Is it a compliment?

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I reckon so, see what you think. I was told this a few days ago by a friend, we were having a long catch-up conversation on the phone.

My friend picked up his mum so she could do a big supermarket shop (she doesn’t drive). Some way down the road he thought to turn the music down as it was quite loud, apologising to his mum for not turning it down sooner, but to his surprise she was fine with it, actually rather enjoying it. Indeed, as they drove along she began tapping her feet, her fingers caught the rhythms too. Apparently, the music fair took her back to the beat clubs she loved to go to in the early ’60s.

She couldn’t figure out who the band were, but they were awfully good! Oh, they’re not an old band, my friend explained, they’re a current band but with 60s sensibilities. A search on YouTube was called for, once back home (hmmm, I never asked if they watched Babestation), still impressed, so reminiscent of the bands back in her day.

Yes, the band was Logan’s Close, the CD playing was their LimbicTV session. My friend didn’t think that praise from an octogenarian, well, could it really count as a compliment?! Let’s see, the lady in question went to lots of clubs, saw lots of bands, the Stones, the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, included (sounds like she was my type of gal!) What a time that was to be young!

Yep, I’d say such praise from one who was there, is a true compliment, and it surely indicates how just good Live at LimbicTV really is!

Things that made me go, hmm

bruceonthefringe 2023, Edinburgh Fringe 2023, Free Fringe, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It’s Saturday afternoon and time for the annual defrosting of my fridge freezer, well, I’m waiting for it to defrost completely, then I’ll clean it. No meat from the Farmers Market this morning, instead I’m letting mince and chicken thaw out for cooking later; the subsequent bolognaise sauce and chicken curry will refill the freezer in mealsize portions. There’s method in the madness!

Now, while the freezer slowly warms up, on with “things I’ve spotted in the Fringe programme” with pauses to occasionally go through and mop up the gathering puddle. Oo yeah, definitely possible, the gorgeous Rose Matafeo will be at Monkey Barrel 4 for only £7 or PWYW, bargain! Unfortunately whilst in the Box Office in June I overheard the chap at the next till being told that Rose was already sold out, so that’s almost definitely impossible, then. I say almost, apparently a few seats will be available on the day, good luck getting one of them!

The show with what has to be the longest title is back again, one performance only. It’s part of PBH’s Free Fringe, I’ve never seen it but maybe this is the year for A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for 56 Minutes and Then Leaves… 14. Would you be tempted? I really don’t know, I suppose it is free, very much a see-how-I-feel-on-the-day. I wonder how many will go, and has anyone gone to it more than once?

So …Gorilla… is now pencilled with brackets in my calendar, supposing he never does it again? Someone who won’t be back at the Fringe ever again is the late great comedy legend that was Barry Cryer who sadly died last year. For the last twenty years Barry was part of the Fringe in a double act, this year instead it’s Ronnie Golden: Allo Keith! Remembering Barry Cryer, I came over quite emotional seeing that!

What do you reckon “unusual old-school Fringe activities” will entail? Apparently Mark Watson’s Churchfest will be seven hours of the stuff on Tuesday 22nd. Churchfest because the venue is St Peter’s Church up at Lutton Place on the Southside (it has a lovely garden beside it). I do like Mark Watson, he’s intelligent with a slight of whimsy, he has me intrigued with this show (and it’s free non-ticketed).

Back in my school days I studied Murder In The Cathedral by T.S.Eliot for English Lit A-level, even got to see it performed in York Minster. This year, for one night only it’s on at Old Saint Paul’s Church. I’m don’t remember ever seeing it in a Fringe programme before, an OMG moment when I spotted it; but no, well, I’ve already seen it, haven’t I?

More from me tomorrow, I have a Jazz Festival to attend just now. Toodle pip!

Only two weeks to go!

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Hurrah! At the weekend Assembly announced their Locals offer was back again. Good news for me as Laser Kiwi are back with a new show Rise of the Olive at Assembly Roxy. They were last at the Fringe in 2019, brilliantly bizarre, amazing acrobatics and soooo bendy! Also back are Mochinosha Puppet Company, last year they did an epic sci-fi adventure Space Hippo, this year it’s a fantasy adventure Shadow Kingdom. Needless to say I’ve bought tickets for both (along with three more Assembly shows).

