Style Scanner

OPTIMO & SUPERMAX ~ Hogmanay @ The Glue Factory

2012-01-03T04:16:00.000Z

Photo by Ashley (...I think!)

Here's to 2012!

OPTIMO

SUPERMAX

THE GLUE FACTORY

"THE CULT OF OMARINA" ~ New Film

2011-12-14T11:38:00.001Z

"THE CULT OF OMARINA" ~ A film by OMARINA featuring the Harris Tweed Art Suit.

Thanks to Louise McVey & Cracks in The Concrete for kind permission to use "Ode" as our soundtrack.

Optimo x Organs of Love @ The Berkeley Suite

2011-12-10T20:13:00.001Z

Optimo on facebook

The Berkeley Suite on facebook

Organs of Love on facebook

FANGS - Automatic Rock'n'Roll

2011-12-08T17:51:00.000Z

FANGS Automatic Rock'n'Roll.

We Love to Boogie - The pop-up shop!

2011-12-05T16:00:00.001Z

Now a successful online business with a permanent home on ASOS as well as their own online boutique, We Love to Boogie Vintage are hosting a Glasgow pop-up shop, open 7 days a week until Hogmanay!

Greg and Talia traversed the country on a massive stock finding mission in time for the boutique's opening. You can browse all these new finds at 16 South Frederick St.

"Roll-up, roll-up!", the brand new "We Love to Boogie Circus" t-shirt collection.

We Love to Boogie's brand new website!

Here's a MAP for the pop-up shop @ 16 South Frederick St, Glasgow (between The Corinthian and George Square). Open now through till New Year's Eve.

You can also stay up to date with WLTB on facebook.

The Poets

2011-12-02T00:42:00.000Z

Lewis Watson with his dad Fraser, original mamber of 60s Glasgow psyche band The Poets.

Rory, Beinn and Lewis aka Culture & Leisure.

The Poets play Stereo tonight (Fri 2nd Dec), some tickets may be available on the door!

Fangs en France

2011-11-18T19:35:00.001Z

Due to an extraordinary demand for FANGS in Europe, the Glasgow band have just relocated to France! I snapped these pics (with a tear in the eye) at their phenomenal last gig on home turf for a bit.

They play Paris this Saturday night...

Marko

JoJo

The Queen

Lloyd

New album's out too...

All le meilleur mes amis! x

The Story of the Marble and the Sculptor...

2011-11-12T02:24:00.001Z

Latest film from photographer Mark Dorrian featuring artist Yoann Reininger with music from Lloyd Alex.

Boy what fun they must have had filming this one!

"people are here when you need them
sometimes they're not
so you look for them
you expect them to be around the corner
it's at this point only that you realise that they're not an object
that you may have treated them like it before
and the other person may still feel like an it instead of a him
you just need to find the perfect moment when both realise what they are for each other"

- Yoann Reininger

Menergy Fierce Ruling Diva's Ball & Jonny Woo!

2011-11-02T21:35:00.002Z

This year I was invited to be a judge at the 2011 Menergy Fierce Ruling Diva's Ball - having once been described as 'a gay man trapped in a womans body' I thought... BRING IT!

Surprise guest, the queen of London's alternative drag scene, Jonny Woo with Menergy's hostess Lady Munter.

The official photographer for "The Best Of Jonny Woo" show at the Arches earlier in the evening was Anita Russo. She invited Jonny along to Menergy and has kindly let me use the image below...

Think every man, boy and girl left with a wee a crush on him!

Menergy at Chambre 69

Toppo' the morning...

2011-10-31T03:26:00.000Z

Toppo.

Garry Maclennan Photography Exhibition

2011-10-26T19:11:00.001+01:00

I appear to be making an exhibition of myself all over town at the moment...

A few weeks ago I styled a shoot for photographer Garry Maclennan. Garry told me what he had in mind and I became absolutely determined to use the graduate collection of designer Melissanthi Spei. Remembering her Heriot Watt degree show I felt it would work really well with Garry's vision for this particular shoot. On contacting Mellissanthi, I discovered that both she and the garments were in Greece but thanks to her helpfulness, we figured out a way to fly the garments over via a friend.

Garry cast my collaborator Omar Zingaro Bhatia as the male model (making it another OMARINA collab - our Icarus lamp even features on the exhibition flyer!) then cast model Emily Butcher as the girl. David Farquhar was our team's fantastic hair and make-up artist.

The Brunswick Hotel saw the images last week and on the spot invited Garry to exhibit them in a 6 week show. Entitled "Icarus", it runs from this Sunday 30th Oct until mid December.

Come to The Brunswick this Sunday evening for the exhibition opening and see Garry's out of this world photographs. We don't even care if you're still dressed up from Halloween, all welcome!

The Brunswick Hotel

Garry Maclennan

OMARINA exhibits in The Precious East

2011-10-26T04:49:00.000+01:00

Last few days to see our current surprise OMARINA exhibition in the gallery window of Kraft Architecture on 280 High street. Many thanks to the space's curator, Jolene from The Precious East blog, for inviting us to be October's exhibitors.

