Festival MUSIC
BACCHANALIA Cabaret pick’n’mix with a dusting of variety and smut ‘A s clichéd as it sounds, with all the
entertainment world,’ Dwyer continues. ‘It doesn’t matter what you go for, sometimes you’re going to love it, sometimes you’re going to hate it, sometimes just pick the hair off it and wonder if it was meant to be there, but you’ll keep going in for more.’
The show promises a ‘headline only cast’, including Hope & Gloria (Titty Bar Ha Ha), Bey Dance creator (and diva) Liz Cahalan and Melbourne’s chanteuse comedian Elena Glitter-Gabrielle. ‘We want people to leave our show saying “that wasn’t what I expected, but it made me feel alive and awesome!”,’ says Dwyer. (Kirstyn Smith)
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 2–24 Aug (not 4–6, 11–13, 18–21), 12.30am, £10–£12. Preview 1 Aug, £6.
unrest in the country on so many fronts, people need escapism. They need the wonder,’ explains Titty Bar Ha Ha’s Boo Dwyer of the elusive attraction cabaret enjoys. ‘It is the comedy equivalent of when TV went into colour. I think people want sparkle and glitter at a time when things are sometimes quite bleak.’
‘Bleak’ is far from the word to describe the Titty Bar Ha Ha-hosted Bacchanalia. Grabbing some of the best cabaret, magic, burlesque, comedy and circus in Edinburgh this year and chucking them into a room together, Bacchanalia aims for a carnival mood. With no two nights the same, this is cabaret at its most familiar, dusted in variety and smut. ‘Cabaret is like the pick’n’mix of the
60 THE LIST FESTIVAL 31 Jul–7 Aug 2014
For more info go to LIST.CO.UK /FESTIVAL
HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
✽ Martyn The techno / dubstep producer, who’s released on Hyperdub and Ninja
Tune, makes his Edinburgh debut. Sneaky Pete’s, 225 1757, 31 Jul, 11pm, £8.
✽ Impression of Taiwan Traditional world music and costume from the
dramatic Ten Drum Percussion Group (pictured, above), part of the Taiwan Season 2014. EICC, 0844 847 1639, 3–24 Aug, 6pm, £12 (£10). Previews 1–2 Aug, £10 (£8).
✽ Awesome Tapes from Africa A visit
from the undeniably awesome Brian Shimkovitz, world music blogger and DJ for Summerhall’s Opening Party, plus a live set from Golden Teacher and DJing
from David Barbarossa. Summerhall, 560 1581, 1 Aug, 10pm, £10 (£8).
✽ Glen Matlock: I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol The former Sex Pistol tells his story. See interview, page 62. Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 1–6 Aug, 7.30pm, £15. Preview 31 Jul, £9.
✽ Five-Thirty Cabaret at the Famous Spiegeltent No idea where to start? The
Spiegeltent deliver a handy cabaret sampler every day. Or read our Cabaret highlights at list. co.uk/festival. The Famous Spiegeltent, 0844 693 3008, 1–25 Aug, 5.30pm, £6.
✽ Born to Be Wide Edinburgh Night A showcase of bands performing during the Fringe, with ten acts doing ten-minute sets, plus DJs playing music from local heroes. Electric Circus, 226 4224, 3 Aug, 8pm, £3.50 or free via facebook.com/borntobewide
✽ Torsten the Bare- back Saint Andy
Bell from Erasure brings a song cycle to the Fringe, partly inspired by the artwork of Tom of Finland. See feature at list.co.uk/festival. Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 5–16 Aug, 6.15pm, £16–£19.