THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY, SKY ARTS, 9pm
THIS new three-part series tells the rebellious story of dance music and rave culture in Thatcher’s Britain.
The dance craze encouraged the young to gather in large, sweaty, energised groups, something the authorities have never been too fond of, and it embraced and publicised the ecstasy drug. Little wonder, then, that they were soon made illegal and that the dancers went underground, organising secret raves in abandoned warehouses or dark, empty fields in the middle of nowhere.
But as with most things with a dedicated following, it soon went mainstream and lost its edge.
This series looks at the rise of rave culture and its eventual slide into bland popularity – which probably did it more damage than the police ever could.
The series features contributions from Goldie and Paul Oakenfold and contains nostalgic clips and tunes from the rave scene.
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2017, STV, 8pm
MY partner sometimes works in Niddrie and often has a few grumbles about it. Apparently it’s not an attractive place. But suddenly Niddrie is wonderful because it’s the manic, crowded Edinburgh Festival season and the tourists and the arty crowd will not be setting foot there. Niddrie has suddenly become a gloriously peaceful haven.
Edinburgh might seem chaotic just now but you can watch the Festival’s highlights from the refuge of your sofa.
Now it’s a terrible shame that this show is only 30 minutes long. It can’t hope to capture much of the Festival’s spirit, breadth and wonder, but it’s better than nothing. Arts programmes on terrestrial TV, especially STV, are so sparse that I suppose we must be happy for the crumbs we get, and if this short show can push someone deserving into the limelight then it’s done its job.
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