Article of Japan’s First Large-Scale International Comedy Festival Featuring Charlie Burrows from Cirque du Soleil #Japan #InternationalComedyFestival #CirqueduSoleil #StreetPerformers #TheArts

Japan’s First Large-Scale International Comedy Festival Featuring Cirque du Soleil Opens to the World

written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

It was interesting to be asked to write a post-show article, not from the UK, where I live, but Japan, thanks to Tomoya Sato. I, needless to say, jumped at the unique opportunity. There’s so much colour and a variety of acts. I have chosen a few to showcase throughout my piece to give a flavour of this brand new festival in Osaka that welcomes the world.

This October, 2026 in Osaka, something momentous was happening and will grow and return in 2027.
Japan’s first international comedy festival as part of The Osaka International Cultural and Arts Project, was held, to much success, it will now be an annual event, with the aims of promoting tourism and culture, showing the rest of the world that Osaka has a lighter side of life.

We, in the UK may not associate Japan with comedy, but it turns out Osaka is a city that cherishes culture and laughter and is now opening it up in a concentrated, colourful, humorous, festive occasion to the rest of the world. It involved groups such as, Skit Comedy, Non-Style, acrobatics, jugglers and more…

Japan, over the years has become a destination country for tourists and in 2026, in the UK, this just got bigger. At the same time, Japan has also been looking towards the UK and featuring more at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the biggest international arts and comedy festival in the world and the world renowned Cirque du Soleil.

I was also treated to watching some of the acts online. The audiences appeared receptive and reacting positively to the acts that came one after the other. What has been created is a feat of artistic flair, high energy and humour with warmth mixing comedy, acrobats and street entertainment in a way that is familiar to the likes of Edinburgh Fringe and Cirque di Soleil audiences, but with a mighty dose of Japanese artistry and flavour. The combination showcases Japan in a very modern light, with energy and a welcome lightness in atmosphere.

The event was inclusive in that performances were non-verbal and all was based on physical expression in its two programmes: a Street Programme at Namba Hiroba and a Theatre Programme at SPACE14 in Shinsaibashi.

It’s a festival that truly opens up Osaka both in Japan and internationally and puts a different perspective on it as it shines a light both nationally and internationally.

What people were treated to over the 3 days were displays of dance, magic, juggling, areal acts, acrobatics a bit of audience participation, slap-stick style jokes, all done by performing physical theatre. Music and lighting on the stage also played a big part in bringing the atmosphere and acts succinctly together.

The inaugural opening ceremony was hosted by CRAZY COCO and Akira Ishida of NON STYLE.

Ishida commented: “We’ve gathered people who can make you laugh without relying on
words. I really want people from overseas to find it funny.”

Perhaps, globally, most notably in attendance, was Charlie Burrows who casts for all the resident shows of the world-renowned, Cirque du Solei, which is also a partner in this festival. He was casting ahead of the Cirque du Solei and also appeared on stage and was around, giving helpful advice.

Charlie Burrows commented: “I watched the performers in Osaka, and there were so many wonderful people.”

Second, most notable are the award winning, THE TOKYO IDIOTS. They have performed at
the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland, one of the world’s largest arts and comedy
festivals, and received the “Sea of Laughter Award.”

The critically acclaimed non-verbal comedy show, CHALLENGE, written, directed and produced by Akira Ishida was performed. It was awarded 5 star ratings at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024. It tells the story of a bored salary man (Ishida) who falls in love at first sight with a woman and tries to win her heart…
He is about to head home from the office, is handed a mountain of work. He struggles in a world somewhere between reality and dream. In the dream he falls in love with a woman and cannot forget her even after waking up. He then meets her again in the real world, but where will this romance lead…? There are twists and turns and a surprise ending…

CHALLENGE, incorporates Japanese culture, beginning with a game to create the word “Challenge” and also showed “tate” (Japanese sword-fighting), dance, upbeat music and audience participation.

Ishida returned to the stage on the second day with challenges, including one involving a Rubik’s Cube but kept being interrupted with artistic movement and dance.

