Ft. Encounter With The Karaoke Cabbie

Posted in *Written Interviews, Features, Music by Dan Lentell

You can hear Brian Mitchell, Edinburgh’s own Karaoke Cabbie, live on the Christmas ’14 edition of Edinburgh Nights. 15:00-16:00, Friday 19th December on Shore Radio. Alternatively you can subscribe to the podcast here.

I tumble into a taxi on Hanover Street, or is this Frederick? I’m never entirely certain, even at the best of times, and it’s been a good night. If I am no longer exactly on the level, here’s hoping the Great Architect of the Universe can keep me straight until I’ve staggered up the wooden hills to Bedfordshire. But this is Edinburgh and you can’t escape unanticipated spectacle so easily.

“Do you like music?” Is there someone else in the cab? Hazily, I remember the first episode of Sherlock, and that there is ALWAYS someone else in a hired hackney. “I don’t mind a tune mate,” I reply to the driver’s enquiry. A pause and then he asks, “You like Barry Manilow pal?” To this I’m …er… less committal. And that is how the conversation started. That’s how I encountered Brian Mitchell, Edinburgh’s very own Karaoke Cabbie.

It’s December. It’s cold and it’s going to get colder. August is a distant memory and yet the spirit of the Fringe moves among us. Turns out I’m the audience at a hopeful’s impromptu show. Brian’s been on Britain’s Got Talent, he’s been on The Voice, and yet he’s still waiting for his break together with the recognition his gigantically gentle stage style deserves.

The backing track comes on as we turn onto Waverley Bridge – not too quiet, not too loud – this is finely tuned improv. Brian’s warms up with classics from the song book of the artist formerly known as Barry Alan Pincus (Did I know Manilow started using his mother’s maiden name after his bar mitzvah?).

“I had a guy in the back one time. Said he was a big pal of Manilow’s. Said I was the best tribute act he’d ever heard.”

The best lounge crooners don’t just imitate, they resculpt the classics to their own range and unique aesthetic. Listening to Brian sing you come to realise this is a guy familiar with the engineering under the artistry. He appreciates it, respects it. Why does he suppose Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra never meshed on stage? “Very different styles, Dan pal, what you have to understand is…”

We’re bumping over the Royal Mile. People come from all over the world to see this view. I’d never imagined it could be improved until I saw it, long after the midnight hour, bathed in the magic Brian can conjures from In the Wee Small Hours. With the Current Mrs Dan away Christmas shopping in NYC, it brings a lump to my throat. “Give us something more cheerful can’t you Brian?” Of course he can!

If there’s one thing living in Edinburgh has taught me, it’s that great art (high and low) doesn’t just happen. Years of practise are required for each single hour of top quality entertainment, and that punters are just as responsible as producers for finding and celebrating artists. Why would you leave it to the corporate clever clogs behind the Saturday Night talent shows?

Consumption isn’t just consuming only what’s been put in front of us. I needs us to go out, explore, trying something new, take a risk and watch it pay off. Yes, you might have to listen to a bit of Manilow before you get to the Sinatra, but it’ll be so worth it in the end. You might even discover that… actually… you quite like Manilow after all.

—

By: Dan Lentell (Seen 5 December)

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28Nov2014

JUST READ THE POEMS! – S01E03 – Rachel McCrum

Posted in Features, Just Read The Poems! by Rally & Broad

JUST READ THE POEMS! (Does what it says on the tin)

Our city is a nursery of versery and every fortnight(ish) Edinburgh49 will deliver a double dose of poems auld and new, read by one of the city’s leading spoken word talents.

THIS WEEK…

RACHEL McCRUM

READS HER OWN:

Are the Kids Alright?

E49 – Just Read the Poems – S01E03 – RM’s Are the Kids Alright

AND AGNES TOROK READS…

Freedom by Rabindranath Tagore

E49 – Just Read The Poems – S01E03 – AT reads Rabindranath Tagore’s Freedom

ABOUT RACHEL McCRUM

Rachel landed in Edinburgh in 2010, via Manchester, New Zealand, Oxford and a small seaside town in Northern Ireland. Her first pamphlet, The Glassblower Dances, won the 2013 Callum MacDonald Award from the National Library of Scotland. She was the Michael Marks Poet in Residence at the Harvard Centre for Hellenic Studies in Greece in July 2013, and spent time in South Africa as part of the Scottish Poetry Library/British Council project Commonwealth Poets United in the spring of 2014. Mostly, she really likes getting up on stages.

Rachel’s Favourite View in Edinburgh?: From the top of the Scott Monument.

