Liam Gallagher brands Edinburgh Fringe ‘s---'

Telegraph

17 hours ago

Liam Gallagher has launched a scathing attack on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival claiming it is a bizarre celebration of 'thick s---'.
The Oasis singer told 70,000 fans attending the group's opening night at Murrayfield Stadium that the Scottish city's arts gala was a spectacle, involving people 'juggling f---ing b------s… swallowing swords' and 's----y card tricks'.
His comments came after it emerged bosses at Edinburgh Council had claimed the band's fans were drunk, fat and old and so could deter performers and visitors from attending the fringe arts festival held this month.
The release of the secret council file shortly before the band's performances in the city – their first Scottish concerts in 16 years – set the local authority on a collision course with the group.
The planning report warned of 'medium to high intoxication' and a 'substantial amount' of 'lairy' and 'older' fans among the anticipated 210,000 concertgoers on August 8, 9 and 12.
Millions of people usually attend Edinburgh's fringe festival to see comedy, music, dance and cabaret shows from August 1 to 25.
Moments after walking on stage at the stadium on Friday night, Liam Gallagher said: 'What about Edinburgh council, the f---ing slags.
'The amount of money we're going to bring in, they'll split with their posh, ugly mates. Still waiting for a f---ing apology.'
After a pause, he turned on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
'What's happening in Edinburgh then? What's all that thick s---?' he asked.
'People juggling f---ing b------s and that? Swallowing swords... one-legged bicycles. What's all that s--- about? S----y card tricks?'.
However, some Fringe performers have complained that Oasis's decision to hold their reunion gigs in Edinburgh at the same time as the festival was inconsiderate.
Kate Smurthwaite, a comedian, said she had cancelled two performances in the city centre because the numbers of festival goers had dropped due to the band's gigs.
She wrote on social media that 'Oasis should be more considerate', claiming some performers had lost accommodation because landlords could make more money by letting rooms to Oasis fans.
She added that it was 'heartbreaking' that she had had to cancel shows, explaining how handing out flyers in the streets also failed to drum up an audience.
'Big groups of people in Oasis shirts coming past. No interest in hearing about my show or anybody else's show that was out there,' she said.
The council report was drawn up after an advisory group of organisers, emergency services, and transport bosses met to try to ensure safety in the city because the concerts clashed with the festival.
The document, released under Freedom of Information laws, stated: 'Concerned about the safety of the Fringe and its performers. Many performers are considering not attending for that weekend.
' There is concern about crowds... as they are already rowdy... and the tone of the band.'
It even suggested middle-aged men were more portly and so 'take up more room', a consideration that should be made when considering occupancy levels at the city's top venues.