The days are just packed

Saturday's first order of business was the Pro-diversity anti-SDL counter protest. Despite the rain, a decent amount of people came out to oppose the small-minded idiots of the Scottish Defence League. Exactly how many members of the SDL can actually claim Scottish citizenship is open to question. The march was led by a St George's cross emblazoned with EDL-SUNDERLAND, which last time I checked was not within Caledonian territory.

It was all fairly uneventful. Following short marches from Chamber Street and Market Street respectively, the two groups were separated outside the parliament by a small army of Filth. Our group amused ourselves with song. "there are many many more of us than youse" and "if it wasnae for these coppers you'd be dead" sung to the tune of she'll be coming around the mountain being my particular favourites. Although the Sisters of perpetual indulgence (pictured above) chipped in with a few less standard protest song numbers "if you're not a rascist and you know it wiggle your bum!" stuck in my head.

In the evening I headed to an even in Charlotte square for the book festival, dubbed 80's night. It was hosted by Alan Bissett and featured Kevin Williamson doing a John Cooper Clark poem amongst other performances. Given it was a free event, it was bloody excellent.

The evening was rounded off with a freebie ticket to finally see the Black Diamond Express at the assembly rooms, who I'd been meaning to see for ages. They're a Edinburgh based nine piece blues band. They do a few work songs, which are particularly great. I was less keen on some of the more folky numbers that staggered alarmingly close to Mumford and Scum at points. But when they're good they're great. The support act Lee Paterson was superb as well. Solo bluesman, fantastic voice