Wider audience for Wigtown young adult books

WIGTOWN YA, the UK’s largest young adult literature festival, continues this week as part of the wider online Wigtown Book Festival. This week’s virtual speakers include Dean Atta talking about The Black Flamingo, Catherine Bruton presenting No Ballet Shoes in Syria and Michelle Thomas explaining My Sh*t Therapist. Previous online events can also be watched…

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Leith market’s Oktoberfest starts today

THE first of three Oktoberfest weekends gets underway today at Pitt Street Market in Leith “Pittöberfest” features Barney’s Beer, Bellfield, Campervan, Edinburgh Beer Factory, New Barns, and Pilot. Barnacles & Bones and Ròst are among the street food vendors taking part in the festival. Barney’s Beer boss Andrew Barnett said: “While the cancellation of beer…

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Fizz Feast organiser unveils ‘Fizz Friday’ online tastings

THE annual Fizz Feast wine and food festival may not be taking place in Edinburgh this autumn but organiser Diana Thompson has created an online “bonanza of bubbles” to take its place. Thompson, who runs Wine Events Scotland, has organised five “Fizz Friday” tastings on video conferencing platform Zoom. They begin on 30 October and…

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Wigtown Book Festival reveals line-up

WIGTOWN Book Festival has unveiled its online programme, which includes the world premier of author Alexander McCall Smith’s Ninian’s Gift song cycle Other highlights across the ten-day virtual festival include Alastair Campbell, Maggie O’Farrell, and Andrew Marr. More than 80 guests will take part in the festival, which aims to promote local businesses affected by…

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What makes Aldi’s new Scottish gin so special?

As the Old Curiosity Distillery prepares to restart its tours, Peter Ranscombe hears the story behind the gin it’s created for Aldi. GOOD things come to those who wait – or so the old saying goes. For Hamish Martin, that adage was certainly true. He took over a derelict site just south of Edinburgh in…

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Book festival hails global audience

THOUSANDS of viewers from throughout the world have tuned in to watch live sessions from the Edinburgh International Book Festival online. People have watched the performances from as far away as Algeria, Brazil and Nigeria. Highlights from the first few days of the virtual festival have included Ian Rankin, Julia Donaldson, Hilary Mantel, and Bumi…

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Dive into an outdoor photographic exhibition

A large-scale free outdoor photography exhibition Into the Blue has opened on Portobello Promenade. In response to Covid-19, Edinburgh Science Festival 2020 is cancelled with Into the Blue being its only event. Curated by the Festival and supported by Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020, Into the Blue explores the majesty, biodiversity and fragility…

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Play that funky music – in a classic vehicle

A DJ booth with a difference, the FunkWagen camper is certainly going places. From scale models on key rings to popping up on coffee mugs and wallpaper, retro VW camper vans have been enjoying a comeback. And one resurgent vehicle has become the life and soul of the party. Brainchild of Edinburgh entrepreneur Jane James,…

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Artists and makers invited to sign up for event

Applications are being invited from artists and makers to take part in Perthshire Open Studios (POS) 2020. The organisers say it’s important to sign up early as a maximum of 140 studios are able to take part. This year’s event will take place across beautiful Perthshire and Kinross-shire between 5-13 September and is expected to…

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The Big Big Gin Festival is back for another round

The award-winning Big Big Gin Festival returns to the Edinburgh Corn Exchange for another round and once again it’s promising something refreshingly different. Having recently won the title of ‘Scottish Gin Event of the Year’ at the Scottish Gin Awards 2019, the organisers are keen to raise the bar yet again, so are set to…

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