The HOT
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appearances, he introduced a new cop protagonist, Malcolm Fox, in September’s The Complaints and has created a new story for Hellblazer character John Constantine in debut graphic novel Dark Entries. (DP)
93 Irene Macdougall HOTSHOT ACTRESS
One of the original members of Dundee Rep’s acting ensemble and a founder member of Stellar Quines, Irene Macdougall enjoyed a triumphant 2009, winning the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland’s Best Actress gong for her commanding performance as Martha in the Rep’s production of Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. (AR)
92 Susan Calman FUNNY LADY
This very magazine once dubbed lawyer-turned-stand-up Calman as ‘a wee lassie with a big future’. And ‘09 may well prove to be the moment she broke through. A successful Fringe show based on a heckler who said he wouldn’t bed her even in the event of her being ‘the last woman on earth’ has been complemented with many an appearance on Radio Scotland. (BD)
91 Adam Stafford GENRE-SPANNING
CREATIVE TALENT
Extreme multitasking from the Y’all Is Fantasy Island frontman in 2009 as he released a solo album of experimental composition, Awnings, directed music videos for Twilight Sad and screened his own breathtaking short film, The Shutdown, which played to huge acclaim internationally and won both the jury and audience prizes at the Jim Poole Scottish Short Film Awards. (KI)
90 Regular Music GIG PROMOTERS
One of Scotland’s biggest gig promoters all year round, Regular’s name has become synonymous with the annual series of summer concerts at Edinburgh Castle. July ‘09 saw Duran Duran, Simple Minds and Crosby, Stills and Nash grace the Esplanade, while Rod Stewart has already sold out the first of two dates in 2010. (DP)
89 NEoN DIGITAL FESTIVAL
Dundee’s inaugural digital arts festival was a big hit in November this year. As well as a forum for digital talent to get together with their peers, the event offered a chance to hear from the likes of Bud Luckey (Pixar) and catch the amazing Video Games Live orchestra meets gaming experience. (HN)
88 Tommy Reilly INDIE KID
He won T4’s Orange unsignedAct (basically the X-Factor with indie and a
Elph
appearance in Doctor Who before Matt Smith takes over next year. (DP)
85 Camera Obscura SUCCESSFUL INDIE IMPS
The Glasgow indie icons’ excellent fourth album My Maudlin Career saw the light of day in April. This also coincided with their signing to the highly respected indie label 4AD, deservedly placing them on a roster which includes Bon Iver, The Breeders and TV on the Radio. (DP)
Vicky Featherstone’s artistic directorship, with the UK tour of Ian McDiarmid’s adaptation of the Andrew O’Hagan’s Be Near Me, a Highlands and Islands tour of Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off and the Allotment site specific collaboration with community groups based in Govan being particular highlights in 2009. Next up Featherstone will sit on the judging panel for the Tron’s Open Stage playwriting competition. (AR)
84 Julie Fowlis HEBRIDEAN SINGER-
SONGWRITER
81 Elph ILLUSTRATOR
EXTRAORDINAIRE
whole lot more talent) with his heartfelt indie musings and his first single ‘Gimme A Call’ went to number 14 in the charts. Since then he’s played loads of gigs including T in the Park, Homecoming Live: The Final Fling and Lovebox. (HN)
87 Richard Jobson PUNK-TURNED-FILMMAKER
In 2009 Jobson made further adventures into exploitation cinema with arguably his most entertaining — and certainly most relevant — film to date, New Town Killers (a tale of murderous bankers hunting down their impoverished parkour-skilled prey) starring Dougray Scott giving his best performance in years. (PD)
86 David Tennant TIME-TRAVELLING
OVERLORD
There were film appearances in St Trinian’s II and Glorious 39, and of course David Tennant remains The Doctor. But Christmas two-parter ‘The End of Time’ will be his last
Famously beloved of celebrity fans Björk, Ricky Gervais and Phil Selway of Radiohead, Julie Fowlis continued to champion Gaelic song with her third album Uam, which featured high-profile contributions from Eddi Reader and Phil Cunningham. (DP)
83 Bebaroque FANCY TIGHTS
The most desirable fash-pack accessories this year were a pair of Bebaroque tights. Designed by two Scottish art-school graduates and emblazoned with sailor tattoos or Chinese dragons, these superb stockings featured in Vogues across the world. (KI)
82 Vicky Featherstone
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPREMO
The NTS continues to go thrive under
It’s been another dead good year for everyone’s favourite graffiti
artist (in Scotland anyway). He took on Rabbie Burns with his Lest Bogles catch Him Unawares solo show at Edinburgh’s Henderson Gallery in May, and has been busy with community projects, drawing and design work too. Where does he find the time? (CS)
80 Roy Brett SUSTAINABLE
SEAFOOD SUPREMO
With the September opening of his own restaurant, Ondine, in Edinburgh’s Old Town, this local chef, who ran Rick Stein’s restaurants in Padstow and was chef- director at Dakota Hotels, has created a compelling showcase for Scottish and sustainable seafood. (DR)
17 Dec 2009–7 Jan 2010 THE LIST 19