Audience members from overseas after “CHALLENGE” said:

“The way the performers spoke and their facial expressions were so funny that I laughed. It was really great.” (a visitor from Vietnam)
“It was easy to understand and much more fun than I expected.” (a visitor from Myanmar)

Goe Asakoshi of The Plan 9 opened the final day.

Gabez took to the main stage on the final day with pantomime style entertainment, full of fun and the traditional audience participation to the delight of the audience.

Performers took to the stage once more to show digest sequences of their acts, such as Yuji Kiyokawa performed an illusion using a harmonica.

There was rope jumping and high speed Cossack dancing that the audience enjoyed.

Shingo Sakata, Japanese record holder for seven-ball juggling took to the stage to show this impressive skill with seven fluorescent orange balls.

It culminated in performers speaking at the end and celebratory comment about comedy festivals being the best.

Check it out on their social media:

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osaka_comedy_festival/

Sean Alexander, The Confusionist’s show 1 Moment In Time Will Return to #EdFringe2025 with #Magic #EdFringe @S_AlexanderMagi

Sean Alexander

1 Moment in Time

Returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, Sean Alexander brings back his spellbinding show, “1 Moment in Time,” refined and more powerful than ever. Following a critically acclaimed debut last year, this mesmerising storytelling magic show has garnered multiple rave reviews, described as “mind-boggling,” “jaw-dropping,” and “truly miraculous.” Now, with fresh elements and deeper emotional resonance, Sean Alexander invites audiences once again to explore the defining moments that shape our lives.

From historic milestones like the invention of the lightbulb to deeply personal experiences, “1 Moment in Time” interweaves masterful storytelling with astonishing illusions to create an unforgettable experience. With audience participation at its heart, the show challenges us to reflect on our own pivotal moments and the ripple effects they create. As one man searches for his defining moment, audiences will be drawn into an intimate and thought-provoking journey of time, memory, and destiny.

Sean Alexander’s 28-year career includes two Royal performances, an acclaimed 24-hour online celebrity charity show, and a show-stopping reveal of the ICC T20 World Cup trophy to UAE Royalty and cricket legends in 2024. With performances on some of the most prestigious stages, including the London Palladium, and recognition from the likes of America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, Sean has cemented his reputation as one of the most innovative magicians today. Lauded as “on a par with David Blaine” (City Times Dubai), his work with celebrities such as Amanda Holden, Jamie Redknapp, and Romesh Ranganathan showcases his unmatched skill and creativity.

Following its debut last year, “1 Moment in Time” is now embarking on an India tour after successful performances in both Dubai and Mumbai, as well as a UK national tour. This international success further cements Sean Alexander’s reputation as a world-class performer, captivating audiences across the globe with his unique blend of magic and storytelling.

For an unforgettable evening of mind-bending magic and profound storytelling, don’t miss “1 Moment in Time” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025.

“Spellbinding – Mind-boggling – Truly Miraculous” – British Theatre Guide
“Jaw-dropping – One of the standout performances of the fringe” – North West End
“Excellent Show – Impeccable – Pure delight and Amazement” – Fringe Review

Venue: theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall
Dates: 1-23 August 2025
Time: 15:55
Ticket prices: £14.50 / Concessions £13
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

The First Shows Announced For The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 #EdFringe #Theatre #Music #Comedy #Plays #ChildrensShows #VarietyShows #DanceShows #Circus

First shows revealed for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

The first batch of shows that will be staged at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been announced, and over 556 shows will be available to view and book on edfringe.com from 12:00 today.

The 556 shows span many genres, including cabaret and variety; children’s shows; comedy; dance, physical theatre and circus; music; musicals and opera; spoken word; and theatre. The shows announced today will take place across 100 venues. More shows will be revealed in the run-up to August.

In a continuing trend, this year more Fringe artists than ever have chosen to make their show available at this early stage, giving them longer to promote their show, grow their audiences and capitalise on all the opportunities available when taking part. It is the artists, companies and venues who come to the Fringe who take the risk in bringing work here every August. Fringe-makers all need help to mitigate these complexities, manage rising costs and make sure this August is the best it can be for residents, visitors and the thousands of arts industry and media that come to the city each Fringe for the world’s largest arts expo.

