YOUR GUIDE TO EDINBURGH'S FESTIVALS
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ED2011 News
Edinburgh’s Mela leads festival month finale
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 31 August 2011
As Edinburgh’s festival month reaches its conclusion this weekend, it won’t just be the final performances of the International Festival that will be entertaining the locals and more committed festival-goers, oh no. The Edinburgh Mela is back at end of the festival month, and will take over the Leith Links for a two day multicultural extravaganza. Among the eclectic line-up of events this year will be BMXing and breakdancing, alongside musical performances, family entertainment and a fashion show.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the Mela’s Director, Steve Stenning, told ThreeWeeks: “This weekend will be a sparkling finale to the summer festivals. Our programme has an ambitious mix of spectacular commissions, world premiere performances and diverse programming that I’m sure will excite and enthral in equal measure. We will also mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore with a performance from Dakshinayan UK along with traditional Scottish music. I’m especially excited about this performance, which will honour the connection between the work of Tagore and Robert Burns: an excellent example of old and new cultures meeting. And at only £2.50 per person and under-12s going free, the Mela is a great value day out”.
MSP Fiona Hyslop, who is Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture & External Affairs, added: “The Mela is a fantastic celebration of Scotland’s cultural diversity and a key component of Edinburgh’s world renowned festivals. With an exciting programme, featuring a host of exceptional local and international talent and a banquet of tasty food, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. In particular, the elaborate and colourful Pandals created by Scottish and Bengali artists, with support from our Expo Fund, will animate the Mela site and provide a real focal point to be enjoyed by all festival goers”.
For more information about all things Mela check www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