OMARINA

Kraft Architecture

The Precious East

The Niallist AKA LP

2011-10-21T15:08:00.004+01:00

Photo by Craig Parker, styled by Joe Spencer.

Fired some questions at enigmatic music producer DJ and performer The Niallist on the release of his excellent new album "AKA"...

Q: Niall, I love you, you smell of roller skates.

A: Why thank you. Is that leather and rubber?

Q: Must be it! Also, I'm a little bit gay for your accent, which sexy part of Ireland is that from? (Just to be sure)

A: It's from the south east coast near Cork city but it's lost a lot of it's flavour since I moved from the old country (though apparently it rears up again when I am on the phone home).

Q: I first met you at Hope Street Studios, what was your first impression of Glasgow?

A: I was shitting myself about moving to Glasgow to be honest - this was in 1996-1997 at the height of Trainspotting fever. My very first impression of the city was the motorway in from the airport - you know the raised one that curves into Waterloo St - and I thought it looked horrible! Grey and dreary with an undercurrent of fear. However, when I moved there, on the very first day I found the people to be very personable and friendly and really quite similar to the Irish, so I felt much more at home.

Q: That's cheering. And the last impression of your time in Glasgow...?

A: That's kind of a hard one because I don't really feel like I have fully left Glasgow, I am up and down so much with Menergy. I never had a going away party or anything official, and I was back up a few weeks after I moved anyway. Even though I am glad to get away from the awful weather and some of the other massive flaws, I feel like Glasgow is my spiritual home in a way. Glasgow exists in its own bubble quite removed from other cities in the UK, and even though socially that can make it quite uniform it also means it's less susceptible to bullshit you find in other cities.

Q: You win £1000 on the lotto, how do you spend it?

A: Well, it wouldn't go very far on the kind of dream-holiday I'd wish for, so I guess I would invest it in some music equipment. Or pay off some debts.

Q: One thing we have in common is our love of MEN - you got to support them in Manchester, how was that for you?

A: It was amazing - it was really cool to be asked to be on that bill as I am a huge fan of the band and of JD Samson's other work like Le Tigre. We got to meet her before hand (we actually interviewed her for about half an hour, myself and Joyce D. Vision, which you can see HERE). JD is really cool, and a real inspiration for just doing what she does and looking like she does without caring what anyone else thinks. I'd definitely like to work with her on some music sometime, and the gig itself was awesome.

Q: I've been listening to your new album AKA - it's great! I can totally get that you're a TIGA fan. Me too.

A: Thanks, I am glad you like it! Yeah, I love that guy. One of my mates says we are brothers from another mother, and actually some of the labels and producers I have been in touch with have mentioned the similarity between his version of Hot In Here and my version of Work It, which is nice. I like his old school house vibe, but I also love that he has a personality and sings about weird shit! There's so much anonymity and conformity in dance music, which is why I love more out-there artists like him and Peaches and Green Velvet.

Q: An impressive roster of big names are featured on this album, how did that come about?

A: It started with me having a bunch of tracks which were collaborations with guests on them, and some remixes too that were just kind of lying around. As the album progressed and some of those tracks went onto it thought it would be quite a neat idea to try and get a guest on each track. There are some very different artists from different scenes, and the fact that some of these folks were actually up for collaborations was pretty mind blowing. My music is still quite unpolished I feel so to have some of these folk liking it and wanting to work with me was very gratifying. I have also deliberately stayed away from using the word "featuring" because these tracks are just as much the guests' as they are mine. Instead I've used an abbreviation of "with" which is more fair and doesn't need an explanation of "this person is a vocalist, this person is a producer, etc", because I collaborate in different roles myself too. Like I sung on Ben Butler and Mousepad's last album, and then it made sense to ask him to put some synths on my album in return.

Q: As you worked on each track were you conscious of how they'd all hang together as an album?

A: After a point I did yeah, but to be honest when I was planning out this album a few years ago the tracklisting was very different. I wanted to make something that was very eclectic, that incorporated a lot of different genres like rock and techno and disco. But as time went on I was less happy with that, and started to think of putting older tracks like "Like Em Fat" and "If U Want It" on there, and then the album became much more coherent. It also sprang from me wanting to work with openly gay rappers, so the album has a hip-hop feel, but more old school so I could still use my drum machines and stuff on it. Once I stuck to that idea it all just came together, and I was able to use some rap classics like "36 Chambers" by the Wu Tang Clan and "Miss E So Addictive" by Missy Elliot as templates.

Q: Ok, let's imagine it's the 80s and you're about to release a single from the album. The Pet Shop Boys are your main chart competition and Little Rock Records have given you carte blanche - which track do you choose…? (I'm playing this game too btw)

A: Ooh, that's a hard one, because I think back in the actual 80s this kind of music wasn't considered pop. I guess you had rap acts break through like Run DMC, which some of my album sounds like, but I think they were seen as more novelty, unlike the Pet Shop Boys who make quite "serious" pop music which fit neatly into the electro-pop and house things. Hmm, this is a good question, it's making me think. I guess I might put out the opening track Dance Club (Party Party) but if there was money to do whatever I wanted I might remix it, or get even more guests on it - I might ask the Pet Shop Boys to re-produce it with me! I'd be interested to hear what you would do...

