Levity and gravity at play

LIGHT and dark, passion and humour - all four met, sang and danced together in Soweto Entsha's final, stirring performance at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace last night.

"It's not all over until the  five guys sing", people were saying. And they were right. A rousing, standing ovation saw off the acclaimed South African a capella ensemble after a show that spanned everything from township, to Gospel, to jive and beyond... even taking in a sassy version of 'Amazing Grace' (if you can imagine that!) and a complicatedly synpocated, joyously tongue-in-cheek take on the Spice Girls' 'Wannabe' as part of the encore.

The backdrop to this all-singing, all-dancing treat was the glorious symmetry of St John's Church, Edinburgh, where much of the Festival has been based for the past month. Tradition and innovation embraced in a sumptuous, gleeful African swansong.

It looked and sounded for all the world as if they were made for one another.

Grand finale from Africa

PREDICTABLY, it was a stellar performance from Soweto Entsha (now Africa Entsha) to warp up the Festival of Spirituality 2012 in style. Here's a little taster...

Persian Tent farewell from Duo Hyperborea

THE Persian Tent at St John's has been an indispensible meeting point throughout the Festival of Spirituality and Peace this year.

It has been an oasis of calm, good food, reviving tea, conversation, spontaneous dance, meeting, gorgeous rugs and ornaments, intense debate, tranquility, music and culture.

So it was fitting that the penultimate performance of the Festival was down to Duo Hyperborea, at 7pm on 27 August. They have now performed on nine occasions across six days at the Persian Tent in the latter part of August.

To Yousef, Richard and all the Persian Tent team goes our most heartfelt thanks and best wishes. Go and visit them in the Persian Rug Village shop in Morningside Road!

Last call for the amazing Soweto Entsha

TONIGHT at 8pm is the last chance to see the amazing Soweto Entsha (now Africa Entsha) at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace.

The gig will take place, as usual, at St John's Church (Venue 127) on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road. The guys have also set up their own twitter account, which you can follow @AfricaEntsha.

The five-man ensemble first came to global attention for their grandstanding role in opening the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They also made acclaimed appearances on the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011. This year they have accompanied us every step of the way with the Festival of Spirituality and Peace.

The boys also gave a fine workshop with volunteers and FoSP staff last Wednesday. You might see some of the fruits of that tonight...

Tickets on the door. Don't miss out!

Fitting finale for Poetry in the Persian Tent

POETRY in the Persian Tent ended on a high note this morning with a beautiful variety of poetry and music, including one surprise performer who had come all the way from New York.

Eunice Buchanan started off the morning's poetry with poems on subjects ranging from Noah's wife to the process of cremation, in a mix of Scots and English, in a dynamic and diverse reading.

She was followed by Mandy Haggith, poet and environmental activist, described as 'acutely observant of the natural world' with a series of poems on trees and other woodland flora, often personified: 'honeysuckle', she said, 'is a geisha girl'.

After this came the surprise poet of the morning, Marie Howe of New York, with observational poems on love, marriage and children with quotations from fourteenth century writers and Janis Joplin.

Finally, Stewart Conn, one of Edinburgh's best-known poets, shared some poems and anecdotes about tents, followed by some works with his characteristic dramatic edge.

Interspersed with the poetry was songs by Carole Clarke, accompanied by George Wilson, with a huge range of songs and styles, with lyricists ranging from Robbie Burns to Emily Dickinson.

M.C. Stephanie Green concluded the morning by giving thanks to all who contributed to and attended Poetry in the Persian Tent for helping with a great cause.

You can find more information about Old MacDonald had a Farm for Africa and donate here.

Sunday treats at the Festival

THE penultimate day of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace 2012 will open with the last Poetry in the Persian Tent at 11am.

Closing off our series of charity poetry readings will be acclaimed poet Stephen Conn, Scots language writer Eunice Buchanan and  environmental activist-poet Mandy Haggith. They will be accompanied by singer Carole Clarke and pianist George Wilson.

On Sunday afternoon at 2pm Celtic band The Outside Track will be performing. Its five members hail from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver and are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation - using fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals.

Later in the afternoon at 4pm will be the Intercake Great Pudding Party - come along to enjoy a range of cakes from around the world in this interfaith pudding party along with a family quiz. It promises to be a 'strictly savoury-free zone'.

