Festivals! Scotland's Music
the Scottish music festival supplement from MUSIC NEWS Scotland
Siobhan Miller (pictured) plays Shetland Folk Festival in May see page 12 for full story www.siobhanmiller.com www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
INSIDE: Party at the Palace :: HebCelt :: Belladrum :: Stonehaven Folk Festival :: Big Burns Supper :: Shetland Folk Festival :: Edinburgh's Hogmanay ..... PLUS our Scottish music festival listings www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com
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www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk
tickets @ www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/tickets2018/ fb @ www.facebook.com/belladrum/
www.obanlive.com fb @ www.facebook.com/obanlive tweet @ www.twitter.com/OBANLIVE
www.hebceltfest.com
tickets @ www.hebceltfest.com/booking/ fb @ www.facebook.com/HebCelt
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Party at the Palace organisers receive event industry award Linlithgow :: 11-12 August :: www.partyatthepalace.co.uk TICKETS @ www.partyatthepalace.co.uk/#buy-tickets
Party at the Palace festival producers, Peter Ferguson and John Richardson, have been recognised for their hard work at the National Outdoor Event Association Awards.
event and hope to see many more years of success ahead." NOEA Scotland is closely aligned with Event Scotland, Visit Scotland, Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Executive to continually represent the very best of Scotland’s globally leading outdoor events community.
The Scots businessmen scooped the NOEA Scotland Tribute Award for Party at the Palace the popular, family-friendly festival, which takes place in West Lothian every year.
They work in partnership with these organizations and many more to promote high quality, safe, creative and inspirational events, in keeping with NOEA’s wider philosophy. Their Scotland members form part of NOEA's UK wide association but meet and discuss trends, information, legislative changes and discussions that are specific to Scotland,
Party at The Palace has gone from strength to strength and continues to attract music lovers from all over the country, having had acts such as Simple Minds, Nile Rodgers, The Proclaimers, Amy Macdonald and Kaiser Chiefs grace the stage in the Linlithgow setting. Both were thrilled with their win and pleased that their efforts are now being acknowledged on the UK awards scene. The judges said: “Quite simply outstanding. Well done to all involved.” Peter Ferguson said: "John and I are
absolutely delighted to have been recognised for this award. Having spent the last four years building up an event which is now a much anticipated and respected event in the Scottish festival calendar, we are proud of our achievements. We are now focused on bringing the very best acts that we can to our 2018
Party at the Palace 2018 will be the festival’s fifth year and takes place on 11 and 12 August. Tickets for Party at the Palace are on sale now.
www.partyatthepalace.co.uk www.twitter.com/PartyAtPalace www.facebook.com/partyatthepalacelinlithgow
www.scottishmusiccentre.com/services/audio-services/
info@scottishmusiccentre.com
web @ www.scottishmusiccentre.com fb @ www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre plus other links @ www.musicplus.org.uk + www.hittheroad.org.uk
email your festival news to alastair.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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www.deanowens.com tix @ www.celticconnections.com/events/Pages/event.aspx?ev=351dbb99-0d3e-49dd-84e5-a81400f10d68 album @ www.atthehelmrecords.bigcartel.com/product/dean-owens-southern-wind-cd-pre-order-special-out-16th-feb
www.tireemusicfestival.co.uk fb @ www.facebook.com/TireeMusicFestival tweet @ www.twitter.com/TireeMusicFest
www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/subject-areas/music-and-music-business/courses
pc.admissions@perth.uhi.ac.uk
www.williecampbell.co.uk/store/
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More Stars To Shine At Hebcelt’s Summer Nights Stornoway :: 18-21 July :: www.hebceltfest.com TICKETS @ www.hebceltfest.com/booking/
Two of Scotland’s most acclaimed performers, and some rising stars of the music scene, have been added to an already exciting line-up for this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival. It is confirmed today (Thursday, 1 Feb) that Eddi Reader and Roddy Woomble will be part of the 2018 HebCelt, along with pioneering bands Niteworks, Dante and TRIP, and young country singer Martha L Healy. Tickets are already selling quickly for the multi award-winning event, which will run from 18-21 July in Stornoway in the island of Lewis and will be headlined by Deacon Blue. Other acts already announced in an international programme include Scottish bands Skipinnish, Blazin’ Fiddles, Tide Lines, The Tumbling Souls, Kinnaris Quintet and Trail West; as well as Vishtèn and the Yves Lambert Trio, from Canada; and Habadekuk, from Denmark.
