On the surface, Edinburgh is quite unlike any other city - where simply to cross it you have to navigate the steep inclines of a valley, stagger up narrow steps and spend at least 20 minutes walking around a 900-year-old castle. It can be easily experienced as a picture perfect postcard destination - quainter and even tame compared to the unhinged energy of Glasgow - yet Edinburgh can be as enigmatic as its hidden streets and shadowy corners.

This is especially felt during the Fringe festival, when the city's population swells by hundreds of thousands flocking to comedy, music and art performances installed in makeshift stages in virtually any place imaginable.

For Fife-born queer folk star Jacob Alon, the city's core creative spirit was vital to their artistry. In the city, they carved out their brand of folk music in noisey bars, able to quieten the rowdiest of Edinburgh drinking holes with their bewitching performance.

At the Fringe, they opt to check out the PHB Free Fringe list and go to something random.

"This can be some of the best and worst shows and a great way to spend the day & night experiencing arts of every shape and size and they are all free, but rely on donations (if you can!)" they tell Trippin.

"I often pick a random title from the list that is starting soon, find out where it is, and just go for it - I’ve met some of my favourite people at these shows.. And laughed and cried and cringed and cheered some of the hardest."

Here, they share their favourite (vegan-friendly) spots to experience Edinburgh, authentically, during the Fringe festival and beyond.