Q: I think 'Needs' would be neat! I love 'I Came' and 'Hellz Yeah!' but with 'Needs' even the title sounds like a Pet Shop Boys single, ha ha. How is the DJ-ing going? Tell us more about your nights in Manchester and Glasgow...

A: It's going very well thanks, it was totally invigorating for me when I started using Ableton a couple of years ago and was suddenly able to play and mix stuff I wasn't able to play using just vinyl, like my own productions and remixes. Before that the DJ-ing was getting very stale for me as I could only play a limited amount of stuff, but now I can mix tracks that before would have been impossible.
The two main nights I am involved in are Menergy in Glasgow, and Tranarchy in Manchester, which are both disco and house nights that feature a very strong drag and performance element. We've got our big annual Menergy Fierce Ruling Divas Ball coming up in Glasgow, which is unlike anything the city's ever seen before with lots of drag queens competing to be the most fabulous for a panel of judges. Then the week after it's Zombie Pride! for Tranarchy in Manchester, our big annual Halloween bash that this year will feature a zombie vogue off! Apart from that I have also been DJ-ing at the gay indie/electro/pop night Bollox in Manchester, which is great fun as I get to play a lot of tunes that wouldn't work at the other clubs, and also I don't have to worry about the mixing!

Q: What would you do if you met a bear in the wilderness?

A: Apparently the thing to do is to show no fear and not run, though to be honest I don't know how you'd do that with an 8ft 30 stone killing machine in front of you.
Q: What exactly IS your favourite colour…?

A: My colour scheme at the moment, and for my new album, is black, white, yellow and pink. I find it hard to pick one - for instance I love hot pink and azure, but find they go well with each other or on black. I like neons, but too many of them in a scheme does my head in and ruins the point - they need to be set in a neutral colour or be used wisely to not look cheap and gimmicky. So I wouldn't want a room that was all the one tone, even if it was one I liked in isolation.

Q: Any coincidence that Neil Tennant edited Smash Hits before being a smash hit himself?
A: Probably not...

Thank you Niallist.

Last year was an absolute hoot and this year I'm very honoured to be on the judging panel as Style Scanner. Werk it Glasgow!!!

Tickets available HERE.

This is how Last year's ended...

www.niallism.com
www.menergy.tv
www.shallowrave.com

Omar Zingaro Bhatia - nominated "Most Stylish Male" in the 2011 Scottish Style Awards

2011-10-17T16:11:00.000+01:00

My friend and OMARINA collaborator, artist Omar Zingaro Bhatia has just been nominated 'Scotland's Most Stylish Male' in the 2011 Scottish Style Awards!

Damn right...

I find individualists like Omar who have a strong sense of personal style incredibly inspiring.

With model Emily Butler after a recent shoot.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot, as well as winning a slew of awards for his art, Omar was also recently ranked Scotland's 4th most eligible bachelor!

Wearing the silk Art Scarf we designed for our OMARINA label.

The OMARINA Harris Tweed Art Suit.

Congratulations Omar!

Omar's art blog

OMARINA blog

The Scottish Style Awards 2011

His newest artworks go on display tonight as part of the Document 9 festival. Open all this week noon - midnight at The Old Hairdressers opposite Stereo. Opens Monday 17th, 7 - late.

Everyone's very welcome to pop along to the opening party tonight for a glass of wine. Falconry will be playing their 'calypso electronica' live and Paul from Franz Ferdinand will be DJ-ing.

Captain's Rest

2011-10-10T20:03:00.000+01:00

Claudia Nova, artist and singer with Aggi Doom who are playing with the marvelous Organs of Love tonight (Monday 10th) 10pm at The buff Club. It's FREE.

Aggi Doom drummer, Scott who's been steadily adding more studs to this jacket since I saw him last.

Music producer at Green Door Studios, Sam Smith.

Teeth!

Artist and musician Mark Lyken who's own album "Bit Rot" is released this week.

Organs of Love, Jim and Alicia.

Ubre Blanca.

See Organs of Love and Aggi Doom, tonight at The Buff Club. FREE!

Asger Juel Larsen SS12 "We Live"

2011-09-23T18:42:00.002+01:00

Possibly the most exciting menswear collection this LFW. "We Live" by Asger Juel Larsen.

Asger was a member of the short lived but incredibly influential MACHINE-A stable. It was there I discovered his highly professional work ethic also has a playful side... in the shape of a 'skull' safety mask and model Aaron Frew wielding an angle grinder in the store window.

We've been obsessively collecting biker patches and leathers here at OMARINA over the last few weeks, so this element really struck a chord.

It swells my heart to see garments like this, designed with genuine conviction and above all, relevancy.

The Asger Juel Larsen website.

Asger's blog.

Styling by Paul Joyce.

The only way is SUPERMAX...

