Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
The Hub Castlehill Edinburgh EH1 2NE (box office)
The traditional opener to Edinburgh's August festival season, with a week of events large and small across the broad spectrum of jazz and blues music, attended by performers from overseas as well as local parts. A couple of big names usually bring some stardust to proceedings, while regular events include a Mardi Gras parade and Jazz al Fresco in the Grassmarket.