The Skinny September 2022 by The Skinny

FREE September 2022 Issue 200

— 4 — THE SKINNY September2022Chat Dan Deacon – Feel the Lightning Perfume Genius – Wreath Angels by Robbie Williams sung by The Spook School in Summerhall, who changed the words to be a dedication to Linda McCartney ve ie sausages Bossy Love – Sweat It Out Confidence Man – C.O.O.L Party AiiTee – Raise a Glass Fuck Buttons – Surf Solar Twin Shadow – Old Love / New Love Daniel Avery – Drone Logic Pictish Trail – Turning Back Self Esteem – Prioritise Pleasure Wet Leg – Being in Love Foals – Spanish Sahara Superorganism – Everybody Wants to Be Famous Mitski – Your Best American Girl Listen to this playlist on Spotify — search for 'The Skinny Office Playlist' or scan the below code Issue 200, September 2022 © Radge Media Ltd. Get in touch: E: [email protected] The Skinny is Scotland's largest independent entertainment & listings magazine, and offers a wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business. Get in touch to find out more. E: [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re produced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer or the publisher. Printed by DC Thomson & Co. Ltd, Dundee ABC verified Jan – Dec 2019: 28,197 printed on 100% recycled paper The Skinny's favourite tracks by someone featured in The Skinny

Anahit Behrooz Events Editor "That if you determinedly turn up for work at 11am every day, eventu ally everyone will just accept it. Don't give up the dream!"

Heather McDaid Books Editor "There are a whole lotta books out there."

Peter Simpson Digital Editor, Food & Drink Editor "Four weeks really isn't that long, but it's deﬁnitely long enough for loads of stuff to happen." Eilidh Akilade Intersections Editor "That you don't have to use exces sive exclamations marks in all your emails to writers to make them know how much you appreciate their work! But I do it anyways! "

SalesEditorial Business Tallah Brash Music Editor "That no matter how many times I ask, people will never stop includ ing massive attachments in emails, nor will they stop posting me CDs. I do not have a CD player!"

Laurie Presswood General Manager "Your colleages can, and will, ﬁnd the maniacal Facebook posts you made about Bombay Bicycle Club when you were 16."

George Sully Sales and Brand Strategist "Why? Is there going to be a quiz? Can I have more time to prepare? I must win." Nadia Younes Clubs "ScotlandEditordoes good art (and magazines)."

Dalila D'Amico Art "HowProductionDirector,Managertolookbusy.Heheh!" Phoebe Willison "HowDesignermuch I would care about sounding funny, cool, smart and cute in my staff picks."

Christian Gow Marketing & Commercial Assistant "How precious this gift of life is that we so oft...Nah only joking! That Scotland has the coolest mag on the planet!!" Sandy Park Commercial Director "Making a good magazine ain't easy. And loads of cool shit happens in Scotland."

Tom McCarthy Creative Projects Manager "Nothing. I'd do it all again and no one can stop me. Hahahaha!"

Championing creativity in Scotland Meet the team We asked – What have you learned from 200 issues of The Skinny?

Polly Glynn Comedy Editor "No matter how hard you try, you will not get photo credits on time." Lewis Robertson Digital Editorial Assistant "The same spelling errors that our writers keep making time after time."

Rho Chung Theatre Editor "Anahit Behrooz taught me to read and write, if that counts."

Rosamund West "EverythingEditor-in-ChiefIknow. Also nothing."

Harvey Dimond Art "N/A"Editor

Jamie Dunn Film Editor, Online Journalist "How to write. How to edit. How to politely reply to PRs who are doing my absolute nut in. How to podcast. I've even learned a bit of Latin from George's crossword."

Production

t’s our 200th issue!!! A cause for both celebration and existential crisis (personally speaking) as wasn’t the 100th issue quite recently actually? But so much has happened since then, given that issue 100 came out in January 2014, before we all knew what we know now It’s been a wild ride, particularly the last three years, and the five years before that, as well as the preceding nine years. This issue marks the end of an extremely busy time here at Radge Media, as we’ve also been producing Fest magazine through the Edinburgh festivals, following on from our City Guides, as well as a load of live events that were really fun you should come next time. Not to mention all the reviewing that’s been happening under the guise of The Skinny. We’re pretty excited at the pros pect of producing just the one magazine next month. But, September! To mark the 200th we had a dig through the archive and asked everyone to pick their favourite covers. Our lead feature pages are filled with personal selections both beautiful and touching. As is customary, this month marks the launch of our Student Guide, which you will find in the centre pages and scattered around student haunts, living a life inde pendent from the main magazine. Commissioned by Intersections editor, excellent writer and bona fide recent student Eilidh Akilade, this year’s edition offers guidance and inspiration for those embarking on a new life in a new city. Topics include advice on tenancy rights, a guide to grassroots music across the country, how to get involved in climate activ ism and the power of communal eating to build connection. Looking forward to an autumn where stuff actually hap pens, we talk to the people behind Freakender and Pop Mutations, two community-focussed music festivals hitting Glasgow this month. Intercultural Youth Scotland are bringing their Scotland in Colour festival to Edinburgh’s Pianodrome venue in the Old Royal High School – they tell us about their aims to bring communities together and provide creative Words: Rosamund West opportunities for young people of colour that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Music also meets Jockstrap’s Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye to learn about their debut album, I Love You Jennifer B. Film has a busy month, as we launch into the traditional autumnal film festival season. We meet up with After Yang director Kogonada and actor Justin H. Min, visiting Scotland for Edinburgh International Film Festival, to talk memory, technology and bowl cuts. Owen Kline introduces his new film Funny Pages, and the young programmers of Glasgow Youth Film Festival talk us through their highlights. We also have the culmination of the EIFF Young Critics Programme, with a showcase of some of the reviews that have come out of this year’s project.

Editorial

— 6 — THE SKINNY —2022September Chat

Comedy meets Isy Suttie, arriving in Edinburgh with her ﬁrst stand-up tour in a decade, Jackpot. Books talks to Dean Atta, whose poetry collection There Is (Still) Love Here was partially scribed in a locked down Glasgow. Art talks to artist Rhys Hollis ahead of OMOS, or Our Movement Our Stories, a 20-minute moving image piece displaying in the Royal Scottish Academy which seeks to address the anonymity and the invisi bilised labour of the Black performer. We also have a reﬂection on the solo show of Ishiuchi Miyako currently on display in Stills, featuring three major bodies of work – hiroshima, Mother’s and Frida It’s a sad month for Clubs, as Nadia Younes steps down after an excellent run in which she has brought knowledge, wit, eloquence and, frankly, reliability to what has historically been the most chaotic section. She’s commissioned a piece on much-loved Dundee night Locarno, which is invading Glasgow this month.Themagazine closes with what seemed like a good idea in the commissioning meeting and maybe still is but who knows anymore? To mark the 200th issue, our regular inside back Q&A features The Skinny interviewing itself about its hopes, fears and dinner parties. Prepare to be slightly confused. Cover Artist Lauren Morsley is an illustrator and printmaker from Scotland. She special ises in bold and colourful designs which create other worlds to explore. Her work is often inspired by intriguing stories, places, and people. Alongside her commission work for various clients, she makes and sells her own prints and products, full of wi ly-armed and long-le ed @laurenmorsleylaurenmorsley.comcharacters.

—2022September Chat — 7 — THE SKINNY BitesLoveThis month’s columnist reﬂects on the magic of temporary connections and how they speak to our inner child Words: Ewan Shand Love Bites: Friendship Flings CrosswordSolutions Across 1.INDEPENDENT9.THRUST10.DOGMATIC11.BRIO12.TIMMINCHIN13.PHASE14.ACHE15.DICE18.ASAP20.ARTS22.DROLL 25.JOURNALISM27.COUP28.OPENBOOK29.INROAD30.IRVINEWELSH Down 2.NEURONS3.ENTITY4.ENDEMIC5.DOGTIRED6.NUANCED7.CHVRCHES8.WIFI16.CULTURAL17.MACARONI19.PARTNER21.TWINKLE 23.RECORDS24.IMBIBE26.OOPS At one time in all our childhoods, we earnestly believed that our BFFs, our Best Friends Forever, were going to be just that, forever. But one of the many slow scarring wounds of adulthood is accepting that this isn’t always true. No friendship exists in stasis: many will burn out entirely and others may last our entire lives, but none will ever be able to avoid transformative change. However, there is a type of relationship that embraces that fact, one that is funda mentally different but equally romantic: the BFFN – the Best Friend For Now. We have all had BFFNs, but often we forget about them because of their intrinsic ephemerality. BFFNs are made when two strangers somehow transcend the barriers of small talk to engage in a brief but intense ﬂing of friendship. Many of these platonic one-night stands are fueled by alcohol, but they can also be born out of some extraordinary circumstances that grant us a sudden jolt of emotional openness. I cherish the memory of watching Scotland score against England in 2017, not because of the result (we drew), but because of the total stranger I hu ed when it happened. Moments like these are one of the beautiful times in life where human connection feels intuitive and right: there’s staring into the eyes of the person you love but there’s also earnestly urging someone in a smoking area to dump their boyfriend. Is it the inherently transitory nature of BFFNs that gives them such poignancy? Perhaps, but their real beauty is arguably found in the direct ignorance of that fact. Our inner child is reawakened, the same one that once believed friends could be forever, or at least didn’t care, but would rather give and receive love purely for its own sake. I’ve been thinking about my BFFNs a lot recently; I wonder if they ever think about me?

A calmer month than last, but no less (well, a bit less) full of excellent picks: radical ﬁlm festivals and cutting edge hip-hop and EDM-meetsbat-noise raves, oh my. Compiled by Anahit Behrooz

his vibrant,

Heads

Dandelion Festival Randy Feltface How They Run Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space Rhiannon Salisbury

major new exhibition

ventive paintings depicting scenes of everyday domesticity, this ex hibition also brings together black-and-white studies showing his creative process, as well as textiles and ephemera from his studio. FestivalFilmActionOneTakeofcourtesyImage: andmakeup&WinramLaurencePhoto:BrownMVbySFX GwandeWashingtonPhoto:MaloneyDamienPhoto:Photo:DarwonRashid Hiba performing at 249 at The Biscuitclipping.Factory For Love at Take One Action Film Festival Echo in the Dark at Hospitalﬁeld Divine Tasinda in OMOS Dymphna and Vianni, Norman Gilbert

most

— 8 — THE SKINNY UpHeads —2022September Chat

249 Summerhall, Edinburgh, 30 Sep, 9pm A joyous and chaotic queer party, 249 started out life in Leith but now have a monthly spot in Summerhall’s Dissection Room. Join them to christen the new space: starting at a very there’ll an of Kate Bush Gilbert Tramway, Glasgow, 3 Sep-5 Feb 23 Tramway goes super local in this of South side-artist Norman Gilbert, of the century’s seminal Glasgow-based of formally in

remixes, so we’re reliably informed. Norman

Dandelion Festival Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, 2-4 Sep Up

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Glasgow Youth Film Festival Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, 16-18 Sep Rhiannon Salisbury: Chthonia Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh, 31 Aug-2 Oct Randy Feltface The Stand Glasgow, Glasgow, 7 Sep, 7:30pm

20th

entire set

DisneyofcourtesyImage: NappaAnneliesePhoto: Take One Action Film Festival Edinburgh, 16-18 Sep; Glasgow, 23-25 Sep Art can change the way we view the world: this basic premise is at the heart of Take One Action, Scotland’s film festival dedicated to inspiring so cial change. This year’s programme is slightly smaller than usual but on the swing side is screening in even more places: catch their films on Palestinian land rights, foraging, and communal joy in Edinburgh and Glasgow this month and Aberdeen and Inverness in October. Echo in the Dark Hospitalfield, Arbroath, 8-10 Sep, 7:30pm Merging bat echolocation with EDM (yes, you read that right), this major new collaboration sees artist and composer Hanna Tuulikki stage a series of raves around Scotland, informed by the calls of bats local to the UK, in order to ex plore new methods of ecological coexistence. The first shows premiere at Hospitalfield this month, with a Scot tish tour to follow. OMOS Royal Scottish Academy RSA, Edinburgh, 3 Sep-2 Oct This stunning moving image exhibi tion excavates untold Black histories, from 17th-century performances in Stir ling Castle to Shakespeare’s A Midsum mer Night’s Dream, to pay homage to the ongoing creative legacies of Black, queer performers in Scotland. Span ning across genres of drag, opera, and pole artistry, its outstanding collabora tive approach is led by cabaret perform er Rhys Hollis: a mesmerising and com plex showcase of Black history then and now. clipping. SWG3, Glasgow, 21 Sep, 7pm Star of Hamilton and star of the even better Blindspotting – one of the best films of the last decade – Daveed Di s comes to Scotland with his experimen tal hip-hop group clipping. Spitting the quickest fire lyrics with a deliciously grimy, industrial leaning, their distinc tive sound culminated in their most re cent album Visions of Bodies Being Burned, inspired by slasher horror and contemporary politics.

See

reasonable time and continuing late into the night,

be belly dancing, amazing DJs, and

artists. Featuring many

Hurray for the Riff Raff St Luke’s, Glasgow, 2 Sep, 7:30pm Paolo Nutini Duck Slattery’s, Dundee, 20 Sep, 8pm with Love: OMOLOKO Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 10 Sep, 11pm Last Night In The Bittersweet, Paolo Nutini Hurray for the Riff Raff at of check organisers’ websites for up to date information. OMOLOKO Sister Radio Ballet: Coppélia Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 22-24 Sep, times Forget everything you think you know about ballet, Scottish Ballet’s extraordinary staging of Coppélia is rewriting all the rules. Transforming the classic fairytale of a man who falls in love with an enchanted doll into a posthuman examination of arti ficial life, corporate greed, and the bounds of human subjectivity, this Donna-Haraway-meets-prima-donna uses daring choreography, live filmed technology, and stunning projection: we are, quite simply, obsessed. Freakender Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, 17 Sep, 2pm Freakender celebrates its fifth birthday this month, compacting the usual three days of the festival in a one day, all out, massive blowout. Grab a pass for ac cess to the whole lineup, from Scottish pop-punk leg ends Bikini Body to Glaswegian garage-rock group Sweaty Palms. There’ll be DJs, there’ll be food trucks, there’ll be great vibes – a perfect way to spend the last days of summer. AWEH: Esa & Josey Rebelle Sub Club, Glasgow, 16 Sep, 11pm AWEH is still a relatively young enterprise: a delight ful dance party thrown by Esa, one of Sub Club’s for mer Subculture residents. This month, the third edi tion of AWEH, Esa is joined by London-based star Josey Rebelle, known for her genre-defying brand of electronic music. Blending techno, house, and break beats along with influences from across the musical spectrum, this is music guaranteed to make you move. FUR The Mash House, Edinburgh, 27 Sep, 7pm Scrappy, Brighton-based, jangly indie band FUR en gage with nostalgia in a very specific way: blend ing the sunny grit of 60s-infused pop with a latenoughties indie boy band feel, crafting a whole new vibe that feels fresh and contemporary rather than mired in familiarity. It’s all very charming and irresist ible: for fans of The Beths, Rex Orange County and, of course, The Beatles. Scotland in Colour 2022 Old Royal High School, Edinburgh, 3 Sep, 12pm Hosted by Intercultural Youth Scotland, this fourth edition of Scotland in Colour celebrates the creativ ity and culture of Black people and People of Colour living in Scotland, with a programme of music and performance held in the atmospheric Pianodrome. Heading the lineup is beloved rapper Bemz, with ap pearances from Billy Got Waves, Grace & The Flat Boys and DJing by Iso Yso and Optimistic Soul among others.

writing, but are subject to change. Please

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Scottish

— 9 — THE SKINNY UpHeads —2022September ChatSister Radio Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, until 28 Sep, various times

various

Hand-made

adaptation

RabutAkashaPhoto: RossAndyPhoto: JanjerSamiPhoto:Photo:RyanJohnstonPhoto:SophieHurPhoto:EllenMackay artistofcourtesyImage: ISO YSO Soccer Mommy Josey SweatyRebellePalms

Soccer Mommy Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow, 24 Sep, 7pm The melancholy soundtrack to all our lockdowns (no? Just me?), Sophie Regi na Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, special ises in an indie brand of pop that cuts to the quick of the modern condition: slightly lost, slightly searching, slightly elusive. Her third studio album, Some times, Forever, was released earlier this summer and is just as intimate and vul nerable as it sounds: the perfect con fessional music for a live performance. Principal Constance Devernay-Laurence and Scottish Ballet dancers in world premiere of Coppélia FUR

Music Music festivals are still going strong into September, which kicks off with Intercultural Youth Scotland’s Scotland In Colour festival. In association with the Pianodrome, the all-dayer will take place at Edinburgh’s Old Royal High School (3 Sep) with a youth showcase taking place during the day and rising talent like Bemz, Billy Got Waves and 4Tune playing the evening event. On the same weekend, Dandelion Festival is headed to Inverness (2-4 Sep) featuring King Creosote, Songhoy Blues and Tank and the Bangas. A few days later, Dunfermline welcomes back its Outwith Festival (6-11 Sep), which includes a massive all-day music event on the 10th featuring the likes of Fatherson, Pulled Apart by Horses, Memes, Chef, Medicine Cabinet and more. The following weekend is owned by Glasgow’s Freakender (17 Sep) who celebrate their fifth anniversary with Bikini Body, Memorabilia and Sweaty Palms all set to play. Head north to Aberdeen for the final weekend of the month (22-25 Sep) and you’ll be treated to True North. Taking place across multiple venues in the city, things kick off with Aberdeen’s own AiiTee at Wonder Hoose, welcoming the likes of Los Bitchos, Gentle Sinners, Django Django, Nitin Sawhney and Emma Pollock over the four-day festival. Back in the central belt, the unnerving and mesmerising Aldous Harding plays Glasgow’s City Halls (2 Sep), and South London producer, multi-instrumentalist and rapper Wu-Lu celebrates his debut album LOGGERHEAD at King Tut’s (4 Sep), before the divisive Arcade Fire play the OVO Hydro (5 Sep). Deeper into the month, fresh from supporting LCD Soundsystem in London back in June, ex-Klaxons keyboardist James Righton plays Broadcast (16 Sep), before Canadian post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor bring the meat to Barrowlands (18 Sep). On the same day, across town you’ll find multi-limbed pop troupe Superorganism at SWG3, before Daveed Di s’ clipping. bring their unique brand of experimental, doom-laden hip-hop to the same venue (21 Sep). As the month rolls on, in Glasgow you’ll find The Big Moon (Òran Mór, 23 Sep), Soccer Mommy (QMU, 24 Sep) and Angel Haze (Stereo, 25 Sep) as well as recipients of our Album of the Month, Jockstrap (Stereo, 30 Sep). At the other end of the M8, frequent MF DOOM collaborator Bishop Nehru plays Sneaky Pete’s (4 Sep), with quirky and catchy alt-indie offerings at the same venue later in the month from Coach Party (13 Sep) and Courting (20 Sep). On the same day, Glasgow supergroup duo Gentle Sinners, com posed of The Twilight Sad’s James Graham and Arab Strap’s Aidan Moffat, play Summerhall, while Bristolian singer-songwriter Katy J Pearson brings her Sound of the Morning to Voodoo Rooms. There’s lots happening on a local level this month too, with Ruby Gaines playing The Hug & Pint (1 Sep), Rudi Zygadlo at King Tut’s (8 Sep), Susan Bear at Mono (15 Sep), Andrew Wasylyk at CCA (16 Sep) and Uninvited at the Garage Attic Bar (30 Sep). Meanwhile in Edinburgh, We Were Promised Jetpacks play La Belle Angele (10 Sep). [Tallah Brash] Film Scottish cinemas get a bit racy this month as a wonderful selection of pre-Code films head to Filmhouse and GFT, produced in the early-30s before the Hays censorship code was fully enforced. Quintessential pre-Code films like Jewel Robbery (1932), Blonde Crazy (1931) and A Free Soul (1931) are included in the lineup, while film critic and season co-curator Pamela

— 11 — THE SKINNY —2022September GuideEvents

What's On All details correct at the time of writing BercovitzCristinaPhoto: MilesiSerenaPhoto: HeardShennaPhoto: BridglandJackPhoto: clipping. Los Bitchos Aldous HardingSuperorganism Blonde Crazy

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Videodrome Saoirse The

— 12 — THE SKINNY —2022September GuideEvents

There are plenty of retrospectives happening this month too. Summerhall Cinema in Edinburgh celebrates the great Marilyn Monroe on the 60th anniversary of her death with screenings of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (15 & 18 Sep), The Seven Year Itch (22 & 24 Sep) and The Misﬁts (29 Sep & 2 Oct). Filmhouse, meanwhile, get psyched for the release of David Cronenberg’s latest ﬁlm, Crimes of the Future, by throwing a trio of his best up onto the big screen: Dead Ringers, Videodrome and The Fly (19-22 Sep).

Hutchinson will be around to present and give Q&As on two of the most risqué ﬁlms in the season: Red-Headed Woman (1932) (Filmhouse, 21 Sep) and Baby Face (1933) (GFT, 22 Sep).

The cinema of Kinuyo Tanaka will be enchanting Glasgow audiences as GFT name her this month’s CineMaster. All six of Tanaka’s films will screen, including Love Letter (31 Aug), romantic comedy The Moon Has Risen (4 & 5 Sep) and sex workers melodrama Girls of the Night (18 & 21 Sep). This month’s GFT Scorsese of the Month is selected by Katie Goh, who’ll be introducing the maestro’s shattering Edith Wharton adaptation The Age of Innocence on 19 September. Also be sure to visit GFT a few days earlier, as the great Peter Strickland presents his new film Flux Gourmet and takes part in a Q&A after the film (17 Finally,Sep).it’s a full moon on 10 September, so beware, because Edinburgh’s Cameo are screening two of the greatest werewolf films ever: John Landis’s An American Werewolf in London (on 35mm) and Joe Dante’s The Howling. We’re delighted to see them back in the horror double-bill game, and we’re even more excited to learn that Cameo’s All-Night Horror Madness will be returning in October – watch this space for more details. [Jamie Dunn] Clubs Just when you thought festival season was over, it’s festivals galore this month and, just as Earth, Wind and Fire once told us, we’re dancing in September. We begin this month’s fest-athon with an educational affair as Soma Skool is back in physical format at Glasgow’s SWG3 on 3 September, with a range of panels, workshops and masterclasses. Shapes at the Jail is also back at Stirling Old Town Jail on 10 September, with a headline set from Special Request. There’s a brand new festival in Hawick called Goodfootin’ Festival taking place at Gatehousecote from 8-11 September, with music from Peach Fuzz, Audiobahn and more. FLY Open Air returns to Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens from 16-18 September with a lineup packed full of local favourites, as well as B2Bs from Mella Dee and Saoirse and Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal Over in Glasgow, AVA Connections team up with local collective Sensu, as part of a new series of events across the UK, bringing FJAAK, DJ Boring, Eclair Fifi and more to SWG3 on 23 September. And we round off a month of festivals by heading up north to Aberdeen, where Cultivate Festival takes over the city’s Beach Esplanade from 24-25 September with sets from the likes of Big Miz, Dr Banana, Hannah Laing and Sally C There are two sure-to-be-fun-filled Melting Pot parties at BAaD this month with some real Scottish legends. DJ Billy Woods and Simon Gordiner team up behind the decks for the first time in 15 years on 23 September, then Optimo continue their 25 year celebrations – joined by the always wonderful Walt Disco – on 24 September. Other highlights throughout the month include Stirling’s own Sam Gellaitry at Sub Club on 2 September; South London-born DJ and producer Bklava at The Mash House in Edinburgh on 10 September; a 12th birthday special from Book Club at the King’s in Dundee on 10 September; and multi-disciplinary artist and founder of the SZNS7N label, LCY at The Berkeley Suite in Glasgow on 25 September. [Nadia Younes] Art In Edinburgh, at The Royal Scottish Academy, a group of artists and per formers present OMOS, a new moving image work, which surfaces Scotland’s rich but often-silenced Black histories. The 20-minute film will feature artists working with drag, opera and pole artistry, and opens at the RSA on 3 September.InGlasgow, The Common Guild presents May amnesia never kiss us on the mouth, a new installation and performance by New York and Ramallahbased artists Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme. The exhibition opens at 5 Florence Street on 8 September, with a live performance at 7pm on 10 September. Also in Glasgow, and opening on 2 September, Tramway presents an exhibition of the late Norman Gilbert, who painted many scenes of his Howling Big MizPhoto:JimiHerrtagePhoto:SeanBellLCY Eclair Fifi May amnesia never kiss us on the mouth, Basel Abbas and Ruanne

— 13 — THE SKINNY —2022September GuideEvents home in nearby Shields Road. At Street Level Photoworks, Frank McElhinney’s exhibition Flight, which reﬂects on the long history of migration between Ireland and Scotland, continues until 30 October.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre welcomes Sara Shaarawi’s Sister Radio (until 25 Sep), a new play made in conjunction with Stellar Quines. The play follows two sisters who moved to Edinburgh from Tehran 43 years ago, and who must now grapple with these fading memories of loss and betrayal against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

In addition to hosting National Theatre of Scotland’s Exodus from the 14-17 September, Glasgow’s Tron Theatre is also staging Crocodile Rock (28 Sep-1 Oct), a one-man musical about ﬁnding oneself through drag and coming of age in Scotland. Sleeping Warrior Theatre’s A New Life follows a busy, contemporary couple as they grapple with an unexpected pregnancy. Dundee Rep welcomes Don Quixote: Man of Clackmannanshire from 24 Sep-15 Oct. Written by Ben Lewis and directed by Lu Kemp, this witty and contemporary piece is a retelling of the classic story set against the backdrop of the Scotland we know today. Dundee’s own Fringe Festival also welcomes a host of exciting shows from the 16-25 September. Debbie Cannon’s Green Knight, which recently delighted audiences in Edinburgh, will make an appearance on 24 September.

Heather-Rose Andrews’ Jekyll & Hyde: A One-Woman Show goes up on 23 September after a highly successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Dolly Parton Saved My Life promises to be a fun-filled dramatic comedy, featuring live music. This autumn, Scottish Ballet launches a new secondary school pro gramme called Safe to be Me, which uses dance to address homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and racism in these environments. The pilot pro gramme will run at schools in Perth before being rolled out across the Highlands and Central Scotland. [Rho Chung] Poetry With Fringe over, it’s time to sit down, take a breath, and read some new poetry. Luckily for you, Dean Atta’s new collection, There is (Still) Love Here, is coming out with Nine Arches Press on 8 September. This is a beautiful collection, accessible and relevant, with hugely personal poems composed by Atta.Through the flurry of festivals, you may have missed Jay Gao’s debut collection, Imperium, published last month with Carcanet. Imperium is a debut to be reckoned with, sure to cement Gao as a new, leading contempo rary poet in the UK. A reimagining of Homer’s Odyssey, the collection is all things lyrical and mythological, while also calling into question power: who holds it, why, and how can it be taken and held on to. If you’re keen on non-stationary events, take a look at William McGonagall – Walking with Smart Phones & Bad Poems. Show up in a team of 2-10 people to Levenmouth Academy on 3 Sep, download the free app, and discover some of McGonagall’s finest (terrible) poetry. Once you’ve had enough of that, stick around for the Community Fayre Day for more food and fun (there’s an ABBA tribute band, if you needed further persuading).

Even after the frenzy of the Edinburgh festivals, Scotland’s theatres are continuing to offer a smorgasbord of invigorating productions, new and old.

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In Helmsdale, Timespan presents When Bodies Whisper, a group exhibi tion featuring Anika Ahuja, Camara Taylor, Hanna Tuulikki, Natsumi Sakamoto and Sekai Machache that examines the power of gossip and storytelling in the context of the Highlands. The exhibition continues until 26 March 2023. At Cooper Gallery in Dundee, Chimera brings together newly commis sioned ﬁlm, sculpture, painting and prints by Nashashibi/Skaer, the name of the collaborative duo of Turner Prize-nominated artists Rosalind Nashashibi and Lucy Skaer. The exhibition opens on 29 September and continues until 10 December.Finally,Alberta Whittle’s ﬁlm Lagareh – The Last Born, part of her wider exhibition for this year’s Scotland + Venice, begins its tour of Scottish cin emas with a screening at Glasgow Film Theatre on 20 September. The tour continues to Inverness, Lerwick, Aberdeen, Skye and Ayr. [Harvey Dimond] Theatre

The Lanternhouse in Cumbernauld is hosting In Verse; a shiny, new showcase of poetry and spoken word taking place on 15 September, hosted by one of Scotland’s favourite spoken word artists, Victoria McNulty. With a mix of local writers and established voices taking to the stage, there will be something to suit everyone’s tastes. And, if you’d like a ﬁve minute perfor mance slot of your own, visit the Lanternhouse website to ﬁnd out more details. [Beth Cochrane] Bear, Nashashibi Skaer Head, Frank McElhinney Exodus

William McGonagall

— 15 — THE SKINNY —2022September Contents 5 Meet the Team 6 Editorial 7 Love Bites 8 Heads Up 11 What’s On 16 Crossword 54 Intersections 57 Music 63 Film & TV 68 Design 70 Books 71 Food & Drink 73 Listings 78 The Skinny On… The Skinny Image Credits: (Left to right, top to bottom) The Skinny; Neelam Khan Vela; Thomas Sammut; IYS; Locarno; Eddie Whelan; Washington Gwande; Jonny Mowat; Funny Pages Matt Crockett; After Yang Ishiuchi Miyako 302619 332327 5224294950 51 Features 19 We celebrate our 200th issue by sharing a selection of the team’s favourite covers from the last 17 years. 23 Freakender and Pop Mutations on their forthcoming festivals. 24 Dean Atta introduces his new poetry collection, There is (Still) Love Here, written in Glasgow during lockdown. 26 We meet Intercultural Youth Scotland to hear about their imminent Scotland in Colour festival. 27 As Dundee club night Locarno arrives in Glasgow, we take a look at its enduring legacy. 29 Jockstrap on their debut album, I Love You Jennifer B 30 We meet artist Rhys Hollis as they prepare to open OMOS –Our Movement, Our Stories – at the Royal Scottish Academy this month. 33 The Skinny Student Guide 2022 – featuring parties, cli mate justice, communal eating, city-by-city recommendations and much more. 49 Owen Kline discusses new film Funny Pages. 50 We meet Isy Suttie as she returns with Jackpot, her first stand-up tour in ten years. 51 We meet After Yang director Kogonada and actor Justin H. Min to talk memory and bowl cuts. 52 A deep dive into Ishiuchi Miyako’s solo show at Stills. On the website... New writing from our Edinburgh Art Festival Emerging Writers’ programme; our fortnightly film podcast, The Cineskinny ; music’s weekly Spotlight On… features ev ery Thursday; loads of gig reviews (Tune-Yards, Perfume Genius, Ibeyi, many others)...

