FLY Open Air Festival has announced local DJ and producer, Christian Rogers (23), will play the main stage of the electronic festival this May.
The West Lothian lad has recently ditched his career as a plumber to take up DJ’ing full-time following his latest record being signed by Method – the same label which found the likes of Sam Smith & Disclosure.
Bathgate-born Christian turned his hand to DJing when being gifted his first decks for his 15th birthday and started gigging when he was just 18 years old. Now, his latest single ‘Give Me Your Love (Baby)’ – a genre-bending crowd pleaser – has taken over the Soundcloud charts and has had nearly 1.6million streams.
Christian is the latest in a string of forward-thinking dance acts that are pushing Scotland’s reputation for farming dance music superstars such as Calvin Harris, Ewan McVicar & LF System.
Speaking ahead of the festival, he said:“I was until only recently working full-time as a plumber. That was until my latest track ‘Give Me Your Love (Baby)’ went slightly viral!
So, I made the bold decision last month to pack away my tools and focus on DJing full-time. I can’t wait to join the Team at FLY and play Hopetoun House next month. It’s a dream come true.”
In Scotland’s current music landscape, FLY Open Air is a successful outdoor club event with a huge audience, a first-rate roster of DJs, and a growing international presence. The two-day event – scheduled for Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May 2023 – will be celebrating its 10th edition and will take place in the grounds of Hopetoun House in South Queensferry.
Tom Ketley, FLY Festival Founder, said:“Christian was set to play on one of our smaller stages but with all of his success in the last few months, we just had to bump him up to the Main Stage.
“He’s insanely talented and a great young talent for Scotland. At FLY we are all about giving homegrown DJs a platform, so I’m excited to see half of West Lothian down to see the man of the moment!”
‘Give Me Your Love (Baby)’ is available to stream/download on all major music platforms now.
It’s a UK road trip with a difference – music fans have been invited to make the ultimate rock and pop pilgrimage by visiting the locations where some of our biggest stars passed away.
Car rental experts from StressFreeCarRental.com have revealed the postcodes and locations where some of the biggest names in music, including Amy Winehouse, Freddie Mercury and George Michael, sadly died.
They have suggested a 1200-mile round Britain itinerary to visit the sites which can be reached by inputting the provided postcodes into any sat nav device.
But they are urging fans to undertake the road trip purely to pay their respects to the late artists and to remain mindful that many of the sites remain private property.
The 1200-mile road trip takes in several locations which attract thousands of visitors each year – such as the ditch where Marc Bolan crashed his Mini in 1977.
Starting in London the unique tour takes in the spots where icons Amy Winehouse, Freddie Mercury, Keith Moon and Jimi Hendrix passed away.
After leaving the capital music fans are encouraged to journey south to the crash site in Surrey where Glam Rock legend Marc Bolan died before heading on to Hartfield, East Sussex to visit the house where Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones was found dead in a swimming pool in 1969.
They then travel west to Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, where sixties icon Dusty Springfield sadly passed away before heading to nearby Goring-on-Thames where 80s pop legend George Michael died on Christmas Day 2016.
From Goring it’s a short trip to Salisbury where Thin Lizzy star Phil Lynott sadly died. Fans are then told to head to a lay-by close to the Severn Bridge near Bristol where Manic Street Preacher guitarist Richey Edwards is believed to have disappeared. He was later declared legally dead.
From there the road trip turns north stopping at Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire where legendary singer-songwriter Nick Drake passed away, before heading on to a terraced house in Macclesfield where Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hung himself in 1980.
The trip then veers north to Scotland to Auchterhouse, near Dundee, the location of the suicide of Billy Mackenzie, lead singer of 80s band The Associates. He was found in a garden shed after an overdose.
The trip then heads back down south stopping at Arkesden, Essex at the location of the death of legendary Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott who sadly perished in a house fire in 1991.
A spokesman for StressFreeCarRental.com, who came up with the tour, said it was a chance for music fans to pay their respects to some of the biggest icons of all time.
He said: “Britain has produced some of the greatest stars in the history of popular music and many of them will never be forgotten. They are the legends who changed the lives of millions and many of us still listen to their music every day.
