Richard Lennox
- setting rather than resetting CSS styling: http://bit.ly/drvmMK
- does anyone know if Windows 7 starter (netbook) can use an external projector?
- Why do some e-commerce platforms get Javascript so wrong? http://bit.ly/awXZvZ from @econsultancy
Archive for the ‘Festival’ Category
Fringe madness
It is the time of year, for the Edinburgh Fringe festival. The city is buzzing with tourists and there is far too much to see and far too little time (and money) to see it all.
I have been on holiday since finishing up work on Friday evening and Susan's sister was staying with us up until yesterday. So it has been a bit of a mad weekend and first half of the week. I for the most part let the women go ahead and book what they wanted to see, and tagged along. This worked really well and I was able to have my input when I wanted to. It also meant I saw a few shows that I would quite happily have given a miss if I had had the time to look at what they were when asked if I wanted to go. This turned into a bit of a triumph as I thoroughly enjoyed everything I saw. Obviously some more than others, but that is the way it is!!
With ticket prices rising though I think gone are the times of running around fitting in 3-4 shows a day. Although it is quite manic just getting along to 2, with places like the spiegelgarden to hang around in between.
Women With Standards
On Saturday night, Susan and Jenny took me along to see Women with Standards at the Gilded Balloon (Teviot). A group of 4 Australian vocalists and a local jazz trio making the most of some powerful voices belting out not only Jazz standards but other Diva-esque songs. And boy can those Women sing. I don;t know if any one has seen the TV advert for Sheila's Wheels insurance with four Australian Women singing a really dodgy song. Well having said yes I wouldn't mind being entertained with some Jazz standards on a Saturday night, Susan then puts that into my head and the vision of the dodgiest ad and those four Australian "singers", which got me looking. Was I not relieved when they belted out the first number.
The Filthy Six at The Lot
The Filthy Six are a Soul Jazz Funk sextet from London. Having read reasonably good things about them, I decided to go along to the Lot and check them out.
An interesting mix of players, as with many fringe music events they were using session players to cover for those with real jobs!! However the core seemed to be there. It was an unusual makeup with the down on their luck Russian Mafia Groovy Head Nodders on guitar and base, the "too cool for my jeans and flip-flops" band leader and trumpeter and the jiving Duracell bunny on Speed leading the way with some admittedly fabulous organ riffs.
Festival Recommendations Anyone?
So, I am looking for something to do this weekend, more specifically I am looking for inspiration for a Fringe show that is so good. Ideally it would be funny, [I don't enjoy much of the childish humour that can be found on today's TV, so need a comedy fix somewhere!] but I am not averse to something cultural or serious.
If anyone comes across this and has seen something of interest that they can recommend or even tell me what to avoid, please leave a comment. If you manage or are part of a particular show, tell me about it, tell me what it is about, how good you all are and where you are at and I might just come along and see your show!
I look forward to your recommendations!
Bill Bailey’s ***** Steampunk
I cannot recommend this Edinburgh Festival show highly enough! Not usually one for this behaviour but I must have guffawed my way through at least half of it! Absolutely hysterical in places!
Bailey puts on a dramatic twist to the genre of Stand-Up comedy. His act of slick jokes, musical interludes and the use of the big screen was hilarious. He had a new toy, a keyboard like instrument that distorted the images on the big screen!
His content sails a little close to the wind and using similar material (with the US the butt of his jokes) to the mainstream can seem a little old news but his new slant more than makes up for it. And don;t forget his musical prowess, a comic musician of the highest order. If you get the chance to see it, look out in particular for his superb Friends theme renditions and of course his legendary Hokey-Kokey in German!
Certainly one of the highlights of the Edinburgh Festival.