— 16 — THE SKINNY —2022September Chat Across 1. (& 16 Down & 25 Across) The Skinny's tagline – nonpartisan creative coverage (11,8,10) 9. Gist – hip movement (6) 10. Rigidly opinionated – I'm cat God (anag) (8) 11. Vim (4) 12. Australian musical comedian [Issue #011 cover, Aug 2006] (3,7) 13. Period (5) 14. Pain (4) 15. Chance cubes – chop into small bits (4) 18. Quick as you can (abbrev.) (4) 20. Music, literature etc (4) 22. Drily comical (5) 25. (See 1 Across) 27. Mutiny (4) 28. Widely known – free from mystery (4,4) 29. I adorn (anag) (6) 30. Scottish author [Issue #126 cover, Mar 2016] (6,5) Down 2. Brain cells (7) 3. Being (6) 4. Widespread (7) 5. Exhausted – got dried (anag) (3,5) 6. Carrying shades of meaning (7) 7. Scottish band fronted by Lauren Mayberry [Issue #096 cover, Sep 2013] (8) 8. Wireless internet (4) 16. (See 1 Across) 17. Tubey pasta – great with cheese (8) 19. Collaborator – accomplice (7) 21. Sparkle (7) 23. Albums (6) 24. Drink (6) 26. "I have made a mistake!" (4) Turn to page 7 for the solutions 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 2526 27 28 29 30 Compiled by George Sully Shot of the month Jenny Hval @ Summerhall, 18 Aug by Kat Gollock

THE SKINNY — 18 — 2022September

November 2010 As well as being a beautiful selfportrait by the late, great Alasdair Gray, this cover is from the issue in which I made my Skinny writing debut. [JD] June 2017 “It’s just pure dead brilliant man!” [CG] September 2011 Cool illustration, bonus points for a possibly-hypothetical, possiblydirect question in the headline. [PS] November 2017 Our RTJ feature was a long time in the making, and when the interview ﬁnally happened, I was there for it; Mike and El give the best hugs! This illustration was the cherry on the cake. [TB] It’s our 200th issue! The covers alone (which you can see in almost their entirety on issuu.com/theskinny) take us on a journey through the last 17 years of Scottish culture and sometimes questionable decisions-making. To mark the moment, we asked the team to take a look through the archive and share their favourites

A Shit-Hot 200

— 19 — THE SKINNY Issue200th –2022September Feature August 2006 This is the ultimate committee cover and it’s hilarious and terrible and it’s important we never forget. [RW] February 2012 It’s an original Rachel Maclean! [RW] May 2012 Photography, typography layout and design all working together to deliver a really unique feeling cover. [TM] June 2008 It’s me in a bin! [RW] August 2014 Jessica Harrison’s grotesque ﬁgurine is just ace, but it’s also the issue where my torrid love affair with the Fringe truly began. [GS] I love the idea of being porcelain and fragile but also ripping your own head off. She’s just like, ‘And here’s my head =).’ [RC]

December 2018 “Treemendous Times is a shit pun,” they said. “No-one will laugh at that.” Well who’s laughing now? Don’t answer that. [PS]

March 2020 It was the last one I picked up pre-lockdown - I used it for a lot of poor-quality collaging. [EA] July 2019 It’s a brilliant action shot and I love the vibrancy of the colours [LP] December 2020 'Cause it’s the ﬁrst issue I worked on, and nicely marks the end of a jobby year. [PW]

— 20 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Issue200th

August 2019 It was the ﬁrst issue of The Skinny I worked on, and was published the day my niece was born so is extra special to me [LP] February 2021 I just liked how it celebrated the small, personal things - the human connections - when everything around us was going to shit. [HM] September 2019 I think this is around when I be came very aware of The Skinny and it just feels like a quintessential cover - great illustration, great vibes. [AB] November 2019 My ﬁrst ever cover feature!! [NY]

March 2021 Slightly self-involved because this was my ﬁrst cover story, but I also love the creepy Parasite-like illustration, and the very fact that we would put something so politi cal on the cover. I love that we were angry. [AB]

Words: Rosamund West, Jamie Dunn, Tom McCarthy, George Sully, Rho Chung, Chris tian Gow, Tallah Brash, Laurie Presswood, Anahit Behrooz, Nadia Younes, Eilidh Akilade, Phoebe Willison, Heather McDaid, Dalila D’Amico, Harvey Dimond, Lewis Robertson, Peter Simpson

sucker

— 21 — THE SKINNY Issue200th –2022September Feature April 2021 With over a year (and a bit of a pandemic) between the photo shoot and publication, this was a cover worth waiting for! [TM] April 2022 Wet Leg! I was so excited to con ﬁrm these gals for the April cover this year – it felt like the perfect way to welcome back festival season after three years off. [TB]

February 2022 I love the colours and how weird it looks. [DD] Love how ﬂuid and gloopy and surreal this cover is. [HD]

City Guide Glasgow 2022 It celebrates Glasgow, the best city in the world. [CG] March 2022 I just love the concept, colours and composition. [DD] I imgine this is how every issue of The Skinny would look if we were published in 1920s Berlin. [JD]

November 2021 I’m a for whenever play with the masthead, but damn if the whole cover illo doesn’t pop too. Also climate crisis is important etc. [GS] May 2022 I love the freaky lil guys, and the messaging behind it. [PW]

Comedy fans should look northeast next month! The Aberdeen International Comedy Festival returns with a splendid selection of standups, from rising talent on the Scottish scene to bona de comedy legends. The event kicks o with Irish fun nyman David O’Doherty (Tivoli Theatre, 6 7 Oct), who’s promising a night of talking, apologising and songs played on a glued-together plastic keyboard. Festivities come to a close, meanwhile, with the master of lightning-quick one-liners, Milton Jones (Tivoli Theatre, 16 Oct) Among the hottest tickets will be everyone’s favourite big-collared absurdist Harry Hill (Tivoli Theatre, 10 Oct) and Daniel Sloss & Friends (Music Hall, 14 Oct), a one-o show that sees the Scot tish standup joined by some of his talented pals. There’s also Jack Dee (Music Hall, 8 Oct), who’ll be his usual ray of sunshine with new show Off the Telly. More energy should be expected from Justin Moorhouse’s fresh routine (Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, 9 Oct), titled Stretch & Think. You should also be rst in the queue for the latest shows from rising standup stars So e Hagen (The Lemon Tree, 7 Oct), Krystal Evans (Books & Beans, 13 Oct) and Stephen Bailey (Cheerz, 8 Oct) We’d also heartily recommend MC Hammer smith (The Priory, 11 Oct). He may look like the love child of Harry Potter and Louis Theroux, but as soon as he starts spitting his hilarious improvised raps you know he’s the real deal. And the bracingly honest Olga Koch (The Lemon Tree, 14 Oct) brings her relentlessly hilarious Just Friends, a raucous show diving into what it means to be a “horny sex woman” in 2022. There are plenty of other amazing acts coming to Aberdeen with hot shows from the Fringe. Among those we’d point you in the direc tion of are Mancunian sweet boy Brennan Reece (Tunnels, 12 Oct), Edinburgh-based bad boy Liam Withnail (Park Inn, 14 Oct), the blistering Jordan Brookes (The Lemon Tree, 9 Oct) and youthful Glaswegian Liam Farrelly (Under the Hammer, 9 Oct) whose Fringe debut show, God’s Brother-In-Law, is set to be another hot ticket. You’ll also nd Farrelly on one of two packed Supernova lineups playing consecutive evenings on the rst weekend of the festival and over ow ing with Scottish talent. The rst, on 8 October, features rising star Connor Burns, the whimsical Gareth Waugh and saucy storyteller JoJo Suther land. Then, on the following night, Supernova includes the aforementioned Liam Farrelly, Scot Squad’s Chris Forbes and the delightfully crude Kai Humphries (a Geordie, but an honorary Scot) That ’s two hefty showcases of Scottish funny folk, but if you wanna see more there’s Doric’s Fun niest (O’Neill’s, 6 Oct), and you’ll also nd headline sets from other Scottish faves like Glasgow’s Christopher Macarthur-Boyd (Blue Lamp, 12 Oct), the perennially kilted Craig Hill (Tivoli Theatre, 15 Oct) and Stuart McPherson ( Siberia, 16 Oct), who’s bringing his acclaimed 2022 Fringe show The Peesh. The festival also features kids’ shows, improv, musical and drag artists so there is something for everyone in the programme. As well as the comedy, there’s also the opportu nity to explore Aberdeen itself. What’ll strike you rst about Scotland’s third largest city is the archi tecture. The extensive use of sparkling granite, used to build everything from grand buildings to humble tenements, makes Aberdeen totally unique. And you don’t need to stray too far from the Comedy Festival to experience these knockout structures, with venues like the Douglas Hotel, Tivoli Theatre and the Music Hall all examples of great granite buildings in the city. There’s also plenty to see on the façades of buildings, thanks to an abundance of amazing street art that’s the legacy of the ongoing Nuart Aberdeen street art festival. Not all of this street art is gra ti and stencils. Huge murals adorn city centre buildings and have helped transform the heart of Aberdeen into a glorious outdoor art gallery featuring masterpieces by world-class street artists from all over the world. This year’s collection includes Spanish artist Slim Safont’s mural of a girl in a tartan kilt on the side of Union Plaza, which topped the Street Art Cities list of Best Murals in the World in June 2022. There’s also small playful installations to look out for like Jan Vormann’s brightly coloured LEGO pieces that plug up holes and cracks in centuries-old structures.

Aberdeen International Comedy Festival returns with a gut-busting selection of comedians like Jack Dee, Olga Koch, Soﬁe Hagen, Jordan Brookes and Liam Farrelly – but there are plenty more reasons to visit the Granite City outwith the comedy Words: Jamie Dunn

Aberdeen International Comedy Festival 2022

Aberdeen International Comedy Festival takes place 6-16 Oct at various venues across the city. The event is sponsored by Event Scotland and Original 106 and part nered with charity Mental Health Aberdeen. For more info and tickets, head to aberdeencomedyfestival.com

— 22 — THE SKINNY FeatureAdvertising 2022September

Another standout attraction in the city is the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which houses an impressive array of French Impressionist and Pre-Raphaelite paintings as well as a wide range of works by contemporary Scottish and English painters. The elegant neoclassical building itself, which recently received a major facelift during a four-year restora tion, is a stunner too. Add to this some of the best retail in the country and a great selection of places to eat, drink and stay, and you’ve many reasons to make your way to the Granite City this October.

This year will mark the festival’s ﬁrst IRL event. Over 40 acts will perform across four days at four venues: The Old Hairdressers's, Mono, Stereo, and The Flying Duck. Keppie is one of a team organising this cultural takeover of Glasgow and says that the reason for such an eclectic storm of acts is because they “all come from different“Thebackgrounds.”lineupissolid!”

— 23 — THE SKINNY Music –2022September Feature

Together with chums Holly Calder and Ian Crawford, Keppie has booked an immense raft of mighty international talent for their year-round Freakender shows: Black Lips, Tess Parks, The Gories, Crack Cloud, The Blank Tapes, L.A. Witch, Night Beats, the list goes on. And on the domestic front, they’ve given many bands from the local DIY music scene a platform to debut: Hairband and Kaputt, to name a couple. “We just want to put on bands we like,” Keppie shares, “to give them the show they deserve.”

Freakender takes place at The Old Hairdressers's, Glasgow, 17 Sep; Pop Mutations takes place at various venues, Glasgow, 13-16 popmutations.comfacebook.com/FREAKENDEROct

With both the Freakender and Pop Mutations festivals looming large on the Glasgow cultural horizon, we catch up with one of the organisers of both to ﬁnd out more

Exclusive, Edinburgh post-gutterskunk-funk troupe Bikini Body, London experimental-rock/party band Fat Dog, and way more to sink yer teeth into! And if you’re looking for some fuel throughout the day, venture over the lane to Stereo where they’ll have some food specials to mark the occasion. The success of these events hinges on more than just the weight of the bands on offer; it is also down to the loyalty of the audience. “They’re just all good people that are collectively there to enjoy them selves,” Keppie says resolutely. The passage of time bolsters the strength and inclusivity of a commu nity, so after seven years and count less gigs there are many familiar faces in the crowd, and they are always welcoming of newcomers, so get yourself along!

The commonality of the two Keppie and co. endeavours is the unwavering sense of community. “Everybody helps each other out,” he says, “every body’s got each other’s back.” It is admirable that they have such a passion for debuting local artists, and so is their guarantee that international bands are received with the quintessential Glasgow warmth. The existence of both Freakender and Pop Mutations serves to better the musical landscape of Scotland and beyond. “It gives me so much joy putting on shows,” says Keppie. “Live music brings people together.”

Interview: James Ewen

In 2018, they took their penchant for party planning stateside and hosted the Freakender Buckaroo Ball at SXSW in Austin, Texas. This showcase ﬂexed such a hefty horde of Scottish musical muscle that the Texans asked them back in 2019 for a follow-up dose of their festivities. And even if you haven’t attended one of their gigs, you may recognise the trio de Freakender from being plastered all over the Glasgow Subway as part of the #MyGlasgowMySubway campaign, which saw our three amigos clad in their retro threads cutting about the fair city on the Clockwork Orange. They’ve been around…and around the block a few times now, so it’s safe to say they’ve earned their corner.

“We just want to put on bands we like, to give them the show they deserve” Ross Keppie

Loyal and Local This year, Freakender Festival is celebrating its ﬁfth birthday. Although technically, it should be their seventh. Think of it as a kind of leap year birthday effect on account of COVID. During their relatively short lifespan, the grassroots promoter has managed to cement themselves as a pillar of the Glasgow gig scene. The affable Ross Keppie is my guide to the many milestones of Scotland’s ﬁnest purveyor of psych, pop, garage, and post-punk.

With all of these jewels in their crown, it’s hard to maintain composure when thinking about what lies in store for their birthday shindig on 17 September. They’ve distilled their usual three-day event down to a 12-hour blowout at The Old Hairdressers's. The lean duration of this year’s fest promises a relentless roster of acts, so be prepared to hit the ground running when the doors open! The lineup includes Glasgow’s sharp-tongued post-punk outﬁt Sweaty Palms, Aussie crooner Emerson Snowe, local krautrock/post-punks Ceefax, Californian synth-pop duo System

FreakenderVelaKhanNeelamPhoto:

he beams. Experimental electronica/noise act Container, multi-instrumen talist world fusion group GABO (Glasgow African Balafon Orchestra), the high-energy indie of Sacred Paws, Aberdonian grime rapper Ransom FA, local community radio station DJs from Radio Buena Vida, German post-punkers Liiek, genreshifting DJ junglehussi, and loads more. “There’s not a weak link,” Keppie concludes, “it’s going to be a really fun weekend.”

Onwards to next month! Keppie is also involved in putting together the Pop Mutations Festival (13-16 Oct), which he says differs from Freakender’s favour for guitar bands by providing “a smorgasbord of different genres.” Expect electronica, hip-hop, performance, and a slew of bands and DJs until the wee hours. Birthed out of lockdown bore dom, the inaugural festival was hosted online over a weekend in June 2020 and featured over 70 artists and acts from Glasgow and further aﬁeld. The event was a major success that helped to bring merriment to a particularly dark time in our recent history.

Nine Arches Press, 8 Sep, £10.99 ninearchespress.com

— 24 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Books

There are many moments like this throughout the collection, where Atta shares his anger or pain, punctuating the narrative with times of grief and crisis. He reﬂects that writing these poems is an important, valid way of marking moments in time. That, for example, although the laws around gay men donating blood have changed, its previous illegality should still be remembered as abhorrent; something that reminds us to keep progression alive and inclusive. Poetry, as Atta exempliﬁes in his poem Sanctuary, is the perfect artform to undertake this work. But poetry can be comforting too. “I was part of Hannah Lavery’s Writers of Colour group and we met throughout the pandemic on Zoom, every Friday. It was just amazing, Friday lunchtimes were the highlight of the week, so a lot of these poems came from that workshop.”

Although Atta talks about – both in the inter view and in There is (Still) Love Here – London as his home, his poetry gives such a warm sense of how welcome he has felt in Glasgow and, more widely, Scotland. With this new collection shining with empathy, generosity, and solidarity in grief, Scotland will be sad to see him move back down South. But, it can safely be said, there will (still) be love here for one of the UK’s fastest rising poetry stars.

across as an angry poem, but I felt very angry about so many things. Not being American, sometimes you can try and distance yourself from gun violence, but if it’s happening anywhere it’s a thing to be angry about.”

While creating poetry is at the heart of those workshops, Atta also talks at length about how important those groups were to him from a per sonal, community-building perspective. “When you weren’t allowed to be close to people physically, you could get really close to people emotionally by sharing rough poems, like ﬁrst drafts and giving each other feedback or just encouragement.

“My main connection with people was writing workshops and it’s just a really lovely, privileged position to be in, to hold that space for people. I deﬁnitely felt like poetry in its rawest form, the poetry workshop, was really what gave me a sense of community during these times.”

SammutThomasPhoto:

Love Poetry

T here is (Still) Love Here, Dean Atta’s new collection, is a meditation on love in its many forms: not just love for family, partners and friends, but also love for culture, heritage, and home. Many of the poems were written in lockdown while Dean and his partner – a person who appears in many of the poems as a figure of much-loved domesticity and adventure – were living in Glasgow. During that time, Atta found himself not only writing his second novel, but also returning to his poetry pen, gifting his readers with this collection on love, identity, sorrow, and so much more. “The collection has a kind of story to it,” Dean remarks. “[These poems are] reflecting on times throughout my life…The fact that I moved home, moved from London to Glasgow. It’s also about my connection through my mum’s family to Cyprus. It’s also about being Black and queer and in a long-term relationship.” Having read the collection, it is easy to see the narrative drive which Atta refers to. The reader is with him as he holds his friend’s hand as she loses her fight with cancer, we celebrate finding community at Category Is Books in Glasgow, and we long to watch the Thames flow past the Southbank Centre. But at the heart of the collec tion, the thing that binds the narrative together, Dean says, is the “celebration of love: lots of kinds of love, family love, friendship love, romantic love, and self-love.”It’sthismyriad of interpretations of love which makes There is (Still) Love Here so engag ing, so easy to empathise with. It would be nearly impossible to read the collection without finding a poem which speaks directly to an experience which you have yourself had. When asked what he would like people to take away from the collection, Atta says: “Just for people to appreciate what’s already there in their lives. I don’t think we need to look very far to find a lot of love in our lives. I think that’s what I want to tell people.”

And that’s a very clear and beautiful message within the collection, but that’s not to say this is an easy or wholly comfortable read. Atta talks about the more challenging side of the collection: his grief and homesickness, and the horrendous treatment and murder of LGBTQIA+ people across the world. “My poem, Pulse, was written after the Orlando shootings at Pulse night club. And that was a very angry response. It might not even come Dean Atta discusses his new poetry collection, There is (Still) Love Here, written in Glasgow during lockdown Interview: Beth Cochrane

— 25 — THE SKINNY 2022September

— 26 — –2022September Feature

Scotland in Colour takes place at the Pianodrome, Old Royal High School, Edinburgh, 3 Sep; tickets available from interculturalyouthscotland.orgeventbrite.co.uk

Chidera Chukwujekwu Scotland in Colour Festival

As their Scotland in Colour festival returns for its fourth year, we chat with Chidera Chukwujekwu and Sara Elbashir from Intercultural Youth Scotland to ﬁnd out more

“It’s really inspiring to see people who are like you on stage”

Chukwujekwu continues: “The reality is that we do live in a racist world, as much as we try to avoid people experiencing that. We see our role as being the conduit for the ‘what ifs’ – trying to recognise the barriers to these creative ﬁelds and creating ways to get more people into these things.” Indeed, Scotland in Colour is as much a catalyst for ongoing change for young people of colour in Scotland today as it is a celebration of new and emerging talent in Scotland today. “We don’t do the festival to make money,” Chukwujekwu reﬂects. “We do it to connect with young peo ple... Come along because we want you there, ‘cause it’s fun, ‘cause it’s good. Just come along.”

A TofCelebrationCulture his September sees the fourth annual Scotland in Colour festival return to Edinburgh. A celebration of the creativity of young Black and people of colour in Scotland, this year over 20 acclaimed and emerging music acts will take to the stage in the ornate Pianodrome venue, currently housed in the Old Royal High School on Calton Hill. “The festival is an opportunity to bring different communities together,” Asistant Producer Sara Elbashir tells us. Fostering community and a sense of belonging are at the heart of organisers Intercultural Youth Scotland’s remit, and this annual festival is a culmination of their ongoing wider work engaging young Black and people of colour in Scotland with creative futures to this end. “We identified quite quickly through our work that the young people we work with have this interest in performance and music and art,” Chidera Chukwujekwu, Head of Communications tells us. “There were just not enough opportunities for young people of colour to express their talent or get on a Givingstage.”young people of colour in Scotland a platform to express themselves and share their talents with a wider audience was the driving force behind the inception of Scotland in Colour, Chukwujekwu tells us. “We don’t just want this to be a gig – it’s so much more than that. It’s a whole celebration of culture.” They continue: “It’s about giving young people of colour a chance to connect and meet people that might be like-minded and see where that feeds into the rest of their life. It’s really inspiring to see people who are like you on stage with people around them and sounding great. You think, ‘maybe I could do that too’, you know?” Scotland in Colour boasts an eclectic lineup this year, from rapper Bemz (BBC Introducing’s Scottish Act of 2022), to lauded jazz outfit Grace & The Flat Boys, rising artist Billy Got Waves and a host of performers from Intercultural Youth Scotland’s various programmes playing throughout the day.Later, drawing the evening to a close are an enviable selection of DJs making waves through Scotland’s club scene. These include Glasgowbased ISO YSO, whose sets take inspiration from orchestral compositions and video game soundtracks, to underground Afrohouse and Afrotech DJ and producer Optimistic Soul (aka Sibusiso Mpofu), to emerging KTAB, the Moroccan-Scottish DJ/producer soon to make his debut as a recording artist. “When booking artists, we considered: Who’s visible? Who are people listening to? Who would the young people in our groups want to see?” Chukwujekwu says. “We try to book slightly larger people each year to mark a progression for the festival itself and the visibility of what we’re trying to Buildingdo.” leadership in the creative sector is especially important, Elbashir and Chukwujekwu tell us, from finding ways to facilitate artists of colour, to creating the larger frameworks that can support artists of colour throughout their journey. While events such as Scotland in Colour are exemplary of the exciting grassroots work being done to make Scotland’s music scene and wider creative industries more representative of our society as a whole, there is always more work to be “Theredone.aresome great creative opportunities out there for young people of colour – internships and all of these things. But there’s also an issue with a lot of organisations not being able to see between the lines of why some of these young people can’t take these up,” Elbashir says. “Their parents might not want them to get into a creative industry, or they might not be able to drive, or they may not be able to afford things like travel costs to get there. At Intercultural Youth Scotland, we try to provide all these things and find connection – truly work with the young person and maybe even get to know their family, and try to find an avenue for this work.”

“Unpaid internships especially can pose a barrier,” Chukwujekwu adds. “We’ve always pushed for – if you’re going to offer an internship there has to be an access budget so they can get there. There has to also be a form of support throughout.”

Interview: Anita Bhadani

IYSofcourtesyImage:

Locarno, The Poetry Club, SWG3, Glasgow, 23 Sep Tickets are available at swg3.tv/events

Chatting to Red in his studio space, colourful prints adorn the walls and neatly stacked 45s sit underneath the record player in the centre of the room. He chats about Locarno’s history – taking us through its early inspiration from a rock’n’roll club night called Ice Cream Social in Vancouver to becom ing a staple in Dundee nightlife – with com plete “Locarno’senthusiasm.suc cess is down to the fact that there’s nothing else really like it,” says Red, matter-of-factly.

“The majority of club nights in Dundee revolve around dance, techno and different types of electronic music, but when you go to Locarno, you can sing to 50s and 60s soul, rock‘n’roll and psychedelia like The Rolling Stones or The Doors. Having that alternative audience interaction is what makes it special. People love it; it’s high-pow ered music and that’s what we Despitelike.”its huge success, in October last year, after more than 100 shows and following the sobering loss of The Reading Rooms, Red was burnt out and decided to call it a day with Locarno. But then a new research opportunity in his day job with mutual friend Jonathan Dawson, the general manager of SWG3, presented Red with the opportu nity to run a club night at the Glasgow venue.

For those taking their ﬁrst steps on to the Locarno danceﬂoor, “an alternative clubbing experience” is what Red says attendees can expect. “I can’t think of any places in Glasgow where young people can come to a club that plays 60s music all night,” adds Red. “We’re not looking to be gatekeepers to older music like you might get with other types of Northern Soul nights. We’re open for anybody to come and see what they make of it. Music is variety, and variety is the fun part.”

“There were Locarno dance halls all around the country in the 50s and 60s, but Glasgow’s was one of the most popular,” Red explains. “It’s where The Garage is now and these dance halls were where the gradual transition from live band to disc jockey happened. They offered the ﬁrst type of dance music for youth where you could listen to a record playing, so in a sense Locarno was part of the birth of what we now know as DJing, which I think is a really cool connection to bring back through to Glasgow with our club night.”

Interview: Jamie Wilde

Ten years and over 100 shows later, founder of infamous Dundee club night Locarno, Scott Davidson, aka Red, tells us about the club night’s enduring legacy and why he’s taking it to Glasgow

A high-energy, inclusive night for open-mind ed music lovers is what has always been at the club night’s core, and is what gives Locarno its enduring appeal. “Locarno has always been a fun night,” says Red, smiling. “We’d love to encourage young people to DJ rock‘n’roll or soul music and to come away from the night telling their friends about how they’d experienced a club night totally different from what they’d ever been to before. If I could describe Locarno in a sentence, I’d say it’s like Wayne Cochran on acid.”

With the Locarno dance hall legacy stretch ing back to the 1920s on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, it felt like the right place to revive the party.

— 27 — THE SKINNY Clubs –2022September Feature

Go West Head through the gate. Hold out your hand for a mark of felt tip pen. Make the trip inside and discover colourful oil wheel projections. Feel the wall of body heat against your skin and listen to the sounds of The Doors blasting from the sound system to a room full of 500 people. Only at Locarno can this euphoric scene be pulled off. The long-standing Dundee club night – found ed 10 years ago by local DJ and visual artist Scott Davidson, aka Red – is embedded in the folklore of the city’s underground music scene. Locarno’s monthly club nights at The Reading Rooms, and later at King’s, saw hundreds of young people itching to get their fix of 50s and 60s soul and rock‘n’roll music. It was a club night unlike any other. But now, almost one year after Locarno held its final show in Dundee, a Glasgow resurrection is looming. “There were a few reasons for taking Locarno through to Glasgow,” says Red. “The experienced guys from Hometown Promotion Soundsystem in Glasgow, who have their set-up in King’s through here, said that they thought Locarno was one of the best things they’d ever seen. That gave me a real confidence boost. Another reason was through Locarno’s 10th anniversary posters, which so many people from Glasgow ordered. It made me realise that there was something to tap into outside of Dundee. So, I thought, let’s do it.”

“When you go to Locarno, you can sing to 50s and 60s soul, rock’n’roll and psychedelia” Scott Davidson, aka Red

As if Jockstrap wasn’t enough, Ellery is also the violinist in Black Country, New Road, but it is a testament to the heights that Jockstrap reach on this debut that they should already be considered comfortably on a par with her other band. With two such hungry, adventurous minds continuing to invent a new future together, the potential for Jockstrap is scary.

“I’m just always trying to do something new. I like to make music that I want to hear that I don’t think I am hearing” Taylor Skye, Jockstrap

Georgia Ellery, Jockstrap Jockstrap

— 29 — THE SKINNY Music –2022September Feature

Interview: Max Pilley Future

We chat to Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye from Jockstrap to ﬁnd out more about their electrifying debut album, I Love You Jennifer B

When you press play on a Jockstrap song, all you know is that you will be trans ported into a parallel sonic world where established forms of music are warped, stretched and deconstructed into new, mutant hybrids; what you hear is somehow familiar, and yet it is electri fied with the shock of the new. Even for the London-based duo themselves, whose debut album I Love You Jennifer B is released on 9 September on Rough Trade Records, the surprise of what they produce leaves an impact. Singer Georgia Ellery, who typically sends a raw demo version of a new song to producer Taylor Skye, is never sure what will have become of the track by the time she gets it back. “I’m scared to open the file, sometimes!” she says. “In a good way, of course. The reaction I get when I hear what Taylor has done with it, I always feel something, and that’s good. A lot of the things he does are really out there.” Take the single Concrete Over Water, for example. The finished track is a ghostly, disjoint ed, extraterrestrial beast, ranging from eerily isolated vocals to incongruous towers of pro cessed strings and searing synths, swinging dramatically, often frantically, between the two. It is one of the most intoxicating, beguiling songs of 2022, and yet when Ellery sent Skye her initial recording, it consisted of little more than a group of lyrics, a harmony and a light, percussive rhythm. “When he sent it back to me,” she says, “He’d filled it out with all the synths, and hearing that for the first time, with all that tension and space, but with so much mass to it? I remember hearing that and just being wowed.” Skye rightly prefers to focus on the brilliance of Ellery’s original composition as the key to the song’s magic, and to the album at large, but he does accept that his contributions bring Jockstrap’s music into an intriguing new musical space. “I’m just always trying to do something new,” he says. “I like to make music that I want to hear that I don’t think I am hearing. The more songs you do, the more exciting it is to try different things.”

New

After meeting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where Ellery was studying jazz and Skye electronic composition, they first made a major splash with their stunning Wicked City EP in 2020. Now, this album is the result of three years of diligent work, during which they both allowed their influences to continue to expand. For Ellery, one influence came from ansource.unexpected“WemovedintothisflatinSohoanditturnedouttherewasaradioineverysingleroom.Wewouldflickthrough all the channels – it would be World Service at night – but we discovered Greatest Hits Radio and it wasSogreat!”taken was she by her discovery of new favourites by the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Sister Sledge and Rick Astley that there is a song on I Love You Jennifer B titled Greatest Hits. The retro nostalgia also carries over to the track What’s It All About?, and its invocation of the unforgettable opening to the Bacharach/David classic, Alfie. With that in mind, you could be mistaken for assuming that Jockstrap’s music veers towards the arch or ironic, but that would be to misunderstand Ellery’s writing, which on a track like Angst finds her describing her inner turmoil via the metaphor of a difficult birth. “There is always a lot of me in the lyrics, usually I write from experience,” she says. “Angst was difficult to work on, because of the ba age it carried. “It does feel vulnerable,” she admits, when talking about putting such personal material into the public arena. “That’s why I’m uncomfortable listening to it. But I don’t mind that, it’s very cathartic to put it out and for people to hear what your experience is.”

I Love You Jennifer B is released on 9 Sep via Rough Trade Records Jockstrap play Stereo, Glasgow, 30 Sep; The Mash House, Edinburgh, 1 jockstrapmusic.comOct

The duo share a love of the classic songwrit ing of the 1960s and 70s, but they ﬁrst bonded over their mutual admiration of the original dub step movement of the late 2000s (Skye’s mum took him to Skrillex gigs and his dad introduced him to James Blake), so conceiving a musical project that breathes cutting-edge dynamism into vintage song structures could be said to be the natural combination of the two. “That’s what all of my favourite music is like,” says Skye. “That’s what Bob Dylan did, he looked at the people he was inspired by and he put it through his voice. Everybody does, they grow up listening to some thing and they regurgitate it in their own way.”

