30 gig by music legend gig by music legend Nile Rodgers. (GT)
27 ROB DRUMMOND FEARLESS PLAYWRIGHT
The prolii c workrate of Drummond reached an apex, crowned by i ve-star reviews for Quiz Show
while his tour of Bullet Catch has now reached America. Drummond is an eclectic and vibrant writer, inspired by science and never afraid to face harsh truths. (GKV) 26 WILLIAM MCILVANNEY GRIT LIT
Perhaps the most charming man in the literature world, McIlvanney recently
Underground and the Underground and the release of second album On Floating release of second album On Floating Bodies. Their respective solo projects ANAK-ANAK and the Japanese War Effort also kept on going. (DP) 29 DUNCAN CAMPBELL / CORIN SWORN / HAYLEY TOMPKINS ARTISTS IN VENICE
Ten years on from Scotland’s i rst involvement with the Venice Biennale, contemporary artists Campbell, Sworn and Tompkins represented the nation once more with the Scotland + Venice 2013 show. It’s coming to Glasgow’s Common Guild in 2014. (DP)
28 SUMMERHALL ADVENTUROUS VENUE
With another successful Fringe programme under its belt and now running a year-round arts programme, Summerhall has continued to be one of Scotland’s most exciting and surprising venues. In 2013 they hosted a huge diversity of events including a launched a website of personal essays and journalism. This year his classic Laidlaw trilogy was republished by Canongate, and he’s been a popular guest at literature festivals. In 2014, i ve more of his novels will be republished. (KL)
33 SIMON MEEK/ STORY MECHANICS GAMES GURUS
Glasgow games developers Story Mechanics reinterpreted d The 39 Steps for the
digital age. Creative lead Meek helped turn John Buchan’s classic thriller into an elegant interactive story experience app/PC title. (HN) 32 INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA DIY MESSENGERS
Making waves under the radar, this Glasgow DIY label and scene-shaping
collective continued using synths, digital art and ofi ce technology to tickle pineal glands. The Lithic Grid compilation was released, featuring label boss Lewis Cook, Diane Edwards, Jamie and Rickie McNeill, Stefan Blomeier and Elise Tippens. (CS)
31 NUMBERS LABEL ANNIVERSARY
Although their base of operations has shifted from Glasgow, the brand which redei ned the city’s sound celebrated their tenth birthday party featuring the return of Hudson Mohawke. Rustie, Deadboy, Sophie and Doc Daneeka all released on the label. (DP)
30 CONQUERING ANIMAL SOUND BEASTLY BEATS Glasgow electronic duo Anneke Kampman and James Scott went from strength to strength, particularly through their signing with Chemikal
28
THE HOT 100
TOMMY
SHEPPARD’S Top 5
The Stand and Assembly Rooms boss picks his i ve cultural highlights of 2013
My i rst cultural highlight of 2013 was Nigel Kennedy at the Usher Hall. The acoustics weren’t great,
but no one plays a i ddle like
Nigel, commanding an eclectic array of musical styles. Great to see the punk irreverence still intact, too, as the classical iconoclast showed the ruling
class he can play the music they try to appropriate better than
they can.
Top comedy moment of the year was the return of Alexei Sayle. I was mightily proud that he chose
the Stand to perform at this Fringe, having tested the water
with some work-in-progress gigs earlier in the year. Still as sharp as ever, he delivered a
masterclass for younger comics.
The Shawshank Redemption was by far the single biggest production I’ve ever been involved in. It could have
bankrupted us, but luckily people came in their thousands and loved it. It had a cast starring Omid Djalili and Ian Lavender, stunning sets and a soundtrack by Rolling Stones keyboardist
Matt Clifford.
The most signii cant cultural development of the year was the formation of Creatively
Campaigning for Yes, a loose collection of radical artists and performers who’d rather take their chances in a new Scotland
than face a future of austerity and intolerance determined by a rich elite in the south-east
corner of Britain. Watch out for the 2014 Social Club and a range of other cultural initiatives as the referendum campaign hots up.
I watch more television drama than is good for me. No question about this year’s highlight: Peaky
Blinders is the best British TV
drama in a decade. Tightly written and with superb lead performances from Sam Neill and Cillian Murphy, it’s a raw
tale of gangsters in 1919. Best of all is the contemporary jangling soundtrack by Nick Cave and the White Stripes. Downton Abbey
eat your heart out.
32 THE LIST 12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014