The Edinburgh International Festival announces the opening of the Philharmonia VR Experience at Space @ Broomhouse Hub, which will be available for four days of music and discovery from 20th – 24th August.
This 360° experience, which is free to attend and unticketed, brings the classical music experience to Broomhouse with the opportunity to see the UK premiere of the Philharmonia VR Experience’s performance of Vaughan Williams’s iconic piece, The Lark Ascending, performed by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Attendees will wear a VR headset which will allow them to sit right in the heart of the orchestra and experience this profoundly moving performance in astonishing detail. This VR experience will be staffed by graduates and members of Space Station, an entry level skills development course designed to support local people into the hospitality sector.
The Philharmonia VR Experience marks the first Edinburgh International Festival event held at Space @ The Broomhouse Hub which was named as the Edinburgh International Festival’s inaugural Community Connections Hub earlier this year. Which is an 18-month partnership exploring opportunities for creative collaboration and connection between the Festival and the local community.
Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub said: “This is a wonderful thing to be able to bring to Broomhouse. Despite being in Edinburgh, it can often feel as though big cultural activities are set very far apart from communities like those in Southwest Edinburgh.
“This partnership will allow people to experience things they never have before or take part in things that they simply would never have considered. This is the first event as part of our link with Edinburgh International Festival and we are excited to see what the next 18 months might bring.”
This event is free and unticketed. Each slot is 20 minutes long. Listed below are the times the VR Experience is open.
Wed 21 Aug 11.30-13.45, 15.00-16.00, 17.00-18.40
Fri 23 Aug 11.30-13.45, 15.00-16.40
Sat 24 Aug 10.30-11.45, 13.15-14.00, 15.00-16.40
More information on the Edinburgh International Festival’s Discovery and Participation programme, which runs year-round, can be found here: https://www.eif.co.uk/social-impact.
The Besties is a new series of awards celebrating the best across Edinburgh’s August Festivals. The Award is a partnership between The Skinny & Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland.
The Skinny and Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland are delighted to announce the winners of the second round of the weekly new Festival Awards, The Besties, in the following categories:
The award ceremony took place on Saturday 17th August at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, hosted by comedian Josephine Lacey whose show Autism Mama is at the Pleasance Courtyard, with performances from Orkney musician Catriona Price who performed earlier this week at Queen’s Hall and Edinburgh New Town Church, celebrating her debut album, Hert.
The Besties award, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter who has recently graduated fromInterior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, uses recyclable plastics gathered at the Festival Theatre Café and leftover wood sourced locally.
Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and responding to the need for a pan-festivals award, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival which started on Thursday 15 August, and others, making them the one of the only awards to celebrate the full spectrum of culture in the city.
Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. The categories will reflect the diversity of the magazines’ coverage and might be different every week.
The third and last ceremony will take place on Saturday 24th August.
Care Home Residents Enjoy The 3rd Annual Fringe Cares Festival
2024 Fringe Cares Festival – conceived by The Edinburgh Interfaith Association back in 2023 – started once again with a very successful event at Queen’s Manor Care Home on Queensferry Road.
Performers from all over the world take part in the Fringe Cares Festival which brings a taste of the musical & theatrical talents of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to all residents of 7 care homes in the city, in a partnership sponsored by Barchester Healthcare, The Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Scottish Care and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
Queens Manor Care Home, the founding care home Residents, relatives, friends and staff – along with several guests from the local community, were able to participate in a full afternoon of entertainment.
Lord Provost Councillor Robert Aldridge attended and said, “This is my favourite part of the Fringe!”
The event included a piper on arrival, drinks canapes and cocktails. Street performer Andie Mars with her impressive hula hoops displays, forget me Nots Children’s’ Parties provided face painting and visiting Princess Ariel. Matthew Shiel, award winning classical pianist played in the foyer.
The main act – “Ella, Etta and Eartha”, singer Melissa Western and her accompanists rounded off the show in a performance inspired by those legendary female singers.
Professor Joe Goldblatt, who inspired and instigated the Fringe Cares Festival explained: “The first year my wife and I sponsored one performer and I was amazed when residents who had not spoken for months suddenly burst forth into song, in French, when a Fringe performer began to sing the Edith Piaf classic ‘La vie en rose’.