“There is always a lot of me in the lyrics, usually I write from experience”

This is what makes the work particularly striking; how an array of diverse artistic performances is curated and synthe sised so seamlessly in one work. Hollis tells me that they produce cabaret shows (which also feature in OMOS), so this experience meant that the visual curation of different art forms wasn’t as daunting when the work was being composed. OMOS beautifully showcases each individual artist while also being ﬁrmly committed to its collaborative process and identity.

GwandeWashingtonPhoto: Divine Tasinda in OMOS

OMOS is a 20-minute moving image work featuring four award-winning performers: cabaret performer Rhys Hollis (also known as Rhys’s Pieces), opera singer Andrea Baker, dancer Divine Tasinda and pole artist Kheanna Walker. OMOS is inspired by the settings of Puck’s Glen near Dunoon and Stirling Castle, as well as a largely unknown historical vignette from 1594. At the court of King James VI of Scotland, a performance featuring a lion was planned but was changed at the last moment due to the obvious dangers that performing with the animal would entail. The lion was instead replaced by an unnamed Black man, who pulled a chariot through the castle’s Great Hall, one of many instances of Black performers in the royal courts in Scotland. Both the anonymity and the invisibilised labour of the Black performer are concerns that OMOS contends with and seeks to address.

— 30 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Art

OMOS, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 3 Sep-2 Oct

Although it references the historic event at Stirling Castle and touches on contemporary personal experiences of tokenism, Hollis describes the moving image work coming out of a deci sion to create pro-actively rather than reactively: “In the early stages of the project, when I was thinking about this historic event where a Black person featured in a performance at Stirling Castle, I was thinking about that tokenis tic experience. I factored this into my creative process and used my own experience of having wanted to be an actor and falling out of love with that due to the tokenism I experienced, and sometimes still do experience as a performer. However, when we were creating the artwork, rather than thinking about tokenism and reacting against it, the artists and I just thought about the art that we wanted to create and to do that in an authentic way.” Hollis understands OMOS as being part of a longer, more extensive project, and they say it’s vital that workshops and community engagement are central pillars of the project. The exhibition is accompanied by an array of workshops in Edinburgh and beyond. These include an artist Q&A at The Royal Scottish Academy on 1 September; workshops with Rhys Hollis, Andrea Baker and Briana Pegado on 3 September at St Cecilia’s Hall, and two cabaret shows in Stirling and Edinburgh on 13 and 15 September. Excitingly, the performers plan to bring the work to more venues not only across Scotland, but across the UK and internationally, showcasing a plethora of Black Scottish talent.

Originally an acronym for the phrase ‘O monstrous! O strange!’, a quote from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the acronym has developed a more compelling meaning, now standing for ‘Our Movement, Our Stories’. Each scene acts almost as a character study, representing the expansive history and complexity of Black Scottish identities and the LGBTQIA+ experience. OMOS throws open the doors for discussions around representations of Black people in arts and culture in Scotland and speaks to the Black queer experience in a context where queer spaces remain pre dominantly white and cisgender. Across the ﬁlm, the performers engage with the landscape of Puck’s Glen and Stirling Castle, each artist bringing their own interpretation of their craft for their respective performances. The colourful and dynamic costumes contrast with the sombre granite of Stirling Castle and add a sculptural deﬁnition to the verdant, green Scottish landscape.

Interview: Harvey Dimond OurMovement,Stories

Our

The versatility of movements changes the way in which the viewer engages with these historically charged landscapes and buildings, retracting and detracting certain details. Hollis speaks to the importance of showing “a variety of art forms, such as in this case drag, opera, pole dancing, and placing them in the same historical Scottish spaces.”

The Skinny meets artist Rhys Hollis as they prepare to open OMOS at the Royal Scottish Academy this month

Walker and Bromwich’s exhibition in Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Serpent of Capitalism, invites audiences to consider capitalism and its alternatives Words: Rosamund West Serpent of Capitalism

— 32 — THE SKINNY 2022September FeatureAdvertising

Just over an hour to the north of the central belt, Perth Museum and Art Gallery have been qui etly building a reputation for staging thought-pro voking exhibitions of contemporary art which pose urgent questions. Earlier in the year Saoirse Amira Anis’s group show Mis(sing) Information consid ered institutional misinformation, reparation and repatriation. Now the gallery hosts the Serpent of Capitalism, a new installation from Glasgow-based artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich. The serpent, a large-scale in atable sculpture, lls the oor of one of the Museum’s rooms, while drawings, video and research materials in the adjoining spaces o er provocations to the audi ence. On the walls hang beautiful large scale drawings of snakes, trees, sea creatures, while two watching eyes stare from the back wall. Through these supplementary works the artists lead us through the shifting and shaping of societies, religions, ideas and beliefs. Collaborative duo Walker and Bromwich blend large scale sculptural work with perfor mance and ceremony, inviting audiences to participate in the works and in doing so begin to imagine a better world. This belief that art can be an agent for social and structural change is threaded through their practice. Their Perth installation channels the ancient Serpent Goddess and invites audiences of all ages to consider capitalism’s role within our society and start to create alternative systems. The serpent is an incredibly loaded symbol in cultures around the world - in Judeo-Christian tradition it is synony mous with the fall of man from the Garden of Eden. Within Indigenous Australian culture, the Rainbow Serpent is seen as a creator god or mother of life. Walker and Bromwich use it in that context as creator of life, agent of change.

Walker and Bromwich: Ser pent of Capitalism, Perth Mu seum and Art Gallery, until 30 Oct, free, donations welcome ofcourtesyJubb,SallyPhoto:Kinross&PerthCulture

Included within the exhibition are two new lm works, Possible Dialogues Scotland #2 and The Serpent of Capitalism. These lms document events that took place in Walker and Bromwich’s expansive artwork, Encampment of Eternal Hope, during last year’s COP26, which ampli ed Indigenous voices at this critical time, bringing people together to collectively nd ways to realign with earth’s living systems. Serpent of Capitalism is free to visit, al though donations are welcome, and runs in complement to the gallery’s summer show, Sin, which brings together works from the National Gallery collections from the 16th century to the present day exploring the idea of sin in visual art. Artists include Rembrandt, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Jan Steen, Jan Gossaert, Tracey Emin, Ron Mueck, and more. The two exhibitions work side by side, providing a historical context of the origin of sin in western art, alongside the provocation to consider the serpent of capitalism, its e ects and maybe its replacement.

GUIDESTUDENTDundee—Edinburgh—Glasgow FREE • 2022

While your favourite band will probably pass through your city promoting their latest album, the heart of a city’s community lies at a grassroots level. Luckily for you, Scotland has some of the ﬁnest DIY and grassroots gig promoters around, passionate to the core to bring you local talent and lesser known touring bands in abundance, while building a safe, inclusive environment to forge friendships in. Glasgow’s Freakender have been doing so since 2016 and their 2022 all-day festival is just around the corner. “We aim for inclusivity,” cofounder and organiser Ross Keppie says, “and I guess the lineups – especially the festival – are as diverse as they can be for garage, psych, postpunk, predominantly guitar acts, but we have always aimed for a 50/50 gender split.” Keppie continues: “We want to bring together people who share our love of these acts from underground to international and give people the opportunity to discover their new favourites.”

In 2018, Sami Omar launched online music platform Up2Stndrd in order to “highlight and bring exposure to hip-hop artists in Scotland.”

It’s also important to highlight the work of We Are Here Scotland in bringing young Black and people of colour together through the univer sal connection of music. WAHS have just launched INCUBATA, with events to follow later in the year, alongside the return of their glorious gig se ries AMPLIFI, set to return this winter/spring 2022/23 to The Queen’s Hall. Community can also be found via local indie labels like OK Pal Records, Lost Map Records, Olive Grove Records and Night School Records, record shops like Monorail, Assai, Le Freak Records and Thorne Records, or via communityrun radio stations – EHFM, Clyde Built Radio and Radio Buena Vida – while other organisations and promoters worth seeking out include Intercultural Youth Scotland, Other Other Music and Redolent’s we should catch up if ur around, with dates in the diary at The Biscuit Factory until the end of the year. In the words of Nirvana, ‘Load up on gigs / Bring your friends’. Sure, Kurt Cobain may not have said ‘gigs’ in the original lyrics to Smells Like Teen Spirit, but please allow us some artistic license, and please load up on gigs. your new favourite grassroots promoters on Instagram Hiba

Also in Glasgow you’ll ﬁnd Pop Mutations Born during the pandemic, they brought communi ties together online while they couldn’t be together IRL. Run by various bookers from venues you’ll come to love, if you don’t already (Stereo, The Old Hairdressers, The Glad Cafe, Mono and The Flying Duck), Pop Mutations are very much a live entity now. With a regular run of genre-diverse gigs You’re probably new in town, so we take a look at some of our favourite DIY and grassroots promoters putting on gigs across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee Interview: Tallah Brash

— 34 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature GuideStudent

@freakenderglasgow @popmutations @twofournine.nights @wavetable_ed @makethatatake @up2stndrd @weareherescot

Recently they’ve started programming live events under the banner Up2live, such is their commit ment “to bring these acts to the stage and help connect them to a wider audience.” They’ve so far programmed events at Glasgow’s iconic King Tut’s and have an event coming up on 25 September in conjunction with Scotland on Tour, BEMIS and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with more planned throughout the year.

performing at 249Photo:DarwonRashid WavetablePhoto:SimonKirby AMUNDA at AMPLIFIPhoto:AdamKnight FreakenderPhoto:NeelamKhanVela

Smells CommunityLikeSpirit taking place across the city, their inaugural festival is happening from 13-16 October. They tell us: “Attending a Pop Mutations gig provides a direct line into Glasgow’s wealth of underground talent and a showcase of the city’s DIY spirit.” In Edinburgh, from 30 September queer party throwers 249 will call arts venue Summerhall home as they settle in for a new monthly residency in the city’s southside. Combining live bands, DJs, cabaret, drag and more, when we ask how 249 came about, co-organiser Patrick Harris tells us: “We wanted to put on the kind of party we wish existed when we were taking our ﬁrst cautious steps into the LGBTQ+ scene.” Harris contin ues: “[We offer] an inclusive and super-friendly atmosphere for everyone, where fun is essential and wildness and hedonism are encouraged... We want people to feel free, liberated and leave the party Atsmiling.”themore electronic and experimental end of the scale, Edinburgh’s monthly Wavetable shows were also born out of the want for a night that organisers Andrew Ostler and Simon Kirby wished already existed. Live visuals also play a big part, and unlike other DIY nights, Wavetable operates in a space not usually used for live music, with a BYOB policy adding to its appeal, alongside the inclusive and open nature of the nights them selves. “We try to curate so each night is a good mix,” Ostler says, “and we try to keep the amount of actual music under control so there’s plenty of time for chat. The community aspect was also something we had in mind at the start.” In Dundee, punk label Make-That-A-Take Records have been putting on gigs and bringing together the local community through music since 2006. The label run all of their gigs in Conroy’s Basement, housed in the downstairs of vegan restaurant Rad Apples, a queer-positive, Good Night Out campaign-accredited venue. Label boss Derrick Johnston enthusiastically describes the ethos of MTAT as destroying the patriarchy, being radical and spreading joy, going on to tell us that “bands have been formed, marriage stories started, babies nearly born, friendships forged and thou sands of connections made at MTAT shows over the years. That’s a very beautiful thing indeed.”

The Student Heads Up Glasgow Bonjour Tucked away on Saltmarket, Bonjour is just about the loveliest and coolest queer bar, currently home to our faves Mojxmma and Glasgow’s much-loved goth/disco/Italo/postpunk club Danse Macabre. Worth a mention that it’s proﬁt-sharing and a workers’ co-op – dreamy.

@thedoghouseedinburgh 18-24 Clerk St Miss World

Speciﬁcally: each Tuesday, Student & Young Person Members get £2 tickets for Filmhouse’s evening screening. Enough said. 88 Lothian Rd Snax Cafe

Over on Marchmont Crescent, ilium brings coffee, clothes, and records together in this very cool hybrid space. Ever Saturday at 3pm and every Monday at 8pm, ilium hosts FolkIt, an open mic and jam session. With people usually sat around a guitar in some kind of muddled circle, it has none of the usual open mic intimidation. @ilium_shop 100 Marchmont Cres Dundee Art Bar Perhaps it’s ideal simply because it sounds cool to say you’re going to Art Bar? It’s also very chilled and laid-back and regularly has DJs. 140 Perth Road Dundee Unversity Students Association Look, it’s a pretty small city: Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) is where it’s at student clubbing wise. 2022 Freshers Week highlights include a UV Foam Party (a too-oftenforgotten-classic) and Cascada (of ‘Evacuate the Danceﬂoor’ fame). We’re feeling very nostalgic and very jealous. @dusatheunion Airlie Place Blend Coffee Lounge This lot are just about the sweetest bunch around. Good coffee and very welcoming. Their Thursday study nights are ideal for students – unlimited coffee for £4. @blend_dundee 63 Reform St

@missworldedinburgh Blunt Knife Co

Ninewells Community Garden Green space can be few and far between in what ever four-storey, 70s-built student accommodation you ﬁnd yourself in. To volunteer or simply enjoy nature, this community garden is a great way to get a little peace of mind.

ninewellsgarden.org.uk

Ninth Wave live at The Berkeley Suite, Glasgow

Commissioning editor: Eilidh Akilade, Designer: Phoebe Willison, Production Manager: Dalila D'Amico, Cover illustration: Jonny Mowat

@bonjourglasgow 37-45 Saltmarket Berkeley Suite The basement club has a slightly pretentious feel but its techno and very chill smoking area are a joy.

BrisbaneCameronPhoto:ScottChrisPhoto:

Edinburgh The Doghouse

Avertical World Climbing We don’t make the rules: climbing is hot now. Student access for one month is £60 so very worth it while it’s still edgy.

Our run-down of the best things for students to eat, drink, and do in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee Compiled by Eilidh Akilade

@tchaiovna 42 Otago Lane Vintage and charity shops For vintage shopping, Great Western Road has plenty – The Glasgow Vintage Co, West Vintage, DUDS, and, just off on Otago Street, Retro. But, if you’re looking for the best charity shops, Dumbarton Road is where it’s at, offering a great range of clothes and the most gorgeous trinkets.

Grunge meets garish in this Clerk Street bar which, ﬁttingly, welcomes plenty of dogs. Student discounts on drinks – £3.70 for a single is not too shabby, at all.

@the_berkeley_suite 237 North Street Chips It’s a post night-out must. 727 on Great Western Road for chunky ones, if that’s your kind of thing. Alternatively, Kaspian on Sauchiehall Street do the best chips and cheese – melts just right.

The Craft Pottery For a student-friendly activity that doesn’t have to involve getting pissed (although it is BYOB), painting pottery is up there with the best of them. Perhaps the cutest date location, also.

— 35 — THE SKINNY GuideStudent –2022September Feature

This shop and event space supports creative people of marginalised genders and is truly a community hub, especially for students. With a monthly bookclub (1 September this month, if you manage to catch it) and regularly programmed events, Blunt Knife Co is ideal to connect with people both within and outwith the uni bubble. @bluntknifeco 41 Thistle St Filmhouse

@thecraftpottery Axiom Building, 48-54 Washington St Tchai Ovna House of Tea Again, on the non-drinking front, Tchai Ovna is open late and is suitably cool yet cosy.

@averticalworld 7-11 Blinshall St Wooosh Gallery Based in the Miller’s Wynd Carpark, Wooosh Gallery is one of those spaces that’s really very cool to know. Their temporary installations speak to the limited opportunities for new artists and graduates in Dundee. With a tight knit community behind it, it’s also a great way to meet some lovely arty folk. @woooshgallery

Edinburgh Filmhouse, Prince Achmed with live music from SINK

Student Guide Credits

The all-woman DJ collective have a monthly residency at Sneaky Pete’s (2 September, this time around) and it’s not to be missed. Techno, pop, and a little disco – their nights are inclusive in all the best ways.

The ideal cafe for students – not too spenny, big breakfasts, and the best paninis. 118 Buccleuch St FolkIt @ ilium

Climate activism is for everyone First things ﬁrst, if you want to get involved with climate activism, then you can and you should. The climate justice movement must include everyone to make lasting change and be successful. The more voices that are included, the better the solutions will be. You don’t need to be an expert; you can learn as you go. You don’t need to have lots of time; you can give as many minutes, hours, or days to activism as feels right for you. Dismantle any preconceived ideas of what activism should look like: protests and direct actions are not the only form of climate activism.

“As a student, these emotions can be tricky to grapple with: as you study for a degree when the world is burning, you might question what kind of future you are striving for”

Learn about climate justice

— 37 — THE SKINNY GuideStudent –2022September Feature

Saving

Look after yourself Engaging with the climate emergency can be tough, especially when it feels like progress is slow. It is essential to look after your mental health by taking time out and doing things that you enjoy. Organising in a way that feels right for you, ﬁnding your com munity, and enjoying the work that you do will make activism sustainable and long-term. Try to avoid reading too much negative climate news – this is the quickest way to burn out and lose motivation.

Join a group or action Joining a climate group or signing up to an action is a great way to get stuck into climate activism. Collaborative and collective action is required to make change, not to mention that ﬁnding likeminded people can make activism much more enjoyable. Find a group at your university or college and if there isn’t one, set one up. If you’re unsure where to start, join Young Friends of the Earth Scotland (@yfoes), a youth-led climate group through which you can attend local actions and join online working groups on issues such as access and inclusion and the cost-of-living crisis. Multiple climate groups are currently campaigning to stop the Jackdaw gas ﬁeld from going ahead. You can follow @stopcambo for more information on how to join the campaign. If you are attending a protest, make sure that you know your rights. SCALP, the Scottish Community & Activist Legal Project (@activists_legal), publishes loads of useful information about staying safe at protests.

The climate crisis is scary enough. The intimidating ﬁrst steps of getting involved in climate activism as a student can feel similarly scary – but they don’t need to be

Words: Hannah George Illustration: Phoebe Willison the World

Equipping yourself with knowledge of the root causes of the climate crisis can be an empowering tool to support climate activism and help educate those around you. Climate justice addresses the historical exclusion of marginalised groups from the climate movement and recognises the inter linked oppressive systems of capitalism and colonialism that have caused the climate emer gency. The effects of the climate crisis and the responsibility for its causes are not evenly distrib uted and learning about these concepts can allow you to be critical of climate change ‘solutions’ which often distract from the actions of polluting governments and fossil fuel companies. As a student, take advantage of the resourc es and learning opportunities available to learn about climate justice and incorporate it into your

Last but not least, join a union! Whether that is your student union or a trade union at your work place, joining a union can help you to amplify the issues you care about and make change.

studies. The Yikes Podcast (@theyikespodcast) is also a great resource if you want to learn more about climate justice. Find your niche Again, there isn’t one way to be an activist; it’s about finding what feels meaningful to you. You don’t have to campaign for every issue to be considered a climate activist. Follow your interests and this will lead you to the most fulfilling work. For instance, if you are interested in food, join a local food-coopera tive or community garden. Research existing cam paign groups at university or in your community to find what you are passionate about: from arms divestment to reducing fast fashion to refugee rights, many issues intersect with the climate crisis. Follow Intersectional information(@intersectionalenvironmentalist)Environmentalistformoreabouthowtheseissuesoverlap.

The Resilience Project (@theclimateresilience) has great resources and workshops on how to navigate eco-anxiety and build resilience in the face of the climate emergency. As a student, these emotions can be tricky to grapple with: as you study for a degree when the world is burning, you might question what kind of future you are striving for. Getting involved with climate activism and working towards change can alleviate eco-anxiety and feelings of climate doom and allow you to meet new people and gain skills along the way. What’s not to love?

The work that goes on behind the scenes to create a successful campaign and build a movement is vitally important to these more public forms of protest. Everyone has a skill that is necessary to the climate movement, whether that’s designing posters for a march, running communications for an action, or lobbying your local MP. Most climate groups hold meetings online, meaning you can get involved wherever you live. Follow The Bad Activist Collective (@badactivistcollective) for more tips on how to let go of perfectionism and get started with activism.

Last week, my ﬂatmate Clara was visiting her grandma in Germany; she sent me a picture of the tomato, coconut and tamarind curry that she had cooked after learning it from me. I like to think that after tasting the curry, her family know a little bit about me, and that when I visit her family home in a few months, we will now have things (or foods) to talk about.Nobody is a stranger for long when they are covered in ﬂour or speckled in tomato sauce. It has become a way to invite other people to actively participate in my culture with me, and for me to participate in theirs. Food – and university – is a lot less lonely now. We all just want a good meal.

ofstumbledunwittinglyupononethemostenduringandprofoundtruths:thatfoodisourultimatesourceofconnection”

A Meal Shared often the rice should be stirred and gi led together as our eyes streamed from chopping mountains of onions. When the biryani was cooked, we truly ate together, murmuring softly in appreciation. Finishing our plates, we talked over what had worked and what could have been done better. I felt full. As I left, I felt a sense of emotion al nourishment too. I had unwittingly stumbled upon one of the most enduring and profound truths: that food is our ultimate source of connec tion. In the past, I had understood food as a means of basic survival and organising a social calendar: hangover breakfasts, family lunches, potluck dinners. But the act of actually both cooking and eating with people had been lost on me. Shared meals cooked together could become memories, the foundation for my friendships. Three years along, and I moved into a flat with three strangers in a student co-operative. My flat has a long-established communal cooking culture, and so I slotted into that arrangement with ease. Each time it was my turn to decide what to cook, I brought parts of culture, community and upbring ing to the table: potato and chickpea curry, daal, pistachio and saffron tart and masala roast pota toes. Equally, I understood aspects of my flatmates through rolling out their sheets of pasta dough or stewing their foraged fruit. The insider-outsider, foreigner-native paradigms became broken.

— 38 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature GuideStudent

The first few weeks of the semester were bleak. I had imagined myself making new friends each meal time in my hall’s cafeteria; not nibbling on a cereal bar, alone in my room. I couldn’t find any place where I felt comfortable. Every conversation felt forced. Every dull over priced coffee with a stranger left me aching for familiarity and intimacy. I was desperate to forge a connection with anyone that I met. To make matters worse, my halls of residence were catered and each day, hundreds of students would file into the dining hall for breakfast and dinner. The act of eating had never been such an event. Stumbling into the canteen for breakfast in the morning, bleary eyed with crusty mascara streaked down my face, I would be confronted with crowds of perfect ly put together people, who all just seemed to adore each other already. And then there was the food. Dry, stringy, wet, clumpy and congealed. Day after day, an assortment of unappealing textures and bland flavours were lumped onto our plates. It didn’t take me long to associate the miserable food with my loneliness. Despite eating in a packed room each day, I had never felt more isolated. In the middle of term, I met a Pakistani postgraduate student. She was warm and gener ous, immediately inviting me to an all-Pakistani dinner she was hosting that night. I went with some caution; my halls were populated by posh white English students from the home counties and I wanted to fit in with them. Although curry is a national favourite, all too often Brown people are mocked for smelling of the food that they cook at home. The heady mix of fried chilli, garlic and ginger can settle into your hair, skin and clothes for hours. Back home, amongst a diverse commu nity of friends, the smell of South Asian food did not distinguish me as anything other than myself. Here, I didn’t want to bring that tell-tale aroma back to my halls, to reinforce my difference. But I was hungry, and so I went along. There were about twenty of us and we decided to make chicken biryani. We started peeling and chopping onions, garlic and washing rice. We discovered we didn’t have all the spices we needed, so a small group went to a local South Asian grocery store. I had seen this store on campus, but the shame of popping in for a quick samosa versus ducking into Sainsbury’s for a bland meal deal like everyone else was over whelming. When I walked in, it felt like coming home. Rows upon rows of spices, dried herbs and pickles – all the ingredients I understood. Later, conversation flowed easy as we prepared the meal. The act of cooking together dissipated all unfamiliarity. We bickered over which spices should be thrown in, debated how University can be lonely – but food can bring us together. One writer reflects on the power of communal cooking Words: Laila Ghaffar

Chaikulngamdee1FarsaiPhoto:

“I had

— 40 — THE SKINNY 2022September

Ahead of their upcoming End of Summer Party, we talk to Mojxmma about changing the Scottish clubbing scene and creating your own space

Interview: Eilidh Akilade

Follow @mojxmma to keep up to date with upcoming parties. Catch Mojxmma’s End of Summer Party on 10 Sep @ Bonjour. eventbrite.co.uk “If you don’t have the space, you can make it yourself” Jam, one half of Mojxmma Bonjourofcourtesyimage:Bonjourofcourtesyimage: Bonjourofcourtesyimage:

Given this sense of community, they’re keen to welcome as many QTIPoC DJs, musicians, and drag performers as possible. “We just want to make sure that we’re sharing the space,” Mahasin continues. Afterall, there’s so few spaces like it. It’s partly why Mahasin says, with warranted urgency, “We need to bring up fashion.” It’s key to the Mojxmma experience: “Definitely make sure that you just wear what you want. And just go for it. Feel hot, feel comfortable, be yourself.” It’s what spaces like this are made for: neon fishnets and vintage tulle and PVC knee high boots. There are queer spaces where such attire would be looked down upon – too much or too little – but, with Mojxmma, there’s a real sense of coming not only as you are but as you want to be. It makes for a truly special night. “I think people want to dress up all the time,” adds Jam. “And they don’t necessarily have the place to do that – or the time to do that.” That’s why Mojxmma’s themed parties are so important: they’ve had the environ mental-inspired ‘Muva Earth Party’; there was the ever gorgeous ‘Pink Barbie Party’; and, more recently, their ‘High School Party’ revelled in a drinks,”notes.so,sharetheselves,backfeelsandre-adjustmentofQTIPoC,thecelebratesand-2010s-emo-side-fringeDream-Matte-Mousse-glory.Theirupcoming‘EndofSummer’partythelastdaysoftheseason,welcomingreturntoacademiaandnine-to-fives.Forsuchatimeisoftendaunting:aftermonthssun-bleachedfreedom,itmarksanapproachingtopredominantlywhiteinstitutionsallthatcomeswiththem.Totakejoyinthissomewhatradical,claimingtheacademicyearforourselves.Friendssinceschoolthemthere’ssomethingparticularlysweetaboutduohostingthiscelebration.Theyspentafairoftheiradolescencepartyingtogether,andit’sspecialtocontinuethattradition.Asexpertparty-goers,weoughttotaketheir“Stayhydrated.AlwaysdrinkwaterinbetweensaysMahasin.Practicalyeteverpressing.“It’salwaysgreattocomewithpeople.Butyoudon’thavetocomewithsomeone;youcancomealone,”saysJam.“Don’tbetooscaredto–there’slotsoflovelypeoplethere.”WithMojxmma,it’snotcreepyorweirdtogoclubbingalonebecause–inreality–you’renotreallyalone:uponarrival,onejoinsawholecommunityofpeoplethatarepartofsomethingtrulygreat.

How to Party nights out, and I was just like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ I want a space that actually feels safe and is curated for a specific community.” There is very little joy in witnessing whiteness dominate a dancefloor along to an Afrobeats rhythm, and it happens far too often. So, in speaking to their community, a specific community, Mojxmma ensure their parties are actually, genuinely, for QTIPoC folk – not just white people with a thing for ethnic minorities. “If you don’t have the space, you can make it yourself,” says Jam. “It’s not just us that’s creating it as well – along the way, people are engaging in it and they’re helping us create a night.” A party takes more than one party-goer. Mojxmma is truly a collective experience. Bonjour, specifically, have been ardent supporters: the duo attribute much of their success to the queer bar’s faith in them and care forThey’vethem.done their looking – scrolling Instagram, searching Facebook comments – and they’re pretty sure: “I think,” says Mahasin, cau tiously, “we are the only queer PoC party club in the whole of Scotland.” Mojxmma don’t want to claim the title without being certain – but it does seems that (currently, at least) they are the only one. With each of their parties welcoming more and more people, the hope is that the Scottish clubbing scene won’t stay like this for long.

— 41 — THE SKINNY GuideStudent –2022September Feature

“Ithink ‘party’ just feels a bit more freeing than a club night. With a club night, I guess there’s an expectation. With a party, you can just be who you want and be more free with it,” says Jam, one half of QTIPoC party, Mojxmma. Always a little crowded, one shuffles into the space, the journey to the dance floor punctuated by embraces from friends old and new. The music flows from state to state: techno and hip-hop and something transcendent sounding. These nights, primarily held in Glasgow’s Bonjour, are trulyLedprecious.byJamand Mahasin, Mojxmma approach es nights out a little differently – fun yet radical, safe yet daring. The nights shirk the rigidity of traditional clubbing, instead opting for something a little looser and simply nicer. With tiered ticketing based on intersecting identities, from production to party, Mojxmma is by and for QTIPoC. Returning from a trip to Berlin, Mahasin noticed the monolithic nature of clubbing in Scotland, and the tangential lack of QTIPoC spaces here. “I came back and went on a few

RentingRight property. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Some letting agents might try to charge you extra fees for references or a holding deposit. In Scotland, extra fees are all illegal; letting agents can only charge you for a deposit. If you have already paid these fees, you can reclaim them via a tribunal for up to 5 years after moving out. Your landlord should put your deposit into a protected deposit scheme – if they fail to do so, you will be entitled to compensation. Inventory When you move in, make sure to document the condition by taking photos and noting any repairs needed. Check this against the written inventory from your letting agent and notify them of any discrepancies. You can use the photos and documentation when you move out to dispute any claims they’ve made on your deposit to give yourself the best chance of getting the full amount returned to you.

“Joining a tenant’s union is also a great way to meet your

Moving into rented accommodation as a student can be daunting. However, you can make it easier.

“If something looks too good to be true, it probably is”

— 42 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature GuideStudent

Deposits Let’s say the family of mice or the omnipresent damp get too much – you’re moving out. Clean the property thoroughly (some letting agencies recom mend using a professional cleaning service, but it’s up to you and your scrubbing skills). Before leaving, be sure to report any repairs so they can be ﬁxed now, meaning you don’t have to shoulder the cost. Your landlord will release your deposit through the deposit scheme and let you know if they want to keep any of the deposit for damage. You can dispute these through the deposit scheme or with the landlord directly. If you are having real difﬁculties with this, Living Rent is a good place to turn for help.

Housing co-ops As an alternative to private rentals, housing co-operatives offer a differ ent model. They’re run by members and offer more affordable rent and, in all honesty, are pretty cool. There are several across Scotland, with the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-op as the UK’s largest student housing cooperative and one on its way in Glasgow.

Viewings All landlords in Scotland must be registered – you can (and should) look them up on the Landlord Register. Unfortunately, plenty will exploit the rush for housing and advertise fake opportunities. As such, never hand over money without you or someone you trust viewing a A step by step guide on how not to get screwed over by your landlord while renting as a student – you’re gonna need it

icture a Scottish student ﬂat – single glazed windows, mouldy bathrooms and mis matched carpets in every room, right?

Repairs When you move in, your landlord should provide you with an emergency number to ring for repairs – keep this safe for any emergen cies. Your landlord is obligated to ensure your home is of a suitable standard; if they do not see to repairs within a certain timeframe you may be due compensation – espe cially for heating or water issues. Recently, a member of Living Rent won almost £4,000 in compensation after having no heating and hot water for a year.

particularlycommunity,ifyou’reastudentfeelingdisconnectedfromyourlocalarea”

This can be a difficult task when first starting out. In Scotland a new form of tenancy was introduced in 2017, won by private tenants campaigning for greater security, which provides tenants with more flexible leases and other protections. If you want to live with two or more people you are not related to or in a relationship with, you will need to find a property with a ‘houses in multiple occupa tion’ (HMO) license.

