With August here we are now in full swing, with the Edinburgh Fringe well under way and the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival both also starting this weekend. One of the Fringe highlights is Rick Wakeman, the former keyboard wizard of the prog rock band Yes, who is performing at Assembly Hall with our new Yamaha CLP-295GP Digital Grand Piano. Our resident keyboard geek Dino went along to check out the show and can confirm that Mr Wakeman still “has his chops”. Whatever that means. Also performing with our backline at Assembly are Ali McGregor, The Pyjama Men, Lady Rizzo, Vegas Underground and Drum Struck.
The Famous Spiegeltent makes a welcome return, with a second year in its new home outside the Assembly Rooms. We incorporated our new d&b T10s into the PA design this year to help focus the sound within the tent and avoid audio spill into the surrounding area, receiving a very positive response from the technical team. Spiegeltent regulars La Clique command the late-night slot with their dark blend of cabaret and circus, but also watch out for the 5:30 Cabaret and Belgian songstress Micheline with her interpretation of Jaques Brel classics. The atmosphere continues outside the tent, in the Aperol Spritz Garden, a vibrant open-air bar in the middle of George Street.
Last night was the press show for our friends at award winning theatre company Grid Iron Theatre Company’s new production, Leaving Planet Earth, which is part of the Edinburgh International Festival.  The show, which is already sold out, runs from the 10^th to the 24^th of August at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena near Ratho. Our Directors Jade and Dino were among the lucky few to blast off to New Earth. Look out for their report next week.