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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Edinburgh Fringe luvvies claim 'Oasis effect' is 'catastrophic' as influx of fans sends hotel prices surging... and some moan they've been forced to live in their cars
Edinburgh Fringe luvvies have been left furious by the so-called 'Oasis effect', which has driven up accommodation fees in the Scottish capital to 'catastrophic' levels. Performers at the showpiece spectacle, which draws millions of people each year, say the impact of the band's tour has been 'diabolical'. 'Drunk' fans of the Britpop legends have led to 'problems' at some venues, while hordes of Oasis lovers have ground the city's transport network to a halt. The surge of some 200,000 music die-hards has triggered a brutal city-wide scramble for beds, with prices skyrocketing to eye-watering levels as gig-goers and Fringe lovers compete for rooms. In some cases, hotel rooms have been listed for a staggering £4,000 a night while Oasis is in town - with the group's last gig in Edinburgh set to kick off on Tuesday. Some performers at the festival have even given up and opted to sleep in their cars. Exasperated locals have taken to leaving the city to avoid the mayhem - while comedians have come out guns blazing, branding the Gallaghers 'inconsiderate' for holding their reunion show during the world's biggest performing arts festival. And in a seeming war of words, Oasis star Liam Gallagher launched a scathing attack on the Fringe, claiming it is a celebration of 'thick s***'. The 52-year-old rock star tore into the event during his band's opening show at Murrayfield Stadium, telling 70,000 fans the city's arts festival bonanza just involved people 'juggling f***ing b******s... swallowing swords' and 's****y card tricks'. His comments came after bosses at Edinburgh council branded the band's fans as drunk, fat and middle-aged and could deter performers away from attending this month's Fringe festival. The council was set on a collision course with the group after a secret file was released, which warned of 'medium to high intoxication' and a 'substantial amount' of 'lairy' and 'older' fans among the expected concertgoers for the three-gig tour. Moments after stepping out on stage Friday's gig, 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 brief pause, he then rounded on the Fringe festival, saying: 'What's happening in Edinburgh then? What's all that thick s***? 'People juggling f***ing b******s and that? Swallowing swords... one-legged bicycles. What's all that s*** about? S****y card tricks?' The impact of the band's arrival into Edinburgh has left both Fringe and Oasis fans battling to find a place to stay - with some forking out 'ludicrous' amounts for a room. 'I started looking as soon as I got the tickets – and there were places in Edinburgh city centre costing £700 a night,' Oasis lover Emily, who lives in Newcastle, told The Independent. 'We're all in our late twenties. That's far, far out of our budget.' Shows range from stand-up comedy sessions and dancing to live theatre (pictured is the cast of The Lady Boys of Bangkok) Emily eventually found a room for four people at a two-star hotel in Uphall costing £300 a night. 'That was the only one I could find that wasn't going to cost half of our mortgage,' she added. Some 92 per cent of hotels and lodgings are sold out on sites including Expedia reportedly listed one 12-bedroom house available at £8,009 - while one luxury hotel in the city charged a staggering £3,599 for a suite during Oasis's visit. Various chains have also upped their prices by about 74 per cent, with some standard rooms listed at £343 for Oasis dates and £197 the month after. Axel Mercier, a 33-year-old journalist flying in from Belgium, has travelled across Europe for concerts and branded the prices hikes as 'completely outrageous'. 'Some places in the city centre were offering nights at £600 for a single night in a four-star hotel,' he says. 'Even basic three-star hotels, usually considered a budget option, were charging up to £500 per night for two people.' Even performers have felt the pinch of the 'Oasis effect', with Fringe newcomer Amy Albright left sleeping in her car due to the 'exploitative' costs. The 29-year-old has parked up outside of the city and intends to sleep in her vehicle for two weeks, using gyms to shower between gigs. Comic Chloe Petts, who is performing at the Fringe, also lashed out, telling Sky News: 'Accommodation is just totally out of control... it's totally unaffordable for the average person to come to the Fringe.' Performer Holly Spillar is one of the lucky few to have got a grant to help her pay for her Fringe shows. 'It's cost me about £5,000 to do the Fringe,' she said. 'I live month-to-month on a minimum wage job. I've got a grant for £2,500 of that and I've borrowed another £2, back just the two £2,500 I've borrowed will take me about two years. 'It's a very precarious situation you put yourself in just to be in the room.' The criticism comes after stand-up comedian Kate Smurthwaite blamed Oasis for having to cancel two of her shows when no one turned up to her Fringe gigs. The TV regular, 49, who describes herself as a 'left wing, feminist, atheist, polyamorous comedian and activist', is performing at the comedy festival but was forced to cancel some of her gigs 'due to zero audience' despite her shows being free. The stand-up said the lack of interest for her show was due to Oasis performing at Murrayfield Stadium over the weekend - as she called on the Gallagher brothers to be 'more considerate'. Oasis were not due to perform in Edinburgh until Friday, while Kate's cancelled gigs were due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. She has also taken aim at Oasis fans for clogging the Scottish city's transport network, leaving her unable to get to get a bus home, meaning she had 'very little sleep'. The stand-up also slated fans of the Britpop icons, lambasting them in a post on social media. 'One of my venues is down two members of staff due to drunk Oasis fans causing problems,' she wrote. 