Awareness of your rights and options is a must. When I ﬁrst moved to Edinburgh as a student, I learned some of these rights the hard way (read: routinely exploited as a tenant). Following gradua tion and a particularly testing deposit withdrawal, I joined Living Rent, Scotland’s national tenant’s union, and have now found the power of collective solidarity as well as knowing my rights. Looking for a property

Words: Aditi Jehangir

Tenant’s unions It’s not all bleak (I swear): the rental system in Scotland isn’t perfect but there’s still hope to be had and battles to be won. It can sometimes feel like landlords have all the power and tenants are at their whims – however tenants unions offer us an alternative. Living Rent fights for a fairer, safer and more affordable system for everyone. We organise on a neighbourhood level with branches across Scotland campaigning around local and national issues. We operate similarly to a trade union made up of dues-paying members. Joining a tenant’s union is also a great way to meet your community, particularly if you’re a student feeling disconnected from your local area. When our members have an issue, we work together to fight for better treatment. There is power in a union and together we can achieve so much. Renting while at university (or, simply renting in general) has a bad reputation. Often, it’s deserved. Landlords can take advantage of the naivety of those new to renting but equipped with the facts, a little rage, and plenty of confidence, you can take on the housing market and work with others to redress the power imbalance.

Women’s Safety in Edinburgh A ll around the world, there’s an urgent need to have conversations about women’s safety in public – and to act. While challenging and changing how some people behave is needed, part of the answer lies also in the design of our streets, the places we go and how our city develops. Following on from the many and recent high-pro le cases of violence against women, Edinburgh’s Women’s Safety in Public Places Community Improvement Partnership wants everyone’s views on what makes you feel safe or unsafe when out and about in public spaces. The partnership includes the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland and other organisations that can in uence how our city is developed and how we can make it safer for everyone. As the residents of our city well into the future, we really want to hear from younger people and students – where do you feel safe or unsafe, and why? What do you think makes some areas and places feel safe or unsafe? What do you do to help make you feel safer? While we’re focusing mainly on the safety of women and girls, we want to hear from anyone who lives in or visits the Edinburgh area. We recognise that making spaces safer for women, makes them safer for everyone. Your responses will help us to develop and improve public spaces in future, across the whole of the Edinburgh area. This includes how streets and pathways are designed as well as the layout of parks and shopping areas and much more. Give us your views online by 20 September.

We’re working with Edinburgh's Women’s Safety in Public Places Community Improvement Partnership to raise awareness of their consultation on women's safety in public places. They’re asking you to ﬁll in an online survey to answer the question: what makes you feel safe or unsafe when out and about?

— 43 — THE SKINNY FeatureAdvertising 2022September

Head to edinburgh.gov.uk/safety to have your voice heard. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/safety

With September comes the start of the academic year as new and returning students flock to university looking for a fresh start or new experiences. Whether that’s joining a sports team, an interest group, or a student theatre company, these opportunities allow many to try some thing different and discover a whole new passion. In the case of student theatre, this can also be the first step in pursuing a career in professional theatre. That was the case for James Beagon, an Edinburgh-based director and award-winning playwright, who works as the youth theatre manager for Strange Town Theatre. He first arrived in the city to study ancient and medieval history in 2010. He admits that he initially had little interest in the performing arts, explaining that, growing up in Stockport, “I didn’t really have the opportunity to do it at all so I didn’t really know what I was missing out However,on.”that changed when he saw an advert for Bedlam Theatre and Edinburgh University Theatre Company. Like many, Beagon saw his time at university as an opportunity to reinvent himself and try something new – with that in mind he signed up. The result? “A 12-year career in theatre that would not have happened had I not tried student theatre in my first week on a Whilewhim.”many pursue student theatre as a hobby outside of their studies, there are many who, like Beagon, come to the realisation during their time taking part that they want to make theatre professionally. For Beagon, that moment occurred towards the end of his third year upon realising that there would Getting involved in student theatre can be the first step to a career in performing arts. We meet Strange Town Theatre’s James Beagon to find out how participation influenced his trajectory

It’s an admirable sentiment and one that is certainly not without merit, especially being as we are, just out of the Edinburgh Fringe. There are numerous opportunities for stu dents to try theatre while at university, especially in Edinburgh, be they through student theatre groups – like Bedlam, Edinburgh University Footlights, Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group (EUSOG) and Theatre Paradok – or even off the beaten path. It was through his involvement in student theatre that Beagon was ﬁrst able to take part in Fringe shows, an oppor tunity many who try student theatre have a similar experience of doing. This in turn led to many more oppor tunities, as well as gaining a wealth of experience applicable elsewhere. To that end, Beagon encourages anyone interested in student theatre to simply give it a go. “Why not? Because you’re 18 to 22, or maybe you’re a postgrad. But what have you got to lose? If there’s any part of you that thinks, ‘I don’t know if I’m really a theatre person,’ you are a theatre person. There’s no such thing as a theatre person. I really encourage anyone who doesn’t consider them selves one to do theatre, because you’ll make theatre better just by being involved.”

This isn’t the only similarity between student and profes sional theatre that Beagon has found during his career. While student theatre, amateur dramatics, or even youth theatre, are often looked down upon in comparison to professional theatre, he doesn’t feel that there should be that much of a distinction. In his view, “it’s all actually just theatre, right? People want to give it different labels, but actually, it’s exactly the same stuff. You just pay more or less for your ticket to see their show when they have more or less of a budget. And the actors have had more or less training.”

— 45 — THE SKINNY GuideStudent –2022September Feature

Interview: Nico Marrone

As for the experience of being involved in student thea tre, Beagon found the community to be a welcoming and acces sible one. However he acknowledges that “if you came to it at the wrong time, you had to be patient, you had to work your way out unless you were an actor, and you’re incredibly talented.” It’s a comparison that he draws to professional theatre “in that people are more willing to take a risk on you if they know who you are.”

Student Theatre be a brief gap where “I wasn’t rehearsing something, I wasn’t writing something, I wasn’t directing something. And I felt: ‘Oh, God, that’s awful. I want to do more of this.’” Despite this feeling, he adds: “I don’t think there was ever a moment where I sat down and said, ‘I am going to be a professional, whatever, in theatre.’ It just became natural.”

McMonagleAmyPhoto: James Beagon

It’s a tale as old as time: spoken word poetry is hot and everyone’s in a band. Creativity in university can seem synonymous with popularity – but it’s not always all it’s made out to be

creative success made me more worthy of party invites, and that a decreased output risked social decline. The kind of creative work I made became not entirely centred around what I was most interested in, but on work I knew my peers would respond to, liking and re-sharing on Instagram. I traded generic newspaper-style writing with more attention-seeking, taboo-pushing work. Less ﬁlm reviews, more Pay Pig comment pieces and algo rithm-friendly photoshoots. And it paid off. The work I made got more attention, which led to more opportunities and more friendships. But in these spaces, it’s hard to tell where creative evolution ends and catering to mass appeal begins. There’s a self-corrosiveness to it. I loved it, until I hated it. The rise of this way of thinking has arisen in tandem with the age of Person As Product. We are obsessed with curating our brand image. Creative work shared by our peers dominates social media feeds, blurring the line between self-promotion and bra ing. Creative social capital is not entirely about good art, or unique work, though – you have to be marketable in your own right, too. The feelings of comparison are infectious, making creatively-uninclined people feel the need to imitate this inauthenticity to ﬁt in – adopting a homogenous dress-sense, political stance and ‘edgy’ creative style. Think artsy photo dumps

— 46 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature GuideStudent

Illustration:

Words: Graham Peacock Jack Murphy

“Starting university was my ﬁrst exposure to hustle culture - where one creative project was ﬁne, but three was better”

Creative Clout between grid-friendly poems; charity-shop Dickies; zine obsessions. In these white-dominat ed institutions filled with closeted middle-class twenty-somethings, liberal attitudes and aesthet ics are a brand essential – but it’s a simple fact that the more money you have, the more resources you can access, the better your education back ground, the easier you’ll accrue social influence and creative success. I’m not telling you to disengage from it, though. Telling a student interested in a career in creative industries to avoid portfolio building at university is, honestly, horrific advice. It’s some of the most open-ended creative freedom you’re ever going to get. These spaces have so much genuine creativity, passion, and opportunity to embrace. It’s not something to fear or pass up. But in my short time spent in the real world since leaving university, shutting yourself off to a lot of the noise is necessary for your own wellbeing, and a lesson you’re better learning sooner, rather than later. A while from now, that internship you’re going to apply for won’t care about your creative Instagram, but, in fairness, they will care about the practical work you did alongside your degree. Create the kind of work you want to make, share it as much or as little as you care to, but check in to make sure who you’re doing it for.

Ifeel relieved to be out of university. I say it all the time. I said it at graduation. I say it at my new job. I say it to my family, to my boyfriend who’s still studying, to my friends who graduated before me. It’s always something along the lines of how great a time I had, but how glad I am to have left, moved on, started something else. Each time I say it, I worry people think I’m lying. I shouldn’t be as glad as I am. I did well at university, and no one is supposed to feel that great post-graduation. This should be my time for a personality crisis –impulsive hair-bleaching and self-destructive decision-making – not passing comments of relief. I’m not lying, though – about the great time or the relief. My life began at university, or restarted at least. I turned eighteen at a Love Island Freshers party, and over the next four years formed almost all of the relationships I now cherish most. It was at university that I formed the precarious beginnings of my career as well – get ting involved in student media alongside my English Literature degree and finding a kind of niche in writing and fashion. Starting university was my first exposure to hustle culture – where one creative project was fine, but three was better. I carried out my studies and retail work on autopi lot, prioritising unpaid creative projects and portfolio building. I skipped lectures for photo shoot projects and read more article submissions for my student magazine than assigned seminar essays. It’s a way of life in certain academic spaces (mainly the arts ones, the elitist ones) that I adapted to well. I thrived on the stress. I had a genuine love for what I was doing, but in these institutions, this hyperactivity is not only accepted – it’s idolised. In university, creativity holds social capital. In my first year I made almost no new friends. The amount of relationships I made, attention I got, and fulfilment I felt at university, rose directly in relation to the creative success I accumulated over the next three years. Not that these relationships were based entirely on creative social capital – it was a natural byproduct of interacting with more people. But it did serve to reinforce the idea that

“When I wrote this movie, I wasn’t thinking in the terms of it being a coming-of-age movie,” Kline says. “I suppose I was just trying to do something absurdist.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has sought out Kline’s funky short films, like Fowl Play, about three small-time crooks trying to find a chicken to cockfight, or Jazzy for Joe, in which chat show legend Joe Franklin discovers a baby abandoned on his doorstep. “I guess those were all odd movies, but I like to make films about maverick New Yorkers, stories about the odd characters that I meet.”

Wanna feel old? Owen Kline, who played the onanistic younger brother in The Squid and the Whale, is making movies now. His debut feature, Funny Pages, is a bleakly hilarious dive into the world of underground comic books. Kline tells us more

Interview: Jamie Dunn

While Kline was in his senior year of high school, a teacher pointed out that something was missing from these gonzo shorts. “He asked, ‘Where are you in all this?’” Kline instantly recog nised that his teacher was onto something. “I realised that by putting a subject in among all these misﬁt characters who was impressionable, and was like a weird little sponge, if you put someone like that in a scenario with all these people, it would give it an interesting cultural clash. And with [Funny Pages], I was just trying to hit those rocks together.”

If Kline sees himself as Robert, it’s quite an admission, as it’s not a ﬂattering portrait. The boy is talented, for sure, but he’s also selﬁsh and petty and a bit of a snob. “Well, I did want to be a car toonist as a kid,” Kline confesses. “And, you know, I thrashed a little bit at 15 and 16. I threatened my parents that I wouldn’t graduate high school. I blame hormones for those shitty two years. But I never did drugs or anything – I was just a weird kid, interested in the stuff I was interested in.”

It was around this time that Kline found some older weird kids to pal around with. When he was 15, Kline invited Josh Safdie, one half of the Safdie Brothers (Good Time, Uncut Gems), out for coffee and ended up joining their crew. “I was running around with them in New York and, you know, getting in trouble for shooting in places we weren’t supposed to shoot. I acted in a short for them too, called John’s Gone, which was pretty run-and-gun as well.” When we ask what Kline learned from the Safdies, he doesn’t miss a beat. “I learned from them that you don’t have to ask permission, and that’s the only reason this movie exists.”

Funny Pages is released 16 Sep by Curzon

“I threatened my parents that I wouldn’t graduate high school.

Owen Kline

— 49 — THE SKINNY Film –2022September Feature

uring his brief career as a child actor, Owen Kline delivered one of modern cinema’s great opening lines. It was in 2006’s The Squid and the Whale, where Kline played Frank, a sensitive 12-year-old with self-pleasuring issues. “It’s Mom and me versus you and Dad,” Frank says to his older brother, Walt (played by Jesse Eisenberg). Frank is referring to the tennis match they’re about to play, but he’s also foreshadowing the dynamic of Noah Baumbach’s caustic drama in which an acrimonious divorce splits a family in two. Kline seems to have borrowed from Baumbach’s playbook for his debut feature Funny Pages. The very first line is “always subvert expectations”, and that’s exactly what this young filmmaker does in this scuzzy black comedy celebrating the world of underground comics. It was on the set of The Squid and the Whale that Kline realised he’d prefer to be behind the camera than in front of it. He was no stranger to movie sets growing up, given his parents are Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline. “My mom retired from acting to raise us, but my dad would still go and do movies, and those seem so gigantic that they just felt like they were made by giant machines.” Baumbach’s film felt different. “That was this small personal movie shot in Park Slope on 16mm. Jesse and I were helping pick out the pins that would go on our characters’ backpacks. It just felt like we were doing something very specific and personal, and that’s when movies started to really make sense to me. I knew, at some point, the ultimate dream was to make a film independently, and use that as an excuse to do something different.” He’s certainly made something different with Funny Pages. At first glance, this story of Robert (Daniel Zolghadri), a rebellious 17-year-old from middle-class suburbia who wants to defy his uptight parents by bypassing college for a life as a stru ling comic book artist looks to be straight out of indie coming-of-age film 101. Funny Pages is a much spikier proposition, however. There’s nothing romantic about Robert’s journey of artistic discovery. When Robert moves out of home, for example, he doesn’t rent a suspi ciously cheap New York loft with glamorous room mates. His digs instead are a sweaty basement with two middle-aged creeps with an appreciation of pornographic comics. And when he meets a possi ble mentor, a former colourist for a legendary imprint, his reluctance to train the lad is not be cause he’s some JD Salinger-like recluse; rather he’s a deeply disturbed man with anger issues and an unjustified vendetta against his local chemist.

I blame hormones”

Funny Ha Ha

Interview: Emma Sullivan to remain curious”

— 50 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Comedy

having an idea and trying it out that night. Although it’s scary trying out new stuff, you’re so in control, it’s so simple, you think of it and you say it.” Perhaps perversely, given the show is the most personal she’s done to date, she’s “approached it far more forensically this time,” relishing the technical examination of what works and what doesn’t: “comedy never fails to surprise me – you can be so sure something will work and then it doesn’t and it’ll be because you’ve done two words in the wrong order.”

The picture Suttie paints of a circuit where children can be happily accommodated is really heartening – and she mentions both Josie Long and Katherine Ryan bringing their toddlers along to Despiteshows.asupportive community where women are in creasingly shaping the parameters, there’s no denying that stand-up is in itself a risky undertaking, and for all the satisfac tions of her other roles, Suttie says that it’s “the purest, scariest and most exhilarating thing that I do.” It’s stand-up that particu larly foregrounds the connection between risk and well-being for Suttie, and she sees it as “very very good for your brain. I’m more fulﬁlled creatively when I’m doing it,” she says, and relishes the immediacy of it: “there’s nothing comparable to We meet Isy Suttie as she returns with Jackpot, her ﬁrst stand-up tour in ten years

Isy Suttie’s new show, Jackpot, is her first stand-up tour in ten years, and having been busy with her other creative interests (acting, writing – scripts, a memoir and a novel – and podcasting), she’s fallen back in love with live comedy. During her chat with The Skinny, her fresh enthusiasm for stand-up is palpable, as she talks excitedly about trying out material at previews. The show sees Suttie “celebrating the more risky side of life”; looking to cherish the sense of adventure and curiosity that gets pushed out as we get older and life becomes more routine. The germ of the idea came out of Suttie’s memories of doing Ouija boards as a teenager. That sense of a risk-filled adolescence is also evoked in her novel, Jane is Trying, where the heroine’s return to her hometown involves the regeneration of an old ramshackle house, the site of teenager high jinks. The new show captures some of Suttie’s more eye-catching recent adven tures: an illicit trip to a nuclear power station, for example, and trips to a spooky house in the woods with her children during lockdown, but, as she says, “it’s less about what I do and more about how I do it – trying to remain curious about things and find the corners of joy and celebration in the everyday things that I have to do now my life is more Whileroutine.”delighted by the comparisons with other comedians ‘doing’ motherhood and identity (Jessica Fostekew, Ali Wong etc), Suttie is clear that she doesn’t feel much kinship with the idea of motherhood as a genre or an identity. Instead, “it just happens to be a stage in my life when I happen to have kids.” It’s a useful emphasis and draws attention to the way motherhood as a generic concept can cancel out the specifics of an individual’s life. Having children does inevitably cause change, but Suttie tries to integrate her children into her professional life as much as possible, taking her seven-year-old daughter to gigs, for exam ple. It does mean, however, that she has to be more careful about swearing and “can’t do the bit about Father Christmas.”

Suttie is often pe ed as a musical comedian, and she’s been playing the guitar and writing songs since she was 12, but this show is her ﬁrst not to feature music. “It’s been such a big part of my life, but it’s a bit like needing a break with stand-up –sometimes you just need to step back.” It wasn’t planned, she explains, but when she started gi ing again, “I just didn’t want to pick up a guitar.” It can feel like a crutch, or an intermediary, whereas now “I want to stand up on stage with a mic and see what happens.”

“Trying

Isy Suttie: Jackpot, The Stand, Edinburgh, 21 Sep and The Stand, Glasgow, 12 Oct CrockettMattPhoto:

Interview: Rory Doherty

“This was about the construct of Asianness and when I was starting to write it, it felt more relevant than so many of the other Asian identity stories that I’ve encountered,” Kogonada explains. “Because Yang, if you step back and think, what does it mean for Yang to be Asian, and is he Asian?... In our own lives, I think we wrestle with the expectation and perception of Asianness, and as people have grown up in the west, the Orientalism that we are surrounded by.”

— 51 — THE SKINNY Film –2022September Feature

“That bowl-cut is so iconic in the Asian community and something that Westerners often see when they see us,” says Min. “Even in terms of the costume design, it was all very intentional in terms of this construct of Asian identity.”

The choice clearly weighs heavily on Kogonada’s mind: “He has such great hair…” he muses.

This fullness of Yang’s character is compli cated by what the human characters understand as his identity. Yang is a “cultural techno,” a Chinese robot brought into the family to help bridge gaps between adopted daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) and her non-Asian parents. The fact that Yang’s capacity for human emotions is not assumed, while his ethnicity is crucial, was all part of Kogonada and Min’s explo ration of racial identity.

After Yang, the second feature film from gifted South Korea-born, America-raised filmmaker Kogonada, concerns a family bereavement. But it’s not a sickly child, much-loved grandparent or even a beloved pet that shuffles off their mortal coil – it’s the death of a ‘technosapien’ robot helper named Yang. After his passing, the family who owned him slowly start to appreciate not only how attached they were to Yang, but that he was as capable of human affection and connection as them. “We are surrounded by technologies and we, as human beings, become vulnerable to this sort of emotional attachment,” director Kogonada says about the potency of stories about human connec tion in a world ubiquitous with technology. “It’s about wrestling with another being and the way in which they can get into your own skin.” After Yang is fixated on memory, and the ways we use it to catch hold of people slipping away – either through objective but emotionless technology, or the beautifully imperfect human mind. We’re shown examples of both in the film; the surprise discovery of Yang’s recorded memory bank shows snapshot glimpses of recordings that, played sequentially with Aska Matsumiya’s deli cate piano score, feel precious and powerful – an example of the effectiveness of a well-crafted montage. “When we were talking about even just the way we were going to deal with the future world, I wanted to use the language of cinema We caught up with director Kogonada and actor Justin H. Min while they were in Edinburgh to help close out the Edinburgh International Film Festival. We talk memory, emotional attachment to technology and bowl haircuts

As a Korean-American, Min was integral to the process of not only how Yang should act, but look – including a distinctive bowl-cut hairstyle that ties into how Asian people are viewed from the outside.

After Yang will be released in cinemas and on Sky Cinema from 22 Sep

“I wanted to use the language of cinema more than special effects” Kogonada

Min points out this choice wasn’t communicat ed to the actors on set. “We didn’t actually know that was gonna happen, and actually I’m so glad we didn’t know,” he explains. “Had that been in my head as an actor, it would have been very confusing, and I would have been trying to do too much. All I needed to focus on in those scenes was, who am I speaking to, and what’s the relationship to this person? So much is the absence of Yang, but I wanted to make sure that for me, as the actor, I felt full in terms of the life that Yang lived and the relationships that he had.”

Random MemoriesAccess more than special effects,” says Kogonada says, “because I think cinema is its own effect, right? And montage is at the core of the DNA of cinema.” Justin H. Min, who plays Yang, appreciates the way Kogonada’s direction captures these tiny, often silent moments. “He would just give me different notes throughout,” recalls Min. “The one that comes to the top of my mind is just me staring into a mirror. You would think that I would be staring into a mirror for three seconds, they would have cut and they would use that, but we really just got to explore in that space.” Notably, parents Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) remember Yang in distinctly human ways. Kogonada litters their recalled conver sations with multiple takes of the same dialogue, sometimes overlapping, all with subtle differences in expression and intonation. Visualising this difference was paramount to Kogonada. “You can replay Yang’s memory, and they’re always going to be the same thing,” he explains. “But with human memory, research says it’s never like a recording every time you recall it; it will change on you. I think, then, sometimes, a memory can feel sweeter than it actually was. There are moments in that conversa tion where the parents have sweetened this memo ry with Yang because they’re suddenly feeling this sort of affection. And we can do that and some times, God, we need that because, as humans, we need to be more forgiving or more open.”

“The atomic bomb dropped 77 years ago, but much remains unresolved,” reﬂects Miyako. Given the global threat of nuclear war and the longevity of Hiroshima’s impact, the appellation of post in post-war Japan may be premature. To demonstrate this, Miyako zooms in on the micro level, building a picture of grief through what remains tangible: the victims’ possessions. Taken from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where year upon year bereaved families donate belongings, Miyako laid items of clothing on a lightbox to capture an aerial view. These objects, some torn, burnt and discol oured, are more ghostly compared to those cap tured in Mother’s and Frida, perhaps by the way they have been strewn across the lightbox, com municating the absence of their beholder. In particular, Miyako’s photograph of a pair of socks feels especially tangible, their size almost to scale and ﬁlling the frame as if the victim has only just removed their feet. There’s a powerful irony when Miyako wishes that “I don’t want to leave anything behind…only my photographs.” The exhibition is certainly grief-stricken. But, for subject matters which are so challenging to navigate, the fact that the photographs are not hung in a straight line instils a sense of cathartic playfulness. By capturing what is absent, Miyako goes beyond the limita tions of static photography. There are pleasing visual rhymes across the gallery space (especially between Mother’s and Frida) as Miyako encour ages viewers to string together the absent sub jects’ personalities through material goods. Ishiuchi Miyako, Stills until 8 Oct

— 52 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Art Stills has been dipped in silver and a deep cobalt blue. Haunting photographs diver gent in size have been waywardly hung, mimicking the disobedience of their creator, Ishiuchi Miyako (born 1947). The gallery space journeys through three major bodies of work, commencing with hiroshima, followed by Mother’s, and finishing with Frida A self-declared rebel, Miyako grew up on the largest military base in Asia. As a young girl, she lived in the “deep shadow” cast by the violence of the American armed forces which invigorated “resentment” but also “profound longing” within her and, in turn, within her photographic practice. She came of age in the dark room, gripped by the alchemical processes of analogue photography Ishiuchi Miyako’s first solo show in Scotland features her haunting photographs reflecting on conflict, motherhood and the life of Frida Kahlo Interview: Rachel Ashenden

Capturing Defiance and thinking about American culture through an astute, critical lens. For many years she shot in black and white, although the display at Stills presents an amalgamation of her career in colour as well as Defyingmonochrome.thegallery route, let’s start in the middle of the exhibition. Ambivalence during her formative years also saturated her relationship with her mother. Until Miyako’s mother’s death, she stru led to objectively comprehend her mother as a separate entity with hopes and desires of her own. The series embodies a kind of maternal reconciliation, in which Miyako learns to see her mother as a fully-fledged woman through the earthly possessions she left behind. The series Mother’s marks a turning point in Miyako’s practice; it is when she began shoot ing in colour because that’s how “bright red lipstick needs to be photographed.” This bright red lipstick (#38) stands erect, practically unused, adjacent to a photograph of an ornate lipstick case, castrated of the lipstick itself as if it’s been bitten into. On the other side of the wall is an assortment of her mother’s dentures which have been grotesquely yet playfully captured, speaking to the missing lips which were whilesuchprivatemoreobjectscoatedoccasionallyinred.Somecapturedareglamorousandthanothers,aslacylingerie,theclose-upof a brush still entangled with strands of wiry hair points to the absence of a head of thinning hair. The photograph of Miyako’s mother beside her taxi is jarring, as viewers come face-toface with the individual and her profession. Mother’s docu ments remnants of femininity, including its scars, but is also a daughter’s final act of

AyaGalleryThirdTheofCourtesyImage:

Mother’s #3, Ishiuchi Miyako defiance. The photographer’s painfully shy mother would not have approved of exhibiting her lingerie in public; Miyako cheekily remarks: “Sorry mum, but I exhibited it anyway.” In 2005, this body of work was exposed to an international market on a vast scale, representing Japan at the Venice Biennale. It is on this global stage that a curator at the Frida Kahlo Museum became aware of Miyako’s work, which led to a newly commissioned series titled Frida Stills’ silver and blue walls are based on the colours of La Casa Azul (the Blue House), where Kahlo was born, lived and died. Miyako was invited to capture Kahlo’s belongings, ranging from a cigarette case to a corset decorated with the Hammer and Sickle. These objects were photo graphed in Kahlo’s garden, and unknown to Miyako at the time due to the nature of shooting on film, the powerful blue of the walls reflected onto the subject. Just as Kahlo used apparel to present herself as taller than her actual size, her belongings have been enlarged, indicative of the Mexican artist’s enormous legacy.

Angry Young Men (N/C15+)

Dir. Paul Morris Paul Morris’s feature film debut transports us to a fictitious area of Scotland called Mauchton (the locations are actually Lanarkshire) where a group of children, The Bramble Boys, set out on a mission to take over from the more established gangs. This isn’t a pint-sized Scottish Scarface, though. The violence here is light-hearted, with The Bramble Boys’ unconventional weapons and attire bringing a comical feel to the film as they seek revenge on a rising new enemy, The Campbell Group. Morris’s cinematography and the location create a raw feel and provide a recognisable backdrop for a Scottish audience. The gang here serves the community, which is refreshing and rare in films. Angry Young Men was clearly made on a shoestring, but it has going for it a clever, wellthought-out script, and crisp editing and visuals, especially the final drone shots at the end, which drives the narrative forward. The passion of Morris – credited as the producer, director, scriptwriter, production designer, cinematographer, editor and actor – proves that it is possible to make an ambitious film in Scotland with limited means. Overall, the film was far from ‘pish’ and more like ‘yaldi’, as Glaswegians would say. [Lorna] GFT, 17 Sep, 5.45pm; followed by a Q&A with Paul Morris

Some of this year’s programmers talk us through their highlights

— 53 — THE SKINNY Film –2022September Feature

The film boasts a brilliant cast, in particular the three actors portraying Chiron, who keep the character consistent while all providing their own touches. It pairs well with Barry Jenkins’ subtle direction, the blues creating a specific cool relaxing yet melancholic vibe that permeates throughout the whole film, further punctuated by the slow, moody score creating a dreamlike atmosphere and tone. The film also features some beautiful cinematography with shots of the bound less and endless ocean that make the world feel so large and foreboding, much like the life Chiron has to live through. Moonlight stands as an important examina tion of manhood and the toxic expectations of what a man should be, and serves as a perfect exploration of the intersectionality of being gay in the African American community. It stands out like a rainbow in an ocean of grey. [Sonny] GFT, 18 Sep, 3.30pm

A Bunch of Amateurs (N/C 12+) Dir. Kim Hopkins In A Bunch of Amateurs, community is everything. It’s a film about creating, and the collective joy of a round of tea after a job well done – or one poorly done but what the hell, everyone’s spirit was in it so let’s just get the kettle on. The main story throughout most of the film is the group’s attempt to recreate the opening of classic musical Oklahoma! as a love letter to one member’s terminally ill wife. The comedy is there: the mutual eye-rolling at every silly decision and mis take, the deadpan way many members state facts, as well as the simple fact that these are all just funny people. But the heart – and the melancholy – is in here too, sometimes just under the surface. The documentary flip-flops between tones effortlessly, weaving an immensely compelling, accessible and – above all – human story entirely out of real life. “I get to be ‘Joe, filmmaker’,” says one of the members. “Otherwise, it’s just ‘Joe.”’ [Jay] GFT, 17 Sep, 3.15pm Moulin Rouge! (12A) Dir. Baz Luhrmann Moulin Rouge! follows Christian (Ewan McGregor), a poor writer who falls in love with Satine (Nicole Kidman), an aspiring actress who’s... Alright, there’s no point in trying to summarise this story as the director, Baz Luhrmann, seems less inter ested in the plot and more interested in the spectacular stylistic opportunities it presents. The danger is that this could easily be a case of style over substance, but here style informs the substance. This overwhelmingly stylistic approach – involving black and white and colour photogra phy and a mix of pop songs – helps to bring new energy to a familiar story. Luhrmann builds mo mentum through movement, either moving the camera or the actors or both, creating constant motion and finding unique visuals for every scene (you almost never see the same shot twice). Luhrmann’s film is expressionistic, from sound effects that feel sampled from Looney Tunes to editing that creates pace through fast cuts. This also applies to the cast, specifically McGregor and Kidman. Both give huge and ani mated performances that feel straight out of Toulouse’s theatre productions. Luhrmann’s maximalism guarantees the audience’s engage ment, so much so that you still get a sense of the film’s scale while watching on your laptop – on your phone, even. To appreciate its full intended effect, however, Moulin Rouge! must be watched on the big screen. [Sean] GFT, 16 Sep, 6.30pm Glasgow Youth Film Festival, the innovative event programmed by Glasgow teens aged 15 to 19, returns with another programme blending new and older films that speak to younger audiences.

