12 for 2012 From grand returns (Frankie Boyle) and enthralling exhibitions (Fascinating Mummies) to rising stars (Emeli Sandé) the upcoming 12 months have us gasping with excitement. We’ve managed to keep it together long enough to pick our top 12 highlights to book now
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ARIKA12 Mind expanding, cross-art discussion festival DJANGO UNCHAINED Tarantino goes Western
TRY: LIKE THIS? The Twilight Sad Dark, suggestive music from stand-out Scot band. Grand Ole Opr y, Glasgow,
9 Feb.
ERRORS Math-rock homecoming heroes
At a conference or festival, the best discussions are often the ones you have at the bar,’ says Barry Esson, co-organiser of Arika12. So, in the hope of stimulating some thought-provoking and who knows, maybe even life-enhancing discussion, he and partner Bryony McIntyre have constructed a ‘deliberately convivial’ new three-part festival.
The first instalment is in January and centres around film. Episodes two and three follow in February and March and cover, firstly, the themes of nihilism and the self, then finally, the boundaries between political activism, current affairs reporting and art. Each weekend will feature film screenings, performances and workshops – and hopefully impromptu chats over pints or cups of tea in the bar afterwards. ‘You can sit at home and read a film magazine, or a music magazine,’ explains Esson, ‘with writers discussing themes you find interesting; we’d love this to work almost like a live film or music magazine, if that makes sense?’ (Claire Sawers) ■ Episode 1: A Film is a Statement, CCA, Glasgow, Thu 19–Sun 22 Jan. arika.org.uk
16 THE LIST 5 Jan–2 Feb 2012
Quentin Tarantino has already given us his heist movie (Reservoir Dogs), his take on blaxploitation (Jackie Brown), his war film (Inglourious Basterds), horror (Death Proof), kung fu (Kill Bill 1 & 2) and of course his crime thriller (Pulp Fiction). What’s is there left? A western, of course!
Django Unchained is an homage to an über-violent 1966 spaghetti western from Sergio Corbucci, a film so gory it was refused a certificate in the UK until 1993. While the plot is different, Tarantino has taken inspiration from the brutality of the gritty, blood splattered series. Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as a former slave turned bounty hunter who sets out to free his wife (Kerry Washington) from a ruthless plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). And while you could accuse Tarantino of being tactless when dealing with serious topics (slavery in this case) he never offers anything less than full throttle entertainment. (Henry Northmore) ■ General release from 26 Dec. Dark Night Retur ns The final chapter with Christopher Nolan’s gritty superhero trilogy. 4 Jul.
LIKE THIS?
TRY:
The Glasgow band have been reduced from four to three as their guitarist has left to become a full-time dentist (leaving Steev Livingstone, pictured centre, to get to grips with his six string again). Yet, despite this setback new album Have Some Faith in Magic (Rock Action) has hardly been off the iPod since we got it (read our album review, on page 78).
As promised when we last interviewed them, the band have added words to some songs – albeit concealed beneath enough distortion to render them just another suggestive electronic layer to their sound.
We also know from their recent December slot
supporting Mogwai at Glasgow’s Barrowland, and from having previously invited them to headline The List’s 25th Birthday Party at the Arches, that they can be relied on for a fairly amazing live show too. It’s definitely a date for the diary that the boys have announced another Arches gig – this time as a headline show in their hometown. (Claire Sawers) ■ The Arches, Glasgow, Fri 11 May.