The Glasgow Diary by steven hunter

January

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HOMECOMING SCOTLAND 2009 Scotland will host its first ever Homecoming year inspired by the 250th birthday celebrations of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. There will be a year-long programme of events across the country with Glasgow hosting a series of highlight events. The year kicks off with Celtic Connections showcasing work by international and homegrown performers influenced by Burns.

AULD LANG SYNE

JAMAICAN BURNS NIGHT

CELTIC CONNECTIONS CITYWIDE 15 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY CONTACT: 0141 353 8000 WWW.CELTICCONNECTIONS.COM

BURNS ILLUMINATED

MACKINTOSH 100

GEORGE SQUARE 23 - 25 JANUARY FREE ADMISSION CONTACT: 0141 287 2000 WWW.SEEGLASGOW.COM

GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART & MACKINTOSH VENUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY 29 JANUARY - 30 NOVEMBER WWW.HOMECOMINGSCOTLAND2009.COM

Over the weekend, artist Ross Ashton, famed for his outdoor building illumination, will tell the poet’s story in a spectacular sound and light presentation projected onto the City Chambers. On Sunday evening, join Andy Cameron and special guests for a rousing celebration of Burns. CITY CHAMBERS, GEORGE SQUARE

The sixteenth Celtic Connections festival is bigger and bolder than ever. Fifteen hundred artists from our shores and across the world are taking part in 300 concerts and late-night sessions.

YOUSSOU N’DOUR

EDDI READER

2009 marks the centenary of The Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art, masterpiece of Glasgow’s outstanding architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 - 1928). Celebrated with exhibitions, talks, tours and activities.

ROBERT BURNS

And it doesn’t end there, 2009 will be the year to celebrate Burns and all things Scottish with events and exhibitions like ‘Inspired’ – a fresh look at Burns through an exhibition of contemporary art. Visit www.seeglasgow.com for further details.

January

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grace jones

ALIEN WARS

Expect the unexpected from the iconic Ms Jones, who will be performing tracks from ‘Hurricane’, her first new album in 19 years. She’s back and on brilliant form: as electrifying and enigmatic as ever.

Fear stalks the Arches yet again in this update of the total reality experience originally staged in 1992. An alien spacecraft has been discovered in the basement, with terrifying consequences…

CLYDE AUDITORIUM 22 JANUARY TICKETS: £35 CONTACT: 0844 395 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM

GLASGOW ON ICE

CLASSICAL

GEORGE SQUARE UNTIL 11 JANUARY TICKETS: FROM £2 CONTACT: 0141 287 9808 WWW.WINTERFESTGLASGOW.COM Simply glide into the first two weeks of the year beneath the stars in George Square. There’s great entertainment on the Big Stage as well.

2 JANUARY RSNO - HANDEL’S MESSIAH GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL 3 JANUARY RSNO - NEW YEAR IN VIENNA GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL 9 JANUARY SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MENDELSSOHN 200: THE FAIR MELUSINE CITY HALLS 15 JANUARY BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FAURE, BEETHOVEN & MOZART CITY HALLS 16 JANUARY SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MENDELSSOHN 200: SUMMER NIGHTS IN WINTERTIME CITY HALLS

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Culture and Sport Glasgow (Museums)

THE ARCHES UNTIL 31 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £5 CONTACT: 0141 565 1000 WWW.THEARCHES.CO.UK

DEGAS

IMPRESSIONISM AND SCOTLAND KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM UNTIL 1 FEBRUARY 2009 TICKETS: £5, CONCESSIONS £3 CONTACT: 0141 276 9599 WWW.GLASGOWMUSEUMS.COM Explore the parallels between French and Scottish art at an exhibition featuring works by Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Degas, Cézanne and Matisse and the Scots they inspired, including the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists. The exhibition demonstrates that Scottish artists developed their own distinct brand of Impressionism.

‘LOOKING UP’ PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION GLASGOW CITY HERITAGE TRUST 19 JANUARY - 17 APRIL FREE ADMISSION CONTACT:0141 552 1331 WWW.GLASGOWHERITAGE.ORG.UK How often do you look up to the top of Glasgow’s buildings? There’s a lot to admire, as you’ll see in this exhibition of schoolchildren’s photographs.