ABOUT AGNES

Agnes Török is a multilingual spoken word performer, poetry workshop leader, poetry event organiser, and human. Her show, ‘Sorry I Don’t Speak Culture,’ was awarded the Best International Spoken Word Show (PBH) at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Agnes is also part of running the collaborative spoken word movement Loud Poets. Her two favourite gigs ever were in a muddy Nepalese classroom and an Edinburgh Bingo Hall with pink neon signs. www.agnestorok.org & www.loudpoets.com

Anges’ Favourite View in Edinburgh?: The view over Arthur’s Seat from the top of the abandoned language library in David Hume Tower.

14Nov2014

JUST READ THE POEMS! – S01E02 – Agnes Torok

Posted in Features, Just Read The Poems! by Rally & Broad

JUST READ THE POEMS! (Does what it says on the tin)

Our city is a nursery of versery and every fortnight(ish) Edinburgh49 will deliver a double dose of poems auld and new, read by one of the city’s leading talents. In episode 1 we promised that the format would adapt and change as the series progressed. In episode 2 we will begin leapfrogging the poets – 1 episode, 2 poets, they’re here to JUST READ THE POEMS!

THIS WEEK…

AGNES TOROK

READS HER OWN:

The Old Ladies in the Hospital

E49 – Just Read The Poems – S01E02 – The Old Ladies in the Hospital

AND RACHEL McCRUM READS…

Musee des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden*

E49 – Just Read The Poems – S01E02 – Musee des Beaux Arts – W.H. Auden

ABOUT AGNES

Anges’ Favourite View in Edinburgh?: The view over Arthur’s Seat from the top of the abandoned language library in David Hume Tower.

ABOUT RACHEL McCRUM

Rachel’s Favourite View in Edinburgh?: From the top of the Scott Monument.

7Nov2014

Kind of a BIG Deal – Season 1 – Recap

Posted in Features, Interviews, Kind of a BIG Deal by Dan Lentell

“I don’t know how to put this…but I’m kind of a big deal.” – Ron Burgundy

You might think that it’s simply not possible for 2 people have an intimate conversation in front of hundreds of people. But it is! And it’s all thanks to the marvel of sound recording. (BTW, did you know, in 1889 Thomas Edison presented a phonograph to M. Eiffel while calling at the latter’s private apartment at the top of his tower?)

In each episode of Kind of a Big Deal you can listen to an exclusive & wide-ranging conversation between our Features Editor, Dan Lentell, and the kind of big deal folks our world-class arts scene attracts – writers, performers, movers and shakers.

Season 2 of Kind of a BIG Deal will include: David & Hilary Crystal (Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist’s Guide to Britain); Phil Whitchurch & Sally Edwards (Shakespeare, His Wife and The Dog); & Angela Bartie (The Edinburgh Festivals; Culture and Society in Post-war Britain). WATCH THIS SPACE!

31Oct2014

Kind of a BIG Deal – S01E06 – Philippa Langley

Posted in Books & Film, Features, Interviews, Kind of a BIG Deal by Dan Lentell

“I don’t know how to put this…but I’m kind of a big deal.” – Ron Burgundy

In each episode of Kind of a Big Deal you can listen to an exclusive & intimate conversation between our Features Editor and the kind of big deal folks our world-class arts scene attracts – writers, performers, movers and shakers.

Last Week: Alternative comedy legend, Andy de la Tour. Conversations coming up in season two of Kind of a BIG Deal include: David & Hilary Crystal (Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist’s Guide to Britain); Phil Whitchurch & Sally Edwards (Shakespeare, His Wife and The Dog); & Angela Bartie (The Edinburgh Festivals; Culture and Society in Post-war Britain). WATCH THIS SPACE!

This week’s conversation is between Dan Lentell and secretary of the Scottish Branch of the Richard III Society

PHILIPPA LANGLEY

Philippa is best known for her contribution to the 2012 exhumation of Richard III of England. She attributes the discovery to a feeling she had when first visiting the northern end of the Social Services car park in Leicester which acted as the catalyst to four years of research that confirmed this location, and where the king was later found. Philippa had gone to Leicester when researching Richard’s life for a screenplay she was writing.

She proceeded to raise money for, and organize the excavation of the site, leading to the eventual discovery of Richard III’s remains. She later contributed to a Channel 4 documentary about the project, titled The King in the Car Park. Philippa is co-author, with Michael K. Jones, of The King’s Grave: The Search for Richard III.

This conversation took place during the 2014 Book Festival.

