Issue 561

Douglas Gordon

Opposites attract

10 Oct 2006

I’m sitting in front of a blank screen, worrying about writing a piece on Douglas Gordon. I’m clear what I want to say: I hope to persuade sceptics and wavering readers that Gordon is one of the most interesting artists working anywhere in the world.

Classic Grand

Back to the floor

10 Oct 2006

Next door to the Sub Club - one of Scotland’s most revered clubbing institutions - a new venue has just opened its doors to an eager public. One of Glasgow’s oldest cinemas and formerly the Coco Club, The Classic Grand on Jamaica Street is a newly…

Eat, drink and be merry

16 Oct 2006

We all know how to organise a party. But what if you want to do something a little different, a little more ambitious than a piss up in your front room? We’ve put together a guide to the best party ideas, from great venues to amazing costumes. And to…

Michael McIntyre - My Hero

Michael McIntyre

12 Oct 2006

MY HERO The nominations for my comedy hero are Billy Connolly, Larry David, Woody Allen and Richard Pryor . And the winner is . . . Woody Allen. But it was close. Connolly is fantastically naturally funny and a benchmark for my own comedy while David…

Kinky Afro

Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 27 Oct

10 Oct 2006

Techno/Dub-step Kinky Afro turns seven this month. Not bad for a night that started out by accident. Matt Roberts, DJ and one half of the club’s promotional team (along with Dougal Pearman) explains all. ‘We were trying to raise money to send a…

Peter Kay

The Sound of Laughter (Century)

12 Oct 2006

COMEDY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Since Peter Kay has built his career almost entirely upon a shared sense of nostalgia, it is only to be expected that his autobiography might contain a few ‘an’ then it were all back ‘ome for Manimal’ style anecdotes. But…

Latin lessons

10 Oct 2006

A collision of Hispanic hoedowns hits Glasgow this fortnight, with the Centro Español Lorca’s annual celebration of Spanish culture, La Feria Latina, following Dance House’s Argentinian Tango in the City festival. The former is an open day of music…

New directions

Philip Howard, the longest-serving artistic direct

16 Oct 2006

As Philip Howard walks towards my booth in the far corner of the Traverse bar, I am reminded, not for the first time, of an Englishman abroad, at least in that sense that we foreigners are taught to think of them. There’s something undemonstrative…

Diane Torr: Donald Does Dusty

Drag king and performer Diane Torr explains why sh

10 Oct 2006

My brother, growing up in Mastrick on the outskirts of Aberdeen in the late 1950s and early 1960s, aware of his sexuality but with no representation of gay identity in the neighbourhood, focused on Dusty Springfield. It was Dusty and him on the queer…

Ultimate Hammer Box Set, The - DVD review

The Ultimate Hammer Box Set

17 Oct 2006

HORROR That the words ‘Hammer’ and ‘horror’ are synonymous is testament to the British production company’s significance in cinema history and to the enduring appeal of the films it produced. Although Hammer Film Productions Ltd had been making films…

Roddy Doyle

Paula Spencer (Jonathan Cape)

12 Oct 2006

SOCIAL DRAMA Epic historical trilogies must be a hell of a grind. So, you can forgive Roddy Doyle for taking his eye temporarily off the ball of his Last Roundup series (two down: A Star Called Henry and Oh, Play that Thing, one to come in, probably…

Nick Evans

10 Oct 2006

SCULPTURE Glasgow-based sculptor Nick Evans was the fourth artist to be awarded Tate St Ives artist in residence. Steven Cairns caught up with him before the opening of his four-month solo show to talk about his work, its developments and working in…

Colours Are Brighter - CD review

Colours Are Brighter

17 Oct 2006

INDIE FOR KIDS 1. Four Tet feat. Princess Watermelon ‘Go Go Ninja Dinosaur’ ‘My friend Douglas is a dinosaur expert. He’d love this! I like the voices.’ 5 stars 2. Rasputina ‘A Skeleton Bang’ ‘This would be good for Halloween. It makes me…

Mary Stuart

The History Girls

17 Oct 2006

There are a few moments in history where complex disseminations must be made about the personal and the political, where the particular personality of an individual might actually influence events which would otherwise chug along under their own mighty…

One Hour Before Sunrise

Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh, until Sat 14 Oct

17 Oct 2006

NEW WORK Over 400 people of 35 different nationalities remain held without charge or trial at the infamous Guantenamo Bay. We’re just beginning to question the involvement of our government, whereas for some nations torture has long been an…

GSA Annual Staff Show - Christine Borland, Thomas Joshua Cooper and Peter McCaughy

GSA Annual Staff Show - Christine Borland, Thomas

12 Oct 2006

PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO AND INSTALLATION This slick little show continues the annual ‘outing’ of the talents of GSA staff members. The exhibition is pared down this year, which means that there is space to consider the objects, enough room to look for…

Hazy Janes, The

The Hazy Janes

12 Oct 2006

What is it with folk from Dundee this month? First it was The View, now more Taysiders are at it, this time the altogether less twisted prospect of this feel good foursome. More concerned with inducing singalongs than sparking a mosh pit anguish they…

Nomo

Fish Fry at the Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, Sat 21 Oct

11 Oct 2006

JAZZ FUNK How they’re going to fit everyone on stage we don’t know, but this set by Detroit octet (plus guest players) Nomo should be one to look forward to. Continuing the new Jazz Bar’s ever-growing resurgence as the home of jazz, funk, Latin and…

Red Road - review

Red Road

10 Oct 2006

GLASGOW THRILLER What’s the perfect job for a lonely person? CCTV operator of course. You can follow people’s lives as if you know them, play God and stop bad things from happening to them. But sometimes the bad things happen anyway, and you’re…

Beck - CD review

The Information (Geffen)

17 Oct 2006

Convenience is everything nowadays and there is a particular kind of music which nails the rumble of great hip hop to the insistency of great electro and squeezes the nonchalant twang of the blues up against the comely beauty of perfect folk music and…

Big Big World

The world at your feet

17 Oct 2006

This month, Big Big World returns to Glasgow. The well-established, and, to be fair, excellent series of live shows showcases talent from all around the world, this year’s attraction coming from Scotland, Iran, Canada, Cuba, India, the US and all over…

Curve Foundation

Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Fri 20 & Sat 21 Oct

17 Oct 2006

CONTEMPORARY DANCE The Curve Foundation is the rainbow of the Scottish dance scene - rarely seen but well worth the wait when it finally arrives. The company has been creating quality dance for over eight years now, despite struggling to secure the…

Hitlist

The best rock, pop, jazz and folk

17 Oct 2006

King Creosote It may have been last year that his incredible KC Rules OK album came out but there’s still plenty who haven’t had the chance to catch Kenny Anderson’s joyous sound live. Now here’s the perfect chance. ABC, Glasgow, Sat 21 Oct. (Rock & Pop)

Hitlist

The best books, comics and events

17 Oct 2006

Hitlist Jeremy Paxman The toughest talker on the BBC block gets all mouthy about the Royal Family. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 19 Oct.

Rambert

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 25-Sat 27 Oct

17 Oct 2006

CONTEMPORARY DANCE There aren’t many octogenarians who can do the splits, leap high in the air or charge around at speed for thirty minutes flat. But then Rambert isn’t your average 80-year-old. The London-based dance company started life in 1926…