Part of The Edge. (Rock & Pop) ✽✽ Henry Rollins Catch the last days of Rollins’ week of spoken word events. The former Black Flag frontman pulls no punches in his ranting, comedy tirade of opinionated bile. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 08445 458 252, until 29 Aug, 9.10pm, £8.50—£10.50 (£7.50—£9.50). (Rock & Pop) ✽✽ Bert Jansch The Glasgow- born folk musician, and a founder of Pentangle, shows aspiring guitarists how it’s really done. Johnny Marr, Neil Young and Nick Drake are all fans. Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 26 & 27 Aug, 8pm, £18 (£16.) (Folk) ✽✽ Chinese Music: Old and New Chinese folk singer Fong Liu has been singing since she was five. She can turn her hand to pop and jazz, and will also explore more traditional sounds of China, with accompaniment from bamboo flute, dulcimer and violin. Canongate Kirk, 226 0000, 28 Aug, 7.30pm, £10 (£6). (Folk) ✽✽ Bliss Continuing the EIF’s ‘New Worlds’ theme, Opera Australia present a dazzling take on suburban angst. (See feature, page 36). The Sydney Symphony Orchestra also play, with two concerts featuring works by Elgar and Strauss. Festival Theatre, 473 2000, 2 Sep & 4 Sep, 7.15pm, £14–£64; Sydney Symphony Orchestra 01 and 02, Usher Hall, 473 2000, 1 & 2 Sep, 7.30pm, £10–£40. (Classical) ✽✽ Retreat! A weekend festival, in a church, with the likes of FOUND, Withered Hand, Wounded Knee, Rob St John and 7VWWVW. See preview, page 38. David Shrigley’s suggestion. For more, see Shrigley’s Top 10, page 60. Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Aug 28-29, £7 (day) / £12 (weekend). For Festival Index see page 112.
26 Aug–9 Sep 2010 THE LIST 35