Performance - Howard Marks.
Venue - Assembly Rooms Music Hall.
Howard Marks was, at one time, wanted for masterminding the largest drugs haul ever known in the UK.
Walking onto the stage Howard Marks looks like he is either stoned out of his gourd or very very tired. The chances are, and the vox pops seem to agree it's the previous.
Rating - **** 4 stars.
If you want to see a living legend go and see Howard Marks.
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A blog with hints and tips on how to survive the Edinburgh Festival.
Handy Tips.
Here a few tips to make your festival more enjoyable and hopefully easier.
Pack a knapsack.
The best thing to use for walking around in Edinburgh is a small backpack. Most of your essentials can be carried around with ease in one of these. Bag thefts are not unheard of in Edinburgh so keep an eye on it or one of Edinburgh's light fingered brigade will have it away.
Edinburgh is a City built on hills.
Making use of the public transport system is highly recommended if you don't want leg muscles like a clydesdale horse at the end of the festival. Bus services are frequent and Taxis can be hailed in the streets. Private hire cabs are also available, and should be cheaper than black cabs, but you have to call and book one of these as they are not allowed to pick up people off the streets.
The weather in Edinburgh can be changeable.
The popular saying "Four seasons in one day" is the only way to describe Edinburgh's weather. Carrying a small umbrella in your backpack is a must. The more "involved" festival goer may want to carry a small towel. I have, during previous festivals, carried around a pair of dry socks and found them to be very useful after walking through rivers of water in order to get somewhere.
Get a guidebook and a map.
A visit to the Edinburgh Festival Society (located on the High Street) is highly recommended. Guidebooks and programmes for all the different festivals can be found there. Alternatively, you can pay a visit to the Hub at the top of the High Street and pick up guidebooks there. There is also a tourist information situated on top of the Waverly market (from the Waverly train station head towards Princes Street and veer right when you see Costa Coffee.)
To pick up a programme in a city near you here is a list of places outside Edinburgh that you can pick one up. For a list of where to pick one up in London click here.
To order programmes online click here. This service charges £3.50 in the uk, £5.00 in Europe and £7.50 to the rest of the world. If you are attending the festival I recommend getting your programme when you arrive and saving your hard earned on something which is easily available and free.
Eating in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is a vibrant city which prides itself on its cuisine. From Five-Star restaurants to fried fish bars, Edinburgh will always be able to feed you. Costs vary. The usual suspects in fast food all have a franchise in Edinburgh. Some places also do all you can eat buffets should you wish to save some pennies for beer by eating once a day.
Drinking in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is one of the best cities in the world for professional drinkers. It is easily possible to drink in the pubs 24 hours a day in Edinburgh providing you are willing to pay for a few taxi rides to bars around town. Most drivers of a black cab in Edinburgh will take you to an open pub at any time of the day, or night, if you ask.
Drugs in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh isn't Amsterdam. Drugs are illegal here.
Pack a knapsack.
The best thing to use for walking around in Edinburgh is a small backpack. Most of your essentials can be carried around with ease in one of these. Bag thefts are not unheard of in Edinburgh so keep an eye on it or one of Edinburgh's light fingered brigade will have it away.
Edinburgh is a City built on hills.
Making use of the public transport system is highly recommended if you don't want leg muscles like a clydesdale horse at the end of the festival. Bus services are frequent and Taxis can be hailed in the streets. Private hire cabs are also available, and should be cheaper than black cabs, but you have to call and book one of these as they are not allowed to pick up people off the streets.
The weather in Edinburgh can be changeable.
The popular saying "Four seasons in one day" is the only way to describe Edinburgh's weather. Carrying a small umbrella in your backpack is a must. The more "involved" festival goer may want to carry a small towel. I have, during previous festivals, carried around a pair of dry socks and found them to be very useful after walking through rivers of water in order to get somewhere.
Get a guidebook and a map.
A visit to the Edinburgh Festival Society (located on the High Street) is highly recommended. Guidebooks and programmes for all the different festivals can be found there. Alternatively, you can pay a visit to the Hub at the top of the High Street and pick up guidebooks there. There is also a tourist information situated on top of the Waverly market (from the Waverly train station head towards Princes Street and veer right when you see Costa Coffee.)
To pick up a programme in a city near you here is a list of places outside Edinburgh that you can pick one up. For a list of where to pick one up in London click here.
To order programmes online click here. This service charges £3.50 in the uk, £5.00 in Europe and £7.50 to the rest of the world. If you are attending the festival I recommend getting your programme when you arrive and saving your hard earned on something which is easily available and free.
Eating in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is a vibrant city which prides itself on its cuisine. From Five-Star restaurants to fried fish bars, Edinburgh will always be able to feed you. Costs vary. The usual suspects in fast food all have a franchise in Edinburgh. Some places also do all you can eat buffets should you wish to save some pennies for beer by eating once a day.
Drinking in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is one of the best cities in the world for professional drinkers. It is easily possible to drink in the pubs 24 hours a day in Edinburgh providing you are willing to pay for a few taxi rides to bars around town. Most drivers of a black cab in Edinburgh will take you to an open pub at any time of the day, or night, if you ask.
Drugs in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh isn't Amsterdam. Drugs are illegal here.
History of the Fringe...
The Edinburgh Festival, which holds the world record for the largest arts festival in the world was established in 1947 in a post-war effort to provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit.
That same year, eight theatrical companies "gatecrashed" the Festival by organizing their own event, outside the official auspices of the EIF started the movement which grew into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The EFF is also referred to as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Fringe, or The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The EIF and the Fringe remain independent bodies and organize separate programmes each year. Over the period since 1947, several other Festivals have also been established in Edinburgh - with most of them taking place around August each year.
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