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50 ARIKA 46 TYCI
PROVOCATIVE AGENTS SMART GIRLS
Makers of experimental, agitative arts events, Arika’s weekend festival, Make a Way Out of No Way platformed a brave, singular, moving and vital discussion on racism, capitalism, transphobia, prison incarceration and refugees, while also hosting a joyously i erce krump and voguing night in Stereo. (CS) Two years old this year, the feminist collective with blog / radio / zine elements is run by women for women. Their monthly club nights welcome super-fresh DJs and bands – think Girlpool and deux furieuses – and they donate rafl e proceeds to a different charity every time. (KS)
49 EDWYN COLLINS & GRACE MAXWELL RIPPING YARN
Stunning documentary The Possibilities are Endless revealed Orange Juice singer Edwyn Collins’ struggle to recover from his 2005 stroke with lyrical dignity, and his wife Grace Maxwell’s inspiring support. An absolute joy to watch, and a reminder of one of our greatest talents. (YS)
48 ALASDAIR GRAY RENAISSANCE MAN
This tireless creator had four major retrospectives of his art in Glasgow and Uist, published a new collection of occasional writings and continued to translate Dante, all of which must be set against his personal loss: the death in May of his wife and devoted-but-acerbic assistant Morag McAlpine. (AJ)
47 NICK BARLEY BOOK BOSS
Thanks to the Edinburgh International Book Festival director and his team, the capital saw a rare appearance from Haruki Murakami, and historical / sci-i fans rejoiced as Outlander author Diana Gabaldon and Game of Thrones writer George RR Martin came to town. Plus, the festival commissioned its i rst graphic novel and promenade theatre show. (YS)
45 JONATHAN MACDONALD DRIVING FORCE
Chef and restaurateur MacDonald is rocketing along at a pace to match his former Formula One chef gig. After trailblazing Glasgow’s pop-up food scene with Scoop and the Street Food Cartel, his cool and classy Ox & Finch took only a few months to pick up a Bib Gourmand in the latest Michelin Guide. (JT)
44 RALLY & BROAD
LITERARY WONDERS S This lyrical cabaret night ght has been going so well ell that founders Jenny Lindsay and Rachel McCrum were able to give up their day jobs to to run it full-time. Musical al bookish fun at its best, t, this year’s guests included Kate Tempest, st, and Inua Ellams. (YS)
43 KATH MAINLAND FRINGE FIRST
With 2014 the Edinburgh Festival
Fringe’s most successful year (over 2m tickets were sold for 3000 shows), its chief executive Kath Mainland was rightfully awarded a well-deserved CBE for services to culture in Scotland. (MS)
42 BRAW GIGS SHOW PEEPS
Edinburgh has long needed an adventurous independent promoter like Nick Herd. A terrii c 2014 has seen Braw Gigs host trombonist Peter Zummo’s celebration of the music of Arthur Russell, and raise the Summerhall roof with Golden Teacher. (SS)
41 JOHN BYRNE PAINTER MAN
The 74-year-old John Byrne has had one of his most productive years to date, with a stage adaptation of Chekhov’s classic Three Sisters and two exhibitions of his recent paintings, reminding us he is no Sitting Duck(s) at a Dead End. (MS)
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH 50
28 THE LIST 11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015
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