Niteworks :: www.facebook.com/niteworksband
Another headliner, along with other parts of the diverse programme, will be announced later this month. the Outer Hebrides. This will be my third time playing at HebCelt - it's a great festival, in a Festival director Caroline Maclennan said: lovely town on a unique island.” “The announcement today of these fabulous additions will contribute hugely to a really Niteworks are on a crest of a wave at the exciting programme for HebCelt in 2018. moment and are set to have their busiest ever
Live concert and will release their debut EP ‘Eclipse’ this year.
Glasgow-born Martha L Healy, who has been heavily influenced by female artists such as Sheryl Crow, Carol King, Dolly Parton and Patsy year in 2018 which will see the release of their Cline, is building a strong reputation via “The festival is renowned for promoting well second album - the follow up to the criticallyperformances at festivals including Country to known established acts alongside the best of acclaimed ‘NW’, released in 2015 - and featuring Country (C2C) and Glasgow Americana. young talent to create a diverse and vibrant appearances from acts such as Julie Fowlis, Iain blend of music in our unique setting. Her debut album, ‘Better Days’, was recorded in Morrison, Ellen MacDonald, Sian and Kinnaris Nashville in 2014 and she recently returned “We are delighted that the weekend tickets we Quintet. from three months there writing and recording have on sale just now are doing exceptionally The band, who mix the Gaelic language and album no.2, ‘Keep the Flame Alight’ which is well. That provides us with the impetus to traditional music from their native Skye with released this year. continue to work really hard to provide our electronica and techno sounds, performed a audiences from near and far with an amazing The festival has grown from a small event nine-minute live soundtrack for the midnight festival experience this summer. attracting less than 1,000 fans, to an “We will have more great news to share and we fireworks display at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay international showpiece for roots, Celtic and look forward to making further announcements event to rave reviews, and also played to a sold- traditional music. It is estimated it has out 12,000 audience at the SSE Hydro in later this month.” generated more than £20 million for the local Glasgow at Celtic Connections. economy over two decades. Eddi, a frequent visitor to HebCelt, most The band said: “We cannot wait to come back recently in 2016 with her band, is currently This month HebCelt won a Highly Commended to HebCelt. It was one of the very first festivals putting the finishing touches to a new album accolade at A Greener Festival Awards and in we played as a band, so it’s always felt like a bit which will be released this year. 2017 it won the Festival of the Year award and of a homecoming every time we play. Her career has now spanned three decades, the Grand Prix prize at the Scottish Event including front woman for Fairground Attraction “And this year we have lots of new material Awards. and also as a solo artist. In that time she has planned to ensure our return is extra special!” It was named 2017 Best Cultural Event or released nine critically-acclaimed solo albums, three BRIT awards, a No 1 single and an MBE for Following their full-length debut ‘Wake’, Scottish Festival in the Highlands and Islands Tourism alt folk band Dante release a new album ‘I Wear Awards (HITA) for the second time in three outstanding contributions to the arts. Your Weight With Mine’ in March, which looks years. Having performed across the world as frontman set to continue their growing success in leading An independent assessment of the 2016 HebCelt of Scottish Indie giants, Idlewild, celebrated the charge of the newer indie/folk rock bands. showed it generated more than £2.2 million for songwriter Roddy Woomble recently toured the TRIP, formed in late 2016, are a new trad band the islands’ economy and helped safeguard 40 UK to mark the tenth anniversary of this debut based in Glasgow but drawing on influences tourism-related jobs. solo album, ‘My Secret Is My Silence’. He also released his fourth studio album ‘The Deluder’ in from the cultures and traditions of Scotland, Weekend arena tickets for HebCelt priced England, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The sixlate 2017. £93, £83 concession and £30 (6-14 years) piece are all second-year students at the Royal are available from www.hebceltfest.com Roddy has lived at various times in the UK, Conservetoire of Scotland, including Lewis Gaelic France and New York and is currently based in singer, Mairi Maclennan. www.hebceltfest.com Mull and hosts the annual Iona Village Hall Music Last year the band performed across Scotland, www.twitter.com/hebcelt Festival. the Isle of Man and Ireland, where they opened www.facebook.com/HebCelt Roddy said: "I always love visiting Lewis and as Sharon Shannon's special guests in her Sligo