“As they sang along, I was speechless and in awe of the power of musical memories to inspire their strong positive emotions and awaken their senses. The events of this year so far at Queens Manor were no less than spectacular – offering the same level of amazement that we had in our founding year!”
Margaret-Ann Davidson, General Manager of Queens Manor in Edinburgh, said: “I am delighted the Queens Manor Team is able to support our residents to participate in such an exciting initiative, which has grown each year; and we are proud to be part of Barchester Healthcare, the founding sponsor for this special programme.
“Music, entertainment, time with loved ones and friends are key elements of life enrichment for all care home residents. In years gone by the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe would have been part of the lives of many of those in our care.
“Through the Fringe Cares Festival, we are able to bring a flavour of the excitement, fun, and delights of the Festival Fringe to our residents at home. The long-term aim of this project is to help ensure that all care home residents in Edinburgh have access to the Fringe Cares Festival in the next 10 years – regardless of care provider.
“There are many other entertainers participating at the other 6 care homes. We look forward to the feedback and photographs”.
The executive director of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Iain Stewart said: “EIFA is very proud to have conceived this programme as part of our commitment to bringing people together to celebrate, communicate, and appreciate one another through music.
“The 36-year-old EIFA is the oldest interfaith association and represents all faiths and none promoting respect, understanding, peace and love.
The Fringe Cares Festival at Barchester dramatically demonstrates that we may all come together and benefit through music”.
We are already looking at inspiration and planning for this event in 2025 – if you would like to be involved or become a sponsor, please reach out to either Joe Goldblatt at joe@joegoldblatt.scot or margaretann-davidson@barchester.com.
VPZ, the UK’s largest vaping retailer, will be attending Party At The Palace and plans to reward environmentally conscious festivalgoers who recycle their disposable vapes at the event.
The festival, which takes place on August 10 -11th at Linlithgow Palace, will be attended by the vaping retailer who alongside offering smoking cessation tools and advice will be debuting their innovative recycling service on the go.
Festivalgoers will be able to recycle any disposable vapes in VPZ’s bins at their stand and be rewarded with £1 off a reusable alternative.
Doug Mutter, Director at VPZ, said: “We are looking forward to bringing along our own innovative recycling services to Party At The Place to tackle the environmental problem of disposable vaping alongside offering incentives to those recycling to access reusable alternatives.”
VPZ, the UK’s largest vaping retailer, will be rewarding eco-friendly revellers during 2024’s Party At The Palace.
Festivalgoers are set to benefit from the vaping retailer’s one year anniversary of its partnership with WasteCare which saw VPZ launch a recycling service for vaping devices and e-cigarettes across all its UK stores.
Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries and plastic and when littered they can cause harm to the local environment.
This vape recycling service will be debuting in a mobile form at Linlithgow Palace and will be open to all vapers throughout the festival, as anyone can visit the stand and dispose safely of their vaping devices or e-cigarettes.
VPZ will have two recycling bins throughout the weekend at Party At The Palace, both located at the seating area at its stand with one for batteries and one for disposables.
For their eco-friendly efforts, for every disposable vape recycled at the Party At The Palace, VPZ are offering festivalgoers £1 off the purchase of any reusable AEQ vape at the event.
VPZ Director Doug Mutter said: “At VPZ, we are pioneering in the battle against waste and are proud to have launched our vape recycling service across all stores and now debuting it on the go.
“Our appearance at Party At The Palace will be a great chance to tackle this burgeoning environmental issue head on and aid people to safely dispose of disposable vapes throughout the event.
“We strongly believe this innovative service and intervention is vital in responding to an emerging environmental problem whilst educating vapers on the long-term financial benefits of using reusable products.”
Alongside being in attendance to educate on the environmental impact of vaping, VPZ will also be offering a dedicated one-to-one service to help smokers quit. VPZ specialists are trained and have expert knowledge, engaging with smokers to educate them on the health and financial benefits of switching to vaping.
