EDINBURGH FESTIVAL preview

Continued from page 30

TIIE FRINGE CLUB

operates as a venue during the day but from 9.30pm it becomes a kind of epicentre for the world's largest arts festival, with live music, club nights, comedy, cabaret, cheap food and - of course - four bars, which stay open until 33m. Membership costs £5 per day, or £25 for the season (£8 for performers), available from the Fringe Office or the Fringe Club.

EVENING NEWS FESTIVAL CAVALCADE is a huge parade on Sun 10 August, which kicks off in Waterloo Place at 2.15pm, journeys west along Princes Street and ends up in the Grassmarket. If you want to find a good place to watch from, turn up early the streets will be mobbed.

FLUX

This musical festival within the Fringe is a new initiative to improve the

quality and variety of contemporary new music on offer during the Festival. Organised by London's Barbican and South Bank Centre under the auspices of the Fringe, it runs Tue 12—Sat 31 Aug at the Jaffa Cake, 28 King's Stables Road, between the Grass- market and Lothian Road. Alongside gigs by some of the UK's leading bands and musicians, there’s a club every night, Thu—Sun, minight—Sam.

Tickets for Flux events are available from the Jaffa Cake, or by telephone on 0131 557 6969.

EDINBURGH MELA

The annual festival of Asian arts again within the Fringe - has moved to a larger venue this year. This is partly intended to accommodate celebrations of the founding of Pakistan - at 50, the same age as the Festival. Now based at Meadowbank Sports Centre, the two-day event takes place on Sat 16 & Sun 17 Aug, and features a broad range of Asian film, music, theatre and dance. Tickets and infOrmation: 0131 668 4100.

FRINGE SUNDAY

A gathering of 150,000 fun-seekers in Holyrood Park. Taking place on Sun 17 August, 11am—5pm, it's the biggest free show in the Festival. Fire-eaters, jugglers, buskers, pipe-bands, comedians, musicians and theatre groups gather in hundreds to entertain the multitude (and encour- age people to see their shows).

FILM FESTIVAL

Scottish Screen Edinburgh International Film Festival is also 50 years old this year, featuring a wide range of cinematic events from a retrospective of films by B Movie king Edgar G. Ulmer to world premieres of new films; from shorts to full-length

' features; from complete unknowns to

superstars. The Film Festival runs Sun 10—Sun 24 August, and offers movies, filmmakers’ forums and star appearances. Films are screened at

ST

EVENTS BUIIIE

The Edinburgh Festival

The Fringe - The International Festival The Film Festival 0 The Book Festival The Mela - Flux - Planet Pop

theatre 0 comedy 0 films 0 music 0 clubs 0 art 0 books 0 dance

So much to see. So little time.

if you want to make the most of your time at the Edinburgh Festival, you'll need advice about where to go, what to do, who to see and who not. to see. Why not find out from the people who know? Three weekly Festival issues, out on Thu 7, Thu 14, Thu 21 Aug Available from all good newsagents at £1.90

We live here. We've been doing this for 12 years.

n a We know what we're talking about.

32 ms usr 25 Jul—7 Aug 1997 l I

the Filmhouse, the Cameo, the Dominion, the ABC Lothian Road, the ABC Wester Hailes, the Odeon, the UCI and the Glasgow Film Theatre.

FILM FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE

Tickets for all films (except those at Glasgow Film Theatre) can be bought in person at the Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh. Information: 0131 229 2550. The box office is open daily 9am—9pm (noon—9pm until Sun 10). Telephone bookings can be made on 0131 467 8855, 9am-8pm (noon- 8pm until Sun 10).

Tickets for screenings at Glasgow Film Theatre can only be bought from the venue, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow, GB 6R8, 0141 332 8128.

Tickets for screenings at other Film Festival venues can also be bought on the door on the day of the screening.