Moonlight (15) Dir. Barry Jenkins Moonlight is a film that explores masculinity in the African American community through the lens of a man named Chiron, who we are shown at three different stages in his life: firstly as a young boy, then as a teenager and finally as a man. This structure carries the film as we watch Chiron develop over this time and observe the ways in which all of the people in his life affect his percep tion of himself, as he stru les to come to terms with who he is – and particularly with his sexuality.

Glasgow Youth Film Festival runs 16-18 Sep; full programme at tickets at glasgowﬁlm.org

RutherfordRyanPhoto: GYFF team 2022

Young Team

“No, I am creating networks between the local community and migrant workers and workers of colour.” Again, the sex worker community is not monolithic and it’s crucial that an intersectional approach is taken. Part of NUMbrella Lane’s wider work has involved ongoing research into this intersectionality in sex worker communities and organisations. In the future, they want to create spaces within NUMbrella Lane itself, speciﬁcally for migrant workers and workers of colour. As a migrant herself, such work is of deep importance to Urban. “We have people here who want to support migrants and who offer to teach migrants English. It’s really amazing.”

— 54 — THE SKINNY –2022September Feature Intersections “O

NUMbrellaOn Lane ﬂourish. “We are creating networks,” says Urban. It’s necessary, not just for the usual emotional and mental wellbeing, but also for individuals to cope with the daily oppression that currently comes with being a sex worker in this country. “We’re not just creating those networks between white Scottish women,” continues Urban.

Even the anthology form was key to directly engaging sex worker communities. “I think some times a shorter form can be a more accessible medium for artists that aren’t in the more fortu nate position of receiving ongoing ﬁnancial support for their creativity,” says MacLean. With an anthology, the individual time commitment is lessened and so, to make art and then publish that art, a person doesn’t need to dedicate their whole working life to Chao-Yingit.Betty Rao is a multi-disciplinary artist and one of thirteen contributors in Truth and Lies. “My work looks at objectiﬁcation and popular imagery and rewriting representations of yourself from traditionally misogynistic and objectifying imagery,” says Rao. Her piece in the anthology is half photography, half text, giving a much-needed clarity. “When I write I want to be quite crisp and accessible – and no beating around the bush.”

A sex worker-only space is crucial: certain conversations may unjustly see furrowed brows or pricked ears in your average coffee shop. In NUMbrella Lane, this simply isn’t an issue. While there’s much community amongst sex workers, it can also be an incredibly isolating job, with some individuals estranged from their friends and families or simply unable to engage them in open conversa tions about their work. There’s strength in friend ship, in our one-to-one relationships, and there’s a real need to create a space for these friendships to We talk to NUMbrella Lane about the need for decriminalisation, intersectionality within sex workers' rights, and the publication of anthology Truth and Lies

And so, a space like Glasgow’s NUMbrella Lane, of which Urban is the coordinator, is deeply important. NUMbrella Lane offers in-person support to sex workers, providing a space for the community to come together and connect. Not only does the organisation provide free safe sex supplies, a food bank, and a swap meet, it also hosts various workshops and activity sessions. Most importantly, it’s a safe space seeking to nurture the wellbeing – physical, mental, and emotional – of sex workers in Scotland. It’s the product of two longstanding sex worker organisations, Umbrella Lane and NUM (National Ugly Mugs), the latter taking the former under its wing when it faced closure in November 2021. NUM is a UK-wide charity working to end all forms of violence against sex workers and provide supportive services to those working within the industry. It’s a good match, offering the now-named NUMbrella Lane autonomy as well as support.

“There’s still very basic work to be done in terms of simply humanising the sex workers and “They are forgetting that poverty is also a form of violence”

Containing non-ﬁction writings, hybrid forms, illustrations, collages, and photography, the anthology also includes pieces from those of different economic, racial, and cultural back grounds, as well as those of various genders and sexualities, representing the diversity within the sex worker industry itself. In this way, it dismantles the collective misguided idea of what a sex worker is and should be; of what they look like and where they come from. Since 2015, Arika has actively sought out opportunities to further platform sex workers’ arts.

ur aims here are rights, not rescue,” explains Nathália Urban. “Those are not victims. Those are people who are good at their jobs and they deserve to be respect ed and they deserve rights to do their jobs safely.”

Interview: Eilidh Akilade

Much of what is currently written about sex work is written by those who have no lived experi ence of the industry, instead approaching it from an academic perspective. Academia certainly has its place; but it’s not always here. Caught up in semantics and statistics, such writing can take away from the actual realities of sex workers, approaching their lives as something akin to a thought experiment. Truth and Lies works against this, collecting writing which navigates complexi ties with a rare grace, accessibility, and nuance.

Nathália Urban, Coordinator at NUMbrella Lane

“There’s a continuity with our being in solidarity with sex worker organisers who are seeking decriminalisation of the sex work industry in the UK,” says Cloudberry MacLean, having worked closely on the anthology as Programme Coordinator at Arika. “So this project is one of a number.” Sustained support is key. Social justice issues are all too often trivialised into trend and there are times – and there will continue to be times – when sex workers’ rights are not in vogue.

Illustration: Viki Mladenovski

This range of experiences is reﬂected in Truth and Lies, an anthology of sex workers’ words and art, produced by NUMbrella Lane and Arika, a political arts organisation based in Scotland.

But Arika is seemingly in it for the long run, their solidarity only strengthening over the years. And this support is tangible. “I guess we lent some of our resources to enabling the project to happen,” explains MacLean. “And those resources took the form of capital, of our funding. It took the form of organisational capacity and I guess via different experiences and contacts that Arika has and the fact that we have a public platform.” While other organisations may proclaim that they really do care about these issues, that they most deﬁ nitely want to help but it’s just so tricky to ﬁgure out how, Arika is simply doing what needs to be done and ensuring it’s done to truly serve NUMbrella Lane’s best interests.

Over recent years, the Scottish government has attempted to push through the Nordic model, which criminalises those who buy sex, rather than sell it, ultimately making sex work more dangerous and less viable for workers. It’s all in the name of allegedly protecting women’s rights and keeping them safe from harm – but this is evidently a gross oversimpliﬁ cation of the matter. “They are taking people, especially women, out of their jobs and not even offering an alternative,” says Urban, adding that sex workers shouldn’t need an alternative, in the ﬁrst place. “They are forgetting that poverty is also a form of violence.” It is not only a form of violence but, here especially, a form of state violence.

— 55 — THE SKINNY Intersections –2022September Feature the fullness of their lives, and also breaking down a range of often very contradictory sort of myths around sex work,” says MacLean. To dismantle such ideas, it’s sex workers we need to be listening to.

Against this backdrop of state violence, NUMbrella Lane will continue to offer a safe space for sex workers; Arika will continue to support them; and, individuals like Rao will continue to produce striking and thought-provoking work while voicing the importance of decriminalisation. For Urban, NUMbrella Lane’s relationship with sex workers is simple: “They will be cared for, they will be respected, and they will be loved.” nationaluglymugs.org/numbrella-lane/

“Even if I feel like the public are more under standing of sex work, politicians aren’t and they’re deﬁnitely using this topic as some sort of distrac tion or political fodder to make themselves look like they’re doing something,” says Rao. She sees this as not all that dissimilar to the constant political attacks on trans rights. With much overlap between TERFs and SWERFs, the increasingly vocal transphobia within government only acts to pave the way for further suppression of sex workers and their rights. Debates of bodily autonomy are plural and interconnected, not singular and detached. Organisations such as Decrim Now are currently calling on the UK government to support the full decriminilisation of sex work. Amid con stant push backs – notably, Edinburgh’s oncoming strip club ban – such campaigns are ever pressing.

“Politically, things have been getting quite strained”

Chao-Ying Betty Rao

Art and activism don’t have to sit separately: they can be compiled together in a lush pink-cov ered anthology, complete with emoji-ornamented images, words that move and afﬁrm, and a table detailing PornHub trafﬁc and search data. And all of these independently make a crucial and thoughtprovoking point about sex work itself. Additionally, for Urban, its very design is part of its message. In the mainstream, sex work is usually potrayed with a certain grittiness: shadows hang heavy, everything’s a little dirty, the lighting obscured. The anthology is “completely the opposite,” she explains. “It’s so cheerful with light colours, bright colours. It’s really amazing that the book is showing another side of sex workers that usually you don’t see in society.” Its publication, however, comes at a less hopeful time. “Politically, things have been getting quite strained,” says Rao. “I mean, it’s always been strained but the last few years there’s been a much heavier focus on sex workers.”

Musically, the pair are inventive and undeni able. Opener Neon is a clattering eruption of energy that blurs the genre lines even further with thick layers of noise and prog-rock storytelling. Greatest Hits is a wistful celebration of pop music history, rooted in contemporary sounds. Ellery directly references Madonna, in a story that’s a clever reﬂection of Like a Virgin (‘For the ﬁrst time, I like it when he’s inside’).

The centrepiece, Concrete Over Water, is a slow-burning and operatic banger that becomes oddly intimate in its ﬁeld-recorded second half. It combines the band’s multiple modes, making it an obvious showcase for all that they can do. Debra is just as joyful and surprising. After a heavy intro about grief, we’re thrown into a world of distrac tions – Animal Crossing, big cities, parties – as a killer synth line swallows up the pain.

The highlight might be Glasgow, an anthem of self-assurance that lives somewhere between French cinema, Moloko and Fleetwood Mac. It sounds nothing like the acid techno closer 50/50, or the haunted acoustic dramatics of Lancaster Court.

Over

Angst Death Cab for

There are ideas pouring out of Jockstrap’s debut. Somehow, they’re ideas that work together and grow more legs as you listen. It’s a labyrinth of a pop album. [Skye Butchard]

Asphalt Meadows RRRRr Death“textbookCab” High

Over a collection of EPs that have already earned cult status, Jockstrap combined vintage pop balladry with unhinged club experiments – and even the occasional string overture. The erratic approach was undoubtedly exciting, but it occa sionally obscured the emotion at the core. On their debut album, I Love You Jennifer B, the duo show their beating heart, without sacriﬁcing the chaos or creativity.Vocalist Georgia Ellery stuffs her lyrics with bizarre images and in-jokes. Like her other band, Black Country, New Road, it’s sometimes hard to hear the honesty. That obfuscation is part of the appeal. Ellery and bandmate Taylor Skye allow their songs to develop based on instinct. The frequent curveballs have a dizzying effect. Now, there’s more space for the emotions to grip you. Take Angst, a harp-backed story about giving birth to your anxieties on a bathroom ﬂoor, where Ellery captures the intensity and dissociation of a panic attack. There’s also What’s It All About?, a lovesick ballad about waiting for physical affection. It features a theatrical vocal performance, and grand production that plays like a futuristic take on Harry Nilsson. Throughout, the poetry remains slinky and ambitious to match the music.

Album of the Month Jockstrap — I Love You Jennifer B Glasgow, Concrete Water, Cutie Vis

— 57 — THE SKINNY MonththeofAlbum —2022September Review

Sampa the Great As Above, So Below RRRRr “it’s a force” Read more online: theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums Two Door Cinema Club Keep On Smiling RRRrr “isn’t a changer”game Pixies Do erel RRRRr “plenty of grit” Released 9 September by Rough Trade, rrrrr Listen to:

Blending RRRRR “angry euphoric”and

Listen to: Tu sais ce qu’il me faut, Looking for love Santigold Spirituals Little Jerk Records, 9 Sep rrrrr

Listen to: After All, S.D.O.S, Ain’t It Easy Rina Sawayama Hold the Girl Dirty Hit, 16 Sep rrrrr Listen to: This Hell, Frankenstein, Holy

Alex G God Save the Animals Domino, 23 Sep rrrrr

God Save the Animals, perhaps it isn’t Bobby, Mary, Sarah or even Sandy this is about, but Alex. Who cares – the fun is not knowing. [Tony Inglis]

— 58 — THE SKINNY —2022September AlbumsReview

Following a four-year musical hiatus, Santigold is back and ready to shake things up. Spirituals sees the artist take a sharp left turn into themes of darkness and mysticism, spirituality and new horizons. The title takes its name from Black spirituals, songs that merge African cultural heritage with extreme hardships faced by Black American communities. The darkness of themes and aesthetics contrasted with Santigold’s bouncing, fresh delivery alludes to this sense of perseverance and boundless ness, amid often crushing despair and unknowns. The cavernous, echoing eeriness of track Witness melds into the jazz-infused melodies of track Shake. ‘You’ve got to keep on moving,’ her voice dances across the track. Elsewhere, Santigold channels the mystic figure of the High Priestess as she bitingly asks of us: ‘Hey pretty / Oh you really want my thunder?’ Her mastery in interweav ing a range of genres is evident throughout, as influences from rap to soul to punk converge effortlessly, helped by collaborations from contributors ranging from Rostam to Boys Noize. Sweetly haunting, melodic and defiant, Santigold has created the perfect album to guide listeners from hazy summer nights into the cold light of new days ahead. [Anita Bhadani] Rina Sawayama’s first studio album, SAWAYAMA, defined one of her strengths as parodying and reinvigor ating genres like Y2K pop and nu-met al. Now, her second album, Hold the Girl, cements Sawayama as a one-ofa-kind talent, perfecting the art of expressing familiar tragedies in a fresh, hopeful, and magnificently powerful way. It’s the sort of music that’s perfect for screaming along with in your car – the album is rich, diverse, and emotionally ambitious, exploring more country, disco and psychedelic notes than its Standoutpredecessor.tracksinclude Hold the Girl, along with Minor Feelings, which opens the album with a heart felt, almost gospel-esque meditation on traumas that follow us into adult hood. Sawayama’s unique point of view is developed further in Your Age, an equal-parts trippy and poignant symphony of non-Eurocentric sounds. Send My Love to John is particularly memorable in the way it highlights fractured relationships between parents and their queer children. The album loses some of its momentum through the last few songs, foregoing the weighty power of Minor Feelings for something more airy and nebu lous. In many ways, this album feels like a love letter to Sawayama’s younger self. It feels like a promise that joy is coming. [Rho Chung]

On his magnum opus, Alex Giannascoli takes religious language and grasps for a faith in someone to do something, whether it’s ‘God’ or just someone to look up to. It’s his most sonically consistent record, with beautiful textural piano underly ing almost every song. And yet, Giannascoli is determinedly genre agnostic. You could say he dabbles in mumblecore, nu-metal, hyperpop – but the truth is he does all and none at the same time, and still turns the darkness into light on the turn of a devastating key change. There’s a digital cursedness that corrodes almost everything, even on the more conventional pieces. Giannascoli has been a ventriloquist dummy for characters that range from downtrodden to marginalised, employing vocal manipulation to the point it’s hard to determine if he’s the one singing at all. It can be genuinely subversive, sometimes queering archetypal narratives, or generally creating a porous line between reality and ﬁction. Or it can sound like a super villainOndisintegrating.

Redcar Redcar les adorables étoiles Because Music, 23 Sep rrrrr

Listen to: My Horror, Shake

Where Chris was a dreamy flourish of lo-fi nostalgia, Redcar les adorables étoiles entrenches itself in a percus sive 80s sublime. Redcar, the hyper masculine persona of Christine and the Queens, is born and brings the ethereal vocals that allowed Chris to transport listeners to narratives of queerness and heartbreak – but a heavier, deeper sound gives flâneur Redcar his mature lustre. The album opens with the bon vivant’s luscious voice on Ma bien aimée bye bye, echoing around and around in cycles, bidding goodbye to his beloved – and introducing us to the bassy, glamorous compositions of his mind. By second track Tu sais ce qu’il me faut, his seductive perfor mance is accompanied by a hard-hit ting drumbeat that reveals the 80s splendour that powers the album. Les étoiles opens with a misty, ritualistic synth, and the crooning producer pleads in Looking for love through its pounding, high-energy tempo. Exploring retro music as inspiration can sometimes anchor acts to a sound, but in addition to the overarching transformation into this suave stranger, this artist’s ability to reinvent the album’s genre – hiphop, R’n’B, synthpop – with each track makes Redcar’s debut transformative and enticing. [Lewis Robertson]

Celebrated New Zealand indie crew

The Beths return to bring us their third album Expert In a Dying Field – 12 tender nu ets of aching, scuzzy power-pop reflecting the spectrum of gut-wrenching feelings felt when love, well, dies. The album’s title track cleverly condenses these collected sentiments to define its core theme (of learning how to live and let go) in a singularly beautiful line: ‘Love is learned over time / ‘til you’re an expert in a dying field’. As lead singer and lyricist Elizabeth Stokes negotiates the uneasy terrain of a post-love land scape, the band unite to channel this pain and confusion into righteous guitar pop, shot deep with gorgeous group harmonies, plentiful hooks and more sweet licks than a cow with a lollipop. This is perhaps best exem plified by joyous album mid-point and future live highlight Head In the Clouds. The album’s tendency towards soft and sugary can some times grate a little, especially when the band sound so vital and exciting when they amp up the dirt and energy (Silence is Golden; I Told You That I Was OverallAfraid).though, this is a solid collection of bittersweet pop gems for anyone with half a heart. [Ryan Drever]

Cool It Down continues the musically omnivorous style that Yeah Yeah Yeahs quickly developed after their instant-classic garage debut, 2003’s Fever to Tell, but feels a little slight at barely 30 minutes. Karen O remains the most obviously atten tion-grabbing aspect of the band, but her vocals feel a little subdued here. This helps to shift the focus onto the arrangements, like the winding guitars and static beat of Blacktop or the rubbery ESG homage of Fleez, a song which is NYC paying tribute to NYC almost to the point of parody. Different Today is a cut-andpaste orchestral-disco party in the vein of The Avalanches, with vocals that are surprisingly languid com pared to O’s usual fierceness, but it fits with the general theme of the album: the world is fucked but at least we can party. Spitting Off the Edge of the World emphasises this from the get-go, giving a weary farewell to the Earth, but in a punky way with gorgeous counterpoint vocals from Perfume Genius. Cool It Down is topical without getting too deep, and fun without overstaying its welcome, but even for a band as mercurial as YYYs, it feels a little too ephemeral. [Lewis Wade] The Comet Is Coming are back with their third full-length album, the aptly titled Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam. Picking up where they left off in 2019, Hyper-Dimensional... is bass-laden and synthesised, with shimmering inverted pedals that set the stage for extraterrestrial adven tures in jazz. What’s new for 2022 is the distinct infusion of noughties dance beats – some tracks have lines that wouldn’t sound out of place at a dubstep night. In some ways it’s a natural step – the chromatic move ments of that era of dance music are straight out of the jazz scale book after all. Hyper-Dimensional... marks Comet’s first outing without a featured spoken word artist, which makes sense given the move to wards a dance-focused sound. To make way for this emerging sound, there are more moments where the album feels driven by synths rather than drums. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trio shine most brightly when this is reversed; the incessant drumming on the closer MYSTIK charges the entire track with the feeling of take-off. Increased electronic sound is no bad thing, but we want to hear it used in the original and unexpected way we’ve by now come to expect from the band. [Laurie Presswood]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cool It Down Secretly Canadian, 30 Sep rrrrr

Listen to: Different Today, Spitting Off the Edge of the World

The Comet Is Coming Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam Impulse! Records, 23 Sep rrrrr

Listen to: CODE, FREQUENCY OF EXPANSION, MYSTIK Shygirl Nymph Because Music, 30 Sep rrrrr

The Beths Expert In a Dying Field Carpark Records, 16 Sep rrrrr

The wait for the release of Shygirl’s debut album Nymph has been agonis ing. The London-based rapper has been consistently releasing devastatingly electric singles since 2016, yet Nymph is her most ambitious release to date. A cluster of experimental tracks centred around an inner self-reflection makes for an intricately detailed project, flushed with tantalising tales. Shygirl was clearly careful when picking Nymph’s collaborators. With producers including Mura Masa, Sega Bodega, Arca, Karma Kid, Cosha, Noah Goldstein, BloodPop and Vegyn, the sound of Nymph is remarkable. Each collaborator’s individual sound is heard. On Come For Me, Arca produc es a deconstructed enchantress caused by distorted dance sounds. Whereas on Heaven the combination of Mura Masa and Sega Bodega leads to a delightfully sweet, almost tradi tional hyperpop track. Yet, Shygirl’s vocals narrate Nymph, leading with her tales of sexual desires and attraction. To properly deconstruct the originality of Nymph would mean writing an entire book. Shygirl has created a project that screams for attention. It slithers through a jungle of sound. Tracks reminiscent of a shattered lullaby, or a disjointed reflection on a past relationship. Shygirl has basically created an entire genre all her own. [Abbie Aitken]

— 59 — THE SKINNY —2022September AlbumsReview

Listen to: Come For Me, Poison, Shlut

FEELING

Listen to: Expert In a Dying Field, Head In the Clouds, Silence Is Golden

KicksPhoto:LauraMeekPhoto:PaulMavorPhotography

Taking inspiration from the relationship between concern and control, lyrics are for the most part obscure, leaving inter pretations open for the listener. Musically, it’s easy to throw comparisons around like Sylvan Esso or Purity Ring, but Slim Wrist deﬁnitely have an identity all their own, by way of Brian Pokora’s dynamic and playful pro duction and Fern Morris’s pristine yet mournful, oftentimes otherworldly vocals. Closer for Comforting is a beautifully balanced record, a satisfying concoction of abstract lyricism and jittery, punchy, teasedout beats; with space just as impor tant a factor on the record as the music itself, Slim Wrist sound conﬁdent and rejuvenated.

Scottish composer Scott Twynholm’s beautiful and affecting soundtrack for Martyn Robertson’s Ride the Wave documentary about a 14-year-old Scottish surﬁng champion arrives on 9 September via De-Fence Records, effortlessly bringing together the worlds of folk and ambient electronica, combining them together with a contemporary classical twist. There’s experimental music from UK-based Turkish com poser Elif Yalvaç who together with Edinburgh’s Andrew Ostler release Green Drift on 23 September via Ostler’s own Expert Sleepers label. Meanwhile, hip-hop fans will want to seek out The Iceberg Theory, the new collaborative and old school/retrotinged album from Scottish producer Vagrant Real Estate and one-of-akind rapper CLBRKS A trio of Glasgow EPs are due this month too: Rudi Zygadlo’s Chatanooga (2 Sep), The Blush Club’s Ornamental Ponds (16 Sep) and Pizza Crunch’s That Serene Age (30 Sep), while Paradise Palms Records put out Aberdeen producer T_A_M’s latest EP, Yngwie Sleep Demon (2 Sep). In terms of singles, North Berwick’s Midnight Ambulance release Stained Cotton (2 Sep), Glasgow soul singer kitti releases Downlow (16 Sep) and Siobhan Wilson releases a gorgeous string-laden cover of Kylie’s 1989 banger Hand On Your Heart (2 Sep), part of a MacMillan Cancer Care all-Kylie covers compilation put together by God Is in the TV. celebrate new Scottish releases from Slim Wrist, The Little Kicks, Nina Nesbitt, Vagrant Real Estate and Tallah Brash Now Wrist Little

Music

As is becoming custom, we start our monthly new Scottish music column by taking a quick look back at some of the releases we missed last month. Edinburgh rapper Tzusan released brand new album WSPSNSYRP while U.S Useless (a new pairing of Eyes of Others and Pete McMinn from Hi & Saberhagen) released their debut album Trust, Loss, Forever. There were also several top-notch new singles last month; Glasgow supergroup Former Champ’s Grenade, Conscious Route’s Essence (ft. Jennifer Anne Todd), Low Light Listening Lounge’s honest g / Party Ragz, Lloyd’s House's Heather and Cloth’s gorgeous Low Sun to name a few.

This month we

more Words:

— 60 — THE SKINNY –2022September Review MusicLocal

This month, we’re particularly excited for the debut album from Edinburgh alt-electronic-pop duo Slim Wrist (fka Super Inuit). Alongside a name change, the pandemic has offered the pair the time and space to really hone their craft, and their debut album Closer for Comforting, due on 9 September, is a true testament to that; it’s packed with glitchy vocals, squelchy beats, perfect drops and just the right amount of space to let everything breathe and be felt.

This month also sees the return of Aberdeen’s The Little Kicks, who are set to release their fifth album, People Need Love, on 30 September. Their first album in over five years, a lot has changed for the band since 2017. Frontman Steven Milne ex plains: “I became a father, then quickly after I lost my Dad which knocked me off [my] compass for a while.” Fortunately it wasn’t long before Milne was back at his piano writing again, opening himself up to vulnerability in the hopes it will encourage others to do the same. With production expertise and direction from Chem19’s Paul Savage, and additional brass flourishes and sweeping strings from the Cairn String Quartet, People Need Love is the fullest sounding record yet from The Little Kicks. Arcing beautifully through a midsection run of the sway-worthy On and On into the disco-fuelled instrumental On and On and On, juxtaposing with the stripped-back sombre nature of Communicate, People Need Love manages to encapsulate the natural highs and lows of life. While the start of last summer brought us the hilarious Scot Girl Summer, the musical, the end of this summer brings us the third album from Edinburgh singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, fresh from supporting Coldplay at Hampden at the end of August. Recorded over a number of sessions between Sweden and via Zoom from her mum’s house, Älskar explores themes of love, family and changing perceptions. Due on 2 September via Cooking Vinyl, the record leans heavily in favour of heartfelt ballads, but the true charm of Nesbitt is found in the more upbeat numbers, where her sense of humour gets to shine. ‘Lately I’ve been a little sad bitch / I guess it’s something that just happens’ she sings on No Time (For My Life to Suck) before concluding: ‘So, if they kill my vibe / Then I cut them out my life’. While the upbeat moments are definitely the standouts here, there’s a mature sincerity present across Älskar which is hard to deny, and it’s refreshing that Nesbitt is unafraid to say what she really thinks.

Slim

The

— 61 — THE SKINNY FeatureAdvertising 2022September

Performing across four nights at Eden Court, Inverness (23 Feb), The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (24 Feb), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (25 Feb) and Perth Concert Hall (26 Feb), Cécile tells us of her excitement: “This concert series will be a spe cial joining of forces, with my original songs being arranged in this way for the rst time. It has always been a dream of mine to sing them with a jazz orchestra and I’m very excited to hear them in this context.”

As the summer days start to dwindle, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra ( SNJO) is giving us something to look forward to with the launch of their gorgeous 2022/23 programme, celebrating some of the genre’s past greats as well as some rising stars. What’s more, they’re making their forthcoming season accessible to all by way of their amazing concession rates, with those under 30 eligible for £10 tickets, under 25s eligible for £5 tickets and under 16s eligible for free tickets.

ClarkDerekPhoto:

It’s an exciting time for jazz in Scotland, with exceptional talent everywhere we look, from 2022 Mercury Prize-nominated jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie to producer and label boss Rebecca Vasmant via singer-songwriter Georgia Cécile, all soon to surely become household names. It should come as no surprise, then, that the SNJO too features some of the country’s greatest players. Founded in 1995 by multi-award winning Edinburgh saxophonist Tommy Smith, the SNJO Director is joined in the orchestra by the likes of up-and-coming trombonists Anoushka Nanguy (Glitch41, Noushy 4tet), winner of the Rising Star award at the 2020 Scottish Jazz Awards and Liam Shortall (corto.alto, Tom McGuire & The Brassholes, Glitch41), winner of the Scottish New Innovation in Jazz award at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music. G iven the ongoing nature of the pandemic, the SNJO’s 2022/23 season will focus primarily on UK artists and will kick o this September with three special performances of Where Rivers Meet, an album released by the SNJO earlier this year celebrating the music of four of America’s most revered saxophon ists: Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton and Dewey Redman. The performances will take place at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (29 Sep), Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen (30 Sep) and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (1 Oct), with Smith joined each evening by fellow sax players Konrad Wiszniewski, Martin Kershaw and Adam Jackson. “These are new arrangements by long-time associates of the orchestra, Geo Keezer, Paul Harrison, Paul Towndrow and myself,” Smith tells us. “Familiar themes include the ballad The Very Thought of You, the spiritual Goin’ Home, which informed Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and even When the Saints Go Marching In. We have a ball playing The Saints and hope the audiences will enjoy it as much as we do.” L ater in the year, another of America’s greats, jazz pianist Duke Ellington will be celebrated with In the Spirit of Duke, taking place at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (1 Dec), Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews (2 Dec) and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (3 Dec). Featuring music from the SNJO’s internationally acclaimed 2012 recording of the same name, the SNJO promise a truly authentic experience as they vow to transport you back in time. “It is important to bring audiences as close to the Ellington orchestra sound and experience as possible as many people never saw him play live,” Smith says, “which means meticulous attention to every last detail, including recreating the Ellington stage set-up, the choreography, limiting the sound to a more acoustic quality, using specially sourced period mutes and playing scores that, in some cases, were specially transcribed from Ellington performances.”

The

Completing the SNJO’s 2022/23 season is a series featuring newly commis sioned music from Gwilym Simcock, taking place at The Queen’s Hall, Edin burgh (27 Apr), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (28 Apr), Gardyne Theatre, Dundee (29) and Music Hall, Aberdeen (30 Apr, aka International Jazz Day). Hailing from Bangor in North Wales, the jazz pianist and composer won the Rising Star award at both the BBC Jazz Awards and British Jazz Awards in 2005, later going on to receive a Mercury Prize nomination for his 2011 album Good Days at Schloss Elmau. “When I heard Gwilym live playing a solo piano concert, I was trans xed by his sheer genius and loved every minute,” Smith says.

“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to write for such a brilliant, world-fa mous ensemble,” Simcock tells us. “As a composer, you want your music realised to the highest level, so I’m extremely excited to create this programme of music, especially for the SNJO.”

Interview: Tallah Brash Spirit Jazz

In the new year, the season is set to celebrate talent that’s closer to home, with music from Georgia Cécile, winner of Best Album at the 2021 Scottish Jazz Awards. While this won’t be the rst time the Glaswegian has performed with the orchestra (she guested with them in December 2021), this tour will be the SNJO’s rst full collaboration with her. “I found the experience so powerful and uplifting,” says Smith of that December performance, “that I decided to commission a full concert of new music from Georgia and Euan Stevenson, her co-composer and arranger.”

ClarkDerekPhoto:

Find out more about the SNJO’s 2022/23 season at snjo.co.uk

We speak with Tommy Smith, Founder and Director of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, to ﬁnd out more about their forthcoming 2022/23 season

— 62 — THE SKINNY 2022September

Despite the often-appetising, more often-alarming noises emanating from these experiments, Flux Gourmet feels some what stalled. Strickland cleverly manipulates expectation and perception of sound, appetite, and the way human bodies find pleasure and survival in the world. Indeed, the subjects of this film – more so than those of his previous outings – seem unteth ered by day-to-day concerns such as employment and money. The stakes are merely art for art’s sake (as the gastrically suffer ing journalist soon discovers); as fascinating as these clashes of ethos and egos are, the overall atmosphere becomes staid. Flux Gourmet does not quite reach the tortured high farce of The Duke of Burgundy or the schlocky madness of In Fabric. However, its stylistic confidence and continuity mark Strickland as an assured and singular artist. Flux Gourmet sardonically explores decadence in an age of scarcity, though it feels all too easy to leave its questions behind as each squelching, seeping performance ends. [Carmen Paddock]

— 63 — THE SKINNY MonththeofFilm —2022September Review Director: Peter Strickland Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gwendoline Christie, Ariane Labed, Fatma Mohamed, Makis RichardPapadimitriou,Bremmer,Leo Bill RRR RR Released 30 September by Curzon Certificate 15 theskinny.co.uk/film

GFT host a preview screening of Flux Gourmet on 17 Sep followed by a Q&A with Peter Strickland

Film of the Month — Flux Gourmet

Much of the ﬁlm unfolds through performance art exercises (conducted by Elle, Billy, and third member Lamina). In a different ﬁlm, these might be lampooning drama school exercises. Here, their bizarre extremity and the crisp, colourful backgrounds against which Strickland frames them pique the interest, veering away from all but the most tongue-in-cheek self-indulgence. It is clear that, like the sonic catering trio, cast and creative team are equally committed to this strange alternate world.