email your festival news to alastair.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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Paloma Faith Set To Close Friday Night Of Belladrum Beauly in Inverness-shire :: 2-4 August :: www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk TICKETS @ www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/tickets2018/ Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has announced that PALOMA FAITH will top the bill on the festival’s Friday night. With her acclaimed Number 1 album ‘The Architect’ riding high in the charts and a BRIT nomination for Best British Female, Paloma Faith is set to deliver an unforgettable Garden Stage performance. For more than two decades now, THE CHARLATANS have been an inspirational force in British Indie Rock, with 13 albums under their belt and 17 top 30 singles, they will have a huge back catalogue to pull from for their debut Belladrum performance. In further line-up announcements, acclaimed Frightened Rabbit will perform the whole of their epic album ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ four time GRAMMY award winning country :: photo by Dan Massie singer-songwriter ROSANNE CASH headlines the Grassroots Stage, while SONGHOY BLUES bring their own brand of desert blues mixed with R&B, BBC RADIO 2/6MUSIC DJ CRAIG CHARLES and the event, Bella has announced that ‘Bollywood’ soul and hip-hop to the festival for the first time. his FUNK & SOUL CLUB, THE LAFONTAINES, will be its 2018 theme. LUCY SPRAGGAN, TIDELINES, and COLONEL Massachusetts-based indie-folk ensemble Bella sold out in 2017 for the ninth year in a row MUSTARD & THE DIJON FIVE. DARLINGSIDE also joins us alongside reformed so fans are urged to buy early to avoid 90’s Scottish indie rock outfit THE “So many exciting acts new to Bella to rave disappointment. Last year’s headliners and SUPERNATURALS and set to make a welcome about this year, plus some of our best friends major artists included: Sister Sledge; The return are Bhangra Rock Fusion act KISSMET. are returning,” said Belladrum promoter Joe Pretenders; Franz Ferdinand; Twin Atlantic and Gibbs. “Paloma has been top of our hit list for a First Aid Kit. Also appearing over the weekend are Skye's while. She is the perfect headliner for Bella and NITEWORKS, a band known for their use Gaelic Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival takes place in we can’t wait to welcome her. So far another language and traditional music with electronic the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum stella line-up and so much more to come.” influences to create a fresh and exhilarating Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The sound. Completing this wave of line-up are THE 2018 tickets for the 15th Belladrum Tartan Heart independent festival has built a reputation for its FILTHY TONGUES featuring members of Goodbye Festival, voted Trip Advisor’s most popular UK eclectic line-ups, its offbeat non-musical Mr Mackenzie and Angelfish, trad-folk act HO-RO festival in 2017, are on sale on-line and via entertainments and its all-ages approach. The and local rock and roll artist DOUGIE BURNS & ticket agents. Buyers can pay in seven monthly festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in THE CADILLACS. A huge number of acts remain instalments if they buy tickets before 1st 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots to be announced. January 2018. All on-line ticket buyers can take Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the advantage of a 72 hour cooling off period after festival industry’s ‘Oscars’. These artists join previously announced purchase during which they can return bought Thursday night headliner AMY MACDONALD, www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk FRIGHTENED RABBIT who will perform the whole tickets. www.facebook.com/belladrum of their epic album ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’, Following the tradition of a fancy dress theme at www.twitter.com/BelladrumFest
web @ www.orkneyfolkfestival.com fb @ www.facebook.com/orkneyfolkfestival
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www.stealthrecordingstudio.com www.fallenangels.com fb @ www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fallen-Angels-Club/149553931728736 tickets @ www.ticketweb.co.uk
www.tickets-scotland.com
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eddiemacarthur@yahoo.com web @ www.stealthrecordingstudio.com fb @ www.facebook.com/Stealth-Recording-Studios-Glasgow-139120912802457/
www.almostbluepromotions.com tickets @ www.almostbluepromotions.com/online-store fb @ www.facebook.com/AlmostBluePromotions
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www.summerhall.co.uk
fb @ www.facebook.com/nothingeverhappensheresummerhall tweet @ https://twitter.com/NEHHSH
www.mckaystoutmusic.co.uk fb @ www.facebook.com/MCKAYSTOUT tweet @ www.twitter.com/mckaystout
www.birnamcd.com info@birnamcd.com
www.birnamcdshop.com
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Dougie MacLean to help celebrate Stonehaven Folk Festival's 30th Year
the mns collection ….
