![An image showing a very long gazebo with audience members seated inside](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Royal-Scottish-National-Orchestra-Elim-Chan_RyanBuchanan_030.jpg?w=600&h=180&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557162&s=b800164779cbf48c37a40c0223d2e7d5)
News Story
Join us in reliving some of the breathtaking performances this August, with these snapshots captured throughout the month.
Classical music & opera
Taking place in two of our custom-built outdoor venues, audiences and artists experienced the joy of classical music accompanied by birdsong and the occasional light pattering of rain. Performances included the new opera Dido's Ghost and residencies from Nicola Benedetti, Chineke! Orchestra and Thomas Quasthoff.
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![A woman sings on stage, wearing a yellow patterned dress, with orchestra members seated around her](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Chineke-Orchestra-William-Eddins-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-028.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557170&s=049bab01137e933fd15705f62b688850)
Andrea Baker & Chineke! Orchestra
© 2021 Credit : Ryan Buchanan![A man stands on stage in a look of shock with arms open wide, with a woman standing behind with her arms open. Behind them are a violinist and double bassist](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/The-Soldiers-Tale-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-018.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557170&s=dc83260db4f437a179c9cc283fb01974)
The Soldier's Tale
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A young woman stands on stage by a piano, her afro lit up. Behind her orchestra members and conductor pose](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/RPO-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-031.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557168&s=b29b7588f766bfc901d9e42dd85b2a16)
Isata Kanneh-Mason & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
© 2021 Credit : Ryan BuchananRoland Wood in Falstaff
© 2021 Credit : Julie Howden![A woman sings, look distressed, with a violin player behind her](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Dido%E2%80%99s-Ghost-Golda-Schultz-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-063.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.1073&fp-y=0.2509&dm=1700557171&s=473a7e8087815abadbc9712d658fb80c)
Golda Schultz in Dido's Ghost
© 2021 Credit : Ryan Buchanan![An image showing a very long gazebo with audience members seated inside](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Royal-Scottish-National-Orchestra-Elim-Chan_RyanBuchanan_030.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557162&s=b38c3e367e6c4302c10e554454d4fc1f)
Edinburgh Academy Junior School
© 2021 Credit : Ryan BuchananEdinburgh Park series
This year's contemporary music venue hosted a huge variety of genres, from London's new jazz scene to Northumbrian folk, DJ sets by Floating Points and Caribou and new work from the Edinburgh-based Shona the Musical Choir.
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![Four performers gesture to each other, wearing brightly coloured African headwraps, wrappers and jewellery](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Shona-the-Musical-Choir-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-044.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557167&s=214036b167f3bac4ea33888a8ad7ce65)
Shona the Musical Choir
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A woman sings into a microphone on stage, head held back and eyes closed, behind a drum kit](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Anna-Meredith-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557171&s=a8345c50c9ad742d1143bab2134fe95a)
Anna Meredith
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A man with bleached deadlocks plays the bass guitar with a smile or grimace](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Thundercat-%C2%A9-Matt-Beech.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557166&s=918549cee72d922d22a91feca5671d49)
Thundercat
© 2021 Credit : Matt Beech![Audience members wave their arms in the air](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Tide-Lines-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-026.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557167&s=fe119eb74ee3d72453d69c6436119264)
Audience at Tide Lines
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A man wearing sunglasses sings into a microphone while playing electric guitar](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/The-Snuts-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557166&s=5dfbc82572dcb8a5e958dbfb9e0bd6c2)
The Snuts
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![Laura Mvula stands on a dark stage wearing a pink and green blazer while smiling and playing a pink keytar.](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Laura-Mvula-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557174&s=84b6213f8bc436e27ba1e3a091655d73)
Laura Mvula
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![Fatoumata Diawara smiles, wearing brightly coloured clothes and hat, holding a microphone](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Fatoumata-Diawara-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557176&s=4464c16cd32870ab2276ae67ca56903c)
Fatoumata Diawara
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![Photo taken from the back of a tent showing seated audience members in front of a stage with 'The Staves' lit up in the backdrop](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/The-Staves-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557177&s=c8b941db00b019eb02956e825b63f848)
The Staves
© 2021 Credit : Jess ShurteTheatre
From Ahlam's prize-winning snapshot of post-uprising Cairo in You Bury Meto Hannah Lavery's searing Lament for Sheku Bayoh and Enda Walsh's strikingly surrealist Medicine, we were proud to present a theatre programme that addressed challenging topics and allowed audiences to discover fresh perspectives.
