News

Appeal after Virgin Trains ban comedy club ads

27 Nov 2008

The List is perplexed to hear that Richard Branson has banned adverts for Scotland’s largest comedy club the Stand from his Virgin Trains onboard magazine, deeming their logo of a child in a cowboy outfit pointing a toy gun at his own head while…

Scottish chef Martin Wishart to open second restaurant on Loch Lomond

27 Nov 2008

Happy days for food lovers following news that Michelin-starred Scottish chef Martin Wishart will open his second restaurant on 5 December at Cameron House, marking a return to a hotel where he worked successfully as a chef de partie early in his career…

The importance of being idle

27 Nov 2008

Idlewild have announced plans for fans to get involved in their forthcoming album. Although there will be an album release in the summer, for a limited time, fans can pre-order a special edition album, along with extras. Check out…

Paterson Joseph tipped to replace David Tennant as Doctor Who

27 Nov 2008

With David 'Doctor Who' Tennant ready to leave the building, actor Paterson Joseph, who has been hotly tipped to replace him. Joseph, known for his role as Johnson in Channel 4 comedy Peep Show and who appeared in two Doctor Who episodes in 2005…

Jennifer Aniston to star opposite Gerard Butler in Goree Girls

27 Nov 2008

Jennifer Aniston is said to be starring opposite Gerard Butler in Goree Girls, a prison movie she is producing. Aniston is said to have approached the Scottish actor after seeing him play opposite Hilary Swank in PS I Love You.

Tilda Swinton to be jury president at Berlin International Film Festival

27 Nov 2008

Oscar winner Tilda Swinton has been announced as the jury president at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. The Oscar-nominated Scottish actress is a Berlinale regular, with 14 of her film screened across Berlin festivals in past years.

Vagina Monologues set for Edinburgh Playhouse

27 Nov 2008

A new production of Vagina Monologues will rear its much-hyped head at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 16-21 Feb next year, starring Kaye Adams, Karen Dunbar, Michelle McManus and Gail Porter.

Edinburgh councillors 'optimistic' following UNESCO heritage probe

27 Nov 2008

Edinburgh councillors were reportedly optimistic following a visit from UNESCO officials earlier this month but campaigners are still nervous that the city may be stripped of its world heritage status following the probe.

Glasgow music group seek old instruments and equipment

27 Nov 2008

The East End Music Group’s Equipment Drive is now live online in a bid to encourage people to search attics, sheds, backrooms and basements for instruments and equipment. See myspace (myspace.com/eastendmusicclub).

Scottish news bulletin: 26th November 2008

26 Nov 2008

Pre-budget report: The Institute of Fiscal Studies has backed claims made by the Lib Dems and Conservatives that people earning as little as £20,000 a year, below the UK average, would be worse off under the proposals in the pre-budget report due…

Scottish news bulletin: 25th November 2008

25 Nov 2008

Pre-budget report: Yesterday the Chancellor outlined his pre-budget report to the House of Commons. Measures included a 2.5% cut in VAT for 13 months; new tax rate of 4.5% for people earning more than £150,000 from 2011; a National Insurance…

Scottish news bulletin: 24th November 2008

24 Nov 2008

Pre-budget report: Speculation and comment ahead of the Chancellor’s pre-budget report later today. The report is thought likely to offer tax cuts including cutting VAT to 15%. However there is also suggestion that Labour is planning a new…

Scottish news bulletin: 21st November 2008

21 Nov 2008

Fiscal Powers: Reform Scotland yesterday published its fifth report, ‘Fiscal Powers’, which called for Scotland to be given the power to raise the money it spends and have its own Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Scotsman page 6…

Scottish news bulletin: 20th November 2008

20 Nov 2008

Economy. Recession: Further comment on the economic slowdown. Gordon Brown yesterday said that the government would make every effort to start banks lending again to small businesses (Scotsman page 8, George Kerevan in the Scotsman, Times page…

Scottish news bulletin: 19th November 2008

19 Nov 2008

Inflation: Cheaper fuel prices helped cause inflation to fall at its fastest level for 16 years during last month. The Consumer Prices Index slowed to 4.5% in October from 5.2% in September. (Scotsman page 9, George Kerevan in the Scotsman, Martin…

Edinburgh College of Art wins at Scottish BAFTAs

19 Nov 2008

Edinburgh College of Art is celebrating success after winning two top awards at the Scottish BAFTAs. Anders Jedenfors and Jaime Stone, two recent graduates from the city's college of art, scooped a Bafta for their work on animation. Sunday night's…

