music – Page 58 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Stage is set for Showcase 2015

Showcase aims to raise £250,000 to aid Macmillan Cancer Support in anniversary year

Following the hugely successful Showcase 25, charity Showcase Musical Productions is now in rehearsals for its regular annual show-stopping performance.

From 22-26 September, Showcase returns to the Church Hill Theatre to continue celebrating its 25^th anniversary raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. This will be a double celebration as this year also marks the 50^th anniversary of the Church Hill Theatre.

Director, Andy Johnston, describes the programme as: “An eclectic mix of old and new including songs from throughout the lengthy career of Sir Elton John and a tribute to the genius that was Jacques Brel.

“We celebrate the recent reunion of classic 1970’s megastars Fleetwood Mac and perform some of the most celebrated cover versions of all time, including songs from artists as diverse as Pet Shop Boys, Faith No More and J2.

“We even manage to squeeze in songs from classic shows such as Les Miserables, Priscilla – Queen of the Desert and Cabaret, alongside songs from current West End hits Gypsy, The Kinks Musical; Sunny Afternoon and Carole King’s Beautiful.”

Showcase is one of the biggest fundraisers for Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland, having raised over £230,000 in the last 25 years. Showcase hopes to raise sufficient funds from this anniversary year to reach their £250,000 target.

This is a cause that is close to all Showcasers’ hearts, many of the company and supporters have first-hand experience of the tremendous work of Macmillan.

Jayne Forbes, Macmillan Fundraising Manager for Edinburgh, said: “The support of Showcase is pivotal to Macmillan’s presence in Scotland. We couldn’t have developed services in the way we have without them. And with more people living – and not dying – from cancer, the need for our support is greatly increasing.

“It’s great to work with Showcase. They are fantastic fundraisers but more than this they are truly passionate about, and dedicated to, Macmillan. We couldn’t wish for better advocates and supporters and we would like to thank each and every one of them for their commitment to us.”

Showcase 25 was a phenomenal success and it helped to kick off the 25^th anniversary celebrations for Showcase. All Edinburgh Theatre’s Thom Dibdin felt that Showcase ‘rose to the challenges of staging a big choral show on the King’s stage with significant success.’

Showcase 2015 is already shaping up to be just as exciting and is a show not to be missed. Vice President Alan Hunter sums up why tickets should be bought for this performance: “By coming along and buying a ticket, you are genuinely making a difference to somebody’s life, and what could be better than that?”

Young talent brings the city together in a celebration of music

Edinburgh Youth Music Festival this Saturday

Edinburgh Youth Music Festival, a vibrant showcase of youth music talent, is welcoming children, young people and their families to participate in this year’s event.

Run in conjunction with a city wide network of youth music organisations such as Totally Sound, Reel Youth Media and Edinburgh Youth Music Initiative, this year’s event is organised by #artcore youth arts and is supported by Creative Scotland’s Time to Shine youth arts fund. It will be a celebration of the quality and diversity of opportunities available for ages 0 to 25.

The Edinburgh Youth Music Festival, organised by #artcore Youth Arts, is a partnership event bringing together youth agencies and projects from across the city. Partners include Totally Sound, The Tinderbox Project, Canongate Youth Project, Edinburgh Youth Music Forum, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Edinburgh College, City of Edinburgh Council’s Youth Music Initiative, Pulse of the Place and the Academy of Music and Sound.

A main feature of this year’s festival is up and coming musicians such as headliners Beeches (above), who will be sharing the stage with exciting young performers from all across Scotland that will cover the full musical range from hip hop to traditional.

The festival is happening at the South Bridge Resource Centre on Infirmary Street, on Saturday 12 September from 12 – 5pm and offers a chance to get into everything; from songwriting to Samba drumming, to advice on pursuing music as a career.

The schedule includes bands Paisley Row, Cameron Jay, Rachel Alice Johnson and headliner Beeches.

Workshops include a Frozen Singalong with the Youth Music Initiative, for ages 5 – 10; Creative Pathways into the Music Industry with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, for age 14 + and Rock techniques with the Academy of Music and Sound for ages 11-25 years.

Further details of the event including a full listing of performers and workshops can be found on the Youth Music festival website:

http://edinburghyouthmusicfestival.org/

#artcore Project Manager, Johnny Gailey, said: “‘We’re really excited to be able to present this year’s Edinburgh Youth Music Festival line up, which sees a host of Edinburgh’s young talent take the stage. Whilst Edinburgh band Beeches are starting to make a name for themselves, it’s just as important to us to highlight all local young talent. Everyone starts somewhere, and there are many budding young musicians in the city.

“Music is crucial to the lives of young people and the festival is a fantastic opportunity for all to be inspired by peers and to work with lots of highly skilled professional musicians and organisations. We want to thank all those involved, who are as excited and enthusiastic about the value of youth music as we are and who made the event possible.”

The Southside’s alive with the sound of music …

Fire safety message taken to Edinburgh Mela

Thousands see fire safety displays at city music and dance festival

City firefighters joined revellers at the Edinburgh Mela over the weekend to raise awareness of the support available to help the public prevent fires and the tragedies they cause.

