Around Town
Talks
Inside Histories: Saving John Knox House John Knox House. High Street. 556 9579. 2pm. Storytelling Centre Director Dr Donald Smith sets out to discoy er the real John Knox and the history of the house. Inside Histories: John Knox, Storyteller or Sermoniser John Knox House. High Street. 556 957‘). 3pm. See above.
Workshops
Strictly Dance Fever Kirk ()‘l-‘ield Parish Church. Broun Street. Pleasance. 07000 2l5 566. 8.30 l0.30pni. £5. Ciet your bobby socks on and get ready to learn this fun dance. absolute beginners \yelcoiiie. .\'o partner necessary. Beginners class 8.30pm. improyers at 9.30pm.
Activities & Events
All Points North Scottish l’oeti‘y library. 5 Crichton's Close. Canongate. 557 287i. (r30pm. £3 (£2i. lixpect outstanding poetry and a reel ol languages as the SH. in partnership \y ith Literature Across Frontiers and the Shetland Arts Trust yielcomes writers from [an ia. Scotland. listonia. Finland. .\'or\yay and Iceland to read the culmination of their translation \york in Shetland.
Talks
Joe Cornish: Scotland's Coast Stills. 23 Cockburn Street. 226 (3636. (i.3()--8.30pni. l‘ree. The only planned ment in Scotland to launch this tribute to Scotland's coastal landscapes by one ol Britain's most popular landscape photographers.
Activities & Events
Gardening Scotland Royal lligliland Centre. lngliston. 335 6200. 10am opm. £l2~£l4 (children free). 400 e\hibitors get together for this. the biggest gardening and outdoor living shots in Scotland.
Summer Nights at the Observatory Royal ()bseryatot‘) Visitor Centre. Blackt‘ord Hill. (168 8404. 77 8.4.5pm. £3.50 U) lattiin ticket (£2.50l. See Fri 27.
Talks
Myth and History: Wilkie and Landseer in Scotland National Gallery of Modern Art. 75 Behind Road. (324 (i200. 12.45pm. liree. Bill Hare. l'reelance art historian. e\amines too different approaches to the representation ol Scotland in the lirst hall ol‘ the l‘Jth century.
Activities & Events
Gardening Scotland Royal Highland Centre. lngliston. 335 (3200. l0ani opin. £l2~£l4 (children lreel. See Hi 5. Trainspotting Tour Leith Market. l2a Dock Place. 0845 458 970‘). 3.30 5.30pm dc 6.30-8.30pm. 'l'ini Bell leads an on- location reading ol \Velsh's llti\Cls Trainspotting and I’urnu. .\'ot suitable l’or children. Putt ol- /.('il/l restful/31105. See Hitlist.
Fairs
Bk Meadows Festival The Meadotts, Mely‘ille Driye. (i20 ()I08. 9am 5pm. liree. 'l'hiny-l'irst annual eyents \y ith a l'unl'air. sey‘en-a-side football. stalls. lood and more. See Rock 6t Pop listings l‘or music listings. prey ieyy. aboye and Hitlist.
CD and Record Fair.»\ssemb|y Rooms. 54 (ieoi‘ge Street. 0|3(i0 440 546. A \y idc selection ol Cl)s. records and cassettes. both neyy and second hand.
The Leith Market ('oiiiinercial ()uay. ()L‘L‘illt l)ri\e. 407 9422. See Sill 23,
Food & Drink
Edinburgh Farmer’s Market (‘astle 'l‘errace. 652 5940. 9am 2pm. Buy great produce direct lroin Scottish larniers.
30 THE LIST at. Ma, ': /..
EDINBURGH FESTIVALS
LEITH AND MEADOWS FESTIVALS Leith Festival, Sun 5-Sat 11; Meadows Festival, Sat 4 Jun & Sun 5 Jun
Everyone loves a good festival - unless, of course, you’re one of the many Edinburgh residents to flee the city in an effort to avoid the tourist hordes in August. Happily, there are less stressful ways in which to sample the capital’s many cultural delights, most notably the Meadows and Leith Festivals, which come around again like a most welcome comet in early June.
