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The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Festival Fringe on brink of 'collapse' over costs crisis
When the event returns this August, it is expected to be as big as ever, with a programme boasting well over 3000 shows encompassing music, theatre, dance, cabaret, circus and comedy. Read more: But behind the scenes there are concerns that the financial model behind the festival is at real risk of collapse unless new support for the event can be secured. Leading venue operators and producers have warned that the Fringe is on the brink of 'breaking point' due to the impact of dramatically escalating costs which will make the event increasingly unviable for key players in future years. Katy and Karen Koren are joint artistic directors of the Gilded Balloon. Edinburgh's popularity as a tourism destination, new city council restrictions on the short-term letting of properties and the impact of concerts at Murrayfield Stadium clashing with the Fringe for the first time have all been blamed for the crisis. It is said to have forced many artists and performers to limit the runs of their shows, and for venue operators to take an increasing financial risk on their programmes. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been running since 1947. (Image: PA) William Burdett-Coutts, founder and director of Assembly Festival, which has been staging Fringe shows since 1981, told The Herald that venue operators were being "stretched to the limit." He said: 'The whole economic model of the Fringe really is at the risk of reaching breaking point. 'Overall, I am looking at increased costs of more than £200,000 for this year. 'Almost all of our costs of hiring equipment and building venues has easily increased by 50 per cent since the pandemic. 'Our accommodation costs have increased by up to 100 per cent over the same period, depending on where it is. 'The average cost of a room in a flat for us was around £24 a night 10 years ago. That has gone up to around £85 a night. 'There are a lot less people doing the whole three weeks of the Fringe run. If someone is doing a shorter run they are effectively subsidising their show. It's not a good thing if the Fringe is increasingly reliant on people doing that and if shows are not working commercially.' Katy Koren, Gilded Balloon's artistic director, said: 'The financial model of the Fringe isn't broken, but it is at risk of collapse. "People use to come to the Fringe to do the full run of the festival. More and more people are wanting to do a few days or a week. We definitely don't have the same number of artists working with us as we used to. 'It has become a lot harder to persuade artists to come to the Fringe. Its value to artists is massively in doubt now and is more in doubt every year. 'We have a really good programme for our 40th anniversary, but a lot of that work is being paid for by us in order to get people to come to the Fringe because we really care about it and believe in it. "We are having to take a risk on shows more than ever rather than shows being a collective risk. It's a very precarious business model. "We are being squeezed like nobody's business to give better deals to artists and more money to suppliers." Sam Gough, chief executive of Summerhall Arts, which is in charge of Summerhall's Fringe programme, said: 'Things are getting tougher every year. The whole eco-system of the Fringe is so delicately balanced at the moment. 'The costs that venue producers are experiencing are escalating higher than we can justify in terms of increasing our ticket prices. Our margins are decreasing year on year. 'People are buying Fringe tickets later. We are definitely seeing more requests from artists to do shorter runs. That is making programming harder and it is getting harder for us to support artists.' James Seabright has been producing shows on the Fringe for more than 25 years. He told The Herald: 'It is clear that many challenges face everyone involved in the world's biggest arts festival. 'Since the full-scale Fringe restarted in 2022 after the pandemic pause, it has felt like Edinburgh has not been doing enough to support the vital contribution that the festivals make to the city. 'Decisions by the city council about how to implement the short-term let legislation have led directly to making it more difficult and expensive to stay in Edinburgh, both as a visitor and for participants putting on shows. 'The sad truth is that many hundreds of properties sit empty because landlords can't afford the time or money involved with the complexities of getting even a temporary licence. "Costs for putting on shows have skyrocketed for other reasons too. The cost of licensing temporary theatres has gone through the roof. 