To reflect VPZ’s full commitment to helping UK smokers on their stop-smoking journey, the vape specialist is also introducing a 30-day switch guarantee. This guarantee offers a full refund to anyone who doesn’t make a complete switch to vaping in 30 days, supporting VPZ’s confidence in the role of vaping for a Smoke-Free 2030 national goal.
By introducing this policy, VPZ is not only investing in the well-being of people trying to stop smoking but also educating them on the financial benefits of vaping.
VPZ Director Doug Mutter added:“VPZ is the UK’s leading vaping specialist, and we are spearheading the fight against the nation’s number one killer – smoking.
“At VPZ, we are much more than a vaping retailer, as our new 30-day guarantee provides a solution to Smoke-Free targets and stands by our promise to support all smokers on their own quit-smoking journey.
“Our approach gives adult smokers the help and advice they need at a time when local stop-smoking services across the country are under threat whilst supporting the country’s ambitions to become a smoke-free nation by 2030.
“We are fully supportive of the UK government’s ban on disposable vaping products and it is positive progress that we have a proposed enforcement date for April 1 next year but it’s critical that they take on board advice and guidance to regain much-needed momentum and help the country meet its 2030 ambitions.
“VPZ has been calling on the UK Government to introduce licencing and controls for selling vaping products for the past two years and it’s hugely important a ban operates alongside a licencing scheme where there are proper punishments and policing in place to enforce the ban and tackle the growth of the existing black market.”
Researchers at King’s College London found vaping to be a more effective treatment than nicotine replacement therapy for stopping smoking.
A further report from the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Group backs vaping as an effective treatment for tobacco dependency and recommends that it should be included and encouraged in all treatment pathways. The report also found that the long-term impact of vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
To date, Edinburgh-based VPZ has already helped over 700k smokers in the UK quit since it was established in 2012.
Information on the UK Government’s Smoke-Free by 2030 plans can be found here:
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh’s own artefact, a questionnaire complete by John Lennon in 1973, forms a part of an exciting new global treasure hunt, launched in honour of the release of John Lennon’s ‘Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection’.
Hard Rock Internationalis proud to kick off theJohn Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Huntalongside theJohn Lennon EstateandUMe, the global catalog division of Universal Music Group, for fans around the world.
This questionnaire displayed within the Edinburgh venue, filled out in pen by Lennon himself, features 23 categories that offer a candid glimpse into his personal thoughts and feelings at the time.
Signed and dated by Lennon, many of his answers vividly express his deep affection for Yoko Ono, highlighting the profound bond they shared. Each response provides insight into Lennon’s personality, preferences, and priorities during a pivotal period in his life and career.
The document serves as a testament to Lennon’s openness and his willingness to share his innermost sentiments, particularly his love and admiration for Yoko Ono.
The questionnaire is not only a piece of personal memorabilia but also a valuable historical artefact, reflecting the intimate and emotional aspects of one of the most influential figures in music history.
Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at its locations around the globe. Memorabilia highlights to discover through the John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt include clothing, instruments, sketches, lyrics and more at various Hard Rock locations.
The treasure hunt launch aligns with John & Yoko’s new social website citizenofnutopia.com, a map of the world where fans can sign up, leave peaceful messages, enjoy “Meditation Affirmations” and express their gratitude and admiration for John & Yoko and their core principles of Peace, Love and Truth.
Nutopia is an imaginary country created by John Lennon & Yoko Ono in 1973, promoting the ideas of Peace and Love made famous by John’s songs ‘Imagine’ and ‘Mind Games’.
Citizens of Nutopia can earn points and rewards in the Unity by Hard Rock global loyalty program when they visit participating Hard Rock Cafes, Casinos and Hotels to discover precious John Lennon memorabilia tagged with QR codes that when scanned, provide more stories about the artefacts and points on the website.
