‘Fringe by the Sea’, North Berwick’s somewhat doucer answer to Edinburgh’s bacchanalian August festivities, returns with a musical bang this year.
Headline performance has to be that doyenne of chanteuses, Joan Armatrading, appearing in a two-hour celebration and reprise of her stunning career (Palais des Glaces Spiegeltent, 7.30 p.m., Tuesday 11th August). Tickets sold out in some twenty-seven minutes, but a large screen relay of the concert will, we understand, be available for the disappointed.
Elsewhere, the New Rope String Band offer one of the performances of their farewell tour, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham (who show no sign of hanging up their instruments) make an appearance (St, Andrew’s Blackadder Church, 6.00 – 8.00 pm., Wednesday 12th August) and Ska bands Bombskare and Pummel entertain separately on Saturday 15th August in the two Spiegeltents the festival regularly uses.
Elaine C. Smith appears under canvas, as does the seemingly indefatigable Mr. Boom and for a more adult audience, comedians Sean Cullen, Barry Cryer with Ronnie Golden and Alan Davies.
Celebrated clarinettist Dick Lee performs as part of the Ali Afleck and Dick Lee Quintet, appearing at the Abbey Church on Friday 14th at 8.00 p.m., while for those toe-tapped out or simply tuckered, ‘Tai Chi and Chai Tea’ sessions are on offer on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Finally, a rare opportunity to see ‘Mill Girls on Tour’ – a blend of poetry, music and theatre portraying and celebrating the Paisley Coats and Clark workers, whose legacy lives on in this unique production.
Although unashamedly ‘family friendly’ in much of its content and in some respects unapologetically less adventurous than its rackety big sister ‘up the road’, Fringe by the Sea still has much to offer to a wide audience.
For those venturing down the coast, whether for the Joan Armatrading concert, Ska music or Opera East Lothian’s ‘L’eliser d’Amore’, and for those who don’t mind getting home after midnight, a last bus leaves North Berwick at 00.15 a.m.
Tickets are available from the ticket booth on Quality Street (North Berwick) and via the Fringe by the Sea website - https://www.facebook.com/fringebythesea2