Edwyn Collins

12th August 2021

Edinburgh Park

Neu Reekie is/are, in their own words, "a prize-winning literary collective and arts production house that have been curating and producing cross-culture shows" which have been "showcasing avant-garde poetry, music and arts since 2010".

The venture's founders, organisers and presenters are a pair of Edinburgh based poets Michael Pederson and Kevin Williamson.  

And this evening's format had the lads opening proceedings by reciting a piece of their own work each, before introducing a number of other poets doing their bit - some live and others on film.  There were perhaps seven or eight renditions in total, of varying lengths.

 
The live acts Victoria McNulty and Darren McGarvey were mostly of the angry, shouty rant genre, and were moderately entertaining.  But I could imagine the joys of being faced with such a barrage for say half-an-hour would soon pall.

Of the recorded works Hollie McNish's enlightening 50 Ways to Wank was by some way the most arresting, and it encouraged me to visit Audible to download her latest publication of prose and poetry: Slug.  I look forward to a number of lively commutes in the company of the lady over the forthcoming few days.

The Edinburgh Festival venue at Edinburgh Park

The venue looked to hold about 600 folks, with seats spaced in bunches of 1,2,3 or 4.

However, with the wind whistling in through the open sides to the structure
the place quickly became very cold. 
Fortunately I had been forewarned, so dressed appropriately.

The Neu Reekie Boys

I have no idea what constitutes Good Poetry. 
I am guessing, stuff which stays in one's mind probably falls into that category. 
That being said, three days on, I can recall not a jot of Michael Pederson's contribution.

Kevin Williamson, by contrast, gave us a humerous piece
comparing Edinburgh's charms to those of a woman's body. 
A touch contrived perhaps, but fun for all that.

 Victoria McNulty had a great line:  "He was Cain because he wisnae able".
I shall have to find a way to drop that into conversation some day.

Darren Garvey had a number of thought-provoking and cogent points to make
about what constitutes acceptable behaviours in today's woke society. 
But I felt much of his message got lost in the cavernous tent.

But I rather think the vast majority of the audience had turned out to see Edwyn Collins who, even without the glow of public warmth his health-related travails has engendered, is still undisputedly one of Scotland's musical colossus.

His band this evening consisted of just a brace of acoustic guitarists: Patrick Ralla and Carwyn Ellis (no Paul Cook, this time around, regretfully).  But between them the pair did a remarkably fine job of creating a backing for Edwyn's songs.

And whilst Collins' warm baritone is perhaps no longer quite the thing of rare beauty it once was, it certainly more than passed muster this evening.  Only during In a Nutshell were there recognisable wobbles.  Which was odd, given that the previous song, the wonderfully understated Low Expectations, had provided the evening's high point.  The audience listening in rapt silence, before adding to their applause by beating out a lengthy stamping tattoo on the wooden boards underfoot.

A short Greatest Hits session closed the show, and even during A Girl Like You, the electric guitar did not appear to be even be remotely missed.

As a clearly delighted Edwyn shuffled offstage (with a wee bit of help from Grace) following the encore Blue Boy, I was reminded once again how fortunate I am that my own stroke in 2011, had barely registered on the Richter Scale.

Long may you run, Edwyn.
  

Edwyn Collins - looking not unlike Archie MacPherson in this pic.

Patrick Ralla...

...and Carwynn Ellis

Edwyn Collins - Edinburgh August - 2021

Edwyn Collins - Edinburgh August - 2021

Long may you run, Edwyn.

Set list

Falling and Laughing

Consolation Prize

Hope and Despair

I Guess We Were Young Once

Low Expectations

In a Nutshell

If You Could Love Me

Leviathan

Home Again

Rip It Up

Don't Shilly Shally

A Girl Like You

Encore

Blue Boy