tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62448980052034448872024-03-05T04:16:19.309-08:00Grumping with the CaptainA blog from Chris Bartter, trade union writer and communications expert in Scotland,
This blog is a small contribution in opposition to the right-wing consensus in the media, and will. hopefully, campaign for working people and public services.
Any comments on this blog to chrisbartter@btinternet.com please.Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-79350043551816588822017-10-27T03:47:00.000-07:002017-10-27T03:47:07.124-07:00Lights! Camera! Revolution! - film from Russia and CubaI've <a href="https://captaingrumping.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/culture-and-labour-movement-key-role.html">written before</a> about the role of Trades Union Councils in promoting (or should that be<br />
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fomenting) working class and left political culture. Another example is taking place this weekend in Dumfries.<br />
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There, the local TUC (what we used to call Trades Councils) in association with the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, is screening a small film festival to mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution.<br />
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Called <i>Representing Revolution</i> the first film - <i>At Home among Strangers</i> - screens tonight and then we have another 5 films including Eisenstein's <i>October</i>, screened with <i>The End of Saint Petersburg</i>, and Warren Beatty's <i>Reds</i>. The films are introduced and illustrated by a variety of talks by prominent academics. The Morning Star (also a partner in this project) has a fuller description <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-1f66-Revolutionary-reels-in-Dumfries#.WfMAnoV7_Io">here</a>.<br />
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Tickets are available from the Robert Burns Centre <a href="http://rbcft.co.uk/films-showing/october.html">here</a>.<br />
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If the Russian Revolution is not your bag (all that snow and ice) how about a revolution performed in the somewhat warmer climes of the Caribbean? The Third Havana Glasgow Film Festival is coming up in Havana's twin city on the Clyde.<br />
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This year concentrated into an extended weekend the Festival has concentrated on bringing the stars and filmmakers over from Cuba to speak to their creations. Starting from Thursday 9 November with Jonal Cosculluela here to talk about his film <i>Esteban</i> - about a 9-year-old's determination to learn the piano - this year's festival also welcomes Luis Alberto Garcia, star of films like - <i>Ya no es Antes</i> - the premiere of this film about a couple split by emigration, and <i>Clandestinos</i> - a love story set against the last days of the revolution against Batista.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Aleida Guevara March</td></tr>
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Other Cuban friends arriving are Che Guevara's daughter, Aleida, in Glasgow as part of a UK-wide speaking tour on the 50th Anniversary of her father's assassination. In
addition to the rally organised by the Scottish Cuba Solidarity
Campaign, she will take time out to discuss two films<i>-San Ernesto nace en La Higuera </i>- about the impact of Che's death amongst the Bolivian villagers in the area - and <i>The Man Behind the Myth</i> - on Che's compadre. Fidel. HGFF's Cuban co-director, Hugo Rivalta flies in tomorrow (Saturday)!<br />
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The <a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/">HGFF website</a> has details of these and many other films (me? I'm lookng forward to <i>Ghost Town to Havana</i> - about two kids baseball teams - from Oakland and Havana and the parallels and differences between them.). The programme is<a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/programme"> here.</a><br />
<br />Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-6228831177558118302017-09-04T07:46:00.001-07:002017-09-04T07:46:29.015-07:00From Alexei to Jeremy, and much in between - Edinburgh Reviews 3 & 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0mm; margin-right: 0mm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0mm; mso-para-margin-right: 0mm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span id="goog_377998338"></span><span id="goog_377998339"></span>Both of my final compilation roundups of Edinburgh festival shows have now been published in the Morning Star. The third one - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sayle, Spoiler Alerts and Symphonies</b> - can be found <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-fa3e-Sayle,-spoiler-alerts-and-symphonies#.Wa1ar4Xr3Io"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. And the final one - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clementine to Corbyn</b> - is <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-fd35-Clementine-to-Corbyn#.Wa1cPoXr3Io"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSkcxQqrcVHNIp99-x2wqYvrMs6oYa4MIYyJqmbHgFtdbZOaMD_qJBurDiEDRa7OD5BPYM7uGDZxuniIuEbaKg6QTAZ_w4BJzFsj6YAO1jI5nmXDz3Ed70WQfnxnOLVsLCEmafzbO4nZy/s1600/Corbyn-Labour-330575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="590" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSkcxQqrcVHNIp99-x2wqYvrMs6oYa4MIYyJqmbHgFtdbZOaMD_qJBurDiEDRa7OD5BPYM7uGDZxuniIuEbaKg6QTAZ_w4BJzFsj6YAO1jI5nmXDz3Ed70WQfnxnOLVsLCEmafzbO4nZy/s200/Corbyn-Labour-330575.jpg" width="142" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This final review has been truncated more than usual to get in what was originally a separate story on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeremy Corbyn's</b> two appearances at the fringe. Obviously, a paper like the Star often has to do this to get stories in at all. What is remarkable is how much they have managed to retain from the original - hats off to the subs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the website edition, the ratings for the shows in the final review have disappeared. For the record, they were as follows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Benjamin Clementine 3/5; Bad Roads 3/5; Contesting the Spirit of Unity 4/5; Assessment 3/5; Anoushka Shankar 4/5; In Conversation With – Barry Crimmins 4/5; Bonnie Fechters<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>4/5. </span></div>
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Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-40621983756606869182017-08-28T04:42:00.002-07:002017-08-28T04:44:23.297-07:00Radical Angles with a Cutting Edge - Edinburgh reviews 2<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0mm; margin-right:0mm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0mm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">...And the second of the group reviews of both International and Fringe shows was published in the Morning Star on Saturday. It is available<a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f2d5-Radical-angles-with-a-cutting-edge#.WaP0BoXr3Io"><span style="color: blue;"> here</span></a>. It covers reviews that I posted in my previous blog post, (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cathy, Out of the Bad</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Remains of Tom Lehrer</i>), plus reviews of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yo Carmen</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Drainage Alley</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There will, I think, be a further two compilation reviews in the Star in the forthcoming weeks but a couple of shows that have slipped through the net are printed below. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The increase of spoken word events in the various festivals, means we need to find a reviewing standard to rate them. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John McDonnell MP </b>(*****)may have provided us with a standard in this interview (by comedian and presenter, Susan Morrison). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Shadow Chancellor, and de facto deputy in the Corbyn leadership can sometimes appear severe and harsh in political interviews. In fact he proved to be an entertaining and engaging subject. He ranged over his life, both political and non-political – not the least of his revelations was that he didn’t want to be a politician – he wanted to be manager of the Co-op! </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Moving from Liverpool to London when very young, and taking a number of jobs after school, he eventually became active via the TU movement. Handling questions well, he seemed to charm even unconvinced members of the audience – while showing an impressive grasp of economics! A performance that did neither him, nor his interviewer any harm.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In contrast, Michelle Shocked's show - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Truth vs Reality</b> (**) will not have helped her career. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She is a<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle Shocked. pic Chad Batka</td></tr>
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great singer, and songwriter, but in this show her undoubtedly pure voice plays second fiddle to an onstage exorcism of her treatment by big business. Nobody has any illusion about the music industry, but sometimes you can be too close to your own story for others to follow, even (or maybe especially) if it is read from a script! </span></div>
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Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-4119862963624959572017-08-18T09:38:00.000-07:002017-08-18T09:38:42.655-07:00Asylum. Immigration and Women - Edinburgh reviews 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0mm; margin-right: 0mm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0mm; mso-para-margin-right: 0mm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yesterday, the Morning Star published my reviews of four shows I've seen at this year's festivals. It is available <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-b683-Past,-present-and-future-tensions#.WZbrEIXr3Io"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> and covers Henry Naylor's new play - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Borders</b> (*****), and a new play by a Lebanese writer - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ghalia's Miles</b> (***). Both these plays deal with the asylum crisis in the Middle East. The reviews also cover PJ Harvey's concert - the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hope Six Demolition Project</b> (*****) and Sajeela Kershi's guest show<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Immigrant Diaries</b> (****).</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of these reviews, only one (Borders) continues on a run (till the 28 Aug). There will be another couple of compilation reviews in the Star to come, but I thought it might be of use if I put other continuing shows here so you can decide if you'd like to see them (or not)!</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathy Owen as Cathy. pic Pamela Raith photography</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One I would clearly recommend is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cathy</b> (*****) Pleasance Dome until the 26. Updating a classic performance often loses something but Cathy, a reimagining of Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home, does no such thing. Written by Ali Taylor and staged by Cardboard Citizens who work with homeless and other marginalised people, this updating places the full horror of homelessness in front of us. Cathy and her daughter – now 15 and taking GCSEs – experience the trauma - zero-hours work, low wages, eviction, uprooting, family breakup. The performances by all the cast are spot on, believable and affecting in equal measure. The audience were angry – the best result that could be achieved. See it if you can.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the other hand, there is - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Girl who loved Stalin</b> (*) The Space @ Jury's Inn until the 26. Sometimes it seems that some fringe shows are there only to get the cast a free pass to the festival social life. This would be one of them. The play seems to have no point, the performers have neither ability nor timing, but worst of all – they seem aware of this and don’t care. Occasional asides are the only signs of life in this unfunny and amateurish production. 50 minutes of my life I won’t get back.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Donnelly and Keira Lucchesi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At times poignant, angry, joyous and an unusual way to approach the Caterpillar Occupation of 30 years ago, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Out of the Bad</b> (****) New Town Theatre until the 25, is a short two-hander between a mother (who was part of the occupation) and her daughter. Kate Donnelly and Keira Lucchesi deliver the characters with humour and life. Produced by FairPley, and directed by Sarah McCardie it is a short play (50 mins) and leaves us wanting more – which in fact there is in Butterfly (not playing here). A great taster about the impact of major industrial events on the workers. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">Finally, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Remains of Tom Lehrer</b> (****) Gilded Balloon Teviot until 28.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Adam Kay, writer, comedian and performer takes a trip around the history and songs of Tom Lehrer. A child prodigy and maths lecturer, Lehrer started writing blackly comic (and often political) songs to entertain colleagues. While they were never played on the radio, they spread by word of mouth after he issued a self-produced album in 1953. How he got away with songs like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We will all go together when we go</i> about nuclear annihilation, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I wanna go back to Dixie</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- “where the laws are mediaeval” during the period of McCarthy is unknown, but Kay does them justice. Interwoven with stories about Lehrer’s life (he is still alive) and careers the show is a worthy – if short – tribute.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"></span></div>
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Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-48662983479978065052017-08-07T10:42:00.002-07:002017-08-07T10:42:17.116-07:00Edinburgh's International Festival - for the elite, or for the masses?
