Deservedly dubbed the “Festival City“, Edinburgh comes alive in the summer with more than a dozen major festivals taking place.
In the months of June, July and August, you could see some cutting-edge art, a magic show or circus act, a classical piano recital, a Greek Tragedy and meet a famous author – and all before lunch.
Read on to find out how Edinburgh can entertain you in 2015.
Scottish Juniper Festival
When: Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14
Martin Duffy – Founder of the Scottish Juniper Festival
Highlights: Learn about gin in a 100 year old Anatomy Lecture theatre
Need to know: Raising a glass to World Gin Day 2015, this festival has a wide range of the spirit available, from Scottish brands to worldwide names.
The sessions at Summerhall are priced at £21.50 and include featured talks, a tour of Summerhall’s in-house Pickering’s gin distillery and the chance to sample some unique drinks.
Some of the gins available include No.3 Gin, Opihr and Darnley’s View & Spiced Gins.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF)
When: June 17 to June 28
Rich Dyson © Edinburgh International Film Festival
Highlights: Scotland’s acting superstar, Ewan McGregor, takes to the stage to discuss his career and new releases
Need to know: With 84 UK premières and films from 44 different countries, this festival has been going for 69 years.
It aims to introduce original new films and talent to audiences, alongside retrospectives, classics, director’s cuts and awards.
Among the themes this year is American Dreams (looking at US Indie cinema) and a Focus on Mexico.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh International Magic Festival – Magicfest
When: June 26 to July 4
MagicFest via ideas.co.uk
Highlights: The Top Hat Ceilidh – a magical Scottish dance fusion
Need to know: Magicfest has free entry to exhibitions, workshops and interactive performances, from the old-fashioned “sawing someone in half”, to feats of mentalism and sleight of hand.
Summerhall will have more than 100 magic shows and events – along with a shop, bar and doughnut stand.
There are also 14 different ticketed events for seeing acts on a particular every day and evening.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
When: July 17 until July 26
Bandakadabra via The Edinburgh Jazz Festival
Highlights: See soul and jazz legend George Benson and get involved with Mardi Gras
Details: Free events and parties and gigs from worldwide stars of the jazz and blues scene over ten days in Edinburgh
This event includes the Edinburgh Festival Carnival, which features more than 700 costumed street dancers, drummers acrobats and musicians on Princes Street every year, and the Cross the Tracks Weekender, where you can hear drum’n’bass, soul, acid-jazz and groove.
The best free party in town this summer will be Mardi Gras at the Grassmarket.
Gig tickets are now on sale with prices ranging from £6 to £50.
More info: Website and Twitter
Mardi Gras crowds at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
The Edinburgh Food Festival
When: July 29 to August 2
Food Festival Gardens (c) Edinburgh Food Festival
Highlights To be announced
Need to know: Running from 12pm to 1am, you can eat outside in the Assembly George Square Gardens or try some produce in their temporary Flemish Circus spaces – Spiegeltent Palazzo and The Bosco.
Try the finest Scottish street food, or if you want to stock up the larder, there’ll be hundreds of stalls selling food and drink to take home.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh Art Festival
When: July 30 to August 30
HannaTuulikki, Away with the Birds 2014 via Edinburgh Art Festival
Highlights: The new commissions programme The Improbable City uses unusual and unique spaces for art, like Edinburgh’s main railway station to a historic gothic kirk
Need to know: This is the UK’s largest annual visual arts festival, taking place right across the city over a month.
New commissions for 2015 include a 5ft bronze tree by Charles Avery, performative installations by Marvin Gaye Chetwynd (see photo below) and an underwater prototype by Ariel Guzik.
Many of the exhibitions feature work by leading and new Scottish artists, with much of the work visible in public for free.
More info: Website and Twitter
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, Jesus and Barabbas puppet show, CRICOTEKA via Edinburgh Art Festival
Edinburgh International Festival (EIF)
When: August 7 to August 31
Lang Lang (c) Harald Hoffman, Sony-Classical
Highlights: The opening and closing events (Harmonium and the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert)
Details: This festival put Edinburgh on the map, and remains a big feature on the global cultural calendar.
The EIF introduces top-class stars from the world of music, opera, theatre and dance in a blend of classic and cutting-edge performances.
Harmonium, a large, free, outdoor event will celebrate 50 years of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus with projections onto the side of the Usher Hall.
Or try The Hub Sessions, a series of intimate concerts at the Festival home, featuring Anna Calvi, Chilly Gonzales, Robert Glasper.
