Solid Air by Marc Marnie

However big the star however, Marnie captures not only their onstage energy but a little of their personality too. The late Amy Winehouse is depicted swept away by her muse; whilst a promo shot of singer Camille O’Sullivan shows her looking pensive whilst sporting a pair of angel’s wings.

Solid Air by Marc Marnie

Devotees of photography will appreciate Marnie’s eye for composition and ability to capture the atmosphere of a live gig; whilst music fans will relish the opportunity to see some original shots of their favourite stars.

Solid Air is on show at The Village in S Forth St until 28 April. Entry is free.

Herring Lassie Tales by Davy Macdonald

A striking series of medium-sized oils, the paintings pay tribute to Scotland’s working ‘herring lassies’, women who followed the fishing fleets around the coast, helping to prepare the catch for market. The works allow Macdonald to combine his fascination for the female form with his interest in Scottish history and social commentary: and the end result is a set of candid and evocative pieces which capture the strength, camaraderie and personalities of the girls.

Three models were used for the series, including the granddaughter of Edinburgh fishmonger Kenny Welch, whose portrait hangs next to the series. A costume designer recreated the impossible-to-source oilskins worn by the lassies, and the well-captured interplay of light and shadow on the surface of the material is one of the many pleasing aspects of the paintings.

Set in Newhaven harbour, the most striking of the works are those where the subjects are set against a light grey sky, almost silhouetted as they go about their work; or – as in the highlight of the exhibition, Herring Lassie Tales – share a moment of laughter and friendship.

A larger piece – Herring Lassies At The Harbour Wall – is compositionally recreated from a photograph Macdonald found in archives whilst researching the project, and the lassies’ stiff and almost uncomfortable pose is softened tenderly by depicting two of them hand-in-hand, as if scared of the camera capturing their image.

Other works from Macdonald’s previous exhibitions hang on the remainder of the gallery’s walls, showing not only the artist’s versatility and thematic influence, but also – when compared to the Herring Lassies – how much he has evolved.

Delighted and inspired by the success of the exhibition, Macdonald now intends to continue on his historical documentary path, and plans next to work on a similar series based around the manufacture of Harris Tweed.

As an artist who – on the basis of these evocative and accomplished pieces – has perhaps found his niche at last, Macdonald’s future path will be interesting to follow indeed.

Herring Lassies is on show at the Dundas St Gallery until 17 March

Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

Evolving Moods by Jamie Primrose

Featuring a selction of oils on board, canavas and linen, the pieces depict familar Edinburgh haunts and vistas: the Meadows under a blanket of blue and white textured snow; faint light streaming through branches in Inverleith Park; and dramatic mood-filled views of the city from Arthur’s Seat.

Around 80% of the paintings are new works – many of these include a level of detail which Primrose has long been keen to introduce to his oils. The signature blended oils of the skies therefore sit above unmistakable architectural details like the Castle, or Barclay Church near the Meadows.

As the eye takes in the full collection, you notice the palette change from the deep rich tones of autumn sunsets; through to the cool, watery hues of winter. The effect is pleasing and shows not only Primrose’s skill in capturing the light of the seasons, but also his love of his home city.

With plans to focus on another subject matter next; and to reduce the number of exhibitions of his Edinburgh works, Evolving Moods will be the last chance you have to view the city through Primrose’s distinctive eye for some time.

The collection is on view at the Dundas St Gallery until 28 June

Edinburgh 2011

Tickets now on sale for the second Edinburgh International Magic Festival   

As if by magic, the sun was shining on Edinburgh today as the Festival Theatre played host to the sort of people who could make that happen. Magicians and aficionados alike gathered this morning for the launch of this year’s Edinburgh International Magic Festival, accompanied by a programme set to have you counting down the days until the festival commences.     

Starting on the 1st July, this week-long festival incorporates various fields of magic, including mind reading, classic, comedy and close up magic. 

Today’s launch saw Michael Neto wow the audience with a spectacular card trick, whilst Gary James, president of the Edinburgh Magic Circle impressed us with his skills in the art of illusion. Rounding the launch off was artistic director and magician Kevin McMahon , who talked us through the exciting and varied programme, which caters to all age groups. With numerous shows to choose from, exhibiting the best the magic world has to offer, this year’s festival guarantees to amaze us. 

