All is fine on the Southside Fringe

The Southside Fringe is back for a second year — and proving that Shawlands and beyond is a thriving cultural quarter.
Corinna and Crawford marking the Southside Fringe HQ launch earlier this year  photo courtesy of Karen Diver.Corinna and Crawford marking the Southside Fringe HQ launch earlier this year  photo courtesy of Karen Diver.
Corinna and Crawford marking the Southside Fringe HQ launch earlier this year  photo courtesy of Karen Diver.

Last’s year’s inaugural festival included 110 events — and this year, it’s up to 140 acts across 37 venues.

Founders Corinna Currie (a.k.a burlesque star Sarcassy Sneek) and musician Crawford Smith are delighted with how the fest has progressed.

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Corinna told The Extra: “People walk up to me in the street and ask how things are going with the Fringe, businesses are taking collections for us and we have official partners this year; CherryMan Media, the Glad Cafe, Pudding Lane Cafe, Oddbins Shawlands, Food and Drink Glasgow and Southside Sessions. The support has been amazing.

“Last year we were really focused on southside residents, but this year, it’s an effort to bring people here — and it’s beginning to work.”

The launch party is at the Glad Cafe on May 9 with nibbles, booze and music promised.

As well as last year’s music, art, cabaret and theatre strands (not to mention a show for dogs, back by demand), there are new subcategories, including pop-up politics, Women in the Fringe, LGBT and foodie events.

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Corinna’s highlights include a collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company on an all-female Hamlet (by the talented thesps at Govanhill Baths), Who Stole My Sausage? (for four-legged festivalgoers) and Remembering Chet, celebrating the music of Chet Baker.

Food blogger Emma Mykytyn (@GlasgowFoodie) is setting up stall for the Southside Spree market, and then there’s Pastaval — pitting the neighbourhood’s best mac and cheese offerings in a food fight.

The organisers will take to the stage as well — Corinna for Sarcassy Sneek’s Southside Shenanigans and Crawford as a member of Howlin’ Radio.

Corinna added: “I’ve had quite a few journalists ask: why do you think this cultural explosion is happening now? It’s the same answer every time; it’s always been happening. We’re just finding a communal voice.”

The Fringe runs May 9-25, and programmes are available from HQ (Pollokshaws Road) — fundraising continues until April 30 at www.sponsume.com/project/southside-fringe-2014.

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