UNBOUNDLATE NIGHTS AT THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL 10 25 AUG 2014 An Introduction to Jura Unbound 2014 he Edinburgh International Book Festival is once more that it’s not just in August that the T18 days of bookish brilliance bursting out of literary sun shines bright in Edinburgh. the tents inside Charlotte Square Gardens. 16 It wouldn’t be a proper Jura Unbound of those days transform into nights of literary programme without a delicious collision of delight with Jura Unbound, the Book Festival’s words and music, and the lovely Willy Vlautin eclectic programme of fantastic, free events and legendary Vic Galloway both host their own inviting you to discover the makers of some truly special evenings. Importantly, we remain rooted magnificent stories. in books and stories, with the ethereal tales Jura Unbound is a mischievously magical of E.O. Higgins and the literary fitness freak thing. Quietly created from dreams and schemes, Andy Miller. To top it all, Spoken Word takes to ideas and frivolous fancies, it unleashes our centre stage with Nasty Little Press plus a word- unique creative chaos onto the world from inside wrestling battle-to-the-death independence the magnificent Guardian Spiegeltent. Each debate with a difference. night, enveloped by the velvet roof and mirrored Look out for Jura Unbound’s special series walls, a little bit of magic happens. Maybe of #shelfies from participants, performers and, it's because of the mysterious stilt-walking hopefully, you. Belgians who build the venue, or perhaps it’s the And the most magical thing about Jura audience, who are looking to fend off the festival Unbound? It is still completely free. Come along, frenzy that make it so special. Whatever it is, and if you see something you like, you’re sure people gather together after a day of sunshine to find something just as good elsewhere in the or rain to restore themselves with stories, to be Book Festival programme – you can browse the entertained, enthralled and surprised, but most events on www.edbookfest.co.uk – I promise you of all to share their love of storytelling. won’t be disappointed. This year’s Jura Unbound programme grabs Thanks go out to those who have helped the themes and ideas from across the wider to keep Jura Unbound free. First and foremost Book Festival programme, plays with them and Jura, sponsor of our Unbound programme, the celebrates them. It presents an astonishing array City of Edinburgh Council, the Idlewild Trust of Scottish and international writers, artists and who have supported individual events and, most performers, capturing the indefatigable energy importantly, huge thanks to all the partners, and creativity that continues all year round. authors and organisations who have contributed From the Caribbean to Syria to Poland, the time, energy and passion needed to make we span the globe with readings, poetry, each Jura Unbound night extra special. performance, hip-hop and translation, and no This year the Book Festival is saying to doubt some dancing! With nights created by people ‘Let's Talk’. For Jura Unbound we’re saying Scottish regulars Canongate, Neu! Reekie!, Jim Let's shout! Let's sing! Let's dance! Lambie’s Poetry Club and Rally & Broad we prove [Roland Gulliver] ‘Let’s Talk’ Edinburgh International Book Festival perfect place to escape the madness makes his first trip to Edinburgh, Martin Amis, A of Edinburgh in full festival mode, the who launches his new novel, Will Self, Amy Bloom, leafy Charlotte Square Gardens, home of the Willy Vlautin, Alan Warner, Esther Freud, Kevin Edinburgh International Book Festival, offers Eldon, Christopher Brookmyre, Gruff Rhys, Ali a peaceful green space to relax, take a breath Smith. The list goes on… and on. and decide what event to see next. Each year a On Saturday 16 August, an eclectic range of bustling tented village is created replete with voices from Britain’s cutting edge Spoken Word bookshops, cafés, bars and plenty of grass to scene can be heard in Babble On, a series of lounge on with friends and a glass of whatever events staged in partnership with rambunctious takes your fancy. It’s also right in the heart of the poet Luke Wright and produced by Becky city, just off the west end of Princes Street. Fincham. Featuring celebrated live performance The Book Festival doesn’t just put on artists including Phill Jupitus, Elvis McGonagall, the popular Jura Unbound late evening interactive theatre makers Hannah Jane Walker entertainment – details of which you’ll find on and Chris Thorpe and poets William Letford and the following pages – it also has hundreds of Rachel McCrum amongst others. author events and activities to broaden your Of course the