Folk and traditional musicians including Karine Polwart, Youssou N’Dour, Becky Unthank and James Yorkston feature in the programme for Edinburgh International Festival 2016 (5-29 August 2016).
Wind Resistance by Karine Polwart receives its world premiere at The Lyceum Rehearsal Studios from August 6-21 (except 15 and 16). This intimate show features story and song with dramaturgy by David Greig. Every autumn, two and a half thousand pink-footed geese fly from Greenland to winter at Fala Flow, a protected peatbog south east of Edinburgh. From this windy plateau, Karine Polwart joins them and surveys the surrounding landscape through history, song, birdlore and personal memoir.
Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour plays The Usher Hall on August 24.
The International Festival presents Grit, violinist Greg Lawson’s symphonic interpretation of the late Martyn Bennett’s thrilling fusion of traditional music and techno. The production brings together some of Scotland’s finest classical, jazz and traditional musicians, and was a critical sensation as the opening concert of Celtic Connections in 2015. Grit is at the Edinburgh Playhouse on August 23.
Flit is a new show built around a collaboration between Lau’s Martin Green, Portishead’s Adrian Utley, Mogwai’s Dominic Aitchison, Becky Unthank of The Unthanks, Edinburgh singer Adam Holmes and animators whiterobot. The world premiere of Flit is at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on August 10 and 11.
New experimental collaboration Yorkston/Thorne/Khan features Scottish singer-songwriter James Yorkston, Indian singer and sarangi player Suhail Yusuf Khanand jazz bassist Jon Thorne. They are at The Hub on August 10 joined by Irish singer Lisa O’Neill.
There is a special screening at The Hub on August 16 of the film Where You’re Meant To Be starring former Arab Strap frontman Aidan Moffat and the late traditional singer Sheila Stewart, followed by a live set by Moffat and his band. Where You’re Meant To Be is a road movie through Scotland’s traditional music, with Moffat and Stewart battling over its soul.
US indie-folk singer songwriters Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and Jesca Hoop are at The Hub on August 28.
Tickets for all events at the Festival go on sale on Saturday 16 April at 10am, unless signed up for priority booking which is open now.