Finally, at 8pm, there is the Festival of Spirituality closing event, Living in Hope, with words, music, dance and story from a range of festival performers and guests to represent our hopes for the world and commitment to working for peace. Ending with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne and followed by a reception in the hall until 10:30pm, this is an evening of community, diversity, and, of course, hope.

There will be few final events on Monday, so stay tuned.

Gaelic-themed Poetry in the Persian Tent

SOME strong and vibrant Gaelic voices were heard in the Persian Tent at St John's this morning, with a Gaelic-themed poetry reading for the Festival of Spirituality and Peace.

Jim Carruth, founder of the Old MacDonald Had a Farm in Africa project, started the session with, true to his roots, a series of farming poems linked by the theme of harvest -- ranging from his own recollection of being forced to help bring in the harvest as a child despite a hay allergy to the imagined experiences of a teenage girl at a harvest dance.

South Uist-born newcomer poet Niall Campbell came next with some poems from his pamphlet After the Creel Fleet and some new poems -- including, following Jim Carruth's example, a harvest poem.

Finally, Aonghas MacNeacail, Scotland's foremost Gaelic poet, changed the tone with a trilingual poetry reading in English, Scots and Gaelic, including a Scots haiku. Aonghas, in his introduction, briefly touched about the overlapping threads that bound the poetry reading together, such as themes of harvest, countryside, and culture-clash.

Also binding the poetry reading together was Patsy Seddon, acclaimed clarsach player, with love songs, dance tunes, and songs about trousers.

The final Poetry in the Persian Tent will be tomorrow morning (Sunday 26th August) at 11am, with your last chance to hear some poetry while supporting a great cause. The price is £10 (£8) on the door.

-------

(c) Katie MacFadyen is reading Classics at the University of Edinburgh. She has been a media intern for the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, and a regular contributor to Spirituality & Peace News.

Concluding super Saturday at the Festival

THIS Saturday will be the last full day of Festival of Spirituality and Peace events (though the final day is Monday 27th), and as ever there is a full and varied programme planned.

There will be two conversations. The first, at 10am, will be Challenging Islamophobia: the twelve Cities Project.  Islamophobia is rife all across Europe. The Rev Donald Reeves, Director of the Soul of Europe and Shaykh Amer Jamil of the Solas Foundation will be discussing and challenging these issues.

At noon will come our very last conversation and the third in a series on Scottish identity and Sectarianism, The Power of Youth and Football to Heal a Divided City (illustrated). Divided City is a book and musical set in Glasgow: Theresa Breslin, its author, Martin Travers, the playwright, and Jenny Marra MSP will reflect on its success and impact.

On the artistic side, the day will begin at 11am, with Scotland: The Journey Continues in the church. Fife-born songwriter Alan Forrester reflects on his travels around Scotland through songs, readings, photos and painting and on how he became 'even more Scottish'.

At the same time will be the penultimate Poetry in the Persian Tent, this time with a Gaelic flavour as Aonghas MacNeacail, South Uist poet Niall Campbell and Jim Carruth recite their poetry with musical accompaniment from acclaimed Clarsach player and Gaelic singer Patsy Seddon.

A musical afternoon with Rhapsody of Indian Melodies at 2pm. A group of musicians trained under Smt. Chandrima Misra, a Hindustani Classical Vocalist, and Pt. Rajkumar Misra, the Tabla Maestro will blend spirituality and musical excellence with their vocal melodies and rhythmic cycles. Brought to you by the Tagore Centre UK. After this, Soweto Entsha will be performing at 4pm.

Also at 4pm, a unique opportunity to experience poetry in a new way in The Breeze at Dawn - a Rumi Workshop with Duncan Mackintosh. Let Rumi's poems inspire exploration of your own experiences.

Steamer Lane and Stuart McNair will both be performing again in the evening, at 8pm and 10pm. Also at 8pm will be the Glasgow Gospel Choir (right). This choir was established twelve years ago by Jerry Boweh, originally from Liberia, and blends African, Gospel, Motown and Blues. All profits will go to the African Youth Development Action Project.

