Preview: Kirsten Hersh

Kristen Hersh is a respected solo artist in her own right, but she's still most widely known as one of the founding members of cult US college rock heroes Throwing Muses. So it's little wonder that the Muses star has continued to rise steadily despite the band being on indefinite hiatus since 2003. They are widely hailed as one of the most important alt-rock bands to emerge from the wreckage of punk. Their angular, mercurial and at times anguished sound inspired many, including the Pixies and Kurt Cobain. It was Hersh especially and her co-vocalist and half-sister Tanya Donnelly that gave the Muses their edge.

Their brash, unashamed, evocative stage presence and raw personalised lyrics were considered almost shocking at a time when the alternative rock scene was still very much a male dominated concern. The gratitude Kim Deal, Courtney Love, PJ Harvey and many others owe Hersh and her band mates is considerable.

Even before the Muses disbanded, Hersh was busying herself with a solo career. Her first solo LP was released in 1994 and last year's Learn to Sing like a Star was her seventh. Hersh recently also completed her memoir, 'Paradoxical Undressing', which forms the basis of her Edinburgh show of the same name.

Incorporating music, film and essays, this largely spoken word performance promises to be a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the singularly most important female alternative musicians of recent years. A special preview show will be held at Cabaret Voltaire on August 13th, before moving to St Cecillia's Church for a six night run, starting August 17th.

Kirsten Hersh: Paradoxical Undressing. St. Cecillia's Hall, Cowgate, 17th-23rd August.

http://www.throwingmusic.com