Brian Ferguson’s diary
After a mention of “never become the story” in this slot earlier in the week, one of Scotland’s best-known singers, Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross, was asked whether “never meet your heroes” rang true for him during his in-conversation event at the New Town Theatre.
He conceded his own views had mellowed in recent years, most recently after interviewing Paul Mccartney, despite almost turning down the chance. Ross revealed his wife and band mate Lorraine had made him see sense with a simple question: “Are you nuts?”
Ross also admitted: “I’ve met Van Morrison and I got away with it and I’ve met Bruce Springsteen and I got away with it. So it’s been so far, so good. But I never want to meet Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell.”
Asking about the impact of finding fame himself with Deacon Blue, Ross said the most striking change was when he was able to watch his beloved Dundee United in Glasgow without fearing he was going to “get a kicking,” when opposing fans started asking him to sign autographs instead.
Ross recalled his own early days playing with Deacon Blue “in toilets, for want of a better word”, and feeling that the band were further down the bill than the cigarette and puggy machines.
• It is renowned in Edinburgh is one of the most reliable destinations for a glass of fine wine. However Fringe-goers venturing into Valvona & Crolla on Elm Row for a show billed as “the essential guide to the best wee country in the world” will instead be encouraged to quench their thirst with some good old Scottish tap water.
Broadcaster Mark Stephen and singer-songwriter Gill Bowman have joined forces with Scottish Water to hand out refillable water bottles to audience members to help promote its campaign to encourage people to “top up from the tap.”
Stephen says: “It’s great we can do our bit to show the important part that tap water plays in the lives of everyone.”
• He is is proving to be one of the hottest tickets in the line-up at Circus Hub – if not the entire Fringe. However, the team behind cycle stunt sensation Danny Macaskill, inset, have been in touch to tell me that although the first week of his run has all but sold out there is still a chance to see him in action and support a good cause at the same time tomorrow night.
More than half of the price of a ticket for a special gala performance at 7pm will go to Lord Provost Frank Ross’s Onecity Trust, which supports projects tackling inequality and exclusion in the city. Fifty beneficiaries of the charity will also see the show for free.