'It doesn't even feel particularly safe to be out flyering today with the big groups of fans everywhere AND rando nasty men telling me they saw me in the press and my show is obviously s****. 'Anyway it's just my job and I'm gonna go do it. At least I'm not in Gaza right now being murdered for wanting to eat. #freepalestine.' In an earlier video filmed at the Banshee Labyrinth, a free venue in Edinburgh's Old Town, the comic recorded herself in the empty venue and said: 'I'm still in costume, 25 minutes after my show should have started and THIS is the Oasis effect.' 'So I did a couple of hours flyering as I usually would, that would usually get me a good crowd and I could tell it wasn't working. '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. 'Advertising my children's show this morning, also cancelled due to zero audience members showing up. 'I'm also aware of performers losing their accommodation because landlords have suddenly realised they can make more money by renting the space out to Oasis fans. 'I think it is absolutely heartbreaking to be cancelling shows. The first time I've done this in 10 years at the Edinburgh Fringe. 'Literally pulled a show because no-one showed up. 'I think the Fringe Society should have seen this coming and done more about it and a band like Oasis should be more considerate of their fellow performers when they decide where and when to put their shows on. The comedian who plays Drag King, Penis De Milo, later added in a Facebook post: 'Of course there's some luck. Some general impact of inflation and stagnant wages. The fact yesterday was my day off and sometimes people take a flyer and come the next day. 'But the big factor is Oasis. They're playing huge gigs at Murrayfield Stadium on 8th, 9th and 12th. It was so obvious as I flyered. Big groups of people in Oasis shirts with no interest in my show or anyone else's.' She took particular aim at The Fringe Society who help organise the world-famous performing arts festival every August. Kate said: 'They raised no objection to the concerts being staged in the middle of the Fringe. They glibly suggested Oasis fans might also come to Fringe shows. 'We all knew better. Oasis themselves must remember what it was like being regular performers trying to make a living. They could have played Edinburgh any dates they wanted.' But the comedian faced a backlash from those defending Oasis for their stint of gigs on August 8, 9 and 12. Rowan Lavender wrote: 'With all due respect; Oasis are not the reason nobody showed up.' Scott Laing said: 'Maybe people just don't fancy going to your show, it's not the oasis effect , oasis gig goers won't attend the fringe, I am an Edinburgh resident and don't attend any fringe and never have.' 'Accommodation is always a huge price hike and again nothing to do with oasis it's the council and landlords price hiking. Banshee is a good wee venue but maybe just maybe you don't look back in anger and stop crying your heart out.' Another wrote: 'Not convinced anyone that normally frequents the Banshee is off to the Oasis show.' Fellow stand up Yvonne Hughes, however, agreed with Kate about her predicament, writing: 'I have 0 in for tomorrow. 2 lovely folk today. People are deliberately staying away bc of Oasis.' Another performer Aimee Cooper said: 'Jesus, we knew the oasis effect would be bad, but seeing this is making it more real.. so sorry this has happened Kate.' The comedian previously debated Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain where she revealed that she embraces her natural body hair. The debate started with Piers Morgan asking if the woman growing body hair was 'helping feminism or promoting laziness?', and he went on to ask Kate if she had any problems with men because of it. 'It's funny how people care about how men will react to this, but I'm polyamorous and have several boyfriends, so I'm fine thanks.' Kate said that going unshaven is actually an advantage in relationships, saying: 'It filters out the kind of men who thinks that important – which is a plus for me. However, her fellow guest replied: 'I'm sorry I know it's your personal choice but I find it repulsive, it's the hygienic aspect of it. Pulling up her arm and wafting it into her fellow panelist's face Kate said 'It's not smelly,' while the guest went on to turn away from her and visibly wretched at the situation, while Kate laughed about it.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Edinburgh and Lothians brace for amber warning as Storm Floris poses 'danger to life'
The threat from Storm Floris has been upgraded to an amber warning, bringing "unseasonably strong and disruptive" winds to Edinburgh and the Lothians. The Met Office initially issued a yellow warning for the storm, which was set to go into effect at 6am on Monday, August 4. It has since been upgraded, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph expected for many parts of the country. Residents have been warned to expect injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads, and properties. READ MORE: Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens to close as Storm Floris hits the capital READ MORE: Edinburgh Fringe performers all say the same thing as they open up on 'the reality' The Met Office also says to anticipate damage to trees and buildings, longer journey times, some roads and bridges being closed, flying debris, and power cuts. The amber warning is in effect from 10am on Monday, August 4 to 10pm that evening. The yellow warning will remain in place until 11.59pm the same evening. Gusts of 50 to 70 mph are expected for many parts, and are likely to reach 80 to 90 mph on some exposed coasts, hills and bridges. Western coastal areas will see the highest gusts between late morning and early afternoon, the strongest winds then transferring to northeastern Scotland by late afternoon to early evening. The Met Office urges against driving in these conditions and to stay indoors where possible. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
