“What is it about Edward McGuire that has made him a pioneering force in Scottish music over the past three decades, yet never appropriately acknowledged as a prophet in his own land? Sure, there are aspects of his musical style that may have put big publishers off… But there is also an irresistible charm.”
Tag: 02.08.08
At Least There Were No Translation Costs
A 90-minute play in which no one says a word is currently playing at London’s National Theatre. The play, by Austrian playwright Peter Handke, is not completely silent – “there were bangs, and crashes, and people screaming” – and the author himself has said that he isn’t sure whether the play has real value. “It simply exists.”
Winehouse Barred From Traveling To Grammys
“The American embassy in London has rejected the singer Amy Winehouse’s application for a US visa, meaning she won’t be able to attend this Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Winehouse, who is undergoing treatment for drugs and alcohol dependency, has been nominated for six awards at the ceremony.”
Patterson Leads In Lending (Well, His Name Does)
Novelist James Patterson, “who produces eight books a year, has sold 130 million copies worldwide. And a survey has found that libraries lend more of his books than those of any other author.” It’s a controversial finding, since “while Patterson maps out the fast-paced storylines and intricate plot twists, his novels are some times completed by others.”
Leigh Hoping To Score A Film Fest Hat Trick
“Mike Leigh is going for a remarkable treble at the Berlin Film Festival, which opened yesterday. The director is vying to join the exalted list of film-makers who have directed a winner of each of the three major festival prizes, the Palme d’Or of Cannes, the Golden Lion of Venice and Berlin’s Golden Bear.”