Items include:
Hard Rock Cafe Manchester: Oriental teapot and matching goblets from John Lennon’s Kenwood home
Hard Rock Cafe London Piccadilly: John Lennon’s Gold Tone Algha Spectacles (Mid-1960s)
Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane (Vault, Requires Special Tour): Baldwin Harpsichord (1967)
Hard Rock Cafe Brussels: “You Are Here” Pen and Ink on Paper (1971)
Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest: Black Suit Worn by John Lennon During The Beatles’ US Tour (1965)
Hard Rock Cafe Florence: Black Leather Jacket Worn by John Lennon in “How I Won the War” (1967)
Hard Rock Cafe Key West: John Lennon’s Blue Denim Work Shirt Worn While Recording “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” (1974)
Hard Rock Cafe New York: Handwritten “Help!” Lyrics (1965)
Hard Rock Cafe Orlando: Original John Lennon “PEACE AND LOVE” and Portrait Sketch (1969)
Additionally, Hard Rock is offering incredible discounts and offers for John Lennon fans when they participate:
Citizens of Nutopia will receive 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at participating locations.
Citizens of Nutopia will receive 20% off Rock Shop® merchandise at participating locations.
The John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt serves to celebrate the release of ‘Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection’ sets.
The definitive Ultimate Collection puts listeners in the centre of the studio and explores the album’s 1973 recording sessions at the Record Plant in New York City, from inception to the final master, through scores of unreleased outtakes, unadulterated versions, instrumentals, stripped down mixes, studio chatter and more, revealing how fan-favorite songs evolved and came to life.
Sean Ono Lennon says: “We’ve been working on the box sets of Mind Games for years now. Initially I thought, ‘Mind Games’.. game… What if we ‘gamified’ Mind Games? So that’s all I’ll say for now, but there are many levels to this release, including the box sets and far beyond – that will slowly unravel – and I hope will potentially entertain and engage everyone for many years to come.
“I hope you enjoy these Mind Games with Hard Rock and as my Mom says in the intro to the book, let’s see how we can make a positive future with it – to play a positive mind game with one another.
Giovanni Taliaferro, Vice President of Memorabilia and Design at Hard Rock International, said: “Preserving music history is what enriches the Hard Rock travel, dining and gaming experience.
“We are honored to display priceless pieces from John Lennon’s musical and inspirational legacy. We have the utmost gratitude to the John Lennon Estate and Universal Music Group for inviting us to participate in this amazing venture.
“We hope that by learning from Hard Rock’s memorabilia collection, John’s biggest fans can imagine how his artistry and ideals still endure today.”
The 2024 Edinburgh International Festival begins today with the first of more than 160 events in an exhilarating 24-day celebration of opera, dance, music and theatre in Scotland’s capital city. More than 2,000 internationally renowned artists from across 42 nations, including more than 1,000 Scottish artists, will perform.
The International Festival opens with Opening Event: Where to Begin, an immersive outdoor experience in partnership with The Macallan single malt Scotch whisky. The event is set to welcome thousands in central Edinburgh, blending installation, projection and live performance for only three nights, from2 – 4 August.
First week highlights include: the world-premiere staged adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir The Outrun, the Scottish premiere of Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos, and the UK production premiere of Carmen, direct from Paris’s legendary opera house, Opéra-Comique.
To ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to cultural discovery, 2024 sees our most generous concessions policy to date: 50% of tickets for the 2024 International Festival are sold at £30 or less. More than 4,000 £10 Affordable Tickets across every event in the programme have already been allocated to those who need them, and many more are still available. Tickets can be purchased from www.eif.co.uk.
TODAY, the Edinburgh International Festival opens its 24-day programme of more than 160 events for its 77th edition. The original festival, the one that started it all in Edinburgh, runs 2 – 25 August, and features a hand-picked programme of the world-leading artists in theatre, dance, music and opera, framed by the theme of ‘Rituals That Unite Us’.
More than 2,000 artists from across 42 nations will perform at the International Festival this August, in a major moment in the international arts calendar. Over 1,000 of these performers are from Scotland, and all five Scottish national performing arts companies are represented in this year’s programme.
In 2024, Festival Director Nicola Benedetti’s second year, the International Festival brings 5 world premieres, 13 UK and Scottish premieres, and 2 European premieres to Edinburgh, including an extensive opera programme, with promenade opera Oedipus Rex in the National Museum of Scotland and two staged operas from major international companies: Carmen from the Opéra Comique and The Marriage of Figaro fromKomische Oper Berlin.