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A little-known fact of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), is that it has always included on its board a representative from the city’s trade unionists. Appointed by Edinburgh’s TUC, the impact of this link has had varying levels of influence over the 70 years of the Festival’s existence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The tensions between ‘working-class’ or ‘peoples’ culture and the ‘highbrow’ culture that the International Festival has sometimes seemed to celebrate, occurred early on and is referred to in this article on the EIF’s history from Adam Behr in <a href="http://theconversation.com/what-70-years-of-the-edinburgh-festival-has-done-for-the-arts-and-the-economy-82102?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20August%207%202017%20-%2080206426&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20August%207%202017%20-%2080206426+CID_b8d0838efa2a881a53993479198da945&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=What%2070%20years%20of%20the%20Edinburgh%20Festival%20has%20done%20for%20the%20arts%20%20and%20the%20economy">The Conversation.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rudolf Bing, the Festival’s first director, thought contemporary Scottish work unlikely to meet his standards and turned down the successful Glasgow Unity Theatre. They came anyway and performed, along with a number of other companies, on what was to become the Fringe.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yv-U3cnH1OZZpl2hOnPr2Z6nt_f3INZnaoSgev4l4nECZhU2vH0z99DcUaxrhAf2KkMWLISFiPcrRw9e5XanExu6iu7FFzA8O0nP6G3U8ow9wt5YDpB3J9mGvGQwOh0nBxbE9X2jUmKp/s1600/STA_As_12_1_400px.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yv-U3cnH1OZZpl2hOnPr2Z6nt_f3INZnaoSgev4l4nECZhU2vH0z99DcUaxrhAf2KkMWLISFiPcrRw9e5XanExu6iu7FFzA8O0nP6G3U8ow9wt5YDpB3J9mGvGQwOh0nBxbE9X2jUmKp/s200/STA_As_12_1_400px.jpg" width="143" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The history of Glasgow’s Unity Theatre is worthy of an article (or more) to itself. Formed from a number of working class theatre groups in the city (including the Clarion Players, the Glasgow Workers Theatre group and the Jewish Institute Players) and chaired by ex-shipyard worker and novelist, James Barke, it commissioned and staged a number of important plays, including Ena Lamont Stewart’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Men should weep</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The tensions between ‘elite culture’ and ‘people’s culture’ continues to this day, and it is to immense credit that the EIF that, at the time it is celebrating its 70<sup>th</sup> year of existence, it is also bringing this debate up front. As part of its ‘Spirit of 47’ season, it is staging <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Contesting the Spirit of Unity – Whose Festival, Whose Culture? </i>A combination of readings and discussion will be chaired by Director of the Festival, Fergus Linehan and will feature Larry Flanagan – General Secretary of the EIS and Joyce McMillan – theatre critic and NUJ branch chair. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The debate will no doubt continue, but what is significant to me, is the long tradition and continuing vibrancy of people’s culture in Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow. It is a tradition that deserves much more attention than it gets, and its continuing work (through groups like Trades Union Councils, FairPley and many others) still receives less than its fair share of artistic subsidy.</span></div>
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Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-7214934337274451332017-08-05T10:05:00.001-07:002017-08-05T10:05:24.191-07:00Rich pickings for the Culture Vulture - Edinburgh Festivals Preview<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0mm; margin-right: 0mm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0mm; mso-para-margin-right: 0mm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Last Saturday our friends in the Morning Star printed my preview of the Fringe at this year's Edinburgh Festivals. This (and the International Festival) started this weekend and I thought it was worth posting a link to<a href="https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-eaa0-Edinburgh-Fringe-Festival-A-radical-pick-and-mix#.WYXnnoXr3Io"> it here</a>. Mine is the second of the two reviews posted there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The International Festival meanwhile is celebrating its 70<sup> </sup>Anniversary. The trade union link has been ably dealt with by Ann Henderson </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-ff43-Edinburgh-Fringe-A-vision-of-optimism,-hope-and-an-inclusive-society#.WXXwO4Xr3Ip"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">in an earlier Star</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, but it is a pity that much of the ‘Spirit of ‘47’ events are only <a href="https://www.eif.co.uk/spiritof47#.WYXqx4Xr3Io">available online</a> and not in the printed <a href="https://www.eif.co.uk/">programme</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyUH5AvnxPNe-JFyKNGaCmiS3tKJX3CCJGjRoUE7eiBpcddrgEsp6xASAHPgFU27vtT32KFwiiCwxKFpShlMF1MGT_4KrmAWzS16LWZfLY0IfVK5JC7LgnT11PbrqwblOqnaoMg_JJmBZ/s1600/Maria1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="927" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyUH5AvnxPNe-JFyKNGaCmiS3tKJX3CCJGjRoUE7eiBpcddrgEsp6xASAHPgFU27vtT32KFwiiCwxKFpShlMF1MGT_4KrmAWzS16LWZfLY0IfVK5JC7LgnT11PbrqwblOqnaoMg_JJmBZ/s200/Maria1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ Harvey. pic Maria Mochnaz</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In addition to the rich classical and dramatic programme dealt with so ably by my colleague Gordon Parsons in the first half of the Star preview, the contemporary music programme features, PJ Harvey, and Anoushka Shankar. Other contemporary music highlights promise to be the eclectic Benjamin Clementine, and Jarvis Cocker/Chilly Gonzalez in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Room 29</i> of the Los Angeles Chateau Marmont. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The slightly-less-contemporary music scene sees legendary produce Joe Boyd try and recreate <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rEpiMjF1QchJPXI5myffCJDJOhBpbr6GsD0H8mtlgvCkUQcU804s72TGr0MSoOTzefOS4b5ujj-ciwsBqDT7fNeyRSqOp63BZwSWMKGil-hsAYmjXmYSasVPwnVoiZSNpouLPY57xlQ/s1600/joe_boyd_c_andrew_goertler_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="645" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rEpiMjF1QchJPXI5myffCJDJOhBpbr6GsD0H8mtlgvCkUQcU804s72TGr0MSoOTzefOS4b5ujj-ciwsBqDT7fNeyRSqOp63BZwSWMKGil-hsAYmjXmYSasVPwnVoiZSNpouLPY57xlQ/s200/joe_boyd_c_andrew_goertler_2.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Boyd. pic Andrew Goertler</td></tr>
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the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Music of the Incredible String Band – very cellular songs</i>, using a range of guest musicians, (yes he does include Mike Heron). Boyd was one of the seminal producers of the ‘60s, working with </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, R.E.M., John Martyn, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Billy Bragg, and Nick Drake as well as ISB.(An interesting Nick Drake link is the appearance by the Unthanks at this year's book festival. They have reinterpreted the little-known song and poetry of Molly Drake, Nick's mother. Their amazing voices promise an intriguing treatment.)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In the Classical Music side there are as ever, many gems. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A spectacular two-orchestra show with the RSNO and the Mariinsky Orchestra marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A flamenco version of Carmen from Spain’s Maria Pages company rubs shoulders with an opera version of Steven Berkoff's resetting of the Oedipus story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Greek</i>. Written by Mark-Anthony Turnage the myth is updated and set in London's east end. Expect references to racism, football violence and industrial unrest! </span></div>
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Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-37304964854499922522017-04-25T08:57:00.000-07:002017-04-25T09:06:20.595-07:00Returning to the roots of MayDay's Cabarets<style>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Glasgow
Friends of MayDay (GFoMD) have announced another stellar line-up for the sixth
annual Great May Day cabaret celebrating International Workers’ Day (May Day).
This annual event at Oran Mor takes place this year on MayDay itself - Monday
May 1 – this year’s public holiday.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpJ1PTD4A8HB2LJ9yHSHBdlDkF9IFK4FQwlAm9OHp9dlwQKBVdAop9oiTZFGpm0xlJ2dRIVI6J4aDPmSAaluwZdN6-WWZ5jwuVnYJWxuAh5MC4m9ImKWcv8H4coe0xnr8mT7u5cH4ZZOB/s1600/Glasgow+Cabaret+A5+TSS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpJ1PTD4A8HB2LJ9yHSHBdlDkF9IFK4FQwlAm9OHp9dlwQKBVdAop9oiTZFGpm0xlJ2dRIVI6J4aDPmSAaluwZdN6-WWZ5jwuVnYJWxuAh5MC4m9ImKWcv8H4coe0xnr8mT7u5cH4ZZOB/s320/Glasgow+Cabaret+A5+TSS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Cabaret returns to its roots after a couple of years inclusion of drama into the celebrations, and appropriately this
year’s headliners are the acclaimed and award-winning Edinburgh-based roots
collective <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Southern Tenant Folk Union</b>. They are ably supported by Leicester singer-songwriter and activist <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grace Petrie</b>, the welcome return of Marxist magician <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ian Saville</b> (wonder what he's got to say about Jeremy?), folk legend <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arthur Johnstone</b>, godfather of Scottish
stand-up <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bruce Morton</b>, Ayrshire’s
second-best ever poet <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jim Monagahan</b>,
plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fraser Speirs, Stephen Wright, and
Gavin Paterson</b>. All hosted by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dave
Anderson </b>and supported by<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Thompsons
Solicitors</b>. it promises to be a great night. Tickets available (£14) from the Bar in Oran Mor or (+bf) via the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1808979119428542/">facebook page </a>or <a href="http://oran-mor.co.uk/whats-on/">website</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s great that the cabaret has
attracted major talents like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Southern
Tenant Folk Union</b>, and that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grace
Petrie</b> can come up and spend some time letting Scotland hear her fresh new
style. It is especially good that there are a number of cabarets across Scotland this year.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This year,
Mayday cabarets are also taking place in Irvine (Celtic SC – Fr1 28/4), West
Lothian (Loganlea Miners Welfare – Sat 29/4), and Blantyre (Miners Welfare –
Sun 30/4). Playing all four cabarets are core acts <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ian Saville, Bruce Morton, Jim Monaghan, Fraser Speirs and Stephen
Wright</b>. They will be joined by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grace
Petrie</b> in Glasgow, Blantyre and Loganlea, rising star <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maeve Mackinnon</b> in Irvine and Blantyre, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arthur Johnstone</b> in Irvine, Loganlea and Glasgow, and talented
singer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calum Baird</b> in Loganlea </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small; line-height: 150%;">This
year’s Mayday marches will take place on different days around Scotland, with
the </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small; line-height: 150%;">largest on</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Sunday April 30 in Glasgow, forming at George Square at 11.00 and marching to Kelvingrove Park Bandstand. Others will be on Sat April 29
(Aberdeen, Dundee and Fife) and Sat May 6 (Edinburgh and Irvine). Both Glasgow
and Edinburgh’s marches feature <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paul
Laverty</b>, screenwriter of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I, Daniel Blake</b> as a keynote speaker.
Details here </span></span>- <span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-external-events/mayday-2017"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">http://www.stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-external-events/mayday-2017</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Other
events around the MayDay weekend also include events at the Tron as part of its
Mayfesto season, and a short tour of a one-man play about the miners’ strike. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Undermined</b> by Danny Mellor, touring
with the backing of Unite Community, will play Aberdeen (The Blue Lamp – 26
April); Dundee ( Arthurstone Comm Lib - 27); Edinburgh (Out of the Blue Drill
Hall- 28); and Glasgow (STUC-29).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEa5cnPphzMRY7XGMs8HfY3c8DF8Gm3xQNkStqNEWPQA8j7W1OMaUAeTzJc2Rm_9iVuebAbRCmm0EPMmCj949KB0Xz29ERHQYZKRzArD2jOl2bnrazLwy-ulQXwMXx606-BBy9DoeN22a/s1600/rab_noakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEa5cnPphzMRY7XGMs8HfY3c8DF8Gm3xQNkStqNEWPQA8j7W1OMaUAeTzJc2Rm_9iVuebAbRCmm0EPMmCj949KB0Xz29ERHQYZKRzArD2jOl2bnrazLwy-ulQXwMXx606-BBy9DoeN22a/s200/rab_noakes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rab Noakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mJmsgssojOh3vNb9x_enmwfd5YOW2u-W2DVNGudn22-eDhFx3Ylh5PjBD4qNzTLPivAAZMc2jA17beG_j16VtePQzlzmoPukmarMDEyfVlIDsMDg4epOzCW9BxTSve-ATMleQyLrfuLp/s1600/Women-Hold-Up-More-Than-Half-the-Sky-221x310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mJmsgssojOh3vNb9x_enmwfd5YOW2u-W2DVNGudn22-eDhFx3Ylh5PjBD4qNzTLPivAAZMc2jA17beG_j16VtePQzlzmoPukmarMDEyfVlIDsMDg4epOzCW9BxTSve-ATMleQyLrfuLp/s200/Women-Hold-Up-More-Than-Half-the-Sky-221x310.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women Hold up Half the Sky</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our old friend (and MU activist) Rab Noakes has a welcome concert in <a href="http://www.cottiers.com/events/rab-noakes-2/">Cottiers Theatre on May 7</a>. In his 70th year and 50 years since his first paid gig, the 'songwriter-performer on top of his game' will be joined by Kathleen MacInnes and Innes Watson.And there is the prospect of a fascinating exhibition in the Glasgow Women's Library (Landressy Street). <a href="http://womenslibrary.org.uk/event/sisterhood-is-powerful-posters-from-gwl/"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sisterhood is Powerful</span></b></a> - posters from the GWL museum collection is on from 11 May - 17 June.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">These and
many other events will be featured in the programme which is available via
the GFoMD <a href="http://may1st.org.uk/">website</a>.</span><a href="http://may1st.org.uk/"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-67523674939181833622017-02-20T07:33:00.000-08:002017-02-20T07:33:10.634-08:00Culture and the labour movement - a key role for Trades Councils
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Last Tuesday,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie Caldwell – Unite Community
Co-ordinator for Scotland – penned a piece in the ‘Voices from Scotland’
section of the <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-9fe1-Arm-the-workers-with-music,-art-and-culture#.WKq7t4XsDIo">Morning
Star</a> arguing the importance of arts, music and culture in bringing people
to politics and inspiring them to join the movement for change. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is a timely
reminder of the importance of the labour movement’s involvement in the arts and
cultural scene – an involvement that goes back at least as far as the Rose
Schneiderman quote from 1911/2 - </span><span lang="EN-US">"The worker must
have bread, but she must have roses, too." It was a prominent part of
socialist and labour movement work in thirties and forties Glasgow with the
Unity Theatre, Left Book Club groups and the Trades Council’s Film Society.