“So we thought it would be a good idea to gather together the greatest names who sadly passed away on UK soil and offer music fans an itinerary to visit the places where they passed on.
“Many of the locations remain private homes so we urge everyone who follows our guide to remain courteous and respectful at all times.
“By gathering all of the locations together into one suggested road trip we want to celebrate the legacies of some of the greatest talents Britain has ever produced.
“Fans can print off our handy checklist and tick off each location as they make the trip. By the time they’ve completed their journey they will have visited the locations where some of our greatest stars have passed away. Although in a way these legends will never die. They live on forever through their music.”
Featuring the iconic music of Runrig, and in the year of the band’s 50th anniversary, the show visits Inverness, Stirling, Edinburgh, Greenock, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Perth from 05 May to 24 June
New performers Juliet Cadzow, Robin Campbell, Jenny Hulse, Naomi Stirrat and Ali Watt join returning cast Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan.
Winner Best Music and Sound at the 2022 CATS Awards
The Stamping Ground, the must-see new stage musical featuring the hits of Runrig, one of Scotland’s most beloved and iconic bands, is set to hit the road on a Scotland-wide tour later this year.
An exciting co-production between Raw Material and Eden Court Highlands, the show first premiered in Inverness in July 2022, earning glowing reviews and audience acclaim.
Following the success of last year’s premiere performances The Stamping Ground will now tour to some of Scotland’s biggest stages from 5 May to 24 June 2023. once again opening in Inverness at Eden Court before visiting Stirling (Macrobert Arts Centre), Edinburgh (Festival Theatre), Greenock (The Beacon), Aberdeen (His Majesty’s Theatre), Glasgow (The Kings Theatre), and Perth (Perth Concert Hall).
A heart-soaring musical story about love, life and the land, The Stamping Ground follows the story of Euan and Annie, who return to their rural Scottish community after years away seeking a fresh start with their teenage daughter. But there’s a heatwave in the Highlands and they soon find themselves lost in this once familiar place, now filled with more tourists than residents.
The heart of their community, the local pub, is for sale and tensions are rising about the future of this place they call home. As relationships ignite and smoulder, Euan and Annie find themselves swept into a battle to save the heart of the community. But can they save each other?
Featuring exciting new arrangements of some of Runrig’s most iconic hit songs, including The Greatest Flame, All Things Must Change, and of course The Stamping Ground, the musical shares the soaring power and beating heart of some of the band’s most celebrated music. All of the songs in the show are written by Runrig’s founding members Calum and Rory MacDonald, with 2023 also marking 50 years since the brothers formed the band on the Isle of Skye in 1973.
★★★★“breathes compelling new life into Runrig’s songs” – The Times
★★★★ “Should be guaranteed a long and joyful theatrical life”-The Scotsman
The production will be bolstered with new cast members joining the ensemble for the tour. They include Juliet Cadzow, (an icon of Scottish stage and screen famous for her roles in the likes of River City and Balamory), Jenny Hulse (who has starred as Amber Murdoch in River City since 2015, as well as hit Netflix film Outlaw King), Ali Watt (a regular performer with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, earning rave reviews for his performances during their 70th anniversary season in 2021), Naomi Stirrat (Grid Iron’s Muster Station at EIF 2022), and Robin Campbell (Magnetic North’s Lost in Music)
They will join returning cast members Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan. The performers are also joined on stage by musicians John Kielty, Jon Mackenzie, and Stuart Semple to help bring the soaring power of the songs to life.
The Stamping Ground is written by award-winning playwright Morna Young (concept by Alan B. McLeod) with musical direction & arrangements by John Kielty, directed by Luke Kernaghan and with design from Kenneth MacLeod. The creative team includes Simon Wilkinson as Lighting Designer, Garry Boyle as Sound Designer, and Jade Adamson as Movement Director.
Margaret-Anne O’Donnell and Gillian Garrity, Raw Material, said:“Scottish based independent production company, Raw Material are delighted to be touring their hit, feel-good musical, The Stamping Ground, across Scotland in 2023.
“Audiences in the highlands, both those new to Runrig and lifelong fans of the band united in their appreciation with standing ovations when the show premiered at Eden Court in Summer 2022.