2011-09-15T17:34:00.002+01:00

SUPERMAX turns four this weekend!

Hands up, this one of my favourite nights not least because Billy and Lisa put so much effort into these parties - even building their own sound system each and every time! The smoke machine usually gets the better of my pictures but here's a 'lucky bag' of all the ones that came out last time...

The SUPERMAX's fourth birthday party featuring Billy Woods and Thunder Disco's Jube is this Friday at the Sub Club.

Pre-party drinks at Soba from 9pm with tunes from Matthias Mcgregor.

All welcome.

Omar Zingaro Bhatia - Affordable Art Show

2011-09-14T02:41:00.000+01:00

If you've ever fancied owning an original Omar Zingaro Bhatia artwork, tonight's your lucky night!

He'll be setting up camp at Hillhead Book Club for this evening's 'Affordable Art Show'.

A lot of Omar's larger pieces are in London for his current Covent Garden Urban Outfitters exhibition, so tonight will be an opportunity to cherry-pick from the best of his newly framed and more affordable smaller originals.

Omar Zingaro Bhatia art show, Wednesday @ Hillhead Book Club from 7pm onwards...

Omar Zingaro Bhatia on Facebook.

Do come and say hi, we have Party Rings!

**P.S. Say you saw this Style Scanner post and you'll get 20% discount on anything you buy from Omar at the show - tonight only!

Helen - Steampunk Secretary

2011-09-12T11:56:00.001+01:00

Helen Beaumont, Secretary for the Glasgow University E. Steampunk Society.

What first drew my attention to Helen was the way she moved. While everyone else was striding about, she was perambulating at a remarkably graceful pace, her walking cane jauntily marking each step. Helen's 'brass cog' brooch is the society's emblem.

Thunder Disco Club + Organs of Love

2011-09-10T20:12:00.000+01:00

Get turned on to the the remarkable sounds of Organs of Love as they kick off this Sunday's Thunder Disco Club.

Sub Club Sunday

11pm-3am

£5

Hannah @ Sleazy's

2011-09-02T14:27:00.001+01:00

Hannah manages the De Coursey's Arcade art gallery 'Mind The Gap'.

SCHNAPPS - Nasty Buffet

2011-09-01T01:44:00.001+01:00

SCHNAPPS "Nasty Buffet".

The very superb SCHNAPPS celebrate their new album "Nasty Buffet" in Sleazy's tonight before the band hit the road for London and beyond. At a previous gig, I met Mike Bailie from The Skidds and have a distinct memory of him likening them to Television. High praise indeed. (I get a hint of Violent Femmes on the mid-palate, for what it's worth!)

SCHNAPPS

El Rancho Records

Sleazy's Thursday 1st Sept (tonight). Doors 8pm £3.50.

Camille and Joey @ GmbH

2011-08-31T00:22:00.006+01:00

'It's Your Playground' curators Camille Le Houezec and Joey Villemont in Glasgow's cherished magazine emporium GmbH.

You can now browse all the GmbH titles HERE but if you want to sniff out your mags in person, you'll find the GmbH shop on the ground floor of The Lighthouse.

Bright Young Things...

2011-08-23T17:21:00.011+01:00

Stephen, Laura and Omar.

Actor Laura McMonagle (Centre) has just landed the role of Mrs Paul Ferris in a feature film about the infamous Glasgow gangster's life.
And actor & writer Stephen Sheriff (left) has just cast artist Omar Zingaro Bhatia (right) as the protagonist in his latest short film.

Laura found this magnificent dress in Mr Ben Vintage.

That's all my showbiz news for today!

The Harris Tweed Ride - Mark Hogarth

2011-08-19T10:45:00.008+01:00

Mark Hogarth, Creative Director of Harris Tweed Hebrides.

Bumped into Mark at Glasgow's recent Harris Tweed Bike Ride and boy was he giving Clark Gable a run for his money.

Check out some moving images of tweeds on wheels around Glasgow in the film above, directed and shot by Brian Sweeney and Jamie Vincent Gillespie.

The Harris Tweed Ride on facebook.

Remember to drop in at The Croft for more things tweedy/island/sartorial....

Limelight

2011-08-16T13:14:00.006+01:00

I periodically get asked why I don't put my own work on the blog, I think I just wanted it to be separate but perhaps I should be sharing it a bit more.

This commission was a 'lime inspired' costume for the launch of Glasgow's Limelight Bar and Grill, the remit was brief: "a 60s inspired dress with a large picture hat heavily featuring limes". Perfect.

Think I cleaned the UK out of artificial lime slices in one fell swoop and the largest hat shape that I could find only came in blue - nothing an afternoon with a can of spray paint couldn't fix!

Model Cerise Wade.

Personally, I always request that the model/actor come for a fitting ahead of shoot day. Although this can be a little more expensive, it's the only way to ensure a perfect fit and has the added benefit of allowing the artist to visualise what they'll be wearing on the day.

Limelight Bar and Grill

Skies Fell...