Judge Dredd star Big Tam McNutter gets his own T-shirt

19 Nov 2008

A character from Judge Dredd has earned himself the right to be emblazoned across your chest on a T-shirt. Big Tam McNutter, who made an unforgettable appearance in the 1992 2000 AD Yearbook, is the creation of Scottish 2000 AD legends John Wagner and…

New venue brings downtown New York to Edinburgh

19 Nov 2008

Edinburgh’s art scene has another new addition. The Bowery on Roxburgh Place in the Southside, opened last Saturday and takes its name from one of the famous city's hippest streets. The venue aims to replicate the quirky and semi mod attitude of the…

Scottish news bulletin: 18th November 2008

18 Nov 2008

Borrowing & tax cuts: David Cameron has said that taxpayers face an average bill of £31,500 to pay for Gordon Brown's "borrowing bombshell" and called on the Prime Minister to be honest about his plans to increase debt to fund tax cuts.

New York Dolls reunite with Todd Rundgren for new album

14 Nov 2008

The New York Dolls and legendary record producer Todd Rundgren have been reunited for the first time in 36 years. Rundgren will produce the Dolls' new album at his studio on the island of Kauai. Production is scheduled to start in January 2009. This…

Summer scoops top prize at Bafta Scotland awards

10 Nov 2008

Summer, Grand Theft Auto, Gary’s Wrr and Lorraine Kelly were amongst the winners last night at the Lloyds TSB BAFTA Scotland Awards. The ceremony, at Glasgow’s City Halls with an audience of over 800, was broadcast live online worldwide.

Celtic charms

Celtic Connections

30 Oct 2008

From Africa to America, bluegrass to country, Celtic Connections looks set to showcase a roster of international talent, finds Anna Millar

Bring in the bells

30 Oct 2008

This year’s Hogmanay festivities could provide a stepping stone to stardom for one lucky band, as King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and Winterfest Glasgow this year offer an unsigned Scottish act the chance to kick off New Year festivities in Glasgow’s George…

News Briefs

30 Oct 2008

A self-portrait of Edinburgh-born artist Allan Ramsay has gone under the hammer in the capital’s Christie’s auction for almost £300,000. A painting by Edinburgh-born Samuel Peploe, Roses, fetched £529,250 – a record sum for a Scottish Colourist.…

Turnip for the books

30 Oct 2008

Organisers of Homecoming 2009 have announced their hopes of establishing a new World Record for the greatest number of Burns suppers ever held, as part of next year’s festivities. The World Famous Burns Supper Celebration will help mark the 250th…

The Big Picture - Solange Knowles

30 Oct 2008

Solange Knowles is shaking off her sisterly ties (she’s Beyonce’s wee sis) with a touch of old school Motown and collaborations with every well-known producer in the hip hop world. Already making waves in the US, she’s now taking on the UK with the…

A nobel cause

30 Oct 2008

Annie Lennox is rumoured to be flying the flag for Scotland again at this year’s Nobel Peace Concert, co-hosted by Lost in Translation lovely Scarlett Johansson. The event, to be held a day after the Nobel awards ceremony in Oslo, will see Diana Ross…

Maximum exposure

16 Oct 2008

The List are joining forces with Glasgow venue The Barfly in launching a new live music event this month. The List Exposure Night will be a regular monthly live music event showcasing the best new and emerging music from near and far. The line-up of the…

Stocks rise again

16 Oct 2008

Just under a year ago, 24-year-old James Stocks emerged from nowhere to become a serious player in Scotland’s fine-dining scene with the establishment of a signature restaurant at Balbirnie House Hotel in Fife. Few had heard of him, but his CV boasted…

Scottish Ballet to host costume sale

16 Oct 2008

Scottish Ballet will host a costume sale later this month featuring clothing, headdresses and accessories from over 30 years of the Ballet company’s productions. Costumes on sale will include everything from the ‘Ooh la la’ French Mademoiselles from…

Edinburgh International Film Festival announce new chair

16 Oct 2008

The producer of movie blockbusters, such as Children of Men and Cold Mountain, has been unveiled as the new chair of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Iain Smith succeeds John McCormick, who has been chair since 1996. Smith has been a…

The Lost World Read 2009 to celebrate Darwin and Conan Doyle

16 Oct 2008

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bristol will join forces as part of a reading campaign in February next year. The Lost World Read 2009 will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle, and the bicentenary of the birth of Charles…

Keane announce free Edinburgh show

9 Oct 2008

Keane have announced three free gigs in small-capacity venues next week to mark the launch of their third album Perfect Symmetry. The Scottish date in 200-capacity ballroom of The Voodoo Rooms is on Mon 13 Oct. Tickets are available via the band's…