Stonehaven :: 5-8 July :: www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk TICKETS @ www.stonehavenfolkfestival.ticketlight.co.uk/
Stonehaven Folk Festival celebrates its 30th Festival this year. Organisers are planning a number of special events to mark this milestone including a special festival launch night on 23 March featuring two acts that have been inextricably linked to both the festival and the club. On 23 March there will be a concert in Stonehaven Town Hall with Dougie MacLean and Off the Tracks. Both are very much part of the musical heritage of the club and festival and it will a special night to get them both on the same bill - the concert will be followed by a session. The full festival will run from the 5-8 July 2018. Dougie MacLean almost needs no introduction; he played the very first folk festival in 1989 and has never looked back. He has built an international reputation as songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer on his own terms. This talent has taken his performance to concerts and festivals all over the world and to the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York, London’s Festival Theatre and the Sydney Opera House. His anthem Caledonia has topped the Scottish charts and become one of Scotland’s most popular contemporary songs. Off the Tracks play mostly blues and feature John Carnie on Guitar, Spider MacKenzie on blues harmonica and Janice Clark on vocals. John and Janice are usually associated with a more traditional
Mànran appear at the festival on 5 July www.facebook.com/ManranOfficial :: photo by Morten Fog
style. John having written a guitar tutor on Scottish Traditional tunes, and Janice being a well respected traditional ballad singer. They got together to perform at the very first night of Stonehaven Folk Club back in 1988 and have continued to play together on a, sadly, infrequent basis – always very popular and a great opportunity to hear this great trio. Tickets are priced £18 and are available for personal callers at Celtic Chords, Barclay Street Stonehaven or online. For full details about the festival please visit the folk festival web site – www. stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk www.twitter.com/stonehavenfest
www.facebook.com/Stonehaven-Folk-Festival-241183992686719
Dougie MacLean :: www.dougiemaclean.com
Read the three MNS digital publications from links at .. www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com
email your festival news to alastair.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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www.brookfield-knights.com fb @ www.facebook.com/BrookfieldKnights promoter @ www.brookfield-knights.com
http://vinylnoise.co.uk/
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Big Burns Supper ends on a high as festival attendances soar Following its biggest and boldest programme to date the year, the Big Burns Supper festival wears its hard earned title of the world’s biggest Burns celebration with pride today as organisers announce record attendances for the 2018 festival.
Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 :: www.facebook.com/colonelmustardandthedijon5
Now in its seventh year, 2018 has seen audience attendance increase by 66% at the festival hub Big Burns Supper, which this year kicked off on as the iconic Spiegeltent returned to Dumfries once again and settled into a brand new location the 18th of January and ran for 11 days of exciting and eclectic entertainment, rocked the on the Whitesands. historical town of Dumfries with a thrilling mixture of cabaret, comedy, music and entertainment in the most modern of Scotland's celebrations of the National Bard, Robert Burns.
Eddi Reader :: www.facebook.com/eddireader
comedy, cabaret and music worked around the theatrical story of Robert Burns in the arts led, sociable style of Burns to create a unique homage to the Bard.