The Leith festival is a weeklong event (Sunday 5-Saturday 11 June) which aims to service every member of the north Edinburgh community, whether spring chicken or seasoned veteran. This year’s beano includes such venerable favourites as the interactive ‘Walk the Walk’ Gala Day Parade, which makes its way from Pilrig Street down to the festivities on Leith Links. Meanwhile, Tim Bell has updated his hugely successful Trainspotting Tour from last year, the promenade event offering a chance to hear passages from Irvine Welsh’s novels as you take in the relevant locations. There’s also the usual mix of music, comedy, literary readings, sports and special events such as the Crazy Lazy Sunday Afternoon (Sunday 5 June) which features a lively concoction of circus skills, magic shows, health and fitness taster demonstrations, a youth theatre performance and a bouncy castle for the wee ones.
Over on the other side of Auld Reekie, the Meadows Festival celebrates its 30th birthday over the course of the second weekend in June (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June). The runaway highlight is the festival stage, Edinburgh’s biggest free gig which showcases a wide variety of local rock, metal and alternative bands. On the musical front there will also be an acoustic guitar workshop as well as salsa and traditional dancing displays. For those with wide cultural interests the programme includes a five-a-side football tournament, a circus skills workshop, a literature marquee, falconry and medieval fighting displays. Clearly there is life beyond the fringe.
(Allan Radcliffe) I ’oft‘i‘os.‘ .
Bellevue Cheese Tasting \alyoiia K Crolla. l‘) lilin Rim. 55(i (i0(i(i, | lam 4pm. l‘ree. Sttsan Currie ol Belley tie Cheese Company chats about their range ol cheeses l'i'om .v\rran.
Talks
Francis Bacon: Veneration and Reproductions National (ittllL‘l’) of Scotland: llayytliorndeii lecture 'l‘lieatrc. ‘l'lie Mound. (i24 (i200. l2.45piii. lirce. Martin Harrison. art historian and author ol /Il ('imu'm - I'I'Hllt I'y lit/run. c\plorcs the \yay in which Bacon iiii\cd liigli-- and ltiyy -art sources. and amassed photographs and reproductions ol artyyorks in his iiiiage-bank.
Workshops
Public Playwriting Workshop 'l'i'ayerse 'l'lieati'e. Cambridge Street. 228 1404. Hum 5pm. U0 lUH. .-\ \yorksltop for last time \yriters lead by Christopher Deans. the neyy playyyriting lelloyy at the ’l‘raycrse.
Activities & Events
Gardening Scotland Royal lligliland Centre. liigliston. 335 (i200. l0ani 5pm. {l2 [l4 (children lil'L‘L'l. SL‘L‘ Hi .3. Bawsinch and Duddingston Reserve Open Day ltausincli and
a. (Aime/“Std. -(-‘-\/(’.\1’<
l)uddiiigstoii Reserye. 557 052 l.
l lain 4pm. Free. Take a guided yyalk around the reserye and check out some feathered friends from the Connell hide. Part ol' HT/(I/l’f' lire/t. See (ioing Batty. page 27.
Leith Festival Mini Tattoo 'l‘he Malinaisoii Concourse. l’iaI/a. The Shore. l.eitli. 0845 458 070‘). 0 8.30pm. liree. li\perieiice the lirst day ol‘ /.¢’ll/I /'t'\lfl’rl/ 200.5 \y itli pipers. dancers and a lire and light slioyy. See prey ieyy. aboye.
Fairs
Scotfairs Antique Fair Meadoyybaitk Sports Centre. I39 l.ondon Road. 0l7o4 054555. l0atn 4.30pm. U (l‘i‘ee).
Broyy se stalls laden \\ itli .ieyyellery. coins. linen. medals and antiques.
Meadows Festival The Meadoyys. .\lel\ille l)ri\e. 020 ‘)l08. | lam 5pm. l’rec. SCL‘ Stll 4.
