Edinburgh 247 events listings and whats on guide for edinburgh

WORLD FAMOUS TASTE OF SCOTLAND SHOW 2009 - - 7:00pm, Prestonfield House, Tickets £20.00-£51.00. “The World Famous Taste of Scotland Show 2009” At the Round Stables, Prestonfield - We are proud to announce the long-established “World Famous Taste of Scotland show”, now in its 36th year is going ahead for the forthcoming season of 2009. The Experience : The stunning location of Prestonfield is set in 20 acres of its own parkland and gardens, but yet only five minutes from Princess Street in the centre of Edinburgh. As you enter the Prestonfield drive you can witness the Highland Cattle grazing in the fields, peacocks and squirrels wandering around the grounds in this truly magnificent rural setting.
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OOR TOURS, GRAEME E. PEARSON - -

Various Show Times (see link), Tron Kirk, Tickets £7.00 - £9.00. Oor Tours is a unique musical journey through the rich history of Edinburgh`s Old Town. Discover an Edinburgh vibrant with life, music and the occasional murder. Your guide, Graeme E. Pearson, is a native of Edinburgh. He will perform live, traditional songs relating to real events that took place on the Royal Mile. The tour departs from the three red phone boxes close to Tron Kirk.
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RSPB FIRTH OF FORTH SEABIRD CRUISES - - See puffins in action by taking an RSPB boat tour on the beautiful Firth of Forth. But that´s not all- skuas, red-throated divers, seals and dolphins can all be seen patrolling the seas here in search of food. RSPB staff will be on hand to point out all of the wildlife, and you can even relax with a drink on board once you´ve had your fill of the stunning wildlife.
These cruises are very popular so early booking is essential.
Dates of Cruises:
Sunday 17 May, Sunday 31 May, Wednesday 3 June, Sunday 14 June, Sunday 21 June, Wednesday 24 June, Wednesday 1 July, Sunday 5 July and Sunday 12 July
Times:
Sunday morning cruises depart at 9am.
Wednesday evening cruises depart at 6.30pm.
Duration of Cruises: 3 hours
Location:All cruises depart from the Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, Edinburgh EH30 9TB
Price:
Adults £12, Children £6. Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £30
For more information or to make a booking: please contact Angela Newton, Seabird Cruise Coordinator: Tel: 0131 311 6500 or email: angela.newton@rspb.org.uk
RSPB Firth of Forth Seabird Cruises

KATSUTOSHI YUASA, NATURAL INCIDENTS - - Gallery 1, Opening Hours:Tuesday - Saturday 10.00am - 6.00pm, 23 Union Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3LR. Admission:Free. Telephone:0131 557 2479. Fax:0131 558 8418. Email:gallery@edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk. Contact:Sarah-Manning Cordwell. A contemplative exhibition of natural forms and landscapes by Japanese artist Katsutoshi Yuasa. This exhibition comprises large complex woodcut prints, hand printed without a press. These works are based on digital photographs of natural phenomena observed by the artist and reflect his interaction with nature.
www.edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk

JENNY SMITH, INCISE - - Galleries 2 & 3. Opening Hours:Tuesday - Saturday 10.00am - 6.00pm, 23 Union Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3LR. Admission:Free. Telephone:0131 557 2479. Fax:0131 558 8418. Email:gallery@edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk. Contact:Sarah-Manning Cordwell. This exhibition of recent work by Jenny Smith is an investigation into drawing in the context of memory and place. Jenny draws using repetitive hand rendered processes, which are then developed in print using the digital medium of laser cutting and etching. In this exhibition, Jenny explores the relationship between process and concept; looking at ways the traditional formal elements of drawing can be re examined, using new technology. The exhibition includes laser drawings, prints, artists` books and video.
www.edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk

GARDEN DETECTIVES - - Join Garden Detectives this summer and put the natural world under the magnifying glass. What calls our parks and gardens home? Track evidence, investigate insects, unearth clues and get hands-on with habitats. Who knows what you’ll discover.
Admission free. National Museum of Scotland. www.nms.ac.uk/garden

SCOOBY-DOO AND THE PIRATE GHOST LIVE ON STAGE! - -

Various Show Times (See link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £17.00 - £20.50. Bring the whole family to enjoy Scooby-Doo and friends in this live theatre production as the Mystery Inc. gang find themselves solving another mystery of supernatural ghosts wreaking havoc once again. This show, featuring a full size Mystery Machine, hilarious physical comedy, popular tunes and special effects, will appeal equally to parents who grew up watching the TV show and kids who have just discovered Scooby-Doo for the first time. It`s Scooby-Doo and the gang at their finest and funniest. Live on stage and back in the UK by popular demand!
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SINGIN´ IN THE RAIN - -

Edinburgh Playhouse, Various Show Times (see link), Tickets £9.50 - £26.50. Singin in the Rain features all the style and spectacle of a golden age and has a host of some of the best loved comedy routines, dance numbers, and songs ever written, including Good Morning, Make em Laugh, Moses Supposes, You Were Meant For Me and of course the most famous song and dance number of all time Singin in the Rain. Olivier award winning West End and Broadway star Tim Flavin, plays Don Lockwood, the part immortalised by Gene Kelly. Tim has also received a best actor nomination for his parts in My One and Only, and Crazy For You. Other musicals include Kiss Me Kate, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, White Christmas, Gay Divorce, Chicago, 42nd Street amongst a long and distinguished list.
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BOBAN MARKOVIC ORKESTRA - -

6:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £11.00. Boban Marković Orkestar is from Serbia and being considered to be the best Balkan gypsy brass band by many musical authorities. The orchestra became known better in the Western world upon its contribution to Emir Kusturica`s movies “Underground” and “Arizona Dream”. The group members are : Boban Marković (flugelhorn), Marko Marković (flugelhorn, trumpet, kaval), Saša Jemčić (flugelhorn), Srđan Spasić (flugelhorn), Dragoljub Eminović (tenor horn), Isidor Eminović (tenor horn), Asim Ajdinović (tenor horn), Goran Spasić (tenor horn), Saša Alisanović (helicon), Saša Stanojević (percussion), Aleksandar Stošić (percussion), Asmet Eminović (snare drum), Nedžat Zumberović (big drum, darbouka).
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RUSSELL HOWARD - -

7:30pm, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £15.00. Still unfashionably fond of humanity the star of Mock The Week and BBC6 Music, Russell`s back with his fifth new stand-up show following three sell-out tours in the space of one year. `You`ll find more laughs here than many comedians manage in an entire career` - The Metro. "One of the most sought-after acts in British stand-up" - The Daily Telegraph
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CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH - -

6:45pm, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, Tickets £45.00. Crosby, Stills & Nash is a pioneering folk/rock supergroup that was formed by refugees from three 1960s bands: Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, and The Hollies. The band is primarily known for their three-part vocal harmonies. They are strongly associated with the Woodstock Festival. They are commonly referred to by their initials CSN. Crosby, Stills and Nash, the trio who once formed a supergroup with Neil Young, will be joining their former bandmate at Glastonbury this summer. The band`s website lists a performance for the 27 June 2009, though the exact date of Young`s appearance has not been confirmed. Young, who joined forces with Dave Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash in the late 1960s to form the group, was announced as the third headlining act for Glastonbury 2009 earlier this week. Crosby, Nash and Stills formed when members of the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Hollies left their original groups to pursue other projects. Young joined them after their eponymous 1969 debut and was one of the driving forces behind their seminal album Deja Vu. Though Young`s participation in the group has been inconsistent, particularly as he went on to record albums with his band Crazy Horse, CSN have continued to perform, both with and without their fourth member.
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DISNEY`S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - TOUR - -

7:00pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £12.50 - £30.00. While on a New Year`s Eve vacation, high school hoops star Troy and brainy Gabriella - two teens worlds apart - meet. During a karaoke contest they discover their love for singing and an interest in each other. After the vacation, Troy fins out that Gabriella is the new girl at his school. Troy and Gabriella decide to audition for the upcoming high school musical. Troy`s best friend Chad and Gabriella`s new friend Taylor discourage them from moving forward with their plans. Find out how Gabriella and Troy`s decision to audition turns their world and their school upside down!
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TWEENIES LIVE - -

Various Show Times (see link), Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £14.50. Ten years after bursting onto the scene, The Tweenies are back with their chart-busting new show Top of the Tots packed with tot-tastic tunes! Their live performances have wowed over a million Tweenie boppers world-wide and, with a platinum-selling single under their belts, get ready for the fab four to entertain you once again in their spectacular new theatre show. Get set to reach for the stars, sign along, dance in the aisles and find out why the Tweenies are still Number One!
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PETER BLAKE `VENICE` IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PAUL STOLPER GALLERY, LONDON - - Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00am - 6.00pm, Venue: Edinburgh Printmakers, Admission: Free. Telephone: 0131 557 2479
Fax: 0131 558 8418, Email: gallery@edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk, Web site: www.edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk, Contact: Sarah-Manning Cordwell.Peter Blake `Venice` In Association with the Paul Stolper Gallery, London. Edinburgh Printmakers is proud to present the Scottish Premiere of the Venice suite and other works by Peter Blake in association with the Paul Stolper Gallery, London. Peter Blake is one of Britain`s most renowned international artists and to many the father of British Pop Art. The Venice Suite comprises twenty new screenprints inspired by his recent experiences in the Italian city. Depicting an imagined, fairytale vision of the city, the prints draw from a host of source material and were inspired by the artist`s 2007 visit to the Venice Art Biennale. Blake`s trademark collage style incorporates images culled from postcards, photographs and second-hand books, including details from familiar old masters alongside illustrations from vintage children`s books. The prints reveal fantastical scenes of the city against backgrounds of blues, greys, greens and muted yellows, evoking the magical atmosphere of a place enshrouded in myth and romance and imbued with Blake`s wonderfully surreal sensibility. The Venice Suite is the first part of a series that will see Blake embark on a world tour, a recurrent theme in the artist`s career. He has already begun to create a Paris series, and plans to create prints of other iconic cities as he travels, including London and New York. This exhibition is supported by the Glasshouse, Edinburgh.

SCOTTISH MODIFIED CAR SHOW - -

10:00am, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £15.00. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston. Opening hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm. Scotland`s Biggest and Loudest Modified car show 2009. We have gave you the biggest modified car shows to hit Scotland for the past fiveyears now!!! and we aim to keep all you modders happy again this year with another great show lined up for you.
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AIRSHOW 09 - - National Museum of Flight. East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian
Come along for an action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled family day out! Set coordinates for East Fortune Airfield on Saturday 25th July for the National Museum of Flight’s annual air display. Look to the skies in the afternoon for more than two hours of high-octane aerial displays, ranging from historic war birds to contemporary military jets. There will be lots to see and do throughout the day. Take part in children’s activity workshops, fairground rides, displays, demonstrations and much more. Early bird savings available from 1 June – 13 July!
www.nms.ac.uk/airshow 0131 247 4302.
Advance tickets (until 13 July 09): Adult £14, Conc £12, Child 5–15 £7, Family (2 adults, 3 children) £35, Members: Adult £11, Concession £9, Child 5–15 £5, Family (2 adults, 3 children) £30. Child 0–4 free. Standard ticket (from 14 July 09). Adult £17, Conc £15, Child 5–15 £10, Family (2 adults, 3 children) £45, Child 0–4 free. Parking £4. Programme £4.50. Event includes museum admission. Event programme subject to change. Concorde boarding passes are available on the day on a first come first serve basis.

ANYTHING GOES - -

Various Show Times (see link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £13.00. Cole Porter`s sophisticated musical comedy returns for a fun-filled evening of fabulous songs, dazzling dance and irresistible humour. Step aboard the SS American for a comic confection of mistaken identities, hilarious confusion and glorious chaos! Awash with some of Cole Porter`s best loved songs including You`re the Top, I Get A Kick Out Of You, It`s De-Lovely, All Through The Night and Anything Goes, this intoxicating tale features five-star performances, wonderful sets and glittering costumes. Now boarding, this delightful, delicious, de-lovely shipboard romance is shipshape and gleaming, ready to forge full steam ahead.
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VENEZUELA VIVA, LAS LIZARRAGA DANCE COMPANY, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE - - 4:20pm, Venue 150 at EICC, Tickets £7.50. The stunning five-star sold out Fringe 2005 hit returns after world tour with an even more visually enhanced version with new scenes telling the story of Venezuelan culture. A feast for the senses with the music, dance and traditions of their country celebrated in a joyous spectacular of salsa and flamenco with brilliant live band and twelve `better looking than J-Lo` (The Herald) dancers. `much sexier than Riverdance` The Herald.
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PETER BLAKE - - 4 - 5 pm, Edinburgh Printmakers, Gallery Talk, Tickets £10 each. Spaces are very limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are limited to 2 per person. Please call T 0131 557 2479 or email office@edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk. Peter Blake: British Pop artist, Peter Blake, won the 1961 John Moores junior award for Self Portrait with Badges, one of his most well known works. Others include The First Real Target, On the Balcony, and the sleeve artwork for The Beatles` album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Blake was made a Royal Academician in 1981, a CBE in 1983 for his services to art and became the third Associate Artist of the National Gallery London in 1994. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal College of Art in 1998. Recent solo exhibitions include the Fine Art, Design and Antiques Fair, London 2006, Waddington Galleries, London 2005 and the National Touring Exhibition in 2001. Paul Stolper: has worked with Peter Blake to create many print series including `Love`: a portfolio of 10 silkscreen prints with diamond dust. His gallery was established his gallery in 1998 and moved to his current premises on Museum Street in Central London in October 2008. As well as showing work by up and coming artists, the gallery exhibits and publishes new editions, portfolios, prints and multiples with established artists such as Damien Hirst, Gavin Turk, Jeremy Deller and Keith Coventry. The gallery is dedicated to a schedule of exhibitions that includes solo exhibitions, group shows and curated exhibitions.