E49 Interviews; Dan Lentell talks to Philippa Langley

The jingle is used with the gracious permission of Moving On Theatre’s Laurene Hope Omedal (star of Piaf: Love Conquers All) and is voiced by Edinburgh Nights host Ewan Spence.

PLEASE NOTE! If you are subscribed to Edinburgh49‘s emailing list, you may not see embedded audio links in your email alert, but they are on the website. (Promise!)

30Oct2014

JUST READ THE POEMS! – S01E01 – Anne Connolly

Posted in Features, Just Read The Poems! by Rally & Broad

JUST READ THE POEMS! (Does what it says on the tin)

Our city is a nursery of versery and every fortnight(ish) Edinburgh49 will deliver a double dose of poems auld and new read by one of the city’s leading talents. Will the style and substance of each edition’s poems complement one another? Maybe. Will the format of JUST READ THE POEMS! evolve as we try new things? Probably. Will you be inspired by the captivating beauty of the spoken word? Definitely!

THIS WEEK…

ANNE CONNOLLY

READS:

The Golden Road to Samarkand by James Elroy Flecker

E49 Just Read the Poems – S01E01 – The Golden Journey To Samarkand

ALONG WITH HER OWN…

Just in Time – Cairo to Damascus

E49 Just Read the Poems – S01E01 – Just in Time – Cairo to Damascus

ABOUT ANNE

Anne is an Irish poet living and working in Scotland. She has enjoyed teaching throughout Britain for many years but the fun of being a granny trumps everything. She likes to sing, sew and potter in a wild garden, wanders regularly, drinks gallons of tea and enjoys an interesting whisk(e)y.

Photography and calligraphy are abiding interests. Anne has kept an eye on the School of Poets for several years, is a veteran of Slam poetry and reads and performs her work regularly throughout Scotland. She is the current Makar of The Federation of Writers, Scotland. Her work has appeared in numerous journals. Her own pamphlets are Downside Up and Not Entirely Beautiful. Love-in-a-Mist is a Red Squirrel Press collection.

24Oct2014

Kind of a BIG Deal Interview – S01E05 – Andy de la Tour

Posted in Features, Interviews, Kind of a BIG Deal by Dan Lentell

“I don’t know how to put this…but I’m kind of a big deal.” – Ron Burgundy

Last Week: Prof. Sir Tim O’Shea (Principal, Edinburgh University & Chair, Edinburgh Fringe). Next week: Philippa Langley (The King’s Grave; The Search for Richard III).

This week’s conversation is between Dan Lentell and stand-up comedian

ANDY DE LA TOUR

Andy de la Tour is an actor and screenwriter. His film appearances including Plenty, Notting Hill, the Roman Polanski version of Oliver Twist and “44” Chest. His work in television includes The Young Ones, Bottom, Kavanagh QC and The Brief. On stage he has appeared at the National Theatre in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land and Alan Bennett’s People.

His credits as a television writer include Lovejoy, Peak Practice, The Vet, Kavanagh QC and Clem. Andy has also written many stage plays including Safe In Our Hands (winner of the LWT Plays on Stage Award)

But before all that, Andy was a stand-up comedian in the 1980s with the likes of Rik Mayall, Ben Elton as well as French and Saunders. In 2012 he wrote Stand-Up or Die about his most recent adventure – returning to the stand-up scene in New York.

This conversation took place during August ’14 almost 3 decades on since Andy last played the Fringe.

E49 Interviews; Dan Lentell talks to Andy de la Tour

The jingle is used with the gracious permission of Moving On Theatre’s Laurene Hope Omedal (star of Piaf: Love Conquers All) and is voiced by Edinburgh Nights host Ewan Spence.

PLEASE NOTE! If you are subscribed to Edinburgh49‘s emailing list, you may not see embedded audio links in your email alert, but they are on the website. (Promise!)

20Oct2014

Edinburgh Nights: The Ukridge-Off

Posted in Features by Dan Lentell

Competitive(ish) Wodehouse – World’s 1st Ukridge-off

Do you know Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge? Chances are you’re aware of Jeeves and Wooster, that’s if you haven’t been living under a particularly out of the way rock for the past 99 years. Ukridge is an older (but certainly not a wiser) comic creation, who first appeared in 1906. A schemer and a dreamer, Ukridge is P.G. Wodehouse at his most inventively silly.

One Friday in October Clive Hayward and Sarah Marie Maxwell popped by the Edinburgh Nights studio to big up the national tour of Irving Berlin’s Top Hat as well as Rights of Man, Clive’s own new musical based on Herman Melville’s Billy Budd.

