Edinburgh International Festival in general

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival dates back to 1997 when local barbers from Dunfermline rose up in disgust that the capital city was being over-run by artisans, musicians and men who blow really large bubbles. Led by a barbershop quartet from David Gray Salons they stormed into Edinburgh ready to cut the hair of the long haired hippy types and bring back some degree of sanity. However, when they arrived on the golden mile they were distracted by a couple of students balancing precariously on ladders whilst juggling and decided instead to join in the fun.... Or perhaps it didn't start like that but what the hell it's fun anyway. With hundreds ...  Read the complete review

----<Revamped>---- I have already done a review of the Festivals atmosphere, for those of you who are attending or would like too, I thought I'd put some useful info together. ----<famous Faces First>---- Britt Ekland - will be doing a spot at this years Festival about her life story, I imagine this will be a Question Time sort of deal, where you can interrogate her afterwards, God she was beautiful in her day, long live the Wicker Man. Clive James - The satirist who famously ripped the Bee Gees up for sh*t roll on his evening BBC TV slot, Clive is a funny guy with a sharp tongue, so be warned, unless you are ...  Read the complete review

Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert Sunday 3rd September 2006. Princes Street. When I was about 12 years old, on a voyage from Newcastle to The Far North (Aberlour) of Wild and Wonderful Scotland, in an old red cortina, shoe-horned between my four other siblings and a lot of luggage, we passed through Edinburgh mid-Fringe. It was quite by accident – Dad missed the turn off for the ring road, and so instead of flying round the leafy outskirts of Auld Reekie, we got Trapped, right in the centre of town, behind a parade float exploding with people all dressed to the nines with flowery, floaty paraphernalia, large hats, and even larger voices! ...  Read the complete review

I've only ever been to Edinburgh for the festival, but every time I am there I promise myself I will go back "off-season" so to speak, but I haven't managed it yet. I would like to see Edinburgh for itself, without the people, the banners, the marches etc. I'm sure I wouldn't be disappointed. I love the city. I think the architecture is beautiful. It is a relatively small city (going by the central district, anyway) but there is so much going on inside. There has got to be a pub that will take anybody's fancy. The locals can be a little stand-offish, but only if they are presented with loutish, tourist behaviour, which ...  Read the complete review