January

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PUSSYCAT DOLLS A glittering evening of Doll domination as the sexy girlband strut their stuff. SECC 19 JANUARY TICKETS: FROM £32.50 CONTACT: 0844 395 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM

AVIVA INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS MATCH

TEAM GB

RSNO BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH

Expect world class performances at this curtain raiser to the 2009 athletics season. Elite athletes, usually competing for individual glory, will be earning points for their countries.

Conductor Roberto Abbado brings his lyrical approach to a glorious evening’s music. After a Rossini overture, cellist Mario Brunello plays Respighi’s Adagio with Variations, followed by Haydn’s joyful Cello Concerto No1. The concert concludes with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

KELVIN HALL INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ARENA 31 JANUARY TICKETS: FROM £8 CONTACT: 08000 55 60 56 WWW.UKATHLETICS.NET/UKA-MAJOR-EVENTS

GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL 22 JANUARY TICKETS: FROM £10 CONTACT: 0141 353 8000 WWW.RSNO.ORG.UK ROBERTO ABBADO

February

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GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL 9 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £17.50 CONTACT: 0141 353 8000 WWW.GLASGOWCONCERTHALLS.COM Critics have compared LaMontagne’s music to that of The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Tim Buckley. ‘He is a natural-born songwriter who seems to have fallen out of the skies above New England armed with a sackful of classic songs’ said The Guardian.

Eleven days of premières, celebrity guests, family events and more. The festival showcases the best of 2009’s hotly anticipated movies alongside classic, cult and world cinema. A festival highlight will be the retrospective of silver screen legend, Audrey Hepburn. This beloved and enduringly popular icon will be represented with screenings of her classic films such as Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Mexico is this year’s featured country with screenings of some hot pics from the land of del Toro, Cuarón and Gael García Bernal. There is also a weekend of the finest new shorts from around the world. Finally, Frightfest returns, with enough scares, spooks and screams to fill a weekend. VARIOUS VENUES 12 - 22 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £4 CONTACT: 0141 332 6535 WWW.GLASGOWFILMFESTIVAL.ORG.UK

RUSSIAN STATE BALLET OF SIBERIA

ANCIENT GREEKS

ANCIENT GREEKS: ATHLETES, WARRIORS AND HEROES THE BURRELL COLLECTION 7 FEBRUARY – 4 MAY FREE ADMISSION CONTACT: 0141 287 2550 WWW.GLASGOWMUSEUMS.COM One of the largest selections of Greek artefacts ever loaned by the British Museum. The focus is on sport, drama, music and heroism, and the exhibition features lots of hands-on activities. An excellent introduction to the ancient world for children and families.

KING’S THEATRE 23-28 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £13 CONTACT: 0870 060 6648 WWW.KINGS-GLASGOW.CO.UK One of Russia’s leading ballet companies performs Delibes’ Coppélia on 23 and 24 February, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake on 25 and 26 February and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker on 27 and 28 February.

SWAN LAKE

February

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL If you’re a fan of the Disney Channel movie, here’s your chance to ‘get cha’ head in the game’. The stage show features all the characters and songs, along with two new numbers. SECC 24 - 28 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £20 CONTACT: 0870 040 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM

STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE

SUNSHINE ON LEITH KING’S THEATRE 10 – 21 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £11 CONTACT: 0870 060 6648 WWW.KINGS-GLASGOW.CO.UK The musical extravaganza is back, with hits from The Proclaimers performed by Dundee rep’s award-winning ensemble. It sold out before it opened last year, so book early.

SECC 12 – 15 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £42.50 CONTACT: 0844 395 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM Your chance to join celebrities, dance champions and the judges in the arena extravaganza.

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THE SCOTTISH WEDDING SHOW A visit to Scotland’s biggest wedding show will help make the big day just perfect.

DYLAN MORAN PAVILION THEATRE 18 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £17 CONTACT: 0141 332 1846 WWW.PAVILIONTHEATRE.CO.UK Dylan Moran, star of Black Books, Shaun Of The Dead and Run Fat Boy Run is back.The stand-up wordsmith is unpredictable, bizarre and often painfully funny.

JILL HALFPENNY

FIVE:15

SCOTTISH OPERA FIVE:15 ÒRAN MOR 20 - 22 FEBRUARY TICKETS: £15 CONTACT: 0131 473 2000 WWW.HUBTICKETS.CO.UK Five exciting new 15-minute operas created by some of Scotland’s most talented writers and composers. Performed by Scottish Opera singers and players. Five:15 is a five-year plan to find new composers, writers and directors with the aim of developing a new full-length opera.