Similar organisations existed in other cities.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In more contemporary times the TU movement
was key to the formation of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glasgow’s MayFest, - as were left theatre groups such as Dave
MacLennan’s Wildcat - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and it is
good to see increasing arts and musical input more recently around the
International Workers’ Day celebrations. Glasgow’s own Friends of MayDay
programme is one of these developments.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The role of Trades Councils can be crucial
in the success of this co-ordination, and it is good to see a recent increase
in such activities by Trades Union Councils (the new name for Trades Councils)
in and around Glasgow.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87E5ZJv0ahpRMxHsiNkezSlWD5SjhtdkDj3OoC9usUlOt1LXONohlWxkM8EEfSyRZkepz86wy8Hyl0giqBvjdPu2ctBQCPyhtfxBOkjVzgu0s20QgSRE6yOT2qjgNdHxefruBo5mcgq7V/s1600/JMcAmaxresdefault.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87E5ZJv0ahpRMxHsiNkezSlWD5SjhtdkDj3OoC9usUlOt1LXONohlWxkM8EEfSyRZkepz86wy8Hyl0giqBvjdPu2ctBQCPyhtfxBOkjVzgu0s20QgSRE6yOT2qjgNdHxefruBo5mcgq7V/s200/JMcAmaxresdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane McAlevey</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Glasgow Trades Council itself starts the
list this week with their hosting of the book launch by American union
organizer and author, Jane McAlevey. Entitled <i>No Shortcuts, Organising for Power</i>, it’s on tonight at the Lighthouse and
while it has been sold out, there might be some returns available via the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/236217526788514/247413139002286/?notif_t=admin_plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1487453910666442">FB
page.</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Jamie’s article mentions the Ken Loach film
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, Daniel Blake</i>, and the work of
Unite and the People’s Assembly in promoting it. One of these screenings is
being hosted in Clydebank Town Hall, by Clydebank Trades Council with support
from the Morning Star and a multitude of TUs, on Thursday this week at 7.00pm. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-i-daniel-blake-tickets-31284356352">Tickets
here</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8SsQrVOfDwQwy8IVrhHTV5dbmig9xAeflzmZhqJPXT0KhNT-mF4I68CTrWOy42mnXRgQ-EZVuIJUmRNAfvpmzZnWLi_ezQ5HW69higeRBupVEMRO-W4REIXjpmqmbU0PC200z0uAFara/s1600/DD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8SsQrVOfDwQwy8IVrhHTV5dbmig9xAeflzmZhqJPXT0KhNT-mF4I68CTrWOy42mnXRgQ-EZVuIJUmRNAfvpmzZnWLi_ezQ5HW69higeRBupVEMRO-W4REIXjpmqmbU0PC200z0uAFara/s200/DD.JPG" width="134" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Clydebank TC are also prominent in a mini
tour of the play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/feedback/test">Dare Devil Rides to
Jarama</a></i>. A play about motorcycling and the Spanish Civil War, it is
produced by Townsend Productions – who gave you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropist</i> and the Shrewsbury pickets play
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">United We Stand</i>. It is also playing
Clydebank Town Hall (on 6 March), <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/play-dare-devil-rides-to-jarama-tickets-31375827946">tickets
here</a>. If you can’t make this showing, there is also one organised by South
Lanarkshire TC in the Blantyre Miners Welfare two days previously (4 Mar).
Tickets from UNISON South Lanarkshire 01698 454690 or from the Blantyre Miners
Welfare itself.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">30 years ago elsewhere in South Lanarkshire
(in Uddingston actually) workers at the Caterpillar factory occupied their
workplace to prevent it being closed. The occupation lasted 103 days. Our
friends at FairPley – other valuable contributors to the increase in cultural
activity on the left – have commissioned two, one-act plays from Anne Hogg on
the aftermath of the occupation. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out of
the Bad</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Butterfly</i> are
premiering at Motherwell Civic Theatre on February 25. Tickets from <a href="https://culturenl.co.uk/out-of-the-bad-butterfly/">Culture NL here.</a>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Not a bad contribution to Jamie’s important
call for the use of cultural events in socialist and labour movement
organizing. I have no doubt that there are other Trades Union Council’s across
Scotland who are organising similar events. If so, it would be good to support
them and to promote them using social contacts, both digital and otherwise. And
if they are not – what about getting them to do so?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As a wee add-on, while I was in London on a
break, the Morning Star published my final round-up <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmWunzhQK0_gwHxhnD156XFfU61xRQPsVxiPobFADnLnWrF_q12HwQtKVsAakbfSblkgg2Sdxy4j2wUkB2GHbs2hXhFvtd-ZelK9p3OGDZ0ooFKAdKvfnZEfg4CwQuOESe_AZKCz9yJ_k/s1600/shirley_collins_cresit_eva_vermandel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmWunzhQK0_gwHxhnD156XFfU61xRQPsVxiPobFADnLnWrF_q12HwQtKVsAakbfSblkgg2Sdxy4j2wUkB2GHbs2hXhFvtd-ZelK9p3OGDZ0ooFKAdKvfnZEfg4CwQuOESe_AZKCz9yJ_k/s200/shirley_collins_cresit_eva_vermandel.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley Collins, pic Eva Vermandel</td></tr>
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review of Celtic
Connections. Concentrating on the CC theme of <i>Women of Song</i> it can be found <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-df6b-Women-call-the-tune-at-Celtic-Connections-festival#.WKsH5YXsDIo">here.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while we’re on the topic of the
Star and Arts/Music coverage, there’s a nice interview by Mike Quille with a
former star of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Celtic Connections,
Chris Wood, in the <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-bcc0-I-try-to-vote-with-my-money#.WKsIf4XsDIo">weekend’s
edition</a>. He is a great example of how contemporary folk music is being
created right across these islands.</span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-8790462947398838362017-02-03T07:54:00.000-08:002017-02-03T07:54:35.825-08:00Celtic Connections 3 - crossing bordersThe first of my two articles reviewing this year's Celtic Connections was in the Morning Star yesterday <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-de5f-Timely-transatlantic-crossings#.WJRs8oXsDIo">here</a>. It dealt with two themes, the continuing connections between British and Irish music and the roots music from the US - particularly timely given recent US events, and the remarkable standard of so-called 'support' bands in the festival.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6NwKqzrxYzoVY2yG6JFZmD2OpKxGcFNC5WBT7ES7Jd5BUC2Ppq493KzhHcgzmsvEKWVzAzvNBR3qhO8fgwh8rHmAE-fjROLcpG152hGHZZ0nM36SOylRcCo_fPtloeT_4tFWllVWlH4s/s1600/thumbs_Rab-Noakes-by-Brian-Aris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6NwKqzrxYzoVY2yG6JFZmD2OpKxGcFNC5WBT7ES7Jd5BUC2Ppq493KzhHcgzmsvEKWVzAzvNBR3qhO8fgwh8rHmAE-fjROLcpG152hGHZZ0nM36SOylRcCo_fPtloeT_4tFWllVWlH4s/s200/thumbs_Rab-Noakes-by-Brian-Aris.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rab - pic Brian Aris</td></tr>
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As it is likely that I won't be able to get a review of Rab Noakes' 70/50 concert at the Old Fruitmarket last night into my next, I thought I'd post it here. Noakes, who has recently come through a draining series of treatments for tonsillar cancer, was celebrating his forthcoming 70th birthday (no they didn't wheel a Gene-Pitney-style cake onto the stage, although there was one backstage apparently!), and the 50th Anniversary of his first paid gig - at the Glasgow Folk Centre appropriately enough.<br />
<br />
He slipped onto the stage after the band, almost unnoticed until he revealed his suit! But he soon took command. The intro promised a selection of 'landmark' songs - so-called because he hasn't had any hits, he pointed out! - and new material. The former included Lindisfarne's 1969 hit, <i>Together Forever </i>and the song he wrote inspired by the great Scottish folk singer Alex Campbell, <i>Gently Does It</i> with its touching line -"<span class="st">you'd been on this road so long. Now they're building a highway to take you home." - a sentiment that could be applied to Rab himself. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">The concert was packed out, a testament to the affection that his fans have for him, an affection that was almost tangible. The concert was as meticulously crafted as we've come to expect from Noakes - albeit with a slight trip over the song order! Contemporary songs in his inimitable country folk style were prominent - four of the six tracks on the new EP. (<a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7d44-Album-reviews-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22#.WJSMVoXsDIo">Reviewed here</a>) and (at least) three from <i>I'm Walking Here</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">But the best of the contemporary songs were two that he wrote while getting back into his Scottish music roots. The <i>Handwash Feein' Mairket</i> is a song about the exploitation of asylum seekers forced into illegal work by our brutal restrictions, and what he called <i>Tramps and Migrants</i> - a mash-up of Bob Dylan's <i>Pity the Poor Immigrant</i> and the Scottish traditional <i>Tramps and Hawkers</i>, beautifully assisted by Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">His backing band - Una MacGlone, Innes Watson, Stuart Brown, Christine Hanson, Lisbee Stainton and Jill Jackson - more than did him justice, and his voice - if a bit lower in register - has clearly not been damaged by the treatment. A beautiful 'cello treatment of the love song <i>I always will</i> stood out amongst the closing tunes. Rab is perhaps even better now than he was when he first hit the musical big time. He starts a short <a href="http://rabnoakes.com/tour-dates/">tour of UK towns</a> in March. If you're around - get along!</span> Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-9601525675663804282017-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:002017-02-01T05:00:20.485-08:00Celtic Connections 2 - and Beyond A selection of shorts re a number of shows that are not going to get onto my reviews in the Star (the first one of which is due in tomorrow's paper (Thursday 2).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlWk61XJpWG2Bkh5gdp_u_iFNI4sLg9lTpseROSz7F0gCopvD2HPd6hphWK2qhnKu-EiN1SBuQAZEJ69klvEOcAp1lj_ycJfxLU2cjX8l9fVeuSbo-X8Z4aKoXuOhwliGhp4ofXqtp_b7/s1600/TTT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlWk61XJpWG2Bkh5gdp_u_iFNI4sLg9lTpseROSz7F0gCopvD2HPd6hphWK2qhnKu-EiN1SBuQAZEJ69klvEOcAp1lj_ycJfxLU2cjX8l9fVeuSbo-X8Z4aKoXuOhwliGhp4ofXqtp_b7/s200/TTT.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
One thing that is already in (Tuesday's) Star is my review of Rab Noakes new EP, <i>The Treatment Tapes</i> - the final of these three <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7d44-Album-reviews-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22#.WJHO9IXsDIo">album reviews</a>. Rab has a show at Celtic Connections too, on Thursday in the Old Fruitmarket. There are tickets still available <a href="http://www.celticconnections.com/events/Pages/event.aspx?ev=98702416-0393-46d9-bb88-a6a5011dc337">here</a> (along with a nice wee clip of Rab in 1974!). He is celebrating 50 years performing and his 70th year - so expect a selection of gems from his career!<br />
<br />
Another Celtic Connections success, has been the twice-sold-out show The Lions of Lisbon. On Sunday at the Tron our friends at FairPley staged a 50th/25th Anniversary rehearsed reading of this Willy Maley/Ian Auld play, with added music! By all accounts (and you can read some of them on Stephen's FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stephen.wright.1293">here.</a>) the play was a huge success.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3LH-BdyfFJkQd87Bzjnm1m2K2n2_sQUlJVVAhdZOiaRszTvK1q66ik8EItxcViAx7jzmdlOZa2DYXjwEUTnOCc0vov11S6hE8skaWxj2v3I2gkVG1YD3lZ-FRLD8Vr-w2BcVUrXFovDZ/s1600/Lions-20170129-LoRes-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3LH-BdyfFJkQd87Bzjnm1m2K2n2_sQUlJVVAhdZOiaRszTvK1q66ik8EItxcViAx7jzmdlOZa2DYXjwEUTnOCc0vov11S6hE8skaWxj2v3I2gkVG1YD3lZ-FRLD8Vr-w2BcVUrXFovDZ/s200/Lions-20170129-LoRes-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pic by Eddie Middleton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But don't be downhearted if you couldn't get a ticket (as I couldn't), the play will be performed again, most notably in three shows at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (at the Barrows Art and Design on the 16-18 March). Tickets are available now from the <a href="http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/shows/1643">GICF website</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiiQHEIHec1G48PJ8PdliolqvjF08nZI6e94lPvrg9JZbppRCgJBPdInYA4RFhMeqaE_Uol7QEA98ngPdKXMu_vhSGBigBBWWkZrY3wFvfpt7bBZdj67yDIjCS86MQwfJR0NmVZ09MUfD/s1600/thumbs_Southern-Tenant-Folk-Union-Press-Photo-1-by-Douglas-Robertson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiiQHEIHec1G48PJ8PdliolqvjF08nZI6e94lPvrg9JZbppRCgJBPdInYA4RFhMeqaE_Uol7QEA98ngPdKXMu_vhSGBigBBWWkZrY3wFvfpt7bBZdj67yDIjCS86MQwfJR0NmVZ09MUfD/s200/thumbs_Southern-Tenant-Folk-Union-Press-Photo-1-by-Douglas-Robertson.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STFU - pic - Douglas Robertson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, and a little wider afield, I went to see a great band that I would recommend (and will be in my first MS CC review - see above). On Monday the Hug and Pint played host to Edinburgh band Southern Tenant Folk Union. Not a band I'd heard before, but well worth a listen too. Sharp political writing, plus sparky folk melodies. Not going to rehash the review, but they too will be on tour next week (8/2) - startting at the fabled Hebden Bridge Trades Clud, it is mostly 'dahn Sarf' but returns to Scotland later. The dates are <a href="http://www.southerntenantfolkunion.com/tour/">here</a>.Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-74443465324099348282017-01-20T08:36:00.000-08:002017-01-20T08:36:21.080-08:00An embarrassment of riches - Celtic Connections '17 Preview