“If you are a fan of musicals, a fan of live theatre or just looking for a great night out then this is definitely one not to miss!”
Calum MacDonald and Rory MacDonald of Runrig said:“It is so good to see that The Stamping Ground is not only returning to Eden Court but going on a Nationwide Tour.
“There has been such a positive reaction from fans and public alike, with still so many that have not had the opportunity to see it first time around.”
Scotland-born online ticketing and livestream events platform, Citizen Ticket, has today expanded its UK and European presence through the launch of a new promotion arm, Citizen Live.
As part of the expansion, the newly formed Citizen Live will host between 80 and 100 events this year in London, further afield in the UK, and Europe. Tickets for Citizen Live will be sold exclusively through Citizen Ticket, with every ticket sold, 5p goes towards planting trees in the UK – making it one of the most sustainable event ticketing platforms on the market.
The new promotion arm, Citizen Live, will be led by Harpo Scaini & Alesandro Sforza. Between them, Scaini and Sforza have over a decade of industry experience in creating, producing and selling out shows, and have hosted more than 300 events across the UK and Europe.
To celebrate the launch, Citizen Live will be hosting a launch event at Amazing Grace in London Bridge on Tuesday 28th March. Scaini and Sforza have secured Emma Noble to help mark the monumental night for the brand.
Tickets for the event start at £13.50 and can be purchased via the Citizen Ticket website.
Harry Boisseau, Co-founder & CEO of Citizen Ticket, said: “We’re delighted to have Harpo and Alesandro on board and look forward to embarking on this next chapter for the business.
“Through ticketing thousands of events and analysing the data from Citizen Ticket, we can really get a grasp of what ticket purchasers are looking for and what there is demand for. We’re excited to host a wide range of events over the next year.”
Commenting on the launch, Harpo Scaini and Alesandro Sforza, said: “We share a passion for producing live events and we know that every detail matters. We’re excited to launch Citizen Live and continue promoting a strong line-up of events going forward.”
Citizen Live aims to create an established UK-based promoter that can also operate in Europe. It will tailor a live music product, expand a roster of artists, and venues and create the best live shows. The data and marketing reach of the Citizen Ticket platform will help market the shows and feedback data to help understand the type of shows that there is customer appetite for.
In 2023 Citizen Live will host 80-100 events at a mid-capacity range (200 – 600) with plans to focus on a larger scale, higher production and more ambitious live content within the next few years.
Scotland’s newest camping festival, Otherlands, adds Six by Nico to its line-up for 2023
Partnership marks new direction for Six by Nico with first-ever ‘al-fresco’ experience
Otherlands Music & Arts Festival has announced that it’s adding flavour to its line-up this summer by teaming up with leading restaurant brand Six by Nico. Festival goers can look forward to a one-of-a-kind woodland sensory dining experience, bringing a bespoke gastronomic story to life.
The festival lands at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland, this summer (11th-13th August 2023) for its second edition, bringing some of the most influential global and home-grown musical talent to its stages.
With 11 locations across the UK, including Edinburgh – the restaurant – will be dishing up its classic six-course menu across August 12th and 13th. Six by Nico will reveal the brand-new menu, exclusive to Otherlands in coming months. It will also be the group’s first-ever al-fresco dining experience.
Otherlands Arts and Music Festival was founded by Tom Ketley, owner of FLY – an event promotion company which has been hosting music events across Scotland now for over a decade. The festival boasts everything from live and electronic music, to punk, rock and rap.
Acts already announced for 2023 include the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Skin On Skin, Nia Archives & Overmono. Headline acts in 2022 included DJs BICEP, Jamie XX and Honey Dijon, while there were daytime live performances from singers Joesef, Maverick Sabre and Biig Piig.
As well as a carefully curated line-up of forward-thinking artists spanning multiple stages, the festival will also boast immersive art installations from leading Scottishartists, and will even host comedy direct from Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, DJ Workshops, and inspiring industry talks and panel discussions with industry leaders.
Sam Joss, Otherlands Festival Director said: “We’re so excited about this partnership!
