Attila-and Otway
‘I’m turning into a fully-fledged session liddle player now. I’ll get there eventually.’ A stockbroker long before it was fashionable, then the locus ol the ranting movement (it was fashionable lor about live minutes), Attila The Stockbroker is now managing and occasionally playing with the bands The Liberty Cage and Tender Trap, both playing gigs at Marco’s this year as well. He’s also reprlsing his winning partnership with ‘rock's greatest lallure’, John Otway, lor the Festival and becoming a seasoned overseas traveller.
‘lt's a hell at a lot easier for someone like me to do well in every country but this one. In just about every other country, college radio broadcasts in the cities and beyond; in Australia, there's a kind of national John Peel-like station that broadcasts 24 hours a day. Most of my exposure here is on Radio 4! Ironic, for someone who started out as an angry punk.’
In a lar more varied programme than
the last Otway/Attila collabora ion, ‘Cheryl: A Rock Opera’, Attila will be performing his crusty anthem, ‘Dog On A String’ and his tribute to Robert Maxwell, ‘Save The Whale’, as well as unsheathing his lamous ‘veiny oboe’. (It’s a musical instrument! Honest!) But it’s the songs from Otway’s forthcoming album of cover versions that seem bound for typically Otwanian legendary status: like a brass band version of ’Space Oddity' and a cam ‘Two Little Boys’. And il I hear one more person describe him as ‘he’s, y’know, the guy in the lrn Bru ad’. . . (Alastair Mabbott)
Attila The Stockbroker and John Otway (Fringe) Marco’s (Venue 98) 228 2141, 24 Aug—5 Sept, 8pm, £6.
_ Short swing
Craig McMurdo and That Swing Thang have been Fringe regulars since 1986, but the singer has decided on a new lormat lor the show this year. Rather than commit themselves to the punishing rigour at three weeks in a small venue, the band will perform only three shows in The Queen’s Hall, which is partly a way ol preserving health and sanity (and allowing him to
see some shows), but also a way at maintaining quality.
’Lasl year, I kept in good lettle right up until the second last show, when I caught the llu bug which always goes around the Fringe, and it developed into a bronchial problem which eventually landed me in hospital. This year, I decided enough was enough, and instead of slogging through three weeks, we are aiming to put together three really high quality shows in one of the best venues in Edinburgh.’
The seven-piece band which will accompany the singer includes several TST regulars, as well as pianist Brian Kellock and saxophonist Jack Dull. The mix will be as in the past, but with a little more emphasis on swing-style arrangements and more intimate material alongside their boisterous jump-jive favourites.
‘1 don’t want to give too much away, but every year I try to do something a little different within the basic lormat ol the show, and this will be no exception. We have quite a bit at new material, both cover versions and new songs written by Raymond Gillespie, which we hope to record later in the year. I tend to get slagged in the press for my interaction with the audience, but people really like that aspect ol the show, and the same goes lor the
humour and general lun we have. The main locus, though, will be on the quality of the music.’ (Kenny Mathieson)
Craig McMurdo and That Swing Thang (Fringe) Queen's Hall (Venue 72) 668 2019, 24—26 Aug, 7.30pm, £8 (£7).
FESTIVAL
V FOLK ED MILLER
The Traditional Music And Song Association of Scotland holds a
unaccompanied male singers in that new Tannoehbrae. Auchtermuchty. Last week. someone flew in from Austin. Texas and took top prize.
Sitting in a music-filled pub with his new wife. Ed Miller has mixed feelings about coming home. ’Austin is full of singers and songwriters and I really enjoy livingthere. being part ofit. where I‘m known. affectionately I hope. as the Resident Scot. But performing over there. singing Scottish material and travelling that huge network in the States. makes you somehow even more Scottish. larger than life. When I come back here after a few years. I‘m initially apprehensive about how people will take my singing. Over there. you have to explain the songs a lot. usually in simple terms, and put them in context. It is something you obviously don‘t have to do here. and you have to quickly adjust. lt‘sa feelinglike being a stranger in your own home,‘ he grins. ‘Coming back is definitely a reality check.’