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><i>This is a preview piece for this year's Celtic Connections, that was printed in the Morning Star on Thursday (19 Jan). The link to the article on line doesn't seem to be working, so here (with a little updating) is the article as written. Updating as well, prompts me to mention that fact that the Lions of Lisbon, has not only had to have an extra performance scheduled, but both are now sold out! Never mind, it will appear later in the year. Watch - as they say - this space</i>! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs4H-n-KlsejhfwJBWx1yeydXZTJKlfAqSC5z9sW1CvkI5-teGqdPdedMxoOKDSjMfgqIRmfLioUmuqr2mZkANrxpGfVvso-dhJ5PyBw19Cprr2dwgzvj1Gpa-0q9rypLbe2eDfUTLICd/s1600/rab_noakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs4H-n-KlsejhfwJBWx1yeydXZTJKlfAqSC5z9sW1CvkI5-teGqdPdedMxoOKDSjMfgqIRmfLioUmuqr2mZkANrxpGfVvso-dhJ5PyBw19Cprr2dwgzvj1Gpa-0q9rypLbe2eDfUTLICd/s200/rab_noakes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rab Noakes</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Having an embarrassment of riches is sometimes a mixed blessing. Imagine
being a concert scheduler with Celtic Connections – the very successful music
festival that started in Glasgow on Thursday. With the acts attending, clashes must be
a perennial concern. This year on one night (2 Feb) you could see Orchestre
Baobab, Eliza Carthy, Rab Noakes and Martin Green’s impressive collaboration, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flit</i>, except you couldn’t of course,
because they’re all on at the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Still, there are plenty of other shows that are worth seeing, in
particular the re-emergence of Shirley <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCRLRoOabKJgj7JRnR9pZ1b8qhIkfg1hyphenhyphenIE3F-D-BheKrgnIrtHqbbteVAB0eHQuYOJ-L4o-3_Y8dF-qkw3s-naGiax2-79JNfsYnJJNRXmwY1FlwIwXqYuIkNEjyTuWGwJG0Acq9gMVE/s1600/shirley_collins_cresit_eva_vermandel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCRLRoOabKJgj7JRnR9pZ1b8qhIkfg1hyphenhyphenIE3F-D-BheKrgnIrtHqbbteVAB0eHQuYOJ-L4o-3_Y8dF-qkw3s-naGiax2-79JNfsYnJJNRXmwY1FlwIwXqYuIkNEjyTuWGwJG0Acq9gMVE/s200/shirley_collins_cresit_eva_vermandel.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley Collins (photo Eva Vermandel)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Collins (4 Feb), who has released her
first new album for 38 years. She leads a strong female presence at this year’s
festival. Highlights include Mary Chapin Carpenter (30 Jan), Martha Wainwright (3
Feb), Sharon Shannon (3 Feb), rising star Siobhan Miller (26 Jan) and the
ubiquitous Karine Polwart - her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wind
Resistance</i> performance spreads over four days (24-28 Jan) at the Tron. Even
the Roaming Roots Review this year concentrates on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Women of Song </i>(28 Jan).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This year also has a sense of ‘back to traditional folk’, not just the
reappearance of Shirley Collins after 35 years, but a concert from Tom Paxton
(25 Jan) and both Fairport Convention (24 Jan) and Rab Noakes (2 Feb)
celebrating 50 years performing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Having said that, there is also plenty of new talent performing at this
year’s festival. CDuncan (26 Jan) has already created a stir, and I’m looking
forward to seeing the Southern Tenant Folk Union (30 Jan). It is often the
‘outside’ venues that break these new acts, and this year brings a couple of
new venues to Celtic Connections in South Glasgow’s Glad Café and the West
End’s Hug and Pint.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Finally, if you are ‘all folked out’ and fancy something a little
different, two important British composers feature this year. Eclectic
composer, singer and clarinettist, Anna Meredith is on 4 Feb, and Craig
Armstrong and Calum Martin present the outcome of their collaboration to write
new music inspired by Hebridean psalm singing (3 Feb). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Too much music? How about a day at the footie? FairPley are reviving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lions of Lisbon</i>, the play by Willy
Maley and Ian Auld about Celtic’s triumph in the European Cup 50 years ago! (29
Jan - two performances). Get tickets on line at </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.celticconnections.com/"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">www.celticconnections.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-24016663873931919372016-12-30T08:25:00.003-08:002016-12-30T08:25:43.550-08:00Travelling to come together. <br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is my review of the highlights of 2016 . Compiled for the Morning Star (who published it <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f5e2-ROUND-UP-2016-1-2#.WGZyG4XsDIo">here</a>) this is the original. The Star is excellent at shaping my sometimes unweildy prose into shorter pieces. occasionally however something goes awry. In this case the title of Martin Green's exceptional <i>Flit </i>has disappeared in the Star piece, so here is the full text.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Celtic Connections kept its key ‘front of the year’ role. Lau and the
Unthanks produced a powerful and at times overwhelming concert at Glasgow’s
Royal Concert Hall that showed us where folk music can go when seized by
imagination, talent and technical ability; electronic wizardry fused well with
the pure sound of the human voice.</span>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ObPbDhycdn5p1Ogl-7u4Wj5LWfBcl22Q4yDFhqTya5Li-RbnU6gbQp_zPLnofVY9EVSEFtCoFFggIWEQaxGrt_YFvuIR6tp-WA0Uk2-uSokazN4OjuMHqXX6t7D8XRVwgQktAbVbke0/s1600/Songs+of+Separation+group-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ObPbDhycdn5p1Ogl-7u4Wj5LWfBcl22Q4yDFhqTya5Li-RbnU6gbQp_zPLnofVY9EVSEFtCoFFggIWEQaxGrt_YFvuIR6tp-WA0Uk2-uSokazN4OjuMHqXX6t7D8XRVwgQktAbVbke0/s200/Songs+of+Separation+group-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Songs of Separation musicians come together</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Another concert demonstrated both cross-fertilisation and how life
impacts on art. Inspired by the debates around the Scots independence referendum
of 2014, it was the culmination of two years work by ten female Scottish and
English musicians living together on Eigg. Organised by double bassist, Jenny
Hill, it included Eliza Carthy, and Karine Polwart amongst others. Ironically,
although entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Songs of Separation,</i>
the dominant theme was a coming together of national and regional traditions,
producing new material, particularly poignant when it dealt (as it often did)
with the human tragedy of the migrations across the Mediterranean (Glasgow,
Mitchell Theatre). </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhnqviBidHyt1BEtbjPDzCqf0MS1Iodf1xW7_qz02V6kVnU0B6O96yvAH7lppYU8nD2xeQlYMk_mApZPND3uymBbPRD8fwL86yLMIyhmP9df3WehwWjEAU1hufzXcG80oh4NKtVKw3njT/s1600/Martin+Green+-+Flit+-+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhnqviBidHyt1BEtbjPDzCqf0MS1Iodf1xW7_qz02V6kVnU0B6O96yvAH7lppYU8nD2xeQlYMk_mApZPND3uymBbPRD8fwL86yLMIyhmP9df3WehwWjEAU1hufzXcG80oh4NKtVKw3njT/s200/Martin+Green+-+Flit+-+Front.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Green's <i>Flit</i></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Migration rang out too, in a magnificent highlight to the Edinburgh
International Festival (EICC). Again this featured Martin Green (of Lau) and
Becky Unthank, along with Dominic Aitchison, Adam Holmes, Aidan Moffat, Karine
Polwart and Adrian Utley. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flit</i>
married all these talents with the wonders of whiterobot’s (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">) torn paper visuals and told
us stories of forced and chosen travelling – searching for a place where we
feel comfortable</span>
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Elsewhere in Edinburgh we saw a glimpse of the former strength of Scottish
drama – with a rehearsed reading of David Greig’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Europe</i> at the Edinburgh International Book Festival – a prescient
glimpse back (forward?) into European crisis and its relationship with moving
peoples. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfvL0Mr29zgBbUIAr3HCHupf4u6TOFRCdHAAgMH-QJOwvv5JcKz9ef2bAec1axkzr-qaAzL2eZnsTzz-cxOwa0pFhIYbbt5eEdtjmsB5937U_ZBmJ4idSllsqw0eJ_DTYMU7VDHV_zjVD/s1600/flyerA5smalldigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfvL0Mr29zgBbUIAr3HCHupf4u6TOFRCdHAAgMH-QJOwvv5JcKz9ef2bAec1axkzr-qaAzL2eZnsTzz-cxOwa0pFhIYbbt5eEdtjmsB5937U_ZBmJ4idSllsqw0eJ_DTYMU7VDHV_zjVD/s200/flyerA5smalldigit.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The 1916 Easter Rising gave us a number of shows, including Edinburgh
TUC’s dramatic and musical look at James Connolly at The Hub as part of the EIF;
labour leader, rebel general, family man, and songwriter (who knew?). The
centenary provoked one Scottish event after another, including a great new
historical walk around Glasgow, and a new play on the little-known <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Margaret Skinnider</i> – schoolteacher,
feminist and sniper – whose story was the successful centrepiece of 2016’s Glasgow
MayDay Cabaret in Oran Mor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Finally, the world of Cuban film cemented the second Havana Glasgow Film
Festival in November. The key themes of music, history, community and real life
featured in the celebration of Cuba’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cine
Pobre</i> festival. And the look at the key role of the Soviet Union in
sustaining the Cuban revolution – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Los
Bolos en Cuba</i> – took us neatly forward to next year’s important centenary.</span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-55359014047007278112016-11-16T01:54:00.002-08:002016-11-16T01:54:28.205-08:00Havana Glasgow Film Festival - final four days have many jewels. HGFF preview 2
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Havana Glasgow Film Festival enters its final four days with the
arrival of Cuban film and video<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggATfZql99FdeTFLBCvm-wlfkjgUdb8yjKNFBUEWwgaWoSNcUwRqsIG8u_ruDlgBmrgPHtiQhS18DTXQvO85zDXFj3lnGdmu5p0e726HkgmJnNwrKvQCTPdeg0ILn-r2Z1J6zggeR2gDx2/s1600/Arturo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggATfZql99FdeTFLBCvm-wlfkjgUdb8yjKNFBUEWwgaWoSNcUwRqsIG8u_ruDlgBmrgPHtiQhS18DTXQvO85zDXFj3lnGdmu5p0e726HkgmJnNwrKvQCTPdeg0ILn-r2Z1J6zggeR2gDx2/s200/Arturo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arturo Santana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
director, Arturo Santana. Flying in from Havana
yesterday - thanks to sponsorship from Unite - to talk about his much-acclaimed
first feature film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bailando con Margot</i>
(Dancing witb Margot) – Thursday 17, 20 15 in the GFT A ‘neo-noir’ mystery,
Bailando con Margot follows the femme fatale, Margot de Zarate and her
involvement (or not) in an art heist. Santana made his name (as most Cuban
directors do) directing music videos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A review of some of the highlights so far is on the <a href="http://communist-party.org.uk/festivals-events/item/2418-history-community-and-activity-the-havana-glasgow-film-festival.html">Culture
Matters blog</a> and it also refers to the welcome support for the festival
from the Cuban ambassador to the UK, Teresita Vicente Sotolongo, who came to
see <i>Amor Cronico</i> – Cucu Diamantes love letter to Cuba.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6eSoZHS9ax1Z9Tjd2lnXOyStz0Or6KVw1eHX_Mtk-3COTxGHqsS65QSxGR9RclLpUXlZ3YARo1rUHV-5j7f9uSkOFi_yf_FfzV_n2Z37-VO8Kg0cVqgavZ5BuvqFnpw_TJg6TtIqqjzC/s1600/Sheila_aidan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6eSoZHS9ax1Z9Tjd2lnXOyStz0Or6KVw1eHX_Mtk-3COTxGHqsS65QSxGR9RclLpUXlZ3YARo1rUHV-5j7f9uSkOFi_yf_FfzV_n2Z37-VO8Kg0cVqgavZ5BuvqFnpw_TJg6TtIqqjzC/s200/Sheila_aidan.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheila, meet Aidan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Other<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>highlights still to come
include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where you’re meant to be</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- a great film following Arab Strap’s poet
Aidan Moffat crossing swords with determined doyenne of travelling singers,
Sheila Stewart as he tries to rewrite traditional Scottish folk tunes (Wednesday
16, 19,30 in the CCA – it will be followed by a Q&A with director Paul
Fegan.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cuba Libre </i>– Thursday 17. 14.45 CCA - a historical drama