“With food at festivals being more important than ever, this collaboration really aligns with our ethos and pairs well with boutique camping, a stunning location and of course, a globally recognised musical line-up.
“We can’t wait to see how our guests react to the creativity of the Six by Nico menu and enjoy this multi-sensory dining experience in the unbeatable setting that is Scone Palace”.
Andy Temple, Chef and Chief Creative Officer at Six by Nico, said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Otherlands on this unique event.
“It’s something completely new for us, and I believe it represents a new creative turning point for our company. A multi-sensory dining idea pushes us outside of our comfort zone and is an exciting move in a new direction for Six by Nico, as part of our mission to innovate and challenge ourselves in designing a new menu every six weeks.
“Otherlands takes a multifaceted approach to their festival, celebrating music, wellness, and arts, and Six by Nico is excited to add to that with our new on-site dining experience. The festival itself brings people together to celebrate, and our team is delighted to be a part of it”.
Early-bird Festival tickets are now sold out, but limited first release tickets are still available – ranging from £180-£189 for camping and non-camping options with Day Tickets becoming available at the end of March. Six by Nico ticket add-ons will go on sale following the launch of the menu in May.
As part of the collaboration, a competition will also be launching soon, where three lucky winners will bag two weekend camping tickets, a pair of tickets to the multi-sensory dining experience and a table for two people at Six by Nico. Another six runners-up prizes of £20 Six by Nico vouchers will be up for grabs.
Edinburgh Tradfest has launched its 2023 programme of traditional live music, storytelling, dance, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
Over the 11 days of the Festival, hundreds of artists and musicians will perform, including American folk singer, two-time winner, and six-time Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, who will kick off the festival at the Assembly Rooms on Friday 28 Aprilsupported by special guests Roo Geddes and Neil Sutcliffe.
Over the opening weekend the programme is packed with music, dance, song, and special events including a screening of award-winning documentary film Heading West: a story about a band called Shooglenifty; performances from Orcadian powerhouse FARA, legendary pipers Rona Lightfoot and Allan Macdonald, Austro-British, singer-songwriter, folk-punk musician Alicia Edelweiss; tenor banjo player Ciaran Ryan and his band; and live music (Fri-Sun) until late at the Traverse Theatre Bar.
Plus, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the festival kicks off with the return of Pomegranates – a weekend of dance, performance, and workshops run by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland to celebrate International Dance Day (29 April); and the second North Atlantic Song Convention run by the Traditional Music Forum takes place, with delegates from around the world gathering in Edinburgh to celebrate and learn about our rich song traditions.
Unmissable highlights continue during the first weekwith Two for Joy a new piece of music commissioned specifically for the festival, composed and arranged by award-winning harpist Ailie Robertson, and performed by Neil Sutcliffe, Alice Allen, Alastair Savage, Josie Duncan, and Heather Cartwright. Two for Joy explores the use of birdsong in music and folklore, and the positive impact it can have on our mental health.
Musicians also performing during the first week are BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year 2023 Amy Laurenson with her newly formed trio; Mississippi Delta songbird Bronwynne Brent who was crowned Female Vocalist of The Year by Americana UK in 2019; Swedish nyckelharpa player Fredy Clue; America’s masters of old-time, bluegrass, classic country and Cajun music The Foghorn Stringband; trailblazing cellist Juliette Lemoine(who counts SAY-award winning pianist Fergus McCreadie among her A-list backing band); award-winning singer and composer Kim Carnie; Northumbria’s Kathryn Tickell OBEwho has twice won ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, performing with her band The Darkening; and Gnawa musician Omar Afif in a collaboration with local sax wizard Steve Kettley.
At the Scottish Storytelling Centre the week one programme is packed with fantastic events including a talk on naturalist Nan Shepherd (author of The Living Mountain) conducted by Erlend Clouston; a performance by the Scots Opera Project of the acclaimed The Seal-Woman written by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock in 1924; Shapeshifters which returns with more terrifying and tragic folktales from Scotland including the Seal Killer of Duncansby Head and Saba the deer mother told by storyteller Fiona Herbert with song, harp and fiddle from Emma Durkan; open-floor storytelling at the Waverley Bar with Ailsa Dixon; and for younger audiences, folklorist Allison Galbraith will be telling stories from her latest collection Funny Folk Tales for Children.Plus, to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week, Solar Bear will present a panel discussion and a series of new films created and developed over the last three years exploring deaf folklore, deaf identity and disability.