Chilly Gonzales appearing at The Hub Sessions ® Alexandre Isard
Closing the programme is the innovative Virgin Money Fireworks Concert, carefully choreographed to music performed live by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
If you can’t get tickets don’t worry – you can see it across the city.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
When: August 7 to 31
© Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
Highlights: The Gilded Balloon, one of the most famous fringe comedy venues, celebrates 30 years
Details: The UK’s biggest arts festival is going even larger this year with more than 2,000 different events including cabaret, comedy and circus acts.
Stand-up comics often cut their teeth here battling for the funniest joke of the fringe (won in 2014 by Tim Vine: “I’ve decided to sell my hoover… well, it was just collecting dust.”), and big-names returning include Adam Hills, Frankie Boyle and Jo Brand.
Fans of Game of Thrones and Star Trek can see theatrical tributes, while politicians like Boris Johnson and Tony Blair are thrust under the satirical spotlight.
The Assembly is also showing it’s first-ever Korean-season, a handpicked selection of the best in Korean dance, music and family shows, including show Lotto: Karma Of The Alchemist, and the contemporary dance of One Fine Day.
More info: Website and Twitter
Circus performer © Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
When: August 7 to August 29
Highlights: An appearance by Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corp
Need to know: East Meets West is the theme this year.
As the sun sets, Edinburgh Castle is lit up by not only the mood-lighting but by the costumes of the performers.
Scotland’s marching bands and dancers might be the star-turn, but international acts from scores of countries blend in with the pipers for a mix of traditional music, like Highland Cathedral, along with jazz, folk and pop music.
More info: Website and Twitter
Highland Dancers (c) Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Edinburgh Foodies Festival
When: August 7 to August 9
Dishing up at Edinburgh’s foodies festival
Highlights: A Tasting Theatre and a Feasting Tent, where you can meet up and eat at banqueting tables.
Need to know: Inverleith Park in Edinburgh is the venue for meeting some top international chefs and trying cuisine from around the world.
Try some Japanese Soul Food or be a convert to the raw food lifestyle. If drink is more your thing, you can try wine, champagne and beer in the company of experts.
Adult tickets start from £10 and can be booked in advance.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh International Book Festival
When: August 15 to August 31
(c) Edinburgh International Book Festival
Highlights: To be announced
Need to know: More than 800 top authors and 700 literary events will be going on over two weeks.
In recent years Will Self, Germaine Greer and J.K Rowling have given talks and signed books for their legions of fans.
Charlotte Square Gardens is the venue, and the park is transformed into a tented village, packed full of book events, talks and readings.
Tickets on sale from June 23 onwards
More info: Website and Twitter
Author Kate Mosse at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Magners Summer Nights
When: August 26 to 28
Highlights: Strong headliners: James, The Flaming Lips and The Waterboys appearing on respective days.
Need to know: The atmospheric, open-air venue that is the Ross Bandstand in the heart of the city is overlooked by Edinburgh Castle.
Princes Street will be rocking this summer with these gigs which form part of the Edinburgh Festival scene.
1990s Indie favourites, James, will be bringing their Manchester sound to the party on the Friday night.
Psychedelic American rockers, The Flaming Lips, are top of the bill on Saturday, while the more folksy-rock sounds of The Waterboys will bring down the curtain on Sunday.
Tickets available online range from £35 to £45.
More info: Website and Twitter
Edinburgh Mela
When: August 29 to August 30
Taking to the stage at Edinburgh Mela
Highlights: Ek Prem Kahani – A Bollywood Love Story
Need to know: The Edinburgh Mela turns 21 this year, and more than 30,000 people are expected to head to the Leith Links for this huge cultural festival.
Over two days, there’ll be three stages of world music, dance and performance.
There is also a dedicated Mela Kidzone full of interactive workshops, performances and games, and The Global Food Village will keep you all fed and watered.
More info: Website and Twitter
Performer at Edinburgh Mela
Staying there
There are plenty of places to stay in Edinburgh for the duration of festival season.
The sheer scale of Edinburgh International Festival and the The Fringe means that no matter your location, you’re bound to be near to a performance or show.
Either way there are lots of options from staying in Edinburgh’s Old Town or getting a Top Secret hotel deal in the city.
What’s your favourite festival?
Do you prefer comedy to classical or perhaps avant garde art to jazz music? Let us know your recommendations by leaving a comment below.
The post Edinburgh Festivals: What’s On This Summer? appeared first on lastminute.com Blog.
from lastminute.com Blog
http://ift.tt/1JFvnbR
No comments:
Post a Comment