SECC 21 – 22 FEBRUARY TICKETS: FROM £9 CONTACT: 0141 587 6088 WWW.THESCOTTISHWEDDINGSHOW.COM

March

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MAGNERS GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

SCOTTISH GOLF SHOW 2009

Jimmy Carr, Rob Brydon, Ross Noble, Jerry Sadowitz and Paul Merton are among the highlights of this seventh Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Over 50 venues are staging 380 shows, ranging from top quality stand up and new talent to comedy theatre and film, kids’ shows and workshops.

This golf extravaganza features over 100 exhibitors, a superb shop with all the essential and latest golfing gear, a 32-bay driving range and extensive putting greens. PGA teaching pros will give over 1000 free golf lessons. SECC 20-22 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £8 CONTACT: 0141 353 2222 WWW.THEGOLFSHOW.CO.UK

Also appearing: Tam Cowan, Des McLean, Dave Spikey, Andy Parsons, Richard Herring, Russell Kane, Lucy Porter and many, many more. VARIOUS VENUES 12 – 29 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £5 CONTACT: 0870 013 5464 INFO: 0141 552 2070 WWW.GLASGOWCOMEDYFESTIVAL.COM

PAUL MERTON

ROSS NOBLE

ROB BRYDON

BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CITY HALLS 19 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £10 CONTACT: 0141 353 8000 WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BBCSSO Michał Dworzyński, assistant conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra returns to City Halls in a programme that includes Strauss’s ‘Death and Transfiguration’, and Prokofiev’s great Shakespeare ballet ‘Romeo and Juliet’. One of Ireland’s finest sopranos, Ailish Tynan, sings Mozart’s glorious Exsultate, jubilate. Concert begins at 7:30pm.

FRIDA: VIVA LA VIDA! TRON THEATRE 4 – 7 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £6 CONTACT: 0141 552 4267 WWW.TRON.CO.UK Long live life! This vivid portrait of Frida Kahlo, Latin America’s greatest female painter, is sharp, witty and bursting with colour.

March

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BILL PATERSON HMS PINAFORE

graham swift

X FACTOR LIVE

LORRAINE KELLY

SECC 15 & 16 MARCH TICKETS: £28.50 CONTACT: 0844 395 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM Finalists from the hit TV show perform classic songs and viewers’ favourites.

HMS PINAFORE THEATRE ROYAL 10 – 14 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £11 CONTACT: 0870 060 6647 WWW.THEATREROYALGLASGOW.COM The Carl Rosa Opera Company performs Gilbert & Sullivan’s first blockbuster hit, a hilarious tale set on the high seas. A gifted cast and orchestra do full justice to Gilbert’s satirical wit and Sullivan’s popular songs.

FIRST TO KNOW WHAT’S ON

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METALLICA

AYE WRITE! BANK OF SCOTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL THE MITCHELL LIBRARY 6 - 14 MARCH CONTACT: 0141 287 2999 WWW.AYEWRITE.COM

Glasgow’s great book festival returns with a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, crime, comedy, politics and debate. Among the authors taking part are Alan Bennett, Lorraine Kelly, Ian Rankin, Melvin Bragg, Joan Bakewell, A L Kennedy, Graham Swift, Robert Fisk, Kate Summerscale and Bill Paterson. Don’t miss ‘A Burns Evening with Robert Crawford’ on 12 March. His talk includes readings from the poems and a session on the Bawdy Burns. There will also be a series of readings of new short stories from some of Scotland’s finest writers and commentators on the theme of whisky, inspired by Burns and supported by Homecoming 2009.

“We can’t wait to visit the UK again, so strap in, hang on, and get ready for the nuttiness to begin.” So said the band. Prepare yourself for one of the greatest hard rock bands in history. SECC 26 MARCH TICKETS: £40 CONTACT: 0844 395 4000 WWW.SECCTICKETS.COM

March

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DAVIS CUP GREAT BRITAIN v ukraine

DOCTOR WHO EXHIBITION KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM 28 MARCH 2009 - 4 JANUARY 2010 TICKETS: ADULTS £7.50 + BOOKING FEE CONCESSIONS £4.50 + BOOKING FEE CONTACT: 08444 815816 OR WWW.SECXTRA.COM WWW.GLASGOWMUSEUMS.COM WWW.DOCTORWHOEXHIBITIONS.COM

