Music, Performance & Podcasts
About our events
Join us for comedy, podcasts, and shenanigans galore as we welcome a host of performers, bards, and broadcasters to raise the roof of the fabulous Spiegeltent.
We’re thrilled to present a sneak peek at hip-hop musical Wallace from the mighty Dave Hook and Rob Drummond, as well as celebrating 50 years of Scottish punk with Caledonia Screaming. Astrid Jorgensen leads the crowd in song (no rehearsal required!) alongside writer Lauren Elkin as they explore the power of our voices, and there’s a special farewell celebration for local indie publishing sensation 404 Ink.
Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen and broadcast legend Nicola Meighan convene a constellation of starry pals for music, chat, and fun, while we play host to live podcast recordings from BookTok sensation Jack Edwards’ Inklings Book Club (with special guest Jem Calder), Australian favourite The Secret Life of Books, and The Ukrainian Shelf with Olesya Khromeychuk and Uilleam Blacker. The hilarious and bookish Cariad Lloyd and Sara Pascoe return for their wildly popular Weirdos Book Club, and to close the Festival, we welcome The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers to murder some tunes.
And back by popular demand, following a sell-out UK tour earlier this year, Hamish Hawk returns for a one-night-only performance of our commission from Festival 2025, Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0.
List of Events
Rob Drummond, Dave Hook & Orla O’Loughlin: Hip-Hop Wallace
An exhilarating collision of Scottish rap and historical mythmaking, Wallace: A Musical is a playful, humour-filled retelling of the story…India Alba & William Dalrymple: The Golden Road
Historian William Dalrymple’s The Golden Road draws on decades of research about India’s pivotal role in shaping the ancient world.…
Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club — Live
Calling all weirdos and book-loving pals! Comedians, authors, and friends, Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd, invite you to their Weirdos Book…Rock the Boat: Poetry Open Mic
Whether you’re ready to hit the mic or just keen to soak up the vibes, this event has you covered. Our friends at Push the Boat Out –…Citizen Collective: 26 Collective Street
It’s New Year’s Eve on 26 Collective Street, a century-old building filled with stories and poems – open a door and dip into a life. Join…The Book Festival Ceilidh
Nothing brings people together like a good birl! Join us tonight for a barnstorming dance, complete with one of Scotland’s favourite…
Jem Calder & Jack Edwards: Inklings Book Club — Live
Jack Edwards has a knack for knowing exactly which novels will set our hearts alight, and today ‘the internet’s resident librarian’ sits…Mischief and Mayhem with Mark Watson and Pals
Fringe legend and unforgettable Taskmaster contestant Mark Watson is also the author of almost a dozen books, including his latest,…
Derek Forbes: A Very Simple Mind
From their early days as late-70s Glasgow post-punks to the international success of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, bassist Derek Forbes…
Hollie McNish: Virgin
Virginity is something Hollie McNish has spent years thinking about, from the looming presence we can feel it has in our youth, to whether…404 Ink: Ten Years of Publishing Loudly
Publishing loudly was always the name of the game at alternative press 404 Ink, but all good things must come to an end. After 10 years…10 Years After David Bowie: Sound & Visions
Ten years since we lost David Bowie, journalist and broadcaster Nicola Meighan hosts an exuberant evening celebrating the music, writing,…Communities Cabaret: Changing Your Mind
We’ve challenged local writers and poets to respond to this year’s Festival theme: Changing Your Mind. Join us as we bring them together to…Nonomiya/Song of Rona Island
As part of Scotland to the World, we bring you a unique fusion of Japanese and Scottish culture. Rarely experienced outside its home…A Kick Up the Arts with Nicola Meighan – Live
Arts writer and broadcaster supreme Nicola Meighan (BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 4, The Herald) presents a live recording of her popular…Nonomiya/Song of Rona Island
As part of Scotland to the World, we bring you a unique fusion of Japanese and Scottish culture. Rarely experienced outside its home…GUBSMACKED: Flyte Nyte 2026
Like the modern rap battle, ‘flytings’ flourished in 15th century Scotland as a form of entertainment, and as a means of garnering respect,…
Hamish Hawk: Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0 – The Encore
After two sold out 2025 performances and a packed UK tour, local indie hero Hamish Hawk returns to the Spiegeltent with with his…
Steve Mason: Failure is Always an Option
Edinburgh’s Beta Band had the world at their feet, with Hollywood’s seal of approval through the film version of Nick Hornby’s High…
Len Pennie & Paul-Leonard Morgan: Delusions
This breathtaking collaboration between acclaimed poet Len Pennie and BAFTA-winning composer Paul Leonard-Morgan, which premiered at 2026’s…Scotland to the World: On Adaptation
Words can create melody, rhythm, even symphonies. Our Scotland to the World series takes this a step further, pairing some of our most…
Seasonal Quartet: New European Ensemble & Ali Smith
Ali Smith’s evocative Seasonal Quartet novels are brought to life anew in this special collaboration with Netherlands’ New European…
Caledonia Screaming: 50 Years of Punk
Hey! Ho! Let's Go! It’s been 50 years since the first punk gig in Scotland so we’re throwing a suitably anarchic bash to celebrate. Grant…