Every show included in this year’s programme looks great, but here’s some that particularly caught our eye:    

Magic and Variety Gala Show    - Kicking off the festival, this gala show will see many performers come together and showcase the best of the Magic Festival. Lyceum Theatre.    

Mentalist Colin Mcleod

Paul Wilson – “Artifice: The Art of Deception”  – The star of the BBC’s “Real Hustle” is back to show that he truly is the master of sleight of hand.    

Wizardsnappers – Liam Black, Mandy Fletcher and Euan Stewart are up and coming talent and will showcase their skills in this show.   

Magic School - Suitable for 7-12 year olds, this popular magic school is back.  Places must be booked in advance.    

Magic Dinner at the Royal Scots Club – An interactive magical dining experience in sumptous surroundings and performances from MagicFest Artistic Director Kevin McMahon, Scotland’s foremost mind reader, Colin McLeod, European Magic Champion, Dion and Romany – The Diva of Magic. (over 18s only).    

Have a glance at the Magic Festival calendar and get planning! 

Be amazed, see things differently and “unbelieve it” at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2011

There is also the opportunity to volunteer at the Magic Festival once more and it’s an excellent way to get involved with spectacular events.   Applications close on 30th May. Download a PDF copy of the brochure (opens in new window) and get booking for these magical events.     

Information:

You can follow the Magic Festival on facebook and on twitter.  You can also join the mailing list.  You can read our coverage from last year to get a flavour of the shows.      

Tickets are on sale now via the Magic Festival website  and via the telephone: 0131 473 2000.  There are earlybird offers available. You can also buy tickets in person at: Hub Tickets (The Hub, Castlehill EH1 2NE) Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 3rd July 2011 10am to 5pm     

(Please note, tickets for Magic Cinema are available from FILMHOUSE only on 0131 228 2688 or at www.filmhousecinema.com) 

Paul Wilson is back by popular demand

We took a stroll in the lovely weather this afternoon to the top of Arthur’s Seat.  It’s a walk we do often, but today we noticed that there was a collection of stone circles on the ground below us. 

Perhaps they started by one person creating their name in stones for a photo and they’ve organically grown – or perhaps it was done overnight by several mysterious stone-designers?

Whatever the reason, it’s a lot of fun and makes walking to the very top an even more worthwhile experience.

A cow design

An overview of all the stones

A detailed bagpiper and India

A smiling face

A boat design

Love sign

Ground level view of piper, complete with stone kilt!

Ground level view of cow

Antipodean flag

We have loved past events (pic courtesy of ESS)

A seance with the Edinburgh Secret Society 9th May 2011

We have previously mentioned an event of the excellent Edinburgh Secret Society and can confirm that it is the hottest ticket in town at the moment.  Run by Professor Richard Wiseman and Dr Peter Lamont the Secret Society had its inaugural event in December last year and recent meetings sold out within an hour.    

The next event to go on sale is the Lafayette Seance for 9th May 2011, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. The date and time for your diary is 10 am on Monday 18th April 2011 as this is when the tickets go on sale via the website only. Tickets are a bargain at £5 for what is sure to be an interesting and entertaining evening.   There will be 500 tickets available for this event to allow more people to attend.  

As much as we would like to bring our readers full reviews of these events, we’re not allowed to.  Only those that attend know what exactly happens! 

The Edinburgh Secret Society describe their event as follows:  

A century ago, The Great Lafayette was the highest paid performer in the world. But in the middle of his show, on the 9 May 1911, a fire began in the theatre. Trapped on the stage, Lafayette died, as the theatre burned to the ground. This was the Edinburgh Empire Palace  Theatre, on the very same site now occupied by the Edinburgh Festival  Theatre.  

Exactly one hundred years on, The Edinburgh Secret Society will take  to the stage of the Festival Theatre, the site of Lafayette’s tragic  death, in order to conduct ‘The Lafayette Seance’. Part of the event  will be webcast live across the world – but if you want to witness the  entire event, and participate behind the scenes, you really have to be  there …  

Retrace Lafayette’s final backstage steps as he attempted to escape  the burning building. Hear from world experts about his remarkable  life and death. Discover why the lion roared, how the bodies got mixed  up, and who wore the teddy bear costume. And who knows, perhaps The  Great Lafayette will make a final appearance on stage?  

You can also sign up to the mailing list of the Society and be first to hear of events and ticket sales (no spam).  Visit the Edinburgh Secret Society website.