Week two of the Festival also offers a packed programme including spring ceilidhs at the Scottish Storytelling Centre; the traditional May Day March – Fighting Back Together (6 May) which travels down the Royal Mile culminating in a rally against unjust labour laws and the cost of living crisis at The Pleasance; a performance of the ancient and much-loved border ballad of Thomas the Rhymer narrated by Julia Munrow and with music by John Sampson; tales of bees, birds, and international stories performed by Susan Strauss (Oregon, USA) chosen from her book Tree with Golden Apples; the launch of Stuart McHardy’s new book The Nine Maidens: Priestesses of the Ancient World;and Donald Smith presenting his recently published Storm and Shore a bardsaga for our times, reflecting our need for contemporary solace and sanctuary close to nature.
At the Traverse the musical talent continues with a Hands Up For Trad concert for #WorldPlayAStrathyspeyDay (6 May) with musicians Graham Mackenzie, Madeleine Stewart, Rory Matheson and Adam Sutherland performing a mix of trad strathspeys, reels, marches and the official strathspey written for the new king; a performance by Rory Matheson and Graham Rorie whose album We Have Won The Land celebrates the success of the Assynt Crofter’s Trust in buying back the North Lochinver Estate from a Swedish land speculator 30 years ago; music from daughter/father duo Dirk and Amelia Powell from Louisiana who bring their deeply rooted Cajun, Appalachian and original sounds to the festival for the first time; nu-folk singer-songwriter and ukulele musician Zoë Bestel; 2022 MG ALBA Musician of The Year nominee fiddle player Ryan Young; the Edinburgh Folk Club returning with husband and wife combo Jim and Susie Malcolm; and, to close the festival, award-winning musical geniuses Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) and Tim Edey (Chieftains) will raise the roof with an unmissable festival finale of foot-stomping tunes topped with great banter.
This year the festival also presents its first ETF Spotlight which will showcase some of the most exciting new performers emerging in folk and traditional music today including high energy folk band Falasgair; guitarist and singer-songwriter Heather Cartwright; folk musician and activist Maddie Morris; and the Madeleine Stewart Trio which includes Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhran).
Throughout the Festival there will also be workshops for all levels including the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin weekend for 13-18 year olds; Cajun and Appalachian tunes/songs with Dirk and Amelia Powell, fiddle tunes with Ryan Young, a Shetland tunes workshop with Amy Laurenson; and storytelling with international storyteller Susan Strauss (Oregon USA).
Finally, Edinburgh Tradfest is delighted to host this year’s Rebellious Truth lecture/recital presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, which will explore mental health issues in the music industry.
Led by Gaelic singer, composer, researcher and broadcaster Mischa Macpherson who will be joined on stage by Celtic and Scottish Studies musician-in-residence Fraser Fifield. This event is free but ticketed, and will be live-streamed.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch, Alan Morrison Head of Music at Creative Scotlandsaid: “With its potent mix of music, dance, song and storytelling, Tradfest is a true reflection of Scottish culture – past, present and future.
“Newly commissioned work sits alongside favourites from the treasure trove of Scotland’s heritage, all of which is enriched by the international artists who are threaded through the programme. At a time when respect and tolerance for different cultures is under global threat, Tradfest offers a shining example of how we can celebrate both our shared humanity and our distinct traditions.”
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are super excited about the scope of this year’s festival, not to mention the quality of the performers from Scotland and overseas: from Grammy-winners to homegrown superstars; visiting virtuosos to emerging talent; tunes with centuries of tradition to new writing.
“We have it all. Every day of the festival is brimming with talent and we encourage everyone to connect with their favourites and try something new. You can be assured of a warm welcome.”
Steve Byrne, Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland): “TRACS is delighted to contribute a rich offering from across the traditional arts to this year’s Tradfest.
“The festival is a fantastic platform for singers, dancers, musicians and storytellers to follow in the great Edinburgh spring tradition of celebrating our traditional cultures both local and global.”