on the Spanish American War in Cuba follows Chris Dolan’s fascinating story of anarchist Ethel MacDonald, who broadcast from Republican Spain during the Civil
War. An Anarchist's Story is in the CCA Thursday 17, 12.50pm). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MymjGEn7di0HKst1EjoEqXW2ABJ0jvTi1MELrprbkRXByefXUCRo11geMB1XKe4qQYjDfD-jHoFdiMyZd6zbtwkNroBCw2yePkUC3T5nTds31rNMjhtvO0F597UcSjwTiQxdfaoWAnkJ/s1600/los+bolos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MymjGEn7di0HKst1EjoEqXW2ABJ0jvTi1MELrprbkRXByefXUCRo11geMB1XKe4qQYjDfD-jHoFdiMyZd6zbtwkNroBCw2yePkUC3T5nTds31rNMjhtvO0F597UcSjwTiQxdfaoWAnkJ/s200/los+bolos.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Back to Cuba we then can see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Los
Bolos En Cuba</i> – Friday 18. 19.45 CCA – a warm, nostalgic and irreverent
film exploring the times of the 'eternal' friendship of Cuba and the Soviet Union</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">On Friday morning also, there is an important masterclass by Festival
co-Director, and writer, Hugo Rivalta. He will be talking about cinema’s role
in the Cuban revolution. - 11.00 Friday 18 in the Glasgow School of Art (Reid
Building).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The final day focuses on Cuban animation (CCA 17.30 on Saturday 19), and
the success of the festival will be celebrated in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum,
from 12.30pm where Gordon Cree will be playing Cuban salsa on the huge organ,
and some recently discovered Cuban film archives, brought to Scotland for
restoration, will be shown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The
programme is available on the Havana Glasgow Film Festival website - </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/programme"><span style="color: #1f497d;">http://www.hgfilmfest.com/ programme</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-78293366996496987152016-11-10T08:27:00.000-08:002016-11-10T08:27:41.022-08:00Guests and Supporters as Cuban Film Festival begins - HGFF preview 1
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF5gPPxjKZI544WAOJK14ctGa3lKp5-cNkAnbu502bpCWMVWCnIbUNK5frzYOPmuXSj7NZPUPDty4XTCznWKi1WPjUZgtCbDL8syyWRilcFBGSm2Nxqaa7zBff_mjqKJ6uuEPsffStyxY/s1600/hgff+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF5gPPxjKZI544WAOJK14ctGa3lKp5-cNkAnbu502bpCWMVWCnIbUNK5frzYOPmuXSj7NZPUPDty4XTCznWKi1WPjUZgtCbDL8syyWRilcFBGSm2Nxqaa7zBff_mjqKJ6uuEPsffStyxY/s200/hgff+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This week sees the start of this
year’s Havana Glasgow Film Festival (HGFF), on 11 Nov, and guests have already
started to arrive from Cuba and other parts of the globe. On Tuesday the Cuban
screenwriter and HGFF co-director, Hugo Rivalta arrived from Havana. He
will be introducing two films in the 9-day festival, and also running a master
class at the GFT – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cuban Cinema’s place
in the Revolution</i> – on Friday 18 Nov.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Hugo said, “It's a privilege to be
back for the second HGFF. I am very content, as I’ve just finished talking
to a group of writing students about my work</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> process. These Glasgow
students make me feel very appreciated. I couldn't believe the programme
Eirene and Barbara have prepared, it's so interesting and huge. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkNKFqH0lXTP1BXeCDflDcQ-NWKOtV2HYB3x0_fBuYKRxtJDpLgVsFvN1kAH6zjep4bMMHpbXnxDMZjMkYl_Y-qLN4nLxnFXk_B7Q6shRA9i8cd5KUnwNBgZqZtMjLyrJ0XiHeVxh6Rw9/s1600/hugo+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkNKFqH0lXTP1BXeCDflDcQ-NWKOtV2HYB3x0_fBuYKRxtJDpLgVsFvN1kAH6zjep4bMMHpbXnxDMZjMkYl_Y-qLN4nLxnFXk_B7Q6shRA9i8cd5KUnwNBgZqZtMjLyrJ0XiHeVxh6Rw9/s200/hugo+copy.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo Rivalta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am looking forward to talking more and meeting lots of
people and am especially pleased to welcome Arturo Santana, one of
the most prestigious directors of video clips in Cuba to talk
about his highly anticipated first feature film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bailando Con Margot</i>. He arrives next Tuesday and I’m sure he’ll be
welcomed as I was.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Eirene Houston, the Festival
Director, is especially pleased that we will be welcoming the Cuban ambassador
– Her Excellency Teresita Vicente Sotolongo to the festival on Saturday (12). “
Her visit is a symbol of the support from the Cubans for this festival and I'm
very happy that she is coming with her husband and another friend, to take
part and enjoy our films.” Eirene says. “She’s coming in particular to see
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amor Cronico</i> the popular 2012
road movie by actor and director Jorge Perrugoria (star of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fresa y Chocolate</i>, and new director of
the Cine Pobre film festival).”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Other visitors include Anita Curbelo
from Cine Pobre and from closer to home – Director of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where you’re meant to be</i> – Paul Fegan. He will talk about his film
featuring Aidan Moffat and folk legend Sheila Stewart. Alejandro Valera (from
Cuba but currently living in Glasgow) will tell us stories about the
making of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amor Cronico.</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtYIFJBf0KayVzDBAC2nGJlNQbaM_hsSjklnhXV_uJhbl2helHRdpvO2HxDgeMPsf3eMRq53Yb32Ziq8Ida4B9KA-inuCgNlQJQntc9yxgle637MMRSVyYIF7v7e3K-xfO6k3G_dZNCNm/s1600/nicola-sturgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtYIFJBf0KayVzDBAC2nGJlNQbaM_hsSjklnhXV_uJhbl2helHRdpvO2HxDgeMPsf3eMRq53Yb32Ziq8Ida4B9KA-inuCgNlQJQntc9yxgle637MMRSVyYIF7v7e3K-xfO6k3G_dZNCNm/s200/nicola-sturgeon.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Minister adds her support</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And while she won’t be visiting
officially, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP has welcomed the festival’s
second year, She told the festival she was ‘sure it would bring even more
energy, colour and passion to Glasgow and its people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The Festival runs from the 11<sup>th</sup>-19<sup>th</sup>
November across a number of venues in the Glasgow School of Art, the Centre for
Contemporary Art and the Glasgow Film Theatre, finishing at Kelvingrove Art
Gallery. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In addition to the screenings above, other
noteworthy events are – a lecture on the role of parody and satire in Cuban
culture – from renowned Cuban specialist Dr Stephen Wilkinson. This will be
Friday 11 at the GFT starting sharp at 11.00am. The first film of the festival
will be La Rumba Me Llama that same evening at 7.30 in the GSA’s Vic café bar. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnfsVmnaM3Vt8P4Y4iRa03eQ3Wha9YlWZNJwFjSc5_Gzfq18w2VBJhreHdt3UPfwGW03DaTAUJr_NIrY6tLOh7l34w_vOhKDKwRVQnDDf5m0qrk7blqLVZKAqcUtl9ZCOnkP7_2JFG_eb/s1600/TVserrana.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnfsVmnaM3Vt8P4Y4iRa03eQ3Wha9YlWZNJwFjSc5_Gzfq18w2VBJhreHdt3UPfwGW03DaTAUJr_NIrY6tLOh7l34w_vOhKDKwRVQnDDf5m0qrk7blqLVZKAqcUtl9ZCOnkP7_2JFG_eb/s200/TVserrana.png" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">On Saturday an event on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Local Cultures and Local Identities</i> takes place in the GSA’s Reid
Building. Short films from TV Serrana – a community-based broadcaster from the
Cuban Sierra Maestre will be complemented with short films from Scotland and
followed by a panel discussion. The day will also feature a screening of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amor Cronico</i>, (Everlasting Love). A
‘road’ movie with a difference!</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">On Sunday too, the day is given over to a
significant feature of Cuban film – Cine Pobre. Translating as ‘Low-Budget
Film’ this is film shot with no or minimal resources, and has its own festival
in Cuba. Eirene Houston was a juror this year, and has brought back the cream
of the crop! Also part of the day is a documentary of the life of Humberto
Solas, founder of Cine Pobre and a famous filmmaker. Also showing is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Tren de la Linea Norte</i> (the Northern
Line Train) Marcelo Martin’s journey from Moron to Punta Alegre through an area
of ‘forgotten Cuba’. The day finishes with a screening of the American film
that won the overall Cine Pobre festival, <i>Tangerine</i>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">A day off on Monday, allows us to gird our loins
for the rest of the festival, and Tuesday brings <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhy4rXTMScA9V70R33bu01CDVCtBSMiRqcYSxcCmZOtXiYKUYpt2I8mTL983tHwAQ46DYnikyvOas7kCIqQEoKX8TM9ctVQYfzySeGdkk815TW_2mcO0sqMc7pfn7vGFUbNTKZcBQTfFI/s1600/HMinVIVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhy4rXTMScA9V70R33bu01CDVCtBSMiRqcYSxcCmZOtXiYKUYpt2I8mTL983tHwAQ46DYnikyvOas7kCIqQEoKX8TM9ctVQYfzySeGdkk815TW_2mcO0sqMc7pfn7vGFUbNTKZcBQTfFI/s200/HMinVIVA.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hector Medina in VIVA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>Paddy Breathnac’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Viva, </i>an Irish film made in Cuba about Havana’s
underground drag scene. What, trans sex workers and drag queens in a Cuban Film
Festival? Who knew?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That’s it for part one, tune back here at the
beginning of next week for a summary of what’s to come at the end of the week,
including the visit of Arturo Santana.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In addition to support from partner
Glasgow School of Art, sponsorship from Unite, and other TUs, the Festival
is supported by the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC), and Glasgow City Council. The
Usheru Cinema app is also providing ticket sales support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The programme is available on the
Havana Glasgow Film Festival website - </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/programme"><span style="color: #1f497d;">http://www.hgfilmfest.com/
programme</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-34750734937235642002016-10-17T08:39:00.000-07:002016-10-17T08:39:22.137-07:00Second Cuban Film Festival launches in Glasgow
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMyU1kgxRsEpk7CFgBmdgeUHX_fc8RqNyPr12hg1OXacYbsbySZXlSSM4ZNsUOBkk1uYmFNvCcOO0aw37ZoaZ1Aox11BPf2VctrRY6WqWYtMPgvHpCnVHBeUw3NCCz-3oZD2HzqY4r77B/s1600/hgff+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMyU1kgxRsEpk7CFgBmdgeUHX_fc8RqNyPr12hg1OXacYbsbySZXlSSM4ZNsUOBkk1uYmFNvCcOO0aw37ZoaZ1Aox11BPf2VctrRY6WqWYtMPgvHpCnVHBeUw3NCCz-3oZD2HzqY4r77B/s1600/hgff+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Impact; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Second Havana Glasgow Film Festival has launched its new programme online
this weekend. The festival has built on last years’ initial success extending
its run from seven to ten days in November and increasing the number of films.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb7mj3bbe-qPO8gI2cCWwAEo3BzbI4rLSZP2qXBZqeQN0VVhZm4Ff4aoj_KTnATlKXNGPB0tG3rLaIJ9H9d6p2IRMvEsr4nNqTuSAI9gW91qGmOFvU7iHTn98XTF29WdgdPBjxA4mrqwp/s1600/cine+pobre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb7mj3bbe-qPO8gI2cCWwAEo3BzbI4rLSZP2qXBZqeQN0VVhZm4Ff4aoj_KTnATlKXNGPB0tG3rLaIJ9H9d6p2IRMvEsr4nNqTuSAI9gW91qGmOFvU7iHTn98XTF29WdgdPBjxA4mrqwp/s200/cine+pobre.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This year it features a special day concentrating on Cuba’s low-budget
film festival (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cine Pobre</i>). There is an extended piece on <i>Cine Pobre</i> and connections between it and Glasgow's festival on the <i>Culture Matters</i> blog,<a href="http://communist-party.org.uk/arts-hub/films/item/2392-poor-cinema-links-cuba-with-scotland.html"> here</a>. Festival
Director, Eirene Houston was asked to join the panel of judges earlier this
year, and has brought back a selection of the winners to show – including the
overall winner, an American film – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tangerine
-</i> shot entirely on a smartphone!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Eirene says</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">, “We’re looking
forward to an amazing ten days of Cuban and Scottish Film. In addition to a UK
premiere of Cuban film, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bailando con
Margot</i> (Dancing with Margot) – a first feature-length film from
award-winning director Arturo Santana, we have a fascinating documentary about
Cuban director (and founder of Cine Pobre) Humberto Solas, and Oliver Hill’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Rumba Me Llama</i> (Rumba Calling). </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCtS8NciQIenZBX44yEfh0Yk0PPjZ0Yj-iU3O8YbyGHv1a_FXYrvCiF-fnoZH6a0oOEKYDpKO5jkLzuKqVaNwC50QLc1OGnLVp4Fmrqp0u95xGvj8XAk_tOIiOYhpcKERR83sG3G0caCO/s1600/Eirene+by+Martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCtS8NciQIenZBX44yEfh0Yk0PPjZ0Yj-iU3O8YbyGHv1a_FXYrvCiF-fnoZH6a0oOEKYDpKO5jkLzuKqVaNwC50QLc1OGnLVp4Fmrqp0u95xGvj8XAk_tOIiOYhpcKERR83sG3G0caCO/s200/Eirene+by+Martin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eirene Houston (pic Martin Shields)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“From Scotland, Paul Fegan’s gem of a film about Aidan Moffat and his