The Fringe Society continues to advocate and lobby for more support for the festival community – support such as affordable and available accommodation, to the continuation of the Keep it Fringe fund, and anyone in a position to support is encouraged to get in touch with the team.

With over 500 shows on sale from today, the Fringe Society also asks audiences from near and far to start booking tickets now, to take a chance on an emerging artist, to plan a visit to a venue you’re unfamiliar with, and to dive into the first batch of shows.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘It is always an exciting moment to see the first shows that will be performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2025 Edinburgh Fringe feels more real than ever and being able to browse the first batch of shows adds another level of excitement. It’s incredible to see the range and themes of work as well as the talent and creativity that artists are bringing to the festival this year.

‘More artists than ever have chosen to put their shows on sale at this early stage, allowing more time to plan their trip to Edinburgh this August. The cost of putting on a Fringe show can be a barrier to attending and the Fringe Society is working to support artists in any way that we can, whether that’s sourcing artist accommodation, keeping registration fees affordable, seeking out funding opportunities, or simply providing advice to any artist that needs it. Our Artist Services team is on hand to offer support, so please do reach out to the team.’

Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows released today can be found at edfringe.com.

Cabaret and variety

In 1954: Ella, Etta, Eartha (The Jazz Bar) Melissa Western and her musicians pay tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Eartha Kitt and their ‘swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch’.

Returning this year is La Clique, being staged this year in The Famous Spiegeltent – which is returning to St Andrews Square, while Sexy Circus Sideshow 2.0 brings ‘alternative circus’ to ‘the dark arts of underground burlesque and cabaret’ at Assembly.

Alex Love: How to Win a Pub Quiz 2025 is ‘part stand-up, part actual pub quiz’ at The Stand Comedy Club.

At theSpaceUK, Dan Bastianelli: Identity is providing ‘a brand-new magic experience which uses sleight-of-hand, personal stories and honest deception’, while ‘rock’n’roll’s greatest magician’ Arron Jones is at PBH’s Free Fringe with #1 Greatest Hit Rock’n’Roll Magic Show.

Children’s shows

Join Baby Shark and the Mystery of the Sphinx (Gilded Balloon) at for ‘fin-tastic show packed with music, magic and mayhem’ or skip, clap and march together’ to traditional Scottish music at CeilidhKids at the Fringe (Laughing Horse).

‘Experience magical illustrations and amazing new music’ as you follow Milly’s Musical Adventure (Greenside). At School’s Out Comedy Club with Philip Simon (Le Monde), expect ‘children (and maybe even a few parents)’ to ‘take to the stage to share their favourite jokes’.

Among returning shows for children and their families are The Listies: Make Some Noise at Assembly and Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at Pleasance.

Comedy

Dungeons & Dragons fans will want to join Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy (Gilded Balloon) for ‘improvised comedy at the roll of a dice’. At Laughing Horse, Chonk hosts a ‘body-positive buffet of comedians from across the Fringe’. Hasan Al-Habib, 2025 Keep it Fringe recipient, ‘was born to Iraqis that moved to Birmingham after deciding Baghdad wasn’t dangerous enough’ in Hasan Al-Habib: Death to West (Midlands) (Pleasance).

Join the ‘longest-running panelist from BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News’ Stuart Mitchell at Hoots or head to Planet Bar for Settle! for ‘a whirlwind of laughter, infectious tunes, and a good old-fashioned roasting’. At theSpaceUK, Chan Lok Tim ‘navigates life as a Hong Konger preparing to become a husband’ in Congratulations, Good for You – Cantonese Stand-Up Comedy.

At Scottish Comedy Festival, enjoy ‘dark, unfiltered and unapologetic takes on the topics most comedians are smart enough to avoid’ at Michael Shafar – Inappropriate. At The Royal Scots Club, Ian Wood relates anecdotes to show ‘being visually-impaired and a wheelchair user, one can get round most barriers in life’ in Living with Mitochondria Against All Odds.

Familiar faces at this year’s Fringe include Nish Kumar and Jason Byrne at Assembly, Andy Parsons, Chloe Petts, Deirdre O’Kane, Elf Lyons, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Marjolein Robertson and Rhys Darby at Pleasance, Paul Sinha and Richard Herring at The Stand, and Geoff Norcott and Ali Woods at Underbelly.

