Arts diary: The fastest sell-out at the Fringe and the One Day fan who saw the show 14 times

Apparently some people regard the weighty tomes as collectors’ items and have every brochure from the start of the festivals almost 80 years ago, with the Fringe Society even printing a blank edition during the Covid lockdown, to ensure continuity on the bookshelves of Fringe enthusiasts.

And if the supplies in my local library in Edinburgh are anything to go by, he’s right. The library put out on social media yesterday morning that it had just had a delivery of new Fringe brochures - only to report just four hours later that there was only one left. Fastest sell-out at the festivals so far.

40 years of jazz

When Glasgow Jazz Festival first launched in 1986, guitarist Martin Taylor was there. Later this week, as the festival celebrates its 40th edition, the world-renowned musician will return to the bill for a special solo performance at Òran Mór, making him one of the very few artists to have played both the first and 40th festivals.

Over the years, Martin has been part of some unforgettable Glasgow Jazz Festival moments, from sharing the stage with jazz violin legend Stéphane Grappelli at the Theatre Royal to performing alongside his hero, the late guitar great Joe Pass, at the Old Fruitmarket.

“I feel like I’m a bridge from the old days to these days,” he says. “As a young musician, I got to play with artists whose careers started in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. That’s something that’s probably impossible now, and I feel very fortunate to have had those experiences.

“Now I find myself sharing those stories with younger musicians coming through. I’m never quite sure whether I’m one of the last of the old guys or one of the first of the new guys, but it’s a privilege to be a bridge between the two.”

Glasgow Jazz Festival is running from Wednesday to Sunday, with 175 musicians taking part in 40 performances across five days. Already sold out are two shows which will see trumpeter Colin Steele honour Miles Davis during what would have been his centenary year.

One Day superfan

At the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh’s new season press launch on Monday, artistic director James Brining was delighted with the success of One Day, the musical based on the David Nicholls novel, which is the highest grossing box office hit the theatre has ever seen.

However, it seems the success could be attributed largely to one audience member who, Mr Brining revealed, bought a ticket for the production no less than 14 times during its seven-week run. This One Day superfan deserves an honorary lifetime membership to the theatre.

Or maybe they’re just one of the actors’ mums.