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![A man stands behind a microphone with his hands up in the air, wearing pyjamas](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Medicine_JShurte_0108_14.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557163&s=915ca7c8f8bdb547818ba3911582a1ef)
Medicine
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![Two young women and two young men stand in casual poses, looking into the distance](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/You-Bury-Me-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-044.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557161&s=8b5cc11177dfb5f91ff74c3f414566e3)
You Bury Me
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A woman with one large eyebrow holds a bottle of lucozade, as a woman in a lobster costume stands in the background](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Medicine_JShurte_0108_01.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557165&s=ba58cad0c6ca3e46054d04f97b110a65)
Medicine
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A woman stands on stage with the reflections of two other women behind her, with sombre expressions](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Lament-for-Sheku-Bayoh-%C2%A9-Jamal-Yussuff-Adelakun-85.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557174&s=27e5f418f35aa49966bf3ae068eaf14a)
Lament for Sheku Bayoh
© 2021 Credit : Jamal Yussuff-Adelakun![A woman speaks into a microphone with arms stretched wide, wearing a red t-shirt and winter coat. A man stands in the foreground. Both have scripts.](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Hindu-Times-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557175&s=cc8958ce8f5db0ead2b1f79e6c81f724)
Hindu Times
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A woman press her face and hands against a window, behind her is a row of coat hangers with brightly coloured clothing hanging up](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Medicine_JShurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557169&s=dd130f015332604e979a4d45b8e98784)
Medicine
© 2021 Credit : Jess ShurteDance
Our slimmed-down dance programme this year included stunning dance films from some of the best choreographers around the world, introduced in person at Dance Base. For the second year running, we also presented the free performance Field: Something for the Future Nowagainst the beautiful backdrop of Holyrood Park.
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![Three people pose in dancing positions in front of Edinburgh castle](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Dancing-in-the-Streets-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-08.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557170&s=6b39876cf73fda98b5be3c989882e511)
![People in colourful clothing sit on stools spaced out in front of a cliff](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Field-%C2%A9-Matt-Beech.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557176&s=9e098ac3c0528d82af0c89d7176a8acd)
Field: Something for the Future Now
© 2021 Credit : Matt Beech![A group of people dance in colourful clothing, surrounded by mist](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Field-%C2%A9-Matt-Beech-031.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557176&s=c189b87ac3992e4adcf4ab8aa995f11e)
Field: Something for the Future Now
© 2021 Credit : Matt BeachSpoken word
In our A Toast to the People series, groundbreaking spoken word artists captivated audiences with poetry that ranged from joyful to poignant. Vanessa Kisuule rhapsodised about octopuses and nightclubs, while Lemn Sissay even got the audience singing!