TIME(LESS) MACHINE, SAMBOR DUDZINSKI (POLAND), EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRIN - - 6:00pm, Venue 150 at EICC, Tickets £7.50. Dudzinski, one of Poland`s leading artists likened by critics to Jamiroquai, Prince and Bobby McFerrin intruiges and surprises audiences with The Time(less) Machine, a pre-WW2 horse-drawn field rake transformed into music machine consisting of numerous instruments from around the world, from piano to didgeridoo. Dudzinski a self-styled `Art Warrior` combines rich and diverse improvisations with his own musical compositions and the words of Polish poets.
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JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA - -

8:00pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £27.50 - 32.50. Jools Holland, OBE was born Julian Miles Holland on 24 January, 1958 in Blackheath, South East London. At the age of eight, he could play the piano fluently by ear and by the time he reached his early teens he was proficient and confident enough to be appearing regularly in many of the pubs in South East London and the East End Docks. At the age of 15, Jools was introduced to Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford; together they formed Squeeze and shortly afterwards they were joined by Gilson Lavis (who had already played with, among others, BB King, Chuck Berry and Max Wall) - who still drums with Jools. Up The Junction and Cool For Cats made Squeeze`s success meteoric and their popularity rapidly extended to America, where their tour included performances at Madison Square Garden. In 1987, Jools formed The Jools Holland Big Band - comprising himself and Gilson Lavis. This has gradually metamorphosed into the current 20-piece Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, which consists of pianist, organist, drummer, three female vocals, guitar, bass guitar, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, three trumpets and four trombones. Jools and the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra play to yearly audiences in excess of 500,000.
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DYLAN MORAN - WHAT IT IS - -

8:00pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £20.00. Dylan Moran, star of Black Books, Shaun Of The Dead and Run Fatboy Run, is back with a brand new show, What It Is. Moran`s legendary stand up rants have sold out across the world cementing this unkempt wordsmith`s reputation as one of the foremost comics of his generation. When it comes to personal details, Dylan Moran is a bit of a man of mystery. He`s Irish. He has dark hair. He`s very, very funny. In 1993 he won Channel 4`s So You Think you`re Funny award. Three years later he won the Perrier Award for Comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He proved his worth as a dramatic actor in How Do you Want Me? He played Rufus The Thief in the 1999 blockbuster romantic comedy Notting Hill, but he is probably most famous for his sit-com Black Books. Moran`s unique brand of dry humour and surreal situations bring the setting of an old book store to life in the most unexpected ways.
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DANCING FORTH - THE SCOTTISH SHOW - - At the Edinburgh Academy, Henderson Row, Edinburgh EH3 5BL. 7.30–9.45pm. Inspired by the works of Robert Burns this is a kaleidoscope of traditional dance, music and song, delivered with energy, skill and enthusiasm. Unique Scottish entertainment, of the highest quality, performed by the dancers of the Edinburgh Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, along with singers Fiona Main and Darren Coutts to the music of Jon Bews and friends.
www.dancingforth.org/

EH1 MUSIC FESTIVAL, EVENT & CAMPING TICKET - -

12:00pm, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £59.50. Over 18s / No admittance after 11pm / No Pass outs / Check www.eh1mnusicfestival.com for further conditions and informations. Over 100 Artists, 9 arenas, 18 Hours of Music and over 20 Years of Memories! EH1 Music Festival Brand is a new event for 2009. Launched by Colours & Streetrave, the event will be held to celebrate Streetrave`s 20 year anniversary of holding the best dance music events to hit the UK. Encompassing the elements of the past 20 years, this unique event is a landmark in UK clubbing. Each brand involved has a special history with Colours & Streetrave, so we can truely celebrate our anniversary in style. No other event has been held like it in the UK, it`s set to be the highlight of 2009. You dont`t want to miss out on EH1 Music Festival.
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EH1 MUSIC FESTIVAL, EVENT TICKET ONLY - -

12:00pm, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £39.50. Over 18s / No admittance after 11pm / No Pass outs / Check www.eh1mnusicfestival.com for further conditions and informations. Over 100 Artists, 9 arenas, 18 Hours of Music and over 20 Years of Memories! EH1 Music Festival Brand is a new event for 2009. Launched by Colours & Streetrave, the event will be held to celebrate Streetrave`s 20 year anniversary of holding the best dance music events to hit the UK. Encompassing the elements of the past 20 years, this unique event is a landmark in UK clubbing. Each brand involved has a special history with Colours & Streetrave, so we can truely celebrate our anniversary in style. No other event has been held like it in the UK, it`s set to be the highlight of 2009. You dont`t want to miss out on EH1 Music Festival.
Click Here To Buy Your Tickets Online!

EH1 MUSIC FESTIVAL, VIP EVENT & CAMPING TICKET - -

12:00pm, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £89.50. Over 18s / No admittance after 11pm / No Pass outs / Check www.eh1mnusicfestival.com for further conditions and informations. Over 100 Artists, 9 arenas, 18 Hours of Music and over 20 Years of Memories! EH1 Music Festival Brand is a new event for 2009. Launched by Colours & Streetrave, the event will be held to celebrate Streetrave`s 20 year anniversary of holding the best dance music events to hit the UK. Encompassing the elements of the past 20 years, this unique event is a landmark in UK clubbing. Each brand involved has a special history with Colours & Streetrave, so we can truely celebrate our anniversary in style. No other event has been held like it in the UK, it`s set to be the highlight of 2009. You dont`t want to miss out on EH1 Music Festival.
Click Here To Buy Your Tickets Online!

EH1 MUSIC FESTIVAL, VIP EVENT TICKET - -

12:00pm, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £74.50. Over 18s / No admittance after 11pm / No Pass outs / Check www.eh1mnusicfestival.com for further conditions and informations. Over 100 Artists, 9 arenas, 18 Hours of Music and over 20 Years of Memories! EH1 Music Festival Brand is a new event for 2009. Launched by Colours & Streetrave, the event will be held to celebrate Streetrave`s 20 year anniversary of holding the best dance music events to hit the UK. Encompassing the elements of the past 20 years, this unique event is a landmark in UK clubbing. Each brand involved has a special history with Colours & Streetrave, so we can truely celebrate our anniversary in style. No other event has been held like it in the UK, it`s set to be the highlight of 2009. You dont`t want to miss out on EH1 Music Festival.
Click Here To Buy Your Tickets Online!