At 6pm will be the final Japanese Tea Ceremony with Mio Shapley, followed by the first of our closing events, the End of Festival Ceilidh with the Caleerie Buskers at 7pm. This will be great fun for all the family - child under twelve get in free, and instructions and light refreshments will be provided.

Elsewhere in the city, there will be a Breadmaking for Beginners workshop at 9:30am over at the Garvald Bakery. As ever, the Persian Tent village will be open all day, and, as it's Saturday, Wendy Curan will be  doing her Finding your Way Massage Session from 10am to 4pm.

Review: Poetry in the Persian Tent

Vicki Feaver: image by
Caroline Forbes

VICKI Feaver, described to her amusement as 'domestic gothic', headlined today's Poetry in the Persian Tent with a huge range of her poetry, including poems from her upcoming collection 'Like a fiend hid in a cloud', giving a warm and fierce performance.

She was joined by Patricia Ace with poems from her forthcoming collection 'Fabulous Beast' with works about her family, her daughters, and (of course) frogs and Jane McKie with poems from her latest pamphlet 'Garden of Bedsteads', a tale of love, loss and fishing.

Music was provided by Irene Railley and the Just Voices a capella group with two 'deep and meaningful' songs from the North of England and Bulgaria, and a belated but much welcome performance by Fair Isle,
Shetland folk singer Lise Sinclair, who was sadly unable to attend on Thursday due to the weather.

Poetry in the Persian Tent has been an opportunity to hear some great poetry, new and old, from established artists and up-and-comings, and it will be on at 11am in the Hall at St John's Church (Venue 127) at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace until 26 August 2012.

-----------

(c) Katie MacFadyen is a fourth year student of Classics at the University of Edinburgh, about to start a dissertation in Reception Studies: the study of how classics is and has been used in subsequent cultural contexts. She also writes speculative fiction and theatre, as well as film and book reviews. Her theatre reviews from the Fringe Festival 2011 can be found on http://thenewkid.co.uk and http://somesuchlike.wordpress.com. She is a media intern for the Festival of Spirituality and Peace 2012 and contributes regularly to Spirituality and Peace News.

Duo Hyperborea at the Persian Tent

ACTIVITIES continue right through to the end of the Festival at the Persian Tent Village at St John's Church (Venue 127).

Highlights have included music, poetry, performance and discussion - alongside culture and fabulous food.

The Persian Tent has also been an important place for people to meet across boundaries, a space for relaxation and reconciliation.

Make sure you catch Duo Hyperborea at the Tent before the end of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace. They perform today, Friday (12-1pm and 5-6pm), and then again from 12-1pm and 7-8pm on our last day, Monday 27 August 2012.

Plenty of poetry, much humour

POET and writer Jackie Kay has contributed to one of the most exuberant and popular events in the Festival of Spirituality - Poetry in the Persian Tent.

As well as reading from her work, which links human down-to-earth experience with a joyful approach to life and deep observational skills, Jackie produced gales of alughter with her comments and interludes.

She was performing alongside the makar, Liz Lochhead, poet Stephanie Green, who has curated and organised the series, William Letford and musician John Sampson again.

The picture shows Jackie Kay signing books and talking with people in the audience after the performance. 

Poetry in the Persian Tent continues each day at 11am in the Hall at St John's Church, through to 26 August.

Coming up...

Thoughtful Thursday at the Festival

GET a peaceful start to Thursday morning with the last Healing in the Chapel at 10:30am. These sessions are for those of all faiths and none and are run by members of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers.

At 11am comes your second and final chance to see Liz Lochhead perform at St John's in today's Poetry in the Persian Tent. Liz Lochhead will be joined by … more information here.

Elsewhere in the city, Artlink invites you to Visit the Glasshouses at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. There will be free tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm and artwork will be on display.

Today's Sacred Space will feature Mairi Campbell, multi-award winning musician, followed by Worship at One.

In the afternoon will be the second performance of African Traditional Songs with Grassroots Zimbabwe at 2pm followed by an hour of family entertainment.

This week's What's the Story will feature Duncan Mackintosh with tales of Africa at 4pm. At the same time in the Hall will be the final All Questions and No Answers workshop for parents.