Representing Scotland’s comedy scene, Susie McCabe is at Assembly, while Connor Burns, Craig Hill and Daniel Sloss are at Just the Tonic and Robert Grainger is at The Stand.

Dance, physical theatre and circus

At Greenside, Tales From Your Queer Elder ‘blends movement and spoken word’ while ‘creating a powerful testament to living authentically while encouraging others to follow their dreams’.

Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths return to Assembly with Ten Thousand Hours, bringing ‘an ode to the countless hours of sweat and joy needed to achieve great things’.

Art of Andalucia brings a must-see flamenco spectacle to YOTEL Edinburgh, while at theSpaceUK, Sole to Soul ‘blends the physical language of traditional Chinese opera with the expressive symbolism of modern dance’.

Music

For an ‘evening of classics from the silver screen’, check out Tutti Orchestra: At the Movies at Canongate Kirk, or ‘experience the beauty of Italian and Neapolitan love songs’ at La Dolce Vita: A Celebration with Philip Contini (Valvona & Crolla).

MASSAOKE has two runs at Underbelly this year, 90s Live – ‘everything from rock to rave, girl power to grunge and Britpop to boybands’ – and Sing The Musicals – ‘Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Les Mis, Jungle Book, We Will Rock You, Phantom, Mary Poppins and many more’.

Ali Affleck comes to the Fringe with five shows this year: she’s with her band The Vagabond Jacks playing Hot Roots Jazz, Highway Honky-Tonk, Rags and Blues at the Argyle Cellar Bar; paying tribute to Billie Holiday with Sophisticated Lady at The Jazz Bar; and revisiting both venues with Ali Affleck Presents: A Hot Time in the Old Town – Celebrating the Wild Trailblazers of Blues and Jazz; Ali Affleck and the Traveling Janes – Bringing Bold, Brassy Bedlam to Swing, Blues and Trad Folk/Roots Jazz; and Ali Affleck’s Queens of Swing.

Head over to Footstomping: Live Scottish Music (WHISKI Bar & Restaurant) for a ‘vibrant foot-stomping good time’ or listen to ‘up-and-coming young musicians’ at Marchmont Music (Marchmont St Giles Church).

Journey to Stolen Identity (Saint Stephen’s Theatre) explores ‘women’s rights through a blend of musical genres, starting with classical but evolving into jazz and rock’. At Edinburgh New Town Church, Andrii Kymach: Ukraine is a ‘new recital, Ukraine, specially devised for 2025’s Day of Ukraine Independence’.

There are a number of tribute acts across venues, including Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac and Celine Dion at theSpaceUK, Abba at Greyfriars Hall at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Joni Mitchell at Le Monde.

Musicals and opera

Check out Charles ii: Living Libido Loca at PBH’s Free Fringe for a ‘raunchy adult historical comedy centered around the life and libido of Charles ii’ or head to Rock of Ages at Paradise Green for ‘powerhouse vocals, epic guitar solos, and all your favorite 80s rock anthems’.

How to Win Against History is a ‘tragi-gorgeous comedy musical’ and ‘a true story about expectations, masculinity, privilege and failure on an epic scale’ at Underbelly.

At Greenside, the prince breaks free of the fairytale to ‘sing his very own songs and complain about what his life could be’ in To Be a Prince. At theSpaceUK, ‘ancient Silk Road meets the present, and centuries-old murals come alive’ in Dunhuang.

Updated for 2025 with new songs, I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical the ‘musical comedy revue revealing all about musicals and the people who love them’ is back at Gilded Balloon.

If you fancy a ‘murder-mystery comedy musical’, head to The Detective’s Demise at Just the Tonic for ‘showstopping songs and devilish twists’.

Spoken word

At The Stand, ‘elected MP for Islington North, former Labour leader, and Peace and Justice project founder’ Jeremy Corbyn is in conversation.

For ‘an amusing take on life, with the added hint of truth’, check out What Are You Laughing At? at theSpaceUK, while ‘Peter gives a stirring and passionate account of his great-grandmother’s hard-fought campaign for the right to vote over 100 years ago’ in Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.

