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For whom the bell tolls
Glasgow clubs editor David Pollock looks at the potential impact of scrapping Glasgow’s Hogmanay street party
T he decision by Glasgow City Council to scrap this year’s Hogmanay street party on George Square might have more of an impact on the city’s sense of tradition than on the plans of its regular revellers. While the pride of Scotland’s biggest city may have been swelled by the fact it could sustain an al fresco booze-up of its own without letting many of its residents decamp to the capital, the numbers have clearly stopped adding up. Seventy thousand tourists from around the world attended one of the UK’s largest festival events in Edinburgh on 31 December last year, yet fewer than 5000, predominantly local, party-goers made their way to George Square.
The writing was most likely already on the wall back then, of course, when the organisers decided to forego booking big-name bands (recent years have seen Deacon Blue and Paolo Nutini perform) in favour of a high-concept ceilidh show, which drained the event of any star quality or sense of occasion. For what it had become, Glasgow’s street party won’t be
missed. For what this decision represents – the erosion of a little more fun from Scotland’s cultural landscape in the face of ever more tightly-squeezed public budgets – is a dispiriting and grimly inevitable turn. Although in all fairness, reported costs of £34 per head are certainly unsustainable, and Glasgow City Council are more supportive of the city’s cultural scene than many other authorities. So where’s the silver lining? It might not mean much to Glasgow audiences, but Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has at least had its foreseeable future guaranteed (2011-2012’s event will enjoy an inevitable Olympic theme), while families will still be able to enjoy a programme of music, ceilidh dancing and curling on George Square up until 10pm on 31 December, as well as the city’s usual Glasgow Loves Christmas events throughout winter. That Glasgow also enjoys one of the best bar and club scenes in Europe should also help keep the crowds entertained into the New Year. Failing that, you might want to try First Footing.
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ARTS AND CULTURE NEWS COVERED IN TWO MINUTES AROUND TOWN Joanna Lumley has added her support to a fundraising drive to renovate Moat Brae House and Garden, birthplace of Peter Pan, and create Scotland’s first Centre for Children’s Literature. Lumley, who is the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust’s new patron, voiced her backing for the £4m project. The venue has significant historical interest because the gardens were used to inspire JM Barrie’s writing. For more information see peterpanmoatbrae.org.
MUSIC Noel Gallagher has announced that he will be playing with his new High Flying Birds project in a series of dates around the UK in late October. The singer-songwriter had previously announced a Dublin date but will now appear at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Thu 27 Oct. See noelgallagher.com for tickets and more. Elsewhere, it’s been confirmed that
the next Electric Frog club night in Glasgow will take place on Sat 10 & Sun 11 Sep. Confirmed acts include Mogwai, The Fall, Errors, Slam, Optimo and more.
VISUAL ART And finally, congratulations to Glasgow School of Art graduate Euan Ogilvie, who has been picked as the winner for this year’s Arches Blackbox Graduate Visual Art Award. Check out his work at Arches Live! in September.
NewsExtra GEORGE MICHAEL STILL LIVE & KICKING ■ Lock up your mothers (and fathers). George Michael will make a return to the stage with Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour later this year. Expect hits from the former Wham man’s 30-year career, with added orchestral backing. It marks Michael’s first return to the stage since 2008, when he showcased his 25Live Tour. See him at the SECC in Glasgow on 6 & 7 Dec. See secc.co.uk for more.
11–18 Aug 2011 THE LIST 101