In October, the Scottish Poetry Library will launch "Lugs Tae Arthurs Seat", dubbed Scotland’s "smallest festival". It will feature live music by Wounded Knee, poetry, food and the great outdoors, and will take place at the top of Arthurs Seat.
The Scottish Poetry Library has been venturing into new territory for poetry readings over the past year. It organised events pairing poetry with perfume at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and a webcast that linked a reading by Kathleen Jamie in Edinburgh and Jen Hadfield in Shetland.
This is not the first show, of course, to be hosted on the windswept summit of Arthur's Seat: comedian Bary Ferns has cracked jokes in his Fringe show for several years here, and Holyrood Park was venue for NVA's ambitious Speed of Light show, which was commissioned as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
"Lugs Tae Arthurs Seat" begins at the Library and concludes with - weather permitting - a panoramic view of the capital.
At 10am, those taking part will gather at the SPL, where breakfast will be served. The journey is guided by Andrew Sclater, poet, actor, historian and editor of an edition of Darwin’s letters.
Once at the peak, those taking part will be met by acclaimed local musician Wounded Knee, aka Drew Wright, an Edinburgh-based experimental vocalist playing his stripped-down folk-balladry.
This will be Edinburgh’s highest gig: Arthurs Seat is 251 metres tall and the highest point in Edinburgh. The gig is part of a trend for intimate gigs in unusual places, and of a piece with Amanda Palmer playing concerts in fans’ houses, Richard Hawley in Devil’s Arse Cave in Castelton, or Spiritualised at the top of the CN Tower.
Andrew Sclater says, ‘What a huge treat it'll be on an autumn morning to gather in a group and listen to the city below, look out to sea and hills and horizon, and feel what is to be felt in that place. Just below the Guttit Haddie and just above the Salisbury Crags, Leith's Wounded Knee and I will revisit greater and lesser known poetry and music – after a convivial breakfast and a gentle, quiet walk!’
Lugs Tae Arthurs Seat takes place at 10am, Saturday, 5 October. Tickets are priced £7 / £6, which includes breakfast.
Tickets can be bought in person at the SPL or online at http://spllugs.eventbrite.co.uk/