Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 6 & 7 February
Why do people go to the mountains? You’ll find many different answers at the 13th Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival, which runs Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February. Continue reading Expect the unexpected at Mountain Film Festival
The Beltane Fire Society is to bring the renowned Samhuinn Fire Festival to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on Halloween. This year’s event marks the 20th anniversary of the society’s modern twist on this ancient celebration of the turning seasons, and festivities will start at a new time – 7pm.
The Festival will bring a host of volunteer performers with fire, drums and wild costumes to the city centre for an evening of revelry, representing the end of summer and rise of winter. The event will be on Hallowe’en (31 October) from 7 – 9pm at the Grassmarket. No tickets are required, attendance is by donation.
David Simpson, Festival Secretary for the Beltane Fire Society said: “We are really excited to bring Samhuinn Festival to the Grassmarket for its 20th anniversary. It will be a fantastic setting for our atmospheric hallowe’en night event. We have so much planned to entertain everyone who will be joining us – from drums and fire to impressive stage performances and drama. Our performers will act out the battle between the summer and winter kings, keeping ancient traditions alive.”
The event is organised by the Beltane Fire Society, a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.
Samhuinn Fire Festival is a modern ‘re-imagining’ of an ancient celtic festival marking the end of summer and rise of winter. The modern event has been held in Edinburgh since 1995. Its spring and summer counterpart, Beltane, takes place on Calton Hill on the last day of April each year, and has been running since 1988.
Two wheeled transport takes centre stage in the city
This month, Edinburgh will enjoy a month of non-stop cycling action, culminating in the first ever CycleFest Edinburgh.
National Cycle to Work Day will kick things off on Thursday (3 September), with people all over the city ditching the car for a more eco-friendly commute.
Then on Sunday (6 September) it’s time to get back in the saddle, this time for charity, as Pedal for Scotland sweeps the nation.
Cycling will continue to dominate the Scottish capital as the Edinburgh stage of the Tour of Britain rides into town on Wednesday 9 September.
Keeping the cycling celebrations going, the Edinburgh Corn Exchange will host an action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled weekend for cycling novices and experienced riders alike on Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September.
The inaugural CycleFest Edinburgh will showcase a multitude of exhibitors stocking the very latest bicycles and accessories, plus there’ll be a plethora of workshops, celebrity appearances and stunt displays to keep you gripped all weekend.
Making a very special appearance at the show will be BMXer Champion and Guinness World Record Holder, Matti Hemmings, AKA Matti Axel from the hit Nickelodeon show, ‘Get Your Skills On’. He’ll be there to present breath-taking tricks from bunnyhops and sliders to grinds and foot jams, kicking out all the moves in the specially created outdoor track area.
Adding an extra nail-biting edge to the weekend will be Savage Skills, a freestyle mountain bike stunt team with eight World titles and 25 British Championship titles to their name. Jaws will drop as they wow the crowds with their repertoire of interactive tricks, jumps and stunts.
All this plus the chance to learn to ride like a pro with the likes of Redscar and important advice on staying safe with Cycle Law Scotland. CycleFest Edinburgh is also throwing in cheerleaders and a bagpiping, juggling, unicyclist for good measure!
Yes, Edinburgh’s all set for a cycling jamboree!
CYCLING GRANTS AVAILABLE
Community groups across Scotland are now able to apply for a Development Grant of up to £20,000 to help them overcome barriers to cycling and work towards becoming a Cycle Friendly Community. Applications can be submitted at any time up to Friday 30thOctober and will be assessed on a first come, first serve basis, dependent on available funding.
For more information visit Community Development Grants
Love it or loathe it, you just can’t ignore it … yes, it’s Festival time in Edinburgh, and Police Scotland have launched their annual safety campaign
LAUNCH OF FESTIVAL POLICING OPERATION
We have today launched our annual campaign to keep people safe during the Festival.
In the coming weeks, hundreds of thousands of visitors are set to join the Capital’s local residents to enjoy a month of artistic performances and events, culminating in the fireworks display at the end of August.
