Edinburgh Festival 2008

[neil6147]

Hi to you all. I am pleased to say that the Edinburgh Festival has got of to a good start this year.

I hope to get into Edinburgh when even possible during the festival and shall report back to you all.
The Street Parade of all the Festival and tattoo Performers was yesterday along Princes Street in Edinburgh. We did not attend this as we felt it would be just to big an event for Andrew.

The following link shall take you to a report of the Parade.

edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Festival-kicks-off-in-style.4353926.jp

The following is another link

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7537872.stm

We did manage to get into Edinburgh this afternoon to look at some of the street performers. These are the shows we like to watch. As we took a walk in Princes Street gardans we came over a group of young lads from Brazil who are called Capoeira Knights ; Warriors of brazil. To say these young lads are fit is wrong they are super super fit. They are playing music and doing Fitness exercises that no normal person would even consider doing. Please note there show at St George`s West Shandwick Place Edinburgh is a complete sell out. So the young lads have decided to put on Street shows during the day then they are perfroming in the evenings.
I hope the following photos will show just how fit these young lads are.

Two of the lads playing the musical instuments.



All the young lads that were out this afternoon.



Ok now for exercise time.





How to get rid of your sore back.





I hope the next set show just dangerous an act these young lads are putting. Please take the following into account Grass which was damp and bare feet. The photos are slightly blurred due to the speed of these young lads in action.







But the Festival would not be the same without the Pipes and Drums Ok the pipes and drummer.

Two School lads earning some extra money to help towards equipment. And this also allows them to get in more practices for Championship events.



I am not sure when we are going back into Edinburgh but when we do I shall report back on more shows.

[dreamy]

Thank you for sharing these great pics, Neil!

[neil6147]

I managed to get back into Edinburgh this afternoon for walk in the Royal Mile ( High Street ) where I caught up with a young group from China called Drum Drama. This band is mainly young children. But what a sound they can produce.
I however had not takne my trusty camera with me this afternoon. So the photos taken were taken from my Camrea Phone.







This is in fact there European Premiere. I am certain that they shall be invited back to play in Scotland.

For more details on this group go to www.scotchina.org/content/blogsection/2/23/

I did hear to day that a lot of the street performers are not happy with the new system that has been set up. The new system is as follows. You must turn up at a certain each day then put you name in the hat. If you are one of the lucky to have your name drawn then you get to tell the organisers which location you wish to play and at what time. But you will have to pay £20 per day and only allowed one show per day. This system has put a lot of big performers from doing the street shows this year. Plus the organisers do not have any daily website information about which street shows are on each day. Not even the box office can tell you which acts on and are where.
The performers are asking that they go back to the old system which allowed them to play most of the day. the old system also ment that they were getting the chance to speak with the crowd and make friends with other performers.
This will not put me of going back into Edinburgh for more shows.

Neil

[Elly]

Shame they have done that Neil, the old system seems so much better with the info for the folk that want it instead of just taking pot luck and seeing whats on. sure folk will still enjoy it all though.

Thank you for the great photos, looking forward to more

[neil6147]

I have to agree with you Elly the main problem is for the likes of Clann An Drumma as they would have to travel through for the aranged time then wait around Edinburgh for only one 20 minute show. Where with the old system they could put on up to ten shows per day.

But that is life.
I hope you School Pipe band does well in the World Pipe Band Championships later this month. We shall try and get through for this event and report back.

Neil

[neil6147]

Bad weather has prevented us from travelling back into Edinburgh. But we do hope to get back in soon.

[neil6147]

I have just found a short video clip of the Brazian Lads in action .
I hope you enjoy it.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7554494.stm

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj8cQzz1Py4



Neil