2011-08-15T19:27:00.003+01:00

'Skies Fell' drummer Ross Gamble at the Glasgow School of Art Degree Show. The artwork in shot is by Laura Charlotte Dray.

The excellent Skies Fell play King Tuts on Saturday 27th August.

Skies Fell on facebook.

Click here for tickets.

William Chambers Millinery

2011-08-13T06:59:00.005+01:00

Image: Niall Walker.

'Crystal Cocktail Explosion' by William Chambers.

The Glasgow based milliner won 'Accessories Designer of the Year' at this year's Scottish Fashion Awards. He's now in the running to have one of his hats exhibited in New York for the Vogue: Design for Stephen Jones competition.

Click here to vote for William!

EYHO with Scottee - Possibly the best show at the Edinburgh Fringe...

2011-08-10T13:08:00.014+01:00

The EYHO (Eat Your Heart Out) show was hands down my absolute favourite from last year's Fringe. A flurry of 5 star reviews and Master of Ceremonies 'Scottee Scottee' winning Time Out's 'Performer of The Year' just goes to highlight how exciting this collective are.

WARNING: Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the warm, camp and glittery look of this show, I'm loathe to give anything away but last year the performance had in fact started as we waited for the show to start (see what I mean? This lot will have your brain engaged before you know what just happened...)

EYHO Facebook page.

"The politest kick up the arse you'll get all year!"

CLICK HERE for tickets.

OMARINA

2011-08-08T17:56:00.003+01:00

Photo by OMARINA

Artist: Omar Zingaro Bhatia

Fashion Designer/Style Scanner: Marina Maclean

We now have a Facebook page for all our collaborative antics - CLICK HERE

John Byrne in Deryck Walker

2011-08-03T13:26:00.004+01:00

Photo by David Eustice.

I adore this picture of the playwright and artist John Byrne "as muse" wearing a fine worsted wool suit by Deryck Walker. Deryck moves into his new studio next month and will start presenting his collections again very soon - I'll be keeping you posted on his news...

Sam "Flynn" Robertson - Beaver Falls

2011-08-02T23:18:00.010+01:00

Scottish actor Sam Robertson at SUPERMAX recently.

Sam was sporting a fine suntan having just filmed his latest series 'Beaver Falls' in the states. He plays Flynn in the brand new E4 drama.

Beaver Falls, Wednesdays at 9pm on E4.

Sean, Christina and Fraser...

2011-08-02T10:58:00.002+01:00

(Happy Birthday Fraser! x)

Strippers Stripped by Jannica Honey

2011-07-31T16:37:00.001+01:00

If you're around Edinburgh this Wednesday evening, you can bet your backside you'll not get a better offer than this. Photographer Jannica Honey has spent the last few months photographing strippers 'behind the scenes' as they work at Edinburgh lap-dancing club The Sapphire Rooms. Her humanising images will be presented as a slideshow alongside the work of photographer Holly Davison. As well as being available to answer any questions, the strippers featured will also be performing (clothed). Come!

'Pot of Dreams' Preview:

Wed 3rd Aug 5-9pm at The Sapphire Rooms,

81-83 Lothian Road,

Edinburgh.

Exhibition facebook page.

B.A.A.D FEST

2011-07-29T01:54:00.003+01:00

Currently working on commissions for top brass at Man United, Rabbie Denim along with the team at The Barras Art and Design Centre (B.A.A.D.) have been busy as hell organising this weekend's B.A.A.D FEST designer showcase.

This Saturday and Sunday (10am - 4pm), you can come and have a browse at what goes on here, all the studios will be open and you'll be able to buy direct from the designers who include Rabbie Denim, Obscure Couture, Madara Plica, Sugar Glass, Commission Gallery, TenTen, Social Recluse, Salute Events and HRH Retro furniture.

The team have also done a great job painting the old place up over the last few weeks!

There's even a BYOB afterparty and BBQ with live music on Saturday evening - more details on the Facebook page.

The Barras Centre (behind The Barrowlands).

Hamish from Kassidy...

2011-07-26T03:40:00.001+01:00

Hamish from ascending Glasgow band Kassidy at the recent We Love to Boogie party.

Kassidy

Rebecca Torres and Nicky Orr...

2011-07-25T03:28:00.002+01:00

Fashion Designer Rebecca Torres and Make Up Artist Nicky Orr, jewellery specialist at Vivienne Westwood Glasgow.

MONO amis...

2011-07-24T03:17:00.002+01:00

DJ Fraser Bone, Photographer Mark Dorrian and hairdresser John Duthie, at Mono.

Yes I've stupidly left the evidence that I'd been 'bending my elbow' on a weekday afternoon in shot but what the hell - Mark had only just rolled into town from London, the sun was shining and it felt like ages since we'd had a catch up.

Jack's Jacket

2011-07-23T10:42:00.002+01:00

Jack's amazing Antisect jacket!

Crystal Fighters @ Captain's Rest

2011-07-22T11:54:00.001+01:00

Gary Wilson - Fashion Designer

2011-07-21T10:10:00.003+01:00

Gary Wilson at the Heriot Watt degree show.

