Lost Map announce Howlin’ Fringe all-dayer
Johnny Lynch exclusively gives us the inside track on his collective's latest venture
Eigg-based record label and collective Lost Map have unveiled plans for a one-day festival – The Howlin' Fringe – at Penicuik Town Hall this August. Tickets for the all-dayer go on sale on Thursday 21 May, but you could win a pair by entering our competition – just share this story on Twitter to enter the running. *The competition is now closed - find the full Howlin' Fringe line-up below*
The festival comes in the ‘year off’ for the label’s Howlin’ Fling! festival on its Hebridean island home, which last year featured The Phantom Band, Beth Orton, and RM Hubbert alongside Lost Map signings Kid Canaveral, Randolph's Leap, Monoganon, Rozi Plain, eagleowl, Tuff Love, and label head Johnny Lynch, aka The Pictish Trail.
Explaining the thinking behind Howlin' Fringe, Lynch told The Skinny: "Howlin’ Fringe! has been brewing away for quite some time. Fact of the matter is… I can’t resist throwing a good party! Organising intimate events, as part of a collective, has played a really significant role in my life as a musician. Howlin’ Fling!, Home Game, Away Game, Eye o’ the Dug, Island Hop, Hott Loggz etc – all these daft-named festivals have been the best environment to perform in, a perfect opportunity to hang out with pals and the people who support our work, as well as an excuse to book my favourite bands.
"Outside of Howlin’ Fling!, we always keep a busy calendar. Since forming Lost Map, the collective has gone from strength to strength, and we’ve encouraged and supported our bands to host events throughout the year; hence our involvement with Kid Canaveral’s Xmas Baubles, the Randolph's Leap I Can’t Dance To This Music events, and Insect Heroes' monthly Apocalypso! club nights. Whereas those events tend to happen in the big cities, with Howlin’ Fringe! I’m keen to bring the party to different towns, those that exist on the outskirts, on the fringes... maybe a couple of times a year, even? If you want us to bring the party to your town, get in touch!"
On the subject of the line-up, Lynch admits he doesn't "want to give too much away", saying "There’s a part of me that wants to keep the whole thing a secret, as I don’t want to have to sell it on any individual names – I much prefer folk trusting us that we’ll put on a memorable show.
"There’ll be lots of great live music, certainly – stuff to dance to, sing along to, and blissfully trip out to. If you like the output of Lost Map, it’s safe to say you’ll definitely enjoy this. There’ll be comedy, too, some great food, and verrrry nice boozes. Oh, and there’ll be some absolutely howlin’ fringes on display. Pure howlin’, by the way. It’s going to be a really fun day. There are, errr, elements beyond the programmed music and comedy that make this quite a unique event … but i’ll save that for those who get tickets!"
As for the event's timing and location – on the outskirts of Edinburgh in the middle of the Fringe – Lynch says: "I’ll admit, it’s probably a completely stupid idea to put on an all-dayer during the (Edinburgh) Festival… and that’s part of the appeal of doing it, really. I love what the Edinburgh transforms into during that mad month, but an evening out can be an incredibly expensive exercise. With Howlin’ Fringe! we’re deliberately keeping ticket prices really low, beer prices low and – by taking folk a wee bit out of the city – offering a different gigging experience for both city-dwellers and tourists alike.
"Our pal Neil (aka Supermoon, formerly Meursault) introduced us to the venue - the Penicuik Town Hall. He’s from the town itself, and had put on a gig there about a year ago, which we’d heard fantastic things about. When we told him we were looking for a town to put on a Lost Map event, he immediately recommended we try Penicuik, and I’m really grateful to him for that, as it’s a totally perfect spot. There’s buses running to and from Edinburgh every 30 mins, and a night bus too - so it’s süper-cheap to get there and back. If you’ve never been to one of our events before, take a chance on this one!"
Howlin’ Fringe is at Penicuik Town Hall on Sat 8 Aug. The line-up includes Slow Club, Seamus Fogarty, The Pictish Trail, Tuff Love, Randolph's Leap, Kid Canaveral, Rozi Plain and Supermoon.