To ensure the Festival is a secure and welcoming environment for tourists and locals alike, police will have a high-visibility presence throughout the city centre to offer a range of useful advice aimed at preventing the public being targeted by criminals.
All of this information will be available on the Police Scotland website or by following Edinburgh Division’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh said: “The Edinburgh Festival is a fantastic spectacle and results in worldwide attention for the city. We will be doing everything we can to prevent crime happening in the first place and I would appeal to the public to help us in that effort.
“By taking a number of simple steps, visitors and locals can ensure their experience of the Festival is memorable for all the right reasons.
“Remember to always keep an eye on your valuables when you’re out enjoying the sights and events within Edinburgh and never leave any belongings unattended. If you are enjoying the nightlife then please make sure you drink responsibly and have a plan to get home.
“This year, for the first time, we have helpful advice for tourists and visitors on-line that they can access before they arrive in the city, so that they can equip themselves with all the information they need to safeguard themselves against opportunistic criminals.
“I would ask that anyone planning on visiting Edinburgh in the coming weeks to visit our tourist and visitors advice page on the Police Scotland website.”
Community Safety Leader, Councillor Cammy Day, said: “Our environmental wardens will be working closely with Police Scotland in the city centre over the Festival period to help keep people safe and offer reassurance through a high visibility presence. I would encourage people to do their bit too, by acting responsibly and taking time to look at the latest safety advice.
“Edinburgh is a safe city and we want to maintain this, ensuring that visitors enjoying the Festival have the best possible experience of the city.”
The Edinburgh Mela launched its 2015 programme yesterday at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street.
Launching the event, Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “The Edinburgh Mela is a major highlight in Scotland’s vibrant festivals calendar, uniting people from all backgrounds and beliefs to participate in diverse cultural and creative activities.
“Through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government is proud to support the Mela to deliver world class performances, grow its international reputation and build engagement with local communities.
“The £80,000 we have awarded this year to support the Mela World Dance piece ‘Goddess’ and ‘A Bollywood Love Story’, a collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, will delight audiences both at home and abroad. This takes the total sum awarded to the Mela to more than £800,000 since the Expo Fund was set up in 2007.”
Shami Khan, Chair of Mela’s Board of Directors, added: “I am delighted to see the Edinburgh Mela continue to flourish and celebrate its success as Scotland’s largest festival of world music and dance inspired by South Asian culture.
“Every year audiences and performers from across the world flock to Leith Links for the Mela which is made possible by our team of dedicated staff, community groups, individuals and volunteers who make the festival such a fantastic event for all the people of this great city”.
Running on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, Scotland’s largest celebration of world music and dance will celebrate its 21st edition in style with a packed programme of live music and dance across three stages, plus interactive family shows in the Mela Kidzone and the irresistible sights and smells of street food from around the world in the Global Food Village.
The diverse, internationally-reaching arts festival will see artists from across the globe entertain crowds of 30,000 locals and visitors in an unmissable two-day celebration at Leith Links.
World class headliners on the Main Stage
The 2015 Main Stage supported by Lebara Mobile is the heart of the Edinburgh Mela party, boasting crowd-pleasing live sets from some of the biggest names in world music today.
Saturday’s live highlights include superstars in the making Raxstar and Mumzy protégé turned electrifying break-out star Junai Kaden, plus extended performances from featured artists Ayrad, six talented multi-instrumentalists from Canada who navigate between Andalusian and Berber rhymes over reggae and Latin grooves with some awe-inspiring improvisational skills, and an intoxicating mix of African desert blues and Indian rhythms from two-time Juno Award winner Kiran Alhuwalia.
Saturday night then goes out with a bang with a show-stopping gig from Birmingham’s superstar bhangra producer and singer-songwriter Sukshinder Shinda.
Ease yourself into Sunday with Bengali singing sensation Suzana Ansar, young Pakistani Qawaali singers the Chishti Brothers, the inimitable Bollywood Brass Band, mixing up traditional brass band trombones and trumpets with Johnny Kalsi and members of the Dhol Foundation on dhol-drums, and British-Indian Asian Underground bhangra beats courtesy of Swami before the Main Stage climax, the spectacular Bollywood Love Story.
