https://flic.kr/p/ohs4hB
Click here for all my Fringe photos
My favourite thing to do when travelling is to wander with absolutely no plan, choosing direction purely on instinct. I started utilising this simple technique in 2009 when I was travelling around Japan on my own and almost every time I do it I stumble across something brilliant. It’s always possible to carve a bit of time to do this around fixed commitments, and so far I’ve been taking advantage of my free evenings at the Fringe (and the fact that the lovely venue guys are happy to stash my massive equipment bag overnight) to stride off wherever I fancy.
https://flic.kr/p/ohs5q7
Today’s meandering took me to Cowgate, where I found myself photographing this neon sign. My friend Jennie tells me it’s part of an art installation – it reminds me of Nathan Coley’s “Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens” sign from the Folkestone Triennial 2011 that I saw two summers ago when I was hanging out there. I searched online for the phrase and found out it’s from a JRR Tolkien poem, part of “The Fellowship Of The Ring”. It’s a rousing piece, and finding it reaffirms my dedication to wandering – it feels like the right time to be reading this sort of thing, what with having an album to make:
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
-JRR Tolkien
Day 2 of the Fringe was a lot of laughs. After greatly underestimating the time it would take me to get in to town on the bus on a sodden Saturday, I arrived at Fingers Piano Bar moments before Marc was due to start our show, but as my Fringe setup is much simplified from my usual one – just loop pedal, ukulele and extra microphone – there was just enough time to get sorted before he started with the funnies.
We had more people in today which was nice, and some youngsters who didn’t really know what Britpop is or was got a bit of a crash course in bands they should listen to. I also somehow got round to explaining the TV show “Stars In Their Eyes” to them before playing “On And On” by The Longpigs. You had to be there, really.
Then we lost the castle, how careless:
https://flic.kr/p/oyJsQf
And I don’t know what Barry’s done to turn people against him, but these stickers are showing up around town:
https://flic.kr/p/oyJuhd
After our show Marc and I went in to town for some food and I went to watch him be funny in a mixed menu of comedians at the Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection at the Three Sisters. I particularly enjoyed sets by George Zach, who had us laughing about the remains of the Parthenon (pillar, pillar, pillar, GAP), Ellie Taylor with a fabulous impression of Kate Middleton kicking off at guests after a few sherries, Tom Goodliffe with some maths raps (trigger please!) and Jody Kamali with the best use of a Sainsburys bag in a physical comedy performance ever.
I want to go and see all their full length shows so am trying to plan that out alongside recommendations to see Lillian Boutté, Wilfredo, Celia Pacquola and Juliette Burton. There are tons of other people who have caught my eye too, so some serious scheduling has to take place in the next couple of days to give me the best chance of seeing any of them.
https://flic.kr/p/oyUQRC
Looks like loads of fun! Glad it’s going well! Thinking of you! X
Loving this…