Oasis Reunion Tour Causing Adverse Impact on Edinburgh Fringe Performers
In the bustling city of Edinburgh, the anticipation for the 2025 Fringe Festival is high, but for some performers, the excitement is overshadowed by the financial strain caused by the Oasis reunion tour.
Comedian Marc Borrows, known for his stand-up show The Britpop Hour, is one such individual. He lamented that the flat he rented for previous festivals costs £1,000 more this year due to what he calls the "Oasis effect." For Borrows, this financial burden is "catastrophic" for the Fringe economy.
Another performer, Amy Albright, finds herself in a more precarious situation. With accommodation costs so high, she is forced to live in her red Volkswagen for the two-week duration of the festival. Albright, a newcomer to the Fringe, uses blackout blinds, a portable coffee maker, parks in a safe area, and uses a gym for showers to make ends meet.
The increased financial strain on performers is a direct result of the concurrent Oasis reunion tour drawing large crowds and pushing up accommodation prices in the city during the festival period.
Holly Spillar, who receives a £2,500 bursary from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, is also feeling the pinch. Alongside the grant, she has taken out a loan to cover the approximately five grand cost of doing the Fringe. The loan will take her two years to pay back.
The high accommodation costs are not a new issue for Fringe performers. Chloe Petts, an established name on the comedy circuit, believes that these costs are preventing many deserving individuals from participating in the Fringe. Petts, like many others, sees this as a long-standing issue, not just related to Oasis's reunion tour.
In an attempt to alleviate some of the financial burden, the Keep it Fringe fund, which provides bursaries, has been running for three years. This year, the fund received a £1m injection of government money, offering hope for struggling performers like Spillar and Albright.
Despite the challenges, not all performers are disheartened. Susan McCabe, a Scottish comedian and lifelong Oasis fan, remains unfazed. While she believes Oasis was the greatest rock and roll band of the 1990s, she is not concerned about their reunion tour affecting the Fringe, as they may not even perform.
Regardless, the Oasis reunion tour has exacerbated existing accommodation affordability challenges for Fringe performers, increasing their expenses significantly. As the festival approaches, the hope is that these issues will be addressed to ensure that the Fringe remains accessible to all.
- The financial burden on Fringe Festival performers, such as Marc Borrows and Amy Albright, has been exacerbated by the Oasis reunion tour, causing higher accommodation costs that some find catastrophic for the Fringe economy.
- Holly Spillar, who receives funding and has taken out a loan to cover her Fringe costs, is also feeling the financial pinch, highlighting the long-standing issue of high accommodation costs faced by many performers.
- In an effort to support struggling performers like Spillar and Albright, the Keep it Fringe fund has received a £1m injection of government money, offering hope for alleviating some of the financial strain caused by events like the Oasis reunion tour.