New date announced – Saturday 2nd April 7.15pm – 10.15pm

There is a free event in St Patrick Square on Saturday 2nd April 2011.  The Southside Community Council have organised this outdoor event to raise the public’s awareness of the imminent threat of demolition of the auditorium of the former Odeon/New Victoria Edinburgh.

The outdoor cinema starts at 7.15pm with a short presentation – ‘Odeon Remembered’.  At 8.15pm there will be a screening of the Bafta Award winning film, Local Hero.  The evening will finish with fireworks at approximately 10.15pm

Information from The New Victoria and Edinburgh’s Southside Community Council.  The new downloadable pdf poster can be found here.

New date

'Auld Reekie' by Jamie Primrose

Instead, they will be met with the striking sight of his monochromatic india ink works, hung in loose geographic order around the walls of the gallery and tracing a personal journey through the grand streets and architecture of Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns.

Although a handful of medium-sized works are displayed, most are small format studies of particular streets and views of the capital. From a distance, the draftsmanship and perspective display an almost photographic quality; on closer inspection, the impressionist nature of the marks on the paper give a more ethereal mood to the pieces, especially those in which Primrose’s distinctive capture of light, shadow and reflection are prominent.

Comely Bank Avenue by Jamie Primrose

The orange and red glow of a small number of oils complete the exhibition, reminding viewers of the other, more colourful side to the artist’s palette. But the impact of seeing a collection of Primrose’s ink works together is undeniably effective; and serves to demonstrate not only his versatility, but also his love for the city he calls home.

‘Auld Reekie – A timeless journey through Edinburgh’ is on display at the Dundas St Gallery until 19 March

“You don’t have to be good at art to enjoy it!”

Dr Sketchy's Edinburgh

Miss Honeypenny is describing Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, the local branch of the worldwide phenomenon started by former artist’s model Molly Crabapple in New York in 2005.

“Molly’s great,” says Miss Honeypenny, who has been involved with Dr Sketchy’s Edinburgh for two years now and producer since August. “It’s her business but she’s happy for anyone to franchise the idea for a minimal amount – as long as they do it justice.”

From pencil sketches...

“Burlesque can be seen as cliquey,” says Siân , who has been hosting the Edinburgh events for the past six months. “We want our events to be seen as inclusive: everyone from experienced artists to those who come along because they’re curious.”

“We’re trying to make art fun and interesting again!” says Miss Honeypenny. “We want it to be unimtimidating and create an atmosphere where people aren’t afraid to laugh.”

And with the emphasis firmly on the fun and interesting side, a typical Dr Sketchy’s even is comprised of three ‘acts’.

“We start off with an intro and some quick poses to get everyone limbered up,” says Miss Honeypenny.

“Then the model will usually change costume and strike some longer poses. After a short break, they’ll then pose for a little longer – giving everyone the chance to create something decent.”

The model at an event is always a burlesque or cabaret performer. Siân works hard at bringing the audience and performer together, getting rid of the any barriers between them and making it fun for everyone.


“Most of our performers are great,” she says. “They get it straight away.”

...to chalk & charcoal

“Some people are there to develop their portfolio,” says Siân. “But people of all abilities turn up; and the experienced artists are great at encouraging the others.”

“We’ve even had prizes for the best stick figure!” adds Miss Honeypenny. “Or for the most creative use of colour or best background. And we provide all the materials: pencils, chalk, charcoal – we’ve even used pipe cleaners before!”

“We get all age ranges too, from young art students to mature artists. We have twenty or so regulars and the rest of the artists are new. It’s always busy.”

“Get there early!” says Siân, laughing.

Siân has a background in cabaret and comedy and regularly appears at venues like The Stand and as her burlesque alter ego Mme MyFanwy. Miss Honeypenny is originally from Australia and has been based in Edinburgh since 2004, where she exercises all of her management and admin skills for Dr Sketchy’s. Both are in love with Edinburgh.

“It really is wonderful,” says Miss Honeypenny. “I honestly don’t know exactly what it is I love about it, but the last time I came back here after being away I went all wobbly-kneed as soon as I walked out the station!”

“I get defensive about Edinburgh,” says Siân. “It’s a great sized city and I love the way everything’s within walking distance.”

They also both feel Edinburgh has woken up to the burlesque and cabaret scene, but are worried about the threat of venue closures and cutbacks.

“We’re currently based in the Jazz Bar,” says Miss Honeypenny. “It’s so cool, really wonderful.”