Kicking off the International Festival, Opening Event: Where to Begin invites nearly 10,000 visitors and locals alike to ignite their festival season with a communal experience which evokes the mythology and history of Scotland’s rich heritage. The new event in Edinburgh’s festival traditionwill transform the grounds and magnificent renaissance architecture of George Heriot’s with immersive installation, live performance and video projection.
Presented in partnership with The Macallan, with creative producer Pinwheel and support from EventScotland, the Opening Event runs across three nights from Friday 2 August to Sunday 4 August. Tickets are available online for £15 and concessions from £7.50 are available.
The first week of the International Festival also features not-to-be-missed performances from some of the world’s leading artists, including:
The world premiere of The Outrun,the stage adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir. Brought to life by Olivier Award-winning playwright Stef Smith, director Vicky Featherstone and Edinburgh’s producing theatre The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company,The Outrun will run throughout August at the Church Hill Theatre.
The most popular French opera in the world, Carmen, direct from Opéra-Comique – the Parisian opera house where it all began. The new production of Georges Bizet’s masterpiece is brought to the stage by director Andreas Homoki, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Music Director of the Opéra-Comique, Louis Langrée, with an international cast led by Gaëlle Arquez as Carmen; runs 4-8 August at the Festival Theatre.
A two-part opening weekend exploring different ways of telling the same story, with two distinct interpretations of the Passion: Latin American and Afro-Cuban musical styles mix with contemporary classical expressions in the Scottish premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’sLa Pasión según San Marcos,on 3 August at Usher Hall. On 4 August at Usher Hall, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, their Chief Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus take on Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpiece, the St Matthew Passion.
The UK premiere of Penthesilea,Internationaal Theater Amsterdam’s production of Heinrich von Kleist’s classic. Ferocious and emotionally charged, Penthesilea is a powerful fusion of a rock concert and an ancient tragic love story, likened to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet; runs 3-6 August at The Lyceum.
The Scottish premiere of Please right back, award-winning company 1927’s new family production combining fantastical animations with bold storytelling to explore the effects of the criminal justice system; runs 2-11 August at The Studio.
2024’s programme also offers an increased range of innovative and informal audience experiences, designed to create a closer union between artists and audiences.
Beanbag concerts are back after popular demand, designed to immerse audiences in an orchestral experience. Inspired by the work of Budapest Festival Orchestra founder and conductor Iván Fischer, audiences can take in the thrill and drama of the orchestra from the comfort of a beanbag or choose standard seating in the circle or balcony. Beanbag seating is still available for concerts by Brazil’s Ilumina, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the European Union Youth Orchestra conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.
The Hub, the International Festival’s home on the Royal Mile, once again hosts the most intimate performances in informal surroundings. During August, The Hub is home to The Hub Club Cafe (11am-6.30pm; food service until 5pm) & Bar (6.30pm – late), with drop-in open-doors rehearsals and ‘Ask the Artist’ moments on select days. The Hub music series is truly international – spanning Scotland, Ireland, Wales, India, China, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, US, Germany, Egypt, Estonia and West Africa, with these artists sharing their musical heritage, cultures and rituals.
Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti said: “As we raise the curtain to open this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, we’re reminded of the power of art to unite and inspire us all.
“One of the most moving things in the world, to me, is to see mass, collective effort at work. Each person adding their expertise and experience to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts – and this year’s International Festival programme is the epitome of such a thing.
“I can’t wait for us all to come together this month, to seek, feel and discover something new.”
The 77th Edinburgh International Festival continues to 25 August.
To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.eif.co.uk.
Festivalgoers will be treated to the perfect blend of performances and given the chance to co-create their own bottle design using the power of AI
Johnnie Walker Princes Street The World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience* on Princes Street in the heart of Edinburgh, is hosting a series of events from local performers as part of its Edinburgh Festival Fringe sponsorship which is now in its third year.
Kicking off the programme of Fringe events, which will be held in the venue’s Label Studio, will be a host of incredible talent from Be United.