Back for more puns and frolics are Shakespeare For Breakfast, well, of course they are! I see they’ve moved venue yet again, this year to Lauriston Halls in Lauriston Street (I’ve been to a few ceilidhs there in Fringes past). It’s back to just one performance a day (last year it was two back-to-back every morning!) at the original time, ten o’clock, the earliest show on the Fringe! Okay, there may be earlier ones, but not for me, ten is quite early enough, thank you.

Also back with a new show are the Voloz Collective. Last year’s The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much was a total joy – great physical theatre, a great story, all very stylishly delivered. I’m almost a little nervous whether The Life Sporadic of Jess Wildgoose can match it. I’ll let you know, and I won’t have to rely on my memory to recall The Man Who… as they’ve brought that back and, well, I couldn’t resist another watch. Yes, it’s that good; I do believe they Sold Out a lot last year – you have been warned!

Two more shows that I really enjoyed last year Manbo and Yippee Ki Yay are back – if you don’t get what they’re referencing then they’re probably not for you! Both were well conceived and highly entertaining. More sombre returns are Watson:The Final Problem and …And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel, again the clues are in the titles, fans will enjoy them.

My calendar is nicely busy from 2nd ’til 8th, after that, well, the Fringe is my oyster. Stramash have been busy posting on Facebook who’s playing when in August – I’ve added particular ones to my Fringe calendar in green. You know the ones, Nicole, the Rats, the Buccaneers, and, oh joys, Ol’Times will be back in town! Oh, and for folk who’d like to give ceilidh dancing a whirl during the Fringe, Stramash has the Daily Ceilidh every afternoon.

Next time, interesting things noticed in the Fringe programme and more happy returns. Toodle pip!

It’s a tad windy today

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No rain today (so far), just 40mph winds instead. Yesterday was mainly fine but for a couple of downpours, one even had some hail mixed in! I’d just wandered into the Assembly George Square Gardens when the heavens opened, so quickly headed to the covered bar area. At least it didn’t last too long and the rain gods had been good enough to wait until after the Mardi Gras in the Grassmarket was over, not by much though.

Twas a lovely evening after that, so lovely I headed out for a stroll and some bat-spotting in Holyrood Park. Yay, plenty of bats skitting around and lovely lazy buzzing could be heard in the long grass. So peaceful, I didn’t see another soul all the way round, mind it was pretty dark!

Talking of dark, I’m finally going to John Robertson’s The Dark Room this year, yay. He’s only be doing it for the last ten years or so! Might as well go see what it’s all about, I’ve seen the queues afterwards in the refectory to buy merchandise and have a photo taken with him in his Dark Room regalia; the fans love him. Sadly Puffin books are not quite so in love with him, as yesterday John announced on social media that they’re not going forward with a sequel to his book The Little Town of Marrowville.

I’m actually in two minds about this news, as while we all love a sequel sometimes….. aargh. Marrowville is a cracking read, (yes, it’s a children book but some of the best are) and whilst the ending has the reader eager for more, it is a complete story. Sure, if someone had placed a second book in front of me straight after I finished the first, I know I would have had to read it despite any trepidation. I’m quite sure he could pull off a sequel to equal, but still, somehow I like the bittersweet of not knowing. Maybe in a few more years? I can wait, there’s plenty more reads left in this one.

Like stair rods, I tell you

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Outside my window the sky is a soft blue with wispy clouds hanging around, butter wouldn’t melt in it’s mouth if it had one. It’s monsoon time again, lovely summer weather to draw everyone out, then down it pours; we’re talking cats, dogs, frogs, fish, there’ll be kitchen sinks hurtling down next. So far I’ve been pretty lucky but for how much longer?

