SUMMER FESTIVALS C O M M U N I T Y
The one for . . . ENJOYING LOCAL HEROES
The one for . . . FOOD AND STREET PERFORMANCE The one for . . . SEASIDE CHARMS
The one for . . . TICKING EVERY POSSIBLE BOX
LEITH FESTIVAL Various venues, Leith, Fri 10–Sun 19 Jun, leithfestival.com Price: Varies by event (many are free). Ring the box office on 0131 555 0501 or buy online
MERCHANT CITY FESTIVAL Various venues, Merchant City Thu 21–Sun 24 July, merchantcityfestival.com Price: Varies, mostly free
FRINGE BY THE SEA WEST END FESTIVAL
Various venues, North Berwick Mon 8–Sun 14 Aug, fringebythesea.co.uk Price: Varies by event. Sign up on the website to make advance bookings Various venues, West End Fri 3–Sun 26 Jun, westendfestival.co.uk Price: Varies by event
Whether giggles, galas or gigs are your want, Leith’s blossoming festival has got it covered. Much like the area itself, this annual jamboree has the community and colour to entertain the locals, and the allure to bring in festival-goers from a little farther afield. This year event numbers are on the up as the festival spreads itself across local bars, centres and fields in Leith. The Gala Parade is back (Sat 11 June), so too the festival’s line-up of comedy, theatre, dance, film, food and drink, and more. The sportier can opt for some tug o’ war, while music-lovers can head to one of the folk, rock or pop line-ups on offer, with a suitable homeboy feel of celebrating up- coming and local talent as part of the mix. Comedy fans can enjoy a night of comedic jollity with Susan Morrison at the helm, wjie film buffs should find the odd gem at the Edinburgh Short Film Festival. (Anna Millar) Line-up: Deco Dance, Leith Festival Tattoo, Susan Morrison, Kim Edgar + Great community vibe – Set over ten days it requires some diary planning
Ten years old and the perfect example of a localised ‘area festival’, the MCF works with the Merchant City’s strengths – namely, its great restaurants, shops and architecture. If the past decade is anything to go by, look out for tasting stalls and cooking demonstrations headed up by one- man institution Seamus from Café Gandolfi, and a gigantic catwalk show all the way down Ingram Street. There will also be the chance to see the Merchant City through artistic eyes as part of walking tours led by visual, sound and performance artists and stilt walkers. The MCF is one of a handful of dedicated street theatre festivals in the UK, so take advantage of the jugglers, puppeteers, parkour enthusiasts and roaming samba bands encouraged to lead your eyes (and legs) in new ways around some of Glasgow’s loveliest classical architecture. (Kirstin Innes) Line-up: Tours by Alex Rigg, Gavin Lockhart, Jane Pitt and Big Rory and Ochie the Dog, Fudge Festival by Mischief La Bas + Fresh perspective on a beautiful area – Similar line-up year-on-year. But if it aint broke . . .
What is there to dislike about Fringe by the Sea? For those in the capital mid-August who are sick and tired of being jostled by Fringe flyer-folk, it’s a wonderful opportunity to seek a retreat and still get a shot of culture. For residents in the North Berwick area, you can taste the spirit of the Fringe without having to pay a mini- fortune to get back home at night.
Originally an idea from Eric Wales, a skiffle band member who thought it would be a laugh to entice Edinburghers away from the festival over to North Berwick for a ‘seaside skiffle’ (price included a smoked sausage supper and ice-cream), this brainwave morphed into a fully- fledged Fringe event of its own in 2008. As well as comedy, music and literary events, expect plenty of fun for the kids and a guided walk in sight of the mighty Bass Rock. The blues- y/folk-y music line-up this year includes Eddi Reader (pictured). (Brian Donaldson)
Line-up: Capercaillie, The Poozies, Lau, Eddi Reader, Maggie O’Farrell + An oasis-like escape from the Edinburgh madness – Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Comedy, art exhibitions, fashion shows, live music, theatre, debates, cooking classes, workshops, guided walks, vintage fairs, performance poetry bingo – with over 600 events spreading out over two weeks, Glasgow’s long-running community festival behemoth really does offer something for everyone. The main highlight is as ever the
opening parade Mardi Gras on Sun 5 June, complete with carnival through Kelvingrove Park, but this year we’re also looking forward to the reopening of Cottier’s Theatre (with chamber music and plays), the foodie/fashion bash Gibson Street Gala (Sun 12 June), and open-air screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Dirty Dancing on a giant screen in Kelvingrove Park. Basically, it’s a fortnight-long showcase of everything that’s great about the West End and the people who live there: creative, community-focused, arty, foodie and involved. (Kirstin Innes)
Line-up: Tommy Reilly and Ro Campbell, but this one’s more about the community than the names. + Making the most of almost every venue west of Charing Cross – Almost too much going on
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