The group will energise audiences with electrifying performances from disco, soul, jazz and hip-hop as part of ‘This Is Your Fringe’(2nd & 3rd August), developed to showcase phenomenal Black talent within the Scottish creative sectors, inviting them to change the game at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The four artists, including singer Eyve, who performs a unique blend of hip hop, trap, jazz, and music which reflects her African roots are set to bring a celebration of community and exceptional music.
Additionally, throughout the festival (13-14, 16-17, 24-25th August), audiences can enjoy shows from a quartet of Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s very own Nicola Alexander and Lori Flannigan, and friends, who will be taking centre stage with ‘She Burns’.
The group who met while working in the venue will perform renditions of Burns poems interspersed with their own stories in a music and comedy cabaret style show, through a modern lens.
‘She Burns’ group members and current Experience Ambassadors, Nicola Alexander and Lori Flannigan, can also be spotted leading Johnnie Walker Prices Street’s signature ‘Journey of Flavour’.
What’s more, those visiting the venue from across the world will, for the first time at the venue, have the chance to enjoy this multi-sensory tour in Mandarin, Spanish, French and soon German, using special translation headsets.
Nicola said: “For us, performing She Burns in the place we met is an exciting full-circle moment. It will be brilliant to perform in this iconic building in the centre of Edinburgh during The Fringe.
“The team at Johnnie Walker Princes Street has always been behind us, nurturing our talents and continually championing the thriving arts and culture scene Scotland.”
Be United’s Creative Director, Collin Hills, said:“It’s fantastic to see a venue like Johnnie Walker Princes Street collaborating with smaller artists, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents in the centre of Edinburgh throughout the festival.
“Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s ambitions to champion the arts align perfectly with our own. ‘This is Your Fringe’ is a great fit to help open up the art and culture scene throughout The Fringe to both those who have never ventured into the festival, as well as for Fringe veterans.”
Those looking to add a truly exclusive experience to their Fringe itineraries can now book the Johnnie Walker x Scott Naismith: Blue Label Bottle Design & Tasting Experience. Here, guests can co-create their very own unique bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label by harnessing cutting-edge, purpose-built AI-technology.
The bottle design element can be complimented at no extra charge by a bookable expert-led tasting of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, as well as a guided tasting of the incredibly special limited edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Elusive Umami’, in the rooftop Explorers’ Bothy bar.
Groove Down: An Edinburgh-based disco-soul band, formed in 2022, Groove Down blends progressive soul, disco, house, and funk to create a fresh, multicultural sound that is uniquely their own.
Cling: Known for his infectious Afrobeats, Cling is poised to light up the stage with an energetic performance that will set the tone for the festival.
August 3rd
Eyve: Bringing a passionate blend of hip hop, trap, jazz, and African roots, Eyve’s music reflects her life experiences and commitment to social and political issues, gender equality, and inclusivity.
JEmmanuel: Making a significant impact since 2023, JEmmanuel will deliver a mesmerizing performance of Retro-Soul, Blues, Jazz, and Funk, continuing to captivate audiences across Edinburgh.
THE Forget Me Notes Project, an Edinburgh based charity which offers support to dementia sufferers throughout the capital via the medium of music, is hosting a showcase event next month to highlight and illustrate the wide range of activities it undertakes.
The charity was founded in 2018 by Alan Midwinter and Paul Barfoot and it focusses on utilising music as a means of helping alleviate the symptoms of those who live with dementia.
Activities include weekly performances by a 40 strong choir, regular music based attendances at care homes, community centres, parks and day centres as well as home visits for people living withThey also embrace modern technology by broadcasting their activities via ZOOM to people’s living rooms.
All in all Forget Me Notes undertakes in excess of 30 musical activities every month with a view to improving the lives of both those affected by dementia and their families.
The showcase event will take place on Tuesday 13th August at St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 2DZ at 2pm.
Between 2pm and 5.30 it will feature a series of drop-in sessions, film and audio presentations as well as musical interludes, all designed to raise awareness of the charity’s aims.
The event will close at 5.30 followed by a ceilidh hosted by local musician Kenny Vass and his band.