EH1 MUSIC FESTIVAL, CAMPERVAN PARKING ONLY - -

12:00pm, Royal Highland Centre, Tickets £50.00. Tickets allow you to park your Campervan/you must also have a valid event tickets/no electricity hook ups or water points available. Over 100 Artists, 9 arenas, 18 Hours of Music and over 20 Years of Memories! EH1 Music Festival Brand is a new event for 2009. Launched by Colours & Streetrave, the event will be held to celebrate Streetrave`s 20 year anniversary of holding the best dance music events to hit the UK. Encompassing the elements of the past 20 years, this unique event is a landmark in UK clubbing. Each brand involved has a special history with Colours & Streetrave, so we can truely celebrate our anniversary in style. No other event has been held like it in the UK, it`s set to be the highlight of 2009. You dont`t want to miss out on EH1 Music Festival.
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JIMMY CARR, RAPIER WIT, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE - -

9:30pm, Venue 150 at EICC, Tickets £13.00 - £15.00. A heady mix of artistic integrity, loyalty and avarice has put Jimmy back on the road. If you only see one comedy show this year… what`s the matter with you? Get out more. Since leaving work as psychotherapist and becoming a stand-up comedian in 1998, Jimmy has won over audiences in the top comedy clubs all over the country. His lovingly crafted one-liners deconstruct modern living and confess to his most middle-class tendencies. He was nominated for the Perrier Award in 2002 for his solo show, `Bare Faced Ambition`, and has since become a regular fixture on Channel 4 and BBC 2`s QI.
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RICKY GERVAIS - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £15.00 - £30.00. Ricky Gervais, Hollywood`s "Hottest Brit" and co-creator and co-writer of the two multi award-winning shows The Office and Extras, is going on a national UK tour, with this his third live show Fame. Despite its glamorous title, compared to his two previous tours it is probably the purest stand-up of all three. More anecdotal and autobiographical than before, it allows Gervais to meander and deconstruct everyday life. Everyday life, that is, for someone who is famous in nearly a hundred countries and hangs out with David Bowie and Ben Stiller.
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SHAWN KLUSH AS ELVIS - THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST - - Standing tickets £20. Seated tickets £30 and £40 (Very limited supply, buy early). Only from Venue Box Office 0131 443 0404. Also V.I.P Standing balcony Tickets / Drinks reception / Private bar.
Shawn Klush will be performing at the venue on the 28th August 2009 as part of the Festival. Flown in Driect form the USA this will be Shawn’s only Scottish gig.
In just a short time Shawn Klush has emerged as the world’s top Elvis tribute artist. Born and raised in the small coal-mining town of Pittston, Pennsylvania, USA, Shawn’s love for music led him to begin imitating his musical idol, Elvis Presley.
His list of accolades as an Elvis Tribute Act is immense and he has won competitions all over the world including
Worldwide Elvis Competition; World Elvis Tribute Artist; Ultimate Elvis Tribute Act (2007 by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis TN); Best Concert Elvis (2006 “Peoples Choice Award” from Gibson Guitar in Nashville); World’s Greatest Elvis (2007 by 6.5 million viewers on BBC1 Television)

JERRY SADOWITZ - -

11:00pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £19.50 - £24.50. Born in the States, but brought up in Glasgow, Sadowitz has a well-deserved reputation of the bad boy of comedy. An aggressive stand-up, and accomplished close-up magician, Sadowitz made his name by bristling with anger, much of it vented at the right-on comedy circuit around him and the audiences who came to see it. He famously opened the Montreal comedy festival with the line "Hello, moose-fuckers" and was promptly knocked unconscious. And at the Comedy Store, at the height of political correctness, he won a bet with fellow comics by saying: "Nelson Mandela, what a cunt." It was only the next night that he thought of a punchline for such an inflamatory comment. "You lend some people a fiver and you never see them again." Aside from the rage, Sadowitz has also provoked the ire of the comedy establishment by railing off streams of unapologetic racist jokes in his perpetual desire to shock liberal audiences. Sadowitz`s first love, though, remains his magic and he spends years out of the spotlight to devote himself to his art. Recently, he has re-emerged to perform both magic and typically savage stand-up shows.
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RAY LAMONTAGNE - -

7:00pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £12.50 - £25.00. Lauded singer-songwriter, Ray LaMontagne released his much-anticipated third album, Gossip in the Grain, in October 2008 on RCA Records. Recorded with returning producer, Ethan Johns in Box, England, and touching upon a range of styles and musical settings- spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry - Gossip in the Grain proves to be his most creative and emotionally expansive collection to date. Whereas LaMontagne`s two previous albums, `Trouble` and `Till The Sun Turns Black`, were largely solo affairs, with Johns serving as multi-tasking instrumentalist, Gossip In The Grain sees him joined by members of his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos and guitarist Eric Heywood (with John`s largely handling drum duties). Along with his band members, LaMontagne is also joined on two tracks - "A Falling Through" and "I Still Care For You" - by singer-songwriter Leona Naess. As LaMontagne explains "It was time to open up a little bit more, not be quite so reserved in my choice of songs that I wanted to record." Recently called by Vanity Fair "a fresh reminder that the genuine artist is not yet an extinct species," Gossip in the Grain reconfirms Ray LaMontagne as an artist and a craftsman without limits, a songwriter who is able to work his melodic gifts and distinctive lyricism through any of the myriad musical traditions that catches his fancy.
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MILKSHAKE! LIVE IN MY FIRST CONCERT - -

Various Show Times (See link), Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £14.50. Milkshake! Live in My First Concert. For the first time ever Milkshake! is hitting the road with a colourful live concert! Now the children can join their favourite TV characters and Milkshake! presenters in a brand new, action packed all singing, all dancing musical extravaganza. Fifi & Bumble, Peppa & George, Rupert Bear, Little Princess, Noddy & Tessie Bear and Mr. Bump & Little Miss Daredevil all together on one stage! It`s a guaranteed feel good treat, bursting with energy and a fabulous opportunity to enjoy all the tunes and dance steps that have made Milkshake! one of the most successful children`s TV experiences ever! So, get your dancing shoes on and join in with the action. It`s the perfect summer treat! Please note: characters/presenters subject to change.
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DANCE ENERGY U18S EDINBURGH, DARREN STYLES, MARK BREEZE, LIVE DJ SET - -

6:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £10.00 - £15.00. Edinburgh Launch Party, featuring Darren Styles, Mark Breeze & Live DJ Set at HMV Picture House, Edinburgh.
STRICTLY UNDER 18`s ONLY. After establishing himself as one of the biggest names on the hardcore scene Darren Styles has broken through into the mainstream, responsible for some of the biggest tracks on numerous scene`s since he started producing records in 1993. His solo career has so far seen him release the massive club hits Save Me, Getting Better, Come Running and Girls Like You.
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THINK FLOYD - -

7:45pm, Caves, Tickets £18.00. THINK FLOYD is a British Pink Floyd-tribute-band. This extraordinary band, regarded as the UK`s number one Pink Floyd tribute band are renowned for their stunning celebration of the music of one of the world`s greatest music icons - Pink Floyd. The band`s 2009 UK tour has now started, incorporating the whole range of classic Pink Floyd from Barrett, through Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here to The Division Bell. 2009 celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of Pink Floyd`s most popular album`s The Wall and Think Floyd`s show will feature a selection of tracks from this classic album.
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BARRY HUMPHRIES - LAST NIGHT OF THE POMS - -

