“Glasgow doesn't need fancy festivals to prove its soul. Glasgow doesn’t need to wait for a specific season to get cultural. Glasgow doesn’t need…”, I say, cradling in despair, surrounded by endless depressing construction works as Edinburgh parties on the streets all summer long.

I’m not changing allegiance or anything. I’m more than happy to contribute to the petty never-ending slap fight between Scotland’s capital and its most populous city.

But the freewheeling spirit that the festivals bring to Edinburgh? Glasgow could use some of that. The war continues, but Edinburgh has handily won this battle.

Culture in Glasgow is baked into the city year-round, unshowy and with an impulse to get on with it. Och, us? But Edinburgh during the festivals shows up exactly what is missing - a city that has temporarily forgotten how to be sensible and happily forgets all the little unwritten rules it abides by the rest of the year. Every summer the city collectively agrees to suspend its disbelief, and the agreement includes everyone within its boundaries, ticketed or not. It might feel normal and insignificant at this point, but Edinburgh truly does operate within a wild and unique set-up.

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