few events mentioned here understanding of the world, spark debate, make are only a fraction of the highlights. Come you laugh, make you think. along to Charlotte Square Gardens, enjoy a If you want diversity, we have it. The range of drink, have a flick through the programme and authors appearing in events is always surprising pick something to see. We’re pretty sure you’ll and often people can discover their next discover something memorable. There’s so much ‘favourite’ read, something they would never have to explore and Jura Unbound is the perfect otherwise found. Have a look at the debut fiction starting point. [Roland Guliver] on the Book Festival’s First Book Award list for Full details of the programme can be found at the emerging talent of 2014. www.edbookfest.co.uk. Tickets to all events can be bought Familiar names include such literary stars online, by calling the box office 0845 373 5888 or in person as Game of Thrones creator George RR Martin, at The Hub, Castlehill. Japan’s heavyweight Haruki Murakami, who Editors: Rosamund West & Alan Bett Designer: Maeve Redmond Production Manager: Billie Dryden Illustrator: Emily Nash 2 Feature JURA UNBOUND THE SKINNY Beyond the Headlines As Reel Festivals return to Jura Unbound, this time with Syria Speaks, Literature Programmer Ryan Van Winkle explains how they plan to open a window into the country and culture beyond the conflict Interview: Alan Bett yria Speaks, and so does its Literature relationships, and those relationships are really of Syrian Lingerie will highlight the humour, spend two hours dwelling on the horrors. We’re SProgrammer Ryan Van Winkle while sitting powerful and they’re something we love to share resilience and strength of Syrian art, even in going to present the fullest possible picture we in Summerhall discussing his evening of Syrian in events like this one.” A prime example is their these most challenging times. Ryan suggests can. I want people to come away thinking that culture at Jura Unbound. He displays the type poetry workshop, where artists come together that the tone of the evening will be respectful they’ve hung out with some beautiful friends in a of enthusiastic verbosity you would hope and to translate each other’s work. An act which while at the same time a celebration of life and beautiful place that they’ve never been before. I expect from somebody working on such an must prove difficult, considering the intricacy culture. This will be typified by the band Raast. want to give that feeling to the audience.” interesting and worthwhile project. and hidden personal meaning contained within “The band is formed around one member who But what’s the role of poetry and music in “The idea is that we use art and culture as a this form. It’s something Ryan believes is “A grew up in the Palestinian refugee camp outside this situation, is it going to save a single life? way of exploring a place beyond the headlines,” really intimate and special act, one person to of Damascus.” While providing some context What can art achieve in the face of war? Beauty he states while discussing the primary aim of another.” about where their songs are coming from they seems futile next to the suffering of millions. this event, and also of Reel Festivals in general; Acknowledging its difficulties while plan to end the evening with some party music “It’s really hard to see the point of art when guns an organisation which works in regions of discovering an unexpected bonus. “The great and a bit of a dance. are being fired and many people would say there conflict, “using art to show that when people get thing about the translation workshop is you get is no point,” Ryan acknowledges. However Reel together there are not too many dissimilarities to say that thing to a poet that you never get Festivals attach a simple yet important purpose between humankind.” to say, which is ‘What the fuck are you talking “Art gives to their events. “The role is to remind us that In this case the medium is song, dance about?’” This refreshing honesty pays dividends. there are human beings and lives here. I don’t and word; provided by a diverse range of Syrian “They’ll explain what it means, they’ll break the you empathy, really think that Assad is going to see a poignant artists, keen to show us the true culture and poem down, they give a real insight into their painting and change the course of action, but I character of their country. “Your first immediate lives and their experience and you need to understanding do think the more of these things can be seen thought is a warzone,” Ryan admits, “... and it’s internalise and translate that into English as and felt the better.” not a very human portrait of the place.