Bollywood glamour comes to Leith in A Bollywood Love Story
An unmissable Mela moment, the Main Stage will play host to the festival’s signature show Bollywood Love Story. Directed by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts the Edinburgh Mela’s ground-breaking collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and will see a cast of top Bollywood dance professionals from India perform alongside 40 talented local performers drawn from Edinburgh and Scotland’s diverse communities in a classic Bollywood tale of romance and adventure.
Having performed highlights of the show at Edinburgh Castle every night in August in front of a global audience of millions at the Tattoo, the company will come together to perform the dazzling full-length show which is set to be the defining moment of the 2015 Edinburgh Mela.
Breathtaking moves on the Mela World Dance Feste Stage
Dance remains a major part of the Edinburgh Mela, with the dedicated Mela World Dance Feste Stage showcasing the best contemporary and traditional dance talent from across the world over the two days.
The Mela continues to cement its reputation as a commissioning body for innovative new dance work with the premiere of its 2015 commission Goddess, an exploration of goddesses across global cultures and religions choreographed by Edinburgh’s Alan Greig.
There’s also the welcome return of Jenny and Ricardo Oria – stars of the hit 2013 Mela commission Star Crossed- bringing their own authentic Argentinian tango set to the Mela. Joining them on the World Dance Feste Stage are Quebec’s La Otra Orilla with Moi & Les Autres, a spirited re-invention of flamenco by charismatic choreographer and dancer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja; the jaw-dropping Roadworks, a raucous, laugh-out-loud hip hop battle like no other as B-Boys take on BMX riders; the sensational winner of the South Asian category in this year’s ‘BBC Young Dancer Of The Year’ competition, Vidya Patel with a new interpretation of classic Kathak dance; infectious beats from Glasgow’s irrepressible Desi Bravehearts and South Asian-inspired dance with a contemporary narrative twist courtesy of Edinburgh’s own Dance Ihayami.
Catch the up-and-coming stars of the future on the new Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage.
New for 2015, the Edinburgh Mela is delighted to be working with Scotland’s top Asian Radio Station Awaz FM to host the first-ever Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage. The line-up boasts some of the finest up-and-coming acts from the world music scene. This is a rare chance to catch them in an intimate festival setting. The handpicked line-up of hotly tipped talent includes G-Town Desi, Krown, Edinburgh’s own Swaryatra, Northern-Exposure, Dangerman and traditional Polish music from Weilkopolska.
Families are invited to Go Bananas! In the Mela Kidzone, plus the best in food, fashion and shopping all on-site
One of the most family-friendly events in Edinburgh’s Festival calendar, children aged 12 and under come free to the festival and have their very own Mela Kidzone to explore. This year Mela audiences young and old are invited to Go Bananas! and enjoy a host of live performances, professionally led dance workshops, interactive craft sessions and other hands-on activities.
An absolute Edinburgh Mela favourite, the Global Food Village is a must-visit for keen foodies or anyone with a rumbling tum! Growing every year, it features delicious street food from around the world including sweet and savoury specialities from across Asia.
If you’re thirsty, don’t miss the beautifully decorated Kingfisher beer truck – an eye-catching photo opportunity which handily transforms into a bar serving ice cold pints of India’s No.1 beer.
Other returning favourites include the Mela Fashion Show as local models strut their stuff on the catwalk decked out in the latest in women’s, men’s and children’s fashions and the Mela Marketplace, the perfect place to browse and pick up beautiful handcrafts and stunning sari fabrics, plus friendly information on local charities and organisations.
Chris Purnell, Director of the Edinburgh Mela, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the Mela programme for 2015. The Mela brings together the highest quality performances from international stars of the world music and dance scene and home grown talent, in a pulsating celebratory mix of everything vital about our many rich and diverse cultures.
“Our commissioned work continues to enthral audiences drawn from all communities across the city and Scotland, and this year, that trajectory is maintained with some truly inspiring pieces. Together with a packed programme of artists and performances across three stages, representing a myriad of styles, I hope that everyone will take away a special moment of their own”.
