It's an unusual International Book Festival event when Alan Bisset, Rodge Glass, A. L. Kennedy, Emma Pollock, Ali Smith, Louise Welsh and Roddy Woomble are to be found sharing the same platform

The sun was shining down on the 29th Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival as speeches by Michael Hart (Festival Director) and Bruce Fallon (Chairman EJBF) opened proceedings on Saturday.

The audience for 'Natasha Wood, Rolling With Laughter' owe a considerable debt to Wood's parents, who clearly equipped her with a large share of her mother's 'Double D for determination'

One of the great joys of the Fringe are the unexpected surprises occasionally thrown in the way of unsuspecting reviewers.

'Follow Me' opens curiously with a bespectacled woman putting a jigsaw puzzle together whilst jazz standards play in the background.