Original photograph by Derrick Argent.

Model: Lauren Andrew.

Designer: Gary Wilson.

Obscure Couture

2011-07-20T02:14:00.002+01:00

Obscure Couture designers, Jenn Celine Coyle and Lyndsay Pagan at this year's Heriot Watt Fashion Show.

Follow Obscure Couture on facebook to get the latest news of their diffusion range.

Mark Eley @ Heriot Watt 2011

2011-07-19T01:55:00.002+01:00

Eley Kishimoto designer Mark Eley, who once again ensured the 2011 Heriot Watt Graduate Show was as well curated and presented as any of the London graduate fashion shows. Cheered me to the core to watch how slickly the entire show had been executed.

You can all see the Heriot Watt graduate collections here.

Claire Stuart

2011-07-18T00:31:00.002+01:00

Author of Beewaits Blog Claire Stuart at this year's Heriot Watt Fashion Show.

Wilson

2011-07-17T00:14:00.004+01:00

Wilson Wong.

Cassie - Singer

2011-07-16T12:10:00.001+01:00

Cassie, at Glasgow's Hidden Lane.

SUPERMAX - The Fashion Show!

2011-07-15T23:01:00.001+01:00

Facebook page for the SUPERMAX official Merchant City Fashion Show and afterparty!

Actor - Laura McMonagle

2011-07-15T01:44:00.005+01:00

The actor and singer Laura McMonagle outside Mr Ben Vintage Clothing yesterday. The long established Glasgow vintage store is where she sources much of her wonderful (and inimitable) wardrobe.

Laura has just finished filming the second series of BBC drama Lip Service.

Harris Tweed Bike Ride...

2011-07-14T12:22:00.005+01:00

This looks a hoot! Tea, scones and gramophone records then riding around in tweeds with plenty of pit stops, oysters, whiskey, cocktails... all for charity. More info on the official blog. The Harris Tweed Ride is also on Facebook.

Tickets are £10 and available here.

Glasgow pioneers Graffuturism...

2011-07-07T16:46:00.010+01:00

Morten Anderson (Denmark/Berlin) working on his Chambre 69 Mural.

Curated by Mark Lyken, this weekend's groundbreaking "Rudimentary Perfection" Graffuturism exhibition at Recoat Gallery was a phenomenal success. It saw Glasgow play host to ten international graffiti artists - and they've left us some spectacular souvenirs which you can discover using this map.

Here are my pictures (* denotes where each artist painted in Glasgow).

SheOne (London) *Kelvinbridge.

Nawer (Poland) *Kelvinbridge.

Jaybo Monk (Berlin) *Recoat Gallery.

Derm (Edinburgh) *Glasgow School of Art.

Augustine Kofie (LA) *Recoat Gallery.

Mr Jago (Bristol) *Chambre 69.

Matt W Moore (Maine, USA) *Woodlands Community Garden.

Matt even has his own line of Ray Bans!

The Godfather of Graffuturism himself, Poesia (San Hose, CA) *South side.

Jaybo Monk with the exhibition's mastermind, Mark Lyken.

Mark Lyken (Glasgow) *Chambre 69 / Bier Halles Glasgow.

Smaller artworks from all the artists are available to buy throughout July at Recoat Gallery.

Click here for a map of all the walls.

Or jump on your bike and head round to Recoat for 2pm on Sunday 17th July to join the communal bike ride round the city taking in all the murals. Then Recoat for 4pm to see the Rudimentary Perfection film. Details here.

Rudimentary Perfection - Graffuturism

2011-06-29T15:48:00.009+01:00

Matt W Moore (Portland, Maine)

It's starting to hit me just how significant this exhibition is shaping up to be. Already cited as "one of the finest to take place anywhere in the world this year", international graffiti artists have been flying into Glasgow all this week ahead of Recoat Gallery's ground breaking "Rudimentary Perfection" Graffuturism exhibition.

Curated by the one of the invited artists, the acclaimed Scottish graffiti artist Mark Lyken, this ambitious project also encompasses a number of walls throughout the city. Maps are available from Recoat.

Here's a visual hint of what we can expect from each of the 10 featured artists...

The founder of Graffuturism himself, Poesia (San Hose, CA).

Who's being picked up from Glasgow airport as I type. Word!

SheOne (London)

Mark Lyken (Scotland)

Mr Jago (Bristol)

Morten Anderson (Denmark/Berlin)

Derm (Edinburgh)

Jaybo Monk (Berlin)

Nawer (Poland)

Augustine Kofie (LA)

July's Rudimentary Perfection opens this Friday evening, 1st July 7-10pm, at Kelvinbridge's Recoat Gallery and runs throughout July.

Let's show these guys some Glasgow love, you can just turf up - all welcome!

Rudimentary Perfection Facebook page.

The New Piccadillys

2011-06-28T12:24:00.006+01:00

The New Piccadillys are: Michael Goodwin, Mark Ferrie, Keith Warwick and George Miller.