encounter with folk icon, Sheila Stewart – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where
you’re meant to be,</i> and a session with short documentaries from the Sierra
Maestra Community and from Scotland. The local cultures of our two countries will
be seen, side-by-side!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Other films include a couple of hits from last year’s festival (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Pared de las Palabras</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Pelicula de Anna</i>) and a Cuba/Scotland
History day where the Spanish Civil War story of Ethel MacDonald (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An Anarchists Story)</i> will be screened
along with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cuba Libre</i> (the story of
two brothers in Cuba’s war of freedom from Spain).</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMzq1qhAMCYctVBGkP8d5wFMs50KDHyrpKlNCtduYrg97uh8XJhwFoXsIO6I86hLALBOWCoa64RsAtidIcgfdMNp2qUyulGVCcDab9NfxhVC0kHskm1SmPjnlhOYyjbtzgsNL39s3qZXl/s1600/Los+Bolos+en+Cuba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMzq1qhAMCYctVBGkP8d5wFMs50KDHyrpKlNCtduYrg97uh8XJhwFoXsIO6I86hLALBOWCoa64RsAtidIcgfdMNp2qUyulGVCcDab9NfxhVC0kHskm1SmPjnlhOYyjbtzgsNL39s3qZXl/s200/Los+Bolos+en+Cuba.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Bolos en Cuba</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Other films will include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Tren
de la Linea Norte</i> – a journey through forgotten Cuba, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Los Bolos en Cuba</i> – Enrique Molina’s
warm and sometimes irreverent documentary rescuing the memory of the
relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Visiting film makers include, in addition to Arturo Santana from Cuba
(brought over thanks to sponsorship from Unite the union), Festival co-director
Hugo Rivalta from Cuba, Alejandro Valera from Cuba via Glasgow, and Paul Fegan
from Glasgow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Festival runs from the 11<sup>th</sup>-19<sup>th</sup> November
across a number of venues in the Glasgow School of Art, the Centre for
Contemporary Art and the Glasgow Film Theatre, finishing at Kelvingrove Art
Gallery. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In addition to sponsorship from Unite, and other TUs, the Festival is
supported by the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC), and Glasgow City Council. The
Usheru Cinema app is also providing ticket sales support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The programme is available on the Havana Glasgow Film Festival website - </span><a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/programme"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/programme">www.hgfilmfest.com/programme</a> </span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-24703887192490576852016-09-02T03:26:00.001-07:002016-09-02T03:26:52.494-07:00People on the Move - Edinburgh Festivals 3<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">My third compilation of reviews from the Edinburgh Festivals has been published in yesterday's <a href="https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-8adb-The-search-for-where-we-feel-comfortable#.V8lHEIWrPIo">Morning Star</a>. Covering a range of shows with a general theme of migration, it is a masterpiece of editing! Unfortunately a couple of mistakes have crept in, which I'll take the opportunity to correct here.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwITxxoQnpTpRwLUEQTn4MRrhe2IwsJXj0kPKpCf4m4NEUfz2kT7K-24_uP4qC0gz5JpCVFgkw7oOqj8ywJxNY1uZQV2Fx6YfWcWLr_Guo2o-u9qKQQHphwhgXZMeSMRo8NrFUcdcPUvvj/s1600/wyamtb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwITxxoQnpTpRwLUEQTn4MRrhe2IwsJXj0kPKpCf4m4NEUfz2kT7K-24_uP4qC0gz5JpCVFgkw7oOqj8ywJxNY1uZQV2Fx6YfWcWLr_Guo2o-u9qKQQHphwhgXZMeSMRo8NrFUcdcPUvvj/s320/wyamtb.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sheila Stewart and Aidan Moffat (pic Neale Smith)</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In my review of <i>Where You Are Meant To Be</i>, Aidan Moffat and Paul Fegan's film (****) the Star article says that Sheila Stewart's mother died before the film was released - unfortunately it was Sheila herself who succumbed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the review of the Book Festival discussion of the Palestinian struggle (*****), two phrases I used to describe the books of the two authors have been 'Capped up' as though they were the books' titles. For accuracy's sake the two books discussed were Ben Ehrenreich's
<a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/315663/the-way-to-the-spring-by-ben-ehrenreich/9781594205903/"><i>The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine</i>,</a> and Yasir Suleiman's </span></span><style>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26761557-being-palestinian">Being Palestinian</a>. </span></i></span></span><style><!--
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span lang="EN-US">The other shows reviewed here are <i>Flit!</i> (*****), Martin Green's multi-musician piece on migration themes; <i>Leftover</i> (***) a piece on refugees by Acting Coach Scotland</span></span><span><span lang="EN-US">; <i>Before the Hudson and the Liffey</i> (****) a piece on James Connolly's life in Edinburgh and Leith; and<i> Cafe Palestine,</i> (****) excerpts from a piece by young people from the Palestinian refugee camp at Aida, near Bethlehem.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span lang="EN-US">One of the Morning Star's greatest contributions to the life of Britain is it's cultural coverage (says he as a regular contributor!). I would advise buying it regularly, for that alone - although there are many other good reasons!!</span></span></span></span>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-28631209450055208582016-08-25T08:06:00.001-07:002016-08-25T08:08:27.214-07:00Songwriting Talents Old and New(ish). Edinburgh Festivals 2<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My first compilation piece from Edinburgh is in the <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-3271-Spellbinding-vision-of-an-angel-with-a-deadly-aim#.V775sq6rPIo">Morning Star today</a>. It includes the Angel review in last Thursday's blog, and also a review of Road - Jim Cartwright's slice of Lancashire life under Thatcher (to be posted later) - and two reviews of singer songwriters. Rab Noakes has been around for a little while now. and made a triumphant return after a break fighting cancer. While Roy Harper's son Nick, is not a callow youth (he first recorded in 1994 for f***'s sake!) his live set now has the kind of range and depth that deserve bigger audiences than Edinburgh's Jazz Bar can provide. The full reviews of both artists are below.</span></b><br />
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--</style><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rab
Noakes</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – Acoustic Music Centre - August 14 – (*****)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Noakes returned to the fringe after a year out – fighting tonsillar
cancer – and delivered a superbly</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VbNlVONqfTNDri65br_sR9XJjPX3Rewx6SEPj3qq2_RxU7jx8HHYV5BkhMyDzdBC5ucUOwDOU3Nf82iWDZYtINbLL3SCnjYWtTsPPTrqV0acwxz4S6fehs25KePQoUj4DI_1OdGOdYmv/s1600/Rab+Noakes.Allan+McMillan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VbNlVONqfTNDri65br_sR9XJjPX3Rewx6SEPj3qq2_RxU7jx8HHYV5BkhMyDzdBC5ucUOwDOU3Nf82iWDZYtINbLL3SCnjYWtTsPPTrqV0acwxz4S6fehs25KePQoUj4DI_1OdGOdYmv/s200/Rab+Noakes.Allan+McMillan.jpg" width="123" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rab Noakes. pic by Alan McMillan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> polished and sparkling solo set.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Although he understandably concentrated on his newest album – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m Walking Here</i> – for the largest
number of the tracks, he also went back into the history for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Branch</i> (his best-known single) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jackson Greyhound</i> – a reflection on the
civil rights fight in the Southern States. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As must be an occupational hazard with songwriters, Noakes has used his
fight against cancer to inspire new songs – in particular the defiant, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That won’t Stop me!</i> And the more
reflective <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Water is my Friend</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Add in some treatments of other songwriters’ material – like Michael
Marra’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Guernsey Kitchen Porter</i> –
and you have a full picture of a singer-songwriter back on top of his game.
It’s good to see him back! He's got a show in Cupar in <a href="http://rabnoakes.com/tour-dates/">October</a>.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjpFC2eet2TEGu8fhb4SRLMlZ74fxyI9DJPGlfET2jdPuHFUaVoJjZwpBwemBSLKFyxLYfrCjKAKT7dZPEp1MDSgtyt4pGqBHCyYgl9crHRhlIiyK_J-SH9FDVRrzAC7VE5_EJ7ww-VTH/s1600/nick-harper-press-photo-07m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjpFC2eet2TEGu8fhb4SRLMlZ74fxyI9DJPGlfET2jdPuHFUaVoJjZwpBwemBSLKFyxLYfrCjKAKT7dZPEp1MDSgtyt4pGqBHCyYgl9crHRhlIiyK_J-SH9FDVRrzAC7VE5_EJ7ww-VTH/s200/nick-harper-press-photo-07m.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Harper. pic by Mark Hunt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Nick
Harper</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – The Jazz Bar – until August 27 (then on tour) (****)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Harper’s unique guitar playing ensured his talents as musician and
writer are displayed to the full. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Son of singer-songwriter Roy, Harper uses a finger-picking style all of
his own. As his song <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Simple</i>
proclaims, he has ‘everything he needs, no drums, no bass’ to produce
intelligent, articulate songs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A short set nevertheless marked both the passing of Prince (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Purple Rain</i>) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evo</i> – his tribute to Bolivian President Evo Morales. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">His undoubted talent deserves a bigger venue than this.</span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-87306381784801958812016-08-18T09:43:00.000-07:002016-08-18T09:43:37.988-07:00An angelic sniper brings war home to us. - Edinburgh Festivals 1
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Angel</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">, by Henry
Naylor, Gilded Balloon Teviot – until 29 August (*****)</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1WVngGa0U-agb0bKok1l8rK7KicOfylwEMefYpYSSiQNNXtN4KtNn_92BOy9k10mLfypPgfhKouJWi0su02FVYFi-ZwuSjiUE-edpdvJXhjLoXCAsiGRyzDVtWexVcXpTEI7EfN0TEVm/s1600/Angel630x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1WVngGa0U-agb0bKok1l8rK7KicOfylwEMefYpYSSiQNNXtN4KtNn_92BOy9k10mLfypPgfhKouJWi0su02FVYFi-ZwuSjiUE-edpdvJXhjLoXCAsiGRyzDVtWexVcXpTEI7EfN0TEVm/s320/Angel630x300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipa Bragança is the Angel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Of all the definitions of ‘angel’, the least common would be ‘sniper’ –
but that’s just what A<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ngel</i>, a new play
from the pen of comedy writer Henry Naylor wants us to take on board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The play, the last of his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arabian
Nightmares</i> trilogy, delivers a powerful and emotionally draining story
about the ‘Angel of Kobanî’ – a legendary female fighter who defended the
(mainly Kurdish) town from the hordes of ISIS fighters, shooting ‘over 100’ if
truth is (unusually) not a victim on this occasion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Filipa Bragança, a recent graduate of Drama Studio, London plays
Rehanna, a young woman determined to leave her father’s farm and make her way
as a lawyer. With little effort she also delivers, the ‘parts’ of her mother
and father, herself at 12, her nemesis Waheed, and a number of other smaller
characters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is no exaggeration to say that her performance is spellbinding, and
is quite the crowning part of the play. She takes the packed audience through
her life, and death on her own and with only a barrel for props. She never
loses our rapt attention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Tight writing ensures the retention of our concentration, and while
there are moments of lighter humour, the grim reality of the war is never
undercut. The second part of Naylor’s trilogy – Echoes - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also features Bragança and is still
touring. Hopefully this too, will go on the road shortly. It is produced by
Pipeline Productions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It may be heavily booked, but if you can, you should try and see this
play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><i>Revolution in the Magic Square</i>. Ian Saville, Theatre Arts Exchange –
Until 21 August (****)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unprecedented! A socialist has been elected Leader of the Magic Square!
