Tag: programme

Sixty artists open their doors for summer festival in Fife’s “Robinson Crusoe” village of Lower Largo

SIXTY artists are gearing up to open their studios to the public as Largo Arts Week returns for its fourth year in the Fife village of Lower Largo and surrounding communities.

Running from Saturday, July 15 – Sunday, July 23, the festival will feature an array of arts and crafts by artists, sculptors and makers exhibiting in 37 open studios in the villages of Lower Largo, Upper Largo and Lundin Links.

Famous as the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the man who inspired the story of Robinson Crusoe, Lower Largo has in recent years become a creative hub for a range of artists inspired by its coast and countryside.

As well as the open studios, music and food will feature strongly in the Arts Week with free evening gigs at local hotels and food trucks offering gourmet street food.

Community café and venue The Aurrie in Lower Largo is also staging a week-long programme including the return of comedian and broadcaster Fred McAulay and popular children’s musical group, Artie’s Singing Kettle.

One of the prominent local artists opening his studio to the public is sculptor Alan Faulds (above), whose eclectic structures are dotted throughout Lower Largo, including the “Largo Obelisk” atop the village’s former red telephone box.

Largo Arts Week director Dougi McMillan said: “Over the last four years, the festival has gone from strength to strength, and we are delighted that 60 artists will be exhibiting their work this year, demonstrating the depth of creativity in the community.

“With bands playing live every night in local hotels and food trucks overlooking the beach at Largo Bay, we’re looking forward to a real summer celebration and carnival atmosphere.”

Free evening entertainment will be offered by The Upper Largo Hotel and Crusoe Hotel featuring popular Fife bands Passing Sages, Best Dressed Blues Band, Rewind and Astral Suns along with new faces including Sleekit and many more.

The festival closes with a return of the Omar Afif and the Gnawa Trance Fusion band (above) whose blend of Moroccan folk, jazz and blues will sound out in an open-air gig against the backdrop of the historic Largo pier.

Full details of the Largo Arts Week programme can be accessed on the festival’s website – www.largoartsweek.com

What’s On at Blackhall Library

Here’s what’s on in Blackhall Library for the week beginning 27th of February.

There are still tickets available for the author’s talk with Harry Fisher tomorrow (Monday 27th February) at 5:30pm.

Please join us, you can book tickets through this link:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/539648953547

Have a nice week everyone! 😊

Celtic Connections gears up for 30th edition

Preparations are well underway for Celtic Connections, Europe’s premier folk and roots music festival, which launches in Glasgow next week.

This year marking its 30th edition, the 18-day event kicks off on Thursday 19th January, and features some of the world’s most celebrated musical artists in genre-defying spectacles and one-off collaborations.

Organisers and contributors are full steam ahead with arrangements for what is set to be a full-scale return and celebration of the Scottish music scene’s resilience in the face of adversity.

1200 musicians will take to the stage for 300 events at more than 25 venues across the city, with shows spanning traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul and world music from Thursday 19th January – Sunday 5th February.

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “It feels remarkable that in just a matter of days the 30th edition of Celtic Connections will kick off in Glasgow, celebrating all genres of music, a variety of world cultures, and bringing communities together from across the globe.

“A huge amount of work and preparation has gone into this year’s festival; it is testament to the strength and tenacity of the Scottish music industry, which has successfully overcome an incredibly tough period.

We are so appreciative of the musicians and artists who have contributed in all manner of ways to Celtic Connections over the past three decades, and we will pay homage to them throughout the 2023 festival, as well as looking forward towards a bright and hopeful future. We look forward to seeing venues full, artists doing what they do best and the musical community thriving right across the city in a week’s time.

Among the wall-to-wall shows taking place across the start of 2023 is a show-stopping performance from  Irish six-piece contemporary ensemble NOTIFY, who celebrate their 10th anniversary at Saint Luke’s on Saturday 21st January, with special guests Caoimhe and Séamus Uí Fhlatharta. Support comes from The Canny Band, whose music fuses piano, diatonic button accordion and bodhrán.

