Festival

{AROUND TOWN} LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVAL

HITLIST FINGERS, FRINGES, FAIR TRADE

Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to sport@list.co.uk for sport or aroundtown@list.co.uk for all other events. Listings compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

EDINBURGH

Activities & Events ✽✽ FREE Edinburgh Book Fringe Thu 11–Thu 25 Aug, times vary.

Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112 Alternative to the EIBF, hosted by literary radicals Word Power Books. See picture, page 97, and Hitlist.

✽✽ Inky Fingers Minifest Until Sat 13 Aug, times vary. By donation.

Fair Trade on the Fringe A nine-day sale of fashion, jewellery, crafts, food, drinks and accessories from around the world, all ethically traded. See picture, page 98. Castle Street, 13–21 Aug, 10am–6pm, free.

Skeptics at the Observatory An evening of science at the Observatory, with tunes from theremin-wielding engineer Spacedog. No, really. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, 668 8404, 11 Aug, 6–7.30pm, free. Edinburgh Book Fringe With guests including Alasdair Gray and Mark Thomas. See picture, page 97. Word Power Bookshop, 662 9112, 11–25 Aug, times vary, free. See word-power.co.uk for details.

L A V I T S E F

Continental Shifts As the old centres of power and wealth move east, EIF’s discussion series consider politics, religion and philosophy. Speakers include Shashi Tharoor. The Hub, 473 2000, 13 Aug–2 Sep, times vary, £6. See eif.co.uk for details. Inky Fingers Minifest Another mini-lit fest, this one including daily lunchtime poetry readings, and evening events from Scottish publishing hubs Salt and Cargo. The Forest Café, 220 4538, until 13 Aug, times vary, free (by donation).

Beyond Words Pop- Up Shop The much-missed and fondly-remembered Cockburn Street shop is (temporarily) back with a week-long sale of the year’s best photography books. Stills, 622 6200, until 13 Aug, 11am–7pm.

06 | 16 : Six poets at the Fruitmarket Simon Barraclough, Isobel Dixon and Helen Ivory are some of the names reading in the Festival-defying calm of the Fruitmarket Gallery. Aaah. Fruitmarket Gallery, 225 2383, 16 Aug, 7.30pm, £3.

Edinburgh Interactive Free screenings and playtests for the public, networking conferences for industry insiders. Radisson Blu Hotel, 07990 522 004, 11 & 12 Aug, 10.30am–4pm. See edinburghinteractive.co. uk for details.

96 THE LIST 4–11 Aug 2011

The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. A mini literary festival from writer/performer collective Inky Fingers. Each day there are lunchtime readings from collective members from 12.30pm, then further events throughout the day including poetry-related film screenings (Thu 11 & Sat 13 Aug, 3pm), a poetry showcase from Salt publishing (Fri 12 Aug, 7pm) and an evening Cargo publishing (Sat 13 Aug, 7pm). See Hitlist.

✽✽ FREE Edinburgh Interactive Thu 11 & Fri 12 Aug,

10.30am–4pm. Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High Street, edinburghinteractive.co.uk An unusual festival now in its ninth year, celebrating the diversity and inventiveness of video games and other interactive media in Scotland. As well as an industry conference with speakers and networking opportunities, there’s the chance for the public to play brand new games and attend screenings and expert- led seminars. See Hitlist. ✽✽ FREE Skeptics at the Observatory Thu 11 Aug,

6–7.30pm. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. An evening of science and music with speakers from the Royal Observatory Edinburgh and music from Sarah Angliss, a musician and engineer who performs as Spacedog, using a theremin, a saw, percussion, various other electronic kit, and even the odd robot helper. Booking essential. See Hitlist. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Until Sat 27 Aug. Mon–Fri, 9pm, Sat, 7.30pm & 10.30pm. £25–£58. Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh Castle Royal Mile, 225 1188. Glittering military entertainment including the Massed Pipes and Drums, the Dutch Mounted Bicycle Band and South Africa’s water-buffalo- horn toting Navy Band. FREE Midlothian Walking Festival Fri 12–Mon 15, times vary. Various locations around Edinburgh, 01875 821990. A range of walking, cycling and horse riding activities take place in beautiful locations within striking distance of Edinburgh over this four-day festival, including Dalkeith Country Park, Musselburgh and Vogrie Country Park. Girl in Suitcase Fri 12–Sun 14 Aug, 7.30pm. £7.50 (£5). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Interactive life modelling performance art. Part of Leith on the Fringe. FREE Gallery of Modern Art Highlights Tours Sat 13 Aug, 2–2.45pm & 3–3.45pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, 75

Belford Road, 624 6200. A tour of the permanent collection in the Gallery, which spans the period from the 1890s to today. Ruskin Live! Mon 15, Tue 16, Thu 18 & Fri 19 Aug, 3pm. £10 (£8). Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Art critic and crusading polymath John Ruskin wrote enough books to sink a barge, but he was also an indefatigable performer. Actor and art historian Paul O’Keeffe recreates Ruskin’s celebrated 1853 lectures at the Philosophical Institution, on architecture (Mon & Tue), Turner (Thu) and the Pre-Raphaelites (Fri). Next year, how about Clement Greenberg: Live and Dangerous? FREE Blackwell Book Group Mon 15 Aug, 6pm. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Share the reading experience with a group of fellow booklovers, with an evening of friendly discussion. The chosen book is Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos. FREE Detours: Ross Sutherland Mon 15 Aug, 6.30pm. Open Eye Gallery, 34 Abercromby Place, 557 1020. In response to the John Byrne exhibition on show at the gallery as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival, author Sutherland plays a short piece from Byrne’s legendary 1987 TV series Tutti Frutti, layering a new story from his own life over the top of it. FREE The Grey Hen Press Presents: An Afternoon of Poetry Tue 16 Aug, 3–4.30pm. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. This new press from West Yorkshire focuses on the work of older women living in the north of England, and today’s showcase features readings from Marianne Burton, Margaret Christie, Julia Deakin, Angela Kirby, Wendy Klein, Eleanor Livingstone and Rosemary McLeish. ✽✽ 06 | 16 : Six poets at the Fruitmarket Gallery Tue 16

Aug, 7.30pm. £3. Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, 225 2383. Enter the serenity of the Fruitmarket Gallery for readings from six poets. See Hitlist. FREE Douglas Jackson: Defender of Rome Wed 17 Aug, 6.30pm. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Jackson discusses his latest historical novel, the sequel to Hero of Rome, as well as his alter ego James Douglas, whose novel The Doomsday Testament has also just been published. Salsa Dance Night Wed 17 Aug, 6.45pm. £5 (students £4). Harry’s Bar, Randolph Place, 07734 435354. Evening salsa dance classes, one for beginners at 7pm and a further, intermediate class at 8pm. A free taster session is offered from 6.45pm–7pm to get you in the mood. Café Voices Wed 17 Aug, 7pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry by memory, music and song. FREE Detours: Nigel and Louise of Shunt Wed 17 Aug, 7pm. Bourne Fine Art, 6 Dundas Street, 557 4050. The artist duo creates a live soundscape in response to the 500 Years of Scottish Portraiture exhibition. FREE Skeptics at the Observatory Thu 18 Aug, 6–7.30pm. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. A heady cocktail of science and comedy with speakers from the Royal Observatory plus special headline act comedian Helen Keen. Booking essential.