'My immersive production of Trainspotting at the EICC has to pay the same substantial fee to get council approval for our small seating stands as the Tattoo does for their huge structures. 'This and other costs have pushed our budget for the show into six figures for the first time since I started producing it almost a decade ago. We are increasingly questioning whether it is worth the risk to bring it back.' Richard Jordan, who has been producing Fringe shows since 1999, said: 'I do think that 2025 could finally be the straw that breaks the camel's back. 'New council housing policies which rightly protect long term local tenants have also affected anyone who may simply wish to short-term rent a place for the Fringe. 'What it's created is a reduction in availability within a market where demand was already not meeting supply. That has propelled rentals to what frankly feels like a level of profiteering amongst some landlords. 'One of the biggest challenge Edinburgh faces is that it needs to retain relevance at a time when there is a growth of Fringes elsewhere. 'What an Edinburgh season may cost is not that far off taking a show to Adelaide (or a decent venue elsewhere) that does not present the same levels of competition, but offer greater returns, means that Edinburgh cannot sit simply on its laurels of reputation or it will risk being left behind.' There is dismay across the Fringe landscape about the potential impact of three Oasis concerts and an AC/DC show at Murrayfield being staged during the Fringe. Mr Gough said: 'The Fringe did not need competition from these new concerts at Murrayfield. The high cost of accommodation in August is not a new thinh. 'But the issue with the Oasis and AC/DC gigs is that they will be filling the city with people who will realistically only be here for one night to go to a concert. 'I'm not worried about those concerts affecting Fringe ticket sales. But they are affecting the cost of accommodation for artists who want to come to the Fringe.' Mr Jordan said: 'The council can certainly argue that these concerts bring a boost to the city with the numbers attending them. 'What it potentially risks leaving on those days is a lot of artists in the city but not a lot of audience. The argument that these concert attendees will be encouraged to see Fringe shows is also nonsensical.' Mr Seabright said: 'Unfortunate scheduling of other major events such as concerts at Murrayfield presenting challenges to the Fringe and underlining the lack of a joined-up approach to planning for what the city can cope with during the busy summer months. 'All the city's summer festivals will wither on the vine if the city prices out visitors who normally travel to the Fringe. 'Edinburgh needs to behave more like the world city it has become as the festivals have supported its growth and popularity.' The city council insisted it did not decide when concerts at Murrayfield would be staged, adding: 'The choice of concert dates is determined by factors like the touring schedule of artists and the availability of facilities." Margaret Graham, the council's culture convener, told The Herald that she was "delighted" that Oasis had decided to stage shows in Edinburgh. Ms Graham said it was "essential" for the council to strike a balance between its calendar of cultural events and "the wellbeing of residents who live here all year-round." She told The Herald: "Measures like our short-term let controls are about keeping visitor accommodation safe and well managed in Edinburgh. "We have made some changes to our policy this year following consultation with residents and the industry. This is to make our scheme as fair and reasonable as we can for residents, visitors and operators.' "We're proud to host the world's best and largest collection of arts festivals, and the Fringe is an important part of this. 'In recognition of and support for its enduring importance, the council provides significant grant funding to the Fringe Society. The new Fringe HQ in Infirmary Street has been a collaboration between the council and the Fringe Society. "This is in addition to considerable operational support from officers to help stage the event, from street management to public safety. All of this is in close partnership with event organisers. 'I am delighted that international artists like Oasis and Taylor Swift have chosen Edinburgh to host concerts. Of course, we know these events can have an impact on the city, and we continue to collaborate closely with Murrayfield and other partners to make sure they run smoothly."
