STINKFOOT RETURNS IN MEMORY OF VIV Philosophical tangents? Dancing cats? Partly cooked shrimp?


Welcome to the kaleidoscopic world of Vivian Stanshall’s psychedelic spirit staged. We ask JOHN BLANEY to tell you exactly what STINKFOOT is


ask


Stinkfoot? What is Stinkfoot? Well, dear reader, Stinkfoot is an English comic opera in the grand tradition, written by Vivian and Ki Stanshall and originally staged in 1985. A rip roaring success, not once but twice, (it was re-staged at The Bloomsbury Theatre in ’88) Ki and daughter Silky now plan to restage it for a third triumphant time. Pouring ideas out onto the stage from ’20s


parodies to surreal pastiches, the opera may be packed with an entertainment spectrum ranging from visual jokes to Vivian Stanshall’s astute philosophical meanderings, but as an insight into his creative mind it is one total, unshakable marvel, if a little hard to suitably explain. While a full revival is still some way off, (if


you’re reading this Mr. Lloyd-Webber, forget Phantom II and put your money into something infinitely more original) on 20th, 21st, 22nd and 24th July, you can experience all the best bits of Stinkfoot when it returns to its spiritual home, The Thekla in beautiful Bristol. Stinkfoot In Concert presents songs from the


original opera backed with as full an orchestra as can be squeezed aboard a stage, along with a Master Of Ceremonies and some surprise


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famous guests. As Ki would be the first to admit, it’s about many things, but above all else it’s about Vivian. So if you fancy a wander through the canyons of Mr. Stanshall’s mind and a jolly night out to boot, there’s only one place to be. For more information on Stinkfoot In Concert visit www.gingergeezer.net


SEE YOU IN THE EMBER LOUNGE


TRIPPING WITH BEAUTIFUL FOLK ON A WELSH WEEKEND


If it’s Bank Holiday time it ought to be festival time, right? NICK LEVY tells us about this spring’s best- kept secret. Top bands, carnival atmospheres and all-round good vibrations, that will be THE TRIP!


Packing in a rich, exciting blend of folk and psychedelia, The Trip, which takes place on the 28th–30th May in beautiful Anglesey, North Wales, is a new festival set up by organiser Paula McMahon and curated by Will Lawrence, who is involved in Manchester’s well-established Akoustik Anarkhy club night. “Anglesey is a beautiful island which has its own microclimate,” explains Paula MacMahon. “When it’s raining in the North West the sun shines in Anglesey.The site is pretty secluded and has a lot of character. It even has a field where the main stage will be, that has a natural slope like an auditorium, a bit like The Pyramid field at Glastonbury.” The artists cherry picked to perform are certainly an inspired, eclectic and


Shindig! friendly mix. Including – amongst many others – Erland & The Carnival, the sublime Beth Jeans Houghton, new bright young talented thing Cate Le Bon, Welsh neo-noise experimenters Islet, The Soundcarriers, psychedelic kiwis The Ruby Suns and a rare performance from legendary Welsh singer-songwriter Meic Stevens. “He was the first name on the list,” smiles Will Lawrence. “Every Welsh


musician whose opinion I really respected was always going on about him and when I finally heard his music it totally blew me away.” Interesting and musically tempting all round then, but yet another festival? In


this current financial climate? “The North West needs another festival of The Trip’s kind,” Paula assures us.


“Most boutique festivals are held down south and can be expensive, especially when you’re taking the family along. Admission fee, food and drink all add up when attending these events and we have recognised this and have made it affordable. We’ve got the most beautiful space to fill and will do it and the attendees justice!” A quick glance at Anglesey’s tourist board website reveals that the organisers


couldn’t have picked a more beautiful setting. With DJs, theatre, poetry and crafts to boot, it seems that The Trip is going to be a truly psychedelic/family affair. For more details and prices of weekend tickets for The Trip Festival, visit www.thetripfestival.co.uk


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Hot on the heels of their first-rate reissue of Milt Matthews Inc, and other, similarly sterling rereleases (Carol Woods, PJ Proby, Blonde On Blonde) indie label Fantastic Voyage continue their exhumation of cult imprint Ember’s back catalogue in May and June with some top releases. Firstly Two Timing Baby, the second in an ongoing series


PINTS OF DRUGS


Shindig! reader and curator of top UK psych website Marmalade Skies (www.marmalade- skies.co.uk), Mick Capewell, has roundly set us straight on an item in last issue’s Hollies piece. It seems the “We’re about as psychedelic as a pint wit’ lads” paraphrase attributed to Graham Nash may be apocryphal after all. In this cutting from an edition of The Melody Maker dated 8th


July 1967, Hollies singer Allan Clarke spoke thus: “I don’t agree with the drug bit. I’m a pint- of-beer-and-chat-with-the-lads man. I’ve never taken a drug in my life and have no intention of doing so.” So, that’s that cleared up then. Well-done


Mick. Mine’s a brown and mild. Andy Morten


rounding up the best of the label’s ’60s pop output (out on 3rd May) and then Happy Hour In The Ember Lounge, which will include the best of Ember’s lounge music, released on 7th June. Both essential purchases by anyone’s standards. www.fantasticvoyagemusic.com Richard S Jones


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