I’ve been posting updates of what I’ve been reading, listening to and watching on my Facebook page for a while now. I thought I would take the opportunity to post a few more in-depth posts here at arranarctic.com on what’s entertaining me in between my own artistic endeavours.

In the first of this new stream of posts, I wanted to talk about ‘The Stornoway Way‘ by Kevin MacNeil.

‘The Stornoway Way’ often scathing story of sometime artist/musician, full time alchoholic R. Stornoway and his life on the Scottish isle of Lewis.

I came across the novel randomly while perusing the shelves of a charity bookshop. It’s the best £2.49 I’ve spent in a long time as I cannot stress how much I have enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since a book has made me laugh out loud, something this book made me do repeatedly:

“I often wonder if those stories are true about some alkies being able to live for so long because their insides are so pickled they self-preserve”

‘Stornoway…’ is often delightfully dark, written in beautiful prose and the final, achingly painful but poignant chapter will stay in your mind for a long time after reading.

I was very flattered to be asked by one of my favourite blogs / podcasts, Scots Whay Hae!, to take part in a Record Store Day podcast special.

So, I grabbed my guitar and travelled through to Glasgow where I met up with Alistair Braidwood, Chris Ward and Ian Gregson to play a few acoustic tunes and talk music, records and lost albums.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous what with being a fan of the show, but I’m glad I got to listen to Ali and Chris talk infinitely more intelligently than me about a subject that I love; music!

You can get the podcast at the Scots Whay Hae! website or subscribe to it on iTunes.

I had a great time. Thanks guys!
Arran

It’s Podcast time once again. I promise one day soon I’ll complete an actual musical related project to post up here, but in the mean time…

…Since I started the podcast, I knew I definitely wanted to do an episode on busking. Edinburgh has a great range of buskers that perform all year round, filling the streets with beautiful music. One such busker is Stephen McLaren of Edinburgh based band Collar Up.

Stephen is full of great advice for first time buskers, but he’s also got some great tales to share from his busking career!

Listen below (or subscribe to the podcast feed in iTunes)…

 This podcast featured music from…
Stephen McLaren / Collar Up - www.collarup.bandcamp.com
You can also find Collar Up on Facebook.

 Note: Express consent was received from each band before they were included

To download this podcast and listen at your leisure, right-click the file below…
Arran Arctic Podcast #4

I was microwaving my lunch at work the other day, Sri Lankan Chicken soup, and forgot to put the microwavable cover over my dish.

On opening the microwave door I found my lunch had all but exploded all over the inside of the contraption, hence…

Yup, this is the kind of stuff I dream up. Hopefully no one in my office has clocked on to the fact that I’m certifiably insane!

Cheers
Arran

Welcome to the third edition of the Arran Arctic Podcast.

Apologies for the lack of website action over the last month. Podcast #3 delves into the cause of this, staying creative despite all the other bull squash going on in your life, personal and creative alike.

As well as some more fantastic, local Edinburgh music, I speak to Milo McLaughlin, creator of www.clearmindedcreative.com and the Ditch The Day Job Diaries. Milo has compiled a great list of creative resources at his website and has plenty more to say on how to stay creative in the podcast below.

Listen below (or you can subscribe to the podcast feed in iTunes)…

 This podcast featured music from…
Smith Stevens - www.soundcloud.com/smithstevens
Lisa Rigby - www.lisarigby.bandcamp.com

 Note: Express consent was received from each band before they were included

This podcast also mentioned…
The Clear Minded Creative
A Fight You Can’t Win
The Minister’s Cat
Townhouse
Kilmarnock Edition 

To download this podcast and listen at your leisure, right-click the file below…
Arran Arctic Podcast #3

The time has come for the second installment of the Arran Arctic Podcast.

If you missed the first, introductory episode, listen again here. Otherwise, dive into episode number 2, concerned with all things web streaming.

After my initial foray into web streaming and online gigs (read the blog post here), I report back on my experience and also interview the very talented, Edinburgh based artist Pol Arida who is definitely tooled up when it comes to streaming live content on the internet.

Listen and enjoy below (or alternatively subscribe to the podcast feed in iTunes)…

 This podcast featured music from…
Pol Arida – www.cultx.com
 Note: Express consent was received from each band before they were included

This podcast also mentioned…
UStream
Shoutcast
Second Life

To download this podcast and listen at your leisure, right-click the file below…
Arran Arctic Podcast #2

Hello there.

As you can see below, there is a widget that displays my Arran Arctic Ustream channel. This enables me to broadcast anything my heart desires, live on the web.

I could use it for pornographic purposes, but instead I thought I’d put it to better use, and stream a live “gig” of sorts, from the comfort of my own home.

I’m hoping this will give a few non-Edinburgh residents the chance to see what I’m all about live – to a certain degree, obviously I’m not plugged in!

Tune in on Thursday, January 26th @ 8pm!!!

Use the above widget to watch and listen.

I’ll also be keeping an eye on my Twitter and Facebook streams, so feel free to send me any comments or questions

Cheers
Arran

 PS – This live webstream will be the topic of the next Arran Arctic Podcast, where I’ll also be interviewing the Edinburgh based musician and web streamer, Pol Arida.

I recently picked up a motherload of new vinyl (very naughty of me as, after Christmas, I’m only just about holding it together financially).

I’ve definitely been bitten by the vinyl bug, ever since I picked up Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ before I even owned a record player! There is definitely something addictive about it, which inspired my latest mini, surreal comic creation…

The weather in Edinburgh doesn’t seem to improving, in fact, it seems to be getting worse!

I’ve been an avid knitter for over a year know. During this time I’ve amassed a precious collection of hand knitted scarves, all made by my own fair hand!

Each scarf is knitted on a one-by-one basis, using quality wool of various colours, shades and textures.

No two scarves are the same, however if you do purchase one, please feel free to specify any colour preference when completing your payment, or email me at:
arranarctic@hotmail.co.uk

Hand Knitted Scarf – £15.00

One of my new year resolutions was to put together an Arran Arctic Podcast. It’ll be an occasional, episodic type of affair, mostly consisting of news from me but also featuring some awesome local Edinburgh bands.

Rather than ramble on you should simply listen below…

 This podcast featured music from…
The Spook School – www.thespookschool.com
 A Fight You Can’t Win - www.afightyoucantwin.bandcamp.com
 Note: Express consent was received from each band before they were included

This podcast also mentioned…
Scots Whay Hae!
Jock Rock
Edinburgh Man Podcast
Ayetunes

To download this podcast and listen at your leisure, right-click the file below…
Arran Arctic Podcast #1

Addendum 13/01/12

The Arran Arctic Podcast is now available to download and subscribe to in iTunes!

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast//id495001027