Admission is free but those wishing to attend the ceilidh must book tickets (also free of charge) in advance. Full details of the event, along with a link to order tickets for the ceilidh, can be found on :-
Alan Midwinter, who is co-chief executive, said “You are welcome to join us at St Brides to sample just what music can do both for our wellbeing and all round health. We are in for an inspiring day!”
Across Scotland, 54 culture projects have received £1,245,021 from The National Lottery in the latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards.
This round of awards spans a wide range of exciting projects from all genres, including a selection of musical projects taking direct inspiration from Scotland’s unique culture and landscapes.
Video game director Kyle Banks has received funding for the composition of two modern renditions of Robert Burns’ song, My Heart’s in the Highlands, composed by Jon Konsolakis and with vocals performed by four-time BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards’ Scots Singer of the Year award winner, Siobhan Miller.
The tracks will be released worldwide on all streaming platforms and featured on the soundtrack of Farewell North, a new Edinburgh-produced video game exploring the Orkney islands, available on 15 August. The game, named after the song, draws focus on Scotland’s rich culture and landscapes as your character embarks on a mental and physical journey to restore colour to the islands and her world.
Director Kyle Bankscommented: “With the support of the Open Fund we have the opportunity to take a beloved song segment from our game, Farewell North, and compose a pair of full-length singles for our audience to enjoy as a standalone piece of art.
“As a small team this is something that would not have been a viable option for us without this funding and it’s allowed us to share our love of Scotland worldwide.”
Composer Ruta Vitkauskaite is collaborating with Founder and Director of the Illuminate Women’s Music ProjectAngela Slater to bring the project series to Scotland. Founded in 2017, Illuminate is a commissioning and touring series celebrating the creativity of women both as composers and performers.
Illuminate will tour newly commissioned works by diverse Scottish composers with each piece inspired by Scottish folklore reimagined through a contemporary music lens.
Ruta Vitkauskaitesays: “We are absolutely delighted to receive funding from Creative Scotland’s Open Fund. The support will allow us to introduce the Illuminate Women’s Music concert series to Scotland for the very first time, bringing some of the most vibrant female musical talents to audiences across Scotland.”
The series will see concerts, workshops and talks taking place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Linlithgow, Kinlochard and onwards to Vilnius, Lithuania, providing creators with international exposure.
The first public in-person concert be held on Thursday 12 December at The Old Hairdresser’s in Glasgow and tickets will be available on the Illuminate Women’s Music website.
Musician and composer Kate Young will release her second studio album, Umbelliferæ: A Musical Journey Through Plantlore in September 2024, accompanied by UK-wide album launch tour.
Originally commissioned by Celtic Connections, the album features a repertoire of songs inspired by Scotland’s natural heritage, with special focus on plant lore and traditional remedies made from native plants. The music is arranged for string quintet, double bass, harp and percussion.
Kate Youngcommented: “This is the release project of an album inspired by the world of traditional plant lore and medicinal uses from around the UK, which looks to spread awareness about such dying traditions through music.
“We look forward to taking this string quintet performance to a number of venues this Autumn.”
For full tour details please visit Kate Young’s website.
Further awards in this round of the Open Fund include:
Roots Theatre Festival 2024, 16-19 October 2024 – a 4-day programme of digital and in-person events to celebrate and support local theatre-makers in the Highlands.
The publication of three issues of Gutter (30–32), the award-winning magazine of new Scottish and international writing.
The full list of awards in this round of the Open Fund can be found on our website.
Paul Burns, Interim Director of Arts at Creative Scotlandcommented: “Exploring the rich landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage of Scotland provides immense value to our communities.
“The latest initiatives supported by our Open Fund will offer invaluable opportunities for people across the country to engage with Scotland’s unique culture, made possible with the support of the National Lottery.”
Our Cathedral Choir is back this Sunday for the 
All are welcome to experience the beauty of St Mary’s and its musicians all year, for free.
Festival Services with the Choir start this Sun 11th Aug; Choral Evensong is at 3.30pm, while the Cathedral Eucharist is at 10.30am.
The Cathedral Choir also has a concert on Fri 23 Aug at 6pm: 