Here's a little bit of footage I shot of their remarkable rendition of Ramones classic, 'Judy is a Punk', it's a bit shakey because my foot was tapping...

Catch them for a rare gig at Blackfriars this Sunday (3rd July) at 9pm, it's absolutely FREE... fab!

The New Piccadillys Facebook page.

Samantha McEwen Fashion Designer - "Voodoo Zumbies"

2011-06-26T15:04:00.002+01:00

Designer Sam McEwen at last Friday's Heriot Watt University 2011 Graduate Fashion Show in Edinburgh.

I'd been following Sam McEwen's work online but hadn't met her in person until moments after the show, which had once again been curated by Mark Eley of Eley Kishimoto. Sam explained that when Mark viewed her already layered collection he immediately instructed her to get a taxi back home and bring everything else she'd made - including all the masks. Sam's 'Voodoo Zumbies' collection ultimately opened the show with a wild four minute performance.

A jubilant Sam McEwen and models after the show.

Ahead of the show, having recieved a flurry of requests about her graduate collection from some top publications, Sam realised she needed some strong images of her work and chose Scotland's Barker McLean Fashion Photography to capture the spirit of her collection. The results are wonderful...

Image: Barker McLean Fashion Photography.

But it doesn't stop there, young filmmaker Emma Noble (one to watch!) made the short film below to showcase the 'Voodoo Zumbies' collection and it's effing superb...

Personally, I think Bernhard Willhelm should scoop Sam McEwen up but in the meantime, she's working on a collection of bomber jackets, available online soon.

Samantha McEwen's blog: Isolated Heroes.

Gary Wilson - No Love Lost

2011-06-23T18:22:00.002+01:00

Featuring the wonderful model Lauren Andrew, former Cardonald College graduate Gary Wilson has just presented his latest work in this film by Emma Noble. If you hadn't guessed already, Gary has worked closely with Gareth Pugh.

Adieu Yoann...

2011-06-22T02:15:00.036+01:00

Nicky and Yoann.

The first time I properly met artist Yoann Reininger was at a party, he was looking pretty "gangsta" in a full length ladies fur coat.

Leaning over, he confided in a thick French accent "I'm feeling a little bit tipsy - and I plan to stay zis way." Knew instantly we'd make an auld alliance.

"The Glaswegian" by Yoann Reininger.

Fell in love with this painting as soon as I saw it and it still makes me smile like no other painting ever has.

Natalie, Nicky and Amy.

Nicky's recent Birthday dinner ended in Nice and Sleazy's which turned out to be the last night out I had with Yoann, who left Glasgow for France yesterday. After four years, he's decided to go back to Marseilles to focus on his painting.

Nicky with Omar.

Steven and Fangs keyboard player Lloyd.

Forget those Sleazy imitators Yoann - this is what a real "Glasgow Kiss" should feel like!

Amy with JoJo Doll, whose band Fangs play alongside Primal Scream and The Horrors this Thursday at the Eden Sessions.

Late one night, after dinner and sufficient wine, I persuaded Yoann to make Yves Saint Laurent his Facebook profile picture.

Can't resist a lookey-likey!

Bisous from all of your friends here in Glasgow Yoann, tu es toujours le bienvenu ici x

Yoann Reininger.

Marie

2011-06-20T14:17:00.004+01:00

Event Manager Marie Stewart at Thunder Disco Club.

Thunder Disco Club Facebook page

Mutant Veneer - Ben Fist

2011-06-18T14:51:00.003+01:00

Last chance to see Ben Fist's brilliant Mutant Veneer exhibition at Recoat Gallery this weekend, Ben really has made the space his own. He's also done a snazzy 360 'scrolly thingy' of the exhibition, which you can see here.

Ben Fist on Flickr

Sven Werner and his outlandish productions

2011-06-16T00:46:00.018+01:00

Filmmaker, pianist, composer and installation artist Sven Werner.

Sven's latest "walk-in" cinema production is happening at 10pm this Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Finnieston.

Here are some pictures I took at the performance he did with Outland Productions in February. We were warned there would be a strict 10 minute window to get in, after which the doors of the secret location would be locked.

I know it's not very clear but this was a huge home-made looking projector. Someone slowly turned the large handle and what looked like long abstract patterns painted onto acetate became a magical projected skyscape..

Here's Sven playing the moving piece he'd composed for the show from a train carriage which we were invited to walk through. Singers sang, train announcers announced and we were all spellbound...

An atmospheric art/performance/film/music crossover.

"Tales of Magical Realism" happens this week at 10pm on Th 16th, Fri 17th and Sat 18th June.

Tickets are £10 and available from the GFT, Coffee Chocolate and Tea in Finnieston and Merchant City Cameras. The secret location is on your ticket which must be bought in advance and doors will open for 10 minutes only - then get locked!

I highly recommend this.

Sven Werner - Outland Productions.

Facebook event page.

Cardonald College 2011 End of Year Show

2011-06-14T23:44:00.006+01:00

Models waiting their turn to 'walk' amidst the grand setting of Kelvingrove Art Gallery. I became rather captivated by how reminiscent of the dancers in a Degas painting they looked.