Over the course of his last four features – Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy, In Fabric and now 2022’s Flux Gourmet – writer and director Peter Strickland has established himself as an auteur of the arch and uncanny. The latter three films in particular seem to sit some what out of place and time, with any markers of modernity serving to further obfuscate the setting rather than anchor its era (and in Flux Gourmet’s case, its location). They could all be from the same slightly off-kilter universe, and Strickland dives deeper into the nasty and arcane in his most recent feature. Unfolding on a secluded estate whose inhabitants are devoted to the myriad sensory possibilities of food, Flux Gourmet is explored through the point of view of an outsider to this collective: a journalist sceptical of the experience and paralysed by the threat of extreme flatulence. This ‘sonic catering’ – based on Strickland’s own similar band from the 1990s – creates sounds (and to a lesser extent, the feels, smells, and images) through food, evoking taste without ever directly calling on that sense. Delicious? Strangely so. Strickland regular Fatma Mohamed moves to the centre of the drama as Elle di Elle, the leader of this strange performance art trio whose belief in herself and her artistic vision is all-en compassing and uncompromising. This inflexibility often puts her at odds with Jan Stevens, the boldly attired grand dame of the Sonic Catering Institute. Mohamed’s impetuous energy clashes against Gwendoline Christie’s imperious resolve. Their differences are many and captivating, but there seems to be little said about the nature of art, exploration, excess and human appetites beyond the superficial. A subplot where Jan romances Elle’s colleague Billy (an unkempt acolyte played by Asa Butterfield) enriches these three character studies, bring ing a touch of the human to the absurd and pretentious.

Scotland on Screen: Take One Action

“All this connec tion-making meant we were eager to tie these strands together with a ﬁlm that could provide a framework for under standing our embed dedness on this planet together with human and non-human others – something that we think the delightful The Mushroom Speaks [a doc exploring what mushrooms can teach us about being in the world] does beautifully.”

We feel like we write this every 12 months but: Take One Action, Scotland’s ﬁlm festival dedicated to positive social change, feels more important than ever. The festival will be looking a bit different in its 15th edi tion, however. “We’re lucky to have been steered by two brilliant directors since the festival’s inception in 2008,” says TOA programmer Xuanlin Tham. “Both Simon Bateson and Tamara Van Strijthem have been instrumental in carving out space for connection and change-making through cinema in Scotland.

“Our core programme is accompanied by unique events in each city,” says Tham, “which unfurl from the ﬁlms to draw vibrant connec tions beyond the cinema – between urban mushroom farming and spoken word performance, experiential art and anti-raids networks, walking groups and powerful conversations that stay with you long after the lights go up.”

— 64 — THE SKINNY —2022September ScreenonScotlandReview

While the programme is smaller, the ways in which audiences can engage with it are more varied than ever. The festival is once again collaborating with Edinburgh’s brilliant Lighthouse Bookshop, who’ve curated a book list inspired by TOA’s multifaceted interroga tion of ‘land’. The festival has also commissioned a new audio documentary on land, history, and futurity by artist Tanatsei Gambura, and there’ll be a collection of new ﬁlm writing reﬂecting on this year’s festival, which is the result of a series of workshops helmed by gal-dem and Extra Teeth’s Katie Goh.

The medium of ﬁlm carves out both space and time for us to do the necessary, urgent, and hopeful work of imagin ing that world together.”

One of the starting points was looking back at the shameful legacy of the government’s ‘Hostile Environment’ policy, intro duced by Theresa May while she was Home Secretary. “We wanted our programme to acknowledge the ten-year anniversary of the Hostile Environment through [Sonita Gale’s new feature documen tary] Hostile,” explains Tham. “We then realised that Hostile’s interrogation of nation and borders in the UK could be echoed by Foragers, a film exploring settler colonialism in historical Palestine. In turn, this focus on land as physical material given definition by legal and economic forces provided a way in to under standing the systems of marginalisa tion that make land defence in the Philippines so lethal, something chillingly captured in Delikado Take One Action, Scotland’s festival for social change, is back for its 15th edition. The festival is more compact this year but it’s as radical and hopeful for our future as ever. We caught up with festival programmer Xuanlin Tham to find out more

Because of the smaller team, the festival will be more compact this year, and will take the form of four weekenders of screenings, workshops and talks taking place in Edinburgh (16-18 Sep), Glasgow (23-25 Sep), Aberdeen (21-23 Oct), and Inverness (28-30 Oct) – with screeningsadditionalonline.

Various venues, Edinburgh (16-18 Sep); Glasgow (23-25 Sep); Aberdeen (21-23 Oct); and Inverness (28-30 Oct) Jamie Dunn

What does TOA hope its audience will take away from this year’s edition? “That we all need you,” says Tham. “That in whatever way, shape, or form your heart calls for you to join us in solidarity, that we must all meet each other there. We hope that you leave our festival with a spark of feeling, no matter how small or profound, that goes on to ignite possibilities for connection, transformation, and togetherness long after we meet. We can’t wait to welcome you, learn from you, and start imagining that new world.”

As well as touring to different cities, TOA will also be taking to the road more literally, with the aforementioned Foragers screening in Tiree and Lochgilphead on Screen Machine, the Highlands’ amazing cinema on wheels. “All in all,” says Tham, “we’re eager to nourish the idea of cinema being one node in a network of artists, world-makers, community spaces, and ways of engaging with the world around us – and are hoping to collabora tively explore how we can develop Take One Action’s presence year-round, not just during festival dates.”

After Tamara moved on to new adventures following our 2021 festivals, 2022 became a year of transition for us, as we’re undergoing organisational changes that have shifted the way we’re able to deliver our festival.”

With a smaller programme, Take One Action has for the ﬁrst time been able to coalesce around a single theme: ‘the land beneath our feet’. It’s proven to be a subject rich with stories, with land being explored as material, as a concept, as power structures and as the ground that physically connects us all to a shared existence. Tham explains how they joined these dots.

The Mushroom Speaks Delikado

ForagersHostile

We’re living through increasingly turbulent times. Sometimes film, and art in general, can feel inadequate in the fight against the huge injustices of the modern world, but Tham and the TOA team still clearly believe in the transformative power of cinema. “Cinema is a space to see and be seen,” says Tham, “and to recognise that we’re always here, alongside each other – ready to bear witness, to connect, to ask what it takes to fight for each other in bringing a more joyous world into being.

Interview:

The Score Director: Malachi Smyth Starring: Will Poulter, Johnny Flynn, Naomi Ackie, Lydia Wilson rrrrr “There is no special,” says Gloria, leaning against the dimly lit counter. “What you see is what you get.” She’s not wrong. This unconventional musical puts aside the usual glamour for a subdued sweetness. The love-story-wrapped-up-inheist follows Mike (Johnny Flynn) and Troy (Will Poulter) awaiting an un known criminal deal at some roadside cafe where, over one surprisingly long day, Troy falls for waitress Gloria (Naomi Ackie). Through the characters’ seemingly less-than-innocent circum stances, it questions what it means to feel stuck and worthless and what, or who, it takes to change that feeling.

Crimes of the Future Director: David Cronenberg Starring: Vi o Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart rrrrr “Surgery is the new sex,” a mousyvoiced Kristen Stewart whispers in David Cronenberg’s eerie Crimes of the Future. It’s a fitting thesis for the film itself, a story that treats the human body like a bloody, mangled canvas. In this world, humanity no longer feels pain and amateur surgeons carving people out with a scalpel is the new pastime. Saul Tenser (Mortensen) takes the evolu tion of our species to its furthest extremes, seemingly manifesting new organs in his body. With his partner Caprice (Seydoux), they extract his ‘neo-organs’ as performance art. Crimes of the Future’s story ultimately goes nowhere, though it certainly makes for a fascinating world-building exercise. Cronenberg mixes new and old technology, as film cameras flash away to capture

— 65 — THE SKINNY —2022September FilmReview

[Fernando García] Released 23 Sep by New Wave; certiﬁcate 12A

Director: Hong Sang-soo Starring: Lee Hye-young, Cho Yun-hee, Kwon Hae-hyo rrrrr Hong Sang-soo’s films are a universe unto themselves. The Korean filmmak er has spent two decades polishing a very personal style that’s deceptively simple on the surface but rich and nuanced, featuring deep reflections on life and – often – cinema itself.

The ScoreIn Front of Your Face Crimes of the FutureAfter Yang

The ﬁlm manages to spend the majority of its 90 minutes runtime in this grim cafe – off-white mugs, too much wood panelling, oppressively low ceilings – without becoming similarly

Film In Front of Your Face

In In Front of Your Face, Hong presents the story of an actress returning to her native Korea to meet a ﬁlm director who wants to collabo rate with her for his next ﬁlm. She has already rejected the offer but is willing to explain her reasons. During her visit, she stays with her sister, whom she hasn’t seen in a long time. As always with Hong, it is the lack of pretension that makes In Front of Your Face a rewarding watch, as well as the director’s ability to slowly reveal information through the most mundane dialogues, where details are not shown but subtly su ested. The results here might be the saddest in Hong’s career, touch ing on topics like illness and death in a way he’s never done before, but without giving up his particular sense of humour and the obligatory drunk en conversations.Hong’svisual style can look almost amateur, but he’s reached a point where he’s realised that all he needs is good actors and a sharp script. He believes in the simplicity of his images and the subtle power of his narrative. In Front of Your Face is a discreet, heartfelt piece of cinema that doesn’t need much means to establish itself as a relevant and intellectually stimulating work.

After Yang Director: Kogonada Starring: Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, Jutin H. Min, Orlagh Cassidy, Ritchie Coster, Sarita Choudhury, Clifton Collins Jr rrrrr After Yang is a rare film – one that’s perfectly titled. Yang, played by a transcendently gentle Justin H. Min, is an android sibling purchased by a couple to help their adopted Chinese daughter, Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja), connect with her heritage. Beyond simply an older brother, Yang is also a custodian of an ancient country’s history, and its path of connection to one young girl. But when he inexplicably malfunc tions, his adoptive family find them selves navigating the gaps he leaves behind – and what it means to live ‘after’ his absence. Jake (an unbearably tender, paternal Colin Farrell) is given access to Yang’s memories, a database of five-second snippets of Yang’s life documenting moments profound and mundane. Literalising the idea that every person is an archive of singu lar, precious experience, Yang’s memories raise more questions than answers: how to reconcile the unknowable fullness of his life with its finitude? How can we live into the future when the past seems to breathe alongside us, and memories of the person we’ve lost are tied to every space we inhabit? An achingly lyrical work of science-fiction, After Yang is also a loving ghost story. Feeling its way through the complex heartbreak and revelation of memory with a beauti fully human touch, it acutely cap tures the way grief and loss swell into temporal collapse – rendering the past, present and future as one, inextricable timeline. [Xuanlin Tham] Release 22 Sep by Sky Movies; certificate tbc stifling, and this is undoubtedly part of its charm. There’s a certain muddiness to it: it is slow, sometimes trudging, almost a little awkward. But it’s quite pleasant, this British summertime feel, the audio-visual equivalent of damp shoes and midges. It’s a musical, yes, but only by definition, not essence. Instead, Flynn’s original music provides a fun yet suitably humble soundtrack to the film. Aside from the jarring opening number, each musical interlude sits right enough, gently nudging the story along. The predictable ending could never have been anything but – there fore it gets away with it. A little disappointing but still charming. There are no revelations, nor any grand musical numbers. There is no special. What we see is what we get; but, here, maybe that’s enough. [Eilidh Akilade]

Released 9 Sep by Republic Films; certiﬁcate 15

Tenser’s surgery in an ‘autopsy unit’ that’s extra-terrestrial in its design. It’s as if machinery itself is a living organism. Set in Athens, the locale further separates the story from any set time and place, and the city’s ancient streets lend a timelessness that converges past and future. Strangely for Cronenberg, the ﬁlm doesn’t feel disgusting enough.

The subpar CGI adds an artificial sheen to the film’s grimy aesthetic and tamps down on its extremities. Body horror can elicit extreme empathy in the viewer by fixating on the characters’ pain endured, but when Cronenberg takes away the power to make us feel pain like the person we’re watching, we become just as numb. Crimes of the Future is body horror at its most transgressive because of how shockingly unsur prising it is. [Iana Murray]

Released 9 Sep by Vertigo; certiﬁcate 18

Three Times Nothing Dir. Nadège Loiseau Lotteries, so we are told, have the power to change lives, and this couldn’t be more true than for Twi y, Captain and Arrow, three homeless men on the streets of France. As this scrappy, mismatched crew attempt to cash a winning lottery ticket, director Nadège Loiseau offers farcical mockery of bureaucratic banks, real estate agencies and citizenship offices. However, comedy soon blends into tragedy as Twi y’s attempts to improve his life are constantly rebuffed by these ridiculous administration systems. Twi y has been on the streets for seven years after separating from his wife, which caused his life to spiral disturbingly fast. He has not seen his kids since then. Here Loiseau follows up her first feature about unconventional motherhood Bun in the Oven – with a tale of the stru les of fatherhood. Sincere and spirited performances from the three leads hold together the film’s themes of family and found family. At the same time, a brass band soundtrack that balances hopefulness and melancholy draws us into their quiet moments of shelter as much as their non sensical bickering and laughter. Loiseau begins to question how a lack of a robust welfare system has failed people like these men time and time again. The rise out of poverty presented here, however, is somewhat wanting, given it hinges on luck and chance encounters. What starts as a satirical commentary on the causes of homelessness, unfortunately, becomes a sentimental tale about friendship that, although endearing, eventually neglects to accurately represent the lives of unhoused people. [Kit Bithell]

In My Small Land, Japanese writer-director Emma Kawawada, who’s making her feature debut, presents a touching and honest exploration of the Kurdish refugee experience in Japan through the lens of a young female protagonist. Drawing from interviews Kawawada conducted in 2018, the film invites viewers to confront notions of borders, identity and place as we witness the emotional and physical consequences of cultural displacement.ArashiLina makes her acting debut as the film’s protagonist Sarya, a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee who grapples with her sense of identity after her father’s asylum application is denied. Having moved to Japan at age five, Sarya has a solid grasp of the Japanese language and customs, and therefore stru les to relate to the sense of social dislocation experienced by the Kurdish community around her. Yet despite growing up in Japan, Sarya is also adrift from her classmates and friends by implicit circumstantial barriers, failing to ‘fit in’ to either of the contexts in which she resides.Exploring themes of family, sacrifice and belonging, this coming-of-age film brings a sense of relation to its subject matter, encouraging us to consider the realities of the refugee experience. There are shades of Hirokazu Kore-eda in Kawawada’s filmmaking style, which is under standable given that she earned her stripes working with that esteemed Japanese director’s production company, BUN-BUKU. Like in Koreeda’s films, scenes that depict moments of every day life are imbued with profound emotional resonance. The heightened drama of the family’s situation, meanwhile, is diffused by familiar moments of the mundane to which the audience can relate. The results are a touching and unique take on the nuances and complexities of human displacement. [Rachel Jones]

Last month InternationalEdinburghFilmFestival

’s mentors shepherded another talented cohort of aspiring ﬁlm writers through the festival’s annual Young Critics Programme. We’ve teamed up with EIFF to showcase some of their reviews

— 66 — THE SKINNY —2022September FilmReview

My Small Land Dir. Emma Kawawada

New VoicesCritical

— 67 — THE SKINNY —2022September ReviewFilm

Black Mambas Dir. Lena Karbe

The most striking shot in Lena Karbe’s documen tary Black Mambas is one of its last. Qolile, a Black Mamba, an all-female anti-poaching unit from South Africa, brings her young son to her workplace: Kruger Park, named in honour of the country’s much-celebrated Boer leader, Paul Kruger. As they walk through the park, a white granite monument towers over them. Qolile’s son attempts to pronounce the statue’s namesake. “Tall Kruger?” “Kool Kruger?” Black Mambas is the debut feature from Lena Karbe. In her previous work, short film Chinese Dream, co-directed with Tristan Coloma, Karbe examined the immigration experi ence of Africans living in Guangzhou. For Black Mambas, while the intersection of class, history and identity are still assessed, Karbe looks inter nally. Following the lives of three women, the film looks into the complex relationship between the Mambas, their management and their community. Black Mambas finds its strength in quiet moments emphasising its empathy towards these women and their neighbourhoods. It works in comparisons and contrasts, highlighting the sinister underbelly where the Mambas are exploit ed and tokenised by management. When this management’s façade of feminist power is shat tered, a more interesting narration rises in its place: one that delves into the disconnection between Kruger Park and the Black community surrounding it where unemployment is overwhelm ingly Paulhigh.Kruger’s impact on South Africa remains palpable. In recent history, the image of Kruger as a national hero has been brought into question by those spotlighting Kruger’s anti-Black actions. In Black Mambas, Karbe prefers to linger on Kruger Park’s landscape – as if the land keeps the score. [Lara Callaghan]

It may not be the most down-to-earth depic tion of domestic violence but French director Mabrouk El Mechri’s Kung Fu Zohra sheds some much-needed light on womxn’s self-defence. From the quick fall from grace in her marriage to the first hit, abusive patterns repeat themselves as Zohra works as a janitor at a gym to get access to punching bags after hours, and to gets her ticket out with the help of her co-worker and martial arts teacher, Chang. At times, El Mechri’s film uses comedy to diverge from the actualities of abusive relation ships, making it difficult to appreciate its good intentions. But one thing remains true: Zohra is not your typical bullied, pubescent boy on the cusp of a kung fu glow-up. She’s a woman who’s been intimidated, disrespected and abused; she uses self-defence for a chance at self-reclamation. [Wessley Edmonds]

A E I O U - A Quick Alphabet of Love Dir. Nicolette Krebitz Nicolette Krebitz’s A E I O U - A Quick Alphabet of Love borrows from a rich history of cinematic love stories told from the perspective of women (if rarely written and directed by them). Set in Germany and France, the film’s light-hearted narrative marries passion with crime – it also doubles as a love letter to the old city of West Berlin where everyone still lives in huge apart ments with tiny furniture. While walking home on an already miserable day, having been objectified, laughed at and then labelled crazy for standing her ground, an ageing actor’s purse is stolen. Yet she soon finds herself in love with the at-large suspect, a much younger man who before long becomes her student and even steals her a new purse to replace the old one. In this unlikeliest of age gap romances, it’s not the borderline kleptomania that’s treated as the taboo subject, but rather the unfettered sexual desire of an olderKrebitzwoman.isoften mentioned in the same breath as German filmmaker Maren Ad, who has a producing credit on the film, and fellow actorsturned-director Maria Schrader. Her previous feature was Wild, a modern fable in which the female protagonist falls for a wolf, and she mines many of the same themes here. On the surface, A E I O U is more grounded in reality, but as the narrative goes on, the suspension of disbelief required for both is of a similar magnitude, with A E I O U’s flights of fancy verging on caper territory. Falling under the EIFF’s Postcards From The Edge strand, Krebitz’s film fits the tagline perfectly, offering up a bold vision to expand horizons of what is deemed acceptable for women to want. [Fran Haymond]

Kung Fu Zohra Dir. Mabrouk El Mechri Coming to grips with the fact that we aren’t fortunate enough to walk down the street without fear or paranoia is part of every girl’s transition to womxnhood, and for some they’re prepared by the sisterhood that surrounds them: a portable activated alarm from mum; a makeshift door lock from an aunt; a neon-pink, transportable tube of pepper spray from your next door neighbour. We’re expected to carry these tools with the power to protect in our pockets, ‘know the signs’, and defend ourselves at all costs. Perhaps we could all beneﬁt from a lesson with Zohra (Sabrina Ouazani) and her kung fu master, Chang (Tien Shue).

For more on EIFF’s Young Critics Programme, head to edﬁlm fest.org.uk/young-critics-2022

MercicourtesyImage:

Local Heroes talk to Donna Wilson as her long-anticipated Knit Shop opens its doors in Dundee this month

Nestled among Dundee’s former jute mills lies the realisation of a long-held dream for Scottish designer Donna Wilson. Her Knit Shop – a micro-factory – has opened its doors and is now producing knitted goods for local designers and international brands. Recent collaborations include a giant family of horses for Hermès’ ﬂagship store in Paris, a Selkie seal mascot for V&A Dundee, a knitted ‘car-cosy’ for Parisian department store Merci, and bespoke knitted jumpers and beanies for Glenmorangie. Wilson is part of the new generation of manufacturers in Scotland who recognise the strength and quality of the design sector, as well as the corresponding opportunity for a nuanced manufacturing base to supply it. Companies like Kalopsia, CAT Digital and Risotto epitomise the conﬁdent, entrepreneur ial side of the design scene catering for an everexpanding community of designers.

From 1 October, you’ll be able to purchase your own special piece of this story in the form of a limited edition jumper that Wilson has designed for V&A Dundee. The cosy crew neck takes its inspiration from a hand-knitted 1920s Fair Isle given to the V&A by Mrs Kirke of Shetland, now on permanent display in the museum’s Scottish Design Galleries. In the traditional Fair Isle knit ting style of two colours per horizontal row, it has a unique pattern representing Dundee’s maritime past and the three historic pillars of industry for which the city was once famed – Jute, Jam and Journalism. Only 50 of each of the two colourways have been produced. Each is knitted from pure new wool and hand-ﬁnished at the Knit Shop.

— 69 — THE SKINNY HeroesLocal –2022September Review

Knit the Future

Interview: Stacey Hunter

Offering a comprehensive consultancy, design and manufacture service, clients can work alongside the Knit Shop’s accom plished in-house design team to develop their own products. With two state-of-the-art Shima Seiki knitting machines on-site, the Knit Shop is equipped to offer sampling and to produce a variety of knitted products at scale. From fully fashioned knitwear, accessories, and homewares – the possibilities afforded by yarn and knit are endless.

micro-factory

“I think the last couple of years have made us all take stock of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. This has allowed me to steer my company to take control of our own production and to ensure that we are investing in the future skills that may otherwise disappear from the Scottish manufacturing landscape,” she explains. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to employ and nurture a new generation of young, dynamic, creative makers in Dundee. My aim is to create a sustainable working practice, which delivers a high quality product that nods to Scotland’s rich textiles history, but consciously moves us into the future.”

“It’s important to me to be able to offer a stepping stone for the next generation of makers who are graduating from university and want to set up their own businesses. I remember how hard it was to ﬁnd someone to make knit samples when I couldn’t commit to the thousands of pieces needed for a minimum order. We are already working with Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design to offer projects and internships to students and graduates, helping them to bridge that often impossible gap from university to the real world.”Asaforerunner of the contemporary craft movement, Wilson has remained true to her principles, using traditional techniques and locally based suppliers wherever possible. The Knit Shop is an important next step for her, allowing her to become even more hands-on with the production process of her own products, while investing in the regeneration of the textile industry in Scotland.

“I’ve ﬁnally achieved a long-time dream of mine, and have established a micro knit factory in Dundee,” Says Wilson. “I’m so proud to be a small part of the regeneration of the long-dwindling Scottish textile industry. The Knit Shop already employs a team of talented local tradespeople, who are not only manufacturing my own products, but also offering these services to other designers and businesses and instilling valuable skills in a new generation of makers.”

Knit Shop has a simple, transparent pricing structure and low minimum order quantity, making it accessible to a wide range of customers, from small, independent designers to architects, artists and big business. Wilson is also developing partner ships with local colleges and universi ties to enable their students to design and manufacture their own textile products, gain practical industry experience and equip them with the skills to start their own business. The concept of Knit Shop stems from Wilson’s desire to encourage the sharing of skills, innovation and investment in the regeneration of the Scottish textile industry.

@localheroesdesign@vadundee@donnawilsonltd@knitshopscotland WIlsonDonnaPhoto: WIlsonDonnaPhoto:WIlsonDonnaPhoto:

Industry of Magic & Light

— 70 — THE SKINNY —2022September BooksReview

White Rabbit Books, 29 Sep

Spaceships Over Glasgow: Mogwai, Mayhem, and Misspent Youth By Stuart Braithwaite rrrrr The best autobiographies should have a clear and recognisable authorial voice. Stuart Braithwaite’s Spaceships Over Glasgow: Mogwai, Mayhem, and Misspent Youth does this beautifully. From the start it’s obvious that this is a natural, and often painfully honest, storyteller. Reading this book is like being in the pub with a friend who has all the best stories. Braithwaite makes for warm and welcome company as he recalls his childhood and early obsessions, and then the often riotous life on and off the road with Mogwai. Throughout he seems truly delighted to be making music. There are, often emotional, bumps in the road, in no small part due to an excessive lifestyle which he takes an often-shamefaced delight in recount ing, but most of the time he revels in being with, and making music with, It’sfriends.thestory of a fan who got to live his dream, but the young boy who pored over liner notes and used fake ID to get into gigs is always present. I’ll admit that it’s a book I was destined to be drawn to – our young lives were very similar – and Spaceships Over Glasgow may not have such a strong effect on others who don’t see similar connections, but I’m willing to bet it will. The memoir is not only for fans of Stuart Braithwaite and Mogwai • it’s for music obsessives everywhere. [Alistair Braidwood]

Book Reviews

By Alycia Pirmohamed rrrrr Much like the substance at the heart of the collection’s title, Alycia Pirmohamed’s Another Way to Split Water is ﬂuid, ﬂowing through settings, explorations, emotions and questions with an ease that lures the reader to dive in without hesitation.

A meditation on how ancestry reforms and transforms throughout generations, the collection is itself an act of creation and recreation, acknowledging change over time: ‘Origins are also small memories / and there is an ethics to remember ing’ … ‘So, I rinse in a bath of cita tions, feeling as human as the rest of them’ … ‘I am doubled. This language doublesFromme.’small town nights of Nights / Flatline, to exploring the two hearts of the Arabic and English language in On My Tongue, and family (‘every poem filled with the shade of you’) through Ode to My Mother’s Hair, the collection reflects on ideas of belonging, faith and more, offering intimate insight and ponderings of bi er questions through the vivid landscapes that lay backdrop. Memory is explored – sometimes with the heft of the past, others with regret – each with a tenderness and winningspeakPirmohamed’scare.achievementsforthemselves,includingtheCBCPoetryPrizeand the acclaimed Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, and each poem is crafted, each word perfectly placed, flowing into one another. Dreamlike, brim ming with ideas, it’s a collection that engulfs you, invites you to read more, to discover new jewels on each read. [Heather McDaid] Polygon, 1 Sep Ti Amo By Hanne Ørstavik, translated by Martin Aitken rrrrr How do we articulate loss? More so, how do we articulate a loss yet to happen? Ti Amo is an anticipatory grief diary brought alive – the protag onist, a woman who has moved to Milan for the love of her life, must contend with the fact that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He is Deathdying. lurks in the everyday –he doesn’t want to know how long there is left, but she does. Less than one year. So begins a documenting of almost mundanity: ‘This morning I put two of the cakes out on the makeshift bird table you’ve cobbled together.’ Life continues, gradually, almost insignificantly, and yet significance finds itself in the innocuous. Rest, eat, travel, continue, day after day. It is deeply intimate and har rowing – words and questions unable to be said but instead carried as a weight internally. In fewer than 100 pages this persists – from the open ing ‘I love you’ to the last, Ti Amo is a complex look at grief, love and loneliness, longing, not veiled within a wider narrative or hidden under layers. The pain sits plainly on the page, challenging readers to either step away or carry this weight with them. It is a novel that confronts some of the hardest realities of our inevitable fate, to lose those close to us, and is tender and heartrending at once. [Heather McDaid] And Other Stories, 6 Sep

Another Way to Split Water

By David Keenan rrrrr For most readers, David Keenan’s novel This Is Memorial Device heralded the arrival of a writer unlike any other. Set in an alternative Airdrie, it was regarded by many as a true cult novel. Five years on, and Keenan returns to Airdrie once again with a prequel, Industry of Magic & Light. As with all his ﬁction, Keenan is as interested in how a story is told as by the story itself. The book is split into two parts, ‘Light’ and ‘Magic’. The former is an inventory of items in a long aban doned caravan, and it’s a truly inspired way of telling multiple stories. Among the debris we get a detective novel, descriptions of the people and places central to Airdrie’s ‘Happenings’, pictures, posters, maps, manuscripts, and much more, all of which have their own story to tell. ‘Magic’ is told through the reading of tarot cards, and transports us from Airdrie to Afghanistan, where the hippy dream is not what it seems to be. When taken as a whole, this is not just concerned with an alterna tive Airdrie, but an alternative 1960s – one where magic and mysti cism could be found anywhere if you just knew where to look. For the uninitiated, Industry of Magic & Light is the perfect introduction to David Keenan, who continues to pave his own inimitable way as a writer. [Alistair Braidwood] White Rabbit Books, 25 Aug

Words:

CHIX, EDINBURGH floors, and a window seat that’s in progress as we arrive. The guy behind the counter talks us through the menu, gives our order to the kitchen, then he’s off to the other end of the room with his measuring tape and a big chunk of wood – this is not a super-flash, highfalutin’ place. That menu is, as you might expect, chicken-heavy. The spicy chicken sandwich (£8.25) is a huge, juicy piece of thigh meat in a crunchy carapace, topped with a spicy mayo and handfuls of pickles and cabbage. It easily passes the blob test (any sandwich like this should always run the risk of dripping all over your T-shirt) and packs a pleasing chilli punch. The chicken tenders (£6.25) are enormous, brilliantly juicy and crunchy, and loaded with savoury notes of white pepper and garlic. They’re fantastic, leaving a certain faux-military lad with a legally-dis tinct list of herbs and spices trailing in theirAwaywake.from the chicken, there are some genuinely lovely surprises. Who’d have thought you’d send us to a fried chicken place and we’d come away raving about the coleslaw? The raw slaw (£2) is a super-fresh mix of cabbage, carrot and radish, excel lently dressed and able to cut through all that poultry goodness from the last paragraph. The Asian slaw (£2) is an absolute banger; red cabbage, coriander, loads of a sesame dressing that we can’t quite put our finger on, superb. The waffle fries (£3.95) are a ludicrously crunchy throwback to our days of trying every formation of potato in the supermarket – these are soft and fluffy where they need to be, salty and chunky everywhere else. Load up on dips (£1.25-£2) like we do, and you’ll soon find yourself swinging around the table like a cross between a Mediaeval lord and a hungry octopus. Take a piece of chicken, stick it in the confit garlic dip; pick up a waffle fry, dip that in the red hot sauce which is fairly spicy, then in the green hot sauce which is *very* spicy. Go back to your chicken, get the blue cheese dip on one side and the ranch on the other to try and work out the difference between them. You’ll be piling things on top of each other and creating one-of-a-kind works of meaty genius before you know it. Chix are one of many new faces at this end of Dalry Road, and the apparently ever-rising and horribly out-of-place Haymarket development means they won’t be the last. Yet what Chix has to offer – a high-quality take on a fast food classic that won’t break the bank but is made with care and precision – means they should fit right in. Once that window seat’s in, it could be just the place to keep tabs on the changing face of the neighbourhood, or to make some daring new advances in the field of dipping. Peter Simpson with

25 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh, EH11 Open2BQdaily, midday till late chixedinburgh.com

EdinburghChixImage: EdinburghChixImage: EdinburghChixImage: Chicken Tenders Burger

bacon Burger

— 71 — THE SKINNY —2022September ReviewFood

ou may be aware of Chix from their year-long residency amid the shiny floors of the St James, as part of the Bonnie + Wild food hall. And if you’re thinking ‘is there a more on-the-nose example of a rapidly gentrifying area than the old fried chicken takeaway closing to be immediately replaced by a fried chicken place that used to be at the St James?’, you wouldn’t be alone. The good news is Chix’s new place is pleasingly homespun and fancy-free, and the food they’ve brought with them to Dalry Road is very, very good. The space itself has an air of lo-fi cool, with graffiti art on the walls, bright furniture against grey Chix arrive in the west of Edinburgh bringing delicious fried chicken, impressive sides and enough dips to float a battleship

THE SKINNY 2022September — 72 —

— 73 — THE SKINNY —2022September Listings Looking for something to do? Well you’re in the right place! Find listings below for the month ahead across Music, Clubs, Theatre, Comedy and Art in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. To ﬁnd out how to submit listings, head to theskinny.co.uk/listings Listings

THE SPYRALS THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Garage rock from the US. PICTISH TRAIL THE RUM SHACK, 19:30–22:00 Psych pop from the Isle of Eigg. GNOSS THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Folk from Glasgow.