Also at 4pm, Soweto Entsha will be performing. At 5:45pm will be Thursday's conversation, Conflict as a Force for Change. Malcolm Stern, co-founder of Alternatives at St James' Church in London, Maureen Jack from Christian Peacemaker Teams and Simon Keyes of the St Ethelburga's centre will be discussing the place of confrontation, polarisation and competition in a peaceful world. Chaired by the Rev Ewan Aitken from the Church of Scotland.

The Scottish Six is back yet again at 6pm, alongside the second talk from Professor Geoff Palmer, Scots in the Caribbean – Scotland's Hidden History.

A musical evening will follow, with Stuart McNair at 8pm. At 10pm the music of Pawet Odorowitz and the visuals of Robert Motyka come together with the poetry of Polish Nobel Prize Laureate Czeslaw Milosz to make Miliosz in Living Pictures, a unique, unmissable and simply beautiful show.

Over at the Theosophical Society at 7:30pm listen to From the Beatles to Beethoven – The Artist as a Hero, a multimedia talk and presentation by Mike Hall, described as a 'Magical Mystery Tour' back through time.

Don't forget about the Persian Tent Cafe and stay tuned for more tomorrow as the final week of FoSP winds down.

Rumi: listening to the voice of the heart

THE ancient and hidden truth, for believers and nonbelievers alike, is love. So declared the C13th Muslim Sufi writer and mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, whose evocative and inspirational work was celebrated this evening.

"Living is firewood", Rumi said. "Let yourself be drawn by what you really are... Gamble everything for love if you are a true human being... There is no companion but love, no starting, no finishing, but a road."

Rumi's work, writing and life was introduced to an audience at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace on Wednesday 22 August by Duncan Macintosh.

The evening of sights, sounds and feelings can be experienced again on Friday 24 August in the Hall at St John's Church (Venue 127) from 8-10pm. £10 (£8) from the Hub or from the box office at the venue.

African Traditional Songs with grassroots Zimbabwe

GRASSROOTS Theatre gives you enchanting harmonies and glorious melodies to lift the heart and soul.

Grassroots Theatre Company is based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and specialises in Theatre for Development (TfD), using dance, drama and music to inform and empower local communities in Zimbabwe and overseas. They are very excited to be returning to the 'energy and beauty' of the Edinburgh Festival.

At this special performance, they will be bringing songs from the Ndebele and Shona cultures of Zimbabwe.

Thursday 23 August, 2pm-3pm, in the Church at St John's (Venue 127). Get tickets here or at the venue box office.

John Sampson tunes in

IN between some fine readings from a variety of performers, including makar Liz Lochhead, at Poetry in the Persian Tent this morning, musician John Sampson has been offering some well-received melodic interludes.

Performing on the flute, recorder and crumhorn, he mixed Scottish and other traditional tunes with improvisation - not least on 'Pastime in Good Company', which is supposed to have been written by Henry VIII ("a serial killer also known for being an English king.")

John Glenday, an internationally-known poet, rounded off a thoughtful and uplifting first Poetry at the Persian Tent session at St John's (Venue 127), as part of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace.

The others are each morning at 11am, 22-26 August inclusive. Just £10, with the money going to support development in Africa.

Poetic licenses well on display

THE first of a series entitled 'Poetry in the Persian Tent' has been taking place at St John's Church (Venue 127) as part of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace this morning.

More than 30 people braved a last-minute shower and threatening skies to listen to national poet Liz Lochhead, along with John Glenday, Stephanie Green and Ryan Van Winkle.

John Sampson's pipe music interludes provided an evocative counterpoint to the readings. Spirituality & Peace news has been live-tweeting via @simonbarrow.

We've been waiting for Liz and John G with great anticipation. The makar reads several poems, including one of her earliest ones, 'Revelation'.

Altogether a fabulous occasion, raising money for a farm project in Africa in association with Oxfam. Make sure you don't miss the next four performances, all at 11am at St John's.

Not to be missed!

Poetry in the Persian Tent

fresh

FROM August 22nd to 26th there will be a series of poetry readings in the Persian Tent featuring leading and up-and-coming poets from Scotland and beyond.

Join M.C. Stephanie Green to retreat from the Festival for an hour and help raise money for a great charity.