Alongside the main festival strand, the Dumfries Fringe, curated by members of the local community helped reach further audiences and make sure that there was something for The festival opened with a daring new staging of everyone throughout the festival. locally the produced Queer Haggis which boasted a heady roster of international queer Founder and Executive Producer of the artists and home-grown talent taking to the Festival, Graham Main said; “We have had a Spiegeltent stage, alongside the festivals own Le lot of fun staging the seventh edition of Big Haggis, Scotland’s only home grown five-star Burns Supper, and the return of the Spiegeltent cabaret company which marked its 5th has been a big hit with our audience. We have anniversary with a hugely popular run. started to see a lot of new people coming to shows for the first time this year, as well as The eleven day festival saw an eclectic welcoming in our loyal audience members programme of world-class artists descend on who’ve been with us from the start. Dumfries to entertain and wow audiences, including Bill Bailey, Donovan, Public Service As the festival grows we are becoming more Broadcasting, Eddi Reader, Badly Drawn Boy, confident about the uniqueness of the Camille O’Sullivan and hip-hop star Ocean programme we present. Artists who come to Wisdom to name a few. play are astounded by the quality of the acts we present. The Big Burns Supper brings residents and visitors together to experience world class The festival has continued to innovate our cultural programmes through new initiatives like Big Burns Supper TV and the Container Theatre. Digital audiences also increased as more people tuned into the online programme of events which includes live interviews of artists like Bill Bailey and Camille O’Sullivan, as well as Facebook Live activity with About Scotland which was watched by 48k people on Burns Night, and broadcast around the world. Restaurants and bars around Dumfries are reporting a bumper month because of the festival which we are delighted to see as Big Burns Supper is all about bringing cultural, social and economic benefits to our home here in Dumfries. The planning now begins for Big Burns Supper 2019!” Karen Clapperton, Chair of the voluntary charity board that runs the Festival said; “We are hugely thankful to the community of Dumfries who have been a constant inspiration to us in our vision to stage this amazing festival. The local volunteers, tradespeople and businesses that get behind the festival are all part of the magic that is Big Burns Supper. Dumfries is forever in your debt.” The festival will be inviting members of the public to get involved in creating the 2019 festival through community workshops which will take place in February next month to help generate the ideas for the next festival.
www.bigburnssupper.com Like many festivals it wouldn't happen without the volunteers!
www.twitter.com/bigburnssupper www.facebook.com/BigBurnsSupper
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First acts announced for 38th Shetland Folk Festival Shetland :: 3-6 May :: www.shetlandfolkfestival.com EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIPS @ www.shetlandfolkfestival.com/membership The provisional line-up for the 38th Shetland Folk Festival has been announced by its hard-working volunteer committee. In May this year, twelve confirmed acts will take to festival stages the length and breadth of the isles to demonstrate their musical prowess. The four-day feast of music will present visiting musicians from USA, Canada, Holland, Denmark, Finland, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With a rousing menu already in place and more to be announced, Shetland Folk Festival 2018 promises to be yet another one not to be missed! Five acts from the other side of the Atlantic will perform a diverse selection of styles. Stringsonly supergroup quartet The Fretless hail from Canada and are pushing the boundaries of their local traditional music with their own intricate and high-energy arrangements. Their trophy cabinet includes 2017 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year among others. Playing fiddles, violas and a cello there is not a fret among them! Another supergroup quartet to visit this year is The Cajun Country Revival who are based in USA and will indeed be delivering the genres that their title suggests! Including two members of much loved act The Foghorn Stringband from the Shetland Folk Festival 2010, the band also features Cajun legends Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy. Identical twin siblings The Brother Brothers are based in Brooklyn, New York and lean towards the darker, moody elements of Appalachian folk and bluegrass traditions. They are fast developing a reputation stateside for captivatingly live performances and stunningly rich vocal harmonies. From Manitoba in Canada comes William Prince, a Juno Award winning singer-songwriter from Peguis First Nation, who performs his beautifully tender music with an amazingly rich baritone voice that will be bound to seduce our audience members from the minute he starts to sing! Our final act from across the pond are James Hill and Anne Janelle, another award-winning singersongwriter act from Canada who play ukulele and cello. Their intricate and enchanting sound has earned them a Canadian Folk Music Award for best Album of the Year. Representing mainland Europe are two very different acts! We are delighted to welcome back Baltic Crossing following their much-loved performances during the Shetland Folk Festival in 2012. Their individual members have also played at previous festival with popular acts including KAN, Habadekuk, Esko Järvelä Epic Male Band and Tsuumi Sound System. With members from Denmark, Finland and England, they have roots firmly planted in Nordic and Celtic traditions and deliver performances characterised by great vitality and drive with a good splash of humour. Dutchman Tim Kilphuis’s Trio are internationally renowned legends who have been wowing audiences for over a decade. Alongside bandmates Roy Percy and Nigel Clark from UK, we just know that their blend of gypsy jazz, classical and folk music along with their incredible technical brilliance is going to leave our audiences crying out for more.
