Scottish Festivals ...
Seek to
engage, challenge, entertain and to ensure quality of standard, musicianship,
writing, diversity, colour and more.
*East Neuk classical music festival
10th Edition – 27th June – 6th July
Situated in
intimate venues on the coastal villages of Fife,
with German pianist Christian Zacharias and with trios, sopranos and chamber
groups. This year will celebrate the 19th century Viennese composer Franz
Schubert. http://www.eastneukfestival.com/
*Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival – 18th – 27th July
This year
with Van Morrison and Jool Holland, as well as renowned jazz artists from
across the world. Edinburgh Jazz
Festival was set up in 1978 by banjo-player and guitarist, Mike Hart. Mike's initial focus was
on traditional jazz and a host of events taking place for free admission in
pubs. There is a Princes Street
parade, The Mardi Gras in the Grassmarket and Jazz On A Summers Day in Princes Street Gardens
which are free events. Regular visitors are Buddy Tate, Warren Vache, The Black
Eagles Jazz Band and the Hot Antic Jazz Band. The Festival's artistic policy
has been to concentrate on musical excellence (rather than the "star
system") and to champion spontaneous creativity: music making on the spot
in Edinburgh.
These have been developed with the production of a wide range of new music, the
establishment of the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra, and an on-going
commitment to supporting Scottish musicians to realise creative ideas, and to
link with international musicians. http://www.edinburghjazzfestival.com/
*Edinburgh International Festival- August 2014
The Big One! The oldest arts
festival.
Edinburgh buzzes for the month
of August when some locals leave and others enjoy watching for the good reviews
and for the next big shows.
For the visitor it is worth walking
around (faster often than by bus) from the Under Belly beside George Square and
the university, down past to the Royal mile where there are many shows on
display (very busy at the weekends) – then down the mound worth it for the spectacular
vista from Edinburgh’s castle and gardens and on past the Art galleries (where
there are often packed crowds for the fire eating street performers and
jugglers). Take a left turn down Princes Street and into parallel George Street
and before long you see the white tents of Edinburgh’s book festival where many
world famous authors descend for the two middle weeks and by contrast offers a
place for reflection and more considered entertainment. .
Flyers, colour and spectacle are
everywhere on the streets in a vast celebration. As the festival offers every
type of arts, I find it interesting to see the crossovers between the arts. To
find music such as Nile Rogers who gave a highly interesting and spontaneous
talk at the book festival, with dance exploring new mediums and expression
through mime, visuals and illusion such as the show Leo.
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Edinburgh Fringe. 1 – 25 August. There is everything to sample here
with over around 3,000 shows.
The Fringe
developed from the main festival, particularly expanding into comedy, such as Cambridge footlights
where many well known comedians first got their big break. Nearly any available
space is used over the city. https://www.edfringe.com/
Edinburgh International Book Festival
(EIBF) 9 – 25 August. The
world’s largest book festival began in 1983 and is held at Charlotte Square, Edinburgh’s
westend, with children’s events and a wide diversity of novelists, journalists,
economists, scientists, poets, musicians, historians, and politicians. The
festival includes debates and evening Unbound shows. https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
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Edinburgh International Art Festival,
31 July – 31 August. http://edinburghartfestival.com/
Edinburgh International Festival
(EIF) 8 – 21 August. The main event and the world’s oldest
festival. It focuses on the high brow and world class theatre, opera, dance and
music. The festival is all embracing.
http://www.eif.co.uk/
http://www.eif.co.uk/
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