Fringe 2010 and beyond!

Exit stage left: The Fringe 2009 takes its final bow.



It’s been a bumper year for the Edinburgh Fringe and despite the best efforts of tram workers, Edinburgh has enjoyed one of the most positive and successful Festivals ever.

Scrap that, let’s just focus on Twitter. It was always going to be the centre of attention and developers responded. Aggregating tools like EdTwinge and Fest Buzz meant regular opinions of shows via Twitter were presented in a format that could influence the kind of performances people might ultimately go and see.

EdTwinge started and grew quickly. The site really succeeded in alerting performers to the value of a positive tweet. Get into the Top Ten and not only are you doing something right, but the chances of people hearing about your show through all the noise rose considerably. The Top Ten list was even replicated on The Skinny Festival site and clearly was a great stab at capturing word of mouth and broadcasting it to a larger audience.

Of course it wasn’t the finished article, but EdTwinge gave a cracking real-time insight into the shows people were really enjoying. It did raise a number of questions that will certainly come into play come 2010. Firstly, how to ensure tweets about performers were about the show someone had seen, rather than a simple reference. For example, Tim Key (great as he is) benefited hugely from winning the Best of Fringe award (deservedly so I’m sure), as this stirred a huge amount of positive ‘noise’ on Twitter, helping him to almost topple the unstoppable force of Chris Cox.

Secondly, is it enough to look at the general consensus regarding a show? A key selling point for the arts pages in newspapers and magazines is the relationship the reader could build on a weekly/daily basis with their reviewer of choice. You are able to establish which reviewer shares similar tastes and select shows accordingly. In the rush to the Fringe, Bloggers and websites tussled to try and get their reviews read and appreciated. But was there enough time to connect with newer reviewers? And where were the mainstream media in all of this? Twitter is an ideal haven for sharing your newly published reviews but apart from a few exceptions the engagement with Twitter was limited.

Let’s not forget the apps. Fringe Guru and others brought us a fantastic iPhone application (iFringe) which would help with the opportunistic audience who were willing to take a chance and see something based on their location, the timing etc all through a simple interface. Are there opportunities for something like this the year round, or is the Fringe the only period we open ourselves up so much to culture that an app like this can be of assistance?

2009 was really the testing ground period, getting used to these new tools and trying to decipher the part they would play. 2010 is going to be the real meaty fun. A year to prepare and have knowledge of the impact social media can play. What will be the great tools of the Fringe be in 2010?

We saw fantastic tools bringing together and ranking shows based on Twitter audience opinion but will the professional reviewers feel overlooked? Is there an opportunity to aggregate the reviewers? Plenty of excellent bloggers and websites come to Edinburgh looking to cover shows, perhaps bringing these reviews together with writers from more traditional spaces such as newspapers and radio could be successful? The Guardian has always amalgamated reviews, so it does seem surprising there wasn’t a tool to do just that for prominent critics and budding bloggers.

And for the Fringe itself? After the success of its own Twitter profile, including hosting the popular Twinge party, could we be in store for more ongoing engagement through these channels and will the Fringe capitalise on this by creating more exclusive events and offers?

It’s all very exciting. The notion that there might be the next ‘twitter’ to consider in 2010 is very much a possibility. But one thing’s for sure, lessons and fun was the experience of 2009 and performers who fully embraced social media at the Fringe would have surely reaped the benefits.

This article was originally posted on the Hot Tin Roof blog

Zen Bound :: iPhone games review on Square-go

Greetings friend, do you wish to look as happy as me?

Then just go to

www.square-go.com/review/461

and read my review of Zen Bound.

Don't delay. Eternal happiness is just a click away!

p.s. Buy this game for your iPhone. You won't be disappointed.

Geometrix: Square-Go Review

Terrible lack of updates - must rectify.

But as you'll no doubt no, today is Friday, so my efforts are irrelevant.

To make up for this please accept a link to my first iPhone game review for Square-Go.

http://www.square-go.com/review/436

"We aint going to the town, we're going to the city"

Recession, credit crunch, John McCain…yeah things are bad. Throw into that mix a huge dollop of encroaching Baltic weather and you’d expect a typically sombre mood seeping from Unserieslinked.

Actually, you’d be dead wrong. The chilly night skies are a welcome arrival. Wrapping up warm, leaving work when it’s dark…ain’t no thing.

In fact, living in a city I’ve realised it heralds the return of something all the more important.

Interpol.

It’s strange but completely obvious why Interpol suit such weather and surroundings. The brooding, dark tones pulsating from their three classic albums go perfectly walking in the cold night flanked by souring architecture.

The band aren’t just another throwaway artist too, they are simply life affirming. Each album conjuring up a very real mental recollection of a period in my life, moving along to the music…each different, all fascinating.

Take their most recent effort "Our Love To Admire". The album genuinely narrates a relationship of the past, with this period of my life condensed into music videos following each song. It’s absolutely perfect in the tone and storyline…maybe I’ll make that movie one day.

It’s a welcome return for Interpol. Genuinely one of my favourite bands of all time, well, from the list of bands that have started and evolved in my lifetime.

It’s also been a season of new music here at Unserieslinked. An inkling towards Lil Wayne, Glasvegas and the Gaslight Anthem, led to a shopping spree which led to weeks of enjoyable listening and eventually to overplay and indifference…but either way, great new artists, fantastic albums.

Lil Wayne is the one to talk about. Obviously. It sure sticks out there.

My knowledge and interest in rap/hip hop is limited but passionate. I do stick out in the crowd, but that’s ok. I know what I like and thanks to quips that Lil Wayne is the successor to Jay-Z AND Michael Phelps talking about how he’d whack on Wayne before winning each of his 8 gold medals…that’s a recommendation and a half for me.