Tickets go on sale for Edinburgh Hogmanay 2008/09 street party

3 Oct 2008

This Friday, 3rd October 2008, starts the official countdown to Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations as passes go on sale for the world-famous Street Party. Revellers will be able to log on to www.edinburghshogmanay.com or call 0844 481 2009 to scoop their…

Picture perfect

2 Oct 2008

Artists have been invited to submit work for next year’s Jolomo Awards, which gives creatives the chance to win one of the UK’s largest privately funded painting prizes. Those applying must live and work in Scotland, have studied at a Scottish…

Side dishes: News to nibble on

2 Oct 2008

Leven’s is the latest opening from Thai Lemongrass and Time 4 Thai operator Carole Tong, offering what’s described as ‘Thai Fusion Cuisine’ in a highly designed setting boasting moody purple lighting, sparkly wall paper and sleek wood. The menu is…

Food for thought: Michael Caines

Chef and entrepreneur

2 Oct 2008

In the food trade we eat in a strange way. I don’t know any chef who’s a good eater when it comes to the discipline of eating: your work time is people’s mealtime.The biggest problem is that because you don’t remember sitting down to have a meal you…

Sound and vision

18 Sep 2008

Film and music collide in rude style this fortnight with the launch of the inaugural Sounds Film Festival. With a locations spread across the city from the West End to the city centre ABC, the programme of events includes 11 screenings and a string of…

Picture this

18 Sep 2008

Creatives of all ages are being encouraged to pick up their pens and pencils as the Big Draw returns for another year. Everyone from children to adults will be able to take full advantage of a programme that will see hundreds of venues announce hands-on…

Idlewild to perform all of their albums live

15 Sep 2008

Idlewild have announced that they are to perform each of their albums in their entirety at dates scheduled for December 2008.

Glasvegas announce new tour dates

8 Sep 2008

Glasvegas have announced details of a new UK winter tour to close a hugely successful year for the Scots foursome. Following on from the release of their debut album and September tour, one of Scotland's most exciting bands will embark on a 15-date…

Doing it in style

Scottish Style Awards announced, with ceremony to take place in October

4 Sep 2008

Glasgow's cultural calendar enjoyed an injection of glamour this week, following news that the Scottish Style Awards are back with suitable sass. Organiser's said last night that the awards ceremony, to be held at the end of next month, will be…

Great expectations

Programme announced at Wigtown Book Festival

4 Sep 2008

Book lovers have little reason to be disappointed following the launch of this year's sizeable Wigtown Book Festival programme. Taking place over ten days, the event will boast over 130 talks, debates, theatre, film and activities, organiser's revealed…

Side Dishes - Food news to nibble on

4 Sep 2008

As the flood of Festival tourists on Edinburgh's Royal Mile recedes, a handful of recent changes have shown up along the famous thoroughfare. Café Truva, the Turkish-themed café based on Leith's shore for the last decade, has taken over Plaisir du…

Beyond the Book Fest

4 Sep 2008

Following their success this summer, The Edinburgh International Book Festival will present a special autumn event with award-winning Australian author David Malouf. Winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, his book Remembering Babylon was shortlisted…

Fringe ticket sales drop

4 Sep 2008

The Fringe took a double knock last week when figures revealed ticket sales were down by almost 10% this year - the first fall in eight years. Competition from the Olympics, box office problems and bad weather were all noted as factors. Fringe director…

Fruitmarket Folk programme

4 Sep 2008

Eddi Reader and John Martyn are just two headline names joining a slew of international stars next month when Fruitmarket Folk launches itself in Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket. Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Art Garfunkel and Tommy Emmanuel are all reported to…

New initiative for Scottish games industry talent

4 Sep 2008

Channel 4's 4Talent Scotland initiative is working with four Scottish games companies to deliver Talent Arcade: The Brief - a new talent scheme to discover, train, and develop new gaming talent in Scotland, which was launched at this year's Edinburgh…

Glasgow named City of Music

4 Sep 2008

Glasgow lord provost Bob Winter accepted the prestigious City of Music title for Glasgow at a special ceremony held at the City Halls last week. The award follows a successful bid to join UNESCO's worldwide Creative Cities Network as a City of Music…

Stuart Braithwaite and Aidan Moffat to release vinyl

4 Sep 2008

Two of Scotland's top musos, Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Arab Strap's Aidan Moffat are set to release occasional vinyl via a selection of labels. Chemikal Underground will release the first, a 10" single 'Towns On The Moon' b/w 'I've Been Bad For…