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is the only Scottish venue for this touring exhibition, which features props, costumes and special effects from the TV series as well as lots of interactive displays and scary moments. A must for any time traveller who is brave enough to come face to face with Cybermen and Daleks! Tickets also now available from the shop at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

BRAEHEAD ARENA 6 - 8 MARCH TICKETS: FROM £10 CONTACT: 0870 444 6062 WWW.TICKETMASTER.CO.UK It is only the third time in forty years that a Davis Cup tie has been staged in Scotland and John Lloyd, GB Davis Cup Captain is looking forward to the experience. “Home Davis Cup ties are a fantastic opportunity to get behind the team and we will be looking for plenty of support when we take on Ukraine next year.” Free child ticket with every paying adult. ANDY MURRAY

CABARET

THEATRE 2 - 7 MARCH SPIDER’S WEB THEATRE ROYAL 2 - 7 MARCH DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS KING’S THEATRE 9 - 14 MARCH SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS KING’S THEATRE 17 - 21 MARCH EDWARD GANT’S AMAZING FEATS OF LONLINESS CITIZENS THEATRE 23 - 28 MARCH BOEING BOEING THEATRE ROYAL

25 MARCH - 4 APRIL BE NEAR ME CITIZENS THEATRE

CABARET

THEATRE ROYAL 30 MARCH – 4 APRIL TICKETS: FROM £12 CONTACT: 0870 060 6647 WWW.THEATREROYALGLASGOW.COM Come to the Cabaret, it’s a masterpiece of a show – as performed by Wayne Sleep and Samantha Barks. Since its Broadway première in 1996, it’s won a staggering number of stage and screen awards. Turning 1931 Berlin into a sizzling cabaret spectacle, it features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and some of the most memorable songs in musical theatre.

Coming Soon

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IGNIS ASSET MANAGEMENT WOMEN’S 1OK

INSPIRED

GLASGOW ART FAIR

HINTERLAND

MITCHELL LIBRARY 4 APRIL - 20 SEPTEMBER FREE ADMISSION WWW.HOMECOMINGSCOTLAND2009.COM An exhibition of contemporary art inspired by the life, poetry and songs of Robert Burns, featuring work by a distinguished group of artists from the UK and overseas. A fascinating and unprecedented way to convey the influence and relevance of Robert Burns’ work in the present day.

GEORGE SQUARE 23 - 26 APRIL TICKETS: £7 - £10 WWW.GLASGOWARTFAIR.COM Scotland’s National Art Fair returns for its 14th year. Presenting works from over 50 selected galleries and art organisations throughout the UK and abroad, Glasgow Art Fair represents a wide range of media from established artists to emerging new talent.

VARIOUS VENUES 30 APRIL & 1 MAY TICKETS: FROM £23.50 WWW.HINTERLANDFESTIVAL.COM Hinterland is an adventure in music and art. Eighty bands, featuring the cream of the underground and surprise big names, will hit a multitude of city centre music spots, playing against a backdrop of contemporary art. A cultural feast for anyone who loves both visual and musical creativity.

WEST END FESTIVAL

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

WEST END FESTIVAL

VENUES ACROSS THE WEST END 12 – 27 JUNE WWW.WESTENDFESTIVAL.CO.UK The West End Festival is back, and the carnival atmosphere is infectious. Join in with the fun at the spectacular opening parade and street party then enjoy an extravaganza of music, theatre and dance – with hundreds of performers, stage shows and childrens’ entertainment there’s plenty to catch the imagination of everyone – a real summer sensation.

VARIOUS VENUES 19 – 28 JUNE WWW.JAZZFEST.CO.UK From blues sessions to quirky fringe events and concert performances, there’s a common denominator: the urge to swing.

Entries are open early January for Britain’s greatest road race for women. Thousands of runners, walkers and joggers from across the UK will be taking part. To qualify for a pre-registration discount when entries go live, submit your details online. BELLAHOUSTON PARK 10 MAY WWW.RUNGLASGOW.ORG/10K

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JAZZ FESTIVAL

Please note tickets may be subject to booking fee. Check with vendor direct.

Guess WHO’s coming to Glasgow…

from 28 March 2009

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Doctor Who logo ©BBC 2004. Tardis image © BBC 1963. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Limited.

Doctor Who Exhibition

Ticket information at www.glasgowmuseums.com or phone 08444 815 816 www.doctorwhoexhibitions.com