Keen to make the festival as affordable as possible for all, Mela attendees are encouraged to buy the £4 Early Bird ticket, available until noon on Friday 28 August.
Tickets for this year’s Edinburgh Mela Festival are on sale now via www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk, on the Ticket Hotline 0131 226 0008 or pop in to the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office on the High Street. No booking fees are charged. After this time, tickets are £5 on the gate. Children aged 12 and under go free and children’s tickets can be pre-booked alongside your order.
Book online at www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
With less than a week to go until T in the Park kicks off, NHS 24 is urging festival goers to look after their health and make the most of the event.
Scotland’s national telehealth and telecare service is advising visitors to the three-day event at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire to plan ahead and take a few essential items for dealing with illness.
NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks said: “Summer festivals are great places to meet people and enjoy music with friends but try and remember to pack a few small items with you in case you do become unwell.
“Take some over the counter medication with you for stomach upsets or diarrhoea and take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is also really important to have sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and antiseptic hand gel or wipes are always handy to have at outdoor events, as are things like a supply of pads or tampons and if there is possibility of having sex take some condoms to avoid the risk of sexually transmitted infection.”
He added; “Plan ahead remember to take all your prescription medicine with you to last till you get home, if you use inhalers always keep them handy and think of things like hay fever medication if you are a sufferer.
“Don’t ruin your weekend by drinking far too much too quickly. Try alternating soft drinks or water for alcoholic ones on a regular basis over the day and don’t forget to eat regularly. You don’t want to miss out on seeing your favourite bands by feeling unwell with the effects of too much alcohol.
Professor Crooks advised: “If you do become ill, go with a friend to the nearest First Aid area. Remember there is safety in numbers. Never leave your drink unattended, never leave friends on their own and don’t wander off by yourself. Organise a meeting point if you get split up and stay with people you know.
“By taking simple steps, you can help minimise or even prevent minor health problems from ruining your weekend. Stay safe and have a happy and healthy time at T in the Park.”
For further summer health advice go to www.nhsinform.co.uk There is a Health in Focus section dedicated to staying safe in the summer months.
It’s here! Edinburgh’s community gardeners take centre stage this weekend as The Power of Food Festival takes place at venues and locations across the city.
For further info visit https://poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com/
When it started as a small show at Queensberry House in Edinburgh’s Canongate in December 1882, The Scotsman reported: ‘ .. between sixty and seventy five cattle were exhibited. There were also eight New Leicester sheep and two beautiful pigs.’ The Royal High Show now attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually and celebrates it’s 175th Show this week …
The Royal Highland Show, one of Scotland’s most iconic and enduring annual events, is ready to welcome visitors to its 175th Show, which runs from 18 -21 June 2015 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
Billed as the biggest and best celebration of farming, food and rural life,
the ‘Royal Highland’ is one of Europe’s most impressive rural shop
windows, showcasing handpicked livestock, the finest food & drink and
rural living at its most vibrant.
The Royal Bank of Scotland, partners of the Show since 1981, maintain
their support for the four-day event, which attracted in excess of 178,000
people in 2014.
Scotland’s Larder Live!
This year sees the launch of Scotland’s Larder Live! at the Royal
Highland Show. Showcasing the diverse range of quality Scottish farmed
produce it will be a live, experiential food show, promoting and
celebrating our Scottish food provenance, regionality and seasonality.
The event will relaunch food at the Highland, build interactivity and
visitor engagement and bring to life the consumer message that ‘farming
equals food’. Scotland’s Larder Live! will be lively, informative and
interactive, full of the smells, sights and tastes of Scotland. The Cookery
Theatre will have a theatrical element, with chefs being challenged to
whip up a dish against the clock. Tastings and talks will feature some of
our finest producers and plenty of audience engagement and
participation. Follow the clues around the event and enter the Scotland’s
Larder Live! competition to win a selection of goodies from some of
Scotland’s top producers.