Daniel Abercrombie, Programme & Events Manager, Scottish Storytelling Centre:“Tradfest is a chance for us to celebrate a range of traditional arts through live performance and participation.
“The Storytelling Centre’s programme has themes of nature and the environment running through it with ceilidhs, long-form storytelling, dance and song events, sitting alongside Celtic opera, BSL digital storytelling and family events. Something for everyone this spring!”
Musician Amy Laurensonsaid: “I’m delighted to be performing at this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest in May.It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of today’s event and to give everyone a taste of what to expect to hear from us.
“Winning Young Trad Musician of the Year was absolutely fantastic and I am super excited to see what the next year holds.”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2023will run from Friday 28 April – Monday 8 May.
Whitney Houston’s biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” takes first place with over 2,5 billion streams
“Top Gun: Maverick” comes in second, while “Elvis” is third
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” has the most popular soundtrack of 2022, a new study has revealed.
The study conducted by CasinoBonusCA analyzed 50 of the most popular movies of 2022 and compared their official soundtrack albums on Spotify, summing the streams for each song, to determine which soundtrack is the most popular of last year.
Whitney Houston’s biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is first, as the album got a total of 2.5 billion streams. The soundtrack is composed of 35 songs, including some of Houston’s most famous hits, such as “How Will I Know”, “Saving All My Love for You” and the song which gave the movie its name, which also has the most streams in the whole album – almost one billion.
Second on the list is “Top Gun: Maverick” with 1.4 billion streams overall. The highly anticipated sequel of the 1986 hit movie was released on May 27th, 2022, in North America, with its soundtrack dropping on Spotify in the same week.
The album includes original songs which quickly became popular, such as “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic, which has 733 million streams alone.
Another biopic, “Elvis” comes in third place with 508 million streams. The album comprises 36 songs, among which there are covers of Presley’s songs, remixes and some original scores.
Further down on the list, “Don’t Worry Darling”, starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh, is fourth with 407 million streams. The album contains only 13 songs but managed to be among the most listened of the year.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” closes the top five with 382 million streams. The soundtrack comprises original songs by Ludwig Goransson, Rihanna, Burna Boy and more.
Top 10 most popular soundtracks 2022
Rank
Movie/Tv Show
Spotify album play count
1
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
2,530,000,000
2
Top Gun: Maverick
1,400,000,000
3
Elvis
508,000,000
4
Don’t Worry Darling
407,000,000
5
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
382,000,000
6
Turning Red
184,000,000
7
Purple Hearts
179,000,000
8
Marry Me
147,000,000
9
Nope
67,794,980
10
Bullet Train
67,404,044
A spokesperson for CasinoBonusCA commented on the findings: “It is interesting to see the biopics of Whitney Houston and Elvis where the soundtrack is a foundational part of the movie, are next to “regular” movies, which had an original and fairly new soundtrack that was created and curated specifically for it.
“An example of this is Top Gun: Maverick, which includes original songs by OneRepublic and Lady Gaga, as well as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with features by Rihanna and Burna Boy”.
Tickets are on sale for Royal Highland Hoolie, an evening of the best Scottish music, taking place Saturday 24 June. Tickets are available only to those already attending or who purchase a Saturday ticket to the Royal Highland Show.
Hosted in partnership with legendary and sell-out country music phenomenon Farmers Bash, the Royal Highland Hoolie will showcase some of Scotland & Ireland’s best homegrown musical talent.
The line-up of artists will be announced within the coming weeks and will represent the vibrancy of the intrinsically linked Scottish & Irish music scene, from traditional Scottish folk music to Irish Country – there will be something for everyone at this exciting new event.
Royal Highland Hoolie presented by Farmers Bash will run from 6pm – 10.30pm on Saturday 24 June.
Royal Highland Hoolie tickets are £30, with VIP tickets available at £50. Further details, including the line-up, will be announced in March. Tickets can be purchased from Friday 24February at: royalhighlandshow.org
Jim Warnock, Chairman of Royal Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), commented: “Over the last few years, RHASS has been exploring options to satisfy the rising demand for evening entertainment at the Royal Highland Show.
