Festival Highlights

TodayIt’s the final day of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, and lots of people will be on their way to one of its biggest gigs, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at the Playhouse.

To really get into the festival spirit, though, you might want to get yourself along to the Spiegeltent in George Square, where Brian Kellock and the Nova Scotia Jazz Band will play a rousing festival finale of 1920s and 1930s jazz.

www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

Monday

As always, the Traverse Theatre is one of the first venues to kick off its Fringe programme, with a sneak preview on Monday night of Tom Holloway’s play And No More Shall We Part. Bill Paterson and Dearbhla Molloy play the couple whose long marriage suddenly hits a crisis.

www.traverse.co.uk

Tuesday

Most Fringe shows don’t begin previewing until Wednesday. Use the time to catch some art, such as the Leslie Hunter exhibition at City Art Centre. See Moira Jeffrey’s first Art Festival round-up on page 12.

www.nationalgalleries.org

Wednesday

Fringe previews begin in earnest today, including Jigsy at the Assembly Rooms (see page 6), Re-Animator: The Musical at Assembly George Square, and How’s About That Then? about Jimmy Savile, at Gilded Balloon.

www.edfringe.comThursday

The Edinburgh Art Festival officially opens today, with performances by Emily Speed and Ross Sinclair.

www.edinburghartfestival.com

Friday

Desmond O’Connor’s Vive Le Cabaret is on for just three nights this year, from tonight until Sunday, so catch it while you can at the Pleasance Courtyard.

www.vivelecabaret.co.ukSaturday

Been to Summerhall yet? Go at midday today in time for the Scottish Independent Record Fair, with homegrown labels such as Fence Records and Chemikal Underground.

www.summerhall.co.uk.