It’s partly due to the deluges that I read a whole book yesterday, from late afternoon, a quick break to make tea, then through until late evening. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before, and it wasn’t a short book, but it was very gripping! A Death at Fountains Abbey is the third novel set in the early eighteenth century following the escapades of one Thomas Hawkins by Antonia Hodgson. By’eck, the lady knows how to write a good thriller, all three books have been great but this one, wow (no, I’m not biased just because it’s set in Yorkshire).

The evening before was a movie marathon of Asteroid City followed by Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse about five hours at the cinema with just time in-between to grab coffee and cake. Yeah, I needed reviving after Asteroid City oh, it was okay, a very very Wes Anderson film, you know it’s his immediately, arty and clever, and so like so much else he’s done; I guess I’ve gotten bored with him. The new Spider-Man film bounced along nicely and held my attention through all the multidimensional wibbly-wobbliness. But aargh, I didn’t know it was gonna end on a cliffhanger!

On films, there is an Edinburgh International Film Festival this year, running from 18th to 23rd August. I did have a quick glance through the programme online (I don’t know if there is a printed version this year) but nothing grabbed my attention, I’ll maybe have another ganders at what’s on offer.

Fringe-side, the new Fringe App is now available, time will tell just how good it is. Hopefully it won’t be as draining on my battery as the previous incarnation, that was very greedy! Bad news about the Half Price Hut is it’s back in the Fringe Box Office again, so shuts at 6pm, sooo stupid!! Once again folk coming into town for an evening (well, any time after 5.45) won’t be able to take advantage of HPH offers.

Must dash, the Cumbiatones are doing their thing at Stramash, in fact they’ll have already started. Toodle pip!

You may want to, but can you?

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Uufh, time is marching quickly on! Less than four weeks to go now. Still no mention about this year’s Half Price Hut setup nor a peep from Assembly about ticket offers for locals. I have a pile of possibles if they are HPH-ed and a pile of Assembly offer possibles, and another pile to be moved over if Assembly don’t come through. Oh, I have lots of piles, hahaha. There’ll be some whittling down, obviously; without further cheaper options it’ll be an axing not a little whittle.

On closer inspection of all my possibilities I’ve spotted there is a distinction between Pay What You Want and Pay What You Can. Call me unobservant, well, I was kind of aware, just not paying much attention.

Pay What You Want has been going a few years now, most noticeably at Monkey Barrel Comedy and Just the Tonic. Oo, I’ve spotted that a couple of my fancies are PWYW at Paradise in The Vault, which I believe is new for that venue (it happens to be one of my favourites). Hmm, I wonder how it works, does a venue have to okay having PWYW tickets or is it just up to the shows themselves?

I notice Ahir Shah is doing a show at Monkey Barrel, he’s very popular (well, he is a very intelligent, funny guy), always does very well; tickets are £12 to guarantee entry or PWYW – you’d have to be there pretty early to be in with a chance of seeing the show without a ticket, there’ll be some seats still available but not many!

Pay What You Can is the new kid on the block from the Free Festival folk (possibly brought in as a response to controls during covid?), alongside their free non-ticketed shows. Rather than one ticket price there’s usually three or four options ranging from £5 to £12.50 to guarantee entry, or donate at the end. There is occasionally a £2.50 option – c’mon, that’s just a deposit, I would definitely give more at the end, unless it was a really duff show.

Whilst these newer payment options are great and no doubt help to put bums on seats, they are a cause of consternation for some Fringe-goers. They shuffle out past the bucketholder quietly mortified or feebly mumbling, “I bought a ticket, honest”, poor things (I am a bit like that at times, it depends on the demeanour of the bucket-person!) Of course, there’ll be others who feel great that they can breeze out of a show without anyone knowing they haven’t parted with any money (w*****s).

So there you go, the difference between Want and Can. You may Want to see a show but can’t because you didn’t buy a ticket, but you Can see a show when you’ve already paid what you could. Got that?

Toodle pip!