THE HOUSE OF LOVE ROOM 2, 19:00–22:00 Alt rock from Scotland.

THE BLUE ARROW, 23:00–22:00 Funk rock from Glasgow. Sat 17 Sep STEVEN PAGE KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Rock from Canada. SUPERORGANISM SWG3, 05:00–22:00 Indie pop from London. CANCER BATS THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Hardcore from Toronto. TRAIL WEST BARROWLANDS, 19:00–22:00 Folk from the Hebrides.

SUNDAY MORNING ELVIS STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Glasgow. DEADLETTER (DOSS + PRESSURE RETREAT) THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Post-punk from England. FREAKENDER THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 14:00–22:00 Eclectic lineup. NICK HARPER THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from England.

Wed 21 Sep COURTING KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Alt indie from Liverpool.

MusicGlasgow Tue 30 Aug MALLRAT KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:30 Pop rock from Australia. RECKLESS LOVE (DAN REED NETWORK) THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:30 Rock from Finland. DEAD MEADOW BROADCAST, 19:00–22:30 Psych rock from Washing ton DC. JOSHUA RAY WALKER THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:30 Country from Texas. Part of Endless Summer.

VOS ROUGH THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 19:30–22:00 Rock ‘n’ roll from Glasgow. JAMES HEWITSONLEONARD (BIG GIRL’S BLOUSE + JACK WAKEMAN AND DREAMSTRIDERSTHE ) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Hartlepool.

Thu 01 Sep SEAN PAUL O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rap from Jamaica. THE ZEBECKS KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Indie rock from the Highlands. BLACKWATERS (PICTURE THE SCENE + NATIONALCONCRETE ) NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY, 19:30–22:00 Indie punk from Guildford. BRONTES SWG3, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Glasgow. THE HOWLERS (THE FËAR + HSVK) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from London. BEN ABRAHAM STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Folk from Australia. SUGAR MOUNTAINCANDY THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Psych from the US. THE SOUTH ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from the UK. FENNELL SHOWCASERECORDS THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 19:30–22:00 Eclectic lineup. GIRLS JUST WANNA: RUBY GAINES THE HUG AND PINT, 19:00–22:00 Soul from Glasgow. Fri 02 Sep SONS OF THE EAST ORAN MOR, 19:00–22:00 Indie folk from Australia.

Mon 19 Sep LAURAN HIBBERD (DAISY BRAIN + VIJI) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Indie rock from Isle of Wight. POLARIS (ALPHA WOLF + GRAVEMIND + STEPSON) THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 18:30–22:00 Metalcore from Australia. ALEX LAHEY BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Alt rock from Australia. SPARE SNARE (RAVELOE + SCOTTISH FAULT LINES) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Lo-fi from Dundee. Tue 20 Sep PORIJ ( PEOPLEJACANA + 1800 GIRLS) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Funk pop from Manchester. SHE WANTS REVENGE BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from California.

Wed 31 Aug LAURA MVULA ORAN MOR, 19:00–22:30 Soul from Birmingham. CHLOE MORIONDO SWG3, 19:00–22:30 Bedroom pop from the US. MACHINE HEAD THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:30 Rock from California. COLA (BLUE BENDY ) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:30 Post-punk from Montreal. THE INTERRUPTERS BARROWLANDS, 19:00–22:30 Ska punk from LA. OCEANATOR THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:30 Indie rock from Brooklyn. Part of Endless Summer.

PHIL SETH CAMPBELL KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Rock from Glasgow. JEREMY LOOPS SWG3, 19:00–22:00 Funk from South Africa. JUPITER STRANGE BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Psych rock from Scotland. Part of Central Belters. THE KAVES STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Alt rock from Glasgow. HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Americana from New Orleans. WILLY MASON (IONA ZAJAC) THE HUG AND PINT, 18:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from the US. WILLY MASON (IONA ZAJAC) THE HUG AND PINT, 20:45–22:00 Singer-songwriter from the US. MCGREGORMARIANNE THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Jazz from Scotland. MAHUKI CADRE THE BLUE ARROW, 22:00–22:00 Jazz from Scotland. ESQUIRE (THE SHAHS + SWANSONG + THE WEE REPROBATES) ROOM 2, 19:00–22:00 Rock from the UK. Sat 03 Sep AGNES OBEL O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Chamber pop from Denmark. JAMIE BUTTON KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Alternative from Glasgow. LLOYD’S HOUSE (JUNK PUPS) MONO, 20:00–22:00 Lo-fi from Glasgow. GLORYHAMMER THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 18:00–22:00 Power metal from the UK. SWISS PORTRAIT (WAVERLEY. + GOSSIPER) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Edinburgh. Part of Central Belters. AILIE ORMSTON (HAN + SPENCEALEXANDRA + YES INDEED) THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Scotland. SWELL MAPS C21 (THE THANES) CCA: CENTRE CONTEMPORARYFORART, 19:30–22:00 Rock from the West Midlands. THE MARSHALSWYNNTOWN THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie pop from Edinburgh. LIGHTS OUT BY NINE (THE ROOTS BAND) THE BLUE ARROW, 19:15–22:00 Soul from Glasgow. Sun 04 Sep WU LU KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Jazz rock from London. GUS DAPPERTON SWG3 19:00–22:00 Dream pop from New York. PSYCH SUNDAY (ROSE CITY BAND) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Psych from the UK. JEMIMA THEWES + TIM LANE THE RUM SHACK, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Scotland. SECTION 25 THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Post-punk from Man chester. Mon 05 Sep THE MAGNETIC FIELDS O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Indie pop from Boston. 100 GECS SWG3 20:00–22:00 Hyperpop from the US. LIME CORDIALE THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Pop rock from Sydney. ALEXANDRA SAVIOR ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Portland. ARCADE FIRE THE OVO HYDRO, 18:30–22:00 Indie rock from Canada. Tue 06 Sep BRIDEAR THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Hard rock from Japan. BRIGHT EYES BARROWLANDS, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from the US. Wed 07 Sep AMBER MARK SWG3 21:00–22:00 R’n’B from the US. THE BROS. LANDRETH ROOM 2 19:00–22:00 Country folk from Canada. Thu 08 Sep DAVE HAUSE & THE MERMAID ORAN MOR, 19:00–22:00 Pop rock from the US. RUDI ZYGADLO KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Pop from Glasgow. MUDHONEY SWG3, 22:00–22:00 Alt rock from the US. NEW PAGANS SWG3, 23:00–22:00 Rock from Belfast. DUCKS LTD. BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Jangle pop from Toronto. BLOOD COMMAND STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Post-harcore from Norway. DICTATOR ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Livingston. MIMAN FT. ALASDAIR ROBERTS THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 19:30–22:00 Folk from Scandinavia. THE GALLOWGAITORS (LEWIS MCGEADY + LORI M + DAVID BURNS) ROOM 2, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Glasgow.

Sun 18 Sep STEVEN PAGE KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Rock from Canada. CARTEL MADRAS SWG3 06:00–22:00 Hip-hop from Calgary. BABII BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Pop from the UK. GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR BARROWLANDS, 19:00–22:00 Post-rock from Montreal. KEVIN DEVINE STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Brooklyn. LUCIUS ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie pop from Brooklyn.

KATY J PEARSON MONO, 20:00–22:00 Indie from Bristol. SCARLXRD QUEEN MARGARET UNION, 19:00–22:00 Trap metal from the UK. BANKS SWG3 07:00–22:00 Alt pop from the US. CLIPPING. SWG3 08:00–22:00 Experimental rap from LA. GENTLE SINNERS ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Scotland. THE OFTEN HERD (THE FOUNTAINEERS + PAPER SPARROWS) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Bluegrass from the US. Thu 22 Sep KEIR GIBSON SWG3, 09:00–22:00 Alt pop from Scotland. EVERGREY CATHOUSE, 18:30–22:00 Metal from Sweden. PENGUIN CAFÉ ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Chamber jazz from the UK.

Fri 09 Sep BRENNAN HEART O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 20:00–22:00 Producer from the Neth erlands. JACK CULLEN KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Ireland. CASSYETTE CATHOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from England. THE GOA EXPRESS THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Psych rock from Yorkshire. HIGH OCTANE THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Neofolk from Bordeaux. Sat 10 Sep LONELY THE BRAVE KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Alt rock from Cambridge. PROFESSOR GREEN SWG3, 00:00–22:00 Rap from the UK. DANCE GAVIN DANCE THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Sacramento. PENNY & SPARROW THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Indie folk from the US. CULT FIGURES (REACTION + QUESTIONABLETHELIFE) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from London. NEON WAVES (KEVIN WOOD) THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS, 19:30–22:00 Indie rock from Glasgow. ANNA ASH (DOGHOUSE ROSES + KATE MCCABE) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie folk from Los Angeles. DAWN COULSHED THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Folk jazz from Scotland. WILLIE DUG & THE COSMIC GENTS ( HUNTERSTRANDOSHAN ) ROOM 2, 19:00–22:00 Rock ‘n’ roll from Scotland. Sun 11 Sep CHARLIE BURG KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Alt pop from the US. BLACK KIDS BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Florida. DAME AREA (JUNTO CLUB + AORTAROTA) THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Industrial from Spain. DELTA SLEEP (THE PHYSICS HOUSE BAND) DRYGATE BREWING CO., 19:00–22:00 Math rock from the UK. THE JAKE LEG JUG BAND THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Jazz from the UK. Mon 12 Sep SOUL GLO KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Hip-hop from Philadelphia. RYAN MCMULLEN SWG3, 01:00–22:00 Indie pop from Northern Ireland. MAGNUM THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Birmingham. PLANET BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Australia. Tue 13 Sep KIM WILDE O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Pop from the UK. BLIND CHANNEL CATHOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Post-hardcore from Finland. BLOOD WIZARD BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Folk pop from Nottingham. THE BROTHERSBROTHER THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie folk from the US. Wed 14 Sep HELICON (THE JANITORS + FILTH SPECTOR) NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY, 19:30–22:00 Psych rock from Glasgow. BUSHROD BROADCAST, 19:30–22:00 Rap from the UK. HOMESHAKE ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Hypnagogic pop from Montreal. Thu 15 Sep AMINÉ O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rap from Portland. RJ THOMPSON KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Pop from England. SUSAN BEAR MONO, 20:00–22:00 Indie from the Isle of Eigg. DECEMBER SWG3, 02:00–22:00 Indie rock from Glasgow. ROSS MCGUIRE BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Glasgow. TRICOT STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Math rock from Japan. HOOVERIII (THE WIFE GUYS OF REDDIT) THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Psych rock from the US. MONO ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Tokyo. KILGOUR THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Glasgow. JAMES BROWN IS ANNIE THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Jazz from Scotland. Fri 16 Sep DR. FEELGOOD KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Pub rock from the UK. CARA MCBRIDE SWG3, 03:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Scotland. JAMES RIGHTON BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from the UK. KRIS BAHA STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Industrial from Melbourne. A1 ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Pop rock from Norway and the UK. ANDREW WASYLYK CCA: CENTRE CONTEMPORARYFORART, 19:00–22:00 Composer from Scotland. THE EFFECTMEISSNER

Fri 23 Sep ROLLERCOASTERSUNSET QUEEN MARGARET UNION, 19:00–22:00 Synth pop from Taiwan. THE COVASETTES SWG3, 10:00–22:00 Indie rock from Man chester. FUTURE COLOURS THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Glasgow. TIBERIUS (MEGALOMATIC) THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 18:30–22:00 Prog metal from Scotland. JUST MUSTARD BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Ireland. ELEPHANT SESSIONS BARROWLANDS, 19:00–22:00 Indie folk from the High lands. EVENTS PROGRAMRESEARCH THE FLYING DUCK, 20:30–23:00 Weirdo/experimental. DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 R’n’B from the US. WYLDEST (RAVELOE + LORI BETH) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Dreampop from London. Sat 24 Sep SLAUGHTER BEACH, DOG MONO, 20:00–22:00 Rock from Philadelphia. SOCCER MOMMY QUEEN MARGARET UNION, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Nashville. CORELLA THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Manchester. LAURA STEVENSON BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from New York. KIKO BUN THE RUM SHACK, 20:00–22:00 Reggae from London. SPIELBERGS THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie rock from Oslo. CARA ROSE THE BLUE ARROW, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Glasgow. BOHEMIAN MONK MACHINE THE BLUE ARROW, 23:00–03:00 Funk from Perth. THE ILLICITS (STANLEYS + MICHAEL GALLAGHER + THE SWAY + MARTYRSSUAVE + THE MALAKITES + THE RUFFS) ROOM 2 15:00–22:00 Rock ‘n’ roll from Black burn. Sun 25 Sep TOM MCCRAE (LOWRI EVANS) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Wales. ART D’ECCO SWG3, 11:00–22:00 Pop from Canada. MR JUKES & BARNEY THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Indie and rap from London. THE DISTRICTFOOTLIGHT BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Glasgow.

Tue 20 Sep PAOLO NUTINI DUCK SLATTERY’S, 20:00–22:00 Folk soul from Scotland.

Thu 22 Sep RHONA MACFARLANE (RORY BUTLER) THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Scotland. Fri 23 Sep LESOIR BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Rock from the Netherlands. RICKY ROSS THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:00–22:00 Pop from Scotland. SKIPPINISH USHER HALL, 19:00–22:00 Trad from Scotland. BILLY SULLIVAN SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Alt-indie from the UK. SKIDS LA BELLE ANGELE, 19:00–22:00 Punk rock from Scotland.

— 74 — THE SKINNY —2022September Listings METHODSMALIGNANT (NOTHIN’ BUT ENEMIES + VENT) THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Hardcore from England. CARA ROSE THE BLUE ARROW, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Glasgow.

Regular Glasgow club nights

Tue 27 Sep NE YO O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 R’n’B from the US. ASHBECK KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Rap from London. HOLY FAWN THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Indie from Arizona. ARIEL POSEN BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Americana from Canada. THE CORONAS ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Dublin. SMOKIN’ AT TIFFANY’S THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Jazz from Scotland. Wed 28 Sep CRAIG FINN & THE CONTROLLERSUPTOWN (SCOTT LAVENE) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Blues rock from Minnesota. PARCELS SWG3, 14:00–22:00 Electro pop from Australia. GEN AND DEGENERATESTHE BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Liverpool. REGRESSIVE LEFT THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Dance punk from Luton.

LA BELLE ANGELE, 18:30–22:00 Eclectic lineup. Sun 25 Sep LAURA STEVENSON (KATIE MALCO) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from New York. Tue 27 Sep IAN BROWN O2 ACADEMY EDINBURGH, 19:00–22:00 Alt rock from England. DON MCLEAN USHER HALL, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from the US. THE LOUNGE SOCIETY (HUMOUR) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie from the UK. FUR THE MASH HOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Psych rock from Brighton.

Wed 21 Sep STARSAILOR THE CAVES, 19:00–22:00 Pop from England. BEN OTTEWELL THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from England.

Fri 02 Sep PLASTIC TEARS (PARADISE ALLEY ) BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Punk rock from Helsinki. THE ACHIEVERS THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:15–22:00 Roots from the UK. THE HOWLERS (BRONTES + DAZED & CONFUSED) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from London. GLORYHAMMER (BROTHERS OF METAL + ARION) LA BELLE ANGELE, 18:00–22:00 Power metal from the UK. Sat 03 Sep NORMAN BLAKE + BERNARD BUTLER + JAMES GRANT THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:00–22:00 British pop supergroup. JOHN RUSH (LUNA J) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Folk from Scotland.

Sun 18 Sep RICHIE RAMONE BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Band from New Jersey. POPPY ACKROYD THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:30–22:00 Neo classical from Brighton. Tue 20 Sep KATY J PEARSON THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Bristol. COURTING SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Alt indie from Liverpool. GENTLE SINNERS SUMMERHALL, 19:30–22:00 Indie from Scotland.

JOCKSTRAP THE MASH HOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Indie from London.

Fri 30 Sep THE ROOKS (THE VOLTS + GALLAGHERBROOKE + BLETHER) KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Indie rock from Larkhall. GRACEY THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from England. THE KAIROS BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Liverpool. JOCKSTRAP STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Indie from London. THE LAST MILE (PARKER) THE FLYING DUCK, 19:00–22:00 Punk from Canada. THE STRANGE BLUE DREAMS ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock ‘n’ roll from Glasgow. SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA THE OVO HYDRO, 18:30–22:00 House from Sweden. FINE MEN WITH FOUL TONGUES THE BLUE ARROW, 19:30–22:00 Folk from Scotland. Sat 01 Oct COMBAT ROCK (DAVE DELINQUET AND THE IOUS) KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Rock from Glasgow. TWISTER (BLACK FIRE RISING) NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY, 19:30–22:00 Rock from the UK. X AMBASSADORS QUEEN MARGARET UNION, 19:00–22:00 Pop from Ithaca. CONFESSIONS OF A TRAITOR THE GARAGE GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rock from London. ALL THEM WITCHES ST LUKE’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Nashville. MUSH (DINOSAUR 94 + WATER MACHINE) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Art rock from Leeds. HENGE ROOM 2 19:00–22:00 Prog rock from the UK. Sun 02 Oct CLAIRO (JONAH YANO) O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Bedroom pop from the US. SURF CURSE SWG3, 16:00–22:00 Surf rock from the US. ASTLES SWG3, 17:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Liverpool. SLOW MAGIC (LAXCITY ) BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Electronica from Texas. THE DEARS (PERFECT SON) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Indie rock from Montreal. Mon 03 Oct DIGGA D O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Rap from London. THE SUMMERDANGEROUS (BEAUTY SCHOOL + THE BRKN) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Rock from Maryland. LEMONHEADS QUEEN MARGARET UNION, 19:00–22:00 Rock from the US. PROJECTOR SWG3 18:00–22:00 Rock from Brighton. MICHELLE WILLIS THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Canada. Tue 04 Oct SNARKY PUPPY O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Jazz funk from New York. SAMUEL JACK KING TUT’S, 20:30–22:00 Blues from the UK. FALSE HEADS (KAMORA + THE MUSICIANS OF BREMEN) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Punk from London. MusicEdinburgh Tue 30 Aug JOLLYROGER (ANCHORSMASHED) BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:30 GRETCHEN PETERS THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:30–22:30 Country from Nashville. COLA SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Post-punk from Montreal. Thu 01 Sep ZOM BANNERMANS, 20:00–22:00 Metal from Ireland. EMBRACE O2 ACADEMY EDINBURGH, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Yorkshire. FOY VANCE THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:00–22:00 Folk rock from Northern Ireland.

Sat 24 Sep SUCKER PRESENTS: ABOLISH GOLF + WAVERLY + DEMO + MONDAYUNSPEAKABLE

SUNDAYS GOLDEN DAYS Weekly house and techno night for losing yourself in the beats. The ShackRum

Fri 30 Sep IAN MCNABB BANNERMANS, 20:00–22:00 Rock from Liverpool.

Mon 26 Sep IAN BROWN O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 19:00–22:00 Alt rock from England. TOM MCCRAE (LOWRI EVANS) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Wales. XAVIER RUDD SWG3, 12:00–22:00 Folk from Australia. BLUE LAB BEATS SWG3, 13:00–22:00 Jazztronica from London. THE LOUNGE SOCIETY BROADCAST, 19:00–22:00 Indie from the UK. MARTIN SMITH STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from England.

SUNDAYS SESH Twister, beer pong and DJ Ciar McKinley on the ones and twos, serving up chart and remixes through the night.

WEDNESDAYS GLITTERED! WEDNESDAYS DJ Garry Garry Garry in G2 with chart remixes, along with beer pong competi tions all night.

Thu 29 Sep THE RIVERSPRESENTSORCHESTRANATIONALSCOTTISHJAZZWHEREMEET THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:30–22:00 Jazz from Scotland. EWAN MCFARLANE THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Pop from Glasgow.

ClubsGlasgow

Thu 01 Sep FOUNDRY044: QUAIL (ANIMAL FARM + SOMA) LA CHEETAH CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Techno and house. Fri 02 Sep GIRLIES R OUT SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Disco and pop. BASS INJECTION THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 Bass. Sat 03 Sep PRESSURE SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Techno and house. STEREO PRESENTS: DJ LAG (OPTIMISTIC SOUL + ELANDA) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Gqom and Afrotech from South Africa and Scotland. Wed 07 Sep INVITES...IT’SNOTRADIOMILKIT LA CHEETAH CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Electro and breaks. Thu 08 Sep KEEP IT ROLLING: SKILLIS (CLIPPA + PHONIK + SPOOK) LA CHEETAH CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Club and bass. Fri 09 Sep INFORMA/DEEPBASS SWG3 23:00–03:00 Techno and house. AIROD SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Techno and house. FAST MUZIK (SURATI + DV60 + JOEY MOUSEPADS + FLUFFIE + DUSTBUNNY ) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Hardcore and hard bass from Glasgow. DJ PACIFIER (UNDERTHUNDER + SUPERSPREADERS (LIVE)) THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 Gabber from Canada.

THURSDAYS ELEMENT Ross MacMillan plays chart, house and anthems with giveaways, bouncy castles and, most impor tantly, air hockey. FRIDAYS FRESH BEAT Dance, chart and remixes in the main hall with Craig Guild, while DJ Nicola Walker keeps things nos talgic in G2 with flashback bangers galore.

SATURDAYS I LOVE GARAGE Garage by name, but not by musical nature. DJ Darren Donnelly carousels through chart, dance and classics, the Desperados bar is filled with funk, G2 keeps things urban and the Attic gets all indie on you.

SATURDAYS (THIRD OF THE MONTH) MOJO WORKIN’ Soul party feat. 60s R&B, motown, northern soul and more! SATURDAYS (SECOND OF THE MONTH) LOOSEN UP Afro, disco and funtimes with three of the best record collections in Glasgow and beyond. Sub Club SATURDAYS SUBCULTURE Long-running house night with residents Harri & Domenic, oft' joined by a carousel of super fresh guests.

Thu 29 Sep BEHEMOTH + ARCH ENEMY O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 17:30–22:00 Metal from Sweden. AARON SMITH (JAMIE RAFFERTY + ROBYN RED) KING TUT’S, 20:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Scotland. MURDO MITCHELL SWG3 15:00–22:00 Rock from Scotland. CAFOLLA STEREO, 19:00–22:00 Composer from Scotland. ASTRID WILLIAMSON (EDWIN WILLIAMSON + DANNY BRADLEY ) THE HUG AND PINT, 19:30–22:00 Pop rock from Shetland.

Cathouse WEDNESDAYS CATHOUSE WEDNESDAYS DJ Jonny soundtracks your Wednesday with all the best pop-punk, rock and Hip-hop. THURSDAYS UNHOLY Cathouse's Thursday night rock, metal and punk mash-up. FRIDAYS CATHOUSE FRIDAYS Screamy, shouty, posthardcore madness to help you shake off a week of stress in true punk style. SATURDAYS CATHOUSE SATURDAYS Or Caturdays, if you will. Two levels of the loudest, maddest music the DJs can muster; metal, rock and alt on floor one, and punky screamo upstairs.

Sat 01 Oct ANVIL BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Metal from Canada. JUSTIFIED SINNERS THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Rock from Scotland. Sun 02 Oct BRODKA O2 ACADEMY EDINBURGH, 18:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Warsaw. Tue 04 Oct CASEY MCQUILLEN THE CAVES, 19:30–22:00 Singer-songwriter from Boston. PUBLIC BROADCASTINGSERVICE USHER HALL, 19:00–22:00 Art rock from London. MusicDundee Fri 02 Sep RED VANILLA (CATS CRADLE + PORTABLE HEADS) BEAT GENERATOR LIVE!, 20:00–22:00 Alt rock from Dundee. Sat 03 Sep BANDAID BRIGADE (SPEEDRUNNER + FRACTAL) CONROY’S BASEMENT, 20:00–22:00 Indie from California. RUVELLAS THE HUNTER S. THOMP SON, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Dundee. Mon 05 Sep MACHINE HEAD DUCK SLATTERY’S, 19:00–22:00 Rock from California. Fri 09 Sep THE CAPOLLOS (THE MEDINAS) THE HUNTER S. THOMP SON, 19:00–22:00 Rock from Aberdeen.

Sun 04 Sep SWELL MAPS C21 (THE THANES) BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Rock from the West Midlands. Mon 05 Sep ROSE CITY BAND SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Psych rock from Portland. Wed 07 Sep REVIVE LIVE: CLT DRP SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Electro punk from Brighton. Thu 08 Sep JESUS JONES BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Alt rock from England. THE MARSHALSWYNNTOWN THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Indie pop from Edinburgh. Fri 09 Sep THE BUNNY THE BEAR (PSYCHO VILLAGE) BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Post-hardcore from New York. GALLUS THE CAVES, 19:00–22:00 Country from Scotland. GHOST SIGNALS (STATIC SATELLITES + FIGURINES) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie goth from the UK. Sat 10 Sep 999 (THE MEDIA WHORES + SHOCK AND AWE) BANNERMANS, 19:00–22:00 DUCKS LTD SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Jangle pop from Toronto. WE WERE JETPACKSPROMISED LA BELLE ANGELE, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Scotland. LOWKEY THE MASH HOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Rap from London. Mon 12 Sep SCHEME, TP (MISTY GALACTIC) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Lo-fi hip-hop from London. Tue 13 Sep CHRIS HELME THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Rock from the UK. REVIVE LIVE: COACH PARTY SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Indie grunge from Isle of Wight. Wed 14 Sep TAE SUP AT THE QUEEN’S (PICTISH TRAIL + HELENA CELLE + JUNIOR BROTHER) THE QUEEN’S HALL, 20:00–22:00 Folk pop from Scotland and Ireland. BLOOD WIZARD SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Folk pop from Nottingham. Thu 15 Sep LESBIAN BED DEATH BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Hardcore from the UK. THE HEAVY NORTH (DOVV + STRANGEJUPITER ) SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Garage blues from Liverpool. TOY DOLLS LA BELLE ANGELE, 19:00–22:00 Punk rock from the UK. Fri 16 Sep GRAND SLAM (SONS OF LIBERTY ) BANNERMANS, 19:30–22:00 Rock from Ireland. DANA GAVANSKI THE VOODOO ROOMS, 19:30–22:00 Folk pop from Canada and Serbia. MOTHER ALMIGHTY SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Neo-soul from Edinburgh. CIAN DUCROT THE MASH HOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Singer-songwriter from France. Sat 17 Sep ALY BAIN + CUNNINGHAMPHIL THE QUEEN’S HALL, 19:30–22:00 Traditional from Scotland. BABII SNEAKY PETE’S, 19:00–22:00 Pop from the UK. THE SUPER MOONS THE MASH HOUSE, 19:00–22:00 Indie rock from Edinburgh.

The DuckFlying

SUNDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) HELLBENT From the fab fierce family that brought you Catty Pride comes Cathouse Rock Club’s new monthly alternative drag show. SUNDAYS (SECOND OF THE MONTH) FLASHBACK Pop party anthems and classic cheese from DJ Nicola Walker. SUNDAYS (THIRD OF THE MONTH) CHEERS FOR THIRD SUNDAY DJ Kelmosh takes you through Mid-Southwest ern emo, rock, new metal, nostalgia and 90s and 00s tunes. SUNDAYS (LAST OF THE MONTH) SLIDE IT IN Classic rock through the ages from DJ Nicola Walker. The GlasgowGarage MONDAYS BARE MONDAYS Lasers, bouncy castles and DJ Gav Somerville spinning out teasers and pleasers. Nice way to kick off the week, no? TUESDAYS #TAG TUESDAYS Indoor hot tubs, inflatables as far as the eye can see and a Twitter feed dedi cated to validating your drunk-eyed existence.

RICHARD MARX THE QUEEN’S HALL, 20:00–22:00 Pop from Chicago.

ArtGlasgow CentreCCA: ArtContemporaryfor ALEXANDRA TOLAND + ASAD RAZA + DÉSIRÉE CORAL: WE ARE COMPOST/ COMPOSTING THE WE 1-10 SEP, TIMES VARY Three separate but entangled works, from film to installation, that examine the cyclical nature of com posting to ask what new kinds of transformation are possible. Glasgow Print Studio WILHELMINA BARNS GRAHAM: PAINTING & PRINTING, 1990-2004 1 SEP-1 OCT, 11:00AM 5:00PM Prints exploring abstract representation from one of Scotland’s most seminal 20th-century artists. GoMA TASTE! 1 SEP-31 DEC, 11:00AM 4:00PM Featuring work by Andy Warhol, Sarah Forrest and David Shrigley, this exhibi tion looks at how taste is created and art archives are curated.

