PEOPLE’S FESTIVAL CELEBRATES BURNS THE PEOPLE’S POET – December 2009

‘Now Taking Bookings For

Our 2010 Burns Supper’

The Edinburgh People’s Festival proudly presents our 2010 ‘Alternative Burns Supper’

We celebrate the radical Robert Burns with

Campbell Martin, former Ayrshire MSP; stand up comedy from Vladimir McTavish, and music & song from singer/songwriter David Ferrard at ‘The Newsroom’, Leith Street, Edinburgh on Saturday 23rd January 2010 – 7.30pm till late.

All tickets were sold out last year so get your tickets now!

Tickets £10 (£5 unwaged)

Haggis (meat or veggie), neeps and tatties included

Buy Tickets Here

The Poll Tax Resistance in Edinburgh 20 years ago – October 2009

Exhibition At The Radical Book Fair

The Edinburgh People’s Festival presents ‘The Poll Tax Resistance in Edinburgh 20 Years ago’ Exhibition celebrating the achievements of anti-poll tax campaigners in Edinburgh who defied the authorities, sheriff officers and ultimately the Thatcher government through a campaign of civil disobedience and mass non- payment coordinated across Britain.

This Edinburgh People’s Festival exhibition outlines the methods working people employed in organising themselves to defy all attempts to enforce this hated unjust tax.

The exhibition is the centre piece of the 13th Edinburgh Independent and Radical Book Fair which takes place from Wed 28th October – Sun 1st November at:

Out of the Blue Arts Centre

30-38 Dalmeny Street

Edinburgh

PEOPLE’S FESTIVAL – September 2009

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Office Bearers Elected

At our AGM on September 1st 2009 the following office bearers were elected for the coming year:

Chairman – Colin Fox

Vice Chairman – Jim Slaven

Secretary – Dr. Pat Straw

Treasurer – Barry Fowler

PEOPLE’S FESTIVAL – August 2009

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6.30pm, Tuesday 1st September

The Melting Pot

5 Rose Street

EDINBURGH

PEOPLE’S FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS – August 2009

In Sound & Vision

August Festival 2009 Highlights

(being updated daily)

People’s Festival Celebrates Songs Of The People  – August 2009

‘Tunes That Changed The World’

In the year Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ and Woody Guthrie’s ‘This land is your land’ were sung at the inauguration of a US President and we celebrate the 250th anniversary of songwriter and poet Robert Burns the Edinburgh People’s Festival presents a musical tribute to those tunes that changed the world.

Songs Of The People

People’s Festival 2009 Programme Details – August 2009

‘For The People, By The People’

EPF 2009 Full Programme

More Details About The Events:

Songs Of The People
Comedy Night
Arts Competition
Radical Auld Reekie
Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture

People’s Festival 2009 Programme – July 17

‘For The People, By The People’

People’s Festival 2009 Programme

People’s Festival Launches £1,000 Visual Arts Competition – June 30

Richard Demarco To Judge Entries

Visual Artists (including photographers) across Scotland are invited to submit up to 3 wall mounted works on the theme ‘Let The People Speak’.

Entries will be exhibited at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre in August as part of the 2009 Edinburgh People’s Festival.

Download Arts Competition Leaflet
PDF File – 253 Kb

Download Art Competition Forms
PDF File – 63Kb

Download Art Competition Rules
PDF File – 18Kb

LAST CHANCE – June 25

‘What Robert Burns Means To Me’

Only one week left if you want to be included in the Edinburgh People’s Festival pamphlet ‘WHAT ROBERT BURNS MEANS TO ME’.

We will mark this the 250th anniversay of Scotland’s greatest poet by publishing the thoughts of a wide cross section of contributors.

Send us 100 words or so on what Robert Burns means to you and we will include them in our booklet to be published by Word Power books in Edinburgh. The booklet will be launched at this year’s Edinburgh People’s Festival in August.

AUGUST WEEK EVENTS – May 22

Edinburgh Peoples Festival August 2009 Programme

MAY DAY PICTURES – Edinburgh May Day – May 7

EDINBURGH MAY DAY – April 26

Cuban MP To Attend Rally

The organisers of Saturday’s May Day march in Edinburgh have today announced that Che Guevara’s daughter has been forced to pull out of this year’s event.