On Wednesday 25th January, the Mackintosh Church will play host to Scottish folk singer, songwriter and ukulele player Claire Hastings and Welsh language singer, songwriter and musician Gwilym Bowen Rhys, along with Icelandic sibling trio Blood Harmony, who are making their unmissable Celtic Connections debut with their unique fusion of Nordic melancholic folk and Americana.

Elsewhere, Róisín Reimagined sees award-winning Irish singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and the Irish Chamber Orchestra team up for an exciting new project that combines Muireann’s exceptional vocals with fresh orchestral arrangements of sean nós songs, breathing new life into the noble, classical music of 16th-19th century Gaelic Ireland.

The first time another national orchestra has played Celtic Connections, they will share the stage at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday 25th January, with Brìghde Chaimbeul, Ross Ainslie and Steven Byrnes, who will perform their new album LAS, a collaboration featuring tunes from France, Scotland, Bulgaria, Ireland alongside self-penned compositions.

On Friday 27th January, Afro Celtic Connections will see Saint Luke’s play host to Rise Kagona, the founder, lead guitarist and only remaining member of the mega-successful Zimbabwean rock band The Bhundu Boys.

Also on the bill is  Diwan, who bring an exuberant fusion of funky mbalax and Afrobeat grooves, with undercurrents of ska, rock and Senegalese soul led by charismatic Senegalese singer Samba Sene and Chief Cheb, a celebrated African philosopher, poet storyteller and music teacher.

One of the most successful contemporary folk musicians from Finland, Maija Kauhanen will be combining her expressive voice with Finnish kantele and inventive percussion on Friday 27th January. She will perform at The National Piping Centre along with acclaimed traditional trio Oakes // Bews // Thorpe, and talented accordion player and composer Andrew Waite.

On Sunday 29th January, audiences at Drygate Brewery will be able to enjoy uplifting performances from Rozi Plain and Terra Kin. London-based folk musician Rozi Plain will perform tracks from her upcoming fifth LP, Prize, which continues to display her musical growth whilst retaining the home-grown intimacy and a familial warmth she is known for.

Local musician Terra Kin will present their debut EP Too Far Gone. Combining a love for jazz, ambient and folk music with a soft soulful voice, the resulting sound defies genres and is sure to delight audiences.

Malian husband-and-wife duo Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia will bring their rich, radiant blend of desert blues, Afro-pop, rock, disco and hip-hop to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday 1st February.

Since their 2004 breakthrough album Dimanche à Bamako, produced by Manu Chao, the duo have grown a passionate international following, and have regularly appeared in Damon Albarn’s Africa Express and collaborated with Johnny Marr, Flea and David Gilmour as well as fellow African greats including Toumani Diabaté and Bassekou Kouyate.

The incredible wealth and breadth of talent on display doesn’t stop there. Saint Luke’s will also showcase the talents of Hen Hoose and Man of the Minch on Saturday 4th February. Founded by Tamara Schlesinger (aka MALKA), Hen Hoose are an all-female/non-binary songwriting collective, bringing together an array of artists from across the creative industries including Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock, Jayda and Elisabeth Elektra to produce groundbreaking new music.

Man of the Minch is the stage name of Pedro Cameron, who has become one of the most exciting names at the forefront of Scottish folk music. Performing tracks from his debut album, The Tide is at the Turning, with a full live band, he blends traditional Celtic sounds with personal and profound storytelling.

Also on Saturday 4th February, The Old Fruitmarket will host Rokia Koné’s first UK live performance of her debut album Bamanan, which was named as one of the New York Times Best Albums of 2022.

One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Rokia will share the stage with the Togo All Stars, renowned for their spectacular live performances showcasing their distinctive blend of afrofunk and voodoo rhythms from the musical heart of West Africa.