2015 will be the second year of the Show’s industry leading Food
Charter, an initiative that sees on-site caterers and the show’s other food
partners use, where possible, only ingredients that are locally produced
and ethically sourced. Only a small number of companies from 2014
have not make the grade, demonstrating the show already serves to
showgoers a huge number of responsibly sourced Scottish produce.
The loveliest of livestock
The Royal Highland’s big attraction is without doubt the livestock, with
more than 5,000 of the finest cattle, sheep, goats, horses and poultry,
heading for the showground over the four-day event. However, there will
be other furry friends entertaining and enticing showgoers over the 4
days of the Show, including Elite Falconry, the Sealpin Gundogs and
Fife Foxhounds, who can all be found in the Countryside Area.
Hooved heaven
The Royal Highland Show is the largest equestrian show in Scotland
with almost 3,000 horses and ponies competing in classes for light and
heavy horses, private driving, heavy horse turnouts, harness and
grooming plus top class show jumping.
The Highland offers an impressive array of equine sections and classes,
38 categories in total, including nine much sought after Horse of the
Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers. Over 2,200 riders are expected to
compete over the four days.
With a challenging International Stairway class – which allows British
Show Jumping to monitor up and coming riders and horses – a vibrant
top class show jumping section, seven championship Final classes and
a total prize fund of £45,000, the Royal Highland is undoubtedly
Scotland’s premier equestrian event.
An agricultural shop window
With the vast majority of agricultural manufacturers, dealers and
specialists represented at the Show, farmers and others in the
agricultural sector have a unique opportunity to review the latest
releases and developments.
Over the four days of the Highland, visitors will be able to explore a
diverse range of contemporary farm equipment, machinery and
techniques and get up to the minute, relevant advice and support.
The place to do business
As well as playing a significant role in supporting the Scottish agricultural
industry, the Highland also has a much wider economic impact – £47.1
million in 2014 – and plays a key role as a forum to highlight and discuss
some of the crucial issues affecting Scotland today. The 2014 Show saw
top figures involved in the Scottish Referendum using the event as
opportunity to promote their manifestos; and in the 2015 the Show will
come a month after the General Election.
Grass roots learning
This year over 30,000 children are expected to visit the Royal Highland
Show where The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) is providing
free interactive activities for school groups and the public at the
Education Centre.
The Centre will be split into two sections one focusing on food with
cooking, cheese tasting, seafood sampling and much more on the menu.
The other focusing on farming where children can learn about livestock,
cereals and celebrating the Year of Soils can take part in two soil based
activities.
Retail therapy
The Show offers a unique ‘High Street’ experience for all visitors,
offering everything from luxury fashions, arts, crafts and home and
garden accessories. Visitors will have the chance to pick up the latest
country styles or take home a piece of rural life.
RHASS president for 2015, Lord Forsyth, is looking forward to this week’s events: “In the 18th century the Highland Society fought for roads
and bridges to revive rural Scotland. Today’s communication challenge
is digital and access to fast broadband and reliable mobile coverage is
vital to the future prosperity of our countryside. I am immensely proud to
have been elected President, in this, the Royal Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland’s 175th year, and look forward to continuing its
tradition of connecting town and country.”
The Royal Highland Show takes place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh from Thursday June 18 to Sunday June 21.
www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk
Leith Festival gets underway at midday today with the traditional pageant and Gala Day …
Sunny Leith’s all set for nine days of festival fun
Nine days of fun, entertainment, exhibitions and performance kicks off in Leith tomorrow with the Gala Day and pageant from midday.
There’s been a festival in Leith for over a hundred years and this year’s programme is as bold and ambitious as it’s ever been with a range of events and activities to suit all tastes.
Dave Carson, Chair of Leith Festival, said: “Leith is one of the largest community festivals in Scotland, with a regular attendance of between 11, 000 – 15,000 local people and families participating on Gala Day, and many more besides during the following week of activites in our comunity.
“Leith Festival celebrates and reflects the cultural diversity amd richness we have in Leith, acting as a facilitator to celebrate our community assets and seeking to promote a sense of community, neighbourliness and connectedness with each other.”
To see the full Leith Festival programme visit
www.leithfestival.com