BOOK FESTIVAL

Until this year, Edinburgh’s literary festival has always been a biennial event. Starting this year, it is due to become annual. The Book Festival brings well known authors from all over the world to read from and discuss their work. All events take place in Charlotte Square, at the west end of the city centre. The Book Festival runs Sat 9-Mon 25 Aug. Admission to the site costs £1.50 (75p) for the day or £15 (£7.50) for all seventeen days. Many events are free but ticketed; and there is an additional charge for most of the major author events. For information, call 0131 228 5444 (until 8 Aug) or 0131 220 3991 (during the Festival).

BOOK FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE

Tickets for all Book Festival events are available by post from EBF, Box 0, Scottish Book Centre, 137 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 186; or by credit card on 0131 220 3990. Tickets for Book Festival events are also available in person from:

James Thin Booksellers 57 George Street. Open from Mon 28 Jul, Mon-Sat IOam-6pm; Sun

1 1am-5pm.

Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh, 0131 226 5138. Open for bookings in person 10am-7pm; or by phone 9am—9pm (10am—6pm until Mon 28 Jul).

MILITARY TATTOO

This outdoor military spectacular takes place at Edinburgh Castle, with plenty of ceremonial pageantry, massed pipes and drums and display teams from around the world. This year's Tattoo features 1000 performers from four continents, with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines also playing a leading role. There will also be a Fanfare and a Finale tribute in honour of the golden wedding celebrations of the Queen and Prince Philip. The Tattoo runs Fri I-Sat 23 Aug, Mon—Fri 9pm; Sat 7.30pm and 10.30pm.

MILITARY TATTOO BOX OFFICE

Tickets are available by post, in person or by phone from the Military Tattoo Booking Office, 34 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 108,0131 225 1188. Open (until 30 Jul) Mon—Fri 10am—

4.30pm; Sat IOam—12.30pm; (from 31 Jul) Mon-Fri 10am-9pm; Sat 10am-10.30pm.

JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

The Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival is a ten-day programme of concerts and clubs, bringing high- profile names to town, alongside some of the finest Scottish musicians. The running dates are Fri I-Sun 10 Aug. For full details, see pages 52-54.

JAZZ 8: BLUES FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE Tickets for all Jazz & Blues Festival events can be purchased from the Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, 0131 668 2019. Credit card bookings: 0131 667 7776.

Tickets for Jazz & Blues Festival events are also available in person from these venues:

Usher Nail

Lothian Road, 0131 228 1155;

Tron Jazz Cellar

Hunter Square, 0131 220 1550; Cafe Grafitti

East London Street, 0131 557 8003.

TELEPHONE BOOKING

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

0131 473 2000.

Festival Theatre: 0131 529 6000. Edinburgh Playhouse: 0131 557 2590. King's Theatre: 0131 220 4349. Queen's Hall 0131 667 7776.

Usher Hall: 0131 228 1155.

FRINGE

0131226 5138.

Assembly: 0131 226 2428.

Famous Grouse House: 0131 220 5606. Fringe Club: 0131 650 4673.

Gilded Balloon: 0131 226 2151. Pleasance: 0131 556 6550.

Queen's Hall: 0131 668 2019.

Theatre WorkshOp: 0131 226 5425. Traverse Theatre: 0131 228 1404. FILM FESTIVAL

0131 467 8855.

Dominion: 0131 447 4771.

Filmhouse 0131 467 8855.

Cameo: 0131 228 4141.

Glasgow Film Theatre: 0141 332 8128 Odeon20131668 2101

UCI: 0131 669 0711/0990 888 990. MILITARY TATTOO

01312251188.

WEBSITES

Umbrella home page for all Festivals http://wwwgo-edinburgh.co.uk International Festival http://www.ed.ac.uk./~eif/ Fringe http://wwwedfringecom

Film Festival http://wwwedfilmfest.org.uk Book Festival http://wwwgo-edinburgh.co.uk Military Tattoo http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS

Tourist Information (general) 01315571700.

Tourist Info (accommodation) 0131 333 2167 (Edinburgh Airport); 01506 844 600 (West Lothian); 0131 653 6172 (East Lothian). National Rail Enquiries

0345 48 49 50.