“Last year the first-ever series of Big Top concerts were held which saw acts performing to a sell-out crowd.
“This year, we are happy to be working with Farmers Bash to present the Royal Highland Hoolie, which promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment that we are sure will be welcomed by our visitors as a fun extension of their Royal Highland Show experience.”
Farmers Bash organiser, Nigel Campbell, added: “We are very much looking forward to bringing the spirit of Farmers Bash to Scotland.
“Our events are extremely popular amongst rural communities and we are sure that the Royal Highland Hoolie will be a fantastic night of live music and a great addition to the Royal Highland Show.”
Thousands of tickets will be made available for displaced Ukrainians to attend the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May
Around 3,000 tickets will be made available for displaced Ukrainians living in the UK
Government also announces £10 million of support to help host Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine and showcase its culture and creativity
Announcements mark a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Thousands of tickets will be made available for displaced Ukrainians to attend the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May.
The Government has agreed that around 3,000 tickets will be made available for those Ukrainians who have been forced from their homes and are living in the UK – meaning they can attend one of the live shows and help mark the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra’s victory at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
While Ukraine won the competition in 2022 it is unable to host because of Russia’s illegal invasion. The UK, who finished second in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest with the track ‘Space Man’ from Sam Ryder, agreed to host and create an event which honoured Ukraine’s culture and people.
This ticket allocation will see thousands of Ukrainians attending the live shows and is another example of the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine.
The news comes as the Government announces £10 million in funding to help ensure the event truly showcases Ukrainian culture. The money will support Liverpool City Council and the BBC’s partnerships with Ukrainian artists and performers to ensure a collaborative show celebrating music and how it unites people from around the world.
It will also support security, visa arrangements and other operational aspects of the contest, as well as Liverpool City Council’s schools, community and volunteering programmes.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “ Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine means the contest cannot be held where it should be. But we are honoured to be supporting the BBC and Liverpool in hosting it on their behalf, and are determined to make sure the Ukrainian people are at the heart of this event.
“ Today’s announcement means that thousands of tickets will be offered to those displaced by war, so that they can take part in a show honouring their homeland, their culture and their music. As always, we stand together with the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom.”
Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko said: “The allocation of almost 3,000 tickets to displaced Ukrainians for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool will allow our compatriots here to enjoy the event and celebrate our country’s rich culture and music.
“ The UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion has been exemplary and this gesture is another example of that commitment. The £10 million in funding to showcase Ukrainian culture is also greatly appreciated and will help to put on a collaborative show bringing people from around the world closer to each other.
“ We are grateful to the UK Government, Liverpool City Council, and the BBC for their efforts to honour Ukraine’s culture and people through this event.”
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: “ Ukraine is at the heart of all our Eurovision host city plans.
“ Working with our Ukrainian community we are shaping a thought-provoking and powerful programme that is all-encompassing and representative of modern Ukraine – inspiring, poignant, funny, beautiful and moving.
“ We’re delighted with the news that displaced Ukrainians are being given the opportunity to come to the city in May – this is their Eurovision after all. Our team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and we can’t wait to give them a warm Liverpool welcome and, fingers crossed, do them, the rest of the Ukraine and the UK proud.”
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia a year ago, millions of Ukrainians have been forced from their homes, with many finding refuge in the UK.
Those who are based in the UK via the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be able to apply for tickets. Tickets will be offered for all nine live shows, including the semi-finals, the preview shows and the live final on Saturday 13 May.
The announcement comes after President Zelenskyy visited the UK during which the Prime Minister underlined the country’s commitment to support Ukraine and help secure lasting peace.
Edinburgh Tradfest’s full music programme for 2023 is now on sale. The programme includes a fantastic line-up of live music, talks, and new commissions, at the Traverse and various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.
Opening the Festival on Friday 28 April is the electrifying two-time winner, and six-time Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens performing withmulti-instrumentalist, pianist and composer Francesco Turrisi. These amazing international talentsare supported by newcomers Roo Geddes and Neil Sutcliffe whose debut album Homelands released in 2022 has been met with huge acclaim.