As the only socialist <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrs6mOXyehoDuH9cE_mWo21sdL-ZtX_93ayVIKGx8S-Pu0-NZgmmUDGKnLXpTIoRs9Chl56O-VzmPQKldz1srOOHDqzfGaa7ao1YV3mv2YoGhAzQrCP1GBosKoihqiY6Zhyphenhyphentkx1gJTuTU/s1600/Revolution+in+the+magic+sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrs6mOXyehoDuH9cE_mWo21sdL-ZtX_93ayVIKGx8S-Pu0-NZgmmUDGKnLXpTIoRs9Chl56O-VzmPQKldz1srOOHDqzfGaa7ao1YV3mv2YoGhAzQrCP1GBosKoihqiY6Zhyphenhyphentkx1gJTuTU/s200/Revolution+in+the+magic+sq.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who does this look like, again? Oh Yes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
magician, can Ian Saville fend off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the plots and coups of the people in
the Square who hate, don’t like or are even lukewarm to him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Can Karl help him? Or is he going to stick to telling him to ‘ask
Gramsci.’? I know – why not ask an ordinary person? Can he overcome his natural
reluctance? After all, he is a socialist – they don’t do that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A new show – thinly based on events in another organisation which is
definitely NOT the Labour party – oh no. Ian starts off slow, but when he warms
up to a cracking pace the sparks fly. Try and see this show before it goes at
the end of this week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If not, well we’ll have to see what we can do to bring him back some
time. Oh Jez we can!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-87648302304876847942016-07-13T06:01:00.002-07:002016-07-13T06:01:53.064-07:00Cuban Heroes visit ScotlandWith all the sound and fury surrounding the PLP 'rebellion' against Jeremy Corbyn, it might be a salutory reflection to think what people elsewhere suffer for their beliefs. Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez worked for Cuban Intelligence, as spies infiltrating the network of anti-Castroterrorist grouops based in the ex-pat Cuban community in Florida - especially the ones associated with Luis Posada Carriles - the former CIA agent widely considered to be guilty of the bombing of Cubana flight 455.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3cCDG0jko9QsJ8b_cbPSJ9HTEqdqHEoE7vRJGGBB2GZHAFbVEYm7JtNXCEX86YRniZ53z-D00NJtyzsRc9c-uNKYuBinpvxXaeMCe78B6NUcUWNqD9K-L4a5eUCIf8atDNfqoflmJ_ly/s1600/M5-freedom-tour-2016-06-A5-glasgow-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3cCDG0jko9QsJ8b_cbPSJ9HTEqdqHEoE7vRJGGBB2GZHAFbVEYm7JtNXCEX86YRniZ53z-D00NJtyzsRc9c-uNKYuBinpvxXaeMCe78B6NUcUWNqD9K-L4a5eUCIf8atDNfqoflmJ_ly/s320/M5-freedom-tour-2016-06-A5-glasgow-1.jpg" width="225" /></a>After the FBI used information provided by the Cuban government for the purpose of convicting Carriles to identify the agents, they were arrested and sentenced to terms ranging from 15 years to life.<br />
<br />
After many years of campaigning against such hypocritical sentences for agents working to stop <br />
terrorism, the 'Miami 5' - including Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González as well as Gonzalez and Hernandez - have now all been released.<br />
<br />
Rene and Gerardo have now (finally) managed to get visas from the Home office (it took a High Court order btw) to visit Britain, and say thank you to UK campaigners for their release.<br />
<br />
The only Scottish date is tonight at the STUC, where the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign hosts them in a meeting and social occasion - free, but ticketed <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/miami-five-freedom-tour-scotland-tickets-26335701793">(here)</a> - at 7.00pm. As the event will also feature latin-american band Voces del Sur, their lead singer <span class="st">Valentina Montoya Martinez, and rising Gaelic singer, Maeve Mackinnon it looks set to be a major occasion!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC1bl8Y7A1dt5_t3sYMHz8aLaNJn_HE1HOojgzjKHY3U1J3p4cE80nzOxgRutcY3zqifEaT3MqFC7l7VIxyCcjZ8gdjqa7fUXrh-iPJJqcDPp4XOQ-7FF_c79r534p2gUBYmwfArnyoJZ/s1600/hgff+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC1bl8Y7A1dt5_t3sYMHz8aLaNJn_HE1HOojgzjKHY3U1J3p4cE80nzOxgRutcY3zqifEaT3MqFC7l7VIxyCcjZ8gdjqa7fUXrh-iPJJqcDPp4XOQ-7FF_c79r534p2gUBYmwfArnyoJZ/s1600/hgff+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="st">Other Cuban news hints at a welcome repeat of the Havana/Glasgow Film Festival being planned for November this year. Its inaugural run last year, was very successful, and provided an unusual outing for some excellent Cuban films, that rarely (if ever) get a showing ion the UK. A formal announcement on the programme for this year is awaited next month. Keep an eye on the website <a href="http://www.hgfilmfest.com/">here.</a></span> Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-12787946869653260762016-04-23T10:20:00.001-07:002016-04-23T10:20:30.853-07:00Rebel Herstory of the Easter Rising
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-8EbjptVdg2QC6axodJpUzgSYdNLRa-gWf0Pt5RAyQQ74nOct79a8M76Ab__HFvdeBFxSzctpQZ_AI33OLyAojTyFIH8AMjru0edIFN6_YA7uNX1B73h0b336GVarFGH5VL4BZgJRmnw/s1600/Cat+Hepburn+smdigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-8EbjptVdg2QC6axodJpUzgSYdNLRa-gWf0Pt5RAyQQ74nOct79a8M76Ab__HFvdeBFxSzctpQZ_AI33OLyAojTyFIH8AMjru0edIFN6_YA7uNX1B73h0b336GVarFGH5VL4BZgJRmnw/s200/Cat+Hepburn+smdigit.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat Hepburn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This weekend’s <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/">Morning Star</a> carries a Connolly
Association <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/features/2">supplement,</a>
marking the centenary of the Easter Rising. It is worthy of purchase for that
alone, of course, but to ensure the Arts pages are ‘on message’, they have also
published a nice interview with Cat Hepburn – the writer of <i>Margaret
Skinnider:Rebel Heart</i> – the play whose rehearsed reading forms part of the
Great MayDay Rising in Oran Mor on 2 May. Read it <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7802-Rebel-herstory-of-the-Easter-Rising#.Vxui33AbDIp">here</a>,
and get your tickets online (+bf) <a href="http://oran-mor.co.uk/whats-on/?date=160502">here</a> or from the bar in
Oran Mor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The other feature of this evening that will make it irresistible is the musical presence of Arthur Johnstone, and alongside Arthur - those folk-punks, The Wakes. A package that is worth £12 of anyone's hard-earned cash!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqrm2K0EkB1s9Yw0frOl1_kwtDC2PuYigXbfnBoiIZtEUnpAOg1bfdi64soFU389ANvOw0qdT1-igLUY6_GaYnRr_AO7fYqe9pZ_iUBvrTZF1FASlNY5OMWIk-R_Rz7qGEV12j1nz3Bzu/s1600/Programme16coversmdigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqrm2K0EkB1s9Yw0frOl1_kwtDC2PuYigXbfnBoiIZtEUnpAOg1bfdi64soFU389ANvOw0qdT1-igLUY6_GaYnRr_AO7fYqe9pZ_iUBvrTZF1FASlNY5OMWIk-R_Rz7qGEV12j1nz3Bzu/s200/Programme16coversmdigit.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Other events around
MayDay are listed in the Glasgow Friends of MayDay programme, available on
their website. <a href="http://may1st.org.uk/">http://may1st.org.uk/</a> . I’ll
highlight some of them here as we get closer to the day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And last, but by no means least, A little bird has whispered that an important political figure has agreed to join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/104242673004771/">Glasgow MayDay March</a> on Sunday May 1! Assemble 11.00 George Square Glasgow.</span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-91512354860859443152016-04-22T04:24:00.001-07:002016-04-22T04:24:45.519-07:00Bellowhead - a pomeAnd now for something completely different.. a short poem what i wrote after seeing <i>Bellowhead's</i> Farewell Tour at the O2 ABC.<br />
<br />
<b>In Memoriam</b><br />
<br />
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y2 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
So farewell then...</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y3 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
<i>Bellowhead. </i></div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y3 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y4 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
There was a lot of you</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y5 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
And it must have been difficult</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y6 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
Getting all 11 of you together for a tour.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y6 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y7 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
Like herding cats.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y7 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y8 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
But your music was unique.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y9 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
Not so much folk-rock, </div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1ya pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
As funk-folk,</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1ya pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yb pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
You even introduced one set as, disco-seashanties.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yb pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yc pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
It was a very English night,</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yd pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
But I think you got through to a Glasgow audience.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yd pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1ye pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
I didn't hear anyone say "Oh shite, there's eleven of them!" </div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yf pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
So you beat Mike and Bernie Winters, and...</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1yf pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y10 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
I've never seen a Glasgow crowd doing Morris dancing complete with handkerchiefs, before.</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y10 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y11 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
While you'll have musical careers as individuals</div>
<div class="t pg-1m0 pg-1x0 pg-1h3 pg-1y11 pg-1ff1 pg-1fs0 pg-1fc0 pg-1sc0 pg-1ls0 pg-1ws0">
</div>
I can't help feeling - we won't see the likes of your music again.<br />
<br />
C J Trab (aged 17<span style="font-size: x-small;">1/2</span>) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfv-tgZsPVUF_Lqffmsiw9uEJ_dKlOHJl0LB-AEJhaNh49g5jIEcNmKSM_QHf09NUr4SIL5ZNFWGFG7FvKlEAGLTQkVgos6kWJ665W9XqEQizwKpaSgsDmDRYRX3VGoDUXfIRDECzwQ5U/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfv-tgZsPVUF_Lqffmsiw9uEJ_dKlOHJl0LB-AEJhaNh49g5jIEcNmKSM_QHf09NUr4SIL5ZNFWGFG7FvKlEAGLTQkVgos6kWJ665W9XqEQizwKpaSgsDmDRYRX3VGoDUXfIRDECzwQ5U/s400/IMG_1301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-40282333662200868992016-04-11T08:57:00.000-07:002016-04-11T08:57:39.999-07:00The Red and the Green will be worn, side by side
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Glasgow Friends of MayDay
(GFoMD) have today announced changes for this year’s celebration of the International Workers' Festival in Glasgow. While the
annual event at Oran Mor will take place again on the Monday holiday (May 2),
its focus will change from a cabaret evening, to a night of drama and song.</span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJBdP4pC1JIZYaIIb1gYezapUxH31iMGsw-NcznDdTzWK5rSTY4zbYsMD7JyM_djzBMAneKD9YA8XXIunLaDTTsd5mJKDL5Y-VYz07CN9XAj4IufHX3TQhdEsWPw6H79WHFJ794w7r-VL/s1600/flyerA5smalldigit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJBdP4pC1JIZYaIIb1gYezapUxH31iMGsw-NcznDdTzWK5rSTY4zbYsMD7JyM_djzBMAneKD9YA8XXIunLaDTTsd5mJKDL5Y-VYz07CN9XAj4IufHX3TQhdEsWPw6H79WHFJ794w7r-VL/s320/flyerA5smalldigit.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To mark the centenary of
Dublin’s Easter Rising, the title changes to the <i>Great Mayday Rising</i> and the
first half of the evening will be the premiere of a new play produced by
FairPley, about Margaret Skinnider – a Coatbridge woman who was wounded in 1916
fighting in Dublin for James Connolly’s Irish Citizen Army. The play – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Margaret Skinnider:Rebel Heart</i> - will be
followed by sets by folk-punk band <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
Wakes</b>, and the political doyen of folk<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">,
Arthur Johnstone</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> We discussed the event and agreed that it seemed appropriate to
mark the centenary by raising the profile of a lesser-known link between
Ireland and Scotland during the rising. Plus to ensure that our traditional
musical celebration gets a good airing, both the Wakes and Arthur will ensure
that ‘the red and the green will be worn side by side’ as Hamish Henderson put
it!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDum7-Y7DdlGLeYpi49uuVkK0GXe6tqfCjOP74eoZx4L66kUNi-ZPwgG31AjAON6_bydP6N-ze9CRut13pNDi8OPtneduKQEtL__utU7WD3GwrwhvzbhhRlfx3byYKXzhaE5bFy09Vys/s1600/Arthur+Johnstonesmdigit.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDum7-Y7DdlGLeYpi49uuVkK0GXe6tqfCjOP74eoZx4L66kUNi-ZPwgG31AjAON6_bydP6N-ze9CRut13pNDi8OPtneduKQEtL__utU7WD3GwrwhvzbhhRlfx3byYKXzhaE5bFy09Vys/s200/Arthur+Johnstonesmdigit.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur Johnstone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The play is written by Cat
Hepburn, from research by Maggie Chetty, who also chairs the Committee set up
to highlight the links between Scotland and the Easter Rising. It stars Clare
Gray, Julie Hale and Erin McCardie. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maggie
Chetty said</b> “Margaret Skinnider was a remarkable woman. A schoolteacher, a
markswoman, a revolutionary, a true rebel heart, but like so many women her
story is obscure. I felt this was an appropriate time </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial";">to celebrate her courage and her lifelong
commitment to progress</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This year’s Mayday marches
will take place on different days around Scotland, with the largest on Sunday
May 1 in Glasgow - this year it will rally in the Old Fruitmarket. Others will be on Sat April 30 (Aberdeen, Dundee and Fife)
and Sat May 7 (Edinburgh and Irvine).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Other events during the two
weeks either side of the MayDay weekend also reflect the centenary – with a
walk entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glasgow and the Irish
revolution</i> looking at historical sites in Glasgow connected with struggle
in Ireland - this one is already full, and Brian and Martin McCardie’s one–person play, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connolly</i>, premiering on May 6/7 in the
Tron as part of its <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayfesto</i> season.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMA7p5ki5nlsVeLHcxQGfVpYzBz6jr5U1jqqx2rDD-oda-dxIKWsmzmR_McnLaxftv8rB5txM1AYCBq2AF4jWuXCWqKLjP1LUy8AcX_0o0dCmJEE1qmvSnj0BZX7gFv0hFWB5BxbJNPEY/s1600/rfnsmallprint.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMA7p5ki5nlsVeLHcxQGfVpYzBz6jr5U1jqqx2rDD-oda-dxIKWsmzmR_McnLaxftv8rB5txM1AYCBq2AF4jWuXCWqKLjP1LUy8AcX_0o0dCmJEE1qmvSnj0BZX7gFv0hFWB5BxbJNPEY/s320/rfnsmallprint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In addition this year sees
the second Radical Film Network (Un)Conference in Glasgow over the weekend of
MayDay, and its associated Film Festival includes a number of union and
work-related films, mostly at the STUC Centre. In particular an event <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blacklistin</i>g – demonstrating the use of
film by those campaigning against their blacklisting due to TU
