Flowering Of The Human Spirit: Edinburgh Without Its Festivals

I'm joined by my main festival adventuring companion Peggy Hughes, a regular book festival chair, sometime festival reviewer and the Programme Director of the National Writers' Centre in Norwich. We chat about what we're missing and the Edinburgh International Book Festival's online festival where she's chairing this year. The Bookshop Band's song we mention is You Make The Best Plans Thomas and if you're a fan of Hillary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell series it's a must listen, as is the rest of the album Accidents and Pretty Girls. Buy the track here or the whole album. >> https://thebookshopband.bandcamp.com/track/you-make-the-best-plans-thomas-2 You can book a free place at Matt Haig's online event at Edinburgh International Book Festival here >> https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/matt-haig-the-library-of-second-chances

Reflecting on festivals past inspired by some great pieces of writing linked below commissioned by Sick of the Fringe. Questioning festival busyness and also what are the really precious parts of the festivals we need to safeguard, and what aren't? Sage Nokomis Wright's piece that I talk about - https://www.sagenokomis.com/journeys-1#/sick-of-the-fringe/ Demi Nandhra's piece that I talk about too, available to read and listen to here : http://thesickofthefringe.com/prognoses/edinburghdemi

Looking at historic controversies and also why simply speaking about blatant problems in the arts is seen as sticking your neck out. Watch the Architecture Fringe discussion on the theme You'll Have Had Your City? I mention in the podcast here: https://youtu.be/ctjZLGlvEts

Today looking at the interesting developments in another city which is seeing residents priced out by Airbnb - the city of Lisbon has taken interesting measures to counter the dominance of Airbnb (article linked below) - also thinking about whether there will be trends for cities to be hollowed out. Interesting data crunching about whether Edinburgh's population really doubles during a usual August festival season is in the fabulous article mentioned in the podcast, from The Skinny, linked below.

Follow me on twitter @floweringof

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/08/in-europe-covid-19-is-an-opportunity-to-regulate-airbnb.html?utm_source=tw

https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-fringe/comedy/does-edinburghs-population-double-over-august

Some rambling reflections on the hallway point of August, uncertainty, the book festival, our consumer behaviour and supporting local businesses in Edinburgh through this difficult time when they would usually be making the most revenue out of any time of the year from the festival population.

Thanks to everyone who is tuning in daily! Today I'm reflecting on the announcement that the Fringe Society intend a 'radical overhaul' including the news that they will be trying to make affordable accommodation available for Fringe performers by... working with the council. Edinburgh certainly needs affordable accommodation but I'm not sure this is partnership everyone was hoping for.

This episode ponders the place that the festivals have in a Scotland that is in political flux, looks at a few numbers and also looks forward to the start of the book festival tomorrow, albeit from the laptop screen instead of Charlotte Square.

Today I'm reading a listener contribution about the different atmosphere in the Royal Mile, emailed to me by Vikki Reilly. Thank you to Vikki for writing these observations and sending them to me. There are lots of tiny things to notice if you pay attention.

Today's reflections on living life to its fullest, last night's storms and the way that a warm August evening can bring out your inner hedonist.