The Fretless :: www.facebook.com/thefretless Scotland is well represented this year with three award winning acts. Siobhan Miller is the only person ever to win Scots Singer of the Year for a third time, and will be bringing her awardwinning vocals and soulful renewal of traditional song to the Shetland Folk Festival. She performed at the festival in 2012 alongside Jeanie Leslie and this time will be returning with her fantastic band. Self-described as “hypnofolkadelic ambient trad”, Scottish legends Shooglenifty will be making a welcome return following their previous visits to the festival in 1995 and 2009. Following the sad loss of their much-loved fiddler and front man Angus R Grant in 2016, they spent last year remembering, recording and re-grouping, and are now back again with a new fiddler, ready to create their usual fiery and infectious blend of Celtic traditional music and dance grooves. Hailing from the Scottish Highlands and Islands is a young band who won the title of Up and Coming Artist of the Year at BBC Scots Trad Awards last year. Hò-rò’s unique energetic tune arrangements and vibrant stage presence delivered with a dollop of Highland craic is bound to delight our audiences. Calan from Wales brings together five remarkable young musicians who have created their own fresh and vibrant sound as they breathe new life into traditional Welsh music. Be prepared to witness some Welsh step dancing, humour and colourful attire, as well as fastpaced uplifting tunes and beautiful, haunting songs. Last but by no means least of our visiting acts booked so far is MOXIE, a young quintet from Ireland who have added some progressive, world and jazz influences to the traditional Irish backbone of their sound. They are fast garnering a reputation for highly charged live performances and are becoming a festival favourite in Europe, America, Australia and beyond.
debut performance, and hot off the back of their first album launch, are talented Shetland youngsters Fjanna (aged 14-16). They will be performing traditional Shetland and Scottish tunes as well as their own compositions, demonstrating the skills that saw them deservedly win the Shetland’s Got Talent competition in 2016. Also performing at Celtic Connections this year are Vair, who had the room completely crammed at their album launch at the Shetland Folk Festival last year! Citing traditional Shetland, Scottish and Irish folk and American bluegrass as their influences, their aim is to make music for any occasion. Delivering some Americana music with their own contemporary sound and tight knit harmonies are local band Kansa who have individually grown up enjoying the musical flavours of blues, jazz, funk and bluegrass which they bring to their performance. With around 40 exciting and varied local acts expected to be programmed over the weekend, Shetland will be able to demonstrate why the isles are world renowned for their musical talent, and why the Shetland Folk Festival is delighted to showcase them. Keep your eyes and ears open for further announcements about the full line-up in the coming weeks. Festival concerts will take place all over the isles and will conclude as usual with the famous ‘Foys’ – three venues open on the Sunday night featuring a short 15-minute set by all of the visiting bands. The extravaganza of superb music, sessions and sleepless nights is bound to leave locals and visitors alike exhausted but deeply satisfied!
Early memberships will be on sale at www.shetlandfolkfestival.com during the month of February (1st to 28th). These members will be able to book their concert tickets online for two weeks before they go on sale to the general public. Tickets will go on sale to early members from March 19th, A worthy mention must be made of the fantastic and to the general public from 2nd April. array of homegrown talent that the committee is The Festival now operates exclusively with forever proud to present at the festival. This an online system for the purchase of year visitors and locals alike will be impressed memberships and concert tickets. and delighted with local acts such as Haltadans www.shetlandfolkfestival.com whose stylish and entertaining performances give a new lease of life to long-forgotten tunes. www.twitter.com/shetlandfolk About to head to Celtic Connections for their www.facebook.com/ShetlandFolkFestival
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Edinburgh Celebrates Hogmanay Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2018 Street Party Early Bird Tickets Now On Sale Edinburgh :: 31 December :: www.edinburghshogmanay.com STREET PARTY 2018 TICKETS @ www.edinburghshogmanay.com/whats-on/street-party
75,000 people across all areas of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay from the Ceilidh under the Castle with Edinburgh Gin to Hogmanay HQ and all corners of the Street Party were led in a moving rendition of Auld Lang Syne after the midnight fireworks by Rag’n’Bone Man. A fantastic line up of bands across the three stages in the Street Party arena included Scottish acts Sacred Paws, Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, Niteworks, Treacherous Orchestra, The Occasionals, Mac Twins, Heilan Crew, Kipper Ceilidh plus Nina Nesbitt opening the main stage in Princes Street Garden's. Underbelly, the new producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, confirmed that the arena had sold out and a capacity crowd had enjoyed ‘the best street party ever’ with more performers and entertainment throughout the evening. The all female Divas and Districts Pipes and Bands and LED drumming sensation Spark! made an early move to claim the evening’s best moment in an incredible drum-off with spectacular energy and light raising the crowd’s energy early in the evening on Princes Street.