Ed‘s last official club gig here was in 1979, but he brings his guitar and new album to the Acoustic Music Centre. That venue also presents another US exile. Boston-domiciled singer from Ossian, unique guitar stylist, and now a harp maker and player, Tony Cuffe is another welcome stranger. (Norman Chalmers)
I Ell Miller(Fringe) Acoustic Music Centre (Venue 25), 220 2462, 24 Aug. 10.30pm. £4.50 (£3).
| I Tony Cutie (Fringe)
Acoustic Music Centre (Venue 24). 220 2462.5
, Sept.10.30pm,£4(£3).
2 v FOLK
‘ THE POOZIES
competition every year for i
Scattered all over Britain, and all with commitments
to other bands, the five . members ofthe i all-women Poozies
struggle to get together for a worthwhile period.
Edinburgh-based Mary Macmaster juggles her maternal life, work with fellow Poozie Patsy Seddon in the harp duo Sileas, occasional gigs with Dick Gaughan and the others in Clan Alba and various other musical adventures. How does she keep it together?
‘With super glue . . . and because it’s such good fun.
' The Poozies are getting
better known now. We‘ve
' already recorded for BBC
TV‘s Gaelic programme TalIa' Bhar'lle, and go back soon to get the filming done. And when the band played the Sidmouth Folk
. Festival recently, we were recorded by the European 1 Broadcasting Union for
1 transmission in ten
countries. It was nice to be
picked from all the good
bands at the Festival.‘
1 suggest, tongue-in-cheek. that it‘s because the band looks good on radio. The high~quality musicianship of the women is a constant surprise to. let us say, the average male chauvinist. The new album will be out next year and Mary has added another string to
. her bow, or harp l i suppose, by contributing
her first songwriting
; composition. ‘I‘d never , written anything before and I‘m delighted, but it‘s
a wonder we got it done or
‘ get any music done. The
Poozies tend to talk too
. much, we have so much to say when we get together.‘
(Norman Chalmers)
I The Poozies (Fringe)
Acoustic Music Centre (Venue 25) 220 2462. 23. 24 Aug. 7.30pm.£5 (£3.50).
V FOLK
ALY BAIN Aly Bain, fiddler extraordinaire, is looking forward to his Festival gigs. and one especially. ‘lt'll be an intimate wee thing. in the Traverse.‘ Aly and old friend Norman MeCaig will spend an enjoyable hour or so playing. reading and talking. ‘The main thing will be poetry and fiddle. We‘ll get talking about something- we always do, but that‘s not organised. It‘s just what we get upto when I go round to see him. Norman loves fiddle music. He plays it himself a bit. And we‘ve chosen poems that are related. to set us off. but that‘s about as far as the organising goes.‘
Bain also plays at the annual Boys OfThe
s Lough concerts. ‘This is
the thirteenth year we‘ve
been doing major venues
at the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets are going really well. We are really happy at the Queen's Hall. it‘s not too big a place. you can communicate with the
audience.‘
With his own film and video production company set up. trips to Shetland to put together and record an audio-visual display. a tour with Phil Cunningham in September and his new album in the shops. Aly is happy to be doing what he wants. ‘I have my own albums. on my own label. That way I don‘t have to
compromise musically.‘
(Norman Chalmers)
I Aly Rain and Norman McCaig (Fringe) Traverse Theatre Bar (Venue 15). 228 1404. 25. 26Aug. 11pm.
I Boys at The Lough (Fringe) Queens Hall (Venue 72) 658 2019, 28-30
; Aug, 7.30pm, cure)
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
TRIO
presents the 13th Edinburgh Festival of British Youth Orchestras
Central Hall, Tolleross
Saturday 15 August - Saturday 5 September performances at 12.30pm amd 7.30pm cheek Fringe programme or at door for full details of dates, times and programmes.
Perfon'nanoes by top British Youth orchestras with special guests from Canada (Calgary), Belgium and Greece (Edinburgh International Orchestra)
Tickets from Fringe 226 5138 and at Central Hall Evenings: £5 (OAPs £3); lunehtimes: £2 (OAl’s £1) Children/students/unemployed/disabled o FREE Season Ticket: £30 (OAPs £20)
The List 21 — 27 August 1992 59