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![A woman stands behind a microphone, smiling and gesturing with her hands](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/A-Toast-to-the-People-Hollie-McNish-and-Wana-Udobang-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-32.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557172&s=cd9bbdb7d2aa1e762ecc5153f4c576f9)
Wana Udobang
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A man stands at a microphone ready to speak](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/A-Toast-To-The-People-Inua-Ellams-Saul-Williams-c-Jess-Shurte-56.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557170&s=7cd78c7518814553f22a133e2d0eae59)
Inua Ellams
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A man in a yellow patterned shirt smiles while standing behind a microphone](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/A-Toast-to-the-People-Vanessa-Kisuule-and-Lemn-Sissay-%C2%A9-Matt-Beech-26.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557171&s=a90b97dfb6cfd842449c181432f214f8)
Lemn Sissay
© 2021 Credit : Matt Beech![Two women sit on a stage lit up with blue lighting, holding microphones and smiling](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/A-Toast-to-the-People-Hollie-McNish-and-Wana-Udobang-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-89.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557171&s=0ff30f59db82b49743b7910809884b65)
Wana Udobang and Hollie McNish
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![An aerial view of a large transparent tent, surrounded by the grand buildings of Edinburgh University's Old College Quad](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Jenna-Reid-Harris-Playfair-with-Mr-McFalls-Chamber-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-021.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557175&s=7fcde26411d872636557f818bb2f23c3)
Old College Quad
© 2021 Credit : Ryan BuchananTraditional music
This year marked our first series of Scottish traditional music, as we delighted in the fiery Talisk trio's fast-paced tunes, Siobhan Miller's exquisite vocals and Aidan O'Rourke's A Great Disordered Heart series, which highlighted the connections between Scottish and Irish traditions. Traditional music from around the world came to Edinburgh through Sona Jobarteh's virtuosic kora playing and Ballaké Sissoko & Vincént Ségal's unique fusion of musical traditions.
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![Three musicians with instruments sit on stage in the background, as audience members wave their arms in their air](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Talisk-audience-Jess-Shurte.jpeg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4956&fp-y=0.439&dm=1700557166&s=2bbf0263fe8832aabb2c6157b931d4c8)
![A woman stands on stage playing the kora, an African harp-like stringed instrument](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Sona-Jobarteh-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-33.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557166&s=669960012154097f7be500e25e3793a2)
Sona Jobarteh
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A glass-roofed tent shows cloudy skies as audience members face a colourful stage inside](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Old-College-Quad-Ryan-Buchanan.jpeg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557163&s=cf066c38b6b8c2c687f8e61efb487ccb)
Old College Quad
© 2021 Credit : Ryan Buchanan![Three men perform on stage, with fiddle, accordion and tenor guitar](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/A-Great-Disordered-Heart-Shared-Futures-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-15.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557172&s=f0d95109bbba2470c5d9767f9b844dd6)
Lau
© 2021 Credit : Ryan Buchanan![Two women play violin on stage, wearing dresses](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Kinnaris-Quintet-%C2%A9-Ryan-Buchanan-035.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557175&s=565b3fb97840db2195f56edd33fe070c)
Kinnaris Quintet
© 2021 Credit : Ryan Buchanan![Lights shine across a grand archway of the Edinburgh University college quad as people walk through](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/DuncanChisholm_JShurte_0708_75.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557174&s=fb8a3d8e96980bc63b1082a8d86c3e93)
Old College Quad
© 2021 Credit : Jess ShurteLearning & Engagement
This year, our Festival Favours project has delivered the gift of musicians and perfomers to community groups around Edinburgh. Favours have so far included a toddlers' rock concert, circus skills workshops in Lochend and a musical mural unveiling at the Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre. The project will continue into the autumn.
The team have also partnered with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on a family concert at Craigmillar Castle and connected dancers with the artists from Dancing in the Streets for a day of professional development.
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![Three musicians perform with drums and banjo in front of a colourful mural](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Goodtrees-LE-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4767&fp-y=0.5566&dm=1700557175&s=de87b116b2abcd4a554019d590c1c147)
Oi Musica perform as part of a Festival Favour at Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A man dances in a studio as two women watch](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Dancing-in-the-Streets-Professional-Development-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-017.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557170&s=e4e1ef85856d0be0310edd76db02f417)
Dancing in the Streets Professional Development Day
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![Two women pictured laughing in a park](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Health-All-Round-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557175&s=c306112bd1c6c157c95b21d6b7d0d5fe)
Wana Udobang delivers a Festival Favour
© 2021 Credit : Jess Shurte![A group of young children applaud, standing on grass in front of a stone wall](https://edinburgh-festival.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Whats-On-Archive/Event-Images/Festival-2021/Sir-Scallywag-and-the-Golden-Underpants-%C2%A9-Jess-Shurte-047.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1700557167&s=500c838572cdd8e5454da2c30a467516)
Audience at Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants
© 2021 Credit : Jess ShurtePhoto: Edinburgh Academy Junior School
© 2021 Ryan Buchanan