On Wednesday 22nd the poets will be Liz Lochhead, poet, dramatist, former Poet Laureate of Glasgow and Scots Makar, John Glenday, multi-award winning author of collections Grain and Undark, Stephanie Green, poet, novelist, and playwright, and Ryan van Winkle, Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library, with music from John Sampson, a virtuoso on various wind instruments including the crumhorn who has worked with poets such as Steward Conn and Carol Anne Duffy.

Liz Lochhead will be back on Thursday 23rd, this time with Jackie Kay, MBE and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Newcastle, William Letford, roofer by day, poet by night, and Helen Mort, five-times winner of the Foyle Young Poets award and youngest ever poet in residence at the Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, with music from Shetland folk singer Lise Sinclair.

An fresh, all-women line up on Friday 24th with Vicki Feaver, Emeritus Professor at University College Chichester, Jane McKie, author of When the Sun Turns Green and owner of Knucker Press, and Patricia Ace, founder member of Lippy Bissoms, an all-women poetry collective. The music will be provided by Irene Railley's a capella group 'Just Voices'.

Saturday 25th brings an especially Scottish selection of poets: Aonghas MacNeacail, native of the Isle of Skye and bilingual poet, Niall Campbell, a new poet from South Uist, and Jim Caurruth of Kilbarchan, described as 'Scotland's leading rural poet'. Musical accompaniment from Patsy Seddon, Gaelic singer and clarsach player.

Finally, on Sunday 26th, there'll be one last reading with Steward Conn, described as 'one of Scotland's most skilled and wide-ranging poets', Eunice Buchanan, Scots language poet, and Mandy Haggith, writer and environmental activist based in the highlands. Carole Clarke will be singing a selection of light songs accompanied on the piano by George Wilson.

Money raised will go to Old MacDonald had a Farm for Africa, a project devised by Liz Lochhead and Jim Carruth to set up farms in Africa and provide 'clucking, mooing and baaing livestock'.

Across the five sessions there will be a diverse range of poets and poetry, all in the beautiful and cosy Persian Tent. Come along to hear some of the best of contemporary poetry in an unconventional setting and to raise money for a good cause.

Wednesday 22 to Saturday 26 August, 11am-12pm, in the Persian Tent at St John's (Venue 127). Buy tickets here or at the venue box office.

Wonderful Wednesday at the Festival

THE last Wednesday of FoSP begins with the first of five mornings of Poetry in the Persian Tent, For Old Macdonald had a Farm in Africa at 11am. This first session will feature Liz Lochhead, John Glenday, Stephanie Green and Ryan Van Winkle, with musician John Sampson.

At the same time over in the Church Hall, bring your kids for The Big Fat Pancake (left) at 11:30am, an interactive family puppet show performed by the Garvald Puppeteers, an Edinburgh-based company featuring adults with learning disabilities.

At lunch time, John Grieve is back for his second Sacred Space, followed by Worship at One.

Later in the afternoon, the ever-vibrant Soweto Entsha will be performing at 4pm followed by the peaceful Music, Prayer and Silence: Chanting in the style of Taize in the Chapel at 5:30pm, a free event and a perfect opportunity to wind down before the evening.

Wednesday evening at FoSP begins with yet more of The Scottish Six with Riddoch and Wightman at 6pm.

At 6:30pm you can join in the next of our conversations, The Spirituality of Peace in a World of War (right) with Nobel Peace Prize nominee John Dear SJ and head of Christian Aid Kathy Galloway. This conversation is in partnership with and moderated by the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.

At 7:30pm at the Theosophical Society will be the second of two free sessions of Transmission: A Meditation for the New Age, with simple but powerful group meditation.

The day will close with with two musical and poetic performances. At 8pm in the Church Susanna Orr Holland will be playing her mysterious melodies inspired by traditional Scottish, Irish and Indian music. She will be joined by musicians David Boyd, a Middle Eastern percussionist, and Marion Kenny, a flute player.

At the same time in the Hall, join performance poet Duncan Mackintosh for the first of his two Evenings with Rumi. Experience the sublime poetry of Rumi brought to life by Mackintosh's dynamic and passionate reading and 'let the beauty we love be what we do'.

As ever, the Persian Tent and Terrace Chill-Out Zone will be open all day.