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I'm a fashion expert, here's how to do festival looks on a budget – and save the planet
FESTIVAL fans are being urged to go green on Glasgow Green this summer with more sustainable fashion choices. Every year Brits throw away 300,000 tonnes of fabric waste, which ends up slowly decomposing in landfills. 4 TRNSMT is all about the music - but also the fashion 4 Victoria has curated fest collections in stores Credit: MARK GIBSON And to do their bit, the team behind TRNSMT is encouraging festival-goers to choose second hand style when it comes to their outfits. Bosses are launching a Sustainable Festival Fashion Trail, which kicks off this weekend. Tomorrow, TRNSMT will take over the Barras Market, Off The Rails at VEGA Glasgow and will pop up at vintage stores where shoppers can explore unique finds and festival picks curated by Scottish Stylist of the Year Victoria Lee. The Glasgow-based preloved fashion fan said: 'It is my job to encourage people to step away from fast fashion and choose more sustainable routes when it comes to topping up their wardrobes.' READ MORE IN FABULOUS Getting a look right for a festival can be tricky, especially in our unpredictable Scottish weather. But what Victoria hopes is that music-lovers will avoid buying fast fashion items that get tossed aside once the party weekend is over in favour of vintage pieces that will last a lifetime. Victoria, who ditched her own fast fashion business when she discovered the unethical roots of her on-sale items, said: 'I love the uniqueness of it. 'When you're shopping, you can have those unique pieces that other people aren't wearing. Most read in Fabulous 'You can really focus on your personal style. I think when you're more slow and more intentional about what you buy, it pays off more in the end as well.' While the average lifespan of an item of clothing is three years, many people who consume fast fashion find their clothing only lasts a few months. We're sizes 10 & 18 and did a New Look winter haul - it's a burgundy dream & boots pass chunky test But some of the preloved pieces in second hand and vintage stores have been worn for decades — and are still going strong. Victoria said: 'I think a lot of people panic buy for festivals and also we've become a little bit too accustomed to viewing our clothes as disposable. 'So the fashion trail encourages people to buy more staple pieces. The pieces in the collections will all be pieces that you can hopefully style around other things. Normal life, not just festivals.' SUSTAINABLE STYLE WE are self-confessed clothes addicts. But, despite our love for all things fashion, choosing a fest outfit still foxes us — especially with our different ages and sizes. In our YouTube series Katy is 34 and a size 18 while I'm a tummy-conscious size ten 45-year-old. So could Victoria choose gorgeous, preloved festival outfits that rocked both of our worlds? She scoured the rails at Glasgow's West Vintage for two looks that could go from day to night at TRNSMT. And she played a blinder. For Katy, Victoria chose a flowy, brightly-coloured, tie-dyed maxi skirt paired with an over-sized sports T-shirt, all for just over £40. For me, she chose a classic denim waistcoat and a layered white mini, with a handbag scarf for a pop of colour all for £50. These pieces can be worn for years to come, making cost per wear a snip — music to our ears. And her top tip for what to wear this summer? The style pro said: 'I'd say the most fashionable thing you can do is just go with your own personal style and express yourself and who you are. Get those pieces that are staples that you'll be able to wear again and again.' On Sunday, the day will kick off at the Barras Market in Glasgow's East End, where from 12pm fans can browse curated rails of pre-loved fashion, discover upcycled gems and get styling tips from sustainability champions. From there, fans can head to Kings Court , stopping at vintage favourites including Mr Bens Retro Clothing, Minted and West Vintage for even more unique finds picked out by Victoria. The day wraps up at VEGA Glasgow with a special festival edition of Off The Rails, a quarterly pop-up that celebrates independent brands. There will be live performances by artists from this year's BBC Introducing line-up and Radio 1 Dance Stage DJs at both The Barras and VEGA, bringing the festival buzz to the city . There will also be the chance to win festival tickets to this summer's Glasgow Green music extravaganza on July 11 to 13, with ten golden labels hidden along the trail as a reward for those who choose pre-loved summer festival outfits. A TRNSMT Festival spokesman said: 'Planning a festival outfit is a priority for so many fans. We wanted to create something that shows how sustainable fashion can still be exciting, creative, and fun, especially in a city like Glasgow that's full of legendary vintage and second-hand options.' To find out more visit 4 West Vintage has curated fest looks on offer Credit: MARK GIBSON 4 Lynn and Katy loved their looks Credit: MARK GIBSON