Theatre

Shakespeare for Breakfast is back at C Venues, offering a ‘sensational Shakespearience, perfect for hardened fans and blank-verse virgins alike’ while former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain delivers a ‘raw and powerful solo performance … exposing the brutal reality of football’s unforgiving system’ in Dropped at Easter Road Stadium.

Timestamp at Dovecot Studios is a ‘performance duet of sonic verse, dance, and audience experience that challenges the expectations imposed upon us in society.’ A Period of Faith follows Faith’s ‘battle against Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in a moving and thought-provoking way’ at Hill Street Theatre.

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come (Underbelly) explores ‘messy realities, fantasies, sexpectations and navigating life and relationships as British Asian women’.

Experience the beauty of Italian literature and the terror of looming deadlines at Valvona & Crolla with No Shakespeare. At theSpaceUK, The Boy from Bantay takes us on Jeremy’s ‘heartwarming journey of growth and self-discovery’.

Miriam Margolyes is back this August with Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits, bringing ‘more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics’ to Pleasance. More familiar favourites returning this year are Trainspotting Live at Pleasance and Xhloe and Natasha with three shows at theSpaceUK – A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First, And Then the Rodeo Burned Down and What If They Ate the Baby?

Head to Robot Vacuum Fight Club (Outhouse Bar) to ‘form a team, select a knockoff Roomba, customise it, then pit it against a dozen rivals in a series of knockout competitions’, or check out Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life (Summerhall), an ‘inspirational true story … about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions, and the healing power of the arts’.

– Ends –

About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe will take place from 01 – 25 August 2025. More information about the programme and tickets can be found at edfringe.com.

About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is the charity that underpins the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe. It was established in 1958 by a group of artists to provide central services for the festival and ensure that it stays true to its founding purpose of inclusion and welcome to all. We exist to support and encourage everyone who wants to participate in the Fringe; to provide information and assistance to audiences; and to celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world. Based on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the Society has a small team of staff who work year-round to assist all the artists and audiences who make the festival one of the best loved performing arts events on the planet.

In 2022, as part of the Fringe’s 75th anniversary, the Fringe Society launched a new collaborative vision and set of values, and made a series of commitments to become more inclusive, fair and sustainable. The vision is “to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat”.

Our three values will guide the behaviours and decisions of everyone involved with the Fringe: celebrate performing arts, be open to all and look out for each other. The Society will live by them, champion them and uphold them where necessary.

5 Intriguing, Wide Ranging #Autobiographies #Memoirs for #Christmas #BookReviews By Lou @FernBritton @paulybengali @johnsuchet1 @LaPlanteLynda #SuzieFletcher #ReadingCommunity

Christmas is just around the corner and there’s been some cracking Autobiographies/Memoirs published in 2024. Here are my top 5 for Christmas present ideas or for your own personal reading time. They range from the self-development, music, travelogue, tv and more in their topics.

The Older I Get – How I Repowered My Life By Fern Britton

Part Memoir, part almost self-help, Fern Britton, wisely
imparts her lived experience and knowledge with tips everyone can use to start a new year repowering their lives. It’s thought-provoking, inspiring and practical whatever your age and stage of life is.

Check out my full review in the link here: The Older I Get

Once Sinha Lifetime By Paul Sinha

One for The Chase and stand-up comedy fans, Once Sinha Lifetime takes readers into the life of a doctor who changed his life forever by taking up stand-up comedy, showcasing his material at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and how he became a quizzer.
Check out my full review here: Once Sinha Lifetime
See my review of Paul Sinha at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Paul Sinha in Edinburgh

In Search of Beethoven – A Personal Journey By John Suchet

Part memoir, part travelogue, discover John Suchet’s almost lifelong love of Beethoven. It’s a heart warming and informative read. The opportunity to delve into how Beethoven’s and John Suchet’s lives have intertwined, even years apart, with one dead, one alive. Join him from your comfiest chair on his travels to Vienna with his wife Nula as they explore deeper than they have before in this profound relationship.
Check out my review here: In Search of Beethoven

Getting Away With Murder, My Unexpected Life on Page, Stage and Screen
By Lynda La Plante

