Three music events at Edinburgh Festival 2026…

Voices Of Canada | Usher Hall | 20 Aug (pictured)
Who is fed up of all that theatre and comedy? What, nobody? Okay, but I bet there are people out there who would also like to read about some lovely music events. First up, a concert from Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal featuring Richard Strauss’s ‘Ein Heldenleben’ and Gabriela Ortiz’s cello concerto ‘Dzonot’, which evokes the natural assets of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. Find the International Festival listing here.

Celtic Tales/Caledonia | theSpace at Surgeons’ Hall | until 29 Aug
TW favourite Elsa Jean McTaggart is involved in more than one show at this year’s Fringe, and these two are doing full runs in the exact same spot so I thought I would mention them both. The two shows feature McTaggart and co-performer Gary Lister and a whole lot of fabulous Scottish folk and Celtic music. ‘Celtic Tales’ is full of myth and legend, and we love that. Find the edfringe listings here.

Northern Lights Presents… Horrible Harmonies (History As You’ve Never Heard It Before!) | Gilded Balloon Patter House | 17-31 Aug
Here’s one for fans of a capella, of which there is a reasonable amount in this year’s Fringe programme, but I feel like there have been better, bumper years for it. Anyway, this show from Durham University’s champion troupe promises to take us on a journey through time bringing the greats of history to life, which, for a history fan like me, is pretty irresistible. Expect to have a lot of fun. Find the edfringe listing here.