My second visit to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was slightly less sunny but equally entertaining. It began in the usual way. I walked from Edinburgh Waverly railway station and ascended the steeply curving road of Cockburn Street. I could have taken the incredibly steep and lung bustlingly challenging steps of Fleshmarket Close (that’s an alley to anyone from America), but I always find the delightfully small (okay reasonably normal) and tall (see them and believe them) buildings that line Cockburn Street far more interesting than the narrow, and historic walls of the one “Close” in Edinburgh made famous by an Ian Rankin novel.
On reaching the top of the street I am always pleased to see the church of The Tron Kirk, it’s spire jutting into the sky like a… a… big pointy thing. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of attending an event in there, I would recommend it. It has an atmosphere all of its very own.
The Royal Mile was not as busy as I have seen it in the past, but still there was a good crowd and as usual some good acts. I wandered. I meandered. I strolled. I walked. I observed. I chatted, you can approach the acts. Most of them don’t bite. I listened. I chatted again. I listened again. I saw a cappella groups, dancers, balancing acts, guitar playing buskers, a bare footed body under a white sheet (I hope it was part of a show promotion, either that or I need to report to a police station as a material witness). Amongst the other people there were some seriously swinging 60s Lulu types promoting a show called “Shout”, a seriously still Dorian Grey, Taoist monks, and what appeared to be semi-naked mud wrestling. Still, everyone has to have a hobby.
After that, I made my way to the BBC tents at Potterrow. When I say tents, these are not just tents; they are the size of a small village. There is the Pink Tent which has FREE music and entertainment, it usually runs from 11am until 5pm and it’s well worth just popping into for a bit of rest and relaxation.
The other tent is the Blue Tent and has all the broadcasts from Edinburgh over the length of the Fringe. This was my target for today. I had a ticket for Goodreads presented by BBC Radio legend James Naughtie. Mr Naughtie was famed for dropping a “C” bomb live on radio when making a mistake announcing Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary. I will say no more, but let you work it out.
The Blue Tent was packed, there were about 300 people sitting cosily together. Before the audience, myself included was a raised stage, two comfortable chairs, and a number of seats, about 20, for the invited readers to sit, listen to and ask questions of the guest author.
Mr Naughtie introduced himself, welcomed us to the event, and explained how the recording of a BBC Radio show was done; he then introduced the selected invited readers. After that he introduced the author who would be discussing his book and who would be answering questions.
Allan Johnstone Massie CBE is a Scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist. He has written numerous books, but the one being discussed on this day was his French based, war time novel “A Question of Loyalties”. A really interesting story first published in 1989, concerning a man quest to discover his father’s part in the resistance campaign against the German invasion of France in world war two.
Both Mr. Naughtie and Mr. Massie were extremely entertaining and amusing. The discussion between the author and the invited readers was captivating. The questions were in-depth and intelligent and obviously those asking the questions were very familiar with the book.
Forty minutes passed extremely quickly. After the recording had officially finished, Mr. Naughtie opened the questions to the general audience. This went very well and once again I can only describe it as extremely entertaining and amusing.
At the end of 60 minutes, Mr. Naughtie thanked us all for attending the event, hoped that we had enjoyed ourselves, and hoped that we would try and attend other BBC events in the future.
After this I made my way once again to The Royal Mile and returned to the madness. The acts on the various performance stages had changed; some of the buskers had changed their tune, their stance, and in some cases their hats.
I stayed for a good while then made my way down to see the events at the Edinburgh Book Festival at Saint Andrews Square. I wandered. I meandered. I strolled. I walked. I observed. I chatted… you get the idea. And when my head, heart and soul were overflowing with culture, that and sore feet, I decided to make my way to Princes Street, soak up the remnants of atmosphere, then cross over to Waverly Railway Station and then head for home.
On reaching the top of the street I am always pleased to see the church of The Tron Kirk, it’s spire jutting into the sky like a… a… big pointy thing. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of attending an event in there, I would recommend it. It has an atmosphere all of its very own.
The Royal Mile was not as busy as I have seen it in the past, but still there was a good crowd and as usual some good acts. I wandered. I meandered. I strolled. I walked. I observed. I chatted, you can approach the acts. Most of them don’t bite. I listened. I chatted again. I listened again. I saw a cappella groups, dancers, balancing acts, guitar playing buskers, a bare footed body under a white sheet (I hope it was part of a show promotion, either that or I need to report to a police station as a material witness). Amongst the other people there were some seriously swinging 60s Lulu types promoting a show called “Shout”, a seriously still Dorian Grey, Taoist monks, and what appeared to be semi-naked mud wrestling. Still, everyone has to have a hobby.
After that, I made my way to the BBC tents at Potterrow. When I say tents, these are not just tents; they are the size of a small village. There is the Pink Tent which has FREE music and entertainment, it usually runs from 11am until 5pm and it’s well worth just popping into for a bit of rest and relaxation.
The other tent is the Blue Tent and has all the broadcasts from Edinburgh over the length of the Fringe. This was my target for today. I had a ticket for Goodreads presented by BBC Radio legend James Naughtie. Mr Naughtie was famed for dropping a “C” bomb live on radio when making a mistake announcing Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary. I will say no more, but let you work it out.
The Blue Tent was packed, there were about 300 people sitting cosily together. Before the audience, myself included was a raised stage, two comfortable chairs, and a number of seats, about 20, for the invited readers to sit, listen to and ask questions of the guest author.
Mr Naughtie introduced himself, welcomed us to the event, and explained how the recording of a BBC Radio show was done; he then introduced the selected invited readers. After that he introduced the author who would be discussing his book and who would be answering questions.
Allan Johnstone Massie CBE is a Scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist. He has written numerous books, but the one being discussed on this day was his French based, war time novel “A Question of Loyalties”. A really interesting story first published in 1989, concerning a man quest to discover his father’s part in the resistance campaign against the German invasion of France in world war two.
Both Mr. Naughtie and Mr. Massie were extremely entertaining and amusing. The discussion between the author and the invited readers was captivating. The questions were in-depth and intelligent and obviously those asking the questions were very familiar with the book.
Forty minutes passed extremely quickly. After the recording had officially finished, Mr. Naughtie opened the questions to the general audience. This went very well and once again I can only describe it as extremely entertaining and amusing.
At the end of 60 minutes, Mr. Naughtie thanked us all for attending the event, hoped that we had enjoyed ourselves, and hoped that we would try and attend other BBC events in the future.
After this I made my way once again to The Royal Mile and returned to the madness. The acts on the various performance stages had changed; some of the buskers had changed their tune, their stance, and in some cases their hats.
I stayed for a good while then made my way down to see the events at the Edinburgh Book Festival at Saint Andrews Square. I wandered. I meandered. I strolled. I walked. I observed. I chatted… you get the idea. And when my head, heart and soul were overflowing with culture, that and sore feet, I decided to make my way to Princes Street, soak up the remnants of atmosphere, then cross over to Waverly Railway Station and then head for home.