LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVAL PREVIEWS FESTIVAL MUSIC
MIKE OLDFIELD’S TUBULAR BELLS FOR TWO Four feet and four hands recreate the iconic album
Surely everyone has heard at least something from Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells – even if it’s just in the soundtrack to The Exorcist, or more recently as part of the Olympics opening ceremony – but two Australian musicians, Daniel Holdsworth and Aidan Roberts, know it better than most. It’s a truly iconic album, and the pair of them are attempting to play the whole thing between them. It promises to be an extraordinary live performance. ‘It came about by accident, really,’ explains Holdsworth. ‘We decided to try playing it on two guitars,
then it just grew and grew until there were about 20 instruments, and we were trying to recreate the whole album as closely as we possibly could with just our four hands and four feet.’
That means leaping between pianos and drums across a stage, and looping and overdubbing melodies on the spot. ‘It took many months of practice,’ admits Holdsworth. ‘When we first started, sometimes you’d find yourself running to the wrong instrument. But you just go with it – that’s part of the fun.’
All this running about must bring its comedy moments: was that the aim of the show? Holdsworth says no: ‘We’re not poking fun at it. But it’s still a funny show. But that’s more to do with the predicament we’ve placed ourselves in.’ And, he admits, things have been known to go wrong. ‘There was one show when half-way through “side two” we lost power to half of the stage. We ended up sharing a piano and a guitar, frantically singing parts we couldn’t play. From the moment you play the first note, there’s no stopping.’ Oldfield himself hasn’t had any involvement in the show, but Holdsworth is confident he’d like it if he
saw it: ‘We’ve given the utmost respect to the work. The album still stands up today. It’s like watching a great film – it takes you on an emotional journey.’ (David Kettle) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 2–27 Aug (not 13), 9pm £10.
CIRCA Detour do a weekly clubnight, keeping it local
There are many locals who could see the Edinburgh Festival far enough, and don’t need another unicycle with ukelele cabaret act. But many do like the fact that August brings with it extended opening hours. Gigs can go on til 5am if they like, a detail that didn’t escape Ally McCrae, organiser behind Detour, and champion of Scottish music on his BBC Radio 1 Introducing show. ‘The Festival’s a time when the world’s cultural media is in Edinburgh – it seemed a perfect chance to put
on something that’d be a focal point for local, independent music.’ So he’s running a weekly clubnight where Glasgow and Edinburgh bands play live, plus guest DJ sets (Twilight Sad, Errors, We Were Promised Jetpacks and others take turns through the month) and Electric Circus’ karaoke rooms will be taken over for themed iPod DJ sets (chill-out, drone, for example, although details are still TBC). ‘We’ve tried to pick high-energy bands, stuff you’ll want to move to, as the bands will start at midnight. We wanted a bit of a rammy basically. We deliberately went for bands who’ll go wild. No names, but Three Blind Wolves. They go hard. Every time they go out. And Churches – just glorious pop, they’ll own that stage. That should help the crowd get in the festival mood.’ (Claire Sawers) ■ Electric Circus, 226 4224, Wed 8 Aug, Lady North & PAWS; Wed 15 Aug, Bwani Junction & Lafontaines; Wed 22 Aug, Churches & We are the Physics; Wed 29 Aug, Three Blind Wolves & Holy Mountain, 10.30pm, £5 advance.
2–9 Aug 2012 THE LIST 59