Having described Clive as “Wodehousian perfection” it seemed to me like a rather splendid opportunity for some competitive(ish) Wodehouse. Two readings of two Ukridge passages (selected at random) by Clive and Edinburgh Nights‘ host Ewan Spence. England playing Scotland at home for the title. Will you agree with Sarah Marie’s choice of the winner?

E49 and Edinburgh Nights (141017) The Ukridge-Off ft. Clive Hayward v. Ewan Spence

As well as writing for Edinburgh49 Dan Lentell is also the co-host of Edinburgh Nights. It’s a madcap weekly broadcast for Scotland’s Capital, promoting shows, events, and music that will be taking place that weekend across Edinburgh. The show is recorded live between 3pm and 4pm every Friday, and you can listen online or catch the podcast after the show. Click here to hear to whole episode.

17Oct2014

Kind of a BIG Deal Interview – S01E04 – Prof. Sir Tim O’Shea

Posted in Features, Interviews, Kind of a BIG Deal by Dan Lentell

“I don’t know how to put this…but I’m kind of a big deal.” – Ron Burgundy

Last week: Prof. Mary Beard (Laughter in Ancient Rome: On Joking, Tickling, and Cracking Up). Next week: Andy de la Tour (Stand Up or Die).

This week’s conversation is between Dan Lentell and the Principal of Edinburgh University and Chair of the Fringe Festival

PROF. SIR TIM O’SHEA

Prof. O’Shea grew up in London, attended the Royal Liberty School, in Romford, Essex. A computer scientist, he was Master of Birkbeck College from 1998 and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of London from 2001.

A graduate of the Universities of Sussex and Leeds, he has worked in the United States and for the Open University where he founded the Computer Assisted Learning Research Group and worked on a range of educational technology research and development projects, later becoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor there. He was a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, Department of Artificial Intelligence, from 1974-78.

Professor O’Shea became Principal of the University of Edinburgh in October 2002. Since his appointment he has sat on various boards including the Boards of Scottish Enterprise, the Intermediary Technology Institute Scotland Ltd, the British Council, the Governing Body of the Roslin Institute and has been Convenor of the Research and Commercialisation Committee of Universities Scotland and Acting Convener of Universities Scotland.

This conversation took place during Fringe ’14 and examined the interplay of O’Shea’s University and Fringe roles.

E49 Interviews; Dan Lentell talks to Tim O’Shea

The jingle is used with the gracious permission of Moving On Theatre’s Laurene Hope Omedal (star of Piaf: Love Conquers All) and is voiced by Edinburgh Nights host Ewan Spence.

PLEASE NOTE! If you are subscribed to Edinburgh49‘s emailing list, you will not see the embedded audio links in your email alert, but they are on the website. (Promise!)

10Oct2014

Kind of a BIG Deal Interview – S01E03 – Prof. Mary Beard

Posted in Books & Film, Features, Interviews, Kind of a BIG Deal by Dan Lentell

“I don’t know how to put this…but I’m kind of a big deal.” – Ron Burgundy

Last Week: Ian Lavender (Don’t Tell Him Pike). Next week: Sir Tim O’Shea (Edinburgh University Principal & Fringe Chair).

This week’s conversation is between Dan Lentell and historian

PROF. MARY BEARD

Winifred Mary Beard, OBE, FBA, FSA is the professor of classics at the University of Cambridge where she is a fellow of Newnham College. Her blog, A Don’s Life, appears in The Times as a regular column. Her books run from Rome in the Late Republic (with Michael Crawford, 1985); through The Colosseum (with the late & much lamented Keith Hopkins, 2005); to Laughter in Ancient Rome: On Joking, Tickling, and Cracking Up (2014). Mary Beard’s work on television, as well as her robust social media presence, have made her Britain’s most widely recognized Classicist.

If George Washington didn’t fly around on Air Force One or live at the White House, and yet is still the first US President, then why was Julius Caesar not Rome’s first emperor? Did the ancient Ostians live entirely on takeaways? These (and other weighty matters) were covered in a conversation which took place during the 2014 Fringe.

E49 Interviews; Dan Lentell talks to Mary Beard

The jingle is used with the gracious permission of Moving On Theatre’s Laurene Hope Omedal (star of Piaf: Love Conquers All) and is voiced by Edinburgh Nights host Ewan Spence.

PLEASE NOTE! If you are subscribed to Edinburgh49‘s emailing list, you will not see the embedded audio links in your email alert, but they are on the website. (Promise!)