Over the 11 days of the Festival more than 100 artists and musicians will perform. From Scotland the line-up includes well-known award-winning bands, and emerging new musicians including Shetland pianist Amy Laurenson who was recently crowned BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Musician of the Year 2023. Other great talents taking part include legendary pipers Rona Lightfoot and Allan Macdonald; Rory Matheson and Graham Rorie whose album We Have Won The Land celebrates the success of the Assynt Crofter’s Trust in buying back the North Lochinver Estate from a Swedish land speculator 20 years ago; tenor banjo player Ciaran Ryan and his band; spell-binding vocals and harmonies from Orcadian powerhouse FARA; trailblazing cellist Juliette Lemoine (who counts SAY-award winning pianist Fergus McCreadie among her A-list backing band); award-winning singer and composer Kim Carnie (above); nu-folk singer-songwriter and ukulele musician Zoë Bestel; 2022 MG ALBA Musician of The Year nominee fiddle player Ryan Young; and, to close the festival, award-winning musical geniuses Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) and Tim Edey (Chieftains) playing an unmissable festival finale of foot-stomping tunes topped with great banter.
Other great musicians from further afield, include talented Austro-British, singer-songwriter, folk-punk musician Alicia Edelweiss; Mississippi Delta songbird Bronwynne Brent who was crowned Female Vocalist of The Year by Americana UK in 2019; Swedish nyckelharpa player Fredy Clue; America’s masters of old-time, bluegrass, classic country and Cajun music The Foghorn Stringband; Northumbria’s Kathryn Tickell who has twice won ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, presents Music Planet and holds an OBE for services to folk music, performing with her band The Darkening; Gnawa musician Omar Afif in a collaboration with local sax wizard Steve Kettley; and daughter/father duo Dirk and Amelia Powell from Louisiana who bring their deeply rooted Cajun, Appalachian and original sounds to the festival for the first time.
Premiering this year is the festival’s new commission Two For Joy composed and arranged by award-winning harpist Ailie Robertson, which explores the use of birdsong in music and folklore, and the positive impact that listening to birdsong has on our mental health.
Joining Ailie on stage to perform this new work are some of the most talented musicians in Scotland – Neil Sutcliffe, Alice Allen, Alastair Savage, Josie Duncan, and Heather Cartwright. Supporting this Two for Joy premiere will be the very talented Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin Band.
Also new for 2023 is ETF Spotlight which will showcase some of the most exciting new performers emerging in folk and traditional music today including high energy folk band Falasgair; guitarist and singer-songwriter Heather Cartwright; folk musician and activist Maddie Morris; and the Madeleine Stewart Trio which includes Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhran).
Returning for a third year is Edinburgh Tradfest’s Rebellious Truth lecture/recital presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, which explores mental health issues in the music industry.
Led by Gaelic singer, composer, researcher and broadcaster Mischa Macpherson the lecture looks in depth at the mental pressures that traditional musicians face and also the joy in playing the music you love.
In 2021 her study involving over 2000 artists, was presented in an award-winning documentary on BBC Alba Ceol is Cradh featuring interviews with some of the folk scene’s best-known faces including Ross Ainslie, Greg Lawson Laura Wilkie and Corrina Hewat. This fascinating talk accompanied by live music from Mischa and Celtic and Scottish Studies musician-in-residence Fraser Fifield is free but ticketed and will be live-streamed.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We’re delighted to be able to share our stellar music programme for this year’s festival ahead of the full programme being announced in March.
“Edinburgh Tradfest is brimming with musical highlights from some of the best trad and folk musicians from Scotland and around the world.”
Siobhan Anderson, Music Officer at Creative Scotlandsaid: “An incredible mix of talent from emerging local artists through to international award winners provides another exciting and diverse programme in the capital.
“Tradfest continues to offer performance opportunities to artists and allows audiences to experience a wealth of talent, new commissions and engaging talks covering important issues within the traditional music sector.”
The full programme for this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest including events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, and the Edinburgh Folk Club will be launched mid-March and will include an unmissable line-up of talks, adult and children’s music workshops, ceilidhs, and storytelling thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.
Edinburgh Tradfest 2023 will run from Friday 28 April – Monday 8 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