Thousands of people enjoyed live music at Leith Links on Saturday and Sunday, making the annual festival an ideal opportunity for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews to share potentially life-saving information.

Watch Manager Steve Scott said: “Our community action teams and crews from Marionville and McDonald Road Fire stations had two great days of engagement with the public.

“We had more than 1,200 people visit the SFRS Mobile Museum and they loved getting dressed-up in fire kit and getting selfies. It’s popular with young and old alike but of course the main drive is making our communities safer.

“All these visitors saw displays that make you very aware of common hazards within the home as well as the steps you can take to prevent them causing a potentially devastating fire.”

The SFRS crews offered free home fire safety visits, which involve local firefighters helping householders identify hazards and taking simple steps to address them.

With early warning known to be vital if a fire does happen, the SFRS crews also check smoke alarms are working and even provide and install the devices if they are found to be needed.

Free home fire safety visits are available from SFRS by calling the freephone number 0800 073 1999, by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or by filling in an online form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

Watch Manager Scott added: “We would much rather take 20 minutes to help someone stay safe than attend a fire that could have been prevented.

“Fire in the home is devastating. Even where no-one is seriously hurt, the loss of cherished possessions, the financial impact and the emotional trauma can all be horrific for those involved.

“We want to hear from anyone who thinks they or someone they know could benefit from some friendly, expert advice and support from their local crews.”

Pictures: Edinburgh Mela

Something Fischy’s going on at North Edinburgh Arts!

Two things that help people of any age get through the ups and downs of life are friendship and music.

A pioneering two-year project, led by acclaimed Edinburgh charities Fischy Music and The Sunflower Garden, to build friendship groups and promote musical creativity for Edinburgh children with family issues, will culminate in a celebration concert at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday (4 September) at 6.30pm.

Weekly after-school projects for four groups of 8-12 year olds have been run since October 2013. These groups have focused on song-writing, discussion and music games as a way of building confidence, making friends and expressing deep emotions about life circumstances that the children may struggle with.

These four moving, quirky and original songs have been recorded onto a special CD, and will be showcased by a professional live band along with selected favourites from Fischy Music – in front of an audience composed of the song-writing children, their families, staff from the two organisations and other invited guests.

“Excited when there’s presents, or going on holiday

Confused when I don’t understand the things that people say

Scared when it gets dark, or going somewhere new

In my house, there are feelings, lots of feelings

Lots of feelings all the time, is that the same for you?

(extract from ‘My House’ composed by project group 2, May 2014)

Coorie Doon at North Edinburgh Arts

‘You could be my masterpiece’ – lyric from ‘Sam’s Song’

North Edinburgh Arts played host to a very special gathering earlier this week. Local women from Circle Scotland’s Haven Project – all of whom are pregnant or have recently become mums – have been working with professional musicians over the last eight weeks to produce songs for their children.

There can be few things in life more intimate than singing songs to and with your wee one, and if you wrote that song yourself: well … how wonderful is that! Tuesday was the first opportunity to hear the finished creations and what an inspiring occasion it was.

From June to August Enterprise Music Scotland’s Coorie Doon project engaged the young women to help establish a positive connection between mother and child. A composer, lyricist and musicians worked with participants – all of whom attend either The Haven’s Pregnancy Cafe or Bump to Buggy Group – to compose a song for their child which they themselves could sing to them.

Lead artist for the Coorie Doon project was composer, musician and music educator Rachel Drury, a talented freelance musician and researcher working predominantly in the field of music education and psychology.

Rachel was an inspired choice to lead the project -she is the creator and composer of Baby O and Sensory O, two internationally acclaimed operas for infants aged between 6 and 36 months. Rachel is also a lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has given a variety of research lectures across the UK.

Over the course of the project Rachel worked with the participants in both group and individual settings to produce a bespoke piece of music, each one of which is based on the womens’ own experiences.

When the women were happy with their songs they spent a day in North Edinburgh Arts studios to record their tracks, and yesterday’s final session was an opportunity to join with friends and family to celebrate the achievements of the participants and to hear their uniquely personal songs in a live concert setting. And those songs were very special.

One participant was Caroline, who’s ‘Calvin’s Song’ made reference to AC/DC sleeping suits! Her baby is due next month – Caroline knows he’s a boy – and when young Calvin comes into the world he’s going to have his very own little hard rock soundtrack!

Caroline, who’s from West Pilton, said: “It really was a brilliant to be involved in this. None of us had ever done anything like this before, it was completely new experience for everyone. I hope Calvin will like his song – I think he will!”

Coorie Doon was delivered in collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts and Circle Scotland’s Haven Project .

Theatre opportunity for young people at North Edinburgh Arts

Red and the Wolf: An exciting theatre opportunity for North Edinburgh’s young people – and it’s free

Red and the Wolf by Liminal Dance is an immersive theatre performance working with a locally-based community cast of young people aged 8-16 years, in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts.