Dr Aleida Guevara had been scheduled to lead the city’s annual parade to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution led by her father.

Edinburgh May Day President Colin Fox explained that Aleida Guevara has had to remain in Havana to deal with unanticipated work commitments.

“We are obviously very disappointed that Aleida will not be able to join us after all. There was tremendous interest in her visit. And whilst we have not given up hope of welcoming her here later in the year we must reluctantly accept she will not make it to Edinburgh for May Day.”

“We are however hugely indebted to her for arranging such an important replacement as Maria del Carmen Barroso Gonzalez. Maria is a deputy in the Cuban Parliament and a well known national figure in her own right over there. She will bring socialist greetings from the people of Cuba on this the 50th anniversary of their revolution. She will also show that Cuba’s example in developing world class healthcare, education and social services is an inspiration to millions across the world, particularly as it has been achieved despite a fifty year US trade embargo.”

“Even without Aleida Guevara our celebration will bring together the most stimulating platform of speakers of any May Day event in the country. At a time when millions fear losing their jobs, the May Day message of international solidarity and socialism is more important than ever.”

The May Day march assembles in Market Street at 11.30am before proceeding to a rally outside the Scottish Parliament at 1pm.

Alongside Maria Del Carmen Barroso Gonzalez on the platform will be Hilary Wainright, editor of Red Pepper magazine, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, Matt Wrack and UNITE union convenor at Grangemouth oil refinery, Mark Lyon.

Entertainment will be provided by comedian Vladimir McTavish and musicians Voice of the Black Knife.

Download May Day 2009 Poster
PDF File – 151Kb

Note to Editors

Maria Del Carmen Barroso Gonzalez will be in Edinburgh and available for interview from Friday 1st until Monday 4th May.

EDINBURGH MAY DAY – March 30

March & Rally – Saturday 2nd May

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and the Edinburgh May Day Committee and the Edinburgh People’s Festival are delighted to announce that Che Guevara’s daughter, Aleida, will be leading this year’s parade.

Joining Aleida on the speakers podium will be Hilary Wainright, the editor of Red Pepper Magazine, Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union and Mark Lyon, the TGWU-Unite union convenor at the Grangemouth oil refinery.

The fun starts at noon on Saturday 2nd May when the march leaves Market Street (assemble 11.30) and heads towards the Scottish Parliament for a rally.

We will also be treated to the inimitable comic humour of Vladimir McTavish and music by Voice Of The Black Knife.

It promises to be another wonderful occassion and the highlight of the socialist year in Edinburgh.

Download May Day 2009 Poster
PDF File – 151Kb

PEOPLES FESTIVAL WINS AWARD FOR BURNS PAMPHLET – March 5

‘What Robert Burns Means To Me’

The Edinburgh People’s Festival this week received an award of £500 from the Lipman Milliband Foundation towards the cost of publishing our pamphlet ‘What does Robert Burns mean to me?’

The pamphlet which will be published in the summer, aims to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the bard’s birth.

We are currently compiling some 250 answers to be included in the booklet. So, if Robert Burns has a special place in your heart let us hear about it. See the posting below this one for details of how to get your thoughts included.

WRITERS WANTED – February 16

‘What Robert Burns Means To Me’

The Edinburgh People’s Festival intends to publish a pamphlet to mark this the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth year. We are asking people to contribute 100 words max on WHAT ROBERT BURNS MEANS TO ME. Once we have 250 replies we will publish them in booklet form.

EDINBURGH MAY DAY – February 12

March & Rally – Saturday 2nd May

This years May Day march and rally will again be jointly organised by the Edinburgh May Day Committee and the Edinburgh People’s Festival.

On Saturday 2nd May, the march will assemble in East Market Street at 11.30am before marching off along Princes Street at noon towards a rally in Princes Street gardens at 1pm.

Speakers tbc. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and we will have arepresentative of the Cuban people with us in Edinburgh on the day.

PEOPLE’S FESTIVAL CELEBRATES BURNS THE PEOPLE’S POET – January 11

‘The True Homecoming’

The Edinburgh People’s Festival will mark the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth with a celebration of the poet’s radical views and activism. Former MSP John McAllion, comedian ‘Vladimir McTavish’ and musicians David Ferrard and William Young will lead the tributes.

Download Full Press Release
PDF File – 18Kb