Tickets for Celtic Connections 2023 are available from www.celticconnections.com.

BOYACK: BBC Radio Scotland cuts will be a massive hit for artists, audiences and our Scottish heritage’

Commenting on the open letter sent by members of the music scene to Angus Robertson regarding the BBC Radio Scotland cuts, Scottish Labour culture spokesperson Sarah Boyack MSP said:“The arts and culture sector is collapsing. 

“These BBC Radio Scotland cuts will be a massive hit for artists, audiences and our Scottish heritage. This decision must be reversed given the perfect storm our artists and musicians are facing.

“The proposed cuts to Creative Scotland in the Scottish Government’s budget which were announced just before Christmas will also add to the huge pressures the sector is facing and are undermining the Scottish arts and culture industry putting jobs and livelihoods at risk.

“It’s difficult to avoid a “culture of doom” when the sector desperately needs urgent solutions but all we get is vague answers.

“We need urgent action to support our musicians from both the BBC and the Scottish Government.”

Book Week Scotland shares stories from vibrant Scottish communities

Book Week Scotland kicks off today (Monday 14 November) with a line-up themed around ‘Scotland’s Stories’, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has worked closely with writers and partners to put together an exciting week packed full of online and in-person events and activities.

Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of books and reading and this year the public are invited to vote on their favourite animal from fiction – voting will close at midnight tonight, with the winner to be revealed during the week!

Continuing the animal theme, one lucky pet-owner will win a special illustration of their pet by top illustrator Esther Kent through a #BookWeekScotlandPets competition on social media.

Events throughout the week include an evening with Sally Magnusson sharing stories from four vibrant Scottish communities, and Book Shriek Scotland – a celebration of Scotland’s folklore presented by Kirsty Logan and Heather Parry, featuring storytellers and writers including Garth Marenghi.

Scottish Book Trust are also asking people to share what they’re reading this Book Week Scotland on the Reading Map of Scotland.

A new book, Scotland’s Stories, has been released today by Scottish Book Trust, featuring true stories from people across Scotland as well as exclusive contributions from published writers Angus Peter Campbell, Raman Mundair, Graeme Armstrong and Helen Fields.

70,000 copies of the book will be given out for free this week in libraries and community spaces. Digital copies, including an audio version, are also available.

From icons of literature to local tales, Scotland’s Year of Stories encourages locals and visitors to experience a diversity of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of our stories, past and present.

Book Week Scotland programme highlights:

  • Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland with Sally Magnusson – Monday 14 November, 7pm at Glasgow Film Theatre and livestreamed online. Join Sally Magnusson to celebrate the real-life stories told by people from four vibrant communities across Scotland. The wonderful pieces in this event have been generously shared by people from the Garnock Valley, Port Glasgow and Greenock, Lochgelly and the South Islands of the Western Isles. Each story was shared by a member of the public as part of Community Campfires, supported by Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
  • Book Shriek Scotland is a celebration of Scotland’s spooky folklore – and some from further afield. This is an online event premiering today, Monday 14 November, in which award-winning authors Heather Parry and Kirsty Logan present an anthology of folk tales told by storytellers and writers, including Garth Marenghi, Amanda Thomson, Ailsa Dixon, John Lees and Anna Cheung. We’ll be inviting people to send us folk tales from their hometowns on social media after the event.
  • The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes with Professor Zoë Playdon – Monday 14 November, 7–8.30pm at the Sir Duncan Rice Library (University of Aberdeen). Academic and activist Zoë Playdon will talk about her book The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes – a true local story with international resonance – and the extraordinary court case that took place in the 1960s.
  • Story Café with Alasdair Gray – Tuesday 15 November, 6–7.30pm at Central Library, Dundee. Join us to discuss the short fiction of one of our finest writers, Alasdair Gray – author of Lanark. Spanning satire, dreams of possibility, and dystopian futures, and with diverse influences from Maupassant to Chekhov, the stories display rich imagination and a storyteller’s artistry.
  • Treasure Your History; History: Your Treasure – Wednesday 16 November,  2–3pm at Edinburgh Central Library. Librarian Iain Duffus twill show some of the rare gems the library holds (like the first Bible printed in Edinburgh, and early editions of Burns) in this specially arranged visit during which there will be the chance to explore the awesome book stacks, see some of Scotland’s first newspapers from the eighteenth century, and browse selected local items laid out to enjoy.
  • Author talk: Maggie O’Farrell – Wednesday 16 November, 7.30–8.30pm at Biggar Library. Maggie O’Farrell, prize-winning author of Hamnet and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, will be coming along to Biggar Library to talk about her work.
  • Author talk: Stuart MacBride – Thursday 17 November, 7.30–8.30pm at Loch Leven Community Library. Number one Sunday Times bestselling crime writer Stuart MacBride will talk all things crime and share his latest book, No Less The Devil.

