MUSIC list.co.uk/music
CHRISTMAS GIGS ‘Tis the season for Dune: The Musical, electro-kraut-psych and a TYCI party
S tevie Wonder knows his answer already: ‘candles burning low, lots of mistletoe, choirs singing carols, right outside his door.’ But what does Christmas mean to you? If it’s an elaborately camp, musical remake of David Lynch’s Dune, adding an Alejandro Jodorowsky-style twist, then you’re in luck as eagleowl and friends present their space-disco version (Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh, Fri 12 Dec).
group-harmony Featuring less glitter and more experimental, elemental, singing, the solstice sounds of Trembling Bells (pictured) and unaccompanied vocal offshoot, Crying Lion, provide a pagan alternative to piped-in, yuletide mall anthems (TB: Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Tue 16 Dec; Glad Café, Glasgow, Thu 18 Dec, both supported by Crying Lion; also CL play Partick Bowling Club, Sat 20 Dec; TB play Flying Duck, Glasgow, Sun 21 Dec).
Offering an antidote to Slade saccharine or Bing Crosby cosiness, Edinburgh sludge-
doom trio Of Spire & Throne and Glasgow’s stoned-out riffers, Fly the Friendly, aim to slow pulses with a heavy, visceral pre- Christmas pummelling of eardrums (13th Note, Glasgow, Fri 19 Dec). TYCI’s feminist collective harness the power of their combined X chromosomes to host a Christmas All-Dayer, featuring art, music and performance (Old Hairdressers & Stereo, Glasgow, Sat 20 Dec).
If a bloated, post-Christmas comedown threatens, seek out The Cosmic Dead and guests. That will involve an evening of good old-fashioned electro-kraut-psych, and a perfect chance to hear their freshly released 25-minute cosmos-floating jam, ‘Fukahyoocastulah’ (Bloc, Glasgow, Sat 27 Dec). (Claire Sawers)
See list.co.uk for more suggestions of the best Christmas-time gigs and parties, and for the best Hogmanay clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
✽ Dune: The Musical See preview, left. Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh, Fri 12
Dec.
✽ Bye Parrot A teary farewell (for now) to the independent gig promoter, with Powell, Golden Teacher, Sacred Paws and David Barbarossa DJing. See list.co.uk where CP fans share their favourite gig memories. Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 19 Dec.
✽ Christmas Songwriters’ Club The annual festive music bash returns, this time with eagleowl, Neil Pennycook, Discopolis and others promising ‘no covers’, only brand new songs. Central Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Dec.
✽ Slowfest Stripped back, intimate gigs by Scottish bands, easing Glasgow crowds
gently into the festive season. Bar Bloc, Glasgow, Mon 29 Dec.
✽ Hogmanay For our pick of NYE’s best events, see feature, page 13, and the Top
Hogmanay clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow at list.co.uk Various venues, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Wed 31 Dec.
✽ Celtic Connections The annual winter celebration of world, folk and Scottish music
returns. See feature, page 46. Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 15 Jan–Sun 1 Feb.
✽ First Aid Kit The Swedish Söderberg
siblings, heavily influenced by the work of Gram Parsons, Bright Eyes and Fleet Foxes. See interview, page 98. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 19 Jan.
✽ Tony Conrad Solo exhibition of the legendary instrument inventor See list.co.uk.
Inverleith House, Edinburgh, until Sun 18 Jan.
11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2014 THE LIST 93