Latest news with #RossBlair
Scotsman
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's Summerhall Refreshed by Nordic Drinks Brand
Throughout August, Nordic vibes meet Edinburgh creativity as Lonkero - Finland's legendary fresh, fruity long drink takes over the courtyard at Summerhall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In a bold celebration of art, culture and community, Lonkero is transforming the iconic venue into a visual and social hub, featuring courtyard-wide designs created in collaboration with local artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, an Edinburgh-based Art and Technology Studio. Lonkero is also putting its values into action by kicking off Summerhall's fundraiser with a £1,000 donation. In addition, for every pint of Lonkero served throughout the Fringe, the brand will donate 25p to Summerhall - directly supporting the venue's vibrant programme of independent arts and performance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In keeping with its Nordic roots, Lonkero is partnering with Red Nose Company, Finland's leading clown theatre double-act, who are returning to Edinburgh Fringe for the third run of their 5-star show 'Don Quixote' at Assembly Studio Two.A further Fringe collaboration to celebrate the shared spirit of Nordic creativity, connection, and cultural exchange. Ross Blair, TrenchOne A Nordic Courtyard Takeover Working with local artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, Lonkero has transformed Summerhall's courtyard into an immersive Finnish experience – blending art, flavour, and Fringe spirit. Festival-goers can also enjoy pint-sized serves of Lonkero's crisp and zingy long drink. The serve is already a cult favourite in Finland and is now being poured on draught at Summerhall – the brand proudly states they are 'refreshingly not beer' offering a light and zesty alternative to beer or cider, served ice-topped with a slice of grapefruit. Every Pint Supports Summerhall Lonkero in Summerhall Courtyard In a show of support for the venue's future, 25p from every pint of Lonkero sold at Summerhall will go directly back to the venue – helping sustain its year-round programme of theatre, music, art and innovation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Joe Harris, Co-founder & Director of Lonkero, said: 'Summerhall is everything we love about Edinburgh – creative, bold and proudly independent. Lonkero is all about community and eccentricity - it belongs here. From supporting artists and performers to transforming one of the city's most loved venues, this is more than a brand activation - it's a love letter to community and creativity. Ross Blair, Founder & Creative Director of TrenchOne Industries added his thoughts on the collaboration: 'We wanted to create something that captures the energy of Fringe while nodding to Lonkero's Nordic roots. It's a mash-up of urban texture, playful geometry and social space - something that invites people in, sparks curiosity, and gives them a place to connect at the creative institution that is Summerhall.' Joe Harris of Lonkero, continued: 'Whether you're stopping by for a crisp pint or soaking in the courtyard's evolving artwork, Lonkero invites locals and festival-goers alike to raise a glass to art, culture, and good company - Nordic style. We can't wait to see all the smiling faces with a pint in hand at Summerhall this Fringe - hopefully enjoying some sunshine too!' Lonkero in Summerhall Courtyard Sam Gough, CEO Summerhall Arts says: 'Here at Summerhall Arts we champion innovation and creativity across all artforms and with this partnership this ethos continues. This comes at a pivotal point for us as we continue to support and develop the Arts in Edinburgh. So we will be encouraging all of our wonderful customers and artists across the Fringe and beyond to help us by enjoying Lonkero, responsibly of course.'
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Scotsman
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
'Drink of the summer' to takeover Edinburgh Festivals venue courtyard
A revived gin drink from the 1950s is taking over an 'iconic' Edinburgh courtyard this month. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Lonkero - a long drink from Finland - is bringing Nordic flair to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a takeover of Summerhall's courtyard, featuring artist-led installations, a Finnish performance partnership, and a charitable initiative supporting independent arts. Throughout August, Nordic vibes meet Edinburgh creativity as Lonkero - Finland's fresh, fruity long drink named as The Guardian's 'Drink of Summer 2025' takes over the courtyard at Summerhall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Lonkero is a popular alcoholic drink that's typically made with gin and grapefruit soda. Born in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics, Finnish long drink was created to keep international visitors refreshed - and fast Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a celebration of art, culture and community, Lonkero is transforming the venue into a visual and social hub, featuring courtyard-wide designs created in collaboration with local artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, an Edinburgh-based Art and Technology Studio. Lonkero is also putting its values into action by kicking off Summerhall's fundraiser with a £1,000 donation. In addition, for every pint of Lonkero served throughout the Fringe, the brand will donate 25p to Summerhall - directly supporting the venue's vibrant programme of independent arts and performance. In keeping with its Nordic roots, Lonkero is partnering with Red Nose Company, Finland's leading clown theatre double-act, who are returning to Edinburgh Fringe for the third run of their 5-star show 'Don Quixote' at Assembly Studio Two. A further Fringe collaboration to celebrate the shared spirit of Nordic creativity, connection, and cultural exchange. Lonkero at Summerhall Courtyard | Mike Wilkinson Working with local artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, Lonkero has transformed Summerhall's courtyard into an immersive Finnish experience. Festival-goers can also enjoy pint-sized serves of Lonkero's crisp and zingy long drink. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The serve is already a cult favourite in Finland and is now being poured on draught at Summerhall – the brand proudly states they are 'refreshingly not beer' offering a light and zesty alternative to beer or cider, served ice-topped with a slice of grapefruit. In a show of support for the venue's future, 25p from every pint of Lonkero sold at Summerhall will go directly back to the venue – helping sustain its year-round programme of theatre, music, art and innovation. Joe Harris, co-founder and director of Lonkero, said: 'Summerhall is everything we love about Edinburgh – creative, bold and proudly independent. Lonkero is all about community and eccentricity - it belongs here. From supporting artists and performers to transforming one of the city's most loved venues, this is more than a brand activation - it's a love letter to community and creativity.' Ross Blair, founder and creative director of TrenchOne Industries added: 'We wanted to create something that captures the energy of Fringe while nodding to Lonkero's Nordic roots. It's a mash-up of urban texture, playful geometry and social space - something that invites people in, sparks curiosity, and gives them a place to connect at the creative institution that is Summerhall.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Joe Harris of Lonkero, continued: 'Whether you're stopping by for a crisp pint or soaking in the courtyard's evolving artwork, Lonkero invites locals and festival-goers alike to raise a glass to art, culture, and good company - Nordic style. We can't wait to see all the smiling faces with a pint in hand at Summerhall this Fringe - hopefully enjoying some sunshine too!' Sam Gough, CEO Summerhall Arts said: 'Here at Summerhall Arts we champion innovation and creativity across all artforms and with this partnership this ethos continues. This comes at a pivotal point for us as we continue to support and develop the Arts in Edinburgh. So we will be encouraging all of our wonderful customers and artists across the Fringe and beyond to help us by enjoying Lonkero, responsibly of course.' Lonkero is a brand of Finnish Long Drink. At 4.7% ABV, it's ideal as a one-off refresher, or for sipping during a session.