Explore the full Book Week Scotland programme on the Scottish Book Trust website.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Book Week Scotland is a special time of year, where people across Scotland can come together to celebrate and experience the magic of books and reading.

“The 2022 programme features a mix of fun, spooky, inspiring and unusual events and activities. This year’s Book Week Scotland forms part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, celebrating Scotland’s rich culture of telling stories. We hope you’ll be able to join in with a Book Week Scotland event in your community, or one of the many ways to take part online.’

Sally Magnusson, broadcaster and writer, said: ‘I am delighted to be hosting ‘Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland’ during Book Week Scotland because this special event celebrates the stories that remind us who we are, that connect us to our families and our communities and that enable us to share the challenges and the joys of life with one another.

“Showcasing the extraordinary stories from ordinary people at the Glasgow Film Theatre is a great way to round off Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.’

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Book Week Scotland is upon us with an imaginative and inspiring programme to excite, intrigue and surprise.

‘This high-profile national focus on literature brings readers together to engage with stories and meet their favourite authors.

‘In particular this year’s connection with the Year of Stories allows our folklore and rich heritage to be viewed and enjoyed through contemporary voices.’

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC), said: ‘Book Week Scotland is a terrific opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about books, reading and bringing together people, families, and communities to explore and revel in the power of words and shared stories. Libraries across Scotland have great programmes lined up during Book Week Scotland.

‘Research shows that reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by up to 68 per cent in people of all ages, and with our libraries across Scotland filled with an abundance of free reading materials – whatever your interests and ability – we hope people will take the opportunity to use Book Week Scotland to start or get back to enjoying books and at the same time rediscover the enchanting world of the many brilliant libraries right on their doorstep.’

Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Culture, said: ‘Book Week Scotland’s theme around Scotland’s Year of Stories continues our celebration of innovative and ground-breaking forms of storytelling. This has been a bumper year for new and untold stories from people in communities across Scotland.

‘There has never been a better time to enjoy a good story and this week’s events will also highlight the wealth of emerging and forward-looking writing and storytelling talent we have on our doorsteps.’

Scotland’s Stories: Book Week Scotland launches 2022 programme


This year’s Book Week Scotland programme has been announced today (26 October), with a line-up themed around ‘Scotland’s Stories’, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has worked closely with writers and partners to put together an exciting week packed full of online and in-person events and activities, taking place 14–20 November.

Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of books and reading and this 1year the public are invited to vote on their favourite animal from fiction – voting is now open, and a national winner will be revealed during the week!

Events throughout the week include an evening with Sally Magnusson sharing stories from four vibrant Scottish communities, and Book Shriek Scotland – a celebration of Scotland’s folklore presented by Kirsty Logan and Heather Parry, featuring storytellers and writers including Garth Marenghi.

Scottish Book Trust will also be asking people to share what they’re reading during the week on a Reading Map of Scotland.

