LADYFEST EDINBURGH 2009 24th - 27th September Celebrating Women in the Arts, Culture and Society Events include: Sister Spit S/E/L/O/T/A/P/E DIY Workshops Zorras Zines crafts naked men (*see life drawing)and more at www.ladyfestedinburgh.comat various venues inc. The Bowery, Roxburgh PlaceThe Big Red Door, Lady Lawson St
25th marchthe boweryroxburgh place7.30pm 5pound on the door
Friday 3rd April 7pm free entryCabaret VoltaireEdinburgh
Indie Tracks special!
Manchester's Amida have been compared to both the Pixies and the Magnetic Fields - due in part to their ability to wrench catchy pop from dark subject matter. This is exemplified on their debut mini-album 'Arts and Crafts' which, rattling through six tracks in under 13 minutes, has been described as "a masterclass in pop economy".
Pushing shiny pop hooks to a lo-fi aesthetic, the Just Joans create tales of heartache and teenage longing in small town Caledonia. Is This Music described their debut album (Last Tango In Motherwell) as "frankly staggering", and probably the best album of that year. This was followed by two mini-albums on the rather lovely Wee POP label: Virgin Lips and Hey Boy, You're So Sensitive.
The Occasional Flickers' main songwriter Giorgos Bouras recorded debut album 'Scattered Songs' in his native Greece. But it wasn't until he relocated to Greece and put together a new live band that the music truly felt at home. Imbued with the lyrical wit of Belle and Sebastian, but delivered in the off hand style of the Pastels - they're the best Scottish pop band to ever come out of Greece. Or maybe the best Greek pop band in Scotland. Either way, they're not to be missed.
VACUUM SPASM BABIES on MYSPACE
The lads won a slap across the snoot with a duelling gauntlet from channel 5 meteorologist, Lara Lewington (prize valid until 12th May 2008).
Visit SHARKBATTER. COM for archive interviews with BLUR, SONIC YOUTH, IVOR CUTLER, RADIOHEAD, MERCURY REV, IAIN BANKS, GARBAGE, SILVER JEWS, ALAN GRANT, TLC, KONO MICHI & VACUUM SPASM BABIES.