Stop The Presses! August Newsbites
CHEMIKAL SOLUTION: At time of going to press, the minds behind Glasgow recording institution Chem19 have just announced 'Engineering & Production in Practice' - a new (and inexpensive) audio production course for 18-25 year olds, taught by their own engineers and producers. "A long term ambition of Chem19's has been to write and deliver a high quality engineering course to keen young amateur engineers/producers who need that bit more experience in an actual professional working studio," they say of the initiative, which is backed by Creative Scotland. Places are limited to 12 and submissions close on 9 September. You can find full details and an application pack at http://tinyurl.com/chem19course
FREE BIRTHDAY SUIT? Exclusively to you, dear Skinny reader, Idlewild's Rod Jones is giving away the lead single by his new band The Birthday Suit, for bugger all. A departure from A Sentimental Education – Rod's Americana-inflected solo LP from last year – Do You Ever? is a punchy return to pop-punk dynamics. With an album in the can (set to follow in the autumn), you can see them play Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh on 31 August as part of The Edge Festival. You can download the tune from http://tinyurl.com/suitsingle
Incidentally kids, if you’d signed up to our Zap mailing list (offering you a top ten events round up each and every Thursday direct to your inbox) you'd be bumping this tune already. To get up to speed and avoid missing out again, go to www.theskinny.co.uk/zap
UNVEILING GRINDHOOSE: Be transported back to the sticky carpets of 1970s New York fleapits with Grindhoose, a new (free) film night showing some of the trashiest movies ever committed to celluloid. Opening night is 13 Aug at The Old Hairdresser's (across from Stereo)
ANTI-CUTS FESTIVAL: Want to campaign against government cuts but don’t know how? MOBILISE is here to help. Organised by UNISON Scotland, the week-long festival (13-20 Aug) offers everything from debate to direct action, with a bit of comedy and music in between. UNISON Scotland, 60 Belford Road, EH4 3UQ.
www.mobilisefestival.co.uk
DAWN OF OOR BRAD: The Hollywood heartthrob and orphan adopter will be in Glasgow this month filming scenes for his new movie World War Z. Why choose Glasgow to double as a post-apocalyptic Philadelphia overrun with zombies, we hear you ask? We guess Pitt’s first-class airfares will be offset by the money they’ll save on living dead makeup
UK FEMINISTA: For all you budding feminist campaigners out there, Deviance offers this suggestion of what to do with your summer: UK Feminista Summer School 2011. Running from 13-14 Aug down in Birmingham, Feminista promises workshops and talks aimed at developing campaigning skills, providing inspiration and building solidarity. You can even learn how to influence politicians. And it’s all for free.
Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, B15 2TT
www.ukfeminista.org.uk/events/all-events/3-ukfeminista-event/398-summer-school-2011.html
ZOMBIES WANTED: Keep an eye on this site for upcoming zombie acting opportunities – http://tinyurl.com/worldwarzcasting
NEW WEBSITE: The Skinny has a brand new shiny website launching this month. Designed by the wonderful TicToc, it’s going to give us the ability to offer you way more content. Keep yer eyes peeled.
WE'RE MOVING: As if a new site wasn’t excitement enough for one month, this August The Skinny is also moving offices. After 5 glorious years we’re bidding a fond farewell to the Out Of The Blue Drill Hall. From now on you can send your hate-mail and Haribo bribes to 3 Coates Place, EH3 7AA. Goodbye Leith, it’s been emotional.