Make me an offer, please

bruceonthefringe 2023, Comedy duos, Edinburgh Fringe 2023, Previews, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

I have Fringe tickets, woohoo. I mentioned as much at the end of my last blog post, I have even more now, thanks to an email update from Underbelly. I just wish I’d opened and read it sooner – I’d have saved a few quid! Only a few but it all adds up. Underbelly had announced a special offer of £6 tickets for shows up until 10th August, one just had to be organised enough to buy them by midnight tonight, oops. I only read the email after I had booked a wodge of preview shows; I did feel a tad disgruntled, my own fault, I know, I really should check my emails more regularly.

At least I’ve managed to save on booking fees, that old bugbear! The Fringe and Underbelly box offices have once again capped the booking fees at £5 per transaction (£1.25 a ticket). Organisation is key, fifteen tickets in and a tenner spent on fees, not that I see that as a saving, just less irksome.

Assembly have for a number of years now done an offer for locals at the start of the Fringe, they just like to announce it quite late on. To make us sweat or just so’s we might have already paid full whack? There’s a number of Assembly shows I quite fancy, that I may fancy even more with a cheap offer, only one has made my must-see pile.

My favourite comedy duo from last year are back, and with a new show, Grubby Little Mitts: Hello, Hi. Well, I had to get a ticket, this is one second outing I’m confident will be as funny, clever and dark as the first (not always the case).

It’s a tad late, I shall away to bed. I leave you with a peek at my possibilities…..

Bands with occasional overlaps

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Today is the last day of June, it’s raining but still warm (for Edinburgh, that is); I’m often surprised how warm it is when I step outside, the moose cave is always fairly cool (in all ways, daddio). Was mid-June the best of this year’s Scottish summer? Don’t laugh, it might be! We could be in for a wet, miserable August – mind, at least Edinburgh doesn’t have midgy problems like plenty of Scotland (always look on the bright side, eh). It has been good being out late night without feeling chill. Oh, I did go along to The Jazz Bar to see Duke Duncan & the Hurricanes last Saturday, walking home going on three in the morning was rather lovely.

On my way there I glanced in the window of B Bar and noticed Nicole Smit with a couple of her Back-up Crew (Simon on drums and Ewan, this time on guitar), as I had plenty of time to hand I popped in. Not really my style (it’s quite a cocktaily place) but nice enough, the bartender was cheery, for a late Saturday night it seemed fairly quiet. Once in The Jazz Bar I noticed there were more hurricanes this time, a female backing singer and a saxophonist had blown in. Whilst I enjoyed the full band experience, I reckon I prefer the version at Binkies (harder and more intense?), yeah, sans sax for me; the backing vocals were very good (great voice), a different feel again, hmmm.

I was at the cinema last night til late, popped into Whistlebinkies on my way home as Willie Dug was playing, along with two musicians I haven’t seen before (at least I don’t reckon so) – as long as the name written up let’s you know what to expect, I guess. It was fine, but no Cosmic Gents outing. I left before the end of the first set because down the road at Stramash it was time for The Buccaneers to be taking to the stage (indeed, they just started their first number as I paid for my pint of Stewart’s, perfect). No keyboards tonight, again, you never can tell who’ll actually be up there, but hey, I love both versions equally with these dudes.

Stramash was heaving, plenty of students boisterously (or, drunkenly) dancing/colliding enjoying the music as much as The Buccaneers looked to be enjoying playing it. Oh, that iconic lick on I Heard It Through The Grapevine so, so fine, and the sparseness without the keyboards shows off the tight rhythms on the drums and bass (yes, that would be Simon and Ewan again, from Saturday night). I think I grinned from ear to ear through the whole set, such an irresistible joie de vivre when these guys are playing. Black Magic Woman finished the set in style, I finished my pint and popped back to Binkies, caught the rest of Willie Dug before home. No, I was too tired to stay up any later, hey, it was going up to two!

Oh, the film? I went to see The Flash, I knew very little about the film and even less about the character, apart from snippets in The Big Bang Theory. I actually quite enjoyed it, for a DC movie it had some humour to it! Okay, so the timelines thing was a bit, huh, but seeing all the various Batmans was fun. The Flash is a long film but as it keeps up quite a pace throughout, I didn’t really notice the time; if you go to the cinema to see it just be sure to go to the bathroom beforehand!