activities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The programme, and details of <i>Margaret Skinnider:Rebel Heart </i>are both available via the GFoMD website. </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://may1st.org.uk/">http://may1st.org.uk/</a> </span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-38892646288627571692016-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:002016-02-16T09:44:50.319-08:00Statue sculptor to be announced at Mary Barbour Concert
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymPC9u0QZUQExYpj9m6JEtLdlolvYQCP6Du8VI_5kYJVd3yu5wMCpGLVsshPpmES-soEi6Jp04QAAe1ajWPS8yrazxJ-FdFRbiG7F6oFyw-SLysDDK1KpyvRErwN8XOut-W1B3h-BT5Bb/s1600/marybarbour5smdigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymPC9u0QZUQExYpj9m6JEtLdlolvYQCP6Du8VI_5kYJVd3yu5wMCpGLVsshPpmES-soEi6Jp04QAAe1ajWPS8yrazxJ-FdFRbiG7F6oFyw-SLysDDK1KpyvRErwN8XOut-W1B3h-BT5Bb/s1600/marybarbour5smdigit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The five shortlisted statues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The name of the
successful sculptor chosen to create the statue of Mary Barbour will be
announced from the stage of the Gala Concert scheduled for this Sunday, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">21 February in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket</b>,
the Remember Mary Barbour Association (RMBA) said today.</span></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Maria Fyfe,
Chair of the Remember Mary Barbour Association</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> said. “This
concert is a part of raising the funds to commission the statue, so it seemed
only right to announce the successful candidate here. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At long last there will be a new statue
of a woman of achievement - achievement not for herself but for the people of
Glasgow. This concert will be both a celebration of the statues and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">of Mary’s life
and work.” </span></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In
addition to the stars already announced, prominent Scottish actress <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Libby McArthur</b> has joined the guest
list to add drama to the variety of the concert. She will be delivering a
speech from Julia Taudevin’s play, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mrs
Barbour’s Daughters</i>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Compering the
show is comedian and presenter, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Susan
Morrison,</b> and the performers will include folk legends, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sheena Wellington</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arthur Johnstone</b>, rising singer and
musician <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Siobhan Miller</b>, Scottish
legends <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Whistlebinkies</b>, Gaelic
singing star, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maeve Mackinnon</b>, harmonica
supremo, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fraser Speirs</b>, and
folk-rock recording artists, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Wakes. </b>A
local Govan-based community choir – the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Govan
Allsorts</b>, will bring Mary’s community centre stage! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCZ7s-m2mozWm1DpzwIUzkGaPm_B2OnC4L2Hs90D2OSLf3pjrSmOxVP1q9X-qz67CH9IGpivetec1saeSzHuxWlnltLFB4euroqsVUlSQPVQFPFddnkZsAtqLfZ2K4KzfelkcTdGPKBil/s1600/Susan_Morrison_5smdigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCZ7s-m2mozWm1DpzwIUzkGaPm_B2OnC4L2Hs90D2OSLf3pjrSmOxVP1q9X-qz67CH9IGpivetec1saeSzHuxWlnltLFB4euroqsVUlSQPVQFPFddnkZsAtqLfZ2K4KzfelkcTdGPKBil/s200/Susan_Morrison_5smdigit.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Morrison</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv2051015617msonormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: 1.0gd;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Compere, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Susan
Morrison</b> said “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Too
often we look at history and see the word hero linked only to men who did
things in wars of dubious morality The women who stood with Mary fought for
something greater. They fought for fairness, for justice and for their
communities. They were kitchen table heroes and that is worth celebrating, to
inspire a new generation of women to continue the fight.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv2051015617msonormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: 1.0gd;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In addition to the maquettes of the statues, a new portrait has been painted of Mary Barbour, by Govan artist Daniel Fitzpatrick. He has donated the powerful and striking portrait to the RMBA. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The portrait depicts her steely determination but also captures her warmth and compassion, </span>and a series of limited edition signed prints are being created for sale - hopefully in time for the concert!! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0g-ibJDuPtRRDdM3GHwPdGxmWcI_N8iPr8X_1tpSUixk84gZEpcRiVeGK2yi8GOiKIRcKy5ebSN5TzGrWTHaxjLPwgtLVZbHIC0u81QFerHcAJeseEMUQ02v37dOkQ9_5zTDOcMeAWHd/s1600/MB+by+Dan+Fitzpatricksmdigit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0g-ibJDuPtRRDdM3GHwPdGxmWcI_N8iPr8X_1tpSUixk84gZEpcRiVeGK2yi8GOiKIRcKy5ebSN5TzGrWTHaxjLPwgtLVZbHIC0u81QFerHcAJeseEMUQ02v37dOkQ9_5zTDOcMeAWHd/s200/MB+by+Dan+Fitzpatricksmdigit.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Barbour by Daniel Fitzpatrick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv2051015617msonormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: 1.0gd;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mary Barbour led the successful rent strike of 1915 and went
on to play a leading role in the labour movement as a Glasgow Councillor and
energetic social reformer. Following an extensive campaign to have her
contribution recognised, five sculptors were shortlisted to create a statue of
her to be placed in her community of Govan. So far each has created a maquette
of a proposed statue . These were unveiled in November and have been toured
across Glasgow for people to express their opinion. See them on the Facebook
page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RememberMaryBarbour/photos/ms.c.eJw9ycENACEMA7CNUAqhCfsvdgcVPC1rQkp7IsWeTccLZT6HBrHiOs~_Hy~;pnv~;q1ynxvAhr~_APovFrQ~-.bps.a.750776298400818.1073741830.232103240268129/750776885067426/?type=3&theater"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">here.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Details of the Gala
Concert are as follows</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Remember Mary
Barbour Gala Concert , Sunday 21 February, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 7.30pm, Tickets:
£25, from the Glasgow Concert Halls box office. </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/Pages/home.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/Pages/home.aspx#</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>0141 353
8000. For further information<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-field-code: HYPERLINK;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">www. remembermarybarbour.wordpress.com/</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> and on Facebook </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RememberMaryBarbour/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/RememberMaryBarbour/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/remembermarybarbour\.wordpress\.com\/\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022";"></span></span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-34463812922106230782016-01-30T09:27:00.000-08:002016-01-30T09:33:59.225-08:00Two acts at the peak of their powers - Celtic Connections 5<style>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unthanks and Lau -
***** - </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">GRCH</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If anyone thinks that
folk music is some immutable, traditional monolith, they need to see one of
these two bands. Come to think of it, they need to see these two bands anyway.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPx2QpK5_cPmg-S8uNjSwTjJUH9g-GqG6FxHLRynAKmitcZbWJgNOOQtFRiIWS4HrPTF1dsgR4sbxPNXhUsR7sRKcxXcJlBEVHr5vMQjwxcarOtxRyqW-mhMrS0511RW0D-H0zq9NurL9/s1600/Unthanks+by+Sarah+Mason+1+portrait+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPx2QpK5_cPmg-S8uNjSwTjJUH9g-GqG6FxHLRynAKmitcZbWJgNOOQtFRiIWS4HrPTF1dsgR4sbxPNXhUsR7sRKcxXcJlBEVHr5vMQjwxcarOtxRyqW-mhMrS0511RW0D-H0zq9NurL9/s200/Unthanks+by+Sarah+Mason+1+portrait+crop.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel (l) and Becky Unthank. photo Sarah Mason</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Both the Unthanks and Lau take folk as a basis, and then add layers of
invention. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Unthanks pare
songs back to basics - many of them, like Thursday night’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Testament of Patience Kershaw</i>, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Died for Love,</i> traditional songs – but they then add value, with a
string quartet, trumpet or their own clog dancing rhythms! Incidentally, isn’t
it interesting how many folk tunes work so well with brass accompaniment? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">They are also wont to take
material from other genres – on Thursday the honour of their pure delivery went
to the King Crimson track – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Starless</i>.
A peerless performance was topped off by the title track of the current album –
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mount the Air</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lau, on the other
hand, while they also base their music on folk roots, use them as a jumping off
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRO6Q2dNB0BVVnNW_sUBrLfAdxFYCRN8jD9_IAErIiRaayh5NajtDczJyWiPYU8WvD0M3ohT8KvtmY__z713mDxjLLQBVSSmeSSs-8DVJrlOkumt17ICTPyZr8p5B49xCVhLkX7vGlfo_/s1600/Lau+2015+main+photo+Lower+Res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRO6Q2dNB0BVVnNW_sUBrLfAdxFYCRN8jD9_IAErIiRaayh5NajtDczJyWiPYU8WvD0M3ohT8KvtmY__z713mDxjLLQBVSSmeSSs-8DVJrlOkumt17ICTPyZr8p5B49xCVhLkX7vGlfo_/s200/Lau+2015+main+photo+Lower+Res.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lau (l-r Aidan O'Rourke, Kris Drever and Martin Green)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
point for their compositions that build multiple layers of sound with
electronic and traditional instruments, upon that base. They also used a string
quartet, and in a nice touch the backing vocals to the first two tracks were
provided by Rachel and Becky Unthank!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">While <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Torsa</i> harked back to earlier albums, most
tracks came from their soon-to-be-released album <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bell that Never Rang.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">First
Homecoming</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghosts</i> showed
what consummate musicians Lau are, while the title track formed the final
hurrah to a hugely impressive concert. And the lighting was a joy in itself! </span></div>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244898005203444887.post-4534553986932195342016-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:002016-01-26T09:44:52.065-08:00Pulling down the walls – or how to arrange an ensemble concert – Celtic Connections 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDBrrSK85jH6zON5GyPyCbeUy6VTwY-1qYWZ7ZrRJ63tdoirkpZze7Trb1eLPsRFjD-2b0WYvrDrYw3mTvyBmTaTsrNGfPw9Og-aaZw9sd9DcQ2BVHWpOMOYgVKQcaVc_uE_krQBe9gxh/s1600/SoS+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDBrrSK85jH6zON5GyPyCbeUy6VTwY-1qYWZ7ZrRJ63tdoirkpZze7Trb1eLPsRFjD-2b0WYvrDrYw3mTvyBmTaTsrNGfPw9Og-aaZw9sd9DcQ2BVHWpOMOYgVKQcaVc_uE_krQBe9gxh/s200/SoS+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Songs of Separation - ***** - Mitchell Theatre</span></b>
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In a festival that has
made a feature of ensemble concerts, where a number of artists come together
around a theme or event, ten women from Scotland and England showed last night
how it should be done!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RRMR9YGcvxuTP1oYOqd3j62N7gaOjQ7HYSiOCmoWXdsbXjg4dp2CQesqN752Jotlhhvx2YQcZtD55HDLivp4l6EZb3ULAjpx7-bRaJB9Y2T2vksXMdyYOXdwKp4WvmMEnhPokfTcV9BG/s1600/jenh-featured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RRMR9YGcvxuTP1oYOqd3j62N7gaOjQ7HYSiOCmoWXdsbXjg4dp2CQesqN752Jotlhhvx2YQcZtD55HDLivp4l6EZb3ULAjpx7-bRaJB9Y2T2vksXMdyYOXdwKp4WvmMEnhPokfTcV9BG/s200/jenh-featured.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Brought together on
the Isle of Eigg by bassist, Jenny Hill, this impressive array of talent showed
the importance of both ensuring the variety of distinct contributions were given
their own space, but working together to deliver a concert greater than the sum
of its parts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">From Karine Polwart’s
opener <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Echo mocks the Corncrake</i>, we
were treated to a wide-ranging <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFonqVaIcql4dExP1OCspwV0H_GjWyVgy3zIo7yAh6P9S99tvQPbd_g4rsjxulqMR_J1sTHUQiGWlIZUaYj8szMw9SLyMv7eCBIQOgM6Mei73WW7-DDXnh8tAdX20dZDwaX0JuKJRPpnM/s1600/karine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFonqVaIcql4dExP1OCspwV0H_GjWyVgy3zIo7yAh6P9S99tvQPbd_g4rsjxulqMR_J1sTHUQiGWlIZUaYj8szMw9SLyMv7eCBIQOgM6Mei73WW7-DDXnh8tAdX20dZDwaX0JuKJRPpnM/s200/karine.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karine Polwart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
discourse on Separation – from each other, from
the land, from family, from life itself. Sparked by the consideration of 2014’s
referendum, the project didn’t come together until after that event, and this
produced much more wide-ranging consideration, covering Gaelic, Norn, Bulgarian
and music hall songs, as well as newly written work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As Eliza Carthy
pointed out – as they met, the unfolding tragedy of refugees gave a very
different and human story of separation. That is reflected in the ensemble
piece <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Over<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Border</i> which powerfully combines, the Scots
post-Flodden song,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Floo’ers of
the Forest’, the English First World War song ‘Flowers of Knaresboro’
Forest’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the Scots<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pipe tune, ‘Blue Bonnets O’er the
Border’ in a call to get ‘the gates, and their borders all wede away’.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzBLc4da_7EqWMj5lrznXjaLungdPkG_mh7mTgLZ0Xo-XuDBwYAQ4G6C8LVcwgAu4z-6-vBySQoSwJQNvgBqG9c1oupTdghJbumOSibZMMK0HUO9eEP_ttlVVI2JsZ5i524osXpuWVf2Y/s1600/rowan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzBLc4da_7EqWMj5lrznXjaLungdPkG_mh7mTgLZ0Xo-XuDBwYAQ4G6C8LVcwgAu4z-6-vBySQoSwJQNvgBqG9c1oupTdghJbumOSibZMMK0HUO9eEP_ttlVVI2JsZ5i524osXpuWVf2Y/s200/rowan.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan Rheingans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The concert constantly
referred to how the project had reinforced connections between the musicians –
both directly like Rowan Rheingans and Hannah Read’s arrangement of Robert
Frost’s poem <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and indirectly,
such as watching all the women singing Gaelic choruses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Indeed the musicians –
who included Hannah James, Hazel Askew, Jenn Butterworth, Kate Young, and Mary
McMaster as well as those above – molded together so well in support of each
other, that it’s impossible to believe they haven’t been playing together all
their lives! Pull down those walls again, please!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The concert was part of a
tour to showcase the album created from the women’s time on Eigg. It is
released on the 29 January – check the <a href="http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/2015/11/new-album-songs-of-separation/">NavigatorRecords website</a> for more info. </span>
Chris Bartterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310505271404631596noreply@blogger.com0