Edinburgh Reporter
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hidden Door 2025
The multi arts festival takes place next month at the Paper Factory near Maybury roundabout. The vast 15.5 acre site will be transformed in to an ambitious experience featuring many art forms. The full lineup is now online and it will include seven hours of non-stop entertainment every night with performances in different areas of the former cardboard manufacturing factory. The Emerging Bands Showcase will include some of the most exciting new acts which came out of the festival's open call which resulted in 200 acts applying to be a part of Hidden Door. This has been whittled down, but there is still a big emphasis on new acts in the programme. Edinburgh International Mural Festival (EIMF) will also make its debut this June. EIMF is set to revolutionise the city's public spaces, harnessing the power of street art to inspire, connect, and transform communities. The organisations bold mission is to turn Edinburgh into a global hub for street art, driving urban renewal, sparking vital conversations, and boosting the city's international reputation. This festival brings together local and international artists to create vibrant, community-driven murals that reflect the unique identity of each neighbourhood. These large-scale artworks don't just beautify the city—they foster pride, stimulate economic growth, and revitalise local businesses. Committed to inclusivity, the initiative ensures all projects are accessible to people of all abilities, backgrounds, and experiences. By breaking down barriers and challenging preconceptions, the festival empowers everyone to be an artist and a storyteller. EIMF is more than art on walls – it's a platform for social commentary, environmental responsibility, and sustainable urban development. IMF founder and director Ross Blair tells us: 'We are super excited to be able to launch EIMF alongside our friends at Hidden Door. 'Hidden Door have been at the grass roots of the arts in Edinburgh for over a decade, establishingmeaningful creative networks across the sector. We Hope EIMF can establish itself with the Edinburgh festival landscape over coming years. 'Edinburgh International Mural Festival is not just a festival, it's a year-round programme on a mission to elevate muralism and street art culture. Offering a platform for artists to showcase their talents and inspire the next generation of muralists. 'Join us in celebrating a bold new chapter for mural art in Scotland.' For more information, partnership opportunities, or to get involved, visit the website at or contact the EIMF team on info@ Hazel Johnson, Festival Director of Hidden Door, said:'Since November's venue launch party, we've been busy clearing more of the vast industrial site and getting ready to fill every corner with our most ambitious programme yet. 'We exist to support the creative community and to connect audiences with emerging artists, and The Paper Factory will be at the heart of that ambition in 2025.' Jill Martin Boualaxai, Creative Lead, said: 'Our 2025 festival program, titled 'The Building as a Myth,' invites artists to collaboratively develop ambitious multidisciplinary projects. 'Guided by the overarching concepts of Transformation and Reclamation, Time and Memory, Rituals and New Narratives, and Feminisation and Reimagining the Space, the programme encourages exploration of how industrial spaces can be reclaimed by nature, layered with temporal narratives, and reimagined as inclusive, symbolic environments.' Tickets Tickets include a concessionary price option to ensure that financial barriers will not prevent anyone who wishes to attend. The festival is free all day every day until 6pm. D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are entitled to 30% off the standard price ticket for each price tier. Anyone who is currently unemployed can also benefit from the 30% discount. Students and those under 26 are entitled to 20% off, whilst over 65s can claim 10% off the standard price ticket. And there are a limited number of 'Pay What You Can' tickets available for every evening. The site has a mix of warehouses, factory floors, offices and outhouses. The property has been empty since Saica's relocation to a purpose-built facility in Livingston. Regeneration specialists Summix Capital are now developing proposals for the future of the site, and have offered Hidden Door access until the end of 2025. The Paper Factory is well served by public transport – Hidden Door Festival 11 to 15 June – 1 Turnhouse Road, Edinburgh EH12 8NP. Tickets are now available at Hidden Door is supported through Development Funding from Creative Scotland. Hidden Door is an arts organisation which opens up urban spaces as a platform for new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre makers, performers, film makers and poets based in Scotland. Through organising temporary events Hidden Door works to showcase new work and create engaging environments for the public to experience, explore and discover. Previous Hidden Door venues include the basement car park at St James Quarter, the former Scottish Widows office on Dalkeith Road, the vaults on Market Street, and Granton Gasworks. Hidden Door at the Paper Factory in November 2024 © 2024 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
