Celtic Summer School: Scotland’s Visual Arts. How have visual imagery and art shaped the way we see Scotland and its cultural identity? An exciting journey with Mairi McFadyen. 11am, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £7/£5 and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. The Celtic Summer School runs until 7th August 2015; you can buy tickets for individual events, or save money with a day or weekly pass – see the Centre’s website for details.
A Tale of Two Canals: explore the history of the Union and the Forth & Clyde Canals and the building of the Falkirk Wheel with the Scottish Waterways Trust – free walking tours packed with quirky facts and fascinating stories! Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult; please wear sturdy boots or shoes and waterproof clothing. 1-3pm, The Falkirk Wheel, Lime Road, Tamfourhill. Book your free place via eventbrite here.
South Queensferry Library Support and Friendship Group: a new group, starting today, for anyone who fancies a bit of company – and cake! 2-3pm, South Queensferry Library, Shore Road. All welcome – please invite your friends and neighbours.
A Corstorphine Short Story: come and see how long a story everyone can make in one afternoon! For ages 9+. 2.30pm, Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan. Free.
Celebrity Organ Recital: Peter Backhouse (Assistant Organist, St Giles’) plays CPE Bach Sonata in F, Franck Choral No 2 in B Minor, Francis Jackson Tritune, Bourgeois Serenade, and Widor Symphonie II. 8pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Tickets cost £8/£5 (students)/accompanied children free, and are available from the Cathedral shop (0131 226 0673), from the Fringe Festival Box Office by calling 0131 226 0000, online here, or on the door (sta).
Pixel Art Workshop: come along and make your own video game characters – and maybe learn how to animate them too! For ages 8-16. 5-7pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. All welcome.
Celtic Summer School: The Radical Tradition. Why is Scotland so stubbornly attached to democratic ideals? Discover the long tap roots of radical thinking and some key champions of the rights of the people with Stuart McHardy. 1pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6/£4 and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. The Celtic Summer School runs until 7th August 2015; you can buy tickets for individual events, or save money with a day or weekly pass – see the Centre’s website for details.
Summer Fun In The Courtyard: free family activities. Today: the chance to dig up the produce planted early in July and make some healthy-eating dishes with the Undercroft Cafe team. 11.30am, Courtyard, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. All welcome – free: participants will also receive a voucher for use in the Undercroft Cafe.
Freemachines: for ages 12-14. 5-7pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace.
Celtic Summer School: Three Scottish Novels. Fred Freeman leads a session exploring three defining works: Sir Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermuir, John Galt’s Annals of the Parish and Lewis Grassic Gibbons’ Sunset Song. 2.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £9/£7 and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. The Celtic Summer School runs until 7th August 2015; you can buy tickets for individual events, or save money with a day or weekly pass – see the Centre’s website for details.
Simon Thacker’s Ritmata: the Edinburgh classical/flamenco/jazz acoustic guitarist with his stellar line-up of some of Europe’s most gifted musicians – Paul Harrison (piano), Mario Caribe (bass) and Stu Brown (drums/percussion). ‘Stunning original patterns woven seamlessly into a new aural fabric, the delicious shock of the new alongside a further dismantling of musical boundaries, and total absorption in creative expression’. This will be the group’s last performance before their extensive tour of New Zealand. 7.30pm, Penicuik Arts Centre, 4 West Road, Penicuik. Tickets cost £12 (£10 for PCAA members) and are available from the Centre or online here.
A Fuller Life (15): a gripping film tribute to a true American maverick, Samuel Fuller, whose adventure-filled life as a journalist, infantryman, novelist and filmmaker spanned the entire world and encompassed major turning points in 20th century history. His body of work as a director, writer and producer is ‘one of the most radical and exhilarating in the history of American cinema’. Twelve prominent Fuller admirers use his own words to narrate his life story, accompanied by clips from his great films and never-before-seen images from his personal archive. 6.05pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be obtained from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 6382 or online; prices vary. Also showing at 1.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday 6th August 2015.
Curated by…. a season of films hand-picked by invited Festival regulars. Each screening will feature an in-person introduction by the curator, revealing their passion for the film and their reasons for choosing it. Today: Phill Jupitus presents The Thirty Nine Steps (U). 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
Bi & Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual or non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.
Revolutions and Evolutions in Magazine Publishing: in a brave new age of digital media, magazine publishing has gone from strength to strength – just how do publishers keep up with industry trends? The Society of Young Publishers has invited some of the UK’s biggest magazine publishers to this exciting panel discussion – including professionals from The Drum, Shout,The Big Issue and Hot Rum Cow. The panel will be chaired by PPA Scotland’s Nikki Simpson, organiser of Edinburgh’s annual Magfest. 6-8pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeney Street. Tickets cost £3 (SYP members free) and may be purchased via eventbrite here. Supported by PPA Scotland.
Record Breakers Superhero Masks! Create your own with Gavin. 2pm, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue. Free: all welcome!
Andrea Popyordanova, Viktoriya Staykova and Mark Connolly: A Circus of Lakes. A new exhibition of paintings. Launch tonight with refreshments, 7.30pm, Sofi’s, Henderson Street, then during usual opening hours. Ends 12th August 2015.