His most recent effort, Tha Cater III is almost a masterpiece. It falls at the usual rap hurdle…too many songs. Why this particular genre of music feels there needs to be at least 15 tracks, I’ll never know, because usually the listener can’t enjoy the whole album in one session and ends up being indifferent/bemused by the remaining 3-4 tracks. Make Tha Cater III 10 tracks, it’s up there with the greats.

The opening six tracks dominates anything I’ve heard for a long time. Equal measure Jay-z, early busta rhymes and outkast, Wayne has created a fascinating mix. The much needed swagger is there, but Wayne knows humour and originality. An important combination for reaching more than the hardcore, while still hitting the top of the charts.

Lollipop is almost, almost a rap ballard. Soothing and mysterious, it comes so close, but the lyrics can't hide what type of music you're listening to: "She she lick me like a lollipop" and "I Let her lick the wrapper". Dirty swine!

While he’s touting himself as the successor to Jay’s crown, Tha Carter isn’t an inauguration. For one Jay-Z is far from retiring (again) and there is space for the two. What it is, if I can use a lame analogy, is similar to Theo Walcott taking over David Beckham’s England no.7 jersey. We all know the skill and promise of Theo, and yes we acknowledge he’s the future. But never write off Beckham, and never expect to hear the end of him…

"Take a bow son!!!" - Football season 2008/9 previews!

Ok…so Andy Gray doesn’t commentate on League Two games, much less would he utter such dramatic phrases for any of the typically bumbling goals we score, but the mighty Rochdale’s season has now begun and that calls for a nifty preview blog!

Last season, an amazing latter half of the season, saw the Dale reach the playoff final where we were, quite frankly, p0wned but a fearsome (for League Two anyway) strike duo. So what’s in store this season?

Well one things for sure, like most teams in L2 this season, the fear of relegation is that much more lukewarm, thanks to the triple whammy of points deductions. Rotherham, Bournemouth (n.b. Seth Rogan’s team “Bourne-mouth?”) and Luton have all been punished and will all start the season in the negative. This kind of cushion is a weight off my mind, despite the Dale’s quality surely meaning they’re nowhere near the rear end of the season come May 2009. On the other hand, look at Leeds, a deduction could be the kick up the arse these teams need for a huge surge up the table.

Summer transfer news?

We missed David Perkins in the final last season, and now he’s gone all together! Hopefully signing Jon Shaw from Halifax will bag plenty of goals along with last season’s top scorer for Rochdale, Adam Le Fondre.

My prediction this season?

With Keith Hill in charge, I do have faith and think 2nd place, automatic promotion could be in sights. Could I handle another day at Wembley? Sure, but we have to be a lot more solid across the park and not rely on the legend that is Gary Jones giving 1200% in every position going.

This week sees the first league home game of the season, and it’s only against local rivals, Bury. Given the result of our last local derby (you’re coming straight back down Stockport!) the Dale will be out to regain local pride. I’m delighted to be heading down for the game, in a season I hope to catch at least 10 home games.

Some league called the...Premier League?

As for the big stuff, I think Chelsea will come back and win the Premiership. Scolari is an incredible manager and you can already sense a more excited and confident collective at Stamford Bridge. Manchester Utd will push them the whole way, while I do believe Liverpool will keep in step until very late on in the campaign. As for the bottom? You really can’t see any of those teams promoted staying up can you? Windass and all, Hull will be rock bottom.

Fargo Yah?!

So, I've dedicated this week to watching "new" movies yah? And tonight, I finally watched the Coen's 1996 classic, Fargo.

I know I know, how on earth am I only just seeing this film. Yah. True. I can't believe it either. But there it is. Ok?

So, for those of you equally crazy to have not seen this flick, Fargo follows a botched fake kidnapping set-up by the wonderful William H. Macy and the persistent work of policewoman Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) trying to solve a series of murders.

One thing I must say right from the off...I couldn't have imagined the film to be so sentimental for such a dark tale. The relationship of Marge and her husband Norm is quite easily one of the sweetest unions I've ever seen on the big screen.

And Marge? She is simply a terrific character. A true movie hero. Dogged and right, she does her job well and is justifiably successful in the end.

A short and sweet thumbs up. Countless words of praise have made their indelible ink on Fargo, but I just wanted to add my praises, for an understated epic thriller with a huge dollop of Coen's black humour and squirting of crimson.

And the accents, oh yah? How can we forget those!

New film festival launches in Edinburgh.

The Chris Welton film festival started with a bang last night, with an unannounced screening of the 1993 classic children's movie, Rookie of the Year.

One of the all time great "kid miraculously gets good at sport - plays against adults, and wins" movies, Rookie of the Year stars future American Pie star Thomas Ian Nichols and future big ball of crazy, Gary Busey.

Nicholas plays Henry Rowengartner, a normal kid, who after an accident, becomes a major league baseball pitcher - with hilarious results.

The flick was greeted with spirited laughs from the sold out (*capacity of 1*) "Front Room" early yesterday evening, in a reorganised schedule from the planned "Control". (Organisers cite "Monday blues" as the reasoning)

Particular highlights include the spirited, if not rather underused, display by Scrubs star Neil Flynn (Janitor) as a very believable first baseman and Nichols' hilarious capers trying to steal bases by taunting an overweight pitcher.

The festival takes a break this evening but will return on Wednesday evening with Fargo, The Lost Boys, Fast Food Nation and Control all included in the screening lottery.

The Chris Welton film festival is in its first year and focuses on films recently bought for cheap prices from various outlets...but mainly £3 from Fopp.

You can support the Chris Welton film festival by letting Chris enjoy his evenings undisturbed watching films.

Ends

Editors Note: For more information go to www.chrisfilmfestival.co.uk