books review

Bookslam - Fiction, Poetry and Music

Edinburgh International Book Festival

A refreshing change, Bookslam is stand-up literature; three writers and a musician glued together by Alan Bissett who acts as compère. While super laid back Dan Rhodes' surreal odes to his girlfriend were complemented by performance poet Patience Magbabi, who used the sonnet form to express how music has influenced her writing, the ever passionate Luke Wright fired up the audience with a hilarious lament on the difficulties of being a sensitive male and an excellent attack on lovers of all things kitsch and ironic. Unfortunately, the audience began to dissolve during the final act - an acoustic set from Idlewild's Roddy Woomble - perhaps because, in their search to find something different, Bookslam had become what seemed like just a gig.

Highland Park Spiegeltent, 15 Aug, 6.15pm (8.15pm), £9.00 (£7.00)

published: Aug-2008

Related to this show's name

• More power to the peaceful man / Maria Buckley talks to Michael Franti about oil, peace, music, and coming to Edinburgh. / FEATURE »
• On The Edge / DF Concerts' Dave Corbet on the Fringe's flagship music strand The Edge / FEATURE »
• Tales From The Cutting Room Floor / Project Adorno and Steve Lake / REVIEW »

Other articles you may find interesting

• Journey To The East / Sonya Hallett talks to Book Director Catherine Lockerbie, as well as authors Xiaolu Guo and Jonathan Fenby, about the ‘Focus On China’ strand at this year’s Festival / FEATURE »
• Window On The Fringe / Different Acts Every Day / REVIEW »
• Edinburgh 365 / Scottish playwright David Harrower battles against Inverness’s mobile reception to talk to Jennifer McGregor / FEATURE »
• The Festival Debate / REVIEW »

Rating Key

1/5: Bad     2/5: Mediocre     3/5: Good     4/5: Very Good     5/5: Excellent

Pot-luck Google Topics