Celebrity Organ Recital: Tom Bell, one of Britain’s foremost young international recital organists, presents a programme centered on Schoenberg’s monumental Variations on a Recitative, plus Dupre Carillon, Byrd Will Yow Walke the Woods soe Wylde, Matthew Sargent five visions from the book of enoch, Bliss (arr. Gower) Ballet for Children, Alain Aria, Brahms Prelude & Fugue in G Minor, Christian Friedrich Witte (attrib. JS Bach) Passacaglia in D Minor and Vierne Carillon de Westminster. 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).
Grassmarket Community Project: A Talk by Elspeth Murray. Elspeth Murray has been poet-in-residence in schools, at conferences, among call centre staff and even in a shopping mall. She is a youth leader at St James Church, Leith and is on the tasting panel of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Since marrying puppeteer Richard Medrington in 2005, she has accidentally become a touring stage manager, and finds inspiration in theatres all over the world. 4.15pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome; free – donations to the Project also very welcome. The cafe will be open – please use it!
Lunchtime Concert: Jenny Goss and Antonia Smart (sopranos) and Morley Whitehead (piano) perform works by Ravel, Beethoven, Berlioz, Greig, Thea Musgrave, Philip Martin and Joaquin Rodrigo. 1.10pm, Morningside Parish Church, Braid Road/Cluny Gardens. Free: a retiring collection will be taken for the church’s music scholarship fund.
Record Breaking Countries Quiz: For ages 5-12. 3-4pm, Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court.
Polar Explorers Holiday Club: games, lunch, drama, Bible stories, crafts and lots of fun! All children who have finished P1-P7 are welcome. 10am-2.30pm, The Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church, Pennywell Gardens. Advance booking may be made by calling 0131 332 4354 but you can also just turn up at 9.45am on the day to register – please note children must be accompanied by an adult for the registration process. Free – this project is funded by The Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church.
Food Swap: Beets for Brambles: a free, informal event where you can swap your foraged, homegrown or homemade food. Use up gluts, meet your neighbours and diversify your larder! Bring as much or as little as you like; a couple of small jars of jam or a full array of homegrown veg. And if you’re just curious to see what’s going on, please feel free to drop in for a chat. Examples of previous swaps include cakes, bread, foraged fruit, eggs, chutneys, falafel, wild salad, pesto, veg seedlings, granola, quiche, herbs and cordials. Alternatively, swap your time or skills for food! 6pm, Saltyard Cafe, 158 Dalry Road. All welcome.
Discovering Family History at the National Library of Scotland: find out how the Library can help you with your family history research. The workshop includes some practical information on how to get a library card and use library resources; if you wish to register for a library card, please bring evidence of identity with you – details of what is acceptable can be found on the NLS website. 2.30pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.
Man the Monster: in mythological texts early humans were thought of in two opposing ways; those who were civilised and lived in urban settlements and those who were wild and lived among the animals – Adam can be seen as a wild man. Professor Lloyd Llewellyn Jones argues that the wild man, seen as monstrous by urban society, is an innocent child of nature and that the monstrous is unlocked when mankind forgets its original bond with the wild. 1-2pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Doorway 3, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place. Free and open to all, but please register via eventbrite here. This talk is part of a series of public lectures which aim to challenge popular beliefs and reassess intriguing events. For more information click here.
Edinburgh Art Festival Explorers Free Summer Art Workshops: for children in the age group P5-P7 (there will be workshops for younger children on 13th & 14th August – see listings). 10.30am-4.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and may be made by emailing alchemyarts@gmail.com or calling 07853 872 073.
Bohemia Moon Art & Craft Fair: over 35 stalls with artist-makers from all over Scotland. Summer cafe open for light refreshments. 10.30am-4.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free entry, all welcome – dog friendly!
Get Smart – Get Online: if you would like help in using your laptop, phone or tablet, this free 6 week class run by the WEA is for you. 1-3pm today and every Wednesday until 16th September, Craigmillar Library, Niddrie Mains Road. To book your place please call Janette Bond on 0131 225 2580 or email j.bond@weascotland.org.uk.
Kevin Williamson, Joseph Ridgewell, Joe England, Dickson Telfer, Craig Gibson and others launch Push II : cult writing, literary interviews and subversive art work from this East London Press magazine. ‘Keeping the punk ethos alive’ (Kevin Williamson). 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. All welcome, free: donations also welcome!
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 A Matter of Life and Death (U), in which David Niven’s wartime pilot argues for his life in a celestial court, having fallen for American radio operator Kim Hunter. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
Nitekirk: a monthly, creative drop-in experience of church. A time of reflection, gentle music, candlelight and, throughout the sanctuary, places of optional activity such as poetry, art and prayers. Come and go as you like, join in as much or as little as you wish. The theme tonight will be Deepening. 8-11pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. All welcome. ‘A place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door’.
Boda Bar Quiz – August: true or false rounds, topical questions and ‘very odd music’ rounds. For teams of 4 people. 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Booking is highly recommended and may be made by calling 0131 553 5900, emailing boda@bodabar.com – or by popping in and speaking to the staff.
Snapshot of Bailey: Anne Braybon, photography historian and former curator, National Portrait Gallery, London, will show images and film clips from both Snap, David Bailey’s first controversial exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in 1971, and Bailey’s Stardust, revealing stories from behind the scenes and discussing different curatorial approaches. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Bailey’s Stardust continues at the Scottish National Gallery until 18th October 2015.
