Arts & Entertainment
The latest arts and entertainment highlights, previews, reviews, music and film features and opinion pieces from The Skinny writers.
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MusicShred Yr Face III: Espers
Barely a year old, this autumn's third Shred Yr Face tour segues on from the successes of previous DIY dream teams which featured Los Campesinos!, No Age and Times New Viking, not to mention February's zero BS punk rock combo of The Bronx, Fucked Up and Rolo Tomassi. The Skinny profiles two of the three bands comprising this leg's 'psych-folk' contingent before they roll into Scotland. Here come Espers... Read more »| 06 Nov 2009 -
Music
Bowerbirds @ Sneaky Pete's, 30 Oct
In a bustling and typically cramped Friday night at Sneaky Pete's, alternative folk music - especially as subtle and nuanced as the gentle, harmonic undulati... Read more »| 04 Nov 2009 -
TheatreDr Sketchy
Hands up who loves birthdays? Dr Sketchy invites you to his party. Read more »| 04 Nov 2009 -
Theatre
Pole Dancing Championship
The future of alternative dance? Read more »| 04 Nov 2009 -
Music
Ben TD - Leaves
Let's give Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Ben TD the benefit of the doubt and say that his confused lyrics in Leaves are actually purposefully garbled. "I s... Read more »| 04 Nov 2009 -
Theatre
Confined Human Condition
Cryptic confine the heart and impress the eyes. Read more »| 04 Nov 2009
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Music
Hugh Cornwell: The Gospel According to The Maninblack
He's been ignored by the public and shunned by his former comrades, but former Stranglers singer Hugh Cornwell is fighting back with his strongest solo offering to date. He spreads the gospel to The Skinny Read more »| 03 Nov 2009 -
FilmLone Scherfig on An Education
Danish Director Lone Scherfig talks to The Skinny about the myriad challenges of creating her latest period piece, a collaboration with celebrated author Nick Hornby. Read more »| 03 Nov 2009 -
MusicAnvil: Past and Present
Now experiencing a surge of attention and belated popularity after spending the best part of 30 years somewhat in the dark, Lips, the animated frontman of Canadian Metallers, Anvil, tells Ryan Drever how it feels to still be pounding metal after all these years. Read more »| 02 Nov 2009 -
Music
Jack Endino: Soaked in Bleach
In his work with Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Skinyard (his own band) and too many more to mention in one sitting, producer Jack Endino essentially documented the genesis of Seattle's early grunge movement. In a rare interview, he recollects the sessions for Nirvana's debut and explains why it took 20 years to Bleach justice. Read more »| 02 Nov 2009 -
BooksThe Country Diaries, edited by Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor’s earlier anthology (with Irene Taylor) The Assassin’s Cloak was a wide ranging anthology of great diary writing, with the en... Read more »| 02 Nov 2009 -
Film
The Informant!
In The Informant!, Matt Damon plays straitlaced company rep Marc Whitacre who is desperate to take the top spot at big corn company ADM. He believes he's fou... Read more »| 02 Nov 2009 -
Music
The JD Set @ Village Underground, London, 8 Oct
Anyone who's stayed up past midnight knows there's nothing quite like a live jam, when musicians all pile in and the music takes on a whole new improvised en... Read more »| 01 Nov 2009 -
Music
Isis @ Stereo, 25 Oct
"Sorry it's not heavy metal" breathes Mothlite's flickering frontman, a statement met with many a curious glare. Because the swathes of fans packed in the cu... Read more »| 30 Oct 2009 -
Books
Rock and Roll Tourist by Graham Forbes
The entertainment pedigree of booking a train ticket online can hardly compete with a stadium gig by U2. It's lucky, then, that the great strength of this se... Read more »| 30 Oct 2009