iestivaIF EVER
8 - 21 AUGUST Edinburgh International Festival
Embracing the bonhomie festival vibe in all its glory. the Green Man boasts a line-up including the Super Furry
Animals and Spiritualized, as well as a flock of family led events over its three- dayrun.
Various venues, Edinburgh, prices vary www.eif.co.uk See panel, page 30.
16 - 17 AUGUST
VW Festival
Harewood House, Leeds, prices vary www.vwfestival.co.uk
Get yOur Volkswagen running at this two day car event, boasting traders and club stands to entice anyone from the vehicle novice to the serious aficionado.
9 - 25 AUGUST
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Various venues, Edinburgh, prices vary www.edbookfest.co.uk See panel, page 30.
20 - 23 AUGUST Festival of Politics
Scottish Parliament Campus,
11 - 17 AUGUST Piping Live Various venues, Glasgow, prices vary www.pipingfestival.co.uk Quickly establishing itself as one of Glasgow's most progressive festivals. Piping Live showcases a programme with everything from the very traditional through to the most contemporary. Must-see acts include Alasdair Gillies, Chris Armstrong and Willie McCallum. and The After World Shindig is not to be missed.
13 - 16 AUGUST
Fringe By the Sea
Various venues, North Benlvick, prices vary www.fringebythesea.com
Making its debut into the festival madness, the Fringe By the Sea offers four days of music with concerts frm the likes ofDougie MacLean, Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Seaside Skifer Band.
Holyrood Road, prices vary www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
The newest addition to Edinburgh's summer festival line-up, which explores a range of social and political issues.
21 - 25 AUGUST
Mull oi Kintyre Music Festival
Various Venues, Mull of Kintyre, prices vary www.mokfest.com
This celebration of traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish music and dance has been a favourite with locals since its conception in the early nineties. Highlights include the Friday night ceilidh.
22 - 24 AUGUST Orkney Beer Festival
The Stromess Hotel, Orkney, free, ' www.visitorkney.com
See panel, page 22.
22 - 24 AUGUST
Reading and Leeds Festival Branham Park, Leeds and Richfield Avenue, Reading, £155 www.readingfestival.com www.leedsfestival.com
Edinburgh in August plays host to more artsy types, funny folk and wanton entertainers than anywhere else on earth. Anna Millar guides you through the melee
Kicking off the capital's world famous summer festivals in late July, it's the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (25 Jul—3 Aug) which is the longest running jazz festival in the UK. Following hot on its heels is relative newbie to Edinburgh’s festival scene, the Edinburgh Art Festival (31 Jul-31 Aug), which has quickly established itself as a major player, with a string of big name shows, and an impressive programme of curatorial talks and events.
Next up. for a touch of old-school tradition, look no further than the world renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo (1—23 Aug). Since its inception over 50 years ago, more than 12 million people have travelled to the grounds of the city's castle to see this landmark event.
In contrast to the Tattoo's militaria there’s the Festival of Spirituality and Peace (3-24 Aug) which was set up as ‘a platform for the flowering of the human spirit', which, in real terms means a series of concerts, performances and discussions on the well being of our all too fragile planet.
Not for nothing is the Fringe (3—25 Aug) dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth'. 2007 featured a gallus 2000+ shows. From comedy and theatre, to dance and musicals, the Fringe — which includes two inaugural events this year, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and the EDge, which replaces T on the Fringe — remains at the cutting edge of fringe festivals the world over.
Further up the road, with its head-quarters near the top of the Royal Mile, the Edinburgh International Festival (8—31 Aug) regularly attracts some of the world's biggest names from classical music, theatre, opera and dance. While across town, the Edinburgh International Book Festival (9—25
With 150 acts playing over three days in both cities. the Reading and Leeds Festival has something for everyone. I This year's bill boasts Metallica, Rage 5 Against the Machine and The Killers on headlining duty.
Aug) last year alone staged 700 events from 40 countries around the world. Finally, nestled at the end of August, is the increasingly popular Festival of Politics (20-23 Aug). Running over a long weekend, this year’s line-up includes artists, creative types, social thinkers and, unsurpsingly politicians. Finally, the Edinburgh Mela (25—31 Aug) concludes the season with a multi-cultural mix of theatre, dance and music. See listings for full details.
15 - 17 AUGUST
Croissant Neui Summer Party
Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales, £75 (230 children 5-15) www.partyneuf.co.uk.
See panel, page 28.
Black Rock City, Nevada, prices vary, www.burningman.com See panel, page 28.
name acts such as Fatboy Slim, Kasabian and Underworld coming along for the ride. You can even rest your head in one of festival‘s on-site pod-pads after a hard day on the dancefloor. See page 32 for a chance to win tickets.
15 - 17 AUGUST 1
The Green Man Festival Glanusk Park, Brecon Beacons, Wales, £35—£1 05 www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk
25 - 31 AUGUST
Mela
Meadows, Edinburgh, price TBC www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
See panel, above for Edinburgh's multi-cultural jamboree.
23 - 24 AUGUST
Creamiields
Daresbury Estate, Halton, Cheshire, 25750-2115 www.creamfields.com One of the top picks for dance lovers everywhere. Creamfields celebrates its tenth anniversary this year with big
25 AUGUST - 1 SEPTEMBER Burning Man Festival
30 THE LIST 5—19 Jun 2008