“And we’d love to see the plans for The New Victoria succeed,” says Siân. “There is still money out there.”

Wherever they pitch up with their cheeky chalks and charcoals, Siân and Miss Honeypenny are bringing an artistic touch of flair to the Edinburgh scene with their original and fun-filled events.

You can keep up to date on Dr Sketchy’s creative endeavours on Facebook and Twitter.

They are now resting their pencils over the festive period, but will be returning in February for an artistic and fun Valentine-themed experience.

Edinburgh’s Christmas kicked off in style Thursday night with the help of the French street theatre company, ‘Transe Express’, which provided a spectacular aerial performance to light the Norwegian Christmas Tree and thousands of lights throughout Princes Street Gardens.

Photos copyright of Angela Bonnar and Edinburgh Spotlight.

Transe Express

High up in the cold Edinburgh air

And the lights are on

Fireworks

Christmas angel

Christmas carousel

The Absinthe Diaries is the latest solo exhibition from Edinburgh-based artist Davy Macdonald, being held at the Dundas St Gallery until 23 November.

The Absinthe Diaries by Davy Macdonald

A figurative artist fascinated by the female form, one half of Macdonald’s new body of work is a series of portraits of a woman featuring the ‘Green Fairy’ – absinthe, the drink favoured by some of the artists Macdonald is inspired by. Taking Manet’s “Bar At The Folies Bergeres” as an initial reference point, the series is a natural progression from his previous ‘Champagne Club’ works. Using the surroundings of the Ship Inn in Leith, Macdonald makes effective use of light and form to present a beguiling series of portraits with – like the drink itself – a decadent and ambiguous mood.

The Herring Lassies by Davy Macdonald

However, Macdonald’s next series will be based on historical reality. ‘The Herring Lassies’ will focus on a trio of the Scots women who accompanied the fleets as they followed the fish around the UK from the mid 19th century. Fascinated by their lives and backgrounds, Macdonald hopes to portray their camaraderie and happiness as well as their toil. One study from this series is on display: a Sargent-like portrayal of a ‘lassie’ in the midst of her work. The background is a blurred stripe of muted colours with a palette which suggests the cold of the sea; the figure of the woman is starkly-lit, almost two-dimensional, bringing a graphical effectiveness to the whole work.

It will be interesting to watch how this series develops as Macdonald continues to develop his style and persue his many muses. With his latest body of work, he demonstrates a strong ability to not only capture the female form and expression, but also shows a balance of the commercial and interpretative which see his paintings appeal on several levels.

The Absinthe Diaries runs at the Dundas St Gallery untl 23 Nov. The opening is on 19 Nov from 6-9pm.

The latest pieces on display at Axolotl Gallery on Dundas Street add to the reputation the gallery has fast established for itself – as a platform for new and contemporary figurative art. Two painters’ works are on display, demonstrating how varied and interprative the human figure as subject can be.

The Pressure on Annette by Paul Munzi

Paul Munzi’s ‘Seeing in the Dark’ is a collection of female nudes rendered in an abstract, semi-cubist style. Flat planes of solid colour define form and shape, whilst the palette is light and fresh, filled with yellows, greens and pale blues.

One smaller piece – ‘Undecided’ – drips with mischievous humour from its bold compositional angles, depicting a figure sitting on the floor of an empty room, each leg pointed towards an opposite window.

Some of the smaller more vibrant works have less of an impact, but the large-scale, muted works – such as ‘The Pressure On Annette’, with its haunting, mouthless subject – are visually arresting, and Munzi’s show provides a welcome ray of light in these dark November days.

Harlots by Fiona Wilson

Fiona Wilson has her finger so tightly on the pulse of the zeitgeist, she is in danger of cutting off its circulation. In her ‘Fire & Brimstone’ collection, chiaroscuro oils depict burlesque artists and tattooed nudes, many with wings which transform them into metaphysical beings of light – or darkness. The moody pieces capitalise on the current fascination with the supernatural, combined with the vogue for burlesque and vintage style.

‘Harlots’ is – appropriately enough – a dominant piece, a large work depicting two sultry female figures. The background swirls with dark material and patterns behind them: it and the title give the work a devilish and sinful quality which is compelling. In ‘A Thing Of Beauty’, Wilson has incorporated real bird feathers into the oils, turning her portrait of a young woman into something more beguiling.

