Where I’ll be at for the next month. Be careful out there… www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... @heraldscotland.bsky.social

New on the Noise of Art… From the archive Irvine Welsh & Vic Godard - When Blackpool Rocked open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... A look back to 2002, when a brand new Irvine Welsh musical in collaboration with the legend that is Vic Godard opened in Leith.

New on the Noise of Art… There Will Come Soft Rains - Ray Bradbury’s Story for Today open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... In 1950 Ray Bradbury wrote a post-apocalyptic short story set on August 4th 2026. Today’s the day…

New on the Noise of Art… Kevin Keegan, Bill Shankly and My Football Life open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Following the sad death of Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan, a look back at Anfield heroes & the football moments that stayed with me. Part of my Hit the North (of England) Summer Special.

My look in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald beyond the Edinburgh Fringe, with 8 theatre shows to see in August on Scotland’s other stages. Book early! www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

New on the Noise of Art… From the archive Paul Rooney - Lucy Over Lancashire Revisited open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Another look at my 2007 MAP review of Paul Rooney’s 12-inch red vinyl tinderbox of cheeky monologue from a northern sprite named Lucy married to indie-dub clatter.

From the archive Vini Reilly, The Durutti Column and Another Return open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... As Manchester’s insular guitar virtuoso releases his first new material in 16 years, a look back at interviews from 1998 and 2003. The 3rd in a Hit the North (of England) Summer Special!

New on the Noise of Art… From the archive Pauline Murray - Penetration and Coming Back Into the Open open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... As a reignited Penetration play Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms  this weekend, a look at a 2010 interview with the County Durham sired group’s singer and driving force.

New on The Noise of Art… Shop Local! #153 open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Hearts Gallery:  Studies in Photography: City Art Centre: Scottish Storytelling Centre: Tay Street Gallery: Scott Lawrie Gallery: The Blackbird: Leith Depot: Queen’s Hall: Waverley Bar: Mote 102: Coburg House:

New on the Noise of Art… From the archive Denise Johnson - Where Does it Go open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... 6 years since Denise Johnson’s death, a look back at a 2018 interview with the singer who gave indie-dance its soul as she prepared her solo live show and album of Manchester classics.

RIP Bill Oddie. Now this was a really wild show. Weirdly brings to mind Peter Watkins’s film, Privilege, David Essex in Stardust and Slade in Flame. youtu.be/5zN2wWGbGyM?...

The Goodies - Wild Thing

YouTube video by ivorykisses

youtu.be

Join the Midweek Circle… Waverley Bar, Edinburgh. 25.7.26 Sunny test card harmonies, acoustic shimmers and 70s school TV synths, plus extra added corn dolly merch… Get the cassette - Macrame for Beginners - Out now! The gods have spoken. The harvest is rich. The Midweek Circle is here.

New on The Noise of Art… Shop Local! #152 open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Hearts Gallery:  Studies in Photography: City Art Centre: Home; Leith Depot; Out of the Blue: Beat Generation; Umbrella Vinyl; Safari Lounge; Waverley Bar; Bannermans; Fruitmarket; Dundas Street Gallery; The Blackbird;

Now online, my look in The List at 2 photography exhibitions at Edinburgh Art Festival. list.co.uk/news/lee-mcc... Sandra George: Start From the Level, City Art Centre until Sep 27 Lee McCormack: A Magic Lantern, Craigmillar Now Aug 6-20 Images 1 & 4 by Sandra George; 2 & 3 by Lee McCormack.

New on the Noise of Art Tilda Swinton, Man to Man and a Prodigal’s Return open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... As the internationally renowned actress revisits the stage role that helped define her early career almost 40 years ago, a look back to where it all began at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre.

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald review of The Duchess of Malfi, Bard in the Botanics’ intimate staging of John Webster’s brutal revenge tragedy. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... Botanic Gardens, Glasgow until August 1. www.bardinthebotanics.co.uk/productions/...

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Emma, Bard in the Botanics’ outdoor staging of Jane Austen’s classic. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... Botanic Gardens, Glasgow until August 1. www.bardinthebotanics.co.uk/productions/...

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald review of I Can Die Too, starring Frances Ruffelle in a brand new chamber musical at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... PFT until August 2. www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/i-c...

New on The Noise of Art… Shop Local! #151 open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Studies in Photography: City Art Centre: Banshee Labyrinth: Sanki: Out of the Blue: Home: Leith Depot: Fruitmarket: Wee Red Bar: Beat Generation: Sneaky Pete’s: Mash House: Heart Gallery: People’s Leisure Club: etc…

My look in @thelistuk.bsky.social at 2 Edinburgh exhibitions by 2 major photographers Sandra George: Start from the Level, City Art Centre until Sep 27 cultureedinburgh.com/events/sandr... Lee McCormack: A Magic Lantern, Craigmillar Now, Aug 6-20 www.craigmillarnow.com/new-page-1

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Lear, starring a mercurial Maureen Beattie as Shakespeare’s ageing monarch. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... @pitlochryft.bsky.social until Aug 1. www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/lear/ Image by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.

New on The Noise of Art… Shop Local! #150 open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Out of the Blue: Studies in Photography: Outhouse: Sneaky Pete’s: Beat Generation: Voodoo Rooms: Home: Pianodrome: Bandhee Labyrinth

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald review of Twelfth Night, Bard in the Botanics’ latest look at Shakespeare’s stormy rom-com. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... Botanic Gardens, Glasgow until July 11. www.bardinthebotanics.co.uk/productions/...

Thanks to all who put on gigs over the weekend On Fri Creeping Bent/FRETS took over Wee Red Bar with Bubbles & Quad90 On Sat Px4m moved into Settlement Projects with Gichard, Blaw & Ellen Er On Sun Afternoon Delight squeezed into Leith Depot with The New Routines, Shears, Frankie Morrow & SheBeat

From the archive open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... All this talk of the North of late prompts another look at this one, which begins with a true story based on 1st hand experience of the North/South class divide before riffing on Billy Liar, the eternal allure of That London and other runaway boys

Bubbles and Quad 90 with Dave Carson. Wed Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art. 3.7.26. @creepingbent.bsky.social

The cost of working in Scottish theatre today. My longish form @heraldscotland.bsky.social piece on the everyday economics of surviving on stage and off in Scottish theatre. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2623830...

New on The Noise of Art… Shop Local! #149 open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop... Embassy: Studies in Photography: Leith Depot: Wee Red Bar: Pianodrome: Settlement Projects: Out of the Blue: Banshee Labyrinth: The Green Room: Outhouse

My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald review of Mean Girls, Tina Fey’s stage musical take on her classic noughties teen movie. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... King’s Theatre, Glasgow until July 11, then touring the UK - meangirlsmusical.com