Explore movement, dance and storytelling
Perform with professional artists
Create your own unique performance
Open to all, no experience necessary
@ North Edinburgh Arts
Places are FREE

Rehearsals on:

Thursday 30 July
Saturday 1August
Monday 3 August
Tuesday 4 August
Wednesday 5 August

Rehearsal times: 10-5pm (except Saturday, 10-1pm)

Performance on Wednesday 5 August, 7pm

To book places and tickets: 0131 315 2151 / admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk

North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Court
EH4 4TZ

www.liminaldanceuk.com
facebook.com/redandthewolf2015

T in the Park: have a happy and healthy time

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.

www.twitter.com/nhs24

www.facebook.com/nhs24

Holyrood set to rock!

A nation-wide competition to find the best new musical talent in Scotland, whilst encouraging young people to use their vote in the 2016 Holyrood election, was been launched in the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

Presiding Officer, the Rt. Hon Tricia Marwick MSP was joined by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the other Holyrood party leaders to announce details of the competition. David Hershaw and Sandie Forbes from Fife-based contemporary folk band The Dandylions were also on hand to lend their support and to encourage bands from across Scotland to apply.

Taking place throughout October, the competition will comprise eight regional heats. Forming part of the Rocktober Festival of events, the heats will take place in community spaces and venues in constituencies across Scotland. The final, Holyrood Rocks, will be staged at the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 31 October.

A panel of MSPs and industry experts will be invited to select one act from their regional heat to go through to the final and the winning act will be given the opportunity to record with an XFM producer at their studios in London’s Leicester Square.

Presiding Officer, Rt. Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said: “This competition is an exciting and innovative way to support musical talent whilst also encouraging the participation of young people in the political process.

“MSPs from across the political spectrum are delighted to be involved and I look forward to welcoming the best of Scotland’s emerging musical talent to Holyrood this October.”

The competition is organised in association with the Scottish Political and Cultural Partnership (SPCP) and also aims to raise awareness of the career opportunities available in Scotland across the creative industries and to emphasise the importance of these industries to the economy.

Fraser Paterson of The Scottish Political and Cultural Partnership commented:
“We’re delighted to have the full backing of the Scottish Parliament for what promises to be a fantastic project. We can’t wait to take Holyrood Rocks across the country, hearing the views of Scotland’s young people and encouraging them to make their voice heard.”

Entries are welcome from unsigned acts whose members are all over 16 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

Visit www.scottish.parliament.uk/holyroodrocks for the most up to date information on the Roctober Festival and Holyrood Rocks events and also for information on how to apply to take part.

Craigroyston art exhibition opens at North Edinburgh Arts

Craigroyston Primary School Art Exhibition 2015

Every year, the pupils at Craigroyston Primary amaze and surprise everyone with their fantastic array of art and this year is no exception (writes Helen Cameron). From patterns and plants to seas and sunshine, and everything in between, the pupils have done it again this year and put on a fabulous show!

For a wee change the venue this year is the North Edinburgh Arts Centre so anyone popping in for a coffee or meeting friends can wander round and marvel at all the pupils’ work. It will be on display for the next few weeks, is free of charge and everyone is welcome to go and view.

The children are hoping to reach a wider audience by using this venue, certainly it is easy for anyone in the area to drop in either on your own or even better bring a friend! Hopefully lots of you will manage along and spread the word about all the local talent!

Many thanks to the staff at the Centre for their help and support in mounting the exhibition and preparing advertising material.

Helen Cameron

NOTE:

The exhibition opened in style at North Edinburgh Arts last night with great musical performances by the school’s Glee Club (including a very impressive ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ – a cappella, too!) – and the talented new woodwind players.

See below for some opening night pictures – and there are lots more on our Facebook page

Do visit the exhibition – you won’t be disappointed! DP

It’s Showtime!

Local group make a song and dance about charity fundraising

Edinburgh-based theatre group Showcase, which has raised more than £220,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.

They are staging three performances of their production ‘Showcase 25’ this weekend in the King’s Theatre when they hope to take the total raised to a show-stopping £250,000.

The group, which has performed in the Church Hill Theatre every year since 1990, with all profits going to Macmillan, boast a wide repertoire of songs and styles.

Director Andy Johnston said: “Showcase is an enormously talented group of singers and dancers – there is literally no musical style they can’t conquer. In the past they have tackled everything from Led Zeppelin to the Sound of Music, all performed in the trademark ‘big choral’ Showcase sound.”

Showcase President Susan Galloway added: “We like to think of ourselves as one big family. And we genuinely believe that every person that walks through the door of the theatre and buys a ticket to one of our shows is contributing – they’re helping make a difference to someone’s life. As far as we’re concerned, that’s the reason we exist.”

Macmillan’s Edinburgh Fundraising Manager Jayne Forbes said: “The support that Showcase has given Macmillan is nothing short of astounding. We are so grateful to them and everyone who goes along to their shows.

“We help people in many ways, from specialist nurses and doctors, to help and advice for people who have financial worries as a result of their cancer diagnosis, none of which would be possible without the support of people in Edinburgh. This is a really special anniversary for Showcase, and I’d urge local people to go along to a show. You are guaranteed an entertaining few hours, safe in the knowledge your ticket money is supporting a wonderful cause.”

Showcase 25 takes place on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May (matinee and evening performance) in the King’s Theatre. Tickets are from £15 and available from www.edtheatres.com/showcase