The Briggait RSA WASPS AWARD WINNER EXHIBITION 1-2 SEP, TIMES VARY Featuring works by Lynsey Mackenzie, recipient of the RSA Wasps Award. Edinburgh club nights

Sat 10 Sep PUSH IT STEREO, 23:00–03:00 R’n’B from Glasgow. Tue 13 Sep THE MOVEMENTFRESHERS SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Dance and club. RARE CLUB LA CHEETAH CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Electronica and bass. Wed 14 Sep THE BIG LOCKDOWNFRESHERS SWG3, 22:00–03:00 Dance and club. Thu 15 Sep FRESHERS NEON 90S SWG3, 22:00–03:00 Disco and pop. ACROSS THE BOARD + TROPIX SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Funk and soul. SUBCITY FRESHERSRADIO : MYCELIA (VENUS NETSCAPE + CASEMIX + SERMON + THE LABH) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Footwork, jungle, techno and dancehall from Glasgow. SEROTONE THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Fri 16 Sep BEDROOM TRAXX X CLOSE CONTACT SWG3 23:00–03:00 Dance and club. 12TH ISLE (INNER TOTALITY + GASPARD CASANOVA + DJ ELIOT + 12TH ISLE DJS) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 House and dance. BLUE HAWAII (BOOSTERHOOCH + JF FOX) THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 Electronic from Canada. AWEH: ESA + JOSEY REBELLE SUB CLUB, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Sat 17 Sep BLK. SWG3, 22:30–03:00 Techno and house. FARRAGO SWG3, 23:00–03:00 Techno and house. FUNDAMENTALS (BRANDON LEE VEAR + TRSSX) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Techno and electro from Glasgow and Poland. BASEMENT 108 THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. HORSE MEAT DISCO (OOFT!) THE BERKELEY SUITE, 23:00–03:00 Dance and disco. Wed 21 Sep BOUNCE (OZMOSIS + LOZ + DELL + MONTE) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Bass, baile funk and house from Glasgow. BIRTHDAY BITCH X (LIZZZUR + DJ PEANUT + CAOL) LA CHEETAH CLUB, 23:00–03:00 House and dance. Thu 22 Sep PICKLEHEADS STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Disco, house and rave from Glasgow.

Tue 30 Aug MIDNIGHT BASS THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–05:00 Drum ‘n’ bass. Wed 31 Aug THE FRINGE REGGAE CLUB 2022 LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–05:00 Reggae. Fri 02 Sep BONGO RE OPENING PARTY THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Drum ‘n’ bass, jungle and techno. DILF LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. 603 THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Techno. Sat 03 Sep PALIDRONE (J WAX, DANSA + PROVOST + RUDI) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Bass and techno. MERCADO THE ORIGINAL DJS (TRENDY WENDY + PAUL FINLAYSON + BETTY FORD + GREG MARTIN) LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Funky House SAMEDIA THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Global sounds. FUSION THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Mon 05 Sep PLANT BASS’D (DJ PACIFIER) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Breakcore. Tue 06 Sep TECH TONIC THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Thu 08 Sep GEORGE IV + REFRACTA PRESENT MPH (MPH) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Bassline. Fri 09 Sep REGGAETON PARTYÂ LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Reggae. PRONTO COLLECTIVE THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Afro, disco, italo and house. BLACK LAKE THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Sat 10 Sep HAND MADE WITH LOVE (OMOLOKO) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Brazilian disco. DISCO STU'S JUNGLE BOOGIE LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Ultimate disco and dance. CLUB NACHT THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

SATURDAYS THE SATURDAY SHOW, 21:00 The big weekend show with four comedians. The Glee Club FRIDAYS FRIDAY NIGHT COMEDY, 19:00 The perfect way to end the working week, with four superb stand-up comedians.

ClubsDundee

ComedyGlasgow

Fri 23 Sep AVA CONNECTIONS SWG3 21:00–03:00 Electronica and bass. STEREO PRESENTS: JOSSY MITSU & MR.MITCH (LEWIS LOWE + EFFUA) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Bass, house, and club. Sat 24 Sep HAWKCHILD DIY (DARK0 + FEMI) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Trance, house and techno from the UK and Sweden. INSIGHT 001 THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Thu 29 Sep GEIGER COUNTER THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 Techno. Fri 30 Sep STEREO PRESENTS: DJ SWISHA (DJ EGG) STEREO, 23:00–03:00 Footwork, jungle and bass from New York and Ireland. OPAL NIGHTS THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00 Dance and club. ClubsEdinburgh

ComedyEdinburgh The EdinburghStand

Tue 20 Sep 249 SUMMERHALL, 21:00–03:00 Queer dance and club. TECH TONIC THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Wed 21 Sep NIGHT TUBE THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Club and dance. PURE HONEY LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

Fri 30 Sep TELFORT’S GOOD PLACE (TELFORT) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. TONTO TECHNO LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Techno. METROPOLIS THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. BOUND IN SOUND THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

RISE UP 14 SEP, 6:30PM 9:00PM Eclectic lineup of comedy, music and spoken word. ISY SUTTIE: JACKPOT 21 SEP, 7:30PM 9:00PM Warm, irreverent stand-up hour. GARY FAULDS: THE BEST BITS 24 SEP, 4:30PM 7:00PM An action-packed hour of stories, jokes, and madness from across three previous live shows.

TUESDAYS RED RAW, 20:30 Legendary new material night with up to eight acts.

Fri 23 Sep MEANWHILE (PRIVET) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. OVERGROUND THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Sat 24 Sep THAT 70’S CLUB LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 70s classics. PULSE THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. VAULT THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

Fri 02 Sep SWIFTOGEDDON CHURCH, 22:30–03:00 Pop and dance. Sat 17 Sep MONSTER’S BALL THE LADY GAGA CLUB NIGHT CHURCH, 22:30–03:00 Pop and dance.

BrewingDrygate Co. FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH DRYGATE COMEDY LAB, 7PM A new material comedy night hosted by Chris Thorburn. The GlasgowStand FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH MONDAY NIGHT IMPROV, 20:30 Host Billy Kirkwood and guests act entirely on your suggestions.

SATURDAYS SLICE SATURDAY The drinks are easy and the pop is heavy. SUNDAYS Sunday Service Atone for the week before and the week ahead with non-stop dancing. The HouseMash SATURDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) SAMEDIA SHEBEEN Joyous global club sounds: Afrobeat,thinkLatin and Arabic dancehall on repeat. SATURDAYS (LAST OF THE MONTH) PULSE The best techno DJs sit alongside The Mash House resident Darrell Pulse.

STEVE HOFSTETTER 20 SEP, 6:00PM 9:00PM Comedy veteran from the likes of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and E! True Hollywood Story. STU & IMPROVGARRY’SSHOW 6 SEP, 7:30PM 9:00PM Resident duo Stu & Garry weave comedy magic from your suggestions.

SUNDAYS SECRET SUNDAY Two rooms of all the chart, cheese and indie-pop you can Sunday.of/handlethinkona CowgateSubway MONDAYS TRACKS Blow the cobwebs off the week with a weekly Monday night party with some of Scotland’s biggest and best drag queens. TUESDAYS TAMAGOTCHI non-stopTuesdaysThrowbackwith80s, 90s, 00s tunes. WEDNESDAYS XO Hip-hop and R'n'B grooves from regulars DJ Beef and DJ Cherry. THURSDAYS SLIC More Hip-hopclassicand R'n'B dance tunes for the almost end of the week. FRIDAYS FIT FRIDAYS andantunesChart-toppingperfectforirresistiblesingdance-along.

Mon 26 Sep TAIS TOI SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

DOMESTIC BLISS 1 SEP-31 DEC, 11:00AM 4:00PM Domestic Bliss examines how artists develop prac tice alongside social and political change, and the ways in which public and domestic labour intersect with art. CLARA URSITTI: AMIK 1 SEP-29 JAN 23, 11:00AM 4:00PM Sculpture, film and scent installation consider ideas of trade and histories of human, animal and botanic migration.

STEVE HOFSTETTER 21 SEP, 6:00PM 9:00PM Comedy veteran from the likes of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and E! True Hollywood Story. RANDY FELTFACE 7 SEP, 7:30PM 9:00PM The very best puppet comedy out there. DARREN CONNELL AND THE FUNNY BUNCH 25 SEP, 7:00PM 9:00PM Come and join Darren and some of his favourite acts for a great show of standup comedy.

Mon 19 Sep CHAOS IN THE COSMOS (ALL NIGHT PASSION) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and disco.

Street PhotoworksLevel FRANK MCELHINNEY: FLIGHT 1 SEP-23 OCT, TIMES VARY A striking Scotland.betweenlongexhibitionphotographicreflectingonthehistoryofmigrationIrelandand

Thu 15 Sep BLACK FLAG THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Drum ‘n’ bass and techno. STAND B SIDE THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Underground music. Fri 16 Sep AQUELARRE (LIZZIE URQUHART + PAKO VEGA) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 EBM and techno. SO FETCH LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Pop and disco. INDUSTRIAL ESTATE THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Industrial beats. ALIEN DISKO THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Rave and techno.

SUNDAYS POSTAL Multi-genre beats every Sunday at Sneaky guests.extratalentveryshowcasingPete's,thebestoflocalwithsomespecial

THE BEST SCOTTISHOFCOMEDY 15-22 SEP, 7:30PM 9:00PM A carload of simply the best comics on the contempo rary Scottish circuit.

Thu 22 Sep MARGINS SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and dance. KINKY DISCO LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 House and disco. CLUB NACHT THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno.

Thu 29 Sep EDINBURGH DISCO LOVERS SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Disco and pop. CLOUD NINE LAUNCH PARTYÂ LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Disco and house.

FRIDAYS THE FRIDAY SHOW, 20:30 The big weekend show with four comedians.

WEDNESDAYS COOKIE WEDNES DAY 90s and 00s cheesy pop and modern anthems.chart THURSDAYS HI THURSDAYSOCIETY Student anthems and bangerz. FRIDAYS FLIP FRIDAY Yer all-new Friday at Hive. Cheap entry, Perrrfect.novelty-stuffed.danceable,inevitablyand SATURDAYS BUBBLEGUM Saturday mix of chart and dance, with retro 80s classics thrown in for good measure.

SATURDAYS SATURDAY NIGHT COM EDY, 19:00 An evening of awardwinning comedy, with four superb stand-up come dians that will keep you laughing until Monday.

Regular

Regular Glasgow comedy nights

— 75 — THE SKINNY —2022September Listings Pete’sSneaky MONDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) HEADSET Scottish rave label with a guest-filledmonthly,night. TUESDAYS POPULAR MUSIC DJs playing music by bands to make you dance: Grace Jones to Neu!, Parquet Courts to Brian Eno, The Clash to Janelle Monáe. WEDNESDAYS HEATERS Heaters partySneaky’sthattifariouspurveyinglocalofpresentsC-Shamanresidentamonthambiguousshowdowns,themulmischiefcharacterisesmidweekhaven. THURSDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) VOLENS CHORUS Resident DJs with an eclectic, global outlook FRIDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) MISS WORLD All-female DJ collective with monthly guests FRIDAYS (SECOND OF THE MONTH) HOT MESS A night for queer people and their friends. SATURDAYS (LAST OF THE MONTH) SOUL JAM Monthly no holds barred, down and dirty bikram disco.

Mon 12 Sep INDIEGEDDON (STILL WAVELEY ) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 Indie.

Sat 17 Sep HEAL YOURSELF & MOVE (LINKWOOD + OTHER LANDS) SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. DECADE LA BELLE ANGELE, 23:00–03:00 Pop, punk and emo. FIRST EDITION THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Space age dance. THE BIG GREEN THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Soul and dance.

Tue 13 Sep TECH TONIC THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 House and techno. Wed 14 Sep DUBBED THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00 Bass and club. REFRACTA THE MASH HOUSE, 23:00–03:00 Multi genre.

Fri 30 Sep SO FETCH 2000S PARTY CHURCH, 22:30–03:00 Pop and dance. IAN VAN DAHL LIVE SET AFROBEATS, 20:00–03:00 Afro and breaks.

The Glee Club DESI COMEDYCENTRAL 25 SEP, 6:00PM 10:00PM A stellar lineup featuring Patrick Monahan, Anuvab Pal, Farhan Solo and Prince Abdi. The GlasgowStand

The RoomLiquid SATURDAYS (FIRST OF THE MONTH) REWIND Monthly party night celebrating the best in soul, disco, rock and pop with music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and bangers.current The Hive MONDAYS MIXED UP MONDAY backrequestsclassics,R'n'BingMonday-brightenmixofHip-hop,andchartwithintheroom. TUESDAYS TRASH TUESDAY andindie,genrescherryTuesdayAlternativeanthemspickedfromofrock,punk,retromore.

ModernGalleryNationalScottishofArt

THE RUPAUL’SOFFICIALDRAG RACE UK SERIES THREE TOUR 9 SEP, 7:00PM 10:00PM All 12 queens from series 3 of UK Drag Race take to the stage.

Royal AcademyScottishRSA OMOS 3 SEP-2 OCT, TIMES VARY A new moving image project celebrating untold Scottish Black histories and LGBTQ performance.

The GalleryScottish CLAIRE HARKESS: MENAGERIEMINIATURE 1-24 SEP, TIMES VARY A series of paintings inspired by the wildlife of Perth. TANIA CLARKE HALL: ON THE EDGE 1-24 SEP, TIMES VARY Eclectic, geometric jewellery inspired by leatherwork. BRYANTANTHONY : TREMENHEERETOTRENGWAINTONFROMGODOLPHINVIA

ROSS RYAN: CRINAN TO CATTERLINE 1-24 SEP, TIMES VARY Paintings created in-situ during a sailing tour around Scotland.

VALENTINESSINCERELY,: FROM POSTCARDS TO GREETINGS CARDS 1 SEP-8 JAN 23 10:00AM 5:00PM Exhibiting an archive by J. Valentine & Sons, Scotland’s pioneering com mercial photographers who popularised the holiday postcard on a global scale.

Royal GardenBotanic COOKING SECTIONS AND SAKIYA: IN THE EDDY OF THE STREAM 1-17 SEP, 10:00AM 6:00PM Installations and perfor mances stemming from the history of land struggles in Scotland and Palestine.

The McManus THE STREET AT THE MCMANUS 1 SEP-22 OCT, 10:00AM 5:00PM, FREE Immersive exhibition look ing at Dundee’s historical architecture. V&A Dundee MICHAEL CLARK: COSMIC DANCER 1-4 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM A groundbreaking exhibi tion exploring the life and works of acclaimed Scottish choreographer and dancer Michael Clark.

GalleryPortraitNationalScottish COUNTED: SCOTLAND’S CENSUS 2022 1-25 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM Inspired by the 2022 census, photographs old and new come together to consider complex notions of identity formation and performance. Stills ISHIUCHI MIYAKO 1 SEP-8 OCT, 12:00PM 5:00PM This exhibition by renowned post-war Japanese pho tographer brings together an impressive collection of her work, including pieces created in the Frida Kahlo Museum and with victims of Hiroshima bomb.

JAMES IV: QUEEN OF THE FIGHT 30 SEP-8 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM The court of James IV comes to life through the eyes of two Moorish women in this new addition to the celebrated James plays.

Arusha Gallery SALISBURYRHIANNON: CHTHONIA 1 SEP-2 OCT, TIMES VARY Dreamy acrylic and oil paintings depicting strange, otherworldly landscapes. City Art Centre NATIONAL TREASURE: THE ASSOCIATIONMODERNSCOTTISHARTS 1 SEP-16 OCT, TIMES VARY Spotlighting work by the Glasgow Boys, Scottish Co lourists and artists such as William McTaggart and Joan Eardley, this is a celebration of Scottish art at the dawn of modernism. WILL MACLEAN: POINTS DEPARTUREOF 1-2 SEP, TIMES VARY This major retrospective spans construction, draw ings, prints, sculptures, and video productions to examine the history, archaeology, and literature of the Scottish Highlands.

A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: HE WHO OPENS THE DOOR 26 SEP-1 OCT, 1:00PM 2:00PM A black comedy reflecting on the limbo of those caught between opposing forces.

RAPHAEL: RAFFAELLOMAGISTER 1-24 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM An exhibition celebrating the famed Renaissance painter’s career through digital projections and a large-scale contemporary tapestry interpreting a section of Raphael’s Sistine Chapel.

Jupiter Artland TRACEY EMIN: I LAY HERE FOR YOU 1 SEP-2 OCT, 10:00AM 5:00PM Tracey Emin’s first Scottish show since 2008 takes the form of a larger-than-life yet strangely intimate bronze sculpture reflecting on the possibilities of love after hardship. Open GalleryEye KIRSTY WITHER: IN COLOUR 2-24 SEP, TIMES VARY An exhibition of vibrant still lifes. HENRY FRASER: KEEP THE HEID 2-24 SEP, TIMES VARY Eerie, subversive portrait and figure paintings. Out of the Blue Drill Hall CONSEQUENCES: ART AND ACTIVISM IN THE NUCLEAR AGE 1-3 SEP, 10:00AM 4:00PM Through film, photography, installation and poetry, this exhibition explores the humanitarian and environ mental costs of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the history of nuclear warfare on this planet.

THE OSMONDS: A NEW MUSICAL 20-24 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM A new musical about one of the OG boy bands.

The TheatreKing’s ROCK OF AGES 1-3 SEP, TIMES VARY Musical comedy with backto-back rock anthems. BEAUTIFUL 13-17 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM Carole King’s rise to stardom told through her music. THE CHER SHOW 27 SEP-1 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM Turn back time to the era of Cher in this addictive new musical. AL MURRAY’S GIG FOR VICTORY 11 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM The infamous pub landlord returns. Theatre Royal BURN 1-3 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM A devised dance theatre piece starring Alan Cum ming as Scotland’s famous bard. GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY 13-17 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM Musical featuring the songs of Bob Dylan.

ArtEdinburgh &Gallery JANA EMBUREY: ELEMENTAL 3-28 SEP, TIMES VARY Abstract dabs of paint bleed into each other in this striking interpretation of environmental change.

GalleryTorrance FESTIVAL SHOW 1-3 SEP, 11:00AM 5:30PM Annual festival show celebrating contemporary British and Scottish artists including featured artist Julie Dumbarton. MARION DRUMMOND 10-24 SEP, 11:00AM 5:30PM A new collection of loosestroked, figurative florals and landscapes.

1-24 SEP, TIMES VARY Woodturning that pushes the material possibilities of wood - both in terms of scale and thinness.

GUARANTEEDNOTHING’S: EXHIBITION OF BOSNO FUTURISM 1-25 SEP, 12:00PM 5:30PM Drawing on the rich aesthetic of Afrofuturism, this collection of mixed media looks at how cutting edge European arts depicts ideas of Balkan futurism. DIANA ZWIBACH: NO CALLBACK 1-25 SEP, 12:00PM 5:30PM Collage-like works on paper exploring themes of personal loss and mental trauma post-pandemic. Talbot GalleryRice CÉLINE CONDORELLI: AFTER WORK 1 SEP-1 OCT, TIMES VARY A groundbreaking survey of design and installation exploring the ethics of labour and production.

ArtDundee DCA: ArtsContemporaryDundee MANUEL SOLANO 1 SEP-20 NOV, TIMES VARY Mixed-media work responding to ideas of iden tity, created through tactile mapping techniques after the artist’s loss of eyesight due to a HIV-related illness.

Fruitmarket DANIEL SILVER: LOOKING 1-25 SEP, 10:00AM 7:00PM Organic, roughly hewn clay sculptures that explore acts of looking and being looked at. Ingleby Gallery LORNA ROBERTSON: THOUGHTS, MEALS, DAYS 1-17 SEP, 11:00AM 5:00PM Glasgow-based artist plays with notions of scale and expression through expres sive, figurative canvasses.

Tramway NORMAN GILBERT 3 SEP-5 FEB 23, TIMES VARY A major exhibition of vibrant paintings by seminal Glasgow Southside artist.

MATTHEW DRAPER: KITCHEN WINDOW 1-24 SEP, TIMES VARY Part of an ongoing series of dramatic pastels of the Edinburgh skyline, as seen through the artist’s kitchen window.

Summerhall FARRUKH ADDNAN + MICHELE MARCOUX: ECOLOGIES DISPLACEMENTOF 1-25 SEP, 12:00PM 5:30PM Created through a series of Zoom workshops, this exhibition engages with urgent themes of exile and displacement.

Verdant Works ANDREW CRONSHAW: MEET THE LAST TAY SPINNERS 1 SEP-9 OCT, 12:00AM 12:00AM Photographic and art series looking at the last days of jute spinning in Dundee.

The InstituteModern RICHARD WRIGHT 1-3 SEP, TIMES VARY A site-responsive exhibi tion of intricately crafted stained glass and works on paper exploring ideas of structure and space. The AirdsInstituteModern@Lane MARK HANDFORTH 1 SEP, TIMES VARY A forest of orange pipes and tubes create an immersive landscape.post-industrial SHEELAGH BOYCE + ANNABELLE HARTY: ARRANGE WHATEVER PIECES COME YOUR WAY 1 SEP, TIMES VARY Handsewn quilts and reconstructed fabrics craft new and surprising architectural spaces.

PrintmakersEdinburgh TESSA LYNCH: HOUSES FIT FOR PEOPLE 1-18 SEP, 11:00AM 4:00PM A series of prints by Glasgow-based artist exploring feminist readings of the city and issues of social reproduction often at odds with contemporary art and life.

CAMARA TAYLOR: BACKWASH 1-4 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM Mixed media work respond ing to the social and political significances of Scotland’s waterways.

ALAN DAVIE: BEGINNING OF A FAR OFF WORLD 1-24 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM Celebrating the cente nary of Scottish artist and tapestry-worker Alan Davie.

GalleryNationalScottish A TASTE IMPRESSIONISMFOR: MODERN FRENCH ART FROM MILLET TO MATISSE 1 SEP-13 NOV, TIMES VARY Exploring the fascination Scottish collectors had for Impressionist art, this exhibition features the likes of Degas, Van Gogh and Gaugin.

TheatreGlasgow CentreCCA: ArtContemporaryfor CONTACT 8 SEP, 8:00PM 10:00PM Composition and filmmak ing exploring the ideas of tactility and touch. Part of Cryptic. Oran Mor A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: SALLY 5-10 SEP, 1:00PM 2:00PM A metatheatrical play about a touring rural production of Cabaret. A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: BREAK MY WINDOWS 19-24 SEP, 1:00PM 2:00PM Meet the Parents meets the gig economy in this comedy about a taxi driver crashing into a BMW. TIME’S PLAGUE 7-18 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM David Hayman returns in this existentialist drama. TWO'S COMPANY BY GILLIAN DUFFY 12 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM New comedy-drama about a hopeful romantic. A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: IMPROMTU AT ORAN MOR 12-17 SEP, 1:00PM 2:00PM To save his skin, the radical and rebellious Molière agrees to stage a brandnew play at Óran Mór with two hours to go.

SCOTTISH BALLET: COPPELIA 22-24 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM A stunning technological adaptation of the classic ballet. THE BEST MARIGOLDEXOTICHOTEL 27 SEP-1 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM Theatre adaptation of the hit film. Tron Theatre EXODUS 14-17 SEP, TIMES VARY In an attempt to get ahead in an election race, a Home Secretary puts on a public ity stunt that goes wrong. CROCODILE ROCK 28 SEP-1 OCT, TIMES VARY A one-man musical about a young Scottish island boy discovering the world of jazz. A NEW LIFE 29 SEP-1 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM A new musical about the truths of parenting.

— 76 — THE SKINNY —2022September Listings

TheatreEdinburgh Assembly Roxy VENTOUX 30 SEP-1 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM A restaging of the infamous Tour de France race between Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani.

SCOTTISH OPERA: BAMBINO 1-4 SEP, TIMES VARY Magical musical theatre designed especially for babies. SOUTHERN LIGHT: THE SOUND OF MUSIC 6-10 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM Theatre company Southern Light celebrate the 125th anniversary with this new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

TheatreTraverse A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: SALLY 20-24 SEP, 1:00PM 2:00PM A metatheatrical play about a touring rural production of Cabaret. A PLAY, A PIE & A PINT: BREAK MY WINDOWS 27 SEP-1 OCT, 1:00PM 2:00PM Meet the Parents meets the gig economy in this comedy about a taxi driver crashing into a BMW.

ANNETTE KRAUSS: A MATTER PRECEDENTSOF 1-4 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM Exploring the concept of the “common good”, this exhibition responds to ideas of public space and institutional responsibility in Edinburgh and through out Scotland. StudiosDovecot

GalleryCollective

TheatreFestival

TheatreDundee Dundee Rep THE STEAMIE 1-10 SEP, 7:30PM 10:00PM Warm and witty classic Scottish play about three Glasgow women on the laundry line.

THE INSTITUTEMODERN : SPACE FORGETS YOU 1-17 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM Curated by The Modern Institute, this exhibition brings together various international artists work ing across tapestry and textiles.

RUTH EWAN: THE BEAST 1-18 SEP, 10:00AM 5:00PM A surreal animated morality tale exploring intersecting ideas of power, capitalism and exploitation through a playful subversion of Scottish-American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

BARBARA HEPWORTH: ART & LIFE 1 SEP-2 OCT, 10:00AM 5:00PM The largest exhibition of Barbara Hepworth’s work since her death in 1975, this ambitious retrospective examines the personal and political in her ground breaking art.

CRAFTHOUSE 7 SEP-18 OCT, TIMES VARY Bringing together decora tive glassware and contem porary Scottish handmade crafts from a diverse range of designers.

THE BOOK OF MORMON 13 SEP-8 OCT, 7:30PM 10:00PM A hit, outrageous musical comedy from the makers of South Park.

The PlayhouseEdinburgh

The Selkie Strongly establishing itself as a local champion in Dundee is the family-run business The Selkie. This popular café and tapas bar located on Exchange Street has been a saviour to those in need in the community, delivering 3,000 free meals in the last year-anda-half and advocating many other local good causes in the process. The intimacy of this venue is what gives Greek cuisine, community focussed cafes and sweet Spanish-style churros – explore the latest new venue discoveries that Dundee has to offer

The Wee Churros Corner S Victoria Dock

The Wee Churros Corner Bringing a slice of Spanish sweet ness to Dundee is The Wee Churros Corner. This street food truck based at City Quay does exactly what it says on the tin – offering churros galore (a type of fried dough much similar to a doughnut, for those who haven’t experienced the joy of these yet) in a variety of options. Nutella and cream is always a winning combination, but other options like Biscoff and white chocolate sprin kles also go down a treat. On top of this, rumour has it the hot chocolate from this place is to die for and the barista-style coffee also shapes up nicely. Ideal for a meander around a different area of Dundee and only ﬁve minutes away from the V&A.

The Selkie 27 Exchange Street,

Andreou’sMediaDCTPhoto: The Selkie The Wee Churros Corner

Andreou’s 118 Nethergate, DD1

DUNDEE VENUES ROUND-UP: SEPT 2022

The Horeb Food Co. 46 Murraygate,

Authentic sides like jollof rice and sweet fried yams are a must try.

restaurant, The Horeb Food Co. Run by Babatope Aliu, Nigerian ﬂavours are at the heart of Horeb’s star dishes – but hints of Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine can also be found on the venue’s broad menu.

— 77 — THE SKINNY —2022September Listings

ReBoutique Everyone loves ﬁnding a one-off, preloved gem in a second-hand shop. Dundee’s latest comes in the form of ReBoutique, an upcycling shop that looks to restore love back into a wide range of clothes as well as furniture and décor. It’s run by local social enterprise Uppertunity, which encourages and promotes employ ment for people with additional needs, and one of its core aims is to bring people back out onto the high street. There’s also rails ﬁlled exclu sively with works from local design ers and makers. Prevent excess waste and support a good cause – what’s not to like?

Words:

ReBoutique 33

When it comes to finding Greek cuisine in Tayside, quality options can be limited. But with the arrival of Andreou’s on Dundee’s Nethergate, top notch Greek cuisine can now be easily found in the heart of the city centre. This is owner Andrew McDonald’s second branch of Andreou’s (the first launched in Arbroath four years ago). Operating as a café during the day and bistro in the evenings, this new venue sailed through its fully-booked first week end last month, whipping up an array of exciting dishes. Menu items include trademark Greek foods such as estofado (beef stew) and mous saka, Middle Eastern staples such as falafel and Cypriot lamb shefta lia there are also plenty of glutenfree, vegan and vegetarian options, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy here.

The Selkie its endearing personality. Tapas is served cocina casera (home style) in the evenings, where no menus are handed out and only the freshest picks from the chef make it to the plate each day. Homely sandwiches, bakes and coffees are perfect for a relaxing lunch option during the day, but you can also get breakfast options as well as afternoon tea.

The Horeb Food Co. Situated smack-bang in the middle of Dundee’s Murraygate is the brand new Afro-Caribbean grill house and 4EH DD1 3DJ Road, DD1 3JP Castle Street, DD1 3AD DD1 2AZ

Andreou’s

Grilled meats, seafood and vegan options are ideal for main meals while the dessert option of coconut bombs also come highly recommended. Jamie Wilde

— 78 — THE SKINNY On...SkinnyThe —2022September Chat

contributes to me!!! And everyone who appears on my pages. I get quite emotional thinking about it; it’s such an honour to host so much talent. What three people would you invite to your dinner party and what are you cooking? I can’t pick just three people!!! My parties are open to everyone – come and see for yourself on 1 December, Summerhall (more details tba). I will be cooking up a delicious lineup full of meaty beats. lol What’s your all-time favourite album? I’m on a constant rotation of Frightened Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Fight, Young Father’s Cocoa Sugar, Hamish Hawk’s Heavy Elevator, NOVA’s Re-Up, Sacred Paws’ Strike a Match, Anna Meredith’s Varmints, Kathryn Joseph’s Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I Have Spilled, Bossy Love’s Me + U, Mogwai’s Rave Tapes, Callum Easter’s Here or Nowhere, Chvrches’ The Bones of What You Believe, The Twilight Sad’s Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters,

The Skinny On... The Skinny

To mark the 200th issue of The Skinny, we interview The Skinny about all of their favourite things What’s your favourite place to visit and why? All of my distribution points. I just love love love that moment when someone picks me up and starts reading me. Favourite food? Anything high ﬁbre. Favourite colour? CMYK Who was your hero growing up? So many! DIY / zine culture has always been huge for me. Obviously NME was a big inﬂuence when I was younger. I feel like I’ve moved on from that now though; my interests have broadened as I’ve matured. I really cringe at some of the things I used to be into! Whose work inspires you now? Honestly, everyone who

Free Love’s Luxury Hits, Arab Strap’s The Week Never Starts Round Here and Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled debut. What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen? I haven’t seen a film because I’m a magazine, but the worst film I’ve ever had on my cover is the time someone decided to put Snakes on a Plane in Tim Minchin’s hair back in 2006. You can see it on the covers spread from p19. What book would you take to a desert island? I don’t need a book when I have all of my 200 issues to read! Who’s the worst? Everyone on my extensive enemies list. I keep it on the wall in the office. When did you last cry? When I had to go on hiatus for four months at the start of the pandemic and genuinely didn’t know if the magazine would return or not. Thanks to everyone who helped get me back on my feet! What are you most scared of? Paper recycling firms masquerading as magazine distribution companies. When did you last vomit and why? Worrying about the paper recycling firms masquerading as magazine distribution companies. Tell us a secret? I’ve lost my first issue. If anyone’s got a copy, please send it to me! Which artist could you take in a fight? I’d give Aidan Moffat a paper cut while he’s reading about his latest project. If you could be reincarnated as an animal, which animal would it be? A hamster so I could nestle in my own pages.

The Skinny September 2022

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The Stand Glasgow, Glasgow Sep, 7:30pm

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