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Cherry Blossom Food + Anime Festival Returns to Katy, TX This Memorial Day Weekend at No Label Brewing
Celebrate anime, Asian street food, cosplay, and live entertainment at No Label Brewing's two-day, family-friendly Cherry Blossom Festival in Katy, TX. KATY, TX, UNITED STATES, May 22, 2025 / / -- No Label Brewing Co. is excited to bring back one of Texas's most vibrant cultural festivals: the Cherry Blossom Food + Anime Festival, presented in partnership with Otaku. This two-day, family-friendly celebration of anime, Asian cuisine, cosplay, and live entertainment takes over the No Label taproom (5351 1st Street, Katy, TX) on Saturday, May 24 from 12 PM to 8 PM and Sunday, May 25 from 12 PM to 8 PM. Admission is free and open to all ages. Now in its second year at No Label, the Cherry Blossom Festival transforms the brewery into a pop-culture playground with over 100 vendors, voice actor appearances, cosplay contests, sumo wrestling, Asian street food, K-pop dance battles, live karaoke, and plenty of cold craft beer. 'Only in Katy can you find sumo wrestling, karaoke, bao buns, and boba all colliding at a craft brewery — and somehow it feels right,' said Tom Paynter, Marketing Director at No Label Brewing. 'This festival is loud, proud, and absolutely chaotic in the best way possible. It's a love letter to culture, flavor, and community — and we're just here making sure the beer stays cold and the vibes stay right.' Live Performers Include: • Dragon Kishi – high-energy performer bringing anime-style flair • Rachel Greene – 'The LilyPad Idol' with colorful pop charm • Sakura Pulse – cosplay-powered J-pop group • Lin the K-pop Enthusiast, Mikucita, and more Festival Highlights: • Over 100 food, anime, and retail vendors • Street food from Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines & Latin America • Cosplay contests and voice actor appearances • K-pop dance circles, karaoke sessions, and claw machine challenges • A full-size Sumo wrestling tournament in the brewery yard • Plenty of cold beer, boba tea, and bao buns for the whole family Festival Schedule Saturday, May 24 (12 PM – 8 PM) • 12:00 PM – K-pop Random Dance • 1:00 PM – Rachel Greene • 1:30 PM – Lin the K-pop Enthusiast • 2:00 PM – Sakura Pulse • 2:30 PM – Mikucita • 3:00 PM – K-pop Random Dance • 4:00 PM – Cosplay Contest • 5:00 PM – Mikucita • 6:00 PM – Karaoke Time Sunday, May 25 (12 PM – 8 PM) • 12:00 PM – K-pop Random Dance • 12:30 PM – Lin the K-pop Enthusiast • 1:00 PM – Rachel Greene • 2:00 PM – Sakura Pulse • 2:30 PM – Mikucita • 3:00 PM – Dragon Kishi • 4:00 PM – Karaoke Time Cash is preferred by vendors Free parking available on-site Location: No Label Brewing Co. 5351 1st Street, Katy, TX 77493 Admission: Free and open to the public Follow for updates and content drops: Instagram/Facebook: @otakufoodfestival About No Label Brewing Co. No Label Brewing Co. is a family-owned, independent craft brewery located in historic Katy, Texas. Since opening in 2010, No Label has become a staple in the Texas craft beer scene — known for award-winning brews, a laid-back atmosphere, and creative community events. With roots deep in the heart of Katy, No Label remains committed to keeping beer fun and community strong. Tom Paynter No Label Brewing +1 281-693-7545 email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Katy Perry calls out a fan for messaging her fiancé Orlando Bloom: ' You've been doing it for months...'
's lifetime tour has been in talks among the fans, and not always for good reasons. From the most disorganised stage effects to bizzare dress choices that were most likely from the Y2K time capsule, fans are wondering what exactly is going on with this tour. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While introducing her track, 'I'm his, He's Mine,' she paused mid-sentence to call out a fan for messaging her fiancé. 'Cute grin. I know why you're here,' she said from the stage. The crowd, already agitated, erupted when another fan shouted, 'Get his ass!' Perry didn't hold back. 'Listen, if you keep DM'ing my man... Oh, Kyle? Yeah, I know. You've been doing it for months — ever since the (Play) residency started,' she added. The moment which was caught on camera, went viral on the internet. As the fan went to hand something to Katy, she swatted it away and delivered one of her most famous lines of the night, 'I don't want it. I'm his. I said I'm his. Stay the f--- away.' Katy (39) and Orlando (47) have been engaged since 2019. The couple share an adorable daughter together, Daisy Dove, who was born in 2020. The couple have always been very loving towards each other in the interviews.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
What is Memorial Day and how has it evolved from its Civil War origins?
Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday that's supposed to be about mourning the nation's fallen service members, but it's come to anchor the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of travel and discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers. Iraq War veteran Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr. said the day has lost so much meaning that many Americans 'conflate and mix up Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, July Fourth.' Social media posts pay tribute to 'everyone' who has served, when Memorial Day is about those who died. For him, it's about honoring 17 U.S. service members he knew who lost their lives. 'I was either there when they died or they were soldiers of mine, buddies of mine,' said Martinez, 48, an Army veteran who lives in Katy, Texas, west of Houston. 'Some of them lost the battle after the war.' Here is a look at the holiday and how it has evolved: When is Memorial Day? It falls on the last Monday of May. This year, it's on May 26. Why is Memorial Day celebrated? It's a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service. The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence. What are the origins of Memorial Day? The holiday's origins can be traced to the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members — both Union and Confederate — between 1861 and 1865. The first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day occurred on May 30, 1868, after an organization of Union veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers, which were in bloom. The practice was already widespread. Waterloo, New York, began a formal observance on May 5, 1866, and was later proclaimed to be the holiday's birthplace. Yet Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, traced its first observance to October 1864, according to the Library of Congress. And women in some Confederate states were decorating graves before the war's end. David Blight, a Yale history professor, points to May 1, 1865, when as many as 10,000 people, many of them Black, held a parade, heard speeches and dedicated the graves of Union dead in Charleston, South Carolina. A total of 267 Union troops had died at a Confederate prison and were buried in a mass grave. After the war, members of Black churches buried them in individual graves. 'What happened in Charleston does have the right to claim to be first, if that matters,' Blight told The Associated Press in 2011. When did Memorial Day become a source of contention? As early as 1869, The New York Times wrote that the holiday could become 'sacrilegious' and no longer 'sacred' if it focused more on pomp, dinners and oratory. In an 1871 Decoration Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery abolitionist Frederick Douglass said he feared Americans were forgetting the Civil War's impetus: enslavement. 'We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation's destroyers,' Douglass said. His concerns were well-founded, said Ben Railton, a professor of English and American studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. Although roughly 180,000 Black men served in the Union Army, the holiday in many communities would essentially become 'white Memorial Day,' especially after the rise of the Jim Crow South, Railton told the AP in 2023. In the 1880s, then-President Grover Cleveland was said to have spent the holiday going fishing — and 'people were appalled,' Matthew Dennis, an emeritus history professor at the University of Oregon, previously told the AP. But when the Indianapolis 500 held its inaugural race on May 30, 1911, a report from the AP made no mention of the holiday — or any controversy. How has Memorial Day changed? Dennis said Memorial Day's potency diminished somewhat with the addition of Armistice Day, which marked World War I's end on Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice Day became a national holiday by 1938 and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. In 1971, Congress changed Memorial Day from every May 30 to the last Monday in May. Dennis said the creation of the three-day weekend recognized that Memorial Day had long been transformed into a more generic remembrance of the dead, as well as a day of leisure. Just a year later, Time Magazine wrote that the holiday had become 'a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.' Why is Memorial Day tied to sales and travel? Even in the 19th century, grave ceremonies were followed by leisure activities such as picnicking and foot races, Dennis said. The holiday also evolved alongside baseball and the automobile, the five-day work week and summer vacation, according to the 2002 book 'A History of Memorial Day: Unity, Discord and the Pursuit of Happiness.' In the mid-20th century, a small number of businesses began to open defiantly on the holiday. Once the holiday moved to Monday, 'the traditional barriers against doing business began to crumble,' authors Richard Harmond and Thomas Curran wrote. These days, Memorial Day sales and traveling are deeply woven into the nation's muscle memory. But Martinez, the Iraq War veteran in Texas, is posting photos and stories on social media about the service members he knows who died. 'I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer and tell you not to have your hotdogs and your burgers. But give them at least a couple minutes," he said. "Give them some silence. Say a little prayer. Give them a nod. There's a bunch of families out there that don't have loved ones.'
