[Misc] Murray Lachlan Young at The Brighton Fringe Festival

[McTavish]

My brother is appearing at the Old Market at The Brighton Fringe.

He is a poet/performer/playwright and an absolute force of nature.

His show - The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps - is based on a poem that he wrote and is a funny, gothic, spooky show suitable for the whole family (although probably not very young children)

I saw it last year and it really is fabulous - well worth a visit.



http://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/raddlesham-mumps?rq=murray

 

[hart's shirt]

Murray Lachlan Young is your brother?!? Fair play!

If I'm back in the UK then, I'd love to go.

His poem at the hanging scene with Craig Armstrong's 'Escape' brought chills.

It does not bring pleasure to my heart
To stand and deliver the sorrowful tale
Of the man who now stands in the rattling cart
With a mind full of woe and a belly full of ale
As God is my witness I shall weep with all of thee
When the drop fell comes and his legs kick the air
When the highwayman dances on the Tyburn gallows tree.
Tell me is there a man in all England
Who would trade his daily toil
For a breakneck speed
For a handsome lass
For a casket of jewels
And a life rich and royal.
Pounding hooves on moonlit mile
Flashing blade in fancies style
Lifting gold lifting dresses
Stealing rubies from princesses.
Oh for a week for a night and a day
For the rush of the wind and the pistol’s bray.
Sir! For that life would you gladly be
A dancing with the devil on the Tyburn gallows tree.

They call him the Gentleman Highwayman
They tell me he speaks with a plum in his throat
But how can you chatter in such high company
When you’ve shit in your britches and your neck’s in a rope
When you’re pissing and screaming and gasping for air
When your fine leather booties are carving the air?
You can dance blindfolded as your last dying plea
For you don’t need a teacher or a half-baked preacher
To learn you how to dance on the Tyburn gallows tree.

Gallows tree, gallows tree,
How do I love thee gallows tree?
Still as the dead
Silent as the sun
Master of all men
Lover of none
Silently waiting ne'er blushing nor chasing
No asker of secrets
No teller of lies
Right hand of blind justice
Old England’s best buttress
Cold handed deliverer
Feeder of flies
Accomplice to murder
Mother of shame
Gallows tree
Gallows tree
Bastard of history
Gallows tree
Taker of
Sweet James Macleane.
— Murray Lachlan Young

 

[atomised]

Remember seeing him supporting pet shop boys at the savoy

 

[McTavish]

Remember seeing him supporting pet shop boys at the savoy

Yes, a varied and many-storied career - I believe he is still the only poet to have played the main stage at Glastonbury (although I expect that someone will now tell me that Pam Ayres was on vocals for Hawkwind or similar).

 

[atomised]

Yes, a varied and many-storied career - I believe he is still the only poet to have played the main stage at Glastonbury (although I expect that someone will now tell me that Pam Ayres was on vocals for Hawkwind or similar).

He was great that night having really been unsure what to expect

 

[McTavish]

For all those Murray Lachlan Young fans still disappointed at not being able to see him at the Brighton Fringe he has just released an album with Blabbermouth who are Lu Edmonds (PIL, The Damned, Mekons etc) and Mark Roberts (Massive Attack, The Godfathers & Neneh Cherry).

It is described as "A powerful Psych/Prog/Punk spoken-word album," and if that doesn't get your Lockdown juices flowing, I don't know what will!

You can have a listen (and even buy a download if you are feeling flush) here.

 

[LlcoolJ]

He is a genius.

Always listen to him on Sean Keaveny's show on 6. Been enjoying his lockdown collaborations with Paul Hartnol, paricularly this......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48Quf8nlPs

 

[McTavish]

He is a genius.

Always listen to him on Sean Keaveny's show on 6. Been enjoying his lockdown collaborations with Paul Hartnol, paricularly this......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48Quf8nlPs

Paul and Murray have released a lockdown album The Virus Diaries

For a good taster and a very funny video have a look at this:

 

[McTavish]

For all Murray Lachlan Young fans (and I know there are at least two of you out there), he has only gone and done a musical!

Starring the unlikely combination of Mica Paris and Keith Allen, it is on in London's Glittering West End for a month from 12th January.