Cardonald College has just been named 'The Scottish College of The Year' at The Business to College Awards and has also scooped the Workforce Development Award for its collaboration with Harris Tweed.

Sanjeev Kohli

2011-06-13T13:09:00.003+01:00

Look who I bumped into at the Gibson Street Festival yesterday, it's the actor, comedian, writer, presenter - and gigolo... Sanjeev Kohli.

Sanjeev is guest presenting STV's The Hour all this week from 5pm - 6pm

(P.S. I don't think he's really a gigolo...!)

The Art World: A Tragedy

2011-06-10T00:45:00.012+01:00

"Only one in a hundred of you will ever make it as a career artist" ~ Tutor

I bring you 'The Art World: A Tragedy', Omar Zingaro Bhatia's latest art film which premiered at our Figments/Omarina exhibition - it even had its very own gallery.

Inspired by the pessimistic prognosis of an art school tutor, the film was executed entirely by Omar and his brother Ally. I rather think it's one in a million and just goes to show what you can achieve if you put your mind to it...

Read more about the film's back story here.

.....

Type Casting...

2011-06-08T15:21:00.014+01:00

Not for the first time, fast talking New Yorker Camille Lorigo hit me up with a proposition I couldn't refuse.
In truth, all I really caught over the busy din of Stravaigin was "...old typewriters...stream of consciousness...Hope Street Studios...let's write a book in a weekend."

Hey, this could be a kick, I was in. Completing our beat writing troika was the actor and writer Stephen Sheriff.

But after what seemed a respectable amount of time spent 'thinking very fast and typing very slow', we completely ditched the troublesome typewriters and went "back to mac - daddy-o".

To be continued... just as soon as us squares can get our shit together once again!

Made in The Shade - on the road

2011-06-07T13:05:00.002+01:00

Carrie and Clare are affectionately referred to as the Made in The Shade girls but from now on, may also be known as "that pair from the TV advert".

Here they are in action...

You can see a slightly longer 3 minute film of their bonkers journey by clicking here.

And of course, their fantastic De Coursey's Arcade shop, Made in The Shade.

ALLEY CATS featuring Nadia Scullion

2011-06-03T15:44:00.000+01:00

Brand new fashion film by Marcy and starring Stephen Sheriff. Marcy told me she's drawn to using 30s film scores because she likes the way the sound works against the modern imagery. I love the way her films look like an editorial fashion spread come to life, this one features pieces by Nadia Scullion.

The British Art Show 7 @ Hotel Gilchrist

2011-06-01T16:07:00.012+01:00

Artists and hosts, Luca George and Alex Misick.

To coincide with The British Art Show 7, 'happenings' have been happening, in the DIY spirit, at Glasgow's 'Hotel Gilchrist'.

I spot sculptor and film maker Ailsa Margot Mackenzie the second I arrive at last weeks opening. As we supp our (cucumber packed!) gin and tonics in the cramped hallway, a girl appears with armfulls of freshly made donuts, nice touch. It's only when she walks away I notice she's naked from the waist down.

Rather wish I'd seen the donut making facilities before accepting one!

I resist a further invite to help 'communally' mix the next batch. I'm told it's a very "sensuous" experience but can see a chap in the corner who's been left awkwardly trying to conduct introductions whilst having to hold a previously 'battered' arm aloft in the air.

Last week's artists, Chris Macintyre, Luca George and Phoebe Amis.

After a performance piece over the ping pong table, a man wearing a snorkel and jaunty Tyrolean hat stands on a chair to do a reading and everyone drops to the floor.

These exciting exhibitions at Hotel Gilchrist run for the next 2 weeks.

49 West Princes street

G4 9BS

Next is 'Episode 7' featuring Sam Derounian.

Opens this Thursday 2nd June 7pm-11pm, (then open 3rd-5th June12-5pm).

Then it's 'Episode 8', the final one, this time featuring Alex Misick's work.

Opens Wednesday 8th June 7pm-11pm, (then open 9th-12th June 7-10 pm)

Blog

Facebook page

Diesel Island Disco with Optimo...

2011-05-31T01:23:00.002+01:00

Optimo's JG Jonnie Wilkes at last week's 'Diesel Island Cinema Curated by Optimo'.

To celebrate the end of their season of events, Diesel Island are throwing a 'Diesel Island Disco with Optimo' party this Wednesday (1st June) at SWG3. The line up features Optimo, D/R/U/G/S, Julio Bashmore, Ooft and Korban Dallas (Thunder Disco Club)... and complementary drinks!

All FREE - but you have to get yourself a"passport" from the Diesel store a.s.a.p. to get in.

The 'Diesel Island Disco with Optimo' Facebook page.

SUPERMAXING

2011-05-28T03:57:00.002+01:00

The next SUPERMAX party is TONIGHT...!!!

Style Scanner: My First 5 Jobs...

2011-05-26T15:21:00.005+01:00

Thanks to the 'creative social network' Central Station for featuring my "First 5 Jobs" post this week.

You can read it HERE.