Another standout piece is ‘Greed’, featuring a dark-haired woman in provocative pose, her limbs fading into the Klimt-like pattern of the background. Other paintings in the collection are more graphical in style, feeling like panels from a graphic novel at times, but Wilson’s siren-like oils are most definitely the seductive stars of this show.

Both artists’ works are on display at Axolotl Gallery until 25 November

Luminous Skies by Jamie Primrose

Here, he fills Dundas St Gallery with a shimmering collection of Scottish seascapes, each piece emphasising the beauty and majesty of the sky as it reflects on water or wet sand below.

Most of the works here are oils, ranging in size and format from small square studies to the feature work, Luminous Skies itself, a large-scale dramatic depiction of light piercing through a gigantic spiral of cloud above the west coast of Scotland.

Winter Skies Over Tyninghame

As the works continue through the gallery, the skies and tones darken as Primrose shifts his attention to the more tumultuous clouds and seas of the west coast, predominantly around Eriska and Lismore. With Constable and especially Turner as obvious reference points, the oils swirl and dance with sweeping strokes as they evoke all the power and majesty of the umistakably Scottish light and scenery.

Each of the paintings is based on photographs taken by Primrose in winter; some within minutes of each other. These hang together, creating a painted timelapse representation of a brief moment in time with a striking and fascinating impact.

The whole exhibition is well-curated as ever by the artist himself. Standing in the gallery, the overall effect is of being within a boat with many windows: each one offering a glimpse of a masterfully-captured seascape glowing with colours, tones and the light which Primrose obviously loves.

Luminous Skies is at the Dundas St Gallery until 13 November.

Bread Street, Edinburgh

Whilst in the fabulous Tea Tree Tea yesterday, I noticed that their current exhibition displayed on the walls is called ‘The Edinburgh Photo Social Exhibition’. 

The exhibition has been staged by local photographers or people with strong Edinburgh connections and shows a wide variety of their photographic work.

It is certainly an eclectic mix with photos ranging from stunning Edinburgh shots, to Cambodian images and minature robots.  The exhibition, which runs until the end of the month is presented  by a small group of photographers, from in and around Edinburgh who use Flickr, the online photo sharing site.

Some of the images are available to purchase and if you can’t get along to see them in their full glory, then you can get a taste of the exhibition on flickr.

We recommend seeing the exhibition in person though and enjoying the community atmosphere that’s always present in Tea Tree Tea and excellent food.

You can see the exhibition seven days a week, 7am opening Monday – Friday.

Photo exhibition, Tea Tree Tea

Step into Axolotl between now and October 17, and you’ll find yourself in a surreal and unsettling world. Filled with strange creatures, eerie objects and a sense of the macabre, Freak Show is possibly the gallery’s most intriguing exhibition yet.

Dreams of the Republic II by Claire McGee

Claire McGee’s large-scale oils are immediately arresting: bold architectural compositions in dark tones with rare splashes of colour. As much intended to be read as viewed, her pieces are rich in symbolism. From the stone carvings on the detailed interiors to the otherworldly figures which inhabit the spaces, her paintings speak in a language that is not easy to interpret, but which is fascinating to explore.

Dreams of the the Republic I & II feature merry-go-round creatures suspended in time and space, whilst female figures stare from the canvas with challenging eyes. The architectural draftsmanship on display is impressive; whilst the incongruent figures and supernatural beings make nods to such varied references as Hieronymous Bosch and 1970s progressive rock LP covers.

Striking in scale and vision, McGee’s works have a dream-like quality which lingers in the mind’s eye long after viewing.

Painting by Jeannie Laub

Jeannie Laub’s work falls into two categories. First, her often soft, delicate oil and mixed media pieces, which use childlike imagery and themes to evoke a strange yet comforting quality. There are exceptions to this mood however, and Young Man From Selkirk with its ghostly-white central character almost devoid of features; and Girl With A Crow Mask – with its detached central characters – are both deliciously disturbing.

Laub’s second body of work are a series of untitled assemblage and found object pieces. Each small box is filled with figurines, dolls, scraps of paper and other trinkets to create a haunting whole which begs multiple interpretations based on the viewer’s own experience and memories. Several of the pieces feature taxidermy animals, and become memento mori for the symbols they represent: whether a lament for a bird never more destined to fly; or a homage to a fox, its stuffed head presiding watchfully over the rest of the box’s contents.

