BAFTA-winning A-List actor Jason Watkins gives brand new show, “Soho Days, Camden Nights – A Failed Rockstar’s Guide To Success” his seal of approval by agreeing to direct its world premiere for a run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Comedy star Al Murray aka The Pub Landlord hails the work as, “Funny and touching tale of Britpop stardom that never was.” TV and BBC 6 Music radio broadcaster and DJ Steve Lamacq also heaps praise: “Captures the time and the aspirations of a young band brilliantly. A great eye-opener into the absurd thought process of what it might take to headline Glastonbury!'”
The show is penned and performed by Andy Macleod who is an author, music promoter and musician, and returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with his second show. Adapted from his new book of the same name that is released on 16th July through Omnibus Press.
“Soho Days, Camden Nights – A Failed Rockstar’s Guide To Success” will be at the Just The Tonic Mash House Cask Room for 12 nights from 6th – 17th August.
Andy Macleod works as a music promoter in London, putting on live shows, managing bands, and releasing records. Over the years, he has promoted artists including Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Keane, Fontaines D.C., and hundreds of others. Before that, he was in an indie-pop band managed by Ricky Gervais.
His first book the memoir “Anoint My Head – How I Failed to Make It as a Britpop Indie Rockstar”, received critical acclaim. He also sings in The InCureables, a tribute band to The Cure, [which might be providing material for a third book!]
The new show takes us from the heyday of ’90s London to the present day, through changing music scenes and a new digital landscape, via a “funny, bittersweet tale” exploring ambition, identity, and knowing when to stop—or not. This show is the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2022 show “Anoint My Head”.
It’s the summer of 1996, and Andy (27) is stuck in a dead-end admin job at a Soho picture library. His dreams of becoming an indie rockstar are over — but luckily, he’s found the ‘next big thing’ through promoting gigs in Camden: a Norwegian three-piece who sound like ABBA meets Nirvana.
Plan B is simple:live the dream vicariously by managing them. And when a record company shows interest, a door opens into an exciting new world. The only things standing in his way are a total lack of music industry know-how — and his scary boss at work, who disapproves of his extracurricular activities.
However, as the clock ticks towards his 30th birthday, success proves elusive. Everyone else seems to be making it — rival bands, ex-bandmates, his old band manager (Ricky Gervais!) – even the record shop where he once worked has become famous. Andy fears he’ll never escape the day job to live his daydream. But he also knows that in music, there’s always tomorrow.
“Soho Days, Camden Nights” is a coming-of-age [or perhaps coming-to-your-senses] story about finding your niche and discovering who you are rather than who you thought you’d be. It takes the reader back to the heyday of 90s London, charting the rise of some of the biggest bands and comedians of the era. Along the way, it explores that eternal question: does the cream really rise to the top, or is success mostly down to luck? And more importantly — is it ever too late to pick up the plectrum and try again?
The show is directed by Jason Watkins who won a BAFTA for the lead role in the two-part drama “The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies”. He is also known for playing Prime Minister Harold Wilson in “The Crown” Season 3, and as William Herrick in “Being Human”, Gavin Strong in “Trollied” and Detective Sergeant Dodds in “McDonald & Dodds”. He won huge plaudits for his lead role in the groundbreaking TV drama: “Mr Bates V The Post Office”. His many film appearances include, “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason”, “Tomorrow Never Dies” and in the first three “Nativity” series.
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Andy Macleod – “Soho Days, Camden Nights” will be at Just The Tonic – Mash House – Cask Room at 2.25pm from 6th – 17th August.
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