Lynda La Plante has written critically acclaimed books that have made it onto tv, perhaps the best known one is Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren, which she has now got a book series charting Jane Tennison’s career in the police force in Tennsion. There’s much more to Lynda La Plante that meets the eye and this emotional, fascinating memoir reveals a lot of them women behind the writing as she charts her career and let’s readers into some of her personal life.
See my review here: Getting Away With Murder

The Sun Over The Mountains, A Story of Hope, Healing and Restoration
By Suzie Fletcher

Suzie Fletcher is famed for The Repair Shop, but life wasn’t always on a tv programme. It’s a deep look into her talent with crafting with leather and how her life changed. Suzie Fletcher has been through incredibly challenging times in her life, including a certain relationship.
Discover my review here: The Sun Over The Mountains

#MusicRelease of Forgotten Pharaohs – New Album – King of Mirrors on behalf of #WastedYouthMusic @wastedyouthpr #Music #Gig

I am sharing this on-behalf of Wasted Youth Music. giving people a second chance in their music careers. Find out more after this release:

FORGOTTEN PHARAOHS

WILL RELEASE THE ALBUM ‘KING OF MIRRORS’

ON 20TH SEPTEMBER ON CREATION YOUTH

LISTEN TO DEBUT SINGLE ‘CAROUSEL’

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO

Credit: Gary Walker

Introducing Forgotten Pharaohs, the first signing to Creation Youth, the new label from former Creation label boss and artist manager Alan McGee and Grammy-winning producer and Killing Joke bassist Martin ‘Youth’ Glover. The album ‘King Of Mirrors’ will be released on 20th September.

From the beach fires of San Francisco, via the vistas of the Sierra Nevada to the Welsh mountain hideaways of ancient princes, the Forgotten Pharaohs debut King of Mirrors is a worldly wonder, crafted by a classic rock journeyman. Born in Frome in Somerset but raised on the sounds of the American west coast, frontman Christian Pattemore is the archetypal man out of place and time; a Laurel Canyon dreamer from 1973 materialised amidst the ancient landscapes of rural Wales.

Released in June, debut single ‘Carousel’, an elemental voodoo blues, seems to transpose Christian’s blue-collar struggles in Wales to a metaphorical US Civil War setting. “The ‘frontier town’ in the lyrics, is actually Hay-on-Wye because it’s a border town,” he says. “The ‘ten years crawling through the trenches’ is literally working in the trenches on a lavender farm. It’s about my life in Wales, and what I’ve had to live through. It’s very authentic.” This track has a timeless, pan-Atlantic quality with its Laurel Canyon style layering of blues, folk, rock and dark psychedelia.

Between shows as a session bassist, Christian makes a living as a handyman on a lavender farm. Working the land provided him with plentiful inspiration for the songs he was composing out in the wilds. “For six months I had to cycle to the lavender farm which was 10 miles over the mountains,” he recalls. “I’ve done that in all sorts of weather. I remember riding in a hailstorm over the mountains to get to work to earn some money. It’s a proper Victorian existence, but it’s character building and I’m glad I did it.”

He further fed his Seventies Laurel Canyon obsession by taking a second job in a record shop in Hay-on-Wye. “I never took pay,” he says. “Instead I got as many LPs as I could by artists like Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, Joni Mitchell, Little Feat, Steely Dan, anything Seventies Laurel Canyon, to learn more about this amazing music.”

Such natural talent naturally finds the sun. One fateful school sports day, Christian’s croc flew off as he crossed the finish line as winner of the dad’s egg and spoon race and landed at the feet of a fellow parent by the name of Alan McGee, the music industry legend behind the Creation and Poptones labels. “He looked at me and he goes ‘okay, that kid’s got some fight in him, I’m intrigued’,” Christian says. A demo changed hands, and eventually things fell into place during a writing session at Alan’s London flat around 2018 which resulted in a stirring canyon ballad called ‘Drive’, which features on the album, about finding strength in the personal in a world gone mad: “foreign nations go to war, turn the light off, you can do no more”. “I don’t do the politics thing but I was so upset about the Trump administration,” Christian explains.