7:45pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £35.00 - £45.00. Barry Humphries` comedy & musical extravaganza featuring Dame Edna Everage & Sir Les Patterson with Carl Davis composer & conductor. Australian national treasures Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson are going on a nationwide tour for the first time in 28 years! Dame Edna Everage has been one of the most idolised and admired women in show business for many a year. Famed for her catchphrases such as "Hello Possums" and "Call Me Old Fashioned", Dame Edna soon became TV`s most loved housewife. From sell out world tours to hit TV shows, there is no denying Dame Edna is a natural born star! Sharing the bill with the glamorous Dame Edna Everage is Australia`s Number One Cultural Supremo Sir Les Patterson. Sir Les is a politician by trade and has had many important and influential roles for his native country, these have included Chairman of the Australian Cheese Board, Minister Of The Yarts (arts) and Minister for Sport. Joining Humphries` iconic alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson will be music from the Ulster Orchestra, led by critically-acclaimed conductor Carl Davis.
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HALFWAY TO PARADISE - THE BILLY FURY STORY - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £17.50. All lip curling, smouldering sexiness, Billy Fury was the British Elvis and the most complete cool cat Rock `n` Roller ever! As Billy Fury`s band, we had dreamed of performing his hit songs and recapturing the memories of those times before his tragic death in 1983, whilst bringing the sound of a British musical icon to a new audience who perhaps cannot remember those heady days. Of course, no one could replace Billy, with his smouldering good looks and awesome stage presence, so it`s a dream that remained that for many years... just a dream. Then, by chance, we saw a performance on television`s Stars In Their Eyes, by a young man called Colin Gold. We were immediately struck not only by Colin`s close physical resemblance to Billy, but also by his vocal quality. That combination prompted us to approach him with the seed of an idea. After several meetings and many rehearsals, that chance viewing of a TV appearance culminated in the finished production which is... Halfway to Paradise. After 20 years... Fury`s Tornados perform again...
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MRS BROWN RIDES AGAIN - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £13.50 - £17.50. Following on the heels of The Last Wedding and Good Mourning Mrs Brown, Agnes Brown and her dysfunctional family romp their way through what seems to be The Mammy`s last days at home. After overhearing a plot by her children to have her put in a home Agnes decides to prove them wrong by displaying a new lease of life. However this is not going to be as easy as it seems for along the way she must deal with….. 1. The psychiatrist trying to put her in place – or maybe away! 2. Her son`s gay partner who wants to give birth….. 3. Her neighbours wait for a heart bypass….. 4. The prize raffle that never was….. 5. And worse of all, a family secret that everyone seems to know except her. She`s back and she`s as bad as ever!
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GANG OF FOUR, ENTERTAINMENT! ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £10.00 - £15.00. Gang Of Four is one of the most radical, and radically important, rock groups of the last 30 years. Their music, starting with 1978`s `Damaged Goods` EP, offered a danceable solution to the problem of where four-piece guitar bands could go next after punk. They also provided the perfect answer to the question: how to be polemical without being po-faced, ponderous, banal or doctrinaire? Four young men in their early twenties who convened in the late `70s in Leeds, they were the first white rock group to come up with the idea that using contemporary funk and reggae rhythms might be an interesting way forward for rock`n`roll, a way out of punk`s cul de sac.
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HOCKEY - - 7:00pm, Cabaret Voltaire, Tickets £8.50
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DISNEY`S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (TOURING) - -

Various Show Times(see link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £10.50 - £25.00. Seen by over 25 million people, one of the biggest musicals ever brings to life the beloved "tale as old as time" with a burst of theatrical magic. Nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, this eye-popping musical has been wowing audiences worldwide with record breaking runs in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London`s West End. Bring someone you love to experience the enchantment of an unforgettable performance of Disney`s classic musical!
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MICHAEL BALL - PLATINUM PACKAGE - -

5:30pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £199.00. Michael Ball is a dynamic star of the West End and Broadway, multi-platinum recording artist, charismatic radio and television presenter and one of the UK`s top live concert artists. Michael Ball, Britain`s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates an outstanding 25 years in music and theatre this year. Britain`s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates an outstanding 25 years in music and theatre this year. To celebrate this auspicious anniversary, LIVE NATION is delighted to announce Michael`s concert dates for September and October. Named after his new CD (released March 9th) – Past & Present – The Very Best of Michael Ball – the tour kicks off on Saturday September 12th at the New Theatre in Oxford before rolling out through. In an already packed and hugely successful career, Michael Ball has racked up some impressive milestones in only the last couple of years; he performed in An Evening With Michael Ball at the BBC Proms in 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall which was the first time the Proms had given an entire evening to a non-classical performer; the same year he made his debut with English National Opera at the Coliseum in Kismet and in October 2007 opened in the smash hit West End production of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. His starring role as Edna Turnblad earned him the well-deserved Olivier Award in 2008 for Best Actor In A Musical. And last year he launched his own BBC Radio 2 show, Michael Ball`s Sunday Brunch which airs between 11am and 1pm every Sunday.
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MICHAEL BALL - HOT TICKET PACKAGE - -

6:30pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £119.00. Michael Ball is a dynamic star of the West End and Broadway, multi-platinum recording artist, charismatic radio and television presenter and one of the UK`s top live concert artists. Michael Ball, Britain`s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates an outstanding 25 years in music and theatre this year. Britain`s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates an outstanding 25 years in music and theatre this year. To celebrate this auspicious anniversary, LIVE NATION is delighted to announce Michael`s concert dates for September and October. Named after his new CD (released March 9th) – Past & Present – The Very Best of Michael Ball – the tour kicks off on Saturday September 12th at the New Theatre in Oxford before rolling out through. In an already packed and hugely successful career, Michael Ball has racked up some impressive milestones in only the last couple of years; he performed in An Evening With Michael Ball at the BBC Proms in 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall which was the first time the Proms had given an entire evening to a non-classical performer; the same year he made his debut with English National Opera at the Coliseum in Kismet and in October 2007 opened in the smash hit West End production of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. His starring role as Edna Turnblad earned him the well-deserved Olivier Award in 2008 for Best Actor In A Musical. And last year he launched his own BBC Radio 2 show, Michael Ball`s Sunday Brunch which airs between 11am and 1pm every Sunday.
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MICHAEL BALL - -

7:30pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £32.50. Britain`s leading musical theatre star, multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier Award winner celebrates an outstanding 25 years in music and theatre this year. To celebrate this auspicious anniversary, LIVE NATION is delighted to announce Michael`s concert dates for September and October. Named after his new CD (released March 9th) – Past & Present – The Very Best of Michael Ball – the tour kicks off on Saturday September 12th at the New Theatre in Oxford before rolling out through. In an already packed and hugely successful career, Michael Ball has racked up some impressive milestones in only the last couple of years; he performed in An Evening With Michael Ball at the BBC Proms in 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall which was the first time the Proms had given an entire evening to a non-classical performer; the same year he made his debut with English National Opera at the Coliseum in Kismet and in October 2007 opened in the smash hit West End production of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. His starring role as Edna Turnblad earned him the well-deserved Olivier Award in 2008 for Best Actor In A Musical. And last year he launched his own BBC Radio 2 show, Michael Ball`s Sunday Brunch which airs between 11am and 1pm every Sunday.
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BLOC PARTY - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £22.50. Formed in South London in 2000, Indie band Bloc Party were previously known as Angel Range. They are known for their hit singles like Little Thoughts, Banquet and She`s Hearing Voices. They spent most of 2004 recording and touring and released their debut album Silent Alarm early 2005. Equally inspired by Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Gang of Four, and the Cure, East London art-punkers Bloc Party mix angular sonics with pop structures. Consisting of singer/guitarist Kele Okereke, guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist/singer Gordon Moakes, and drummer Matt Tong, the band was formerly known as Angel Range and Union before settling on Bloc Party.
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THE COMPLETE STONE ROSES - - With support from The Haze. And Guest DJ’s Proper Old Skool
Tickets £12.50 stbf. Venue Box Office 0131 443 0404. Ticket Scotland. www.tickets-scotland.com. 0131 220 3234. Ripping Records 0131 226 7010

