WAYNE MCGREGOR’S Random Dance Company brings a last, techno edge to contemporary dance. The shaven-headed McGregor's distinctive, weirdo style of movement has been drilled into the rest of the group. The Traverse show features three pieces, including McGregor’s solo performance Cyborg and a group piece called For Bruising Archangel, described as ‘a raw and obtrusive account of the urban condition’.

Random Dance Compan y is at The Traverse, Edinburgh on Fri 2 and Sat 3 Feb.

BLACK GRAPE, the post-baggy outfit which rose from the ashes of the Happy Mondays, are back in Scotland for the first time since last year’s T In The Park. Those who were there will remember that rapper Kermit had broken his ankle shortly before the band were due on stage. In the true tradition of show business, be manfully struggled on and did the show from a wheelchair, much to the derisive amusement of his less than sympathetic colleague Shaun Ryder. Unfortunately, this incident seemed to set the tone for the next few months with Kermit going down with a severe case ot blood poisoning, while Ryder was forced to conduct all his American press interviews from Cuba after the US immigration officials refused him a visa. One look at this man’s ‘lived in’ countenance should be enough to explain why. Still, all’s well that ends well and, barring further medical mishaps, the Reverend Black Grape and posse will be leading the funky faithful in chanting lessons very shortly. (Jonathan Trew)

Black Grape play livingston Forum on Sun 4 Feb.

HUGO GLENDINNING

JOOLS HOLLAND is back behind the piano after taking time out to work on the mammoth Beatles Anthology which finished just after Christmas. Holland was the unseen interviewer on most of the series, which was based on around 100 hours of interviews with the Fab Three. Holland spent his youth listening to American boogie-woogie musicians but it was The Beatles who he identified with. ‘I wanted to be George.‘ he says. ‘The Beatles were the first band who made it groovy to be English. They were the biggest influence on popular music and I think of them as my own people.‘ The series was pieced together from contemporary interviews and old footage of the band. but George. Paul and Ringo had the final say over what was shown. ‘What you saw wasjust the tip of the iceberg. says Holland. ‘They were all taking a lot of weed and acid but the programme didn‘t say much about that.‘ (Eddie Gibb) Jools Holland plays The K ing '3‘, Glasgow on Sun 4 Feb and Usher Hall, Edinburgh on Mon 5.

2 The List 26 Jan-8 Feb 1996