Edinburgh International Festival 

We’re delighted to be sponsoring the 2022 Edinburgh International Festival, celebrating 75 years since its inception. You’ll be able to find our drinks dotted around EIF venues from 5-28 August.

As most of us Edinburgh denizens know, August is the month where the city really springs to life. Around the world, the Edinburgh International Festival is known as the most prestigious in the world, a place where artists can connect and share their work on an international stage.

The Festival has always been the highlight of our year and we’re delighted that it’s coming back in full swing! We even managed to find some old EIF guides dating back to 1961 - check that out for nostalgia!

 

 

For the rest of us non-performers, it means a time to soak up some truly magnificent performances. Here are Bon Accord’s top 10 picks from EIF’s 2022 programme...

 

Burn

Alan Cumming, a Scottish National Treasure, is gracing our stage as Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. The performance attempts to challenge the typical portrayal of Burns, instead turning to focus on aspects of his life including his poverty, personal tragedy, mental health struggles, and his success.

 

 

Kae Tempest

A phenomenal spoken word poet, multi-nominated performer, and winner of Ted Hughes Award for their dramatic poem Brand New Ancients. Kae Tempest is bringing their new album, The Line Is A Curve to the festival. They're guaranteed to move you to tears with their phenomenal spoken word and stage presence. 

 

Medea

First debuted in Glasgow in 2000 before touring internationall, Liz Lochead’s acclaimed adaptation of the classical Greek tragedy is brought to life with poetic, Scots-inflected language featuring passion, rage, revenge, and pride. Our head of marketing, Jen, already has this one booked in for the first week of the festival!

 

Ezra Furman

Ezra Furman has a huge back-catalog of music exploring identity, religion, love, anxiety, and political angst, which she dived into to create the original soundtrack for the hit Netflix’s Sex education (we are *big* fans). The Guardian has dubbed her as  “the most compelling live act you can see right now".

 

 

You Know We Belong Together

As a fan of one of Australia’s beloved sitcoms, Julia Hales has never seen another performer with Down’s Syndrome on the show. Inspired by her dream to be cast in the sitcom, Julia and a cast of six actors perform a show that blends lived experiences with monologues, sketches, video, dance, and song, exploring the personal and political through universal stories of love, loss, and friendship.

The show has sold out seasons in Australia, so it’s not one to miss! Commitment to accessibility is a major part of the show, and so a BSL interpreter takes part in the performances throughout.

 

 

Dreamachine

For fans of the weird and wonderful, Dreamachine hosts a variety of shows that induce ‘a technicolour world of light and sound in this immersive, collective experience’. Created by leading minds in architecture, technology, music, neuroscience, and philosophy, the dreamachine will induce the brain to produce sensory experiences, which will be different for each person. What will you see in the dreamachine? 

Princess Nokia

Midway through what has been a sensational year for this New York native, Nicole Frasqueri AKA Princess Nokia graces the Edinburgh International Festival for one night and one night only. A multi-hyphenate, Frasqueri acts, models, directs her music videos, and her dedication to intersectional feminism is felt in her lyrics, where women are allowed to be a whole, complicated, funny, and uncompromising in their needs. 

Lucy Dacus

A solo artist, as well as one third of group Superboy Genius with artists Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, the Indie singer-songwriter is a champion of blending poetic lyrics and beautiful melodies. Dacus is currently touring her third album, Home Video, and often features several covers in her show, including La Vie en Rose and Dancing in the Dark. Dacus’ show will have you weeping into your beverages, not one to miss!

 

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Gracing Edinburgh with their only Scottish performance of the tour, The Ukranian Freedom Orchestra is raising funds for Scottish Refugee Council, who welcome displaced Ukranians during the crisis and supporting Ukranians living in Edinburgh.

Unknown to most, Edinburgh and Kyiv have been twin cities for over 30 years. This is based on both cities being UNESCO world heritage sites as well as scientific, educational and cultural hubs. 

 

 

Walking with Ghosts

An iconic Irish export, Gabriel Byrne hits the festival with a performance based on his best-selling 2020 memoir, Walking with Ghosts.  Having failed to become a priest or a plumber, Byrne finally turned to amateur dramatics. We’re certainly glad that he did!

The Sunday Times has named him as ‘One of Ireland’s finest performers. A master of his craft’. The show, much like his life, hits a tone of bathos by swinging from hilarious to heartbreaking throughout.

It’s no surprise that this show is top of Isy’s list, considering that she’s also from Dublin!

Wanting a quick refreshment between your shows? Why not try some of our soft drinks?

Head to our website to shop our full collection of drinks, including mixer and soft drink variety packs, and sharing bottles for all occasions!

Sign up to our newsletter to get 10% off your first online order.