A new book, Scotland’s Stories, has been published by Scottish Book Trust, featuring true stories from people across Scotland as well as exclusive contributions from published writers Angus Peter Campbell, Raman Mundair, Graeme Armstrong and Helen Fields.

70,000 copies of the book will be given out for free during Book Week Scotland through libraries and community spaces, and it will also be available to read online and as an audiobook.

From icons of literature to local tales, Scotland’s Year of Stories encourages locals and visitors to experience a diversity of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of our stories, past and present.

Book Week Scotland programme highlights:

  • Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland with Sally Magnusson – Monday 14 November, 7pm at Glasgow Film Theatre. Join Sally Magnusson to celebrate the real-life stories told by people from four vibrant communities across Scotland. The wonderful pieces in this event have been generously shared by people from the Garnock Valley, Port Glasgow and Greenock, Lochgelly and the South Islands of the Western Isles. Each story was shared by a member of the public as part of Community Campfires, supported by Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. Reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.
  • Book Shriek Scotland is a celebration of Scotland’s spooky folklore –and some from further afield. This is an online event premiering on Monday 14 November, in which award-winning authors Heather Parry and Kirsty Logan present an anthology of folk tales told by storytellers and writers, including Garth Marenghi, Amanda Thomson, Ailsa Dixon, John Lees and Anna Cheung. We’ll be inviting people to send us folk tales from their hometowns on social media after the event.
  • Tales Fae Fife: a writing workshop with James Oswald – Tuesday 15 November, 6.30–8.30pm at 58 Bonnygate in Cupar. Join Fife author James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean, The Ballad of Sir Benfro and the Constance Fairchild series, for an exciting event that will include a mini writing workshop. Find out more and reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

The full Book Week Scotland 2022 programme is now live.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Book Week Scotland is a special time of year, where people across Scotland can come together to celebrate and experience the magic of books and reading.

“The 2022 programme features a mix of fun, spooky, inspiring and unusual events and activities. This year’s Book Week Scotland forms part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, celebrating Scotland’s rich culture of telling stories. We hope you’ll be able to join in with a Book Week Scotland event in your community, or one of the many ways to take part online.”

Sally Magnusson, broadcaster and writer, said: “I am delighted to be hosting ‘Scotland’s Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland’ during Book Week Scotland because this special event celebrates the stories that remind us who we are, that connect us to our families and our communities and that enable us to share the challenges and the joys of life with one another.

“Showcasing the extraordinary stories from ordinary people at the Glasgow Film Theatre is a great way to round off Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.”

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Book Week Scotland is upon us with an imaginative and inspiring programme to excite, intrigue and surprise.

‘This high-profile national focus on literature brings readers together to engage with stories and meet their favourite authors.

‘In particular this year’s connection with the Year of Stories allows our folklore and rich heritage to be viewed and enjoyed through contemporary voices.’

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC), said: “Book Week Scotland is a terrific opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about books, reading and bringing together people, families, and communities to explore and revel in the power of words and shared stories. Libraries across Scotland have great programmes lined up during Book Week Scotland.

‘Research shows that reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by up to 68 per cent in people of all ages, and with our libraries across Scotland filled with an abundance of free reading materials – whatever your interests and ability – we hope people will take the opportunity to use Book Week Scotland to start or get back to enjoying books and at the same time rediscover the enchanting world of the many brilliant libraries right on their doorstep.’

Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Culture, said: “Book Week Scotland’s theme around Scotland’s Year of Stories continues our celebration of innovative and ground-breaking forms of storytelling. This has been a bumper year for new and untold stories from people in communities across Scotland.

“There has never been a better time to enjoy a good story and this week’s events will also highlight the wealth of emerging and forward-looking writing and storytelling talent we have on our doorsteps.”

Eat Well for Oral Health at Dr Bell’s

Edinburgh Community Food are offering a free Eat Well for Oral Health cooking, nutrition and oral health 8 week programme starting at Dr Bell’s Family Centre on Thursday 25th August for families living in the Leith area with a child under 5.

