Southern Fried: *Kevin McCardle and his amazing record collection!*


Ventured South for some Northern Soul last night.

Candysnaps and Wine Splodge.


In the late 60s, Dave Godin, music journalist and owner of London record shop 'Soul City' noticed kids from the North of England craved a harder, funkier sound than Londoners. He simply created a new category for the (mostly black American) vinyl they preferred and labelled it Northern Soul! 
He was credited with coining the term Northern Soul in print in his 'Blues and Soul' music column around the summer of 1970.

Long time Northern Soul fan, Kevin McCardle (above), struck up a lifelong friendship with Godin after a chance encounter in Edinburgh.
On Dave Godin's death in 2004, he bequeathed Kevin his entire Northern Soul record collection. That vinyl has been having almost monthly outings on Glasgow's South side in the shape of the Southern Fried nights. Kevin is taking a break for a few months to do some travelling but the night will still continue with Stuart at the helm.


DJ Brian Dunne who not only came all the way from Dublin but was the first man on the dancefloor!



Niamh and Brian.





Southern Fried on Facebook.

Obscure Couture - The Flesh & Bone Lookbook


Glasgow based label Obscure Couture released the lookbook for their fantastic Flesh & Bone collection today.





Click here to see the complete "Flesh & Bone" lookbook.

Obscure Couture's website.

Technicolour Design Collective - Launch Party


All photos by one of my favourite photographers, Jannica Honey.

New Edinburgh gallery, shop and workshop 'Technicolour Design Collective' cordially invite you to their launch party this Saturday 27th November from 6-8pm.

The collective aims to promote and showcase new and emerging creative talent in Scotland.


Also look out for their upcoming workshops and networking events.


Jannica Honey Photography.

2 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HN.
Buses 11 & 16 from Princes Street.


Technicolour Design Collective's blog.

Alasdair Gray



Artist, muralist, playwright, novelist and a whole lot more. I met Alasdair at my friend Nichol's art exhibition and after a little chat, asked him for a picture.

The artist's hand.

Look who it is!

His new book 'A Life in Pictures' has just been published by Canongate.

"Cowcaddens"

Alasdair Gray's work is currently being celebrated in two retrospectives at:

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Edinburgh, until 23nd Jan, 10am-5pm, daily (free). 
And The Talbot Rice Gallery Edinburgh, until 11th Dec, 10am-5pm, Tues-Sat (free).



Nichol Wheatley


The great friends and longtime collaborators, Nichol Wheatley and Alasdair Gray, both Glasgow School of Art graduates. 
(More on Alasdair in the next post.)

My friend Nichol Wheatley held a solo exhibition at Heart Buchanan recently. Better known for his larger scale commercial work as head of Glasgow's Perfect Circle Art, these paintings and drawings were a rather personal challenge he'd set himself.

Having recovered from a serious lung condition (sarcoid), Nichol resolved to create a series of pictures free from any commercial brief. I really love the powerful self portrait above, which was the first thing he did after the illness.



He is also the founder of Maryhill Art School. Have heard tales of weekend drawing classes punctuated with long Mediterranean style lunches...

Glad to see things are looking up for Nichol.


FANGS limited edition SICKO EP


JoJo Doll, drummer in FANGS at Glasgow's Flying Duck.


Lloyd Alex, keyboards with FANGS, at Zombie Porn Factory Finnieston.


Signed to Platinum records, the Glasgow no-wave band have just recorded their debut album in the south of France. Each time I bump into JoJo there's even more exciting news, (last time, the album was being 'mastered'). Guitarist Marko has totally summed it up for me below...


'SICKO' the first taster from FANGS debut album, is teeming with glamorous, glitchy, dive club beats, fuzzy 4am brightness, unmistakable buzzing bass and raw synths. For fans of LCD Soundsystem and Yeah Yeah Yeahs who want their beats built for the dancefloor".


Left to right, Marko, The Queen, JoJo Doll and Lloyd.



Click here for FANGS' very limited edition 7" vinyl SICKO EP.