Amid the celebrations going on this year for the 40th anniversary of the Queen’s Hall, it was good to see Neu! Reekie! taking the reins for an evening. The music and spoken word event promoters’ sense of devilment thrills and amuses as much as their ability to book outstanding artists, and their arrival in this southside venue from their usual Leith bolthole was a welcome development.
From the roster of musicians, poets and spoken word artists who usually play N!R! or might suit its style, this was also something of a greatest hits show. Former Arab Strap singer turned Scotland’s bard of the wryly self-doubting Aidan Moffat made an appearance, as did the Ted Hughes Award-winning poet Hollie McNish.
The Northern Irish electronic producer and composer Hannah Peel brought the Scottish premier of Chalk Hill Blue, her new album with poet Will Burns. A driving, ... read the rest of the article here