Funk Fair ligo. l~l l’icardy Place. 55.3 l3"|. noon (ipni. £2. Scotland‘s lirst 20th and 2lst century design lair rolls into limit. “ith a music section tloyynstairs selling \ inyl ol‘ all genres. Itibulous.
Monday 6
Activities & Events Words and Music lidinburgh l'niyersity Mtisic Room. l| Buccleucli
Place. (350 4400. 7.30pm. ()pen stage poetry and music night.
Politics
The Leith Debate ()cean 'l‘erniinal. Leith. 0845 458 970‘). 6—9.30pm. Free. A 'Question Time' style debate chaired by Lesley Riddoch and attended by a selected audience. Panel members will include Sophie l.idgate ot' Leith Market. local clergyman Ian (iilmout‘. Terry Smith of liorth Ports. head of trams Barry Cross. local councillors. MPs. MSPs and l‘estiyal cony‘enor Sandy Campbell. To apply for tickets email inl'o(a‘theleither.com. Part of [.(‘ll/l l‘i’ylrt‘tl/ .2005.
Talks
Christian Art National (iallery of Scotland: Hayy thornden Lecture Theatre. The Mound. 624 (i200. l2.45pm. l-‘ree. 'l’yyentieth-century artists haye sought to express the Christian story through inscriptions. liguratiye art and abstraction. liiona Pearson. senior curator at the (iallery of Modern .-\rt. discusses the Dean (iallei'y display within this wider context.
Workshops
The Bongo Social Swing Club The Bongo Club. Moray House. 37 Holy'rood Road. 558 7604. 7—8pm 6L; 8—9pm. £4 for one class; to for both (£3 for one class: £5 for both). See Tue 3 1.
Wednesday 8
Activities & Events
British Heart Foundation - Docklands Jog The Malmaison Concourse. Piazza. The Shore. Leith. 0800 028 7542. 6—8pm. £l0 per
person £20 per team of tour. Sprint. jog or \yalk the l.5km circuit around the docklands and raise cash for the Bill". Part ol‘1.¢'i'I/i l'k'xlii'u/ 2005.
Leith Trivia Quiz The Village. In South Fort Street. Leith. 0845 458 970‘).
7.30 l lpm. Free. A light hearted pub quiz yy ith local relevance. Prizes go to winners and losers. ayy bless. Part of l.oi'I/i l’esrirul 200.5.
Talks
Inside Histories: Did John Knox Live Here? John Knox House. High Street. 556 957‘). 2pm. Storytelling Centre Director Dr Donald Smith sets out to discover the real John Knox and the history ol the house.
Inside Histories: Past and Future, the legacy of John Knox John Knox House. High Street. 556 9579. 3pm. See aboy'e.
Westwater’s MacDIarmld: A Bird Cliff under the Midnight Sun National Portrait Ciallery. Queen Street. ()24 04le. 12.45pm. liree. Alan Riach. professor of Scottish literature at the l'niy'ersity ol (ilasgoyy. poet and author. discusses the themes that \Vestyyater's painting addresses and reads from the poetry that inspired it.
Workshops
Strictly Dance Fever Kirk ()‘i-‘ield Parish Church. Bi'oyyn Street. Pleasaiice. 07000 2|5 560. 8.30 -l0.30pm. £5. See \Ved l.
Activities & Events
Big Word Performance Poetry The Tron. ‘) Hunter Square. High Street. 220 093l. 9pm. £3 (£2). Fortnightly dose of lyrical mayhem l‘eaturing l)undonian (iary Robertson. l-‘iona Lindsay. piranha poet (iary Death. Bram (iieben. Sean McBride and Jed Milroy. Hosted by Jenny Lindsay.
Badger Watching Corstorphine Hill. (‘lermiston Road. 9.30 -l lpm. Free. Join an lidinburgh ranger to look for badgers and other \y ildlil'e. Booking is essential. don't \year any strong lk‘l'ltllllt‘. See (ioing Batty. page 27.