Nina Nesbitt :: www.facebook.com/ninanesbittmusic
themselves. Sanjeev Kohli, the Hogmanay Host, kept the party going as revellers were entertained by aerialists, flash mobs, bands, choirs, and many other surprise moments on podium stages and walls throughout the arena. Sanjeev led the countdown in the crowd collecting New Year’s resolution.
in the gardens lit up for Rag’n’Bone Man’s powerful anthemic set with the crowd going mad for Hell Yeah and his finisher Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones.
Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council said: “The day started with a storm and ended with a bang – without a doubt this This year’s spectacular Midnight Moment was the 'Best Party Ever'. Our 9 minutes was, for the first time, choreographed to a fireworks choreographed to Niteworks’ and Dan The world famous Street Party got a face lift for specially commissioned soundscape Jones’ score was truly spectacular and who will its 25th Anniversary from some of the best created by Skye band Niteworks and award forget Rag’n’Bone man leading 75,000 in Auld international events creatives in the world and winning sound designer and film composer Lang Syne? What a special way to ring in 2018. dazzled party goers with a huge range of Dan Jones in collaboration with fireworks entertainment popping up, from parkour runners experts Titanium. Brand new fireworks “We’re particularly proud of the first Bairns Afore on the new ribboned stages to aerialists dancing called planets stunned the audience with event – it was quite magical to see families on the sides of buildings down Edinburgh’s their fizzy sherbet middles and a drum solo looking up and enjoying their very own midnight famous main street. in the middle saw showers of pink and gold moment together and at 6pm in the evening! arrows ricocheting into the night sky. In a special pre-midnight moment Edinburgh’s “Our specially built DJ booth had crowds dancing Hogmanay played The KLF’s What Time is Love At the sold-out Concert in the Gardens, in the street and under the Mac Twins and Huey across the Street Party arena, the first time in Edinburgh’s own Nina Nesbitt kicked off the Morgan right through to the wee small hours. over 20 years it has been heard and played night sharing stories with the capacity crowd in “It’s been spectacular and we’d like to thank all thanks to special permission from The KLF Princes Street Gardens. The audience of 10,000 those who came and made the party such a great night for Edinburgh and Scotland. “We’re tired and happy but tomorrow morning we will be flinging ourselves into the River Forth for the Loony Dook. It’s going to be braw!” Free Hogmanay NightBus Services ran throughout the capital once again, supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and provided by Lothian Buses. And Edinburgh Trams again ran free services helping many partygoers get home safely. Chief Superintendent Kenny Macdonald, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: "Edinburgh has once again shown why it's one of the greatest cities in the world, welcoming in the New Year in tremendous fashion. I would like to thank all of my officers and staff and the stewards for their outstanding work in helping us deliver another fantastic event. It is very pleasing to note that the Street Party passed with no major incidents and only four arrests were made for minor disorder offences.
Street Party :: photo by Chris Watt
www.edinburghshogmanay.com www.twitter.com/edhogmanay www.facebook.com/edinburghshogmanay
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FESTIVAL Listings
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SCOTTISH MUSIC FESTIVALS to be included in our festival listings email details to: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com FEBRUARY SPECTRA 2018
Nordic Music Festival
Orkney Folk Festival Orkney 24-27 May
Aberdeen 8-11 February
The first four artists to appear at the 2018 Orkney Folk Festival have been announced this SPECTRA returns to Aberdeen for the fifth year - week. Scottish singer-songwriter, Dougie This year, the music element goes beyond a live MacLean; exquisite Highland fiddler, Duncan Chisholm, with his extended band line-up; String stage and will feature an outstanding music programme played out at venues across the city Sisters - a ten piece collaboration featuring world-renowned fiddle players and accompanists by a smorgasbord of Nordic and UK talent from the USA, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and culminating in stunning AV shows from stars of Shetland; and Newfoundland’s globe-trotting electronic music. trio, The Once, are all heading to the 36th annual festival in May. www.spectraaberdeen.com
Groove Cairngorm
www.orkneyfolkfestival.com
Badaguish Outdoor Centre 23-24 February
JUNE
Groove Cairngorm launched in March 2016 as the UK’s first and only resort based snowsports festival, and combined snowsports throughout the day with an Apres-ski party featuring a raft of local and international acts until the early hours of the morning.