THAT`LL BE THE DAY - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £17.50 - £20.50. Often referred to as the hottest show in town, the legendary That`ll Be The Day, the nation`s most successful touring production returns. Featuring back-to-back non-stop nostalgia classic gold hits from the `50s through to the `90s mixed with feel-good comedy routines, this definitely is a show not be missed! If you love classic-gold pop music and you like a good laugh, come and enjoy over two hours of non-stop nostalgia and take the ultimate trip down memory lane. We guarantee you`ll be on your feet and dancing before the night is over!
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VAMPIRES ROCK - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £20.00. Vampires Rock is a show like no other. The greatest rock anthems of all time, fantastic costumes and stage sets, comedy, magic and spectacular illusions. The spellbinding musicians blast their way through songs from Meat loaf, Rainbow, Queen, White Snake, Europe, Bonnie Tyler, Cher and many more. So come and lose your soul to Rock n Roll, and see the show that will live forever! A twist between a musical and a concert, Vampires Rock concentrates on the most important factor – the music! Jam packed with the greatest rock anthems you know and love, the songs take on a whole new meaning as they unfold the story of Vampires Rock, in a 2 hour turbo-charged stage show!
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LORD OF THE DANCE - -

Edinburgh Playhouse, Various Show Times (see link), Tickets £27.50. Seen by over 50 million people in 40 different countries, it has thrilled audiences in Russia, throughout Europe, in the USA; from Canada to Argentina, and across the Pacific Rim. Much of the secret to its phenomenal success is that it speaks to all, crossing boundaries of age, gender, and cultural diversity. Its timeless, universal appeal has made Lord of the Dance one of the modern day wonders of the world, a myth to a living legend.
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THE CULT - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £30.00. The Cult are an English rock band which gained a dedicated following in their native Britain with mid-`80s singles like She Sells Sanctuary before breaking into the American metal market in the late `80s with Love Removal Machine. The band fuses a “heavy metal revivalist” sound with the “pseudo-mysticism…of The Doors, the guitar-orchestrations of Led Zeppelin, and the three-chord crunch of AC/DC, while adding touches of post-punk goth rock”. Since their earliest form in Bradford during 1981, the band has had various line-ups, but the longest serving band members are vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, both of whom are the band`s songwriters. After moving to London, the band released Love, which charted at #4 in the United Kingdom, and which included singles such as She Sells Sanctuary and Rain. In the late 1980s, the band adopted a more hard rock and glam rock-infused sound with Electric, the single Love Removal Machine, and the album Sonic Temple, which enabled them to break into the North American market. By the early 1990s, the band was fraying behind the scenes, due to alcohol abuse and off-stage tensions, leading to a split-up in 1995. Between 1999 and 2002, the band reformed to record the album Beyond Good and Evil, and they reissued all of their albums in Asia and eastern Europe in 2003 and Japan in 2004. In 2006, the band reformed again to perform a series of worldwide tours. In October 2007, the band released the album Born Into This, on the Roadrunner Records label.
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JAMES MCMURTRY - -

8:00pm (7:30pm Doors open), The Bongo Club, Tickets £14.00. James L. McMurtry, along with his Austin-based band, James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards, is a self-described “rock & roots” guitarist and singer-songwriter, drawing on elements of alt-country, folk and old-fashioned texas rock. The son of novelist Larry McMurtry, James was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1962, and grew up in Virginia. James McMurtry`s seventh studio album, Childish Things, was released on Compadre Records in the fall of 2005. As writer L.E.Brady notes, “The album includes McMurtry’s statement on American decline - We Can`t Make It Here - his most unabashedly political number yet.” Just Us Kids— released in 2008, is McMurtry`s ninth full-length album. While he insists that “the majority of the songs are not political,” it`s also clear that he`s not even close to abandoning his burgeoning role as a searing political gadfly. The core band throughout is McMurtry on guitar, his longtime road band The Heartless Bastards (bassist Ronnie Johnson and drummer Daren Hess) and “guest Bastard” Ian McLagan (The Faces) on keys. So, roll over Kate Smith — this “God Bless America (pat mAcdonald Must Die)” bears no resemblance to the ubiquitous Irving Berlin chest-thumper; it`s a scorched-earth cataloging of the old-boys` club glad-handing, cronyism and “belly up to the trough” feeding-frenzy of corporate and state war profiteers. “Cheney`s Toy” juxtaposes the Hollywood hubris of the Bush administration against images of Guantanamo and a brain-damaged U.S. veteran. “The Governor” probes the roles of class and wealth in the solving and prosecution of crimes, and “Ruins of the Realm” sorts through the fallout and detritus of a cynical, unilateral approach to global “mapping.
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JOAN BAEZ - -

7:00pm, Usher Hall, Tickets £30.00- £35.00. Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer/songwriter of mixed Mexican and Scottish descent. Baez rose to prominence in the early `60s with her stunning renditions of traditional balladry. In the late `60s and early `70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably “Diamonds & Rust,” a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and “Sweet Sir Galahad,” a song about her late sister Mimi Fariña`s second marriage) and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries. She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of “We Shall Overcome” at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King`s famous “I Have A Dream…” speech helped turn the song into a Civil Rights anthem.
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PAUL POTTS - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £27.50. Though it`s fair to say that when Paul strolled awkwardly onto the Cardiff stage for his first Britain`s Got Talent audition a week before that final, in his now infamous £35 Tesco suit, and announced to Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan that he was going to sing opera, they never thought for one minute they were looking at their winner. Until he opened his mouth and started to sing. Since then, accolades have been posted on the internet from as far afield as Australia and Taiwan, from fans who`ve seen Paul`s performances on YouTube. More than 13 million viewers tuned in to see Paul Potts win the final of Britain’s Got Talent – you can see him perform live as part of his incredible UK tour. Running time:2 hours 25 minutes
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SING-A-LONG-A ABBA - -

7:30pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £17.00. Sing-a-long-a Abba is The Ultimate Abba Party, a chance to sing your heart out all night long to some of the greatest pop songs of all time. Celebrate the music of the Swedish Supergroup in true sing-a-long-a style, with the help of our live singers and magic moments goody bag. Following the enormous success of Sing-A-Long-A-Sound of Music comes a brand new show. Lycra, blond wigs, platform shoes, false beards and Napoleon costumes to the fore. Yes, it`s time to sing along to ABBA! Classic ABBA songs from the live band, plus on-screen lyrics so everyone can join in.
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COLIN HAY, TBC - -