This is the first show curated by AXO artist Jillox, and she has successfully created a portal to a world of imagination and dreams, which beckons bewitchingly from its Dundas Street home.

Gala performance

By Elliot Bibby 

From dancing brush handles to quick-change artists, the Edinburgh Magic Festival drew to a close with a spectacular gala show last night in the Royal Lyceum Theatre. The 2-hour performance showcased the talents of six performers and two socks entertaining the packed theatre.  Compered by the very funny Gavin Oattes, it was an excellent family night out.

The French magician Xavier Mortimer opened the show, with some incredible manipulation using cymbals, making butterflies appear, and then an amazing dancing cane routine, which I am still trying to deconstruct in my head. It was truly spectacular. 

Following this was the current Magic Circle ‘Stage Magician of the year’, John Archer who’s magic was perfectly intertwined with on the edge comedy. His act began with a young couple selected from the audience blindfolding the magician with coins, a blindfold and secured with duct tape; from where he proceeded to correctly describe three pictures drawn by random members of the audience. He is gifted with being a naturally funny person and had the crowd laughing throughout. 

A sock was sawn in half

The ‘Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre’ where up next and already winners of the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Insider Comedy Award, they showed everyone what they were all about. They executed a show that literally ‘blew my socks off’. It included funny songs to their own take traditional acts like cutting a ‘lady (sock) in half’. A comical performance that had the whole crowd in stitches, and a great act to throw in amongst the other illusionists. 

 ‘The Great Nardini’, was up next and simply incredible. You could see how he travels the world with this performance. When the audience was anticipating the appearance of a dove from his white gloves, he gestured a flying motion with his hands, but what resulted was a flutter of feathers and a worried look on the magicians face. This was one of the many classic tricks that were delivered with a twist. And the theme continued throughout, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats and wanting more. The entire performance had been written very well, and even kept us magicians guessing at what was coming next! 

The 20-minute interval was welcomed, and gave everyone the chance to chat about the marvels that they had just witnessed in the first half. 

The second half opened with Alan Hudson, performing a mind reading trick, correctly guessing the order in which a chosen spectator would burst five coloured balloons – but to make it harder both he and the volunteer were both blindfolded. The audience responded with a welcome series of oohs and aahs, especially when the spectator almost missed a balloon and the sharp needle was almost implanted in the magician’s hand! Alan went on to demonstrate his skill by performing a manipulation of thimbles that was very entertaining and something I had never seen before on a stage. 

The professional performance was another great success of the evening, 

Colin McLeod

The next performer didn’t need an introduction. He has been named as the new Derren Brown – and with a stunning mind-reading performance, Colin McLeod didn’t disappoint. As you might imagine, he involved many audience members and really brought the audience together. And even when everyone had thought it had all gone wrong, Colin surprised all by slowly undoing the buttons on his shirt to reveal the symbol of the chosen spectators superhero. The crowd erupted into huge applause. 

The finale of the Gala show was conducted by Keelan Leyser and Charlotte Marie, who are undoubtedly the best ‘quick change’ artists currently performing in the world today. With some delightful dance moves and full costume changes executed in seconds, the pair dazzled the astonished audience. The performance was full of energy and had everyone clapping along with the musical backing. 

And with that, the first ever Edinburgh Magic Festival drew to a close. The five-day festival has been a great success. Tremendous Edinburgh venues housed world class magical talent entertained fellow magicians and ‘mere mortals’ alike. And I am sure that the spectacle will flourish and can only grow in this magical city for many years to come.

Colin McLeod

Colin McLeod is a rising star in the mind reading world and he has achieved so much for someone the tender age of 23.  Hailed as the new Derren Brown, Colin has travelled the world performing his show, but the Edinburgh International Magic Festival sees him return to Edinburgh,  giving people a rare opportunity to experience his skills, live.  

My friend and I were intrigued to see Colin in action and were not disappointed as we took our seats at Augustine United Church this evening.  A short video of the mystical man welcomed us to his show and the first ‘demonstration’ began.    

Colin was confident on stage, with genuinely funny gags linking his show together.  With a forensic scientist background, his ability to read body language and people’s minds was evident from the start.  Randomly picking audience members to assist him led to gasps of astonishment  as he mystified the audience again and again. 

I don’t want to give away any ‘spoilers’ to the show, but I was particularly impressed when he got one audience member to read another’s mind and unlock a padlock combination.  In fact, I was amazed at every aspect of this show – as were the rest of the audience. 