Alan passed the song to Killing Joke bassist and celebrated producer Youth. “The original version was six minutes long and Youth goes ‘it sounds like Zeppelin but it needs a chorus’,” says Christian. “He just took it onto another level, raised the bar completely. He said to Alan, ‘Chris has got an album in him and I want to do this’.”

Meanwhile, accompanying Alan on a 2022 Cast tour reacquainted Christian with the band’s guitarist Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson, whom he’d previously known through Robert Plant camp connections in Bath. Recognising a fellow rock soul, Skin agreed to join Christian in Forgotten Pharaohs, adding volcanic riffs and primal fire to his songs at sessions in Wales and at Youth’s studio in the Sierra Nevada, near Granada in southern Spain later that year. “Working on the songs with Christian was very easy,” Skin says. “Like discovering some great lost music that I missed, but really we created something brand new.”

“This album sounds like a record from 1974 that got forgotten about,” says Christian; a dusty supergroup collaboration between CSNY, The Band and Steely Dan perhaps, remixed for the modern day by Queens of the Stone Age. Certainly the crackling power and rich imagery of King of Mirrors – along with its expert Laurel Canyon style layering of blues, folk, rock and dark psychedelia – have a timeless, pan-Atlantic quality. Lead single ‘Carousel’, an elemental voodoo blues, seems to transpose Christian’s blue-collar struggles in Wales to a metaphorical US Civil War setting. “The ‘frontier town’ is actually Hay-on-Wye because it’s a border town,” he says. “The ‘ten years crawling through the trenches’ is literally working in the trenches on a lavender farm. It’s about my life in Wales, and what I’ve had to live through. It’s very authentic. When I’m writing about things it’s like synaesthesia. You play a chord and it just tells you what to write. I don’t question it too much.”

Failure for King of Mirrors doesn’t seem an option. This is the record that galvanised McGee and Youth to launch a brand-new label Creation Youth, with Forgotten Pharaohs as the first full-length release. “It’s early stages but there is a lot of buzz about it,” Christian says. “It’s very exciting. it’s a real honour.” For this musical visitor from 1973, his time has finally come.

TRACKLISTING
1. Carousel
2. Life To Burn
3. Yes I Believe
4. Soul On Fire
5. Drive
6. Bryn Yr Hydd
7. Cable Bay
8. From The Heart
9. Chameleon
10. Giving The Best Away

LIVE DATES
28th August – Water Rats – London
25th Sept – 100 Club – London
15th Nov – Barrowlands (Embrace support) – Glasgow
5th Dec – Dingwalls (Huey Morgan support) – London

About Wasted Youth Music

Wasted Youth Music began as a PR company in 2002, founded by Sarah Pearson who went on to be nominated for Woman Of The Year at the Women In Music Awards and PR Campaign Of The Year at the Music Week Awards, building the company to become one of the UK’s leading music and culture PR agencies.

Alix Wenmouth joined in 2010 as senior publicist, heading up the PR department. She has spent the last decade building an enviable roster of clients, working with major labels, independent labels and artists directly such as John Lydon, Moby, Anton Newcombe, Brix Smith Start and Wendy James.

Wasted Youth Music has evolved to include artist, label and event management and is proud to represent and work with some of the leading lights in music, art, events and more.

Today’s The Day #BloodyScotland Begins in Stirling, Scotland @BloodyScotland @Brownlee_Donald #Scotland #UK #CrimeFestival #CrimeLovers

Bloody Scotland Begins

Written By Louise Cannon (Lou)

With a myriad of crime theme events, Bloody Scotland has arrived in Stirling, Scotland. I’m never bored when it’s festival time. There’s always something to do and old friends and new ones to meet. It’s an amazing time!

Bloody Scotland runs from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th September.

Meet your favourite authors, hang out at the Bloody Scotland bar at the Golden Lion Hotel, meet the reviewers, meet other readers. Swap thoughts on books, try something new or something familiar. Eat, drink and read.

Hear talks about books, get books signed, have fun at the Karioke and watch game show formats with a devilish twist.

Come for an entertaining weekend of high-jinx and chat.

For those not been before, welcome. For those who are regulars, welcome back to the city of crime writers with a historical backdrop of olde world streets and castle and so much more…

Programme and Tickets on the Bloody Scotland website here: Bloody Scotland