6 minute read
Jupiter Rising
OTHER FESTIVALS
JUPITER RISING
Artist-led festival Jupiter Rising will return to the world-class sculpture park, Jupiter Artland, with three electrifying days of music, art, workshops and dance. Championing diversity and underrepresented performers, the 2022 programme is guest-curated by Alloysious Massaquoi (Young Fathers) alongside Hen Hoose, a Glasgow-based collective challenging gender inequality in the music industry. The resulting line-up is inventive and varied, with highlights including the politically charged ‘spoken-soul’ of The Dylema Collective and eclectic world mixes of DJ Auntie Flo. With only 1000 tickets available, this is an exclusive arts festival not to be missed. (Paula Lacey) n Jupiter Artland, 26–28 August.
In his nerve-shredding show, Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses how he lives on the edge after all these years. As Kevin Fullerton learns of the famed explorer’s struggles with vertigo, it’s a good thing his Fringe By The Sea appearance is at low altitude
Certified by the Guinness Book Of World Records as ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has nothing to prove. He has spent five decades pushing the human body to its limits, venturing into dangerous territory and reporting what he’s found through writing numerous books.
Now aged 78, his new show Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously gives audiences a chance to discover the man behind the legend. ‘I’ll be talking about my life,’ Fiennes explains. ‘My childhood and schooling, and training with the SAS. There’s so much to talk about that I can only briefly touch on being the oldest Brit up Everest.’
Despite a reputation for fearless adventuring, Fiennes wears his phobias on his sleeve. ‘My superpower would be to not have extreme vertigo,’ he said. ‘Last August at home, the gutters got full of leaves and I was too scared, so I sent my wife up and I held the ladder.’ Ladders may set his pulse racing, but he’s still plotting his next unique adventure. ‘If it’s a first, you don’t want to let anyone know. You’ll have to wait and see.’
Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously, Belhaven Big Top, North Berwick, 14 August, noon; Fringe By The Sea, various venues, North Berwick, 5–14 August. MANDANGER
FANTASTIC FEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
All that show-watching and wandering will surely work up anyone’s appetite. Ailsa Sheldon has rounded up a tasty list of food and drink festivals to fuel the summer months
Reusable forks at the ready, it’s time for a summer of festival feasting whatever the weather. Edinburgh Food Festival (22–31 July) returns to leafy George Square Gardens with a tasty line-up of local delicacies. Go fancy with lobster and chips from East Lothian favourite Alandas Scottish Seafood or keep it light at We Sell Dumplings. British Street Food Awards finalist Moskito Bites are bringing their tapas trailer and you can finish off with a paleta (ice lolly) from Ohana Pops (try the Whipped Vietnamese Coffee). With pints from Bellfield Brewery and Poco Prosecco on tap, this is prime summer dining. Further north in Inverleith Park, Foodies Festival (5–7 August) is all about cooking demonstrations with famous chefs, street food and an array of artisan producers ready to impress, while nearby is the excellent open-air Neighbourgood Market (until 17 July). For more permanent summery eats, check out Festival Village on the rooftop of Waverley Market. With live music, floral displays and topnotch dining, including Pizza Geeks, Fizz & Pearl and the brand-new Secret Garden Restaurant, visitors can keep the festival vibes going well into autumn.
EASTERN PROMISE
Legendary DJ Mr Scruff brings his floor-fillers to Out East this summer. Iain Leggat predicts the joint willl be jumping to an infectious fusion of soul, funk, jazz and house
One of the most creative DJs on the circuit, Andy Carthy aka Mr Scruff, is known for bringing energetic and eclectic tunes that summon both raving regulars and occasional shufflers to the dance floor.
After achieving commercial success in 1999 with Keep It Unreal, which featured classic dance tune ‘Get A Move On!’, Carthy has continued to delight crowds with originals like ‘Music Takes Me Up’ and ‘Kalimba’, both tracks from his 2008 release Ninja Tuna. The Manchester DJ can regularly be found at Band On The Wall, his hometown residency, as well as on Gilles Peterson’s WorldwideFM radio station, where he brings his musical discoveries to a global audience.
There are few lulls in Scruff’s sets, as he curates hours of material full of character and infectious beats. The most impressive part? As a record purist, he performs his shows all on vinyl, picking and switching live as he goes. Keep an eye out for him holding his signature cup of tea as he effortlessly shakes up Dalkeith this August.
n Mr Scruff, Out East, Dalkeith Country Park, 6 August.
MAKING IT BIG
From snatching BRITS to rocking Glastonbury, Kevin Fullerton reflects on Little Simz’ latest career-altering album ahead of her CONNECT appearance
The BRITS are rarely a watermark for good taste, but the industry love-in showed a rare discernment when they showered Little Simz’ Sometimes I Might Be Introvert with awards last February.
Her fourth album has finally propelled her to bona fide stardom with its finely crafted blend of Afrofuturism, old-school grime, deeply personal lyricism and a production style that’s eclectic without ever being diffuse. This is the kind of album that rarely translates into chart success; a study of womanhood, race, validation and the power of artistic expression that’s simultaneously cerebral and danceable.
The album’s rich, cinematic musical canvas and innate sense of drama has given Simz’ already impressive live shows an additional sense of swagger. Her seemingly idiosyncratic lyrics translate effortlessly into festival singalongs (as seen in the rapper’s epic Glastonbury set) making Little Simz’ appearance at CONNECT all the more exciting. n Little Simz, Royal Highland Centre, 28 August; CONNECT, 26-28 August.
BEST OF THE REST OF THE FESTS
Here’s a few more festival highlights coming your way in July and August
Kicking things off with a brand new three-day music festival in Stockbridge, Over The Bridge (29–31 July) features big names like Twin Atlantic, Ella Eyre and James Arthur on its line-up, while fellow newbie Otherlands (19–21 August) brings the likes of Bicep, Tom Misch, Jamie XX and Biig Piig to Perth’s Scone Palace. The faithful Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (5–27 August) returns with its new production Voices, and Edinburgh TV Festival (24–26 August) packs in big names with talks from Rose Matafeo, Dolly Alderton and Brian Cox, while its 2022 awards are hosted by our very own cover star Sophie Duker.
BBC’s Starstruck, written by and starring Rose Matafeo
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
WORLD WIDE
EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
‘INGENIOUS COMEDY’
THE SCOTTISH SUN
‘OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY’
BROADWAY BABY
CITY GUIDE
It’s back! Festival season has landed and we couldn’t be happier to welcome the planet’s biggest party. Even among all the shimmery-shiny, you’ve still got to eat; and a wee libation isn’t going to go amiss either. You’ll find our recs for the very best eating and drinking options across the next few pages, grouped around six key venues, with some insider knowledge from the performers and production peeps that make the festival happen. It’s been a tough time for our pals in hospitality and they’re waiting for you with open arms. So fill your boots, tip like there’s no tomorrow and enjoy everything Edinburgh has to offer. Cheers! (Jo Laidlaw)
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