They will also be offering this programme at Pilton Community Health Project from 20th September.

To book your place or to find out more, contact Jo at:

Jo.howie@edinburghcommunityfood.org

https://www.edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk/eat-well-for…

Not just Comedy at New Town Theatre!

120 shows make up The Stand’s 2022 programme across Stand 1 (5 York Place), Stand 2 (16 N St Andrew St) & The Stand’s New Town Theatre (96 George St)

We may be world-famous for our stand-up, but that doesn’t mean The Stand is a one-trick pony. Several spoken-word mainstays such as ‘The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas’ and ‘In Conversation With’ are back thanks to our partnership with Fair Pley, but there’s also brand new shows from comrades Jeremy Corbyn & Len McCluskey, legendary actor David Hayman, former Makar Liz Lochhead and much more …

Here are some shows you may have overlooked:

SPOKEN WORD

NOON 6 – 28 AUG IN CONVERSATION WITH… 

An ongoing series of intimate conversations with some of the country’s biggest names, including Jeremy Corbyn MP, Ian Rankin, Darren McGarvey, David Hayman, Val McDermid, and now – a last minute addition – our First Minister Nicola Sturgeon! £12.50 – £15 

13.30 & 17.45, 5 – 28 AUG THE CABARET OF DANGEROUS IDEAS

Are you brave enough to challenge your own preconceptions and opinions on hot-button issues? Susan Morrison introduces a different academic speaker every day. £11

14.50 20-21, 27-28 AUG WORD UP

Are you brave enough to challenge your own preconceptions and opinions on hot-button issues? Susan Morrison introduces a different academic speaker every day. £11 

15.40 16 – 21 AUG DARREN MCGARVEY: THE SOCIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN US 

New live show from Orwell Prize-winning author, based on his book of the same name. £15 (£10 for members)

16.20 9 AUG, POLITICS & POETRY WITH CORBYN & MCCLUSKEY

Jeremy Corbyn is joined by his friend and comrade Len McCluskey for a unique event. No strangers to controversy; their love of poetry is the softer counterpoint to their firm political beliefs. One night only. £12

22.00 4 – 14 AUG KEVIN P. GILDAY: SPAM VALLEY

What does it really mean to be working class? A blend of theatre, stand-up and spoken word from critically acclaimed writer and performer Kevin P Gilday. £12

MUSIC

21.00 18 & 19 AUG LIZ LOCHHEAD W/ STEVE KETTLEY ON SAX: BACK IN THE SADDLE

Former Makar shares old faves and brand new stuff accompanied by sax licks. £15

21.15 8 – 11 AUG FUN LOVIN’ CRIME WRITERS

Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone and Stuart Neville switch out pens for guitars. Murder on the dancefloor is guaranteed …

THEATRE

16.20 5 – 28 AUG (NOT TUES/WEDS) PIP UTTON AS ‘BACON’

Pip Utton takes on the life of Francis Bacon, Dir. Geoff Bullen.

21.00 15, 21 – 22 AUG PIP UTTON IS ADOLF 

One of the most successful Fringe solo shows ever! 

17.20 21 – 28 AUG TIME’S PLAGUE – DAVID HAYMAN

Legendary Scottish actor returns as everyman Bob Cunninghame. Written by Chris Dolan

19.10 3 – 28 AUG SH!T-FACED SHOWTIME: A PISSEDMAS CAROL

The professional pissheads perform their Covid-delayed festive boozical!

14.55 4 – 28 AUG (NOT 15th) ADA CAMPE: TOO LITTLE, TOO SOON

Join the award-winning variety artiste! ‘Genius.- Sandi Toksvig.

22.35 16 – 28 AUG FLAT AND THE CURVES

Hilarity and vulgarity from award-winning comedy writers.

14.50 15 – 26 AUG (NOT 20-21ST) THE ECHO SALON

Susan Morrison & cultural figures discuss contentious ideas.