7:30pm (Doors open at 7:15pm), Caves, Tickets £13.50. Singer/Songwriter Colin Hay is the former front-man of the classic Australian band Men at Work. Since the group disbanded he has released several solo albums, including Man at Work, which featured re-recordings of classic Men at Work songs in an acoustic environment. More recently Hay has been involved with the NBC TV series Scrubs, lending several songs to the sitcom, including “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin,” “My Brilliant Feat” and “Beautiful World.” He also starred as a troubadour in the first episode of season two, “My Overkill,” performing his song “Overkill,” which was also the basis for the episode’s title.
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AL MURRAY - THE PUB LANDLORD`S BEAUTIFUL BRITISH TOUR - -

8:00pm, Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £25.00. Once a humble publican, the multi award-winning Al Murray - The Pub Landlord has risen to the honourable position of British comedy royalty, following the continuing success of his hit prime time ITV 1 show Happy Hour and a second Audience with Al Murray The Pub Landlord (ITV 1). The Guv`nor will be travelling to the four corners of our green and pleasant land to raise a glass with you, the beautiful British public, on his Beautiful British Tour. The Landlord will be merrily musing over a heady brew of topics, as he attempts to put the Great back into Great Britain. The shaming finger of shame will be pointed at you, if you miss what promises to be the must see stand-up comedy event of 2009. Al is one of the most recognisable and successful comics in the UK with his alter-ego, The Pub Landlord. His British Comedy Award-winning ITV1 series Al Murray`s Happy Hour has delighted both viewers and critics alike with his no nonsense treatment of his celebrity guests. He is also one of the few stand-up comedians to be asked by ITV to perform two `An Audience With`s...`. Al`s sitcom Time Gentlemen Please (Sky One) has become something of a modern day cult classic and his new series, Al Murray`s Multiple Personality Disorder (ITV1) sees him introduce a whole host of new characters and demonstrate his vast comedic range.
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NEARLY DAN - -

7:30pm, Voodoo Rooms, Tickets £12.00. Nearly Dan began life around 1995 as a 5-piece band called Baldwin`s Casuals (the name of Mike Baldwin`s clothes factory in Coronation Street), performing quality cover versions at venues in Stoke-on-Trent. The initial set included a few Steely Dan classics, such as Kid Charlemagne, Josie, and Home At Last. In those early performances it was clear that there was a natural affinity for the meticulously crafted grooves and allusive lyrical style of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. As public demand grew, more Dan songs were added, and before long a major proportion of the set was comprised of Steely Dan`s extraordinary three-decade- plus catalogue. It was then that the suggestion of a tribute band was mooted, and Pete wryly named the band, Nearly Dan. That line-up was Steve Hayes (guitar/lead vocal), Gary Davies (keyboards/vocal), Rob Rolph (lead guitar/vocal), Pete Bacanin (bass), and Rob Phillips (drums). As self-appointed manager/band leader/musical director, Gary enlisted a 3-piece horn section and scored all the arrangements over a period of a few months. Diane Davies and Kate Robertson were also added to the line-up as backing vocalists.
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WHOLE LOTTA LED - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £12.00. Whole Lotta Led are a sound-a-like as opposed to a look-a-like tribute band. They believe that the music comes first and wearing wigs and costumes can distract from what they are trying to achieve - which is to play some of the best music ever written. Whole Lotta Led were originally formed as No Quarter in 1993 playing a wide variety of rock standards, original compositions as well as the odd Led Zeppelin number.
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WE WILL ROCK YOU (TOURING) - -

Various Show Times(see link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £22.00 - £40.00. When it became news some year`s back, that one of Britain`s most phenomenally successful comedy writers Ben Elton, was teaming up with legends of rock Queen for a musical, we all wondered how this unique collaboration would turn out - especially when screen icon Robert de Niro became so impressed after attending the original workshop, that his company Tribeca came on board as American partner. The result was a new chapter in theatre history - We Will Rock You. A rock `theatrical` which defied all comparisons and has gone on to rock London`s West End and theatres around the world for the past six years, and to an audience of well beyond 6 million! Elton fashioned a hilarious, futuristic comedy around more than 24 of Queen`s biggest hit songs delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked Queen`s live performances. With Queen`s Brian May and Roger Taylor as musical supervisors, and "a band without parallel in the theatre" behind the cast, you`d be right to expect We Will Rock You to rock as fiercely as the best of Queen`s concerts. "This show is all about legend," says Ben Elton. "We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the mighty corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music. They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two - the dreamer Galileo and his sassy sidekick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?" Expect your favourite Queen songs including "We Are The Champions", "Another One Bites The Dust", "We Will Rock You", and, of course, "Bohemian Rhapsody".
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WEDDING FAIR AND FASHION SHOW - - At the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. Up to 90 exhibitors from stationery to cars! Doors 11am-5pm both days. Tickets £5.00 per person. Brides and grooms can register for free entry www.ece.uk.com/weddingfair. Fashion show 12pm, 2pm & 3.45pm. 0844 249 2622. www.ece.uk.com

MACFLOYD - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £14.00. MacFloyd are an eight piece band from Scotland who over the last decade have grown from strength to strength as one of the best tribute bands in the world. With a line up of talented musicians and singers, and an impressive light show, MacFloyd bring their experience and enthusiasm to deliver one of the best Pink Floyd shows. The line-up, which also includes saxophone and girl backing singers, is made up of the cream of British musicians. Musicians that have perfected their craft over many years and bring all of that experience to playing some of the worlds best loved music: the fantastic music of Pink Floyd.
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GONG - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £18.50. Gong are a progressive rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. The various incarnations of Gong, its spin-offs and related bands are collectively dubbed the “Gong Global Family”. They were formed in 1967, after Allen - then a member of Soft Machine - was denied entry to the United Kingdom due to a visa complication. Allen remained in France where he and a London-born Sorbonne professor, Gilli Smyth, established the first incarnation of Gong. This band fragmented during the 1968 student revolution, with Allen and Smyth forced to flee France for Deya in Majorca. They found a saxophonist, Didier Malherbe living in a cave in Deya, before film director Jerome La Perrousaz invited the band back to France to record the soundtracks to his movies. They were subsequently approached by the newly formed independent label BYG and signed up for two albums (Magick Brother, Mystic Sister and Bananamoon). Gong played at the first Glastonbury Festival and were subsequently one of the first acts to sign to Virgin Records, getting first pick of the studio-time ahead of Mike Oldfield. By 1971, a regular line-up had established itself, and Gong released their Camembert Electrique album. The UK release, put out by Virgin Records subsidiary Caroline Records in 1974, was priced at 49p (i.e. the price of a typical single rather than an album), ensuring that sufficient numbers were sold for the album to chart (had it not been barred from the charts for being so cheap).
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DELIRIOUS? - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £17.50. There are at least two bands with the name Delirious?. One plays trance and another is an English Christian rock and worship band formed in 1993 in Littlehampton (UK). The lineup consists of Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stuart Garrard (also known as Stu G) on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Paul Evans on drums and percussion (after previous drummer Stew Smith left the band to pursue his design work in May 2008). Their 1995 song “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever” has been called a “modern worship classic” and is their best known song in the United States. The Band started with the name “Cutting Edge” before the group made the decision to turn professional and change their name to “Delirious?” in 1996. There are at least 3 artists using this name on lastfm, but only one that uses the “?” at the end. Stu G was the only member not related to the others by blood or marriage before drummer Stew Smith left the band. Martin, Stew, and Tim are each married to one of Jon`s three sisters. The band regularly leads worship at Christian festivals such as Soul Survivor, as well as playing at mainstream concerts like Glastonbury. At the beginning of July 2008 the band announced that they would be splitting up to concentrate on their own things, Martin wanted to spend more time with his family and to put more work into his charity CompassionArt. They will continue to play together until the end of 2009.
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THE ANSWER - -

