The 2024 Edinburgh Fringe programme has landed today with more than 3,000 shows happening across the city during August.
It can be overwhelming to know what to see, so let us help you with our suggestions...
As we do all year-round, we have programmed a great line-up of fantastic music to entertain you whether you love classical, jazz, tradtional Scottish folk, or simply music for the soul.
The 'Hendrix of the kora', Seckou Keita, joins us with his 8-piece Senegalese Homeland Band on Friday 9th August. After his spellbinding concert here with Catrin Finch in 2022 we can't wait to welcome him back, this time with some of Africa's best musicians including Moustapaha Gaye, lead guitarist for Youssou n'Dour.
Tyneside's legendary folk-rock pioneers, Lindisfarne present a classic five-piece line-up on Saturday 10th August, performing their unforgettable hits including 'Fog on the Tyne', 'Meet Me On The Corner' and 'Lady Eleanor'.
We travel a bit further north with our next show - Orcadian violinist and composer Catriona Price brings her cross-genre music (a blend folk, jazz, pop, and Western classical) inspired by poetry by George Mackay Brown to QH on Wednesday 14th August as part of the Made In Scotland showcase. Catriona will be joined by a band of nine musicians and the show will open with new music from Scottish Album of the Year longlisted Constant Follower.
Ute Lemper had a three-hour phone conversation with silver screen legend Marlene Dietrich in Paris in 1988 when, after much acclaim for her performance in 'Cabaret', the French media constantly compared the two women. Ute tells Marlene's story and performs some of her most well-known songs in the evocative Rendezvous with Marlene on Thursday 15th August.
We are huge fans of Scottish composer Anna Meredith and of violinist Freya Goldmark, who you may have seen performing Erland Cooper's composition for our 200th anniversary in January, so are delighted that Freya's Ligeti Quartet will perform Anna's music on Friday 16th August. Richard Jones (Ligeti's viola player) has created new arrangements of Meredith's award-winning electric and dance albums to be performed by strings in a joyful, dazzling show.
Multi-award-winning UK jazz vocalist Claire Martin returns to QH on Saturday 17th August with accomplished Swedish Trio led by exceptional pianist and arranger Martin Sjöstedt. Their new collaboration 'Almost In Your Arms' highlights Claire's ability to blend classic jazz standards with contemporary music written by Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and more.
As well as our own promotions, we're delighted to be welcoming visiting companies including Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' with the Transatlantic Ensemble, the Trinity Youth Symphony Orchestra and comedy from the unwaveringly honest Grace Campbell.
Add to this the fantastic Edinburgh International Festival shows coming to QH - both the morning concert series and contemporary music - and it's going to be a busy month which you can spend just with us!
All Fringe shows are on sale now through our Box Office. EIF tickets only available directly.
Press enquiries: for images and further information please contact Emma Mortimore emmam@queenshalledinburgh.org
Image credits:
Seckou Keita - Aji Sakho
Catriona Price - Diego Ramos
Constant Follower - Harri Reid
Claire Martin - Casper Hedberg
Ligeti Quartet - Ed Miles