Oban Live
TRNSMT 2018 Glasgow 29 June-1 July and 6+8 July TRNSMT Festival will return to Glasgow Green in 2018 and will be extending its music offering across two weekends on 29 June – 1 July plus 6 and 8 July, and now festival organisers DF Concerts have confirmed the first headliner Liam Gallagher will play Glasgow Green on Saturday 30 June, joined by fellow British stars Courteeners, Wolf Alice and J Hus. www.trnsmtfest.com
JULY Stonehaven Folk Festival Stonehaven 5-8 July
Stonehaven Folk Festival celebrates its 30th Festival this year. Organisers are planning a number of special events to mark this milestone including a special festival launch night on 23 Oban Live was created following the open-air March. The pretty North East coastal town of concert ‘DECADE’ in 2015 – the 10th anniversary Stonehaven comes alive with a vibrant mix of celebration of trad-fusion band Skerryvore that traditional and contemporary “Folk” music and www.groovecairngorm.co.uk attracted 6,000 people from all over the world to song. Concerts, Ceilidh, Sessions, Singarounds, Oban. From this, Oban Live was formed in 2016 Workshops and fun things to do. with the aim of showcasing the very best Scottish and International artists as part of both www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk the open-air concert and Oban Live Fringe events. Details for early bird Oban Live 2018 tickets will be announced soon on Oban Live’s Hebrides social media channels. 18-21 July Edinburgh 26 Apr – 6 May www.obanlive.com Four day festival set against the unique backdrop of the the Hebrides. Organised by the HCF Trust, Experience Scotland Live with a seasonal feast of this first festival was held in 1996 and now living traditions and local cultures. Encounter regularly attracts attendances of 14,000 over its music, storytelling, dance, craft, song and folk Killin four day run. Wild, but not a bit woolly, this drama at venues – indoor and outdoor – across 15-17 June festival has built up a fabulously loyal audience Edinburgh and the Lothians. Rooted in the past locally and from across the world, many of whom yet resonating in the present, TradFest Killin Music Festival delivers a weekend packed have Hebridean ties, many of whom just love showcases dynamic engagement with Scotland’s from start to finish with top-of-their-game coming here and joining in the great party. History and Heritage as well as providing a artists, supported by a festival fringe featuring platform for up and coming talent in the world of bar sessions, workshops, kids activities, Trad. Look out for the Battle of the Folk Band competitions and even a pipe band! Now heading www.hebceltfest.com event as part of the finale performances this for it’s third year, Killin Music Festival looks to year! solidify it’s standing in the festival calendar, Oban 8-9 June
APRIL
TradFest Edinburgh Dùn Èideann
Hebridean Celtic Festival
Killin Music Festival
www.tracscotland.org/tradfest
MAY Shetland Folk Festival Shetland 3-6 May
taking on board feedback from visitors, and by spreading it’s wings a bit further this time. Don't miss out for 2018! Tickets are on sale now via our website www.killinmusicfestival.com and are selling fast! www.killinmusicfestival.com
Riverside Rock
The Festival as the UK's most northerly folk festival is regarded a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike. Organised by a voluntary committee (and run by an even bigger pool of volunteers) the Festival prides itself in reaching out to even the most far flung areas of Shetland. Concerts are organised throughout the isles, consisting of some of the best International, British and Shetland music that the world has to offer. In fact, visiting artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the quantity and quality of local musicians that our remote isles have to offer. www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
Jedburgh 23 June
AUGUST
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Beauly 2-4 August Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival takes place in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its offbeat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘Oscars’.
Riverside Rock is a musical extravaganza with something for everyone young and old and designed primarily to help raise cash for our chosen charity and other organisations around the Scottish Borders. Children’s Entertainment includes, Laser Quest, Inflatables of all sorts, Climbing Walls, Wrecking Ball, Kids Fun Fair www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk Rides and much more. Kids entertainment is free for under 18’s from 12pm till 6pm. You’ll not find a better value family festival anywhere in Scotland, Riverside Rock is the place to be.
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www.riversiderock.co.uk
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