Colin has a clear ability to predict what people will say and do which was demonstrated in front of my own eyes and will have you convinced he can actually see what people are thinking.  I just don’t know how he does it, but will be pondering his possible methods for a long time to come. 

Verdict?  Colin is an excellent performer and his routine was slick, skillful and utterly compelling.  

Suitable for ages 12+    

Colin McLeod, I Know runs nightly until Saturday at 8.30pm,  United Augustine Church, George IV Bridge.  Tickets from The Hub or online.  

Colin also featured in our recent feature covering a seance at Mary King’s Close.  

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, venue is completely accessible 

Ethereal Vista by Jamie Primrose

Jamie Primrose‘s latest exhibition is subtitled ‘a tranquil journey through Edinburgh‘ and the shimmering oils and dramatic inks on display trace the artist’s morning route from his home on the city’s Southside to his Stockbridge gallery.

Painted and drawn from photographs taken during the heavy snowfall in the city during last winter, the new works on display beautifully capture the light, shadow and texture of snow lying on familiar Edinburgh locations.

The striking ‘Ethereal Vista’ portrays a familiar view of the skyline from Holyrood Park, with the sweeping expanse of the foreground and heavy blue shadows leading the eye across the painting, letting details such as patterns made by snowy rooftops be taken in before ending at the dramatic white-dusted cliffs of Salisbury Craigs. The paint is layered and glazed to add texture and form to a scene which sits beautifully beneath a delicate and subtly-painted sky.

Twilight approaches by Jamie Primrose

A series of paintings with the Meadows as their subject is a highlight of the exhibition. Mostly small-scale pieces, they explore the play of low winter sun as it shines weakly between tree branches, creating long and evocatively-realised shadows across the snow-covered paths. Some also feature the new Quartermile development – which Primrose admires – in the background, most notably in ‘Twilight approaches’, where the golden light of evening turns its glass-fronted exterior into a beacon.

By the time the journey reaches the New Town, Primrose’s indian ink works dominate; architectural studies and portrayals of street scenes where the lack of colour emphasises the form and structure of the subject matter. Still demonstrating his mastery of light and shadow, these pieces are as impressionistic as his oils, rather than draughtsmanlike depictions – and they therefore evoke moods and feelings as dark lines of New Town buildings entice your gaze across dramatic scenes of empty, snow-covered streets.

Winter light on Inverleith Place by Jamie Primrose

Large-scale oils depicting atmospheric and glowing skies above central Edinburgh then take centre stage, providing a warm-hued balance to the cool blues of the other works. Shafts of sun cutting through purple and magenta coloured clouds are masterfully caught by Primrose’s brush, and these pieces are amongst the exhibition’s most immediate and dramatic.

Then, we are in the streets of Stockbridge and around Inverleith Park, places Primrose loves and which hold special memories for him. He has painted them many times before, but never underneath the mantle of snow which the winter provided. This allows him to present some arresting compositions, such as the powerful ‘Winter light on Inverleith Place’, where the tree-lined avenue leads the eye towards the Gothic fantasy of Fettes College, the street criss-crossed with car-tracks in the snow and lengthy shadows from the trees.

Ethereal Vistas shows Primrose’s love for his home city and his unwavering ability to depict its beauty in all conditions. A snow-covered Edinburgh provides a perfect canvas for his mastery of light and colour to once again shine, and the exhibition as a whole easily explains why he has become one of Scotland’s most collected and best-selling contemporary artists.

He promises a series of coastal works and seascapes next, and the prospect of his sweepingly dramatic skies casting light on an ever-changing ocean is appealing to say the least.

Ethereal Vistas is at the Dundas St Gallery until 10th July.

Anthony Gormley

Anthony Gormley was in town today for the formal opening of his new artwork in the Water of Leith.  Commissioned by the National Galleries of Scotland, the six life-sized iron figures are displayed along the popular walk way in Edinburgh.

This evening, I caught half of the project on my compact camera as I took a stroll in the wonderful evening sun.  Other people were taking photos as well and I overheard a small girl say that she wanted a ‘funny man’ in her garden for herself.  People walking dogs were commenting on how life like they were and others were asking me why they were there as I was taking photos.

You can read more about Anthony Gormley and I look forward to finding the other three pieces another day.

Anthony Gormley artwork

Stockbridge Gormley

Powderhall Gormley

Gormley reflection