Fringe attendance clashes with Oasis crowds in Edinburgh

A comedian blames Oasis for low attendance at Edinburgh Fringe shows, sparking a debate about crowd dynamics and scheduling.

Fringe attendance clashes with Oasis crowds in Edinburgh

A stand up comedian, Kate Smurthwaite, says Oasis crowds have distracted audiences from Edinburgh Fringe shows and led to two performances being canceled. The Oasis concerts at Murrayfield Stadium occurred on August 8, 9 and 12, drawing large crowds to the city while Fringe events ran concurrently. Smurthwaite posted a video claiming that groups wearing Oasis shirts were not interested in her show and that landlords are taking advantage of Oasis fans, forcing some performers to cancel. The Fringe is known as the world’s largest arts festival, with venues across the city relying on a steady stream of attendees. Reactions online were mixed, with some supporting the frustration and others arguing that the Fringe and Oasis attract different crowds and can coexist.

This episode highlights how a single big-name act can influence a city’s festival ecosystem. It underscores the need for clearer coordination between event organizers, venues and landlords when calendars overlap. It also shows the risk of tying attendance trouble to a single headline act, rather than broader factors like weather, transport, and competing city-wide events. The debate raises questions about crowd management, venue allocation, and how cities plan for peak tourism periods while protecting smaller performers.

Highlights

As the Fringe season unfolds, planners must defend a diverse festival landscape while addressing real crowd pressures.