7:00pm, HMV Picture House, Tickets £13.00. "The four hard blues boys know their business well with an assault that was delivered with smart writing and true-believers swagger. It`s a robust calling card for their live vibe and for the second album," wrote legendary rock critic David Fricke in his Rolling Stone review of The Answer`s 2008 SXSW performance. The Answer got together in spring 2000, signed a contract with the legendary Australian rock label, Albert Productions, in 2005 and brought out their debut album, Rise, in 2006. "It took us three or four years to really get noticed," Paul Mahon explains, "but then it all started to happen at once." The band have performed with icons such as the Rolling Stones, The Who and Aerosmith, playing celebrated headlining tours in England, Japan and Australia.
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GRUMPY OLD WOMEN LIVE 2 - CHIN UP BRITAIN - -

7:30pm, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £20.00. The Grumpies Fight Back – Yes, they`re back and they`re grumpier than ever! A brand spanking new show from three of Britain`s Top Grumps, including; Jenny `the spleen burster` Eclair- the original grump and star of many grumpy shows including the West End run and the tour of Australia. Wendi `mad dog` Peters - the all singing, all dancing ex Corrie grrrrrrrrump; and finally the Queen of Soap, Stage and taking things back to Marks and Spencers, Ms Suzie `the huffer` Blake, (looks like a normal middle aged woman - but scarier). Ninety minutes of advanced Grumping - plus vital tips on getting through these gloomy days the Grumpy way!
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JOE BONAMASSA - -

7:00pm, HMV PictureHouse, Tickets £22.00. About Joe Bonamassa - I am constantly humbled by what keeps happening around here lately. To have my new live album " Live from Nowhere in Particular" to debut at the top of the Billboard Blues Charts and on the same day my previous album "Sloe Gin" reach its one year mark on that same chart is very humbling indeed. Thank you for all your support and well wishes and gestures. I will never forget this time in my life. I am grateful beyond words.Joe Bonamassa.
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HOGMANAY HOOT - - At the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. Featuring live: The Scott Leslie Ceilidh Band, DJ Bob Jones, Pipes and Drummers. Supper menu - Haggis, neeps and tatties. £35/£45pp. Box office: 0131 443 0404. www.ece.uk.com

SOUND OF MUSIC - TOURING - -

Various Show Times(See Link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £15.00 - £35.00. Connie Fisher returns as Maria in the world`s best-loved musical, The Sounds of Music. This lavish and critically-acclaimed production direct from the London Palladium, tells the story of the Von Trapp family`s flight across the mountains and works its magic once again, for young and old alike. With its unforgettable score that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev`ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd, and of course the glorious title song The Sound of Music, it`s the perfect family treat! "Definitely one of my favourite things" - Sky News. "Connie Fisher triumphs as Maria" - Daily Mail
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DAVE GORMAN - SIT DOWN, PEDAL, PEDAL, STOP AND STAND UP - -

8:00pm, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £18.50. Dave Gorman: Sit Down, Pedal, Stop and Stand Up
Dave Gorman (Genius, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Two) is going back on the road, five years after he last toured the UK. And when we say "on the road" we really mean it. A lot of acts will tell you they`re covering the length and breadth of the country... but Dave`s really doing it. This tour will see the intrepid comedian covering the extremes of the British mainland as he travels from this land`s southernmost point to its northernmost tip, taking in the most easterly and westerly points along the way. If nothing else he`ll get to see four lighthouses. Oh, and did we mention he`s going to do the whole thing on his push bike? The travelling, we mean. Not the gigs. That`d be silly. 1500 miles. 32 days in the saddle. 32 nights on the stage. His Mum`s told him not to do it but he won`t listen. It`s not a show about the journey. Dave may be widely acclaimed as the pioneer of documentary comedy but with this show he`s going back to his roots as a straight up, one-man-and-a-mic, stand-up whose "material is mercilessly sharp and original" (The Times).
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LEE MACK - -

8:00pm, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Tickets £18.50. Following the huge success of his sell-out 2006 UK tour, the BAFTA Award-winner, star of BBC One`s Rose d`or and RTS Award-winning sitcom Not Going Out and host of BBC Radio 2`s The Lee Mack Show has added a strictly limited number of extra dates due to popular demand. Lee will be back on BBC One later this year as team captain in a brand new panel show Would I Lie To You? alongside David Mitchell and host Angus Deayton, and will return in the autumn with a second series of Not Going Out. "Lee Mack`s star continues to rise... go and see what all the fuss is about." Sunday Times. "I was knocked out by Lee Mack`s talent" The Express. Lee`s first ever live DVD will be released this autumn.
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JOAN ARMATRADING - -

8:00pm, Queens Hall Edinburgh, Tickets £29.50. Born on the island of St. Kitts, British singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading was her country`s first black woman to make commercial inroads into her chosen genre, spicing her take on folk with bits of soul and reggae, and has had a remarkably long, consistent career. Emigrating to England in 1958, Armatrading met lyricist Pam Nestor in a touring production of Hair, and the two began collaborating on material later featured on Armatrading`s 1972 debut, Whatever`s for Us. The two ended their partnership afterward, and Armatrading resurfaced in 1975 with Back to the Night. Featuring former members of Fairport Convention, Joan Armatrading catapulted the singer into the U.K. Top 20 and produced her only Top Ten single, "Love and Affection." Armatrading`s subsequent albums sold well in the U.K. to her newly established fan base but only respectably in the U.S., where it took her until 1980 to have a real hit (the all-electric Me Myself I). The Key also did quite well, but Armatrading remained largely a cult artist with a small but devoted following in America, never quite achieving the stardom she had in Britain. Armatrading has been successful enough to record regularly into the new millennium and tour, releasing Lovers Speak on Denon Records in 2003, a concert set, Live: All the Way from America, on Savoy in 2004, and her first all-blues project, Into the Blues, in 2007 on 429 Records.
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CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (TOURING) - -

Various Show Times (see link), Edinburgh Playhouse, Tickets £15.00 - £36.50. The most phantasmagorical stage musical in the history of everything hits the road in top gear in a brand new, high-flying tour. With a cast, orchestra and crew of 100 (including ten dogs), sensational sets and stunning special effects, this action-packed adventure is the story of the magical car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bursting with magical songs including Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, and the Oscar nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the production has been nominated for three Olivier Awards, won Best Musical in the 2002 Variety Awards and won a coveted Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Family Show in 2006. Don`t let it take off without you! `One of the most enjoyable, eye-popping spectacles London has ever seen` - Sunday Express. `An ageless pleasure and a pleasure for all ages - sheer treatrical magic` - Evening Standard. `Sensational` - Daily Mail
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