THE BEST OF THE REST
20 SCOTS WHAY HAE! EVEN-HANDED ARTS COVERAGE
17 SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST WRITING AND READING HUB
A few that didn’t make it into the top 20
scotswhayhae.blogspot.com scottishbooktrust.com
SCOTLAND’S BEST WEBSITES
30 VIEW FROM THE STALLS SCOTTISH THEATRE REVIEWS viewfromthestalls.co.uk
Independent reviews of theatre across central Scotland. Unique because the reviewers are paying punters (who go by the names Statler and Waldorf), with no affiliations to the industry.
29 IS THIS MUSIC? ELDER STATESBLOG isthismusic.com
Stu McHugh’s long-running indie magazine was online way before music and blogging had met properly. Content-rich, regularly updated and suffused with a genuine passion for Scotland’s music.
28 HI-ARTS HIGHLAND ARTS HUB hi-arts.co.uk
Huge, comprehensive and well-designed portal to arts in the Highlands and Islands: development, interactive content, listings and opportunities. We particularly like their high-quality online journal Northings.
27 GERRY HASSAN POLITICAL ANIMAL gerryhassan.com
Scotland’s foremost public intellectual has a very attractive online home stuffed full of his articles and opinions, as well as links to other interesting sites. Well worth immersing yourself in. 26 SQUARE GO STRAIGHT-TALKIN’ GAMIN’ square-go.com
Set up in 2008 to deliver ‘succinct, readable, intelligent and jargon-free videogames journalism to the masses’. Has been doing just that ever since. Added points for a great name.
25 SCOTTISH FOOD GUIDE PROPERLY GOOD FOOD scottishfoodguide.com
Wendy Barry continues her campaign for good food on this award-winning and utterly comprehensive treasure trove highlighting the best of Scotland’s independent producers, shops and restaurants.
24 UNST BUS SHELTER SITE TOURIST ATTRACTION.
REALLY. unstbusshelter. shetland.co.uk
It may not be the most advanced use of technology, but the official site of Shetland’s – nay, the world’s – most famous bus stop is a thing of beauty anyway, as is its decor (pictured).
23 DAILY MASH SATIRICAL NEWS SITE thedailymash.co.uk
Doesn’t quite hit the heights of its model The Onion (one magnificent Liz Jones take-off aside), but still reliably brings the snark, despite coming over a bit right-wing recently.
22 SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE HISTORYTUBE ssa.nls.uk
Utterly gobsmacking selection of archive film from the last century of Scottish history, streaming clips and full length films. History nerds beware: you could lose a month in here.
21 STV RELIABLE NEWS SOURCE stv.tv
Making genuine strides in online journalism (not just broadcast) at a time when other Scottish institutions are floundering. Their local sections are great too.
trove Created ‘to celebrate, debate and enjoy art in its widest sense’, Alistair Braidwood’s erudite of ruminations on Scottish culture embraces our literature, music, cinema, theatre, visual art and more. Exploring our creative landscape and history through interviews, critiques and re- appraisals, Braidwood celebrates contemporary artists (Sons & Daughters; Doug Johnstone; Alan Bissett) and revisits vintage works (Tutti Frutti; Comfort and Joy; early Simple Minds). The result is a compelling blog and an ace, enduring cultural resource. Braidwood nailed its significance in his first-ever post, in 2009: ‘art in all its forms can give us a reason for living better lives.’ (Nicola Meighan)
19 JOYCE MCMILLAN ONLINE ARTS GRANDE DAME
joycemcmillan.wordpress.com
The reigning queen of Scottish theatre criticism’s online home is a repository not only for her arts reviews, but also Scotsman her comment pieces on everything from the Scottish elections to the Murdoch empire. It’s increasingly for common journalists to repost all their articles on blogs, but the breadth of McMillan’s subject matter sets her site apart. Housed together, these articles constitute an ongoing, evolving theory on artistic and civic ‘Scottishness’ by a vital and often overlooked commentator. (KI)
18 CALEDONIAN MERCURY PAPER-FREE NEWSPAPER
caledonianmercury.com
during Thanks to contacts gained and respect earned a lengthy career at the forefront of Scottish journalism, the team behind the CalMerc can count some of the country’s best cultural and political commentators among their contributors. With a focus on intelligent analysis and investigative journalism (remember that?) this paper-free newspaper is also exploring new revenue models based on engaging with an audience prepared to donate directly, rather than relying solely on advertising. A welcome addition to Scottish journalism at a time of continued concern and uncertainty over the viability of old models. (Hamish Brown)
The Scottish Book Trust provides a hugely valuable service to readers and writers across Scotland, as well as to the literary identity of the country; it feels appropriate that their online wing should be an equally outstanding resource. Offering everything from practical advice, to databases of publishers, agents and writers, mini video writing tutorials and guides on getting published, the mindblowingly large volume of content puts other arts organisations to shame. We especially like the audio interviews with writers, and the debate-inspiring blogs. (KI)
16 SOUTHSIDE HAPPENINGS LOCAL SOUL
southsidehappenings.blogspot.com
Run with dedication and laudable amounts of energy by locals Ann Nisbet and Allistair Burt, Southside Happenings is a window on the independent shops and cafés, arts events, and non-corporate culture that still, happily, holds strong in Glasgow’s biggest district. The couple started the site because they were tired of missing out on events (and of defending the Southside against the sneers of their West End- dwelling friends), and it’s grown into an excellent source of local information on everything from weekend guides to best brunches. Particularly unique: their occasional feature focusing on creative Southsiders. (KI)
15 SONG, BY TOAD LOCAL-LOVING BLOG AND LABEL
songbytoad.com
filter Matthew Young’s Edinburgh-based blog made the move from cultural to cultural facilitator in 2008 with the launch of the Song, By Toad record label. However, that hasn’t limited Young’s enterprises to just self-promotion. The site regularly streams quality music from artists worldwide, as well as showcasing Song, By Toad sessions that are filmed and recorded closer to home (a recent installment featured folk heavy hitters Mumford & Sons). Added to which, there’s a lot of entertaining rambling and ranting on non-musical subjects. A lynchpin of one of Scotland’s most fervent scenes. (HB)
21 Jul–4 Aug 2011 THE LIST 17