Must go and make something to eat, I’m Hank Marvin. After that, Fringey stuff – yes, I have tickets! More later……

Newsflash: Hurricanes in Edinburgh

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I’m baaaack! Miss me? It’s lovely oot there, so a brief catchup then I’m getting me some sunshine. Yes, I could write this later but, well, that doesn’t always work out. I had peek at my last post and spotted a big error that has now been rectified, I put Duncan Duke instead of Duke Duncan & the Hurricanes . Oh, and the Amarillo was finished, in its place was Project 7 Juicy IPA and indeed it was, another hit from Stewart Brewing. Those hurricanes blowing along with the Duke, I wasn’t sure beforehand so didn’t mention it in case it had been only a one night stand (you know how musicians are), but yay, Mr Marah is now officially a force of nature (he’s gonna run out of fingers for all those pies soon!)

Duke Duncan is the drummer (and sings) with the Miracle Glass Company, here he sings centre stage, but he just can’t quite let go of those percussive instincts – he has a triangle and a tambourine close by! Some seriously psychedelic vibes going on here, music swirling from light funkiness to hard heavy blues grooves. I liked it, very much. I may well head to The Jazz Bar tonight, where DD&TH will be celebrating the release of their single High On Love. You can catch a clip of it from Binkies last week on my Instagram.

I never got to Heptonstall on my trip south but I did have a wander round Hebden Bridge, discovered a very nice new café called The Excited Goat on Crown Street. I just had to try their eponymously named The Excited Goat Hot Sandwich (their version of my favourite, bacon, brie and cranberry) with goats cheese, streaky bacon, apricot jam and spinach. By’eck, it was very tasty, I’ll have that again! I also discovered Hotcakes a fab little vintage and retro shop, which, to my shame, I’ve never noticed before – it’s only been going fourteen years apparently! On this visit roadworks made me head up a side street (Hilton Street) and there it was. Definitely worth popping in for a look!

I managed a few glances at the Fringe programme, marked up quite a number so far. The ticket prices are definitely up this year, previews are generally between £8 to £10, Mon to Thurs tickets expect to pay £10 to £15, and weekend tickets a tad more. The Pay What You Can ticket option is at some venues again, and of course, there’s plenty of Free (to enter) shows. Hey, I’ve been very busy, there’ll be much Fringeyness coming up soon, promise.

Anyhoo, I’ll be heading out now. Toodle oo!

Duke Duncan & The Hurricanes blowin’ up a storm in Whistlebinkies

I’m on my way to an Amarillo

bruceonthefringe 2023, Cragg Vale Coiners, Live bands in Edinburgh, Television series, Uncategorized, Yorkshire Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Crikey, it’s been a week since my last post – I’ve been busy, honest. I’ve been very busy today too, no sitting out in the sun for me, and just when I thought I was done, I discovered a new moth infestation, bastards! So I writing something short and sweet just now as I’m not sure when I’ll get time next. Short because very shortly Duke Duncan & The Hurricanes will be on at Whistlebinkies – my excuse for a drink. I’ve never seen them before but by all accounts they’re rather good, so it’s beyond time that I checked them out.

Why won’t I be posting for a while? Some long time followers may have noticed this is one of those times in a year that I head back to the old country, Yorkshireland. I’ve kind of sorted stuff to go, uke and music, chocolates from CoCo Company, the Fringe programme (two, mark-up and cut-out), sunglasses.

I’ve already watched the last episode of The Gallows Pole and by’eck its good. Loved the bit when Grace tells David he needs to rally the troops, he turns to the gathered room “Ayup!” Perfect! And there was Peaches by The Stranglers in the soundtrack, pure class. I’ll definitely try to fit in a visit to Heptonstall while I’m down. Oh, I did find my copy of the Cragg Vale Coiners Walk but maybe not this trip down, it’s going to be bloody hot! Maybe next time, let’s face it, these temperatures most likely won’t last long.

Anyhoo, must go, make my way to Amarillo, that’s a pint of, very tasty, from Stewart Brewing, of course. Toodle pip!