Queen’s Baton Relay concert line-up revealed

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Broughton student Anna McLuckie (above) will be one of the artists heading the line-up at the Ross Bandstand next Saturday (14 June) when crowds gather for ane evening celebration of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

Featuring a mix of music and dance entertainment, and special guest appearances from sporting stars in association with Glasgow 2014 and Team Scotland, the free concert will offer families the perfect opportunity to cheer on the baton at the climax of its relay route around the capital.

Anna, who lives in Stockbridge, came to prominence when performing on the BBC’s The Voice and her interpretation of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ has generated almost 7.5 million views on You Tube. Anna, who has been playing the harp since she was nine, has been offered a place to study at the prestigious Northern College of Music in Manchester.

She is now looking forward to performing at Saturday’s event.  Anna said: “I’m very excited to play my part in Edinburgh’s build up to the Commonwealth Games, I feel so lucky that it’s all happening on my doorstep! It’s going to be a great night.”

The concert will also feature award-winning contemporary folk bank Rura and will be presented by comedian, writer and ‘Still Game’ actor Sanjeev Kohli. Other acts include alternative Scottish hip-hop group Stanley Odd and the Love Music Community Choir.

The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton is scheduled to arrive in Scotland on the morning of Saturday 14 June in Coldstream before being welcomed to Edinburgh at Heriot-Watt University. The baton will travel throughout Edinburgh, spending the day at various locations and attractions in the city including Meadowbank Stadium and the Royal Commonwealth Pool – which will host the Glasgow 2014 diving competition – before reaching the Ross Bandstand for the Edinburgh Evening Celebrations.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh’s Evening Celebrations will be the culmination to a day of festivities for the pending arrival of the baton and will bring together some of the brightest and best music acts from the capital.

“It will also offer the chance to cheer on some of Team Scotland’s sporting stars ahead of their Commonwealth Games competitions. What better way to celebrate the day of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Edinburgh than a concert in the heart of the city against the spectacular backdrop of Princes Street Gardens and the Castle.”

Sanjeev Kohli said: “The arrival of the baton feels like the official start of an absolutely mammoth year for Scotland. We’ve all been waiting for the party to start, and this event is the equivalent of the cling film finally being taken off the buffet. And I DO NOT want to miss that!”

Edinburgh’s Evening Celebrations will take place at the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 14 June between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets are free and still available to book.

Reservations can be made through the Usher Hall box office, either online at www.usherhall.co.uk or in person.

Anna entertains at OneCity birthday event

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Broughton High School pupil Anna McLuckie was the star attraction at a charity event held to support the OneCity Trust at the City Chambers last week.

The fundraising dinner, hosted by the Honorary President Lord Provost Donald Wilson, celebrates 10 years since the Trust’s inception and was attended and supported by key businesses in Edinburgh including Qatar Airways and Petroleum Experts.

Guests were entertained by compere Grant Stott, and teenage  harpist Anna McLuckie. Anna, who’s from Stockbridge, made her public debut at the Lord Provost’s annual garden party and made a huge impression across the country when she appeared on BBC One’s The Voice earlier this year.

The mission of the OneCity Trust is to promote equality of opportunity and a sense of community throughout the capital. The OneCity Trust funds and manages projects that help advance, facilitate and promote social inclusion and the tackling of poverty in Edinburgh communities.

As part of the Trust, the Lord Provost’s Rapid Acton Fund supports smaller community group projects that require urgent help through grants.

The Trust places great emphasis on bringing together different groups to work together in innovative and creative ways to tackle the problems of social exclusion, and is this year funding initiatives for the allotment group Piershill Plotters, Edinburgh’s Northwest Foodbank Warehouse, and the Edinburgh Garden Partners SOS Programme which helps disabled and older people care for their gardens*.

The Lord Provost, Donald Wilson, said: “On becoming Lord Provost it was clear to me that the role had great fundraising potential and my objectives chime identically with the OneCity Trust. As the Honorary President, I am delighted the fundraiser has received so much support from Edinburgh based businesses.”

“The money raised will go directly the Trust’s continued promotion of community initiatives in the city, and will enable us to support even more worthy projects that tackle poverty and inequality in Edinburgh. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has shown support for the OneCity Trust and all of those who have worked so hard make this fundraiser such a success.”

Matthew Haggis, Chair of the OneCity Trust, said: “Edinburgh is a divided city, and perhaps always has been, with wealth and privilege rubbing up alongside poverty and deprivation. The OneCity Trust attempts to bridge those divides, bringing many parts together for the benefit of all.

I hope that the dinner has not only raised money, but raised awareness. And that some of the companies who supported us will seek ways to tackle social exclusion in the city themselves, with or without the help of the Trust.”

The OneCity Trust also sponsors the prestigious Edinburgh Lectures Series 2014 which is running throughout May and June. For details and tickets, please visit

The Edinburgh Lecture 2017

If you have an interest in applying for funding or supporting the Trust, please visit www.onecity.org.uk

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