Celebrity Organ Recital: Michael Harris (Organist and Master of Music, St Giles’) will play Muffat Toccata Decima, Rinck Six variations on a Theme of Corelli Op 56, JS Bach Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541, Ritter Sonata No 3 in A, Heathcote Statham Rhapsody on a Ground, Judith Weir Ettrick Banks and Dupre Prelude and Fugue in B Major. 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).
Edinburgh Book Fringe: daily events – all of them free (donations appreciated) – for two weeks at Word Power Books, Edinburgh’s independent radical bookshop. Today: graphic designer and Yes Scotland artist Stewart Bremner and The National cartoonist Greg Moodie discuss their work. 1pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. All welcome! No booking required, but arrive promptly as space is limited.
Lunchtime Concert: Morley Whitehead plays organ requests. 1.10pm, Morningside Parish Church, Braid Road/Cluny Gardens. Free: a retiring collection will be taken for the church’s music scholarship fund.
Thomas Muir in Literature: A Portrait Gallery Tour. Professor Gerard Carruthers and Professor Nigel Leask (University of Glasgow) lead a tour of selected works from the Portrait Gallery collection relating to the 18th century republican and revolutionary Thomas Muir of Huntershill and his circle. The tour will discuss Muir’s relationship to Scottish culture in his own day and afterwards, especially through literature. It will also consider Muir’s associations and his journeying from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Paris, Botany Bay and the American continent. 12.45-1.30pm, Great Hall, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but places are limited and tickets should be obtained in advance from the Information Desk at the Scottish National Gallery or by calling 0131 624 6560.
LGBT Icebreakers: if you want to meet people, are just coming out, or don’t feel confident going out on the ‘scene’, try this informal, fun and friendly social group for LGBT people and anyone questioning their sexuality or gender identity. For over 18s only. 7.30-9.30pm, The Regent Bar, Montrose Terrace. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
St Mary’s Cathedral Coffee Concert: John Bryden plays Mozart on the Cathedral Steinway. The recital will be followed by coffee and shortbread. 10.30am, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free.
‘Lifting the Lid’ Exhibition Tours: Manuscripts Curator Olive Geddes leads a tour of Lifting the Lid: 400 Years of food and drink in Scotland, an exhibition that uses the Library’s rich collections to explore Scotland’s changing relationship with food and drink, the diversity of Scotland’s larder and some of the myths and traditions of the Scottish diet. 11am-12 noon, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.
LGBT Women’s Wellbeing Group: an inclusive group offering the chance to meet other LGBT women in a relaxed environment – a chance to chat, pick up information and take part in activities promoting health and wellbeing. The group is open to all LGBT women and welcomes transgender people who identify primarily as women. Today: Summer Nights – a visit to a range of free festival shows, line-up to be confirmed. 3-8pm; for details of meeting place, etc and to join the mailing list to keep up to date with the group, please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
The Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival: the only event run both by and for the television industry, celebrating the creativity, diversity and inspirational talent in the field, and debating the major issues facing the industry. Today: (1) At 4.30pm, Masterchef: The Professionals – an exclusive preview screening of the first episode of the eighth series of the show, which returns to BBC2 in the autumn. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with judge and chef Monica Galetti; (2) At 8.30pm, Singing in the Rainforest – an exclusive screening of the new show from Watch, which sees musicians leave their creature comforts behind and embrace life with remote tribes from all around the world. Scottish indie rock band Glasvegas visited the Waorani of Bameno, Ecuador, in one of the most remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest, two days by canoe from the nearest road. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session chaired by Andrew Collins and a live performance from Glasvegas. Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be obtained from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 6382 or online: prices vary. The festival concludes at the Filmhouse on Thursday 27th August: see listings.
Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group: an inclusive group where you can meet new people and read and discuss interesting books. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact info@gaybookgroup.co.uk.
Tollcross Community Council: the meeting will include a Living Streets presentation by David Hunter, feedback on planning developments in Kings Stable Road and Fountainbridge, and licensing applications. 7-9pm, Tollcross Community Centre, 117 Fountainbridge. All who live or work in the area are welcome. For more information please visit the Community